Soulmates | Derek Hale - Chapter 9: Chapter 9

"Thank you for letting her stay here," Maeve smiled up at Talia as they stood in the doorway of the living room, watching Elizabeth sit fussing over Derek in front of them, "I would like to promise she'll behave, but this is my mother for you."
At the thought of staying with her family, Elizabeth was quick to decline, with options limited, Derek gave up his room for the Argent. Much to any hunters dismay, Elizabeth approved of Derek, knowing he fit her daughter very well.
Laura stood between the two werewolves, raising a brow at the human as Elizabeth insulted Derek's hairstyle, moving to correct it, sending Cora into a fit of giggles, "Why is there a hunter in our living room?"
"Not a hunter," Maeve reminded her with a sigh.
Elizabeth and Maeve lived up to the expectations of the black sheep of the family like it was their own title, only Maeve wished she had the confidence like her mother to be strong enough to fight against it.
"She's an Argent," Laura added like it was obvious, Maeve shrugged, shaking her head.
"She also broke a nail the first time she shot a gun, refused to partake in the family business ever since," Maeve informed her, smiling fondly of her mothers past arguments with her family members, "She's gotta lethal temper though."
Cora ran over excitedly, tugging on Maeve's hands "Your mom said you'd paint our nails, Maevey!"
Maeve laughed, letting Cora pull her into in the room, waving goodbye to the two Hales rushing after the youngest, "Did she now?"
Cora laughed as Maeve twirled her around, the two jumping back onto the couch, Derek smiled fondly down at the two of them, nodding over to Elizabeth as he pulled himself up from the beat up armchair.
"Mom," Derek began approaching his mom in the doorway nervously, motioning for her to follow him "Can i ask you something?"
Laura whistled at her brothers nervous facial expression, Derek rolling his eyes, nudging her shoulder as she walked into the room. Talia nodded, the two of them making their way out of the house.
Talia looked over to her son questioningly, Derek taking a deep breath as he closed the front door behind him, pulling his jacket tighter around him, "Is Maeve my mate?"
Since Elizabeth spoke of it, the thought of him and Maeve really being mates had haunted his mind for hours, build up of confusion and fear. Maeve being his mate is one of the best things that could've happened to him, but for his whole life the only view of mates he'd seen, was a tragic one.
Talia stared at Derek in shock, silence falling on her lips as Derek nervously walked further towards her, "Mom?"
"Derek-" Talia began with a sigh.
"Don't lie to me, just don't lie," Derek stared at her pleadingly, "Is it true?"
"Do you trust her with her life? Do you trust her enough to not let her family kill you?" Talia questioned suddenly, Derek frowned as she crossed her arms over her chest, "How do you know she isn't playing you?"
Derek listened to his mother in disbelief, "Why would you even ask that!"
Dating an Argent, the literal enemy, filled Derek with doubts, hearing his mother voice them made it hurt much worse.
"If you were given the choice of her or your family, would you choose her? Would you stand by her no matter what, even if it gets you killed?" Talia continued harshly, standing strong as her son glared up at her.
"Mom!" Derek protested, trying to push aside the questions, not wanting to know the answer.
"And would you be willing, to feel truly heartbroken the moment you loose her? Forever having a piece missing, never being able to get it back," Talia questioned, her eyes glowing at just the thought of the pain of her past, clutching the wooden handrail as she shouted "Answer the question, Derek!"
"I don't know, mom! How am i even supposed to answer that?" Derek exclaimed, standing taller as he quickly became defensive of the omega "I love Maeve, i don't know how but i did the moment i met her!"
Talia sighed as she took a step back, glancing weakly up at Derek, "Then you know its true."
Derek couldn't hear his own thoughts over the loud thumping of his heart, shock running through him, barley able to piece the situation together "It is?"
"That need to know she's okay, the overwhelming feelings you get when somethings wrong, the pull in your chest when she's across the room and you want her to be by your side," Talia explained, "Thats the pull, thats the bond."
"How could you keep this from me? Elizabeth knew me for less than five minutes and knew Maeve and i were mates!" Derek curled his fists, anger rising, but his gaze softened in realisation "Is it because of dad?"
"Is it wrong of me to not want my son to go through the same heartbreak i did?" Talia defended, resisting the urge to scoff at the rage consuming her son.
"You have no idea if that would even happen to Maeve and i, just because dad hurt you doesn't mean Maeve will hurt me, mom!" Derek reminded her, his eyes beginning to glow, but the sight of Maeve laughing with Laura at Cora through the window alone was enough to anchor him.
"I didn't want to you feel forced to like her because you're somehow destined to be together," Talia "But i was wrong, i admit that, i saw the way you looked at Maeve but i refused to believe that-"
Derek sighed, running a hand through his hair, dragging it over his face before looking back up to his mom,"We're not you and dad, and you were right for not forcing us together like grandma did to you, but mom, Maeve and i are different people, with different lives,"
Talia nodded slowly, smiling gently at her son, moving to sit down on the steps, placing her hand on Derek's as he sat down beside her, "Derek. Please, just be careful. You told me how you felt when that boy kissed Maeve, how you saw red, that you had punched him before you'd even realised."
"The bond can make you to stupid, reckless things for the person you love," Talia gazed over through the preserve, chuckling softly at the memories of her marriage playing out in front of her "But it can also break you, hurt you like the unimaginable."
"Mom?" Derek hesitated, avoiding his mother's stare as he asked "When i saw her with Milo, my heart hurt, like i'd been stabbed in the chest. That was the bond. When we found out about dad, did it hurt you like that too?"
If it were up to Derek, he wouldn't mention his father at all, but the visits required by law but a damper on his hopes, and as much as his father tried, he could never get through to his stubborn as hell son.
"It did to begin with, before i'd even realised what had happened, i thought it was a result of our arguments, hell, i even thought it was because i had only just had Cora," Talia began, tears immediately rushing to her eyes, taking a deep breath as she continued, "But the moment i saw him with that woman, days after their child was born."
A cry escaped her lips, wiping away her tears as Derek squeezed her hand comfortingly, "The bond finally broke, it snapped in half, and that pain almost killed me. When you found me in that state, you were only seven, you didn't understand and- I'm sorry i put you through that, Derek, without explaining what was wrong."
"When i found you screaming, crying in pain, i called Peter," Derek frowned at the memory, sliding his trainers on the steps to distract himself, "Is that why he still lives with us?"
"I was unpredictable for a long time, my emotions were not in the state they should've been to be a good mother to you three," Talia replied guiltily,"You and Laura could handle it, but Cora was so young, i couldn't do it on my own. You shouldn't hate your father, Derek."
Derek's head snapped in her direction, unable to control his shout this time, "He hurt you, mom, he broke your heart!"
"But if that bond wasn't there, we'd be your normal divorced parents," Talia defended with a sigh, brushing off her jeans before standing up from the steps.
Talia had done from loving Seth with every part of her heart, to hating his very existence, but he was still the father of her children, and she wasn't going to limit her son because of their battles.
"Dad still cheated on you," Derek snapped, suddenly going silent with regret, staring at his mom apologetically.
"I don't want you to hold off part of your family, your brother, because i got hurt," Talia muttered, walking over to hug her son, Derek sighed, hugging her back, "I want to you to know them."
It wasn't that hated the idea of his brother, he hated the situation. Derek was too protective of his mother to barley see his father, let alone face the child that was the result of the situation that completely ruined his family.
"No, no way," Derek rained in his anger, pulling away from the hug, "I have my sisters, that is all i need."
Talia smiled softly, nodding at the two walking up the driveway as she made her way back into the house, "And those two idiots,"
Jamie and Archie cheered, greeting their best friend with a laugh, Derek rolling his eyes instantly, "Look at you, mommas boy!"
Maeve, Derek, Jamie and Archie sat around the coffee table in the living room, immersed in the three hour long game of monopoly, junk food scattered around them.
Jamie held up the card for Maeve to see, "Want to save Derek from jail, Maeve?"
"Of course," Maeve grinned, passing Derek the card to move his counter from the jail, only for him to land on her property, filled with hotels "Because i'm the real winner here! Pay up, Hale!"
Derek stared at her in disbelief, a playful glare on his face, "You cheated!"
"No i didn't!" Maeve laughed, shaking her head, laughing as Derek pulled her down from her place on the couch, landing between his legs.
Derek wrapped his arms around her, smiling as Maeve laughed into his chest, whacking him on his side, lifting her head to be pulled into a hug, "Yeah, you did!"
"Alright, enough!" Archie protested, mockingly cringing at them both, rolling the dice for his turn.
Maeve sniggered, pretending to snatch the money from Derek's hand, "Thank you!"
A half asleep Laura walked into the doorway, rubbing her eyes with a nice as she noticed her brother and his friends, "Oh would you lot go to sleep already?"
"Nice jammies, Laur," Jamie teased with a wink, Laura rolled her eyes, pulling her shirt around her tighter before walking out of the room.
"Dude, thats my sister," Derek groaned in annoyance, leaning his head on Maeve's shoulder.
"Give over, Derek, he's loved her since fifth grade," Archie defended, laughing at Jamie's sudden flushed cheeks.
Jamie had always been a puppy in love when it came to Laura, Derek wished that over time the childhood crush would fate, but years later Jamie was still enchanted by the eldest Hale.
"Wait, what?" Maeve gasped in excitement, practically falling out of Derek's arms, "You and Laura-"
"Oh my god!" Maeve quickly turned in Derek's arms, resting against his chest as she grinned up at him teasingly, "Smile, Derek, Jamie could be your brother in law!"
Maeve stood quietly in the kitchen, the oven light flashing 5am brightly on the screen as Maeve rummaged through the fridge, letting out a scoff at the sight of sticky notes scattered across the food.
Maeve smiled to herself as hands rested on her hips, twirling her around as she gazed up at Derek, "Labels? Really?"
"Gotta let people know whats mine," Derek shrugged, noticing the bag of donuts Maeve failed to hide behind her back.
"Right..." Maeve trailed off jokingly, going silent as Derek tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear, feeling her heartbeat for more as she stood on her tiptoes, her nose resting against Derek's.
The relationship between Maeve and Derek had yet to be established, but for now, the teens didn't care, simply knowing they liked each other was enough for them.
Derek leant down, taking the bag of donuts from Maeve as he kissed her softly, Maeve too distracted by the kiss to notice. Derek smiled down at her as he pulled away, kissing her quickly before walking away.
"Hey!" Maeve called after him with a small gasp, glancing down at her now empty hands, Derek walking away, taking a bite from the donut.
"Read the label," Derek called back, Maeve frowned looking for the label, only to chuckle finding it stuck to her jumper, above her heart.
Derek's, was written in Derek's messy handwriting on the note, Maeve held back her laugh, rolling her eyes as she ran through the hallway after him, wrapping her arms around his waist as she caught up with him, walking back to the living room together.
Maeve's phone flashed as they entered the room, catching Archie's attention from the armchair, reading a few of the words before Maeve rushed forward, turning it over.
Where the hell are you? You better bring me back some information or i-
Archie smiled at his friend sympathetically as Maeve took a deep breath, turning off her phone..
"James, don't even think about it." Derek grumbled, sitting down on the arm of the chair, shaking his head at the pillow Jamie was about to add to the pile.
Derek had given up his room for Elizabeth to stay, so the teens camped out in the living room, much to Talia's dismay knowing the teens were just as destructive as toddlers.
"Its a fort, Derek," Jamie stated obviously, smiling at Derek sarcastically, placing the pillow down on the fort.
"We're eighteen." Derek reminded him, crossing his arms over his chest, staring forward unamused.
Jamie made an effort to plonk himself down on the pillows with a huff, pulling the hood of his jumper over his head as he turned away, "I will sleep in my magical fort, and you can lay awake on the beat up couch."
Maeve looked around in confusion as she felt her body lift, laughing as Derek twirled her around, lifting her over Jamie to lay back on the couch.
"I get Maeve, i think i win," Derek argued, smiling down at Maeve as she figured out what had just happened.
Derek lay down towards the back of the couch, Maeve rolling over to lay on his chest, resting her head on his shoulder, "If you're making me give up the fort, i'm using you as a cushion,"
"What films in the player?" Jamie questioned from the mountains of blankets piled up over the coffee table.
Archie leant over from the armchair, pressing the button for the dvd to pop out, "Princess Diaries."
"Yes!" Maeve squealed, pressing her face against Derek's shirt in embarrassment of her outburst.
"No," The boys complained in a mumble.
Maeve blinked up at Derek, smiling as Derek fell for her own version of puppy eyes.
Derek let out a sigh, Maeve grinning to herself in victory as Derek called over, "Put it on."
"Whipped," Archie commented sarcastically, Derek rolled his eyes, throwing a pillow at Archie, sending the teen toppling over.
Derek and Jamie were quick to fall asleep, Derek happily cuddled up to Maeve whilst Jamie lay on top of the collapsed fort. An hour later Maeve lay awake, Archie noticing as he rolled over, waking from his sleep.
Archie shifted on the armchair, turning his head to glance over at his friends, "Maeve?"
Maeve gazed back at Archie tiredly, lifting her head from Derek's chest, "If it came to it, you would choose us over your family, right?"
"What?" Maeve frowned, wrapping the blanket around herself with a sigh.
"Everything changed for the better when you got here, we wouldn't be the same without you," Archie told her with a soft smile, leaning back on the chair.
Maeve ran her hand across her face, yawning quietly, "You saw the text, didn't you?"
"We're your pack, we could be your family," Archie nodded, "Why do you put up with yours? You know you don't have to be scared anymore,"
"I can't let them hurt anyone," Maeve muttered, shrugging her shoulders, "If that means i gave to be on the inside to sabotage that, then thats what i'll do,"
"Thats not fair, Maeve," Archie frowned sympathetically, "I understand, but i don't like it."
Maeve shook her head with a smile, lying back down, "Hey, Arch? I wouldn't be able to survive without you guys either."
Archie opened his eyes, raising a brow, "Me and Jamie, or Derek? I'm guessing Derek."
"You're my boys, all of you!" Maeve laughed, throwing a pillow from the ground towards him as he smiled sarcastically, dodging the pillow.
The pillow fell to the ground, hitting an almost unconscious Jamie, letting out a snore as he lay on his back, arm thrown over his face, taking up half of the living room floor.
Maeve sat at her desk, her lip bitten in confrontation, surrounded by highlighters, pens and assignments, jumping in surprise at the voice from the doorway, "Where were you last night?"
Maeve turned, her face scrunched in hope her uncle was not angry, but let out a sigh at the glare on his face, "Derek's?"
Maeve nodded hesitantly, sitting back comfortably, knowing a rant was ahead "And the night before?"
Maeve smiled innocently, "Derek's."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Chris sighed, walking in to lean against the dresser, his arms crossed over his chest "I don't have to worry about him, do i?"
Maeve shook her head, jumping to into defence "No! I mean, no, of course you don't- he's perfect."
Chris nodded slowly, "Are you sure? I just wouldn't be so quick to trust someone you don't really know."
Maeve glared up at him accusingly, "Why does that sound less like a question and more like a demand, Chris?"
"I don't know whats going on between the two of you, but i don't think its a good idea, Maeve," Chris replied with a shrug, knowing if he showed his anger, Maeve's would hit the roof.
"Thats not your choice to make, its mine!" Maeve retaliated, standing from her chair as she shouted "I like Derek! Why would i do everything in my power to make sure he's safe from this family if i didn't really like him Chris?"
"How would it work out, huh? You with a broken heart because your family killed your boyfriend?" Chris shouted back, sighing as Maeve's eyes flashed with hurt, "I'm trying to save you from that, Maeve."
"Don't. Don't you dare start with that," Maeve growled, storming forward, her uncle taking a step back as she angrily tugged on her jacket, "Whatever choice i make, whatever i do, i'm the one that could get killed!"
"You're not my father, Chris!" Maeve reminded him, shoving his shoulder as she barged past, her boots slamming down on the stairs as she marched down, "You don't get to make decisions for me. Okay? I'm not a child anymore!"
Chris took a deep breath, running his hands over his face, only to look up at the familiar voice, "She doesn't mean it,"
"Liz?" Chris' eyes widened in shock, striding across the room to pull his sister into a hug, Elizabeth smiled resting her head on his shoulder.
"Little brother," Elizabeth greeted, stepping back to look around her daughters room for the first time, picking up a photo of herself, Maeve and Chris from years ago hanging on the wall.
"You're two minutes older," Chris reminded her in annoyance.
Elizabeth glanced back at him playfully, "So?"
Aside from the times they wanted to rip out each others throats, Elizabeth and Chris were the best of friends, the twins were each others rock.
"Where have you been?" Chris questioned worriedly, checking his sister was okay "Are you hurt-"
"There is nothing for you to worry your tiny brain about," Elizabeth smiled, remembering Maeve's instructions not to tell anyone about her time away.
With Elizabeth stepping into the firing line of their family, Maeve needed to take precautions until she knew how to go about surviving with her mother around.
Chris laughed, shaking his head with a sigh "Don't leave again, ever."
Elizabeth smirked, shrugging her shoulders, "I suppose i can put my cruse to the Bahamas on hold for a little while. Only to annoy my brother though, not to see my niece sneaking up behind me!"
Allison laughed as Elizabeth turned, quickly pulling the youngest Argent into her arms, spinning her about, "Auntie Liz!"
"Why are we coming to this?" Maeve grumbled straightening out her dress as she, Elizabeth and Chris walked through the open doors to the mayors mansion, "We don't even know the mayor!"
The mayors birthday was a celebration in Beacon Hills, those who were a great participants to the town were invited. That being said, Maeve wondered what in the hell her family were actually doing there.
Elizabeth glanced around at the residents of Beacon Hills crowded around the ballroom, "So people believe we're a very normal family,"
"Like that will happen," Maeve scoffed, smiling sarcastically at Chris as he sent her a disproving glance.
"I want to wear a pretty dress and revel in being a bitch for just one evening, Diana," Elizabeth beamed, waving at an old friend, only to roll her eyes as they walked away.
Maeve laughed, looking to Chris in amusement as they stared at Elizabeth in surprise, "Just one?"
"Chin up, Diana," Elizabeth ordered, Maeve scowled as her mother patted her chin, laughing as Elizabeth hit Chris' back, sending him forward with a cough "For gods sake, Christopher, slouch much more and you'll touch the floor!"
"Cassandra, is that you? Its been years! You wore a dress just like that to prom-" Elizabeth exclaimed in excitement, rushing after her old friend, turning back to the two Argents with a wink.
"Control her," Maeve urged her uncle forward, watching her mother step into the wolf den of middle aged women.
"On it." Chris jogged after her, breaking out into a run to try and follow the woman in heels, "Elizabeth!"
Maeve smiled at Derek in surprise, blushing as he kissed the top of her head, "You look amazing,"
"I didn't expect to see you here?" Maeve replied, wrapping her arms around Derek without even realising, curling into his side as they walked through the room.
"I think the mayor invited the whole town," Derek told her with a laugh, only for a glare to settle on his face, noticing a pair of eyes on Maeve.
Maeve frowned, turning to follow his face, finding a boy their age stood in an expensive suit in the crowds, recognising him as the mayors son "He's an asshole,"
"Good to know," Maeve rolled her eyes at Derek's blatant jealously, holding onto his hands as she pulled him towards the dance floor "Want to put those dancing moves back to the test?"
Derek groaned, leaning back as Maeve pulled him along. Maeve teasingly began, "I can always ask Peter -"
Maeve laughed as Derek spun her around, holding her close as they stepped onto the dance floor, unaware of Kate watching from the corner, her suspicions growing of her nieces attempts in getting on with the hunt, deciding she may need a nudge in the right direction.
Stiles Stilinski excitedly ran through the crowds to the food table, adidas trainers slipping against the floor, his suit jacket in his hand, dragging down onto the ground. At the mere mention of a suit, Stiles had had an absolute meltdown that morning, running off to hide at Scott's house until Noah and Melissa bribed him into wearing the jacket at least.
Stiles gasped, staring up with wide eyes at the chocolate fountain on the table, stumbling into a halt, only to crash against Maeve, apologising immediately before running to the table "Sorry miss!"
Maeve laughed, shaking her head as the child ran, noticing his father, strangely out of sheriff attire, come rushing in after him "Stiles? Come on!"
As Maeve and Derek turned back to the partiers, their gaze was focused on Elizabeth, staring forward in shock as she pretended to spill her wine, throwing it over her sister, looking up with a grin "Oops,"
Jamie, who had watched the scene go down, came running forward, smiling at Maeve as he laughed, "I love your mom,"
"Dont boost her ego," Maeve rolled her eyes, leaning into Derek's side as her mom walked over, smiling as she greeted "Hey, mom."
Elizabeth's eyes landed on the sheriff, everything in the room coming to an instant holt, the man who was everything in her past she tried to hide, stood right in front of her, prying his son away from the food table.
Maeve frowned, snapping her fingers in front of her mothers face, repeating in concern "Mom?"
Elizabeth blinked, taking a breath as she glanced down at Maeve, "Yes?"
"Everything okay?" Maeve followed her gaze to the sheriff, looking between them in confusion.
Elizabeth faked a smile, taking a large sip of her new glass of wine, walking away from the teens, "Of course."
Maeve followed Derek out onto the balcony, moving to lean against the wall, staring out towards the garden's of the mayors home "Whats going on?"
Derek had spent the whole day going over and over ways to try and explain to Maeve that they were mates, knowing Maeve, breaking the news straight away was probably for the best.
"We need to talk," Derek sighed, closing the double doors, moving to stand beside Maeve, avoiding her gaze as he told her "You're my mate, Maeve."
"Oh, are we British all of a sudden?" Maeve nodded slowly, her mouth parted in confusion, jokingly continuing, "Then yeah, i guess we are mates."
Derek held in his laugh, shaking his head, looking up to meet her confused gaze, "No, Maeve."
"What?" Maeve questioned, her brows narrowing in concentration, slowly tucking a piece of hair behind her ear "What's a mate?
"A soulmate, a bond bound between the both of us." Derek explained, holding in a breath as he waited nervously for Maeve's reaction.
If Maeve wasn't in a public place, she'd probably scream, not in anger or upset, to try and help her mind attempt to even process what the hell that means for them.
"Like the red thread of fate? That kind of soulmates?" Maeve looked up curiously, taken back by the realisation.
The idea of soulmates, the ones you read in fairytales, Maeve had always wished for. This, this wasn't what she was expecting, yet, she couldn't find herself being mad about it.
"I guess, in our case, we were bound by the moon," Derek answered, frowning at her silence "Maeve?"
Maeve looked up from her shoes, her previous smile fading, "How long have you known?"
"Since yesterday," Derek hesitantly replied, unsure how the information would go down with her.
"I don't- i don't understand." Maeve mumbled with a sigh, rambling nervously "Is this not strange to you? We've gone from crushing on each other to finding out we're destined to be since we were what? Six?"
Truthfully, Maeve felt the wave of happiness in her heart, but logically, she knew she should be freaking out around about now.
"It doesn't matter, Maeve, because you're - you're my girlfriend, i really like you-" Derek stumbled over his words, placing his hands on Maeve's shoulders, turning her to face him as she stared at him in surprise.
"I'm your girlfriend?" Maeve grinned, leaning towards Derek as he suddenly grew nervous.
"I'd hope so-" Derek began, Maeve hid her laugh at the fear flash in his eyes, wrapping her arms around the back of his neck.
Maeve pulled him close before he could answer, letting him know her answer as she kissed him, her hand running through his hair as he held her close, leaning back on the balcony wall.
"I guess this makes things a lot more complicated." Derek mumbled, laughing quietly with Maeve as she leant her head on his chest.
"You have no idea." Maeve sighed, turning to look at the view, Derek's hand resting on her back.
A buzz rang in her ears, stumbling back in shock as Derek grabbed onto her, pulling her down behind the wall as a gunshot sounded from beneath them, Derek covering her body with his.
"You okay?" Derek fearfully looked down at Maeve, hugging her tighter as they slowly pulled themselves up, Maeve nodding in confusion.
Squeezing Derek's hand, Maeve hesitantly looked down over the balcony, Derek immediately rushing to her side as she screamed, pulling her away from the edge, only to stare forward in shock himself.
"Jamie!"