The Call of the Pack.

Chapter 4

"Ember," he murmured, his voice low and rough with emotion. "I-"

Before he could finish, Ember closed the distance between them, rising onto her toes as her lips found his. The kiss was soft at first, tentative, as if both of them were testing the waters of something that had been building between them for so long. But as Derek's arms came around her, pulling her closer, the kiss deepened, became more insistent, filled with the heat and intensity of everything they had been holding back.

Ember melted into him, her body pressing against his as their kiss grew more passionate. She could feel the strength in his arms, the warmth of his skin, and the steady beat of his heart beneath her palm. It grounded her, made her feel safe in a way she hadn't felt in years.

Derek's hands slid up her back, his touch sending shivers down her spine as he held her close. There was a hunger in the way he kissed her, a need that mirrored her own. But there was also tenderness, a quiet reverence in the way his lips moved against hers, as if he was savoring the moment as much as she was.

When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathless, their foreheads resting against each other as they stood there in the stillness of the night. Ember's heart raced in her chest, but it wasn't from fear or adrenaline this time-it was from the intensity of the connection they had just shared.

"Derek," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "I don't want to lose this."

"You won't," Derek said softly, his voice filled with quiet determination. "We're in this together."

She smiled, leaning into him as he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. They stood there for what felt like hours, wrapped in each other's warmth, letting the world outside fade away.

In that moment, Ember knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, whatever battles they would face, she wouldn't have to face them alone. Derek was with her-her anchor, her partner, her equal. And for the first time in a long time, she felt a sense of peace.

Whatever happened next, they would face it together.

Chapter 5

In the weeks that followed, life in Beacon Hills began to settle into a new normal. The pack was growing stronger with each day, and Ember found herself slowly becoming more at ease with her place among them. The nightmares that had once plagued her every night began to fade, replaced by something new: hope.

Derek had become her constant, always there beside her whether they were training, strategizing, or just spending quiet moments together in the loft. Their connection had deepened in ways that neither of them had expected, and it wasn't just about the pack or survival anymore-it was about each other.

One evening, after a long day of rebuilding and preparing for whatever threats might come next, Ember found herself sitting on the couch in Derek's loft, a book resting in her lap as the soft glow of the moon filtered through the large windows. She wasn't really reading, though. Her thoughts were far away, swirling with memories of their recent battles and the quiet moments that had followed.

Derek was across the room, leaning against the kitchen counter as he poured himself a glass of water. He was shirtless, his skin still glistening slightly from the shower he'd taken after their latest training session. Ember found herself watching him, her eyes tracing the lines of his muscles, the way his body moved with a quiet grace that was both powerful and controlled.

But it wasn't just his physical presence that drew her in-it was the way he made her feel. Safe, understood, wanted. It was a feeling she hadn't allowed herself to experience in so long, and now that it was here, she found herself both drawn to it and terrified by it.