Fighting for Our Destiny

Chapter 5: Mate's Touch

(Stephanie's POV)

I stood outside the hospital room door for five minutes, working up the courage to go in. I didn't know what to really expect. I raised my hand and knocked.

Alpha Matthew opened the door and let me in. Luna LeAnne sat on a chair next to the bed that Derrick was laying in. Derrick didn't look the same. He was paler and smaller. Definitely not the man I first met and fell in love with. He doesn't know I love him though.

Alpha Matthew and Luna LeAnne were watching me, hope and fear shining in their eyes. I didn't want to disappoint them. I slowly walked up to the bed, I was scared. What if this didn't work?

"Stephanie?" Luna LeAnne spoke to me.

"Yes?"

"Thank you for this. I hope and pray this works."

I didn't respond, I couldn't. These people have all their hope in my hands. I just don't have the courage to go through with it. I could feel tears sliding down my face. I wanted my mate, this proximity was killing me. Why did that stupid rouge have to rape me? I could be with my mate right now. I was carrying his pup! I had decided to keep it, I wish Derrick wanted it as much as Alpha Matthew had described.

I seen the rage he had, that tree being torn apart. I was deflowered and that upset him. He needed a perfect mate, not me. I don't deserve him. My whole body was trembling while thinking about this. My knees gave way and I sank to the floor.

I awoke later on a bed in the same room with Derrick and couldn't think of why either. Then it came back to me, my thoughts, my trembling body, and then my knees giving way. My immediate thought was of my pup, was he hurt? My hand shot to my rounded stomach, I only had two months left and couldn't wait to see him.

"You two are fine. I caught you before you hit the floor." Alpha Matthew stood next to my bed and Luna LeAnne was in the chair next to Derrick's bed.

"Thank you. How long was I out?" I asked.

"Three hours. We called your parents and let them know what was going on. They said for you to call them when you wake up."

I nodded and stepped out into the hall to call them and find a bathroom.

Mom answered on the first ring, "Are you OK?"

"Yes mom. I just got weak all of a sudden. I'm OK though. No worries."

"Are you sure? The baby OK?"

"Yes mom! We're both OK," I responded. She's so worried about me and this pregnancy. I don't know who's more excited now, me or her. I soon ended the call and made my way to the bathroom. I took a long time washing my hands and when I got back, they had had food brought in.

"Get you something to eat," Alpha Matthew told me.

"Thank you." Only then did I realize how hungry I truly was. I've been eating more since I'm pregnant and I felt like a whale. I'll be glad when my little pup gets here. "Luna LeAnne? When are you due?"

"Valentine's day. When's yours?"

"Leap day. If she is born in the morning I'm going to make her birthday February 28th but if she is born in the afternoon her birthday will be March 1st."

"Lovely! Got a name yet?"

"No but I kind of like Hunter," I told her.

"I like that. We haven't decided between the two sets. Matthew likes Natalie Deshea and I like Gena Nicole. I've actually been thinking we could combine our favorites into Gena Deshea."

"I love it!" Alpha Matthew exclaimed.

"It's a beautiful name Luna LeAnne."

"Oh, just call me LeAnne honey."

"And just call me Matthew too. The pack isn't required to call out our titles like they have to in other packs," Matthew said.

"Ok. I can do that. It makes addressing you two easier." I decided it was time to try to touch Derrick and persuade him back. I do believe I'm falling in love with his family.

I felt eyes on me as I walked over to his bed. I stood there for a minute before I reached down and touched his hand. I gently picked it up and held his hand, stroking my thumb over the back of his knuckles. I didn't know if it would be immediate or take some time but he didn't move or anything so I spoke to him.

"Derrick, you need to come back to your family. You need to come back to your pack. We need you. I need you," I said. I finally admitted my feelings for him. I stroked his cheek, willing him back. I wanted him to know that I loved him, his family loves him.

"Please Derrick. Please open your eyes. Please look at me." I could feel the tears rolling down my face and I could hear sniffles from LeAnne. We was all hoping this would work. He needed to come back. I sank into the chair, laid my head on his arm, and cried.

"Steph... Stephanie?" His voice shocked me. I'd never heard anything more gorgeous in my life. I wanted him to say my name again.

"Derrick." He opened his blue eyes and looked at me. I couldn't help the tears flowing now. He had come back, he had come back to me.