Dr. Luna
The Vampires Promised Bride Chapter 24

Derek felt the guilt pang in his chest. She was right, he would not leave her. He was being selfish just wanting to protect her. "Oh Lucy... I'm sorry." He pulled her tighter into him. "I don't know what I should do in this situation." He leaned down and breathed in his scent trying to calm himself down. He felt so torn. "I don't want to be away from you. Honestly, the idea of you leaving tomorrow is killing me. I am also afraid of losing you... Maybe I should talk with your parents more about this." Lucy let out a dry laugh and looked up from his chest. "It's impossible now." She could see Derek's confused eyes.

"You are my mate, Lucy. You belong to me."

"Derek, my father gave me an order using his authority as my king and alpha. That is something he has NEVER done before. Which means he is afraid for me. So much that he won't risk me disobeying him by just telling me no. He gave an order I can't refuse. He can do this because even though I am your fated mate I am not yours, yet." Lucy sighed. What she wasn't saying was how she felt something in her stir during that order. An order that came from her father and the king of the werewolves. Yet, it should have had a much stronger effect on her. Maybe her being a lycan was giving her an edge here. She bet that Aiden could directly defy an order from their father.

She respected her father and wouldn't disobey him. But she felt like she could fight off his order. Lyca e naturally higher-ranking wolves. No werewolf could ever out rank a Lycan. Which is why they were the leaders at one time. The fact that her and Aiden were lycan's must also mean something. Though they were afraid of what this was insinuating. Even the very need for the werewolf king arising insinuated something big on the horizon. A war among the wolves... She hoped not. And that this was just a means to keep her family in power. But she knew her parents and family were already thinking it.

Her grandmother Lilly had said, "There is a purpose to all gifts. Even when we can't see the reason right away."

Her Uncle Levi always grumbled about the pesky meddling goddess Selene and how she can never leave well enough alone. Though since after the demon war she has been fairly quiet. Just a few unexplained things that happen randomly that make everyone believe she is still guiding the events here. Like Lucy being a lycan and being Derek's fated mate.

She felt Derek's hands rubbing small soothing circles on her back as he kept his head buried near her neck. She could get minor internal feelings from him. She could sense his turmoil and inner struggle. It was still fuzzy. But once they were marked it would come through clear.

"I don't know if I am strong enough to do it Lucy... I don't know if I can be away from you."

She felt his breath beat against her neck and she closed her eyes with the sweet sensation it brought. Then come back with me."

"It's been crossing my mind. But I am their leader right now. I can't leave in the middle of a mission like this. It could cause chaos. These people here don't know who I am yet... I am just their leader. The one they depend on to make the decisions. But soon they will be our most trusted guard and friends in the palace." Derek nuzzled his nose into Lucy's neck. Her sof neck was so tempting. He wanted to taste her... taste her blood. And mark her as his own.

As a pure vampire the exchange of blood will bind them together. Their blood will be linked to one another Marking and mating is only one step of the binding process. Vampires mate for their eternal life and few ever take another mate if something happens to their first. Most end up either dying recklessly in battle or they just give up on living.

"I want to get to know the real you better... Not just the pull from our bond. I want to know about you. Since the person I have thought was you... wasn't."

Derek pulled back and cupped Lucy's cheek tenderly. He gazed into her green eyes and smiled. "I want you to know everything about me. Inside and out. I want to be as familiar to you as your own hand." He picked Lucy up and carried her towards the bed. He sat her down and climbed in front of her sitting cross legged. "Let's talk. Tell me about yourself... everything. I know things that Jasper has told me, but I want to hear from you. And I'll tell you everything about me. I'll start from where we left off. When my fifteen-year- old self disappeared from your life."

The two began filling in the gaps about each other. Starting with their likes and dislikes. They talked about their schools and how life was there. Derek explained that since he wasn't seen much upon his growth spurt it was the best opportunity to switch his life up. He started attending school as Ryan while the real Ryan was kept inside the palace with the private tutors. This was the role Ryan was born to fill and later he would become the leader of the palace guards.

He explained how shocked he was at first attending the vampire academy. Life was not just different but the nobles and such he remembered as a child were different. The way they treated him as Ryan was completely different. They treated him like a parasite. Some even openly bashed and mocked the royal family. It was a real eye opener.

Then when he was twenty, they started hearing rumors about a witch causing trouble. She was caught abducting vampires and wolves. He had been part of the elite army for only a few months. And within two years he had worked his way to becoming their natural leader. Which was obviously going to happen since he was a royal. Royal vampires were not just a title. They had scary dangerous abilities that were often secret and unknown.

As the leader he started leading scouting missions to try to uncover as much about the witch as possible. All the while he continued to keep tabs on Lucy. He always had Jasper report back to him and tell him about her. He loved hearing about her spirit and feisty nature.

When the strange attacks started happening about a year ago Derek took the elite army to their hideout. They would be stationed there permanently until they destroyed the witch and uncovered all her accomplices. This was also a bonding experience. One that was necessary to bind loyal soldiers to him forever.

"Nice, your parents trust you to go out and fight like that." Lucy said with a bit of envy.

"It is a rite of passage and necessary. I guess it would be similar to having your brother lead a pack into battle. My mother was never keen on it but I'm not exactly sixteen. I'm twenty-four years old. An adult. And I am protecting my fiancé and her family." Lucy smiled at him and leaned forward. She laid her head down on his legs and felt his hand start drawing lazy circles on her back. "One of your special skills wouldn't be to freeze time, would it?"

Derek looked down at her with a sad smile. "No... I wish. I can tell you about them though. Well at least the ones I know. I want you to know all of my secrets and for me to know all of yours."

Lucy really didn't have a lot of secrets. Just one. And that was about her wolf not being separate from her and that she was a lycan. Jasper didn't even know this about her. It was something that was kept very secretive in the family. They were worried how other werewolves would react. Her and Aiden were already the prince and princess, but would they feel indignant if they knew they were lycans?

She closed her eyes and enjoyed the tingles his fingertips sent through her. It was really fascinating how it fastened you together. It made Derek feel like an old friend of hers... a piece of herself. In a very lustful and completely clingy sort of way.

"I really only have one secret... but it's a big one." Lucy finally said quietly. She opened her eyes and tilted her head up to look into the amber eyes looking down on her. "I mean I have abilities and things but they aren't really a secret." She watched as a smile spread on Derek's face.

"And you trust me with your secret?"

She smiled up at him and nodded. "Yes, but I'm going to need your pinky for good measure." Lucy said, holding her pinky finger up in the air.

Derek chuckled and locked his pinky finger with hers. He leaned down into her finger and pressed his lips against them. "So adorable. So let's hear this big secret. What is it? You aren't really a werewolf." He chuckled at his joke and then noticed her stoic face. "That was a joke... right?"

"I'm not a werewolf." Lucy whispered out. "Look, you really can't tell anyone. No one knows but my family. I haven't even told Jasper about this."

Derek shook his head in confusion. "You aren't a werewolf? But you shifted."

"I don't have a separate wolf like werewolves do. My wolf is one with me... like a lycan's would be." Lucy watched as he seemed to ponder the information.

"So... my mate is even more badass?" A small smirk played on his lips.

"This could be a real problem for the packs. This makes me different from them. And something we feel needs to remain a secret. Especially with the treaty. It is best for them just to think of me as a regular werewolf. And that it is because I am their princess that I am larger and can command them."

"I agree with you." Derek watched as Lucy's green emeralds focused on him. "I think it is best to keep this quiet. Sometimes someone is only looking for a reason to be divisive. And this could give them the reason they need. It isn't necessary for all of them to know anyways. I do think it is strange though..."

Lucy nodded her head. "It isn't a natural occurrence. Maybe because of my parents being the king and queen? Or it could be our crafty moon goddess up to her tricks."

"In either case the reason doesn't matter. You are still my adorable little mate."

Lucy giggled. "Little mate?"

Derek shrugged. "It has been my nickname for you since you were young." He winked at her and adjusted her more onto his lap. "Rest your eyes my Lucy. You've had a very long day."

Lucy grabbed his hand and tugged on him gently. "Will you hold me?"

Derek chuckled. She had no idea how bad of an idea that was. But how could he deny her? He just needed to really concentrate on controlling himself. He grabbed the blanket and pulled it over the both of them while he pulled her into his chest. Her sweet intoxicating scent hit his nostrils while her body heat caressed his skin. It was pure torture. But it was also satisfying to be able to hold her like this.

"This your first time being held by a man while you sleep?" Derek asked, expecting for her to say yes.

"No, it isn't."

Derek felt his blood begin to boil. Someone else had touched what was his? He growled and tightened his grip on her. "Who dared to touch what is mine?"

Lucy rolled over so that she could look at him. She smiled. "Jasper has patted me to sleep before."

"Oh? He has? That is a detail he has failed to report."

"Details. Plural. Meaning more than once."

"I'm going to kill him." Derek growled.

Lucy giggled and leaned up pressing her lips on his jawline. "You're adorable when you are jealous." She winked at him. "One time was during a campout. Justice, Aiden, Destiny, Gia, Alexis, Micah, Raine and Jasper were all there. I had really bad hiccups and couldn't sleep so Jasper patted my back until I fell asleep. And the other time..." A faint smile spread on her lips. "My parents and brother were away. Destiny was there with Harley... 'watching movies'. Jasper was staying in Justice's room. He was watching over me while my parents were gone. I think I was seventeen? I woke up from a terrifying nightmare. I still remember pieces of it. What haunts me the most were the eyes..." Lucy closed her eyes as she tried to blink that part of the memory away.

"Jasper came to check on me. Not sure if he heard me or just his usual checking. But he came and sat with me. He told me it was just a dream and stayed with me all night. He patted my back until I fell asleep. And was still there when I woke up. He stayed awake and watched me all night." Lucy looked up at Derek. "He looked after me and took care of me like Aiden and Justice always did. I have always considered him like a brother to me."

"I guess there are some stories he keeps for just the two of you. He never shared those with me... I'm glad he was there for you though. I just wish I would have been the one who was there. But I will be soon. And I'll be the one to pat you back to sleep." Derek leaned forward and pecked her nose. He leaned his forehead into hers and smiled. "Get some sleep, princess."

Derek felt her curl deeper into his chest. He kept his arms on her protectively as her body relaxed, a slow breathing rhythm following. It was the sweetest feeling in the world holding her in his arms. Knowing that she trusted him in her most vulnerable state warmed his heart. He kissed her forehead and with much stealth slid away from her. He stood next to the bed for a moment and watched her sleeping body. He wanted to hold her longer, but he needed to do something first... There was a conversation that needed to be had.