The Call of the Pack.

Chapter 2

The days that followed were a whirlwind of preparation. Derek brought Ember into the fold, and though she remained guarded, she began to open up to the rest of the pack. Scott made sure she felt welcome, while Lydia and Stiles kept an eye on the supernatural signs around town, trying to predict the Nightshade Pack's next move.

But it was Derek who Ember found herself gravitating toward. She didn't know if it was because of his natural leadership or the quiet strength he exuded, but something about him made her feel safe. And in a world where safety was a rarity, that meant everything.

One night, after another long day of strategy meetings and scouting missions, Ember found herself alone in the loft with Derek. The others had gone home to rest, but sleep eluded her. Instead, she sat on the edge of the couch, staring out at the city lights beyond the large windows.

"You should get some sleep," Derek said from the doorway, his voice low and calm.

Ember turned to look at him, her golden eyes glowing softly in the dim light. "I could say the same to you," she replied with a small smile. "You've been pushing yourself harder than anyone."

Derek shrugged, moving to sit in the armchair across from her. "I'm used to it. It's what I do."

Ember's smile faded as she studied him. There was so much weight on his shoulders, so much pain he kept hidden behind that stoic mask. "You don't have to do it alone, you know," she said quietly. "You've got a pack now. You've got people who care about you."

Derek met her gaze, something flickering in his eyes. "And what about you? You still think you can fight this battle by yourself?"

Ember sighed, leaning back against the couch. "I'm trying to unlearn that habit," she admitted. "But it's hard. I've been on my own for so long... it's difficult to let people in."

Derek nodded in understanding. "I know the feeling."

Silence settled between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. If anything, it felt... familiar. Like they were two wolves who understood the same kind of loneliness, the same kind of pain.

"Derek," Ember started after a moment, her voice hesitant, "why did you let me stay? You didn't know anything about me. I could've brought the Nightshade Pack to your doorstep and gotten everyone killed."

Derek looked at her, his expression softening just a fraction. "I saw something in you," he said simply. "A survivor. And survivors deserve a second chance."

Ember felt her heart skip a beat at his words. She wasn't used to people seeing her that way-seeing her at all, really. Most people only saw the broken parts of her, the pieces she'd tried to hide. But Derek looked past that. He saw her strength.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "For everything."

Derek held her gaze for a moment longer before standing. "Get some sleep, Ember. Tomorrow's going to be a long day."

Ember watched him retreat to his own room, her mind swirling with thoughts. There was something between them-an unspoken connection that neither of them seemed ready to acknowledge just yet. But it was there, lingering beneath the surface like an ember waiting to ignite.

The next morning, the pack reconvened at the loft. The mood was tense, but determined. The Nightshade Pack was closing in-they could feel it in the air, thick with anticipation.

Ember had stayed up late into the night, unable to shake the feeling that something was coming, something worse than even she could have predicted.

"So, what's the plan?" Stiles asked, pacing around the room. "Do we fight them head-on, or are we going for some kind of stealthy ninja ambush?"