Panthera Onca ➳ Derek Hale

09. The Girl Who Knew Too Much

Derek's P.O.V

   "You kept meeting her?" Jade's voice broke when she asked that.

   "Yes," I began and she immediately turned her look away. "But it's not because of anything you imagine to yourself. I'm loyal to you, Jade." She didn't seem please with the answer, and I'm sure that she wasn't. What can I do? I wasn't romantically involved with her. All I tried doing was make sure she doesn't talk about the things she saw, and we connected. But it wasn't romantic. All I care about is Jade.

   "I'm sorry Derek, but it's not enough." It ached me seeing her like that. I see that look on her face way too often these days. We're going on ups and downs... The way she seems disappointed of me. The way her eyes don't even look at me. The eyes that always looked at me lovingly.

   Her phone suddenly started ringing. She took it and answered the caller.

   "What? ... Okay, calm down. We're on our way there, just don't panic." She had a worried face expression, but her voice was calm. She hung up her phone. "It was Max. We must go to the hospital."

   "What? Why?"

   "Cora fainted." She simply explained and quickly grabbed her things, leaving the loft. I walked after her, knowing she wouldn't want to talk to me now. I've let her down so many times and she foolishly keeps coming back to me. I don't deserve her. I'm doing everything I can to keep her safe but I'm too afraid to keep her involved in everything, which disappoints her when she finds out things that I've done. Just like this one. This is not a healthy thing and she's right. That's it. I need to do better. I need to do so much better for her. I need to make her feel like a partner to me.

   "You promised to take care of her." I reminded Max as we entered Cora's room. "What happened?"

   "S-she was too stubborn to listen to me, no matter what I tried to do... She challanged an alpha and began fighting him." Max stuttered. "I promise you, I tried everything-"

   "You don't have even one single bruise-"

   "Derek, be careful with your words. He's still my brother." Jade warned. I sighed, knowing that I don't want to develop a fight with her right now. "He saved her from dying, you should be grateful." I'm unsure how much alive she is. And I don't think this hospital can help her...

   "This is still too scary for me, Jade."

    "I know it is, but you can't blame it on him." I know she's right, but I trusted him to get her out of trouble. "Sit, we'll probably be here for some time." I nodded, feeling troubled. How could Cora act so idiotically and challange an alpha? She's not strong enough to face someone that strong. Even I barely manage to fight them...

   "Derek?" I heard Cora's voice calling me after I waiting for something that felt like enternal. I jumped the moment I heard her speaking. I felt warmth in my heart knowing she's awake.

   "Hey. Hey, I'm here." I informed her, sitting closer to her.

   "What's happening to me?"

   "I don't know. But I'm not leaving, okay? Not again." I assured her and kissed her forehead. She's probably so scared. I can't believe that I let her do whatever she wanted like that. I knew I couldn't trust her to be responsible. She follows her emotions instead of thinking. Not that I'm better... But in this case, she's under my responsibility.

   We stayed with Cora for more until Max noticed that Jade and I were getting tired. "Please, go home." He requested. "I think it's better for all of us that you'll get back home. I'll stay here with Cora all night long, I'll talk to you if there's any update." I appreciated his nice gesture, and nodded.

   "I'm sorry for bursting at you. I know you didn't mean for her to get harmed." He pursed his lips into a thin line. "Thank you." I saw a small smile on Jade's face when she heard me say that. I think it's the first time in a long time she's smiling at me. I missed seeing her warm smile.

   Jade and I began walking outside Cora's room as she suddenly stopped. "Hey, I need to go to the bathroom for a second, okay? Wait for me in the car." I nodded as she left. I continued walking outside the hospital. I walked slowly, having a bad feeling. Either it's Cora or Jade, I have a feeling that something bad is about to happen. I entered my car and waited for Jade. I waited and waited and waited and she never showed up. I began feeling anxious as my heart raced. I exited my car, ready to go and search for her when I heard faint coughs. I walked after the sound that came from the bushes next to the hospital. For my surprise, I found her.

   "J-J-Jade..." I stuttered, feeling as if someone stabbed my heart now. She was crawling on the floor, black ooze coming out of her wounded stomach. She was coughing black ooze. Fuck! Who did that to her? Why would anyone hurt her like that?

   "H-h-elp me." She begged and I picked her up. I should've waited for her outside the bathroom. I shouldn't have listened to her. She looks like she's in so much pain... I don't want to see her that way. She doesn't deserve this. I held her tightly. I don't want to lose her, and I won't lose her.

   "Stay strong for me, Jade. I'm not letting you go." I'll keep her safe. I'll keep her safe forever. No one will ever hurt her again. No one will ever make her feel the way she feels right now.

   "It... H-hurts..." She cried.

   "Don't cry. It's fine. We'll fix everything. Stay with me. All you need to do is keep your eyes open and stay with me." She struggled breathing, but she nodded, trying to do as I asked. I will revenge what they did to her. I'll find out who it is.

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