I love you, Im sorry - Derek Hale

7

The nights had grown colder, and the weight of the decisions Vivian had made hung heavily in the air. Derek's pack, once a source of confusion and pain, had now become something she couldn't walk away from—not with the Kanima still out there, its master pulling strings from behind the scenes. Vivian had never asked for this life, but it was hers, whether she liked it or not. And as much as she hated to admit it, part of her felt like she was finally stepping into a role that had always been waiting for her.

The Argents were still after Derek, after all of them. Despite the uneasy truce she had brokered with her father, the hunt had not ceased. And with it, her divided loyalties only became more difficult to manage. Derek, once a boy she had loved and lost, was now someone she needed to protect. And her father? Chris Argent, the man who had raised her, still considered her a threat because of her connection to the Hale family.

As the days passed, Vivian found herself in the midst of constant internal conflict. It was a struggle between the world she had grown up in—the world of hunters—and the one she had found herself tangled in, a world full of werewolves, magic, and betrayal.

But there was something about the pack that made it harder to leave. Even Scott, who had always been cautious around her, had started to soften. It was clear that his protective instincts extended to her, especially when it came to Alexis. They had all seen the damage that could be caused if they didn't work together. And as much as Vivian hated admitting it, working together was the only way to survive.

Tonight, though, felt different. The tension was palpable, the air thick with anticipation. The Kanima had attacked again—this time, it had taken someone from the town, leaving behind a trail of chaos. Derek was on edge, his instincts sharpening as he formulated their next move. But Vivian could sense his unease, his frustration with the constant back-and-forth, the never-ending danger. She could feel it in the way his jaw clenched, in the way his eyes darted to her whenever she spoke.

"You need to be careful, Viv," Derek said quietly, his voice low but intense as he leaned against the counter, looking at her. "The Kanima is getting smarter. It's not just hunting anymore; it's hunting us."

"I know," she said, her voice almost a whisper. The weight of his words didn't escape her, but the truth was, she wasn't sure she could back away now. The pack needed her, and Alexis needed her. She couldn't turn her back on them—especially not when Derek needed her the most.

But the pull of the past was stronger than she wanted to admit. There was still unfinished business between them, things left unsaid, unresolved feelings that lingered like an invisible barrier. The love they once shared, the betrayal that had torn them apart—it all seemed to crash into her in moments like this, when the world was silent and the stakes were high.

"I don't know how much longer I can keep doing this," Derek admitted, his voice raw with the frustration he didn't often let show. He pushed off from the counter, taking a step closer to her. "I can't lose anyone else."

Vivian's breath caught in her throat as she met his gaze. His words were a reflection of his inner turmoil, the weight of leadership pressing down on him. She knew how much it hurt to carry that burden alone, and in that moment, she realized how much he was asking of her—not just for the pack, but for himself.

"I'm not going anywhere," she said, her voice firm, despite the way her heart pounded in her chest. She could see the conflict in his eyes, the war between the boy she once knew and the man who had become a leader, a protector of so many.

The air between them thickened, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. But the silence was charged, filled with things neither of them wanted to acknowledge. Unsaid words hung in the air, too heavy to ignore, and Vivian felt herself drawn to him in a way she couldn't deny.

Derek took a breath, breaking the silence. "I don't know how much longer I can keep pretending that nothing happened between us, Viv. That everything's okay. That it doesn't hurt."

Vivian's heart skipped. She knew exactly what he was referring to—knew the ghosts of the past that they both tried to bury. But the words caught in her throat, too. What could she say? How could she even begin to explain how complicated things had become? The bond between them had never truly disappeared, but the years of distance had changed everything.

"I can't pretend either," she whispered, her voice cracking. "But Derek, we can't go back. Not like that. Not after everything."

Derek didn't move. He stood there, watching her, and for a moment, it felt like the world had stopped. The past, the hurt, the love—it was all there between them. But Vivian knew that stepping back into that world would only hurt them both. What they had, what they were, could never be the same.

Before either of them could say more, there was a knock at the door. It was abrupt, pulling them both out of the bubble they had created. Derek's shoulders tensed, his instincts kicking in immediately. The door creaked open, and Scott McCall stepped into the room, his face grim.

"We have a problem," Scott said. "The Kanima has taken another victim. We need to move—now."

Vivian's heart sank, the urgency of the situation drowning out the complicated emotions swirling inside her. This wasn't the time to revisit the past. She had to focus. She had to protect the people she cared about. And if that meant pushing aside everything with Derek, then so be it. She couldn't afford to be weak.

"We'll be ready," Derek said, his tone no longer soft but hard, determined. He turned to Vivian, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary. "Get Alexis. We're not taking any chances tonight."

Vivian nodded, her heart heavy. The storm was finally breaking. The Kanima was closing in, and she knew that this battle would be like no other. There was no room for doubt, no room for hesitation. Only survival. And as the door slammed shut behind them, Vivian took one last glance at Derek, knowing that this could be the beginning of something far more dangerous than any of them were prepared for.