Hidden Strength

Chapter Four:

Growling, Willa dodged Derek's arm as it reached for her, then lunged and slammed into him, sending the larger man flying back a few feet. Eyes still glowing, she darted for him again, only this time Derek was prepared, using her own movement to send her flying against a tree before pinning her there. With her arms immobilized, she realized that this was going to be another loss if she didn't let her wolf make the calls. She'd been trying to keep some control, but maybe that was the problem.

Giving in, she felt the wolf inside surge forward, quickly taking advantage of her unhindered legs. Before he could react, Willa had brought her leg up and shoved her foot into his chest, not just forcing him off her but almost all the way across the clearing. She gave no reaction time, following after and tackling him to the ground. Taking complete advantage of her leverage, she straddles his waist, anchoring herself on top of him and grabbed his wrists, pinning them on either side of his head. Willa hovered only an inch away from him, her eyes bright gold as she snarled, "I win."

Both of them were panting. After Willa had finished her homework, he'd just told her to follow him, like she hadn't accused him of thinking her weak less than half an hour before. They, well Derek, had finally met her brother and best friend, though the best impression was not made. Willa had remained out of sight, but listened intently. He'd just told them it was private property, and as he walked away, Stiles had hissed to her brother who he was. Damn Stiles and his gossip-y tendencies. After making sure her brother was out of sight and hearing range, Derek had told her to attack, this time she listened. They'd been at it for an hour since.

After a few moments, Willa pulled her wolf back, her eyes fading out to blue and she realized the position they were in. She immediately let go of his wrists, squeaking out 'sorry' and rolled off him, trying not to panic. Maybe she should have just accepted a loss, but Willa was still scared. She was absolutely terrified she had been right earlier, and that Derek thought she was a completely useless little kid. She had thought maybe if she beat him, he would think otherwise.

Derek rolled over and pushed himself up, before offering her a hand. Willa swallowed but let him pull her up. They stood facing each other for a moment, before Derek cleared his throat and said abruptly, "Sorry." She nearly got whiplash from her head shooting up to look him in the face. Her eyes widened in shock as he sighed, "Earlier, I gave you the wrong idea, and I'm sorry for that Willa."

Willa almost thought he was kidding. But he looked completely sincere, and his heart rate remained steady. She let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding and asked, "Why?"

He stayed silent, which made Willa think that it was because she had been right earlier. Of all the times she had to be right- "Did it upset you more than I wouldn't answer you, or that you thought you were right?" She was still confused, it was like he was trying to give her a headache.

Shaking her head, she sighed, "What does it matter, Derek?" Despite the brute force and blunt nature in which he handled most things, Derek could be incredibly mysterious and difficult when he chose to. Now was one of the times that he chose to.

"Answer the question," he retorted, trying to keep his temper.

Willa bit her lip, taking a cautious step back but answered him quietly, averting her gaze, "I-I was scared that I was right." She still was, and his cryptic conversation patterns were not helping the matter either. Honestly, she didn't want to talk about it. He was picking at her odd mood, and she wanted to figure it out and be able to explain it herself.

That was not, apparently, going to be the case. Derek kept questioning her, remaining incredibly calm for Derek Hale, "At the school, you lost your temper. What made you-"

"I was jealous!" Her outburst managed to surprise both of them, Willa immediately covering her mouth with her hands and Derek at a loss for words. If she weren't so mortified, Willa might have teased him.