Chapter 5

Everything was still for a moment before it all descended into chaos.

'Ana!' yelled her father in alarm as he ran up to them. That snapped all the Hales out of their shocked stupor.

'Ariana! Derek! Are you both alright?' shouted his mom as she almost flew towards them.

But Derek blocked them all out, while sitting up and holding a shuddering Ari against his chest. He rubbed her back comfortingly and softly asked her if she was ok. She leant back and looked at him incredulously.

'Am I ok? Am I okay?! Are you out of your mind, Derek Hale?! Why would you do that?! Why would you let yourself get hurt? You could have seriously injured yourself!' she shouted at him, her arms flailing wildly now that they were free.

'Why would I...? Are you crazy? You could have gotten seriously hurt! That's why!' he yelled back at her angrily. Both sets of parents who had been approaching them, stopped and stared at the two arguing, feeling stupefied.

'So what?! It doesn't matter if I do get hurt! It's your birthday and you pull stunts like these!'

'Wait, so instead of thanking me for saving your life, you're saying that I should have just let you fall and break your neck?! Is that what you're saying? Fine, then. Next time I won't bother!'

Derek ran a hand through his hair in disbelief and frustration. That stopped her short.

'Thank you' she said, in a soft voice.

Derek felt a shudder rip down his spine in remorse as he spied the hurt look Ariana quickly hid. His wolf hated upsetting her.

'Shit, Ariana. Why the hell do you always push me into losing control?' he muttered softly as he pulled her into a huge bear hug. The top of her blonde head barely came up to his shoulder.

'I'm sorry I yelled at you. Ma says that we mustn't yell at people on their birthdays' she said, melting into the hug.

Derek snorted.

'And what if it's a stranger and you don't know that it's their birthday?' he asked, amused.

She leant back, giggling. He raised an eyebrow, causing her to break into peals of laughter. He almost smiled as his wolf howled happily.

'That's what I said' she managed to choke out. Derek face-palmed. 'Ha ha 1 point to me!' she exclaimed, excitedly jumping in her spot. They always said the same things by accident. They had a game going on that tallied who said what first. He caught her right arm, which by the way had almost hit him in the head twice. She looked at him inquisitively.

'I'm sorry too, for what I said. I didn't mean it. I'll always protect you,' he said, looking her straight in the eyes. Conscious of both their family staring at them intently, he made the moment light by adding with a grin 'But only when you promise that I'm allowed to spectacularly dive through the air to save you without getting cussed out; I mean c'mon! Did you see how I did that?! I was amazing!'

She grinned up at him and said teasingly 'Well, would you look at that? Someone's ego is reaching the sky again! Sometimes I wonder how you fit through the door with a head that big'

'Well you see, I meet this really crazy 10 year old, who by the way thinks she's older, on the way home from school, every single day. She always ends up deflating my huuuge ego by the time I reach home. Therefore, I always manage to get through the door' he said, in a snotty voice, with his nose in the air. He had his eyes closed which is why he didn't see her smirk evilly and reach up. She grabbed a fistful of his hair and yanked.

'Ow! Ari! Why did you…?' he trailed off looking at her expression.

'If I hit you, I'll only hurt myself. Hence, the hair' she said, primly. Derek just raised his eyebrows, looking skyward and raising his arms out to the heavens as if begging for help from a higher entity. Ari frowned at him.

'Dare!' she whined.

'Ari!' he mocked, with a raised eyebrow. He watched her grin at his antics and felt a little lighter inside.

She indicated to their parents. He followed her gaze. They were all staring at Ari and him open – mouthed. He was busy frowning at them, which is why he didn't notice Ari sneak closer. He didn't see her smile and blush slightly as she leaned up and kissed him on the cheek while pulling him into a hug. 'Happy Birthday, Dare' she whispered, softly. He looked down into her eyes. He was slightly startled at the look in her eyes. Does Ari feel something for me? But the moment passed. And Ari detached herself from him. Cheerfully, she turned heading towards Peter, Leah and their daughter, who was quite aptly named Angela. Derek shook his head. Nah! She's just a kid. And besides she's Cora's age. She's just a really good friend of mine too.

He passed their parents and thus missed the knowing looks exchanged between the adults.

Later when all the guests had arrived, including the recently widowed Sheriff Stilinski and his son, Stiles, it was time to click the pictures.

Derek was surrounded by all his friends from school when Ari's Dad, James Xavier walked up to him.

'Derek, do you know where Ana is? I've been looking for her for the past half n hour' asked Ari's father. Derek looked up from the conversation he was having with his friends.

'I think I saw the little brat last with Cora and the Sheriff's kid' interrupted Emeric Silson somewhat nastily, who was one of the people who hung around his group for easy popularity.

No one could tell who looked more likely to rip his throat out, Ari's father or Derek. Laura, who had been close by, stepped in before either of them could do anything rash, even though she too was a little upset at the remark. Ariana was one kid whom you could never call a brat and then expect to get away with it. She pulled Emeric aside. Derek decided to eavesdrop. Of course.

'Listen, Eric…' she started.

'It's Emeric' he interrupted once more.

Derek watched as Laura's nostrils flared. He almost felt bad for Emeric; key word: almost.

'Does it look like I particularly give a damn about whoever the fuck you are?' she glared him into submission.

'You've made a mistake today that you don't want to repeat ever again or you might find yourself with your mouth sewn shut, or maybe something worse. The mistake you made is that you mouthed off about Ariana, who just so happens to be an honorary member of this family. Just to make it really clear, the only reason you still breathe is because it's my brother's birthday party and Ari would be really upset if something happened to ruin it. Also, a tiny little piece of advice: don't ever mess with Ariana, especially when Derek's around. I'm only telling you this because I don't want to ruin my clothes by helping my brother hide your body in the forest. Comprende?'

Derek stared at his sister in admiration. He had never seen this side of her. He had always seen sweet, motherly Laura. She'll make a good Alpha after Mom.

Derek watched as Emeric gulped and glanced at him. Derek made sure to give him his most feral look, inwardly smirking when the kid started sweating.

'Derek, Laura, time for pictures!' called Peter. Derek turned and headed towards the rest of his family.

Just as everyone except Peter's family gathered and posed, Derek heard Ari's giggles as she ran towards them.

'Hey Dare, think fast!' she exclaimed before launching herself through the air. He almost stumbled as she landed on his back. Just as Peter snapped the picture, he turned to grin at her watching with a twinkle in his eyes as she grinned back. That was the last party they'd had together. His family perished in the fire a month later.

*End Flashback*

He shook his head. There was no choice to make. Ari was pack. A wolf always protects his pack.

Derek sheathed his claws and turned to enter the room.