It was the middle of the night when a sharp pain stabbed Derek. He gasped as he woke, clutching at his stomach. His fangs elongated and he felt his eyes burn. It felt at first like a fire was spreading through his veins, coursing through him with his blood. But then the feeling shifted and it was suffocating. He clutched at his chest, at his throat, he gasped for air. Looking back on it, Derek would akin the feeling to drowning.
He let a roar escape his throat and the cottage shook around him. However, with that it seemed to break whatever enchantment that had been cast upon him. He was able to breathe once more and the pain that had been in his chest dissipated.
“Derek?” Erica called. She knocked softly on his doorway, “Are you all right?”
“Yes,” he said with a gasp. His breath still had not quite come back to him. He took a deeper breath and tried again, “Yes,” his voice was much more solid this time.
Erica moved quietly and slowly in to Derek’s room. He raised his chin at her and she lowered her head and exposed her neck. The display of submission calmed Derek and he allowed her to enter his space. She walked over to him and knelt down beside his bed. Derek reached out and touched the back of her neck. She sighed at the gentle touch of her alpha, feeling his dominance and his power.
“Did you have a nightmare?” She asked.
Derek shook his head, “I wasn’t dreaming.”
“I heard your heartbeat increase,” she admitted.
“You were listening to my heartbeat?”
She nodded sheepishly, “I was worried about your pain from earlier.”
“You’ve really changed since having your pups,” Derek chuckled lightly, “You’ve become quite the denmaker.”
“You’re trying to change the subject,” She paused for a moment, “Are you frightened of something?”
“It felt like I was drowning,” he said slowly, tightening his grip on the back of her neck, “I couldn’t breathe.”
Erica made a small affirmative sound, “That would be terrifying. But you say you weren’t dreaming?”
“No—I wasn’t dreaming. I woke up not able to breathe.”
“Derek—“
“Momma?” Whispered a small voice from the door. Both Derek and Erica looked up and spotted Aeria and James. The two pups were huddling close together and clinging to the doorframe.
“Ask your alpha permission to enter,” Erica instructed. The children looked at each other and then to Derek. They lowered their heads and bared their necks to Derek. He didn’t respond for a moment. But then he raised his chin and whuffed softly.
Hearing the approval, the pups relaxed a bit and scurried in to the room. They sat on their mother’s lap, each taking one of her knees. They clung to her tunic and snuggled close to her.
“What’s wrong, little pups?” She asked, petting Aeria’s hair and rubbing soft circles on James’ hand.
“Nightmare,” James mumbled. He rubbed his eyes, sleep still making him groggy. Aeria nodded.
“Nightmare,” she repeated.
Erica tilted her head, nuzzling against James’ head, “You both had a nightmare?”
They each nodded in response. Aeria looked up at Erica, “Why you in here, Momma?”
“Did Alpha get nightmare too?” James asked.
Derek blinked. He looked at the two young children watching him carefully. He sighed gently and nodded.
“I had a nightmare.”
“Momma make Alpha nightmare go away!”
“Yeah!” Aeria nodded quickly. She clambered from her mother’s lap and scrambled up on to Derek’s bed. The man watched her curiously.
“James! James!” Aeria said, motioning wildly at her brother. He got her hint and also moved up on to Derek’s bed. The two pups then hunkered down on each side of Derek. James nuzzled against Derek’s side and Aeria hugged her tiny arms around his side.
“Momma makes nightmares go away like this!”
“Nightmares run far far away!” James added.
Derek blinked at the children now nestled in to his sides and then at Erica. She was smiling softly and looking at her pups with tender admiration. She caught Derek’s gaze and grinned at him.
“It’s how I make their nightmares go away,” she shrugged, “Sorry if they’re bothering you.”
“No,” he mumbled. His gaze turned down to look at the children now breathing softly. They had fallen asleep in the strength of their alpha’s warmth. He then looked back at Erica, “They aren’t bothering me at all.”
Erica opened her mouth to say something, but there was a knock on the doorframe. Derek and Erica looked to the doorway once more. Boyd and Isaac stood there. Isaac was leaning against the frame, his arms crossed over his chest. He raised an eyebrow quizzically at Derek.
“I didn’t know we were piling tonight.”
“It wasn’t on purpose.”
Boyd cleared his throat, “Did they have a nightmare?” He asked, directing the question at Erica. She nodded in response.
“Well,” Isaac yawned, “If you can’t beat them—join them.” He nodded his head and offered his neck. Boyd did the same. Derek nodded and let the betas enter his room. Boyd walked over to Erica. She reached out and put her hands in his. They twined their fingers between each other and smiled gently at the other. He kissed their joined hands. Then he leaned over and kissed the foreheads of the children. He paused as he leaned over Derek.
Derek chuckled slightly, “I don’t need one, thanks.”
“Suit yourself,” Boyd shrugged his shoulders.
Isaac crawled on to the bed. He lay between Derek and the wall. His back was touching Derek’s legs as he curled up. Even slightly curled, his feet still dangled off the edge of the bed. He pillowed his head with his hands. Aeria twitched in her sleep and kicked slightly, her toes brushing Isaac’s curls.
Erica lay next to James. He mumbled in his sleep and cuddled closer to Derek. Erica smoothed out the boy’s hair and kissed the back of his head. She then turned and curled in to Boyd’s chest. He pillowed her head with his arm and wrapped his other around her waist. He held her close and sighed contentedly in to her hair.
The warmth of his pack surrounded Derek. He felt content and happy. It was like he had finally found a place to belong. The fears of drowning and the suffocation of darkness from earlier had completely left his mind. Now he closed his eyes and focused on the sounds of relaxed breathing all around him. It allowed his mind to drift and he was swiftly was carried in to his slumber.
Bubbles. Darkness. The sound of water. Where was he? How did he get here? His body was weightless. But he was cold. Why was it so cold? He opened his eyes. But even with his eyes open, he wasn’t sure if he was seeing. He closed his eyes and opened them again. There was no difference. Just all enveloping darkness.
Was he dying?
Is this how death went?
He looked to the left and then looked to the right. Just everlasting darkness. Nothing else. Only darkness. There were no shapes in the darkness. Only blanketed nothingness. He was alone and he was going to die. He couldn’t feel his limbs and he was slowly losing consciousness. But there was one word on his lips.
No.
Not a word.
It was a name.
He opened his mouth and water invaded the orifice. He choked, bubbles escaping from his lips. His empty vision faded and he let his body sink deeper.
But still the name remained.
Derek.
