He regards her with widened eyes, surprised if only because it's a question he's been asking himself a lot lately. Returning his gaze to the street, he shrugs. The quiet that follows might imply that's all the answer she's going to get from him, but then he speaks. There's a rare hesitance dragging out his words - usually, when Derek is unsure of what to say, he says nothing at all.

"It still feels too early to say," he admits, watching the ground beneath their feet intently. "I don't know when that's gonna change."

Realizing he's being a little too open, he squares his shoulders, makes an effort to sound less uncertain. "But my pack needs someone. Right now, that's me."