Most of the Keep's grounds had now been covered, but Chloe didn't doubt for a second that a place such as this didn't have locked doors and secret passageways and secrets it would take her much longer to figure out. The forest had also been strictly off-limits after she found out what was inside. She figured she'd have to scope it out eventually, but definitely not while she was alone
( ... )
He could absolutely never win. Walk up behind her and tap her to get her attention, Chloe jumped. Walk up behind her and announce his presence, Chloe jumped. Stop a few feet away and say her name, Chloe jumped. Derek was going to give up.
But she was smiling, and the relief he could see in her expression was probably echoed in his. For the moment, at least, before it sunk in that her being here meant she'd been captured, too. Then he'd freak out. But right then, he was just happy to see her.
Until she went pale and started backing away. His smiled faded, and confusion took over.
"Chloe?"
Oh. Oh. Well, Derek knew how to solve that problem. Instead of responding, he did what he'd wanted to do in the first place. He closed the last bit of distance between them and scooped her up into a hug.
He looked real. Sounded real. The expression on his face was one she knew all too well--knew he'd be wearing. But still. If he was dead... she didn't think her mind would be able to take it.
Then she really would be crazy.
He stepped toward her and she flinched, then tensed as he moved to touch her. She closed her eyes. Warmth invaded her senses. Strong, supple arms wrapped around her and she sighed, relaxing into his embrace and wrapping her own arms around him in response. She clutched at the material of his baggy shirt, and buried her face in his chest. If she was clinging a little too strongly, hopefully it could be overlooked. After all, she hadn't thought she'd see him again for a good, long while.
It was Derek. He was here. A small, half relieved whimper left her lips. She wanted to laugh and cry, but did neither. Instead she murmured into his chest.
He closed his eyes, holding her close and breathing her in. Warm, uninjured, and safe. The logical part of his mind couldn't dispute that at the moment, because the wolf that was busy revelling in her scent being caught up with his was very insistent that as long as she was in his arms, she was as safe as she could ever be.
But then the rest of him caught up, and he pulled back slightly, frowning.
"It's not nice to see you."
He pulled away completely, pushing a hand through his hair and pacing slightly as he snapped, "You're here. What are you doing here?"
Derek wasn't talking to her, not really, but he was too angry to realize that's how it would sound. If she was here, then she wasn't back with Simon and their father, where she'd be safe.
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But she was smiling, and the relief he could see in her expression was probably echoed in his. For the moment, at least, before it sunk in that her being here meant she'd been captured, too. Then he'd freak out. But right then, he was just happy to see her.
Until she went pale and started backing away. His smiled faded, and confusion took over.
"Chloe?"
Oh. Oh. Well, Derek knew how to solve that problem. Instead of responding, he did what he'd wanted to do in the first place. He closed the last bit of distance between them and scooped her up into a hug.
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Then she really would be crazy.
He stepped toward her and she flinched, then tensed as he moved to touch her. She closed her eyes. Warmth invaded her senses. Strong, supple arms wrapped around her and she sighed, relaxing into his embrace and wrapping her own arms around him in response. She clutched at the material of his baggy shirt, and buried her face in his chest. If she was clinging a little too strongly, hopefully it could be overlooked. After all, she hadn't thought she'd see him again for a good, long while.
It was Derek. He was here. A small, half relieved whimper left her lips. She wanted to laugh and cry, but did neither. Instead she murmured into his chest.
"Nice to see you, too."
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But then the rest of him caught up, and he pulled back slightly, frowning.
"It's not nice to see you."
He pulled away completely, pushing a hand through his hair and pacing slightly as he snapped, "You're here. What are you doing here?"
Derek wasn't talking to her, not really, but he was too angry to realize that's how it would sound. If she was here, then she wasn't back with Simon and their father, where she'd be safe.
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