Derek's POV

I head to the shower with Anna because I feel the need to pamper her. I felt her stiffen up, and I knew she was thinking about us and possibly a pup. We mated extremely fast, but once an alpha marks his mate, that happens. Heat hits pretty fast, and that ensures pups. You know Aiden says she thinks you're only doing all of this because of the mate bond and that you imagine Ellie while with her. I want to flip out.

I ran us a bath and stood my little one on her feet so I could grab a bath bomb and get our towels ready. Turning, I see Anna looking at her fingers, looking uncertain.

Aiden tells me that isn't true. I beg. "It is," he sighs sadly. "She believes you won't love her at all, but you will for your pups." Fuck Derek, you know she felt it every time you fucked that bitch, and she was going to kill herself. Throwing herself from a cliff, he cries in my head.

Are you serious? I sat back shocked; yes, he answered dead serious.

"Little one," I say, getting her attention, and as she looks up, my gut clenches.

"Yeah, Derek," she says timidly. She barely looks at me, and I put on a blank face because I feel turmoil.

"We will figure it all out, don't worry," I say, kissing her lips and hugging her. Her hug feels hesitant.

"Okay," she says, hugging me back. A hesitant hug and saying okay like she doesn't believe me.

After we get in, I rub her back gently and start washing her. We spend an hour in the tub, not just washing either. I take her again, and we both cum twice before getting out. I dry us and lead us both back to the room. I dress her in loungewear pants and a tank top, which shows her beautiful hard nipples. I go to strip the sheets when I see the blood. Oh no.

Fuck me, she was a virgin, and I took her so hard and rough the first time. I grimace looking back as she sits, eyes full of tears.

"Little one, I'm so sorry I took you so roughly. Why didn't you say something?" I knew she wouldn't say shit because she kept all the pain to herself, pain I fucking caused.

"I'm fine, Derek; we both were too far gone for me to say something," she said weakly. She looked away to secretly wipe her face free of tears, and I felt like shit as my gut clenched again.

"Fuck, honey, are you in pain?" I asked, worried I fucked her hard because of the heat.

"No, I'm good," she said softly. I sighed, feeling like shit, and then I felt guilty because I gave my virginity to Ellie, not my mate. Anna sat in her chair and shivered, so I quickly changed our bedclothes and went to her. Scooping her up, I carried her to bed and gently placed her on it and covered her up.

"Are you hungry, little one?" I wanted her to eat.

"Yeah, I am a little," she said, looking at me, and I got lost in her green eyes. Holy moon goddess, she was beautiful. She looked down, breaking eye contact, looking uncertain of the stuff between us.

"I'm going to get Wesley to bring us food and a couple movies to watch. Sound good?" I ask, looking at her.

"Sounds good. Thank you," I hear her say, snuggling into the bed. Maybe we can get to our house, and I can show her how much I can be a good mate and love her. I think I'm falling for her, but I want to be absolutely sure before I say it. Turning, I find her passed out, and I chuckle softly. She felt so damn incredible each time I took her. Bareback is good, and my cock tingles thinking how much I enjoyed it with her more than with Ellie.

My wolf agreed with me, and I felt him purr in happiness.

"Alpha, I got the stuff," Wesley said, making me jump and turn to look at him. I cover Anna and grab the food.

"Thanks, man, I'm starving," I said, shaking his hand. He reported on the pack and asked about Anna before leaving. I gently woke her and sat up our food. We sat eating, and after, I put in a movie and held her while we watched. I kept kissing her head and lips because I could. But her attention was all over the place.

"Anna," I said, getting her attention. She looked at me briefly and was cautious.

"Yes, Derek," she said, looking up into my eyes before looking away.

"We will be okay; I'm not going to leave you alone ever again. I will make it up to you, little one, I promise," I say, pecking her lips after making her face me.

"Okay," she says, kissing me back, shocking us both before gasping in shock and covering her mouth.

"I'm sorry," she said, looking down. Fuck me, I was fucking stupid. Look how uncertain she is over a kiss. I fume at myself. She should want to kiss me all the time, not fear it because I could get mad. I was an idiot.

After we watch a movie, we both go to sleep, and I wake to my cell dinging.

Hey Derek, how is everything? Ellie sends.

Good, we completed our mating, and she marked me.

So good to hear. I miss you.

I froze because she couldn't. I want to move on with my mate.

You got your mate Ellie, and you shouldn't miss me. I got Anna, and I love her.

Yep, I admit I love her, but I'm waiting to tell her. I don't respond to any more of her texts, and I shut off my phone so we can sleep. I pull Anna to me, but thoughts of Ellie plague me. She misses me, but earlier she sounded happy and sure of her mate.

I sigh and get up to pace in the room. I steal glances at Anna and hate this doubt I have. Yes, Ellie was my first everything, but my mate is going to be my whole world if I let her.

Fuck. I fume. I need to vent to my dad about all of this, so we start mind-linking. He gives it to me straight, and I agree my mate is more important than Ellie ever was.

We cut communication, and I crawled back in with Anna. I kiss her head and hold her tight. We will be fine. I just have to prove to her I care.

I also have to prove to her I love her. I just hope she believes me.