She hated herself for doubting her mom. Until last night she had no reason to not trust her own mother. Her body still cried out for Derrick to touch her but the anger overpowered it.
Derrick turned a corner and Maria saw her parent’s house. Her hands pressed over her day-old clothes and for a moment she had second thoughts about going in. No! If I don’t figure this out soon, I’ll go crazy! Maria hoped her brothers were just as clueless as she had been and Olsen’s information about Walter was false.
“Are you sure about this?” Derrick parked the truck and turned toward Maria.
“Just make sure I don’t actually kill them; any yelling and screaming is completely fair game.” Maria had started planning out what choice words to use if her mother tried to kick her mate out the door. They climbed out of the truck and Maria noticed her bothers’ trucks were already parked out front. Good, they can get my wrath all together. Maria balled up her fists as she walked onto the grass.
Walter opened the door and swiftly marched into the yard. Anger coursed through Maria's body just looking at her oldest brother.
“I will only ask you once and you better not lie to me. Did you know we’re witches?” Maria studied his face waiting for either shock or shame. Yet neither graced his face, anger contorted his features as he turned toward Derrick.
“Did you change her somehow?”
“Look at me Walter. Have you been practicing magic?” Maria grabbed her brother’s arm so he looked at her and not Derrick.
“What?” Walter appeared frustrated, like when they were kids and he couldn't solve a puzzle. Maria wondered if Olsen had been wrong when he thought Walter had practiced magic. Walter wasn’t a great liar when they were kids, but he had managed to slip a few by her when they were young. She wanted to believe her brother was lost like her, then the blow of not knowing would sting a bit less.
“We need to talk to mom.” Maria pulled her brother inside with Derrick following close behind.
“Mother!” Walter called out when he crossed the threshold. Devin seemed lost as he sat on the couch with her Dad who seemed frustrated.
“I told you, he isn't welcome here.” Maria's mother stormed out of the kitchen. Maria lost all her patience. She walked toward her mother.
“Explain to me why the hell you hid our powers from us. Why the hell did you never tell us we are witches?” Maria fumed with rage.
“What are you talking about sis?” Devin asked behind her. Maria turned to her brothers and did the small spell Alia had showed her last night. Devin's mouth dropped open while Walter seemed lost for words.
Walter spoke first. “How?”
“Oh, mommy dearest is a witch too.” Maria turned toward her mother. She looked shocked and ashamed.
“We...” She stopped talking and glanced at her husband. “I thought it was best for you guys. I used the tea to help suppress the magic but it only works if you’re constantly drinking it.”
“Why would you do this mom?” Walter inched closer to the group.
“Because I thought it was the right thing to do.” Her eyes pleaded with her daughter. Maria shoved her hands through her hair and turned. Derrick’s calm body brought her comfort. Her head snapped back toward her mother.
“Why do you hate Derrick so much? You don't even know him.” Maria slid closer to her mate, she stood there ready for a fight. Ready for a battle of strong wills. She was not expecting what came next. Tears rolled down her mother's face.
“I know what he will do to you. If you have his kids, it will kill you Maria. It's how your aunt died.” Her mother wiped at her face cleaning some of the tears away.
“My second in command just had his first child with a witch.” Derrick finally spoke up.
“How did she survive?” Her mother narrowed her eyes on Derrick.
“She is a werewolf as well, once she delivered, she shifted and healed.”
“A wolf and a witch. How is it possible?” Maria asked.
“She is a part of the wolf-witch clan. Margret Lyco, a strong witch fell in love with an alpha. They had five kids who practiced magic and shifted. Some fell in love with werewolves and some fell for witches. After a few generations, they come back together.” Derrick rubbed Maria's back and met her gaze.
“Olsen found out you’re one of her descendants.” Concern filled his eyes.
“You mean, I...” Words failed Maria as she tried to grasp this new information. I can become a wolf without fear of death. Maria turned toward her family. One problem at a time Maria. She focused on her mother. “Mom, will you actually teach me how to use the magic?”
“Why do you want to be a witch?” Devin asked as he plopped back in his spot next to Dad.
“Because it's who I am. I won't hold a part of myself back.” Maria turned to her mother.
“Yes or no, Mom. The Blood Moon is coming up and I want some kind of control by then.” Maria didn’t want to hurt anyone on the night her powers were the strongest.
“I can't,” she said under her breath. Maria turned back to her mate.
“Fine.” Maria forced herself to leave her parent’s house. Her mind buzzed with all the new information. Her mother refused to teach her and the only thing keeping her moving was the fact that Derrick supported her choice to practice magic.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Derrick
DERRICK WANTED TO COMFORT her, but had no idea how yet so he continued to drive. A sick feeling settled in his stomach after he turned out of her neighborhood. His eyes moved to the rear-view mirror every other second. Nothing odd stuck out, yet his stomach tensed all the same. His grip tightened on the wheel when he turned down an alley. After a block, he pulled the truck down another street but no one followed him down the alleyway.
“Is there something wrong?” Maria asked as she glanced around.
“Just thought someone was following us.” A way to help Maria suddenly occurred to him. Derrick drove over to a playground and parked next to the curb. Quickly he turned toward his mate. The open area made it easy to spot anyone watching them.
“You look like you need to talk before you explode.” Derrick studied her.
“How can this be happening all at once? I mean I’m a witch but then again, I can change into a werewolf.” Maria pushed back her tears. Derrick didn’t want her to cry.
“The choice is completely up to you. Just like if you want to practice magic, it’s your choice. We can worry about pups later.” Derrick wondered how strong of a witch she might become.
“I’m not worried about kids right now. I’m more or less thinking about how much different my life would have been if I actually practiced magic.” Maria looked at her hands then met his gaze.
“What do you mean?” He brushed her soft hair back behind her ear.
“Like right now, I’d be able to trust my own mother. I wouldn’t be questioning everything she ever said to me.”
“I understand this probably isn’t what you want to hear, but she did what she thought was right. You can’t fault her for doing her best. She just loved you so much she didn’t want to burden you.” Derrick scanned the park around them but didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. The stupid sensation of being watched still nagged at him making his wolf uneasy.
“But what did she think would happen? Plus, what about Walter? I mean, he should have known and if he did before today why didn’t he tell me or Devin?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe he brought the tea with him on his tours?” He suggested even though he felt the words were hollow. There seemed to be a missing link in the Walter situation.
“Subject change, here. Can you explain to me how I become a werewolf?” Maria’s hands slid to the bottom of her shirt
“It’s pretty simple. I shift and bite you. I have heard it can burn but it’s the change taking effect on the body. You need to ask Alia what it really feels like.”
“That’s all it takes? You just bite me?”
“I have to be in my other form b
ut yes, it is pretty simple. Learning magic will probably take longer than figuring out your wolf form.” He explained to her what Olsen said Alia went through with being a witch and a wolf at the same time. “Alia’s hearing isn’t heightened unless she is in her wolf form. Like most of the benefits of being a wolf, it doesn’t come out until she shifts.” She continued to nod her head as she took in more information. He didn’t want to burden her but she kept asking more questions about the change and how Alia worked with it.
“How about we go to the house and you can ask her all the questions you want?” Derrick suggested.
“Sounds like a plan.” Her body relaxed in her seat.
Derrick turned on the truck and started to drive, but now the sensation of being watched grew stronger. He kept scanning to see if he caught anything. They stopped at a red light and the sensation intensified. The light turned green but the truck coming towards them didn’t stop.
“Something’s–” Before Derrick could explain, a truck slammed into the back of their vehicle pushing them into the intersection and towards the oncoming pick-up. Maria screamed as the second truck slammed into her side. Derrick grabbed the steering wheel. The material crumbled under his grip and it broke in half. Once they came to a halt, voices were yelling just outside his truck. Derrick’s heart raced, making the blood pound in his ears.
Derrick turned to Maria who was knocked out from the second impact. He yanked at her seatbelt to free his mate. Guys in black masks swarmed the wreck, silver chains dangled in their hands. He hit a button on the dash of his truck. The computer asked what he needed.
“Call Olsen,” Derrick growled. After one ring his second answered.
“Get here and get others, now!” Derrick yelled over the intercom. One male grabbed Derrick’s door and pulled it open. Before he had a chance to react, Derrick punched the guy in the face, knocking him down. He slammed the door closed then turned toward Maria again. Her eyes fluttered open and another scream filled her lungs.
When Derrick had hit the first male, another had jumped up on the hood. He held a bat and swung at the window. The glass buckled but didn’t break. With the second swing, however, it shattered and glass sprayed into the front seat. Derrick managed to push Maria to the back seat before the guy grasped her. The male reached in and Derrick reacted with his wolf instincts, he fucking bit the guys arms, making him howl in pain.
Maria screamed again as the back window shattered. She kicked her legs as someone pulled her out. Derrick managed to punch the male he had bitten and went after Maria. When he climbed out the back, another attacker threw a silver chain in his direction but missed by an inch. Fucking silver, why do they have fucking silver!
Pushing his anger out he shifted into his wolf, leaving a pile of shredded clothes under his body. He lunged for the male who had thrown the chain. Derrick broke his leg, keeping him from moving any more. A howl met the alpha’s ears. Olsen is finally here. Derrick focused on the guy pulling at Maria. He needed to protect his mate, the burning realization of her possibly carrying his pups made his wolf growl. When he reached them, the guy yelled out in pain but not from anything Derrick did. The smell of charred flesh met the alpha’s nose. The guy let go of Maria and she turned and punched him square in the nose.
“Bitch,” he called out. The voice sounded familiar but he couldn’t immediately put a name to it.
“Don’t you dare fucking touch me again. Who the hell sent you to take me?” Maria yelled.
“Fuck you.” The male looked from Derrick to Maria. “They will get you freaks and kill all of you.” Before Derrick moved a muscle, Maria kicked the male making Derrick wince. She grabbed his mask and yanked it off then grabbed the male’s long hair. He had been hired as a cop a few weeks back.
“You see the wolf right there. He can kill you, and I can fucking pardon him since I’m the fucking interim mayor, you dumb fucker.” She paused and stared him down. Derrick knew he would love to kill the man under his mate. His wolf grinned at the idea of more blood in his mouth.
“Tell me who sent you or die right now,” Maria demanded. The fire in his mate’s voice made Derrick proud. She’d make a great alpha female with such determination. The attacker managed to grab her by the throat, but she wrapped her hands around his wrists and the odor of burning flesh reached Derick’s nose. Derrick lunged for the male and knocked him away from Maria. She stumbled back while Derrick ripped the guy’s head off. He turned around ready to fight more but his mate was on the ground. Olsen took care of the ones who hadn’t fled the scene. The threat is over, she is safe.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Maria
MARIA LOOKED AT THE face of the guy who had tried to take her. The head no longer attached to his body. A wave of nausea threatened to overcome her the longer she stared at the scene. The male’s chest had angry red burns from her and she had no idea how she had managed to use the same spell again without trying. Maria glanced down at her hands, where scrape marks covered her palms. Derrick turned toward her and shifted into his human form. He simmered as heat radiated off his naked body. He extended his hand and Maria took it to help her stand.
Most of the men who made the attempt to take her had fled while Derrick and Maria were trying to interrogate the dead male at their feet.
“Why would they want me?” Maria shoved her fingers through her hair. Ever since she met Derrick in her office a few days ago, everything in her life had turned upside down. She felt lost in a sea of information she should have known months, if not years, ago. Maria wanted some calm in her life but looking at the mess of the three-truck accident and dead men on the ground, she didn’t expect it to come easily.
“I don’t know, but I won’t let them get you.” Derrick pulled her into a tight hug. A sudden wave of heat consumed her body, forcing her to remind herself she was in public and she couldn’t jump on top of Derrick. He leaned down next to her ear and whispered, “Only a quick chat with Olsen and then I will take you home.” The sexy edge to his voice, sent a shiver down her spine.
“Ok,” Maria managed to force out. Olsen and a few other males walked toward them. Every single one of them was entirely naked. Maria averted her eyes to Derrick, keeping herself from looking elsewhere. She understood werewolves weren’t ashamed of nudity but for Maria, there was a fine line between acting normal and gawking. She didn’t want to be checking out Derrick’s pack mates so she looked everywhere but at them.
“Is everyone ok?” Derrick asked while his grip tightened on Maria’s shoulder.
“Yea, most of them bolted when they saw us coming.” Olsen scratched his head. “You guys good?”
“Fine. Is Alia at my house or yours?”
“Aura and Alia are at your house.” Olsen scratched the back of his head, like he was worried he did something wrong.
“You clean this up and I’ll meet you there.” Derrick pulled Maria toward Olsen’s black pickup truck but kept her in the middle seat right next to him.
Something in her snapped sending heat throughout her system, she wondered if this had to do with the ‘heat’ Derrick kept talking about. His hot body continued to send little zings down her spine. After the short drive to his house, her libido was in overdrive. She wanted to have Derrick inside of her. His hand brushed against her forearm sending a shiver of pleasure across her flesh.
Without a word, Derrick jumped out of the truck and carried Maria inside and straight to his room. Alia looked like she was going to say something but Maria never heard anything from her. He gently placed her on the bed and stripped her in a flash, sending a wave of excitement through every nerve. Once she lay naked, he kneeled between her thighs and licked her most sensitive area causing her to buck her hips.
“Condom,” Maria whimpered out past her dry lips. Derrick groaned before pulling a condom from the drawer and shoved it on. His hot breath tickled her inner thighs.
“Holy goodness.” Maria stammered. Before she corrected herself, Derrick slammed his mouth onto hers in a
possessive kiss. A strong need surged through her, she needed to feel him inside of her. Right fucking now! She grabbed his hips and pulled on his body but he didn’t budge from his position for a long moment. His hand slid over the seam of her sex and groaned against her lips which created an inferno under her skin. His lips left hers as he placed his rock-hard cock at her entrance. With no warning, he slammed into her waiting body.
“Yes!” Maria cried out. Every second before he entered her body had been miserable. This moment felt right, like magical pleasure coursing under her skin. There was not an ounce of patience in Derrick as he thrust with haste into her warm body. She took everything he gave her. His teeth grazed against her shoulder sending shivers down to her core. Tension pooled in her stomach demanding to be eased, as the sensation hovered on the border between pleasure and pain. He moved to her other shoulder and bit down harder this time. The pleasure from his bite overwhelmed her senses, sending her over the edge into a blissful orgasm.
Derrick didn’t slow down as his balls slapped against her ass. A low growl vibrated against her neck, sending a wave of aftershock through her while he climaxed inside of her tight folds. All the tension in her body melted away under her mate and she relaxed for the first time in hours. Sadly, she wasn’t able to enjoy the moment long as a door slammed downstairs making her jump. All her worries rushed back into her mind with a vengeance almost giving her a headache. Maria closed her eyes for a moment, taking a few deep breaths to regain her composure.
She opened her eyes to find Derrick pulling off the condom, another one split in half. Maria swallowed hard at the sight. Her chances of escaping heat without a child were slimming down with each broken condom. She licked her lips and looked at Derrick. Maria opened her mouth but snapped it shut seconds later. Part of her didn’t want to know how many failed attempts were made not to get her pregnant during this heat crap.
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