Chapter 6: Trouble

“Lily! Are you almost done? We need to go!”

I am lost in thought after Trina’s last little observation, and Derek’s shouting brings me back to reality. I run around my room gathering a couple of outfits, toiletries, a few books and personal items. I live a simple life so I don’t have much. Working, reading and planning have taken up most of my time so it’s going to be an easy move.

“Trina, can you throw the rest of my stuff in bags for me? Don’t want to keep the boss waiting.” I roll my eyes at her.

“Of course! And you shouldn’t keep him waiting, he is the Alpha. And think about what I said, Lily,” she winks at me and I quickly change the subject.

“Hey, I forgot to ask you, where were you this morning?” She blushes and looks at me with a twinkle in her eye.

“Just got caught up with a friend,” she replies coyly.

“A friend, huh? Would this be a male friend?” She smiles at me with that grin again.

“Lily!! Did you get lost in there?” Derek yells for me again, so I grab my bag and start to head out before his head explodes.

“Gotta go! Call you later to let you know how my new digs are, and you can tell me all about your new ‘friend’.”

I wink at her and blow her a kiss, then race down the stairs, but right before I get to the door, I slow down. I can’t let him think I was rushing to his side. I casually open the door and saunter outside, acting like I have all the time in the world. He is standing next to the bike with his arms crossed, a grumpy look on his face.

“Didn’t you hear me calling you?”

“Yes I did. I was catching up with Trina and getting my things together, as you commanded, sir.”

He prowls towards me and I am a little nervous I pushed him too far.

“That smart mouth is going to get you in trouble some day, Lily.”

“What kind of trouble?” I just can’t help myself, it's too much fun getting under his skin. He moves closer to me.

“The kind you can’t get out of,” his voice is laced with a promise that sends a shiver down my spine. But I’m feeling brave and I enjoy challenging him, against my better judgement. I close the distance between us so that we are almost touching.

“Is that so?”

He is staring at my mouth and a low growl comes from the back of his throat. Suddenly, he grabs my waist and hauls me up against him, so that every inch of our bodies is glued together. He puts his nose in the crook of my neck and breathes me in, and I can feel how excited he is. It makes me press even closer and I ache for him to kiss me. I have lost control of the moment and I am terrified and exhilarated all at once. His mouth grazes my neck up to my ear and I shiver again.

“Don’t test me, Lily,” he whispers seductively, “You might not like the consequences.”

Oh I think I will, I thought.

Then all at once he releases me, so that I almost lose my footing. He goes to the bike and straddles it, holding out the helmet for me. Even though my mind is happy that he exhibited some self control, my body is pissed off royally. I march towards the bike and hop on the back and when I wrap my arms around him, his muscles are very tense. Maybe he is just as affected as I was by the near miss.

When we pull up to his home, and I use that term loosely, I am in awe. I thought the Beta was wealthy, but this is something else. The pristine white mansion rises three stories high at least, the front is a huge central projecting bay structure with pillars and beautiful iron gates framing the wrap around porches on the second and third floors. On each side are more pillars, windows and iron gates as far as the eye can see and the entire house is surrounded by magnolia and cypress trees. The smell of jasmine invades my senses and I breathe deeply. Despite the intimidating nature of the house, I feel at peace here. I look at Derek and he has a startled expression on his face.

“What is it?” I ask him, concerned.

“The way you smell. I finally figured out why I like it so much. Your perfume must have jasmine in it,” he looks thoughtful.

“I don’t wear perfume,” I reply.

“Then why do you smell like my home?” he asks, and he seems to come to a realization as he says the words. The way he is looking at me freaks me out, and his intense stare causes me to babble.

“I can’t believe you live here! It's so beautiful. Does your family live here with you? There is no way you live here alone, it’s huge!” I exclaim with an unusually high voice. His brow furrows, like he doesn’t want to answer me.

“It’s been my family’s home for years, but my mother and father died in a car accident when I was sixteen. They were picking up my sister from a sleepover at a friends. She made it to the hospital, but they couldn’t save her. So it’s just me.” I feel a wave of empathy for him, knowing exactly what it’s like to have lost your family, to be all alone in the world. I put my hand on his arm.

“I’m so sorry for your loss, Derek. I know people say that and they don’t really understand, but I do.” He looks at me like he is seeing me for the first time, like he has finally found another person that shares his pain. A string of emotions passes over his face, anger, hurt, sadness and finally, guilt.

“Thank you, Lily.” An awkward silence stretches between us and I want to comfort him, but I’m not sure if he wants me to.

“Listen, I know I have been a little bit overbearing since you met me….” he starts to say, and I interrupt him.

“A little bit?” I tease him and he chuckles.

“Anyway, I’m just trying to say that I’m glad you’re here, and I think-”

Derek’s next words are cut short by a loud, piercing scream.