Instinct || Derek Hale.

eighteen.

Warnings: Strong language, violence.

***

Alex.

The feeling that spread through Alex's chest was none like she'd ever felt before. She'd never known what real love felt like, but she was starting to guess that this was pretty close. She lay on her back, Derek hovered over her, their lips locked in a passionate kiss that took her breath away. The skin of his neck, the bristle of his stubble under her fingertips, all sent a rush through her that felt like a mixture of fire, and pins and needles. His hand gripped her ribs, pulling her body against his. Nothing in the world was going to tear her from Derek.

Except her phone ringing.

She jolted away from Derek, diving across the bed to grab her phone. She snatched it up, breathing a sigh of relief when Scott's name flashed up on the screen.

"Thank fuck for that, I was about to start planning your funeral!"

Scott chuckled on the other end of the line. "Sorry to disappoint you."

"How did it go? Are you okay? What happened? Did you find it?" Alex fired question after question.

Derek moved behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders and pulling her back. She let her body fall against him.

"I'm fine, I promise. We're all fine," Scott said. "Are you still with Derek? Is everyone okay?"

"Yeah, I'm still here. And, everyone's fine."

"More than fine," Derek whispered against her neck, sending a shiver down her spine.

"What?" Scott said suddenly.

Alex elbowed Derek. "Nothing. So what happened?"

"Can you get down to the clinic?"

"I'm on my way," Alex nodded, even though Scott couldn't see her.

"Okay, see you soon."

"Bye."

Alex hung up and turned to look up at Derek over her shoulder with a raised brow. "More than okay?"

Derek smirked at her and shrugged a shoulder. "I didn't think he'd hear it."

"Liar," Alex mock glared at him, shoving him away.

Derek laughed as he fell back onto the bed. Alex climbed off the bed and pulled on her boots before standing up.

"Listen, this is all new to me. And, I don't know what this means for us, but for now, can we just keep it between us?" Alex said nervously.

Derek's brows furrowed with confusion. "You want to keep us a secret?"

"Just until we deal with Jennifer and the alphas. And not for the reasons you think," Alex shook her head quickly.

Derek stood up and slowly approached her. He tucked some loose tendrils of hair behind her ear. "What reasons then?"

"I don't want to give them any reason to use us against each other," Alex sighed. She placed a hand on his cheek. "I can't lose you, Derek. So please, just for now, keep this between us."

Derek smiled down at her and nodded. "I've never been one to share my business anyway."

"Thank you," Alex whispered.

She pushed her lips firmly against his. "I have to go, but I'll call you when I can."

Derek nodded. Alex pulled away to slip on her jacket and shoved her phone in her pocket. She was just about to leave when Derek reached out and caught her arm. She looked up at him.