Soulmates | Derek Hale - Chapter 3: Chapter 3

Derek stared forward with wide eyes as Maeve's body fell against the mud, pulling himself to rush to her side as sharp gun shots echoed through the almost silent woods. Derek gently wrapped his hands around Maeve's hips, pulling her into his arms to sit her up, his claws returning to nails as his fingers dug into her maroon jumper.
Blood ran down Maeve's forehead, patches of mud smeared across her rose tainted cheeks, the remaining blood of her healing stab wound staining Derek's blue t-shirt. Derek's black converse sunk further into the mud as he slowly stood up, shifting Maeve's body in his arms as he searched his surroundings nervously.
Like most full moons, Peter Hale was running through the woods in search of his troubled nephew, one hand buried in his denim jacket pocket and another running through his hair.
Peter sighed in relief at a silhouette forming in the shadows between the trees, calling out for his nephew "Derek?"
Peter frowned in confusion as Derek rushed forward, looking flustered and afraid as he carefully held the blonde stranger in his arms.
"We need to take her home, somethings wrong with her!" Derek worriedly told his uncle, moving as quick as he could with Maeve in his arms.
Peter jogged forward, coming to a sudden holt as he stared at the features past the blonde flowing hair "Put her down, Derek!"
"What? No!" Derek stared at Peter in disbelief, holding Maeve tighter as he tried to barge past the older wolf "Hunters aren't far away and they'll kill us!"
"Not if she kills us first, Derek! She's an Argent," Peter growled at his nephew protectively, motioning to Maeve angrily "Maeve Argent."
The Argent family relocated to Beacon Hills only a few months ago but the family reputation is well known, years of history filling all werewolves with fear over the family.
"Maeve," Derek mumbled to himself, putting a name to the frightened face as he stared down at her with a sigh "Maeve is like us, Peter, they'll kill her too! I can't let them kill her!"
"Aren't you listening? She's an Argent!" Peter shouted, listening to closely to his surroundings as he grabbed onto Derek's arm, trying to get him to let go of Maeve "She'll kill you before they get the chance, I'm not letting you die on my watch, Derek!"
"I don't care! She looked terrified, Peter. When they shouted her name, she looked so afraid," Derek protested, gazing down at Maeve sadly, "I have to help her. I need to help her."
"Come on," Peter rolled his eyes in annoyance, tugging on Derek's arm to pull them back through the preserve "Why are you so hellbent on helping her?"
Derek didn't know whether it was the full moon or wanting to help Maeve, but he felt like he didn't have a choice, he had to help her.
"I don't know, it feels like i have to protect her." Derek held Maeve closer to his chest as he and Peter jogged through the woods, looking cautiously around at their surroundings.
"At least she made you get your act together, it wouldn't surprise me if the hunters killed you after the way you acted tonight." Peter commented, hinting at Derek's new found control, rolling his eyes yet again as Derek ignored him.
Maeve's lips parted as she took a shaky breath, Derek looked down protectively, expecting to find her awake "Maeve?"
"Oh, don't look at her like that. I know those eyes," Peter smacked Derek's shoulder, speaking louder as Derek's gaze remained on Maeve "Stop it."
Derek turned to his uncle with a growl, "I'm not doing anything!"
The Hale house finally came into view, Peter practically cheered in relief as he pulled his nephew along the grass "Hurry up!"
"Peter?" Laura ran worriedly through the house, opening the front door to find her answer, Cora running behind to stand next to her big sister "Did you find him?
Cora nervously held Laura's hand, following after Derek and Peter as they carried Maeve down to the basement "Who's that?"
"Is she bleeding?" Laura asked after her sister, standing back in the doorway stopping Cora from running in.
"Maeve." Derek told his sisters, sitting down on the cold floors beside Maeve.
Peter huffed, crossing his arms over his chest as he looked to his nieces "Argent."
"What? Derek, what the hell!" Laura exclaimed with wide eyes, the curls on her head bouncing as she jumped in shock "Get away from her!"
"Its a loosing battle, he won't listen, he's crushing on her." Peter commented, Derek turned back to Peter with a glare.
"I'm not crushing on her! I'm helping her," Derek exclaimed, "What did you expect me to do? Leave her?"
"Yes!" Peter argued, taking a few steps back, holding his hands out as Derek growled at him "No need to be so defensive, nephew."
Maeve gasped as she sat up, leaning forward on the cellar floor as the Hales turned to her in shock. Cold blue eyes scanned the room in fear, shrinking back further against the wall. Derek noticed her fear instantly, smiling gently at Maeve.
"Maeve? Its Maeve, right?" Derek smiled, slowly holding out his hands to show he wouldn't hurt her, Maeve sat up slightly staring at him in curiosity "My names Derek Hale."
Maeve nodded, reaching up to find blood on her forehead, weakly glancing back at the Hales in the doorway.
Derek followed her gaze, watching Maeve's hands shake anxiously, "We're not going to hurt you."
"Thats ironic..." Peter rolled his eyes, Maeve frowned gazing back down to the ground.
"Shut up, Peter!" Derek snapped, standing up to push his siblings and uncle out of the cellar, "Get out!"
"Derek-" Laura went to argue, protectively holding her brothers arm as Maeve slouched back against the wall, trying to piece everything together.
Derek slammed the door shut, glaring at Peter as he shook his head at his nephew in disappointment "Get out!"
"Derek?" Derek quickly turned at Maeve's scratchy voice, walking over to sit down in front of her "What happened?"
Derek placed his hand on her bruised and muddy hand, resting it against the chilled floor to help her stop shaking as he smiled comfortingly at her "Its a full moon, i lost control and ran out into the woods. You had lost control too, i found you running from the hunters, you passed out so i brought you to my house before someone hurt you."
"My family, were they in the woods?" Maeve asked hesitantly, knowing Derek knew of her identity by now.
Maeve could barley focus, her mind filling with worry over her family, struggling to acknowledge her new supernatural status.
"Yeah-" Derek began, watching Maeve in confusion as she rushed to her feet, wincing in pain as she tried to leave.
"I've got to go," Maeve stressed, trying to run out of the room, Derek gently pulled her back.
"Hey! Its okay," Derek turned Maeve to face him, staring at her worriedly "They can't hurt you here. You don't have to be afraid anymore."
"Thank you for helping me, really," Maeve smiled in appreciation, pushing past Derek towards the door "But its better for everyone if i just left."
Derek's hand wrapped around Maeve's, turning her back around, amber eyes glowing as their gazes met, Maeve standing still at the sight of Derek. Old and flickering lamps illuminated the cellar, their glowing eyes shining brightly in the darkened room, the remains of the full moon disappearing through the barred over window.
"Maeve, we can help you!" Derek promised nervously, Maeve panicked stepping away from Derek.
"You don't understand, they'll kill me!" Maeve cried, overwhelmed by her sudden emotions, staring at the claws over her painted nails in shock "They already hated me before, now I've lost everything!"
Derek sighed, staring at Maeve sympathetically as she tearfully shook her head "I can't let you be apart of this, I'm not letting you or your family get killed because of me."
"They already want to kill us, Maeve," Derek reminded her, glowing his eyes "If you don't learn to control this, you'll be the one getting hurt. I'm not going to let that happen."
"It hasn't stopped them before, even when i was human," Maeve blinked away her tears, Derek sighed, letting go of Maeve's hand as she walked to the door, hesitantly stopping "You want to help me?"
Derek nodded, answering immediately "Of course."
Maeve smiled softly, gazing back at Derek over her shoulder "Then me go."
Maeve pushed open the heavy door, rushing up the stairs into the Hale house, sighing in relief knowing her family wouldn't find her or the Hales here.
Derek watched Maeve run away, sprinting after her "Maeve!"
Peter and Laura ran out into the hallway, grabbing onto the teen wolf before he could run any further. Pulling him back by his maroon hoodie, pushing him back against a wooden cupboard door.
Laura checked Derek over for injuries, sighing in relief "What happened?"
"She's afraid," Derek told them sadly, watching the door slam behind the blonde.
"Some people can't be saved, Derek," Laura told her brother, following his gaze to see Maeve run out into the woods through the window "Maeve's an Argent, she's the enemy whether you like or not."
Derek glared at Laura, "Maeve's like us."
"Believe what you will," Laura sighed, smiling sympathetically at her younger brother "But you'll be the one hurt in the long run."
Laura sighed as the front door slammed in her face, sharing a concerned glance with Peter watching Derek run after Maeve regardless of the consequences.
Chris Argent jogged down at the street in search of his niece, sighing in relief at her silhouette in the distance "Maeve!"
Maeve took a deep breath, repeating Derek's words as she walked forward out through the trees "You don't have to be afraid anymore."
Maeve stepped out from behind the shadows, bravely standing tall despite the potential consequences "Chris?"
Chris had dedicated the past seventeen years helping his sister raise Maeve, he had seen her at her worst, but Maeve had never looked so broken. Maeve was a child of boundless energy and never seemed to stop talking, clumsy as hell and had a tendency to drive Chris and his sister up the wall many of times.
But Maeve was also kind, even in the toxic environment she grew up in. Maeve was sensitive and wanted the best for those she loved, she passionate and could light up a room with her smile alone. The moment Maeve was introduced to the family business, her humane qualities were overshadowed by the cruel rules of her family and the code.
"Maeve?" Chris ran forward, quickly pulling Maeve into his arms, hugging her tightly "You're okay."
The moment his twin sister came home with a broken heart and a baby on the way, Chris Argent stepped in to be the support they needed. For Maeve, Chris was her home, her protector, there was nothing Chris wouldn't do to keep Maeve safe. Maeve didn't let a lot of people see who she really was, simply because she didn't trust anyone but Chris and her mother, without her mother here now Maeve only had Chris.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Maeve wrapped her arms around her uncle, crying into his shoulder as Chris looked down at her in concern "Please don't kill me."
"Maeve-" Chris began in confusion, slowly letting go of Maeve as she glowed her eyes, tears clouding around the bright glow "I don't want to die,"
"You're a werewolf?" Chris stared at her in disbelief, sighing sadly as Maeve flinched as he moved towards her "Oh, Maeve."
"I'm sorry, Chris, i don't know how I'm like this! They'll kill me," Maeve stared at Chris fearfully, Chris quickly shook his head, walking along the path protectively hugging Maeve "No ones going to hurt you. I promise, i'll protect you."
Even with a wife and daughter at home, Chris never abandoned Maeve and her new supernatural status wouldn't change that. Being raised in a family full of hunters wasn't easy, being made to join whether you liked it or not wasn't either. Of course Chris would have an anger towards werewolves, but Maeve was innocent, his wonderful niece, she wasn't a monster.
Maeve smiled slightly, leaning her head on Chris' shoulder "You don't hate me?"
"I could never hate you, Mayvee." Chris promised, frowning as he noticed Maeve turn, following her gaze back to the entrance of the preserve
Maeve stared forward in surprise, smiling slightly at Derek standing at the entrance of the preserve. Derek smiled back knowing Maeve would be okay with her uncle, turning back to walk home, pulling his hood over his messy hair.
"Don't tell me you were with the Hales," Chris looked to her in disappointment, saying her name harshly to get her attention "Maeve."
"I was with a Hale, or four," Maeve slowly replied, "You know what, maybe they weren't the Hales! A completely ordinary human family with a creepy cellar and glowing eyes..."
"Your sarcasm won't get you out of this one. Maeve!" Chris rolled his eyes, nudging her shoulder as her gaze on on of the neighbours house landed back on him "You have the attention span of a goldfish."
Maeve frowned, raising a brow at him "The ones with the big eyes?"
"Does it matter?" Chris questioned, Maeve shrugged shaking her head "...No?"
Chris slowed down as they reached their house, noticing Kate watching from the window as they stopped at the gates "You know, you need to control this, or they'll all find out. No one will be as understanding as i am."
Maeve sighed, looking down in shame "Once i find where mom is, i'll run."
"I don't want that life for you, Maeve, you don't deserve to spent the rest of your life in hiding." Chris argued, anger rising at the mention of his twin sister.
"Well, then why hasn't mom not been home in months? Why won't anyone tell me whats going on! All i want is to see my mom and i can't even be told where the hell she is," Maeve exclaimed angrily, taking a deep breath "Chris?"
One day, Elizabeth Argent was marching around in her typical bossy manner, the next, she was no where to be found. Gerard had assured the family that his eldest daughter was safe, but Maeve hated that she couldn't trust his word, not to add the sinking bad feeling that only grows with time.
Chris opened the gate, motioning for Maeve to walk towards the house "I don't have the answers to that, and you know it."
Maeve nodded sadly, walking up the steps to the porch "Have you heard from her?"
"Yeah..." Chris thought back to the short phone call with his sister before their father took the phone, "She called, told me to tell you she loved you and to get a haircut. You look 'frazzled'."
"Typical." Maeve rolled her eyes, unable to tell the difference between the anger or annoyance she felt.
"Did you finally find the stray?" Kate swung open the front door with a smirk, glancing over at Maeve's bloody and mud stained appearance "I hope she didn't hurt herself."
Maeve was quickly hit by her new emotions, the anger and hurt she'd felt for her aunt for so many years hitting her all at once. Tears blurred her vision, pushing past her aunt before sprinting up the stairs.
"Maeve!" Chris shouted after her, glaring at his sister before walking into the three story house himself.
Maeve slammed her bedroom door shut, sliding down against the wood as she cried, her claws digging into the grey fluffy rug, staring at her bloodied figure in the mirror opposite of the room.
Chris leant against the kitchen island with a sigh, arms crossed against his chest as he waited on Maeve to come sit with the family "Come on, its only breakfast."
Maeve's head suddenly appeared behind one of the counters, closing the cupboard once inspecting it, making her way over to the fridge "What if they're plotting something, Chris!"
Chris hated to admit that this inquisitive behaviour was normal for his niece, but it calmed him slightly knowing Maeve was slowly getting back to normal.
Chris went to argue with his imaginative niece, frowning in confusion as Maeve quickly held a glass of water out in front of him "What?"
Maeve rolled her eyes, motioning for Chris to take the glass, holding it up in confusion once he did "Drink it."
"What does it taste like?" Maeve asked impatiently as Chris took a sip, nervously tugging on her blonde curls.
"Water?" Chris stared at Maeve in complete confusion, placing the glass on the counter as Maeve rushed back into the kitchen "Maeve what-"
"They haven't put wolfsbane the water. Yet," Maeve told him, tapping her fingers on the marble counter top as she thought.
"You're paranoid." Chris pointed out, Maeve dramatically opened the fridge doors causing Chris to groan in annoyance.
"Why don't we go out to eat?" Maeve spoke up, nervously staring at all of the potentially poisoned food in the fridge "In a public setting, where they can't violently murder me.
Chris took Maeve's arm, pulling her along to the dining room, sliding out a leather chair for her to sit on "Sit down, and eat."
"You took your time." Kate commented, looking up from her breakfast as Chris sat down beside Maeve, smirking in amusement as Maeve avoided her gaze.
"Maeve was being Maeve." Chris shrugged, earning a glare from the girl herself, smiling weakly down at his niece.
"Nothing new there then," Kate gabbed, twirling her knife in hand as Maeve hesitantly looked up "Hows the leg?"
Maeve clenched her fists, the fork in her hand bending till it snapped, thankfully hidden by the table "Bloody."
"Chill out." Chris whispered, taking the now two parts of fork from her, sighing as Maeve let out a quiet growl "Oh, here we go..."
Gerard looked up from his newspaper, placing the paper on the table beside him as he went on to eat his breakfast. "Elizabeth was on the phone, her trips been extended."
Maeve sighed softly, turning to her grandfather with a worried glance "Again?"
Every opportunity Maeve had to ask of her mothers whereabouts, Gerard quickly shut her down, going as far to refuse to tell his son any information about his twin sister.
"Maeve, we never got to speak about the hunt," Gerard avoided her question, his glare matching his daughters whilst Maeve shifted uncomfortably in her seat "What the hell were you playing at?"
"I freaked out. Nerves," Maeve lied, forcing a smile before glancing down at the table "I won't happen again."
"Don't make me reconsider bringing you to the business so soon, Maeve." Gerard warned, turning to talk to his daughter but Maeve interrupted.
"Not like i had a choice." Maeve mumbled under her breath, shocked faces turning in her direction.
Chris turned to his niece in a low whisper, warning her to stop "Maeve."
Kate raised a brow, her lips curving up to a taunting smile "What was that?"
"I said, its not like i had a choice," Maeve repeated, sitting up in her seat as her claws dug into the leather sides of the chair.
Maeve's eyes widened at her confidence, trying not to blush in embarrassment, glancing back at her uncle for support.
"Has little Maeve got something to tell us?" Kate continued, her father sighed turning back to the conversation.
Maeve glared, "No, i don't."
"Embarrassing the family like that, i can't let it go lightly." Gerard began to tell of his punishment, worrying both Maeve and Chris, but Maeve's anger got the better of her.
Maeve took a sip of her drink, slowly placing it back on the table as she stared directly at her aunt "Kate didn't slam the knife in my leg lightly either."
Chris stared at Maeve in shock, holding onto her arm as she went to argue once more "Maeve!"
"Are you going to let her speak to us like that?" Kate turned to her father in disbelief, clenching her teeth as she angrily stared back at Maeve "You have no idea what you're talking about, Maeve, right Chris?"
Chris winced as Maeve's hand squeezed his arm, jumping into defence "I think Maeve is upset ab-"
"Maeve is sick of being the family punchbag," Maeve interrupted, brushing her hair over her shoulder as she sat back in annoyance "And she can speak for herself."
Gerard pushed himself up from the chair, throwing the almost empty glass of water across the table, the glass smashing above the family photo hanging proudly on the wall.
"Enough!" Gerard yelled causing silence to fall on the table, Maeve flinched causing Chris to pull her closer to him, glass falling on the back of her seat "You want to be part of this family, Maeve? Act like it! Stop being a child,"
"Get out of my sight." Chris pulled Maeve out of the chair as Gerard turned away from them, glaring at his sister as he pulled the teen out of the room.
Chris wrapped his arm over her shoulders, "Come on, Maeve."
"Go, i'll sort this," Chris told her once they reached the front door, passing Maeve her denim jacket as Kate stormed down the hallway towards them "Maeve, go!"
"Oh my god," Maeve sprinted down the driveway, nervously rambling to herself as she ran through the culdesac with no idea where to go "I'm so dead!"
Maeve found herself running with no sense of direction, crashing against a taller figure rushing in her direction.
Derek helped Maeve stand steady, gazing down at her in surprise as she finally looked up "Maeve?"
"Derek," Maeve muttered, nervously looking back over her shoulder down the street before turning to Derek with a soft smile "Hi."
"Are you okay? Whats happened?" Derek questioned worriedly, gently pulling Maeve back in the opposite direction, noticing her sigh in relief.
"Those heightened emotions? Yeah, that kicked in," Maeve noticed Derek's questioning stare, turning away from nosily looking into her neighbours houses back to Derek "I caused a, slight, disruption at breakfast."
Derek hummed, digging his hands into his baseball jacket "Slight?"
"I have a feeling my aunts going to turn me into a fur coat, I'm already on thin ice with my grandpa and my uncle, bless him, can only take care of me so much and for all i know my mothers ran away. Now I'm probably going running for my life for the rest of eternity," Maeve rambled, throwing her hands to her face, groaning into them "Why did i do that?"
Maeve frowned in confusion at Derek's frozen gaze in her direction, "Derek?"
"You're to pretty to be a fur coat." Derek told her, Maeve looked down with a smile, only to turn back at the shouting in the distance.
"Come on," Derek sighed, taking Maeve's arm in his to lead her away.