𝓬𝓾𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓾𝓼𝓮 || Derek Hale

Natalie

"Tell me more about the Council." Derek rubs small circles on the small of my back. We lay together in the back of his car, only a blanket covering our nude bodies. "The Council is composed of seven elder werewolves." He recites from memory. "Every three-hundred moons, new elders are chosen. They basically govern over everything Were."

Curious, I wonder. "Have there ever been any anomalies? Like, Were's other than wolves?" He sits up. "Yep. There's been kanimas (lizards), were jaguars, werefoxes. Although we call those Kitsune. Complete different species. They're basically spirits. Not to be mixed up with the Nogistune, the trickster spirit. Kitsunes live even longer than we do. The current oldest that I know is Noshiko Yukimura. She's like...200, but doesn't look a day over 20. She actually knew the Elder Satomi personally."

This is a lot to take in. So, there are more supernatural forces in this world than werewolves? I'm living in a fantasy world. "Why are our eyes only the same color when we're together?" I wonder. He stiffens. Then in a quiet voice says : "my mother has a theory. She thinks it means that we're....True Mates." I sit up.

"Do you think that?" He shrugs. "I don't know, I mean, it makes sense. The eyes. The weird electric feeling before you Changed." I take this into consideration. Derek yawns. "Come on. I should be getting you home. It's late."

~~~

Natalie and I chat over the phone. "Come to the dance! It's on Friday!" She giggles. "I don't know. It's a full moon." I stop abruptly. "Okay? What are you, a werewolf?" She jokes, and my heart skips a beat. "No, uh, my mother has some weird superstitions about full moons." I lie. I can practically hear her rolling her eyes through the phone. "Whatever. I'm asking Peter. You should ask Derek, since you guys are dating."

It doesn't seem that bad of an idea now that I think about it. And I seem to have this whole werewolf thing under control after all. "Alright." I agree. "I'll come." She squels through the phone. "Fantastic! Meet me at the town square for dress shopping." She hangs up. Sigh. I grab my purse and head downstairs. "Where are you going?" My mother asks. I turn slowly. I've grown accustomed to her popping up randomly around the house.

She's been coming over a lot more often. Probably to spy on me. "Out." Her eyes narrow. "With that boy?"
I roll my eyes. "That boy has a name. It's Derek. And no. I'm going shopping with Natalie for dresses. While I'm at it, we're going to be in the town square."

"Oh. Do you think it's a good idea to be going out and around regular people while you're like this?" She demands. Excuse me? "Regular people? What do you mean by that?" She averts her eyes. "You know what I mean. Human." I scoff. "For the record, I have it under control. Thanks for trusting me." I leave the door open and it bangs against the frame behind me.

I drive to the square fuming, and then I wait for a moment in the car to smooth my expression. Then I get out and wait. And wait. Natalie doesn't show. Frowning, I look around. Then I pull out my cell and dial her number. It doesn't pick up. I check my messages. There's none. That's weird. Maybe she's just running late. I go into the shop and look among the dresses, trying not to look panicked.

I eventually choose a floor-length emerald dress with a modest neckline. It's silky smooth. Then I check the tag. It reads $90. Not bad. I check out with Derek's credit card (which he so kindly lent me a few days back) and pay. Now I'm really worried. I check the time. My watch reads 7:30. It's dark out. I try her cell again. In the distance, I pick up on a cheerful ringtone. Frozen, I stand still and listen. Then I ditch my car and follow it.

It leads out of town and further, further. Until I'm walking alone on the side of the road and I'm genuinely getting scared. Then I catch the sound of a fluttering heartbeat and take off running. The smell hits me before the sight does. Blood. I stop short. Gasp. Take off running. In the grass on the side of the road, Natalie lies. Her eyes are shut and her clothes are bloodstained and torn. How the hell did she get out here? Her car is nowhere in sight.

Then I see the footprint. Huge, wide, footprints, all around her. She looks strangely serene like this, the moon shining down at just the right angle. Quickly I take out my cell and hesitate at who to call.

"Mom? I need you to pick up my car. And tell Noah to check his phone."