Supernatural Law (Derek Hale)

The Tell

Derek's P.O.V.

Derek followed Madeleine back into her apartment, weary from a long day of events resulting in him almost dying. Derek collapsed next to Madeleine on the couch, letting out a sigh of relief- or anxiousness, he couldn't tell anymore- as he put his feet up on the coffee table. 

"Hey," Madeleine said to him. "I'm really glad you're okay." Derek stared into her eyes. She had beautiful, dark brown eyes with hints of gold. He noticed them every time she looked at him, how could he not, but he stared into them as if it was the first time he was really seeing them. Derek heard her heartbeat speed up a bit as she held eye contact with him. Her face was inching closer to his, getting so close yet so impossibly far, and for a split second, Derek almost lost it and threw caution to the wind. Almost. 

Derek cleared his throat.

Madeleine pulled her head back and looked down at her lap, but quickly recovered. "You really shouldn't put your feet on the furniture." She looked at his propped up feet and left to go upstairs. Derek huffed the moment she was gone. It wasn't that he didn't want her; he was dying to touch her, to hold her, to tangle his hands in her long brown hair...but he knew he couldn't. She was already dangerously close to being completely involved in his supernatural life, and he knew it couldn't end in anything other than pain and suffering. He made a vow after the first time he let someone in, truly in. He would never risk another's life for his selfish desires. He couldn't do it again. 

Derek spent the next day looking for a new place to live while Madeleine was at work. He couldn't risk being around her so much any longer. He knew she would be able to get him to crack if he let it go on, and with the increasing danger from the mysterious alpha, he couldn't take any chances. 

Derek found a small rental condo in the neighborhood close to the Preserve, and close to his old house. If it were up to him, he'd continue living in the Hale house, but it was much too dangerous. Not to mention, technically country property. And an easily traceable spot for hunters to find him. 

After speaking on the phone with the renter, Derek went to the property and signed a contract. He wouldn't get to move in for another 48 hours, but he could manage that. Just two more days avoiding Madeleine as much as possible. He'd managed much more difficult tasks before. 

-

That night, Derek found himself back in the Preserve with Scott. The alpha had just attacked a teenager and a video store employee, and Derek knew the clock was ticking. He and Scott were too far away from finding an answer, and they were running out of time. 

Scott met Derek on the roof of the video store where the alpha had attacked minutes ago. Below them, police cars and an ambulance were parked, lights flashing, as the Sheriff tried to question a very frustrated Jackson. 

"Starting to get it?" Derek asked as Scott looked down at the video store employee's mangled body on a stretcher. 

"Uh, I get that he's killing people, but I don't get why. I mean, this isn't standard practice, right? We don't go out in the middle of the night murdering everyone, do we?"

"No," Derek responded, putting his hands in his pockets. "We're predators. We don't have to be killers."

"Then why is he a killer?"

"That's what we're gonna find out." Derek led Scott back into the Beacon Hills Preserve. He didn't feel very safe about going back into his house, especially with the Argents now aware of the alpha, but he knew he needed to go back in order to help Scott. They arrived at the house minutes later, and Derek started up the stairs. 

"You know, I have a life too," Scott said. Derek turned around to face him.

"No, you don't."

"Yes, I do!" Scott cried. "I don't care what you say about him making me his pet, or-"