Derek's POV.

　　When I was done tending to her wound, I stood up and walked away, feeling a sense of inner conflict, like a storm raging inside me. My mind was a jumble of conflicting emotions, a maelstrom of thoughts and feelings that I couldn't seem to untangle.

　　Ever since I discovered that Elena was my mate, I had been struggling to come to terms with it. My thoughts were a jumbled mix of excitement and anxiety, my heart racing with anticipation while my head ...