Lunar Clock

Chapter 22: Is There an Alpha In the House? ~

DPOV

I felt really uneasy; I couldn't keep my composure much longer. Chloe's light steps pounding in my head like a million clashes of thunder. They were always reminding me of what I just done, what I almost done... actually, Chloe doesn't like me; I need to explain that to her. I don't want her to take this the wrong way; I don't want to lose her because of some dumb thing my body was making me do... but man those big beautiful blue eyes so close up were so_. Dammit self, stop that! I lurched to a halt, Chloe smacking into me. I had to say it now; I couldn't hold it in any longer, I HAD TO CLEAR THIS UP!

"Chloe, I'm sorry for what happened just then. Please don't... I don't know," I kept myself turned away from her, and as I waited for a serious response of hers to follow, suddenly she gave out a laugh.

"Don't worry about it, just tell me when." I looked up.

"When what?"

"When you want to go out." I turned around, I swore I was about to fall over! Wh_ What? Is she saying she will go out with me? Does that mean she likes me? I could feel my heart pumping inside my chest, I was huffing in shock, and Chloe was looking worryingly up at me.

"Derek are you okay?" It took me a minute, but I finally was able to spurt out yes. I was so shocked, but at the same time so happy, so damn freaking happy I thought I would just collapse right there. So Simon was right, she did like me... and now we will be_.

"Come on, let's hurry up or we won't be ready for the Alpha." She latched her hand onto mine, and pulled me the rest of the way. I felt like I was in a cloud, a smile slowly came to my dazing face. I must be dreaming, I must be!

CPOV

Derek seemed to be acting odd, now I knew why. So I tolerated his cloudy headedness, and helped him get ready for our visitor. I looked back when we stopped at the end of the hallway and he didn't let go of my hand, did this normally happen to guys?

Anyway, after about an hour of cleaning up the front part of the house, which I was told by Andrew to be his rented estate when he lived in the pack as a minor, I realized that everyone was acting weird, there was whispering going on between Simon and Tori, and Tori to Liam. They kept eyeing me, but none them as much as Derek, who would look up from his work and when our eyes made contact he would brighten to a nervous red and quickly shoot back to his cleaning.

What's with him?

Then, a knock came from the door. Somewhere a clock was ticking, and we all were frozen listening to the tick-tock-tick-tock of it, until Liam snapped out of the chilling daze and went to get the door.

"Coming!" he called as he ran out of the living room. We all waited for the hatch of the door to open, I heard Derek awkwardly slip a book back onto the shelf, and he was shaking. He was going to see his real father for the very first time, if I was in his shoes, I would probably be shaking too.

Then I heard Liam pipe up.

"W_ Welcome to my house, It's so good to see you!"

"Yes... yes." I flinched at that deep rough voice that came from down the hall, so deep and powerful, but at the same time mature and thoughtful. I tried to picture the man's face, but it wouldn't come, cause all I saw was Derek's, except older." Now where is this boy I have been informed of?" Simon, Tori and I glanced over our backs to Derek, and Derek just grunted and pulled on his collar. I could tell he was nervous, for some reason I have noticed that Derek has become more open with the 3 of us; he was once a mystery that hid his emotions from the world, now he was just like a normal teenager... well sort of anyway?

"Yes, just down the hall sir, if you would follow me." The others and I dropped the brooms and bags we were holding and sat down on the sunken couch, Derek was at the end, tapping the armrest furiously.

Then like a gust of wind, this massive presence of intimidation rocked me and the man made his way into the living room. I couldn't believe my eyes.

Derek stood up, his fists clenching and unclenching as he looked up at this male, this alpha male. He was wordless, and as well too was the man. They just glared, emeralds to emeralds, then the alpha tensed his nostrils and his powerful fists disappeared as he crossed his arms.

"This is not my son." He said, glancing up and down Derek like he was a gift horse. Derek's eyebrows rose for a fraction of a second, then he looked away, his expression hidden behind his dark bangs.

"What do you mean?" Liam argued, coming up beside Derek and grasping his shoulder.

"He smells just like_"

"This man is at the least 19 years old! If my son was still alive, he would be half the height this werewolf is!"

"But_" Liam defended, becoming angered as the Alpha cut him off once again, but this time with a look.

"Don't you dare lie straight to my face Liam Brownell and tell me that this boy is sixteen. He reeks of his three days!"

"Alpha sir," Liam said, gruffly in a deep angry tone. Derek was still looking off to the side, his thoughts unknown. "This boy is only sixteen." Liam said calmly, and making direct eye contact with the alpha. I swallowed hard; with all the nerves I could muster I shot up from my place on the couch and fought for Derek.

"I_ It's true! W_ we are his friends!" Derek looked up from the floor, his gaze shooting to me as he mouthed my name under his breath.

"That's enough out of you, child, this is a talk between werewolves!"

"Don't you dare talk to Chloe this way!" Derek snapped, grabbing the collar of the man and hoisting him to his toes, which must have been very hard to do when he was much taller than Derek, and even more built.

Suddenly Derek was trust at the coffee table, sending its contents flying and Tori and I screaming.

Then everything quieted down, the man was on top of Derek, his color in his hand and their faces only inches away from each other, teeth- and fangs- bearing.

"Only someone who is truly brave could ever muster up the courage to face me directly." Derek didn't even struggle; he just sat there, brows furrowed and eyes wild.

"I won't let you disrespect my friends! No matter how high in status and power you are! I won't hold back." The man relaxed and lifted away, his nose was working, and his eyes softening.

"What is your name lad?" he said, almost kindly, but still being lined in the sound of an order.

"My name is Derek, and I am 16 years old." The man got up and a sweet kind smile rose to his face.

"Well Derek, you have just earned my respect." Then the man nodded his head and put out his hand, Derek just looked at it, then took it cautiously. The man pulled him up like he weighed nothing, then as Derek was left wide eyed, he shook Derek's hand with both fists and returned to the front door with a farewell.

The door closed behind him, as Liam led him off.

"What just happened?" Tori asked, breaking the cold silence.

"I think Derek was just accepted into the pack." Andrew mumbled. I looked to Derek, and he was looking at the hallway then to the hand the Alpha had grasped.

"Yeah," he said, flexing his fist. "I think I was."