The Demon and His Plaything

17| Nancy Drewing

Samantha's stomach was in a knot. She had been thinking of how she would do this all morning.

The plan was to tell Derek about Godrick and then try to talk him into helping her work out who Godrick had seen. She could do it the other way but she didn't want to keep this from Derek anymore. She felt a need to protect him, her feelings growing exponentially in only the brief time since their marking.

On a practical level, she had no one to lie for her and cover with her parents so she could leave the pack and investigate, and she doubted he would do it without knowing the details. Also, Derek would know the amount of guards and any changes to the rotation.

If he didn't take it well... Well, she'd have to do it all on her own.

She hoped the guards had been ordered to be paired at all times. If they split up, trying to find the point where they'd be far enough away for her to slip through would be hard to time.

Derek was due to meet her away from the packhouse–near a small lake to the north, within the grounds enough that it wasn't in the pathway of the pack security, but not far from where she had told Godrick to pick her up from.

She had everything she thought they'd need, including a change of clothing for both of her and Derek. She figured he might shift abruptly and ruin whatever he was wearing. And well, she was likely to have to defend herself. She also included some bandages, her phone and a lot of masking scents.

She'd told her parents she was staying with Derek overnight, noting they seemed relieved to have her distracted.

He was bang on time and it made her smile. They hadn't seen each other since the morning, him leaving before she had to get up. He had kissed her softly, his voice just as soft as he said goodbye.

His face was blank but in a way like he was forcing it. He stopped a few meters from her. She was confused by his stance. He hadn't moved to touch her even. Her chest tightened.

"Hey," she greeted him, taking a step and reaching a hand out.

"Just–" a breath out, "just say what you need to say." She saw his chest hitch as he tried to take a breath in.

He couldn't know already… Did he just sense bad news was coming? "Derek, I need you to understand that I care about you a lot and–”

"Don't Samantha–” tears came to his eyes. "I understand. You don't feel safe with me. I'll find a way to–remove–" His voice was breaking, the jarring sound shattering her heart.

She rushed and encircled her arms around his waist. "Derek, just let me speak. I can never apologise to you enough. I want to be with you but you won't want to be with me, but I also need your help and it's a lot to ask after what I'm about to tell you."

Derek stilled in her arms, listening to her rushed words. She led him to take a seat on a tree stump, pacing in front of him a few times before speaking.

"I'm not going to tell you everything–it doesn't cast me in a good light. Or him." She glanced at Derek at that. The young man c****d his head, a strange look came across his face.

She chewed her lip. "I was already seeing someone when we marked and mated."

His mouth opened in disbelief before closing with a snap. He swallowed thickly. "Who?"

"He's not from the pack."

His forehead creased at that. "Which pack then?"

"He's not part of any pack."

Derek looked down as he absorbed her words. "So–"

"So," she cut him off. "I haven't stopped seeing him."

His entire body stilled. She saw his eyes flicker, his gaze flicking as well as he thought swiftly. "Every time I couldn't find you?"

She thought for a second. "Yes. And–"

"The night of the run?" He raised his voice to a yell. It shut her up. Three for three…

She bit her lip, waiting to see how Derek would react before speaking further.

He threw his head into his hands, resting his elbows on his knees. "f*****g. f**k… I'm so stupid…"

"We marked each other," She just blurted it out. She needed it out there.

There was a full beat before Derek looked up at her. Realisation rippled across his features. He stood up and stalked towards her. "You're a real piece of work, aren't you?"

Samantha hesitated. She didn't know if she should assert her dominance or let him take what he needed. She didn't have time to take too big a bite from him and after how he'd handled the drop after the run she wasn't sure it would help him. He wasn't Godrick.

She didn't straighten and nor did she cower. Nodding, she looked up at him. "Yes. I was selfish and cruel. I liked the idea of you as my Alpha. I thought I could have whatever I wanted. But I didn't give you a choice. Or Godrick, but he accepted my relationship with you, and–”

"Godrick?" Derek asked. He took a step back and laughed. It startled her in that it sounded nice. Like any of his joyful laughs. "His name's Godrick? The f**k kind of name is that?" He laughed again, turning from her and staring out across the lake.

He tilted his head and turned back to her. "Who is he?"

"That's what I need your help with?"

He walked back towards her. "Sam–”

"Please let me get through all of this. No interruptions." She waited to make sure he wouldn't talk. He motioned for her to continue, his eyes darkened as the reality of what she had told him settled in. While she thought he was taking everything remarkably well, she hoped he would hold up for the next part.

"He has information–the Demons that attacked the Half Moon Pack," she spoke gently, watching his face, "were hired by Wolves."

"That's crazy,” his tone whipped out.

"Well, I think it's worth checking out–which is what I need to do now. I can be out and back in before anyone else knows I'm gone."

"Back where?" He asked, confused.

"Here. I want to go out and find out what I can about the Wolves he saw. I need you to cover for me."

"I'm not doing that."

"Please, Derek. I tried to tell my parents what I found out but they wouldn't let me even tell them it was Wolves. I need more information to give to them," she said, desperation in her voice.

"Then I'm coming with you."

Samantha pursed her lips. "I don't think you should meet Godrick, yet."

"Yet?"

She looked at the ground. "If you don't do anything…"

"Crazy?" He asked, throwing his arms. "Violent?"

"Yes," she snapped. Sighing, she softened, "Sorry. He wants to help."

Derek studied her face. "What exactly were you hoping would happen?"

She finally met his gaze. "I wasn't thinking far ahead but I hoped–” She couldn't say what she had hoped would happen. Not out loud. He'd never want it. Again, he wasn't Godrick.

~*~

Samanth: So. Plan C. We have another passenger.

Godrick frowned at her message. Another came in a few seconds later.

Samantha: Derek is coming.

Oh. s**t. He didn't know the guys name but who else would it be? He glanced over at Grim. They were leaning against his jeep. This was actually one of Grims' brother's cars. It was more comfortable than the Aston Martin if you had more than two people. And Godrick felt a bit funny about being with her and the car and Grim.

He filled Grim in on the additional passenger. Godrick didn't know if this meant she had told her fiance or if he needed to keep it cool. He pulled his jacket closed more, making sure his mark was concealed. The evening was too warm to zip it up though.

After close to half an hour he heard a small yip. He wasn't sure how he knew it was her, but he did and the sound brought his gaze up. He saw her wolf form through the trees. She was carrying her little leather backpack in her mouth again. He smiled stupidly as she came further into view.

His eyes shifted where he saw movement behind her. He let a long slow breath out. There was a very large sandy wolf following her lead.

Godrick and the wolf's eyes met. Godrick felt the oddest sensation. It was like something coiled inside him.

He shook his head, breaking eye contact. The two wolves slipped behind a tree and a few minutes later Samantha and a large guy stepped out.

Godrick couldn't help but size up the other man. He could feel his wolf. Now he knew what to look for it was easy to sense it, as easy as it was for him to feel hers. He could see Samantha's mark on Dereks neck, stark and unconcealed. He bit back a bitter feeling at that.

"Hi." She waved.

"He's a Demon?" Derek asked in a flat voice.

Samantha looked from Godrick back to Derek. "Yeah. Did I not..?"

"As in the people that killed my sister?" Derek took a dangerous step forward.

Godrick felt the coil pull tight. He took a deep breath, his chest felt ready to burst. Samantha was between the two men in an instant. "They want to help us! Back off!"

All three men felt the raw edge of her tone, more than just spoken words, the deep essence of her alpha wolf power washing over them. Derek grimaced and bared his throat, in response. The feeling receded and Derek relaxed. He smouldered but didn't say anything else.

"Well, hi," Grim broke the tense silence, "I'm Grim. Sure we're scum but we're, like, nice scum."

Samantha greeted him back, a small smile on her face and introduced the two men.

"We're all good to get our Nancy Drew on?" Grim asked.

"You drive, Grim.” Godrick fought to take his eyes off Samantha. The few days apart had been difficult. He felt an even more intense need to be with her since their marking.

Both he and Derek started towards the back of the car, pulling up awkwardly as they realised each other intentions..

"Godrick, you go up the front." She tried to be gentle but she was already impatient at walking on eggshells. She'd wanted to kiss Godrick hello so badly. She wasn't so unaware that she didn't know how self-centred that made her.

"I'm guessing..?" Godrick whispered to Samantha as he held the back door for her.

"That she told me about the two of you?" Derek asked sharply. He stared at Godrick hard through the car, smirking at his look of surprise. "Super hearing."

"Right." Godrick glanced at Samantha who gave him a sad stare back. He guessed it hadn't gone well.

"I trust we can be… civil?" Godrick cringed at his choice of words but he couldn't think of another word fast enough.

"Way I see it, she cheated on you with me. You're the one that should be pissed. She marked me first, yeah?"

Grim clapped his hands once, "Oof. This is going to be fun."

~*~

"The cabin is about a kilometre that way." Godrick pointed in the general direction and showed them on his phone.

They moved on foot, Derek insisting he scout ahead instead of Samantha. She knew she'd be more stealthy even in human form but he wouldn't budge. He linked back to her, confirming it was safe to approach.

They entered the cabin but not before she remasked them and the two Demons.

Both Derek and Samantha were looking around the cabin and lightly sniffing the air.

"There's nothing here. Though that's not terribly surprising," Derek snapped.

Samantha went over to the table that Godrick had said the one he thought was in charge sat. There was no scent. It had been easy for her to purchase her masking, so that didn't help narrow anything down.

"Are we in a pack's territory?" Grim asked.

Samantha shook her head. "This is neutral ground. We don't share hard borders. There are always pockets along the borders.

"What pack is this between?" Godrick asked.

Derek answered, "Half Moon and New Moon."

"It just seems…" Samantha looked around, "obvious."

Both she and Derek looked at each other, similar racing thoughts running.

"Describe them again." Derek walked around the room again.

Grim and Godrick shared a quick glance. Neither of them had looked at them very well, just wanting to be gone.

With a shrug, Grim offered, "A big blonde bearded guy, like a biker on steroids."

"And a guy that was more clean-cut. Dark reddish hair, a bit hipster. Built like a tank still," Godrick added.

Samantha tapped her lip. The same as they had said on the drive here. The Alpha of the fallen Half Moon Pack had been blonde but his Beta was also blonde, and the Alpha of the New Moon Pack had short black hair–as did his Beta, who was his brother–who had an alpha wolf. "You've just described two-thirds of the male werewolf population."

"The other third preppy jock types?" Godrick quipped. He bit the inside of his cheek realising now was probably not the time to make fun of the big angry wolf he was in this small space with. The other man just rolled his eyes at him and turned away while Grim guffawed.

Samantha continued, "Did they have any distinguishing features? Tattoos, scars?” Lighting up and asking with excitement at thinking of it, “A mark?"

"The biker dude was like Derek here and the brain was like you."

Samantha looked at Godrick sharply.

Godrick explained, "I'd never met a werewolf before, well you, and you didn't tell me what you were straight away…” he gestured like he was hurrying himself along, “It's my demon thing. And Grim told me about the roles, so once I know what to look for–I just know."

"I thought you said they were both alpha wolves."

Godrick looked at Grim. Grim shrugged in return. "I just assumed they were."

Derek rubbed his jaw. He looked over at Samantha but he spoke to Godrick. "A blonde bearded beta and an alpha with dark reddish hair?"

"Sure, if that's what you guys are…"

Samantha frowned and shook her head. She cast her eyes down, a sick feeling making her stomach drop. "That could match any number–”

"Would you say the blonde man's hair colour is the same as mine?"

"Derek!" Samantha slammed her hands on the desk, snapping it in half. She spun around on him.

He continued, raising his voice. "And did the alpha look like her?" He pointed at her and she balled her fists to stop herself from shifting. She gritted her teeth and glared at the other wolf. She didn't want to hear this.

"Why would they do that?" She struggled to get the words out.

Both Godrick and Grim stood dead still. Godrick was tensed towards Samantha, instinctively wanting to protect her. The tension was thick, heavy with an edge of violence at the tumultuous emotions rolling over the two Werewolves.

Derek's face started to crumble. "Why didn't he get Tracy out?"

It felt like time slowed down. Derek covered his face with his hands, dropping to his knees, at the exact same time Samantha moved, sliding her body to capture him in her arms–meeting him on her knees.

The two held each other in the middle of the room. She wrapped her arms across his shoulders and head. His face nestled on her neck as sobs shook his body. She rubbed to soothe him.

Godrick felt like an intruder. A piercing in his chest. Slapping Grim lightly, he motioned for them to leave. He tried to steady his breathing as he hit the fresh air.

Grim looked at him. "You good, man?"

Godrick smiled a tired smile. "I don't know."

"So…" Grim said after a long few minutes. "Your girl’s the daughter of an Alpha and an alpha herself." The corners of his mouth turned down with a look of appreciation on his face.

Godrick side-eyed him. "So?"

"Just heard some things about female alphas…" he jumped away grinning, as Godrick tried to hit him.

~*~

Derek sat cross-legged, Samantha was sitting with her legs bent, knees up, her shins against his. He felt cried out for the moment. It was getting dark but they weren't making a move.

"If you had this Demon guy why did you," he shook his head, "go along with me?"

"I knew I needed to be with someone that could run the pack with me and I preferred it to be you over a stranger. And I'm sorry to say it was a–” she swallowed, "a game."

Derek scrunched his eyes up for a second. "Right."

"But I wanted to." She clasped her hands around her knees. "I figured we were going to end up together and I thought we'd just have s*x but you wanted to mark me…"

"Did you even like me?" He asked abruptly.

"Of course, I did–do." She frowned. "I just don't always feel things the same way other people do…"

She glanced at him as she trailed off.

He slowly shook his head, again, disbelief fogging his brain. "I don't know you at all do I?" He rubbed his face.

Samantha looked down at his words. He looked at her expression and a flash of pain lanced across his chest at seeing her so crestfallen.

He sighed, frustrated that he wanted to kiss her sad expression away.

"What do we do now?" She asked.

"I don't know. Do we find out how to unmark–"

"I meant about our dad's," she joked, but her lower lip trembled slightly and he saw it, his eyes so intent on her mouth.

She lifted her eyes to him. He became lost in her gaze, moving to pull her to him. He tilted her face up, his lips crushing hers.

Her body flowed against him, her legs sliding around his waist. He clung to her. "Goddess Samantha. You're like a drug."

She kissed his mouth, trying to show him that she wanted him. He lay back pulling her down on him. She slowed the kiss down to a stop.

"What am I going to do with you?" He cupped her face above him.

~*~