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DERRICK SHOVED HIS phone in his pocket after he hung up with Paden. He had asked her to keep an eye out. Not to scare the hell out of Maria. He placed the flowers in the truck along with the damn chocolate, his mother had always reminded him that to win a girl over all you need is sweets and flowers. A low growl left his chest when he remembered Paden’s words as he climbed into his pickup. It had only been two hours since he left Maria but it somehow seemed longer. The drive to city hall was the longest ten minutes of Derrick’s life.
He walked through the entrance with ease, the security male up front nodded toward him without uttering a word. Kate sat at her desk typing on the computer.
“May I help you?” Kate asked without moving her eyes from her computer. Derrick cleared his throat and her head snapped up.
“Sorry.” She swallowed hard. “She’s on the phone.” A small ding sounded on the woman’s computer. “You can go in.”
Derrick pushed the door open and closed it quickly. He held the flowers close but had left the chocolate in the truck. They were part of round two.
“I’m fine, Mom. Just a little stressed out. I wasn’t expecting to get the job so fast.” Maria gave Derrick a weak smile. “Yes, I understand. Mom, I need to get back to work. Tell dad, I love him.” Maria stood and shook out her hands with her head leaned to the side to hold her phone.
“Yes, mom. I love you too. Bye.” Maria set the older phone down.
“What are you doing here?” Maria’s eyes didn’t quite meet Derrick’s.
“Paden called.” Derrick took another step into the office.
“Paden, yes, she’s nice. Cute baby. Yours?” Maria spit out.
“Is that what you’re worried about?” Derrick crossed the room to stand right in front of Maria. He set the flowers on the desk.
“Answer the question.” She narrowed her eyes to challenge him. He enjoyed the determination and the way the green specks sparkled in her brown eyes.
“No, Mason isn’t mine. Paden’s mate died a few months after they conceived. I’m the alpha so I have been helping her while her brother is in California.” Derrick studied her face. Relief filled her eyes and she let out a sigh.
“I’m sorry. I’m not normally so insecure.” Maria rolled her shoulders.
“What else is bothering you?” Derrick glanced at the desk to see a folder with his picture on top. Derrick raised an eyebrow. When Maria noticed what he was looking at, she closed the folder and turned toward him.
“I didn’t put this together. The last guy did.” Maria grabbed the folder and stared at it for a few minutes. “So, vampires exist. What about witches? I mean where does it end?” Maria’s voice faltered.
“Hey, I won’t let anyone hurt you, Maria.” Derrick didn’t like the fear in her eyes, his wolf growled at the thought of his mate being unprotected.
“I mean I should have realized, if werewolves existed then the rest of the stories must be true but I mean...” Maria turned toward Derrick. “Sorry, I’m blabbering now.” Maria pushed back her hair.
“Most humans don’t know about the others because the supernatural world is trying to see how werewolves do. If we do well, then they will start to come out more.”
“Well if the old mayor had this, then he has a team. The bastard is too lazy to do research himself.” Maria handed over the folder. Derrick opened it to find Olsen and his mate Alia. The next page was all about Alia and how they wondered if she had magical abilities. They have no fucking clue how powerful she is. The little witch became the first wolf and witch combo Derrick knew of.
The next page contained a picture of a low-level vampire running around downtown at one of their clubs. The next few pages were mid-level vamps coming out of the same club.
“Do you know who is taking these photos?” Derrick looked up at Maria. She shook her head. Derrick was on edge. He had no idea Alia was being followed. Witch or not, she was part of his pack.
“Who are they?” She played with her pen in her hand. He set the folder down.
“This is Olsen one of my seconds in command and his mate Alia.” Derrick pointed to their pictures. He had no idea of the vamp’s names exactly.
“If they are both wolves, why are they in here?” Maria glanced at the flowers on her desk but didn’t say anything about them.
“Well, Alia isn’t only a wolf. She is a witch as well.”
“That’s... um unique.” Maria sat in the large chair. Derrick leaned in to grab her hands. Her beautiful green eyes looked at him.
“Don’t worry about it right now. How about you leave early? We get dinner and we can relax at my place.” Having a human mate with minimal knowledge of the magical community might be tricky.
She tensed up a bit while her eyes still held worry. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Thanks for the flowers, they are pretty.”
“Well you have two choices, I either pick you up or you walk out of here of your own free will but you will come to my house tonight.” Derrick smirked. Nothing would stop him from claiming his little mate tonight. Maria narrowed her eyes and she leaned forward.
“You wouldn’t dare carry me out.” Maria’s low voice reached his ear. He walked over to her side of the desk, bent low and lifted her up making her gasp.
“Shit, I’m in a skirt.” Her hands went to her ass. Derrick smacked the bottom half uncovered by her fingers and she jerked in his arms. “Fine, just put me down.” Maria squirmed.
Derrick set her down on the desk and leaned in to kiss her soft lips. A small moan escaped her making Derrick rock hard. Damn it woman. He leaned back meeting her gaze. “If you try to run while we are out there I will catch you and carry you out.”
“Fine.” Maria grabbed her bag and walked for the exit. “Are you coming?” She raised her eyebrow and opened the door. Derrick had images of pushing her up against the wall and taking her there but he managed to keep himself in check. Barely.
A thought crossed his mind, he could sleep with her without telling her that sex completed the bond. He considered it for a moment. She seemed too damn hesitant to bond with him for her own damn good and he had never seen a couple who didn’t grow on each other after being imprinted.
Derrick followed her little ass out of the building and helped her into his truck, she grabbed the box of chocolates and a short smile lit up her face. By the time he hopped in, the scent of milk chocolate and nuts filled the cab as his mate dug into the tray. I will claim her little ass tonight even if she doesn’t know about it.