The Call of the Pack.

Chapter 7

The days grew shorter as autumn deepened, painting the Beacon Hills woods in shades of crimson and gold. Derek and Ember had settled into a rhythm, one that felt natural, like the two of them had been part of each other's lives for far longer than the brief time they'd known each other. But despite the ease of their connection, there were moments when the weight of Derek's past still hung between them, a quiet shadow that neither of them could ignore.

It was on one of those crisp evenings that Ember found herself standing at the edge of the loft's balcony, staring out at the darkening sky. The air was cool, filled with the scent of rain, and yet it wasn't the weather that made her restless-it was the man inside.

Derek was downstairs, fixing something for the pack. She could hear the faint sounds of his movements, steady and controlled, as he worked. It was something she loved about him-that quiet focus he had, the way he poured himself into every task as if it were the most important thing. But tonight, there was something different. She could feel the tension in him, a tightness in his movements that spoke of more than just a long day.

Something was bothering him, and even though he hadn't said it, Ember could feel it.

She turned her back to the view and walked back inside, her bare feet padding softly against the floor. Derek was still at the counter, his brows furrowed in concentration as he worked on some papers related to the pack's safety. The warm light of the loft flickered across his face, casting shadows that deepened the intensity in his expression.

"Derek?" Ember called softly, approaching him. She placed a gentle hand on his back, feeling the tension in his muscles. He was wound tight, and it wasn't just from the paperwork.

Derek looked up, his green eyes flickering with a mixture of emotions before they softened at the sight of her. "Yeah?"

She smiled softly, stepping closer so she was beside him. "You've been quiet tonight. Is everything okay?"

For a moment, Derek hesitated, his hands stilling over the papers. He wasn't the type to unload his burdens easily-he had carried so much on his own for so long that opening up was still something he was learning to do. But Ember's presence made it easier, as if her steady gaze and unwavering support gave him permission to be vulnerable.

"I've been thinking about my family," Derek admitted quietly, his voice rough with emotion. "About everything that's happened to them."

Ember's heart tightened at his words. She knew Derek's past-how he had lost his entire family in the fire, how that loss had shaped him into the man he was today. It was something that had always been there, lingering in the background of their relationship, a wound that hadn't fully healed.

She stepped in front of him, gently taking the papers from his hands and setting them aside. "You don't have to carry that alone, Derek," she whispered, her fingers brushing his as she took his hands in hers. "I'm here with you. Always."

Derek's eyes met hers, and for a moment, the vulnerability in his gaze took her breath away. He had been through so much, had endured more pain than most people could imagine, and yet here he was-strong, resilient, and still capable of love.

"I know," Derek murmured, his voice softer now. He reached up, his hand cupping her cheek as his thumb brushed lightly over her skin. "But sometimes it feels like... like if I let myself feel all of it, I'll break."

Ember's heart ached at the raw honesty in his words. She knew Derek wasn't used to being vulnerable-he had always been the protector, the one who held things together. But the truth was, he didn't have to be strong all the time. Not with her.

"You won't break," she whispered, leaning into his touch. "Not with me. I'll hold you together, Derek. We'll hold each other together."

For a long moment, they stood like that, the weight of Derek's past hanging between them. But instead of pushing it away, Ember leaned into it, letting herself be a safe place for him to land. She knew that loving Derek meant loving all of him-the scars, the pain, the shadows that lingered behind his quiet strength.

Derek's gaze softened at her words, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly as he pulled her closer, his arms wrapping around her. Ember pressed herself against him, her head resting on his chest as she listened to the steady rhythm of his heart.

"I'm not used to this," Derek murmured against her hair, his voice low. "Letting someone in."

"I know," Ember whispered back, her fingers tracing slow, soothing circles on his back. "But you don't have to do it all at once. Just... one step at a time."

Derek let out a soft sigh, his hand tightening around her as if he was afraid to let her go. "You're the only one who's ever made me feel like this," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Like I don't have to be alone."

Ember's heart swelled at his words, her arms wrapping tighter around him. She understood now, more than ever, how much Derek had needed this-needed her. And she needed him too, in ways she hadn't even fully realized.

"I'm not going anywhere," she promised softly, her lips brushing lightly against his neck. "We're in this together."

Derek pulled back slightly, just enough to look into her eyes. The vulnerability in his gaze was still there, but now there was something else too-something softer, warmer. "I don't know how I got so lucky," he said quietly, his thumb brushing gently over her cheek.

Ember smiled up at him, her hand resting over his heart. "Maybe it's not luck," she whispered, her voice filled with quiet affection. "Maybe we were always meant to find each other."

Derek's gaze softened even further, and without another word, he leaned down, capturing her lips in a tender, lingering kiss. It was slow and soft, filled with all the emotions they hadn't spoken aloud-the love, the gratitude, the unspoken promise of forever.

When they finally pulled back, Derek rested his forehead against hers, his breath warm against her skin. "I love you," he whispered, his voice filled with quiet intensity.

Ember's heart fluttered at the words, her fingers tightening on his shirt as she smiled up at him. "I love you too," she whispered back, her voice trembling with emotion.

And in that moment, with the cool autumn air swirling around them and the quiet of the loft wrapping them in warmth, Ember realized that this-being with Derek, loving him, supporting him-was where she was meant to be.