A Problem

LAKE

I stand in front of Derrick, just infuriated. His casual composure and cocky smile make me want to punt his stupid head off. ~Why am I even here if this stupid man is just going to make jokes?~

~

“I’m leaving,” I huff and turn to walk away from this ridiculous situation. Derrick is fast in making his way to me.

I can feel his hot breath on my neck as he snakes his muscular arms around me. From his breathing, I can tell his wolf is dying to climb to the surface.

“Firefly…” Derrick’s voice is low and husky. For a moment, I close my eyes and allow myself to be engulfed in his warmth. His arms feel safe. Unlike anything I’ve felt.

I find myself listening to Derrick’s heartbeat as mine begins to speed up. His scent is lavender and citrus. I take a deep breath in and begin to melt.

“How you enrage me…”

My eyes shoot open as all the rage swallows me whole.

~Excuse me?!~

~

I know he did not just say that. ~I enrage HIM?!~

~

“How ~you~ enrage me, you barbarian!” I break free of Derrick’s hold. He’s breathing heavily from the internal battle being fought between him and his wolf.

“~You’re~ the only reason I’m out here!” I growl loudly. “I would happily be in my little cave with my little fire, but ~noooo~. You and your men just had to come by on my wolf’s hunt!”

“Lake, if I hadn’t done what I did, do you really think you could’ve survived?” Derrick asks. “Living off just deer and water isn’t healthy for you, nor is it for your wolf.”

“Then I would’ve died and begun this entire cycle again!” I argue. “It’s the natural order of things!”

Derrick growls furiously and stomps toward me.

My back hits a tree before his nose is in the dip of my neck where it meets my shoulder. My body shudders slightly as Derrick’s hands come up over my stomach.

“Lake, like it or not, you’re mine.” Derrick’s voice is low and animalistic. His wolf is winning the fight.

“I’ve waited so many lifetimes for you and refuse to let go of you now.”

Lynne purrs at this man’s words. She’s feeling content with his demanding demeanor. My body is swelling with heat, and a spark ignites in my chest.

“Bastard…,” I mutter.

“Bastard I may be, but I’m all yours, Firefly.” Derrick smiles down at me. His hands come up to my cheeks as his lips hover over mine.

“Alpha!”

That word brings both of us to our senses, and Derrick reluctantly pulls away from me. Lynne protests in the back of my mind.

I just stand there awkwardly with my hands folded in my arms. I can feel that my cheeks are hot with embarrassment.

“What is it, Sam?” Derrick asks.

I examine the man in front of me. Sam is a strongly built warrior type. I can tell from his sweaty scent that he’s a top rank in this group.

His hair is dirty blond, and his eyes are the same as all of ours—black with barely any white around them.

His clothes—a light jacket, jeans, and a run-down pair of sneakers—are lighter than mine and Lucy’s.

“Beta Lucy needs you down at camp immediately.” Sam glances at me. “I’ll escort Miss Lake for you.”

I raise an eyebrow. I’ve never heard of a female beta before. Especially a rogue, but it fits her personality, and she’s the only one who can speak to Derrick without formality.

“That’s all right.” Derrick drapes an arm over me. “I’ll just walk with her. Go ahead and tell Lucy we’ll be right there.”

As soon as Sam leaves, I rip myself from Derrick. I try my best to catch my breath and ground myself.

“I know you felt it too.” Derrick’s eyes are hard. “That spark and heat between us.”

I ignore him and start to make my way back to camp. My shoulders tense up as I can feel Derrick’s eyes on me the entire way.

“Derrick, we have a problem,” Lucy states as soon as her brother and I step foot back into camp.

“What problem?” Derrick chuckles. “We have our finest here with us—”

“Alpha!”

Before I can even blink, a woman bolts past me and wraps herself around Derrick like a snake on a tree.

My eyes widen with anger as her lips smack right onto his.