CASEY'S POV
"Derek, I'm not here to be yours; I'm here because our kids are in danger, and I need you to help me find them," I told him, hoping he would just stop arguing with me and get to work because I really want my kids to be found.
"I know our kids are in danger now, but I want us to fix these differences between us once and for all," Derek said, making me frown.
"Is this more important than our children's safety?" I asked him.
Tears welled up in my eyes again, realizing my kids were still in danger, and he wasn't ready to do anything about it.
"No, but we just need to settle this once and for all," Derek said, insisting that he continue talking about it.
"Why are you being so cruel?" I asked.
More tears flowed down my cheeks, realizing we hadn't started any search for my kids yet.
"I'm not being cruel; just respond to me so we can start our search for the kids right away," Derek said, making me swallow hard.
I wiped the tears from my eyes and faced him fully.
"You are not a good person, and I really shouldn't have come here in the first place because it was a waste of my time and effort," I said.
With that, I turned around to leave, but he grabbed hold of my hand, pulling me back.
"Let go of me," I barked at him while trying to unlock my hand from his grip, but he was holding onto me so tightly, not wanting to let go.
"Not so fast," he said.
I kept struggling to release myself from his grip.
"Do you think you could release yourself?" he asked me, making me swallow hard.
"Please let me go," I pleaded and continued trying to release myself while he just smirked.
"You are nothing but a weak Omega, and you are no match for me," Derek boasted, and just then we noticed a man stop beside us.
The scent of berries hit my nostrils, making me slowly turn to meet the man's gaze.
"Mate," we both chorused.
I really couldn't believe what was happening right now; it was so surprising to me, and I couldn't help but continue staring at the man in front of me.
A smile replayed on his face.
I never expected something like this to happen today because I thought werewolves were meant to have just one mate, and mine was Derek. So how was this even possible?
The stranger raised his hand to hold me without breaking the eye contact between us. I didn't bother to move away; I just stood frozen, trying to understand what was going on here.
"What the hell are you trying to do?" Alpha Derek said, taking his hand, which was already on mine, away immediately and pushing him away, but he still refused to break the eye contact between us.
I guess he was still shocked too, but why? This question rang in my head as I tried to process everything happening.
“I’m Eric, and I must confess you are so beautiful,” he introduced, taking my hands into his and immediately a frown appeared on Derek's face.
“You don't have any right to hold her,” Derek said, and I could see the jealousy in his eyes.
“She is my mate, and I'm the happiest man alive right now.” Eric paused to catch his breath before he continued.
“You don't know how long I have been searching for my mate, and I never knew she had been here all this while. I'm really happy to find her here, and I won't be leaving with her.” Eric spoke with the calmest voice I have ever heard as he moved towards me again.
"Why are you calling her your mate?" Derek thundered, pushing him away again.
"She is my mate," Eric said, boldly pointing his finger at me, but I could tell Derek wasn't finding it funny in any way.
"She isn't your mate, and she can never be your mate; she is mine and mine alone," Derek thundered, and immediately I could see anger pulsing through his veins.
I needed no one to tell me he was ready for a fight. “So, acting funny, she is my mate,” Eric spoke; his voice was still calm, like always.
I was sure Eric wasn't ready to make trouble with him in any way, and I was really pleased with that. But Derek continued pushing him, like he wanted to start a fight with me.
"You are mistaken here; she isn't your mate but mine, so stop daydreaming and get it into your head," Eric spoke, his voice rising now.
I could tell he was getting irritated with Derek's attitude. I mean, who wasn't? I was also feeling the same.
"Don't you dare call her your mate one more time; then you would see the other side of me," Derek warned.
"You can keep claiming she is your mate, but I know that isn't true, as I can feel my mate bond with her so strongly, and I believe you must be daydreaming," I told him, while he widened his eyes in disbelief.
“No, you are lying,” Derek said, slapping him hard across the face.
Eric frowned and returned the slap, making Derek annoyed immediately, and he started a fight with him.
I couldn't stand it any longer and rushed to them.
"Stop this nonsense, Derek," I spoke up for the first time, getting in the space between them.
"Get out of the way, Casey. I think I need to put this man where he belongs," Derek said, grabbing hold of Eric's shirt again.
"Derek, I said stop this," I said, grabbing his hands to take them off Eric's shirt, but Derek continued to be stubborn and tightened his grip on Eric.
"Derek, please let go of him," I pleaded, hoping he would do the right thing.