Soulmates | Derek Hale - Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Derek and Archie stood behind the counter in Jamie's dads new bar, moving boxes of glasses onto the shelves in the rustic music venue. Maeve bit her lip in concentration as she neatly arranged some tables, glancing up at Jamie on the stage for approval, the human nodded his head holding up his thumbs.
"How have we ended up the ones doing the real work?" Archie complained, setting down a heavy box with a huff, rolling up the sleeves of his Henley as he looked up to Jamie messing around with the stage curtains "Jamie, man, come on!"
Maeve leant over with a laugh, cheering excitedly as Jamie returned from behind the curtains, a karaoke machine in tow. Derek's gaze remained on Maeve, smiling lightly as he watched her laugh, distracting himself from helping with the boxes.
Archie noticed, rolling his eyes as he nudged Derek's shoulder, taking another box from Jamie's intimidating, yet incredibly friendly, father, "Could you be anymore obvious?"
Jamie's father, Robert, leant against the bar, nodding over to Maeve, "That the girl you like, kiddo?"
"Yeah," Derek replied softly, looking away from Maeve for a moment to turn to Robert, raising a brow as the human shook his head.
"Then what are you messing around for? You like her, make her yours before someone else does," Robert questioned, wincing as he moved to hold his ears as the microphone squeak echoed around the room, sending Maeve almost tumbling over at the sound "James!"
Archie scoffed, smiling knowingly as Derek glared over at him "The last time i said that, he went on a rant about how he'd hurt her,"
After adjusting to the loud music suddenly emerging from the speakers, Maeve clapped along for Jamie as he jokingly sang along to the music, somehow perfectly nailing the moves from the music video.
"After i lost my first wife, i never thought i'd love anybody the same again. But if i didn't move on with Cass, i wouldn't have Jamie," Robert informed the two teens, nodding up at his son, only to sigh in disappointment "I love that kid, but dear god, what is he doing?"
Maeve held her hand out for Jamie to help her up onto the stage, sliding on her ballet flats as she climbed up, rolling her eyes with a laugh as Jamie cheered, taking a microphone from him "Mrs Hale's joining me on the stage!"
Robert and Archie laughed at Derek's embarrassed groan, barley noting the smile Maeve sent in his direction "Jamie!"
Maeve danced along with Jamie in her own little world, her floral dress twirling with her as she sang, surprising the room that she didn't sound like a mangled cat, Jamie on the other hand...
Derek stood straighter in surprise, watching with admiration as all attempts at work had left him, solely watching Maeve as she sang between laughter.
A few songs later and Maeve was official danced out, leaving Jamie the stage for the final show stopper, Derek stood on the opposite side of the bar, passing Archie bottles of beer from the crates. Maeve tiredly threw her arms around Derek's shoulders, the Hale turning slowly to wrap his arms around her waist.
"You never told me you could sing," Derek reminded her, Maeve grinned up at him with a shrug, blushing gently at their close proximity.
"Maybe it was a secret," Maeve teased, lifting her arms down to wrap her hands around Derek's, playfully smiling at him as she pulled him towards the main floor.
"Uh huh?" Derek hummed, letting Maeve lead the way, shaking his head with a groan at the thought of dancing causing Maeve to laugh.
"Mhm," Maeve mocked, gasping quietly in surprise as Derek spun her around, glancing up at him with a smile as he brought her back close to his chest "You never told me you could dance,"
"Now that, really is a secret," Derek replied, Maeve playfully gasped, Derek placing his finger against her mouth before she could shout it out, the blonde rolling her eyes with a laugh.
Robert bought the teens out of their trance, shouting up to the stage where Jamie happily paraded about "Hey, Beyonce, put the mic down and get to work!"
The full moon came around much faster than Maeve had hoped, out of fear Derek hadn't let her out of his sight all day, convincing his family to have a party to distract Maeve of her fear of her second full moon.
Maeve leant in the doorway of Peter's bedroom, raising a brow down at the sulking older wolf leant against his dresser with his arms crossed "You not joining the full moon festivities?"
"The only reason my sisters celebrating is because Derek finally figured out how to control himself," Peter grumbled, sarcastically smiling up at Maeve "Thank you, for that,"
Maeve rolled her eyes with a sigh, marching into the room to grab Peter's hand, pulling him out of the room "Come on. Sitting up here, miserable and alone, isn't going to make you feel any better."
Peter groaned in annoyance as Maeve pulled him down the stairs, Maeve laughed "Groan all you want, grumpy, you're socialising."
The fire pit had finally been put to use, Derek and his siblings sat around it on wooden logs, packets of marshmallows at their feet, fairy lights tied up on the trees above them.
"Peter's finally off the naughty step," Laura joked at the sight of her uncle, handing a marshmallow down to Cora before raising a brow at Peter sitting down opposite her "Couldn't handle your time out?"
Peter grabbed a marshmallow from the packet, throwing it at Laura who easily dodged it, letting it hit an unsuspecting Derek. Derek turned to his uncle with a glare, it quickly fading as Maeve burst out in laughter from beside him, smiling down at her.
"You're supposed to eat the marshmallows, uncle Peter, not throw them," Cora reminded him with a cute attempt at a glare, taking her own toasted marshmallow, handing it over to him.
"Ignore uncle Peter, i got all of the manners," Talia smirked at her brother, leaning back on the only armchair beside Laura.
"And i got the good looks," Peter replied bitterly, Talia rolled her eyes, resting her head back to look up at the moon peacefully, ignoring her brother "Who's the real winner here, Tal?"
Laura raised a brow at her brother, nodding down at Maeve sat between his legs helping Cora make a smore, the beta knowing that she was asking about the relationship between the both of them. Derek smiled shrugging at her silent question, wanting to know the answer himself.
Hours later, when the moon was at its fullest, the Hales gathered back inside, but Maeve had slipped out, sitting beside the fire taking deep breaths as she looked up at the moon, claws extending from her blue nails.
Derek looked around his family sitting around in the living room, frowning at the disappearance of the only person he really wanted to see, turning to Laura questioningly"Where's Maeve?"
"I think she went back outside," Laura shrugged, looking to her younger brother in concern as worry washed over him "Derek?"
Derek felt a hit of fear, consuming his own feelings as he searched for Maeve, all thoughts leading to the blonde.
"Somethings wrong," Derek mumbled, pulling his jacket back on as he moved towards the door, Laura followed after him with a frown.
"What do you mean?" Laura called after him, shivering at the cold as Derek opened the door.
"I just have a feeling, okay? I need to find Maeve," Derek didn't spare her a second glance, rushing out of the door letting it slam behind him.
The full moon hit Maeve harder than she'd expected, leaving her struggling with control but trying not to bother anyone else with her problem. Derek watched Maeve stare down at her claws, the fire in front of her illuminating her glowing eyes.
"Maeve?" Derek moved to kneel down in front of her, the fire warming the pair behind him but the grass was still cold on his knees.
"Derek," Maeve whispered, her voice trembling in fear, shaking her head nervously "I'm not controlling this, i can't-"
"Hey, its okay," Derek comforted, sighing as Maeve ran a hand through her hair, placing his hand on hers as she rested them against his knees "Maeve?"
"Evie, look at me," Derek mumbled, the nickname effortlessly escaping his lips, feeling the claws wrapped around his hands slowly fade as Maeve stared up at him, eyes filled no longer with fear.
Maeve and Derek found themselves locked in each others gaze, the fire crackling behind them as they both slowly leant forward, Maeve's hands tightening around Derek's as she leant her forehead against his, her heart hammering in her chest as Derek leant down, pressing his lips against hers.
Derek's eyes fluttered open, amber replacing the electric blue glow that haunted his dreams, pulling away for a breath, wanting nothing more to kiss Maeve all over again. Maeve blinked in surprise, her nose resting against Derek's as a smile landed on her lips, her cheeks burning with happiness.
Derek noticed her smile, sighing in relief that Maeve didn't turn him away, holding her hands tightly as he helped her up to stand "Derek?"
Maeve's hands wrapped around Derek's neck, leaning back against the tree beside them as Derek pulled her towards him, kissing her again, only this time, it was passionate, knowing there was no going back from here.
Maeve pulled away with a gasp as a branch snapped behind them, her back hitting the tree behind them as she fearfully looked around, her hand resting on Derek's chest as he helped her stand still. Realisation hit Maeve, panic flooding through her as she remembered the plans she should've attended tonight.
"I have to go," Maeve avoided his gaze as she pushed away from his arms, running through the trees in the opposite direction.
Derek frowned watching Maeve's silhouette disappear into the darkness, standing still for a moment before running after her "Maeve!"
Maeve gasped for a breath, stumbling against her uncle as she reached her family, Chris quickly pulled Maeve under his arm, protectively walking alongside her.
"About time you got here," Kate commented smugly, walking beside her father, Chris and Maeve trailing behind.
"You okay?" Chris whispered, Maeve forced a smile, nodding her head, taking a deep breath as Gerard turned back to them.
Maeve's mind was full of thoughts over Derek, hating herself for running away, but knowing she did it for all the right reasons, helped with the guilt. Full moon hunts were always dangerous, knowing the Hales were so close to the persevere, Maeve couldn't take that risk for her or for them.
"Sorry," Maeve apologised with a sigh, Gerard didn't say a word, turning back to the hunters at his side "Sorry."
Derek slowed down at the sound of voices, his heart hurting to see Maeve walking within the group, standing still as Maeve looked over her shoulder back to him, her eyes glowing in sadness, only to widen in shock as Derek stood on a branch, turning the attention on him.
Maeve pushed Chris aside, stepping backwards as the hunters looked around for Derek, trying to hide his body with hers, thinking up a plan in seconds at the sight of Derek's fear.
"Derek," Maeve whispered, staring fearfully into his eyes as she looked over her shoulder, pushing him back gently "Derek, run."
As the group of hunters turned in their direction, Maeve panicked, fast forwarding the plan to help Derek, standing in position as she took a deep breath. Derek stared at Maeve in confusion, noticing her nerves straight away, trying to stop her as he noticed the knife in her hand, grabbing onto her arm as the knife stabbed through into her stomach.
Maeve's scream echoed around the woods, the hunters finally noticed them as Maeve pushed Derek harder, making sure he made a run for it as the hunters charged after him, the Argents rushing to Maeve's side as she pretended to fall to the ground.
"Maeve?" Chris knelt down beside her worriedly, noticing the wound quickly healing in confusion, raising a brow at her as she faked her pain.
"The wolf-" Maeve's voice trembled, pointing in the other direction that Derek ran, making a show of pointing out the blood left on her hand.
"Get him!" Gerard ordered the remaining hunters, the group rushing off in that direction.
"Don't-" Chris warned knowingly, letting out a sigh as Maeve pulled herself up, sprinting away from him.
Maeve sprinted, not thinking where she was going, her senses focusing on finding Derek, her wound healed leaving only blood staining her clothes.
"Derek!" Maeve shouted quietly, but loud enough for Derek to hear, gasping in shock as someone tugged her body behind a tree, looking up to meet Derek's gaze.
"Are you okay?" Derek questioned immediately, looking down at Maeve's healed stomach with a sigh.
Maeve smiled nodding her head, "I'm fine, but, you need to go, okay?"
"Come with me," Derek looked around nervously, holding Maeve's hand as he tried to walk away, turning in confusion as Maeve stood still.
Maeve glanced down at the grass guiltily, "I can't, Derek,"
Hearing footsteps approaching them, Derek wanted to take Maeve into his arms and run, but he couldn't, staring down at the girl he liked sadly as he turned away, running back through the woods.
As Maeve turned away from Derek, tough hands grabbed her sides, shoving her back against the tree, her grandfather shouting "What the hell was that?"
"Hey," Chris shouted back, pushing Gerard away from Maeve, stepping between them protectively.
"Leave us, Christopher," Gerard ordered, Chris looked down at Maeve with a sigh, the werewolf smiling weakly as she pretended to hold her wound.
"Its okay," Maeve nodded, taking a deep breath as Chris took a few steps back, watching from afar beside Kate.
"Do you enjoy making a mockery of our family?" Gerard seethed, hitting the tree beside Maeve's head, Maeve looked up to him with a glare "Do you?"
"When we give you an order, you listen," Gerard reminded her, "You make a wrong move and you get killed out here, Diana, thats on you, not us! I'm so disappointed in you, i had hope for you, i really did. You're no Argent."
"Dad, she's just a kid," Chris protested, walking back to his family with Kate, Gerard shook his head in annoyance, turing to his children.
"Enough, Christopher," Gerard told him, turing the gun off safety as he glanced back over at Maeve "And if i see you with the that boy again, his life's on you,"
"Calm down, dad," Kate smirked, the omega frowning at Kate's wink in her direction "Little Maeve knows what she's doing. The Hale boy trusts her, he likes her even,"
"We have a plan," Kate continued, raising a brow at Maeve as all eyes turned to her, "Don't we, Maeve?"
Maeve hesitantly nodded, knowing her best bet was to go along with it, lying once again, like always.
"Get out of my sight," Gerard glared at his granddaughter, storming off in the direction of the other hunters.
Maeve winced as she pushed open the creaky back door, wrapping her denim jacket tighter around her as she stepped out into the cold, calling out over to the beta "Derek?"
Derek stood out back in Maeve's garden beneath a tree, the freezing winter rain flying around them, the droplets moments way from turning to snow.
Derek smiled softly at Maeve, pulling his hood further back on his head to look over at Maeve, the blonde rushing down the slippy steps "What are you doing out here? Are you insane?"
"I needed to see you," Derek informed her, walking out from the shelter under the trees, joining Maeve at the steps.
Derek knew it was dangerous coming here, but seeing Maeve was more important, he didn't know why, but seeing Maeve caused all his fears to fade away.
"What, and get shot in the process?" Maeve whispered in frustration, taking Derek's arm to tug him past the house out front, walking down the path till they were out of sight "Come on,"
"Are you trying to turn us into a cliché?" Maeve joked with a sigh, standing still as they reached the end of the road, downtown Beacon Hills shining brightly through the small alleyway beside them, pushing her wet hair away from her eyes.
"Not intentionally," Derek shrugged, gazing down at Maeve as she struggled to hide her smile, leaning down into the collar of her jumper "Seeing your family wasn't the only reason you ran, was it?"
"No," Maeve mumbled, gazing down at the floor, rain running down the hill beneath their feet.
"Maeve-" Derek began, recognising her expression straight away.
"No matter what i feel for you, you being with me will always put you at a risk for as long as I'm apart of my family," Maeve interrupted sadly, straining her voice to shout over the rain "We can't be together, it doesn't make sense, Derek! We're destined for failure,"
"We don't have to be, Maeve!" Derek exclaimed, hurt shining in his eyes, his hair falling in front of his eyes as the wind hit them.
"I can't let myself be the reason that you, or anyone you care about get hurt," Maeve reminded him in frustration, throwing her arms out before running a hand through her soaking hair "I'm trying to protect you and if i let myself be vunrable, i don't even want to think about what could happen,"
"I don't care about any of that," Derek exclaimed, placing his hands on her shoulders as Maeve gazed up at him sadly, "I like you, Maeve! You know, i don't care that you're an Argent, i don't care if it gets me hurt and i don't care if that makes me selfish. I only care about you."
"Because, it means i get to be with the girl i liked since the moment i saw her for the first time on the full moon," Derek continued, Maeve smiled weakly, shaking her head with a laugh.
"We were six," Maeve corrected, Derek looked down at her in confusion "The first time we met, we were six,"
Derek laughed, shaking his head, his hand moving to rest on the side of Maeve's cheek "I really like you, Evie. Don't let your fear make the choice for you,"
Maeve leant against Derek's hand, closing her eyes as she took a deep breath, slowly turning to walk away "I'm sorry,"
Derek felt his heart slowly ripping to pieces with each step Maeve took, the further she got, the more he hoped she'd turn back around. As Derek began to loose hope, pulling the hood back over his head, Maeve wiped away the tears that had began to run with the rain, slowing down to a stop.
"Derek?" Maeve shouted back over the thunder, squinting her eyes through the rain to see Derek's figure in the distance, letting her heart move her as she broke out into a jog.
Maeve laughed as she slipped on the wet concrete, falling into Derek's arms as he easily caught her, Derek laughed smiling down at her, Maeve smiled back, leaning up on her tiptoes to pull him close, kissing him like it would be for the very last time.
Maeve lay fast asleep in Derek's arms, cuddled up on the sofa in his living room, the couple had crashed at Derek's so Maeve didn't have to face the fallout of the fullmoon at her home, but really, Derek just didn't want to let her go.
Peter barged into the living room, rolling his eyes with a scoff at the sight of them, clapping his hands to wake them up.
Derek quickly woke up in confusion, his hair falling in his face as he glared up at his uncle"Peter! What the hell!"
Maeve fell forward as Derek sat up, the beta catching her before she fell off the sofa, rubbing her eyes with a sigh before glancing up at Peter, noticing the paper in his hand "What's that?"
"The building where your mom is," Peter replied, passing over the paper as Maeve stared at him in shock, turning to Derek with a slight smile before taking the paper from Peter.
The moment Maeve had waited months for was here, and Maeve felt like she should be excited, but all she could feel was fear and worry. Fear of what state she'd find her mother, worry about what the consequences would be now that she had.
Maeve tiredly rested her head on Derek's shoulder, her knee bobbing with nerves, Peter sat on the chairs opposite, calling over to Maeve as a nurse walked in "Maeve,"
"Diana Argent?" Maeve stood up quickly, turning to the nurse with a nod, wrapping Derek's jumper tighter around herself.
Derek looked up in concern as he listened to Maeve's heart pounding, sending her a smile as she glanced back over at him as she reached her mothers room.
"This way," The nurse instructed, leading Maeve down the hallway to a brown door labelled, Elizabeth.
A tall raven haired woman turned from her place in the middle of the room, a grey tracksuit wrapped around her, bright blue eyes met her daughters matching ones.
"Mom?" Tears grew in Maeve's eyes, speaking weakly as Elizabeth turned around, the elder Argent's eyes widening in shock
Maeve rushed into the room, jumping into her mothers arms, Elizabeth blinked in shock, resting her head on her daughters shoulder, seeing the person she'd wished to see every day for months.
"Diana," Elizabeth whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks as she hugged Maeve tighter, "Oh my sweet girl,"
Elizabeth pulled away, stepping back to look at her daughter "Look at you! Is that my blous-"
"Mom," Maeve scowled, rolling her eyes "Nice to see you back to normal,"
Chris had always joked about who was the mother in the relationship, Maeve or Elizabeth, the human acting more like a teenager than her daughter. But Elizabeth would always be the protective mother she makes out to be, even if not many see it.
"I see how it is," Elizabeth mumbled with a playful scoff, Maeve raised a brow, waiting for a round of her mothers antics "Oh Diana, its been horrific- I'm wearing polyester for christ sakes!"
"I don't think thats the real problem, mo-" Maeve began, shielding her laugh as her mothers eyes widened.
"Get me out of here!" Elizabeth exclaimed, Derek stepped into the room at the sudden shout, looking over to check on Maeve.
"We're going to," Maeve promised, smiling over at the beta noticing his presence, motioning for him to come in.
"Oh," Elizabeth hummed, a smile growing on her face as she stared questioningly at Derek "Hello,"
"Mom," Maeve looked up to the ceiling in embarrassment, shrinking into Derek's jumper wrapped around her.
"Who is this young gentleman?" Elizabeth stepped forward, suspiciously looking Derek up and down.
"I'm Derek, Miss Argent," Derek introduced himself, smiling at the older woman, thankfully hiding his fear of the woman.
Elizabeth grinned, winking at Derek before nodding over at Maeve, "How did my daughter manage to find such a wonderful young man,"
"You wouldn't believe me if i told you," Maeve mumbled with a laugh, glancing over at Derek with a blush, "Lets just say it was fate."
Elizabeth noticed the bag in Derek's hand, asking excitedly, "Please say thats decent clothing,"
"I knew i liked you for a reason," Elizabeth approved Derek's smile, looking up with a glare at a passing by patient staring in their direction, "Keep staring, Bill, and you'll loose an eye!"
"Mom-" Maeve sighed as Bill scurried away, shaking her head as her mother interrupted.
"Get me out of here," Elizabeth exclaimed again, taking the bag from Derek, throwing it down on her bed, rummaging through for an outfit for her standard.
"The nurses think I'm crazy," Elizabeth rambled, holding up two blouses before slamming them back down, glancing back at her daughter "I'm not crazy!"
"Don't say that so loudly, mother," Maeve disapproved, Derek looked between the mother and daughter in confusion, learning what the relationship between them was like.
"I need to tell you something," Maeve changed the subject, laughing to herself noticing the door to the medicine storage in the hallway, "Somewhere they can sedate you is surprisingly fitting,"
Elizabeth rolled her eyes, crossing her hands over her chest as she turned, "Did you get my daughter pregnant, Derek?"
The teens eyes widened, simultaneously shaking their heads in embarrassment, "No!"
"Mom, thats not it, at all," Maeve denied, avoiding Derek's gaze as she stepped forward, taking a deep breath.
Elizabeth's eyes widened in shock as she stared at the golden glow forming in her daughters eyes, understanding immediately, only to notice Derek's eyes glow too, her eyes flickering between them both.
"Mom?" Maeve asked worriedly, staring at her mother as the human stood in silence, looking between Maeve and Derek.
If anyones opinion mattered, it was her mothers, Maeve loved Elizabeth more than anyone, if she hated her, Maeve could never deal with that pain.
Elizabeth's laugh filled the silence, bending over slightly as she took a breath, pointing to Maeve "Oh, this, this is brilliant. I thought having a child so young was rebellion, but Diana, you've managed to top it,"
"You get the bite," Elizabeth continued, her laughter fading as her point landed on Derek, "And you get a mate,"
"Mate?" Maeve frowned in confusion, resting her palm on Derek's arm, hearing his heart beating in his chest as shock welled in his eyes "Whats a-"
Derek understood what Elizabeth meant completely, realisation dawning on him as he looked down in shock, forgetting his surroundings as thoughts of his parents past relationship hit him.
"Out!" Elizabeth exclaimed, ushering the couple out of her room, noticing Derek's expression straightaway, "I need to prove to my, roommates, that i don't look like prisoner on the daily,"
"Mom this is a hospital, not a jail," Maeve rolled her eyes, stopping in the hallway as Elizabeth hummed, slamming the door in their faces.
"Your mom-" Derek began in amusement, pushing aside the thoughts of earlier's bombshell, walking into the recreational room where Peter sat at a table between patients, making their way over to him.
"Has walked straight out of the real housewives?" Maeve continued with a nod, joking as she sat down at the table, sitting on Derek's lap as they took the spare chair "Wait till you see her at a dinner party."
"Thats a lovely drawing," Maeve told one of the patients with a warm smile, leaning back against Derek chest, the beta smiling up at her.
"Thank y-" Peter began with a grin, staring down at his own artwork he'd created in the spare time.
"Not you, Peter," Maeve corrected, grinning as Peter looked up at her with a glare, Maeve smiling sweetly at the old woman next to him.
"Thank you, sweetie," The old woman smiled, groaning at the sight of Elizabeth making her way through the doors, confidence hitting them like a wave "That woman is like a bitchy hyena on crack,"
Maeve choked on her laughter, staring at the old woman in shock before glancing up at her mother, dressed like typical Elizabeth, heels too high and a fur coat draped over her pink dress. Maeve smiled seeing her mother back to normal, whilst the patients did a double take, wondering if this was the same woman they had complaining around them all day.
"Jealously causes wrinkles, Gloria," Elizabeth glared, smoothing down her coat as she motioned for the teens and Peter to follow her "Shame its too late for you,"
Gloria scoffed returning to her art as Maeve gasped, holding Derek's hand as they walked away from the table, Peter trailing behind"Mom!"
"Wheres the car?" Elizabeth questioned impatiently, adjusting the handbag on her arm, Maeve once again rolled her eyes.
"You don't get a driver to escort you anymore, mom," Maeve reminded her, forcefully smiling as she led Peter over to get mother, introducing the pair "You do get a Peter Hale,"
Peter smirked, taking Elizabeth's arm in his, leading her down the hallway, "Come on, Elizabeth, why don't i fill you in on how Maeve's poorly spent her time while you've been gone?"
Derek wrapped his arm around Maeve's shoulders, watching Elizabeth and Peter chatter away as they walked down the hallway, "Happy she's home?"
"Kinda reconsidering bringing a ticking time bomb back to the people that hate her," Maeve bit her lip, glancing up at Derek with a small smile, curling into his side "At least i won't be alone anymore,"