Chapter 5

It was a hard concept to take in, however. The woman he loved still didn’t know him the way she remembered her. But instead of escalating their argument, Derek listened to his instincts. 

“This pack isn’t mine,” he grumbled low enough for only Zane to hear him. “I don’t want it the way you want to control it.”

Derek released Zane’s injury, easily, without the intent to hurt him anymore. Regardless of his act of mercy, the Alpha had the audacity to stare Derek down. 

“You’ll leave her alone,” he delivered to his brother. “Even if she comes to you for any reason. She doesn’t exist to you. None of them do.” 

Zane grumbled something to him that went unheard once more thanks to the change in Aislyn’s mix. In her grace, she didn’t bother to bring the Alpha any more attention and since moved into the crowd, drawing their attention elsewhere. 

It tore at him that she had moved past the unfolding scene between himself and Zane, which ultimately could have put herself at risk with the soon to be pack leader’s sympathizers, but still, she moved expertly through the club as if she was all knowing. 

Leaving Zane to wallow in his anger was not the right thing to do. Any pack mate knew that, but Aislyn came first. Even if she didn’t look exactly as he remembered her. 

Back when they were kids, she had dark red-orange hair that she spun tightly and teased into gorgeous dreadlocks. She’d make beads out of the clay she found in the forest for them. Her eyes were hazel with little flecks of gold in them, of which he knows he prayed for the longest time meant she was more than human. Her skin was lighter than most but not his, and freckled. Derek liked to think that she was unaffected by this, unlike he was with his own markings. Some days, not even that was true. She’d turn up in the woods sulking or ready to fight the unseen, but mostly depleted until she realized him in their spot.

Derek swallowed at the notion that it was their spot as they got to know each other better and how he never truly realized their moments were fleeting. He should have held onto them the way that he did now. 

Watching her move for what seemed to be nearing the end of whatever kind of show this was, Derek found a new determination to reach her. As he turned his back on Zane, the Beta within him held his breath, knowing full well that his entire pack saw him turn Rogue. That one move. The pivot… the determined coldness of it all rolled off of his shoulder as he followed the woman he loved. 

His first step down to her made heads turn with him. His ex-packmates had a newfound respect for him which didn’t make sense as he passed. Bouncers lined the floor, ready to ruin the night if anyone came in contact with Aislyn and yet she rolled out of each of their offered safe spaces to get back to him. 

Chills raced up his spine as he realized this. His steps forward felt heavier as she delivered her practiced lyrics and rolled her hips to keep his attention. Derek, who didn’t see her originally as a piece of meat, couldn’t. Not then. He could only see the way they used to dance when his wolf finally trusted her enough to do it. She swayed to the right, then left, and back to the right, hitting the double beat before stepping forward towards him. It was the way he learned to move with her back then. 

Dancing was different as a wolf, but even then she moved with him, encouraging him on, despite how stupid he felt for jumping around with her. There the beat was made with her body, her stomping, the way she dragged her feet through the clearing. She’d feel it and want him to do the same. Derek watched her as she kept her eyes on him, waiting for his response. Waiting for anything…so he gave in. He gave her what she wanted, dropping a shoulder to get him moving. His body naturally swayed with her rhythm, and her returning smile told him that he was exactly where he needed to be. 

She accepted him closer still but was still very intent on finishing her sequence too. 

Following Aislyn felt like a dream. His ex-packmates made him feel like it was too. Some hooted and cheered him on, while others went back to chasing their personal cravings. It was the most natural moment they could have had, given the circumstances. Derek did his best not to overcrowd her as it was still her moment. 

As the music climbed, retreating out from the space of which she plunged into, so did the lights. Derek could feel the panic building within him that this would mean she was leaving him. He’d left his pack for her. He’d no doubt have to deal with Zane’s public humiliation, and all the while the floor went black, swallowing them whole, just like that. 

Like it never happened…

Derek blinked, desperate to seek her out, past the blinding light hiding her from him in plain sight. All the while, the music picked up from the track she interrupted in her descent. The room was filled with bodies, still dancing around them, disorienting the pack further as they carefully cleared Aislyn from the room. 

No, no… no! He couldn’t lose her again! 

The girl he just danced with, his love, he couldn’t! 

“Would the Alpha care for a room?” he heard an unfamiliar male voice ask. 

Figuring someone mistook him for Zane, Derek proceeded to point off towards where he’d left the werewolf in question. 

“You downed him. Did you not?” the man quickly countered. 

Derek frowned. He didn’t down Zane and he sure as fuck wasn’t the next leader for it. 

“Zane is the next Alpha,” Derek replied carefully. “Not me. I’m just looking for my partner. Please? I need to find her.”