Mine to Protect Chapter 104: YACHT

*Hazel*

I get on the yacht, it is beautiful, classy and screams money; Derek has gone all out for this trip, I just wish it was only the two of us.

Suddenly I felt a sense of unease overcome me, and I place my hands on the rail that runs along the perimeter of the boat, to steady myself. Derek, is he alright?

“Where’s Derek?” I ask no one in particular, hoping someone from the crew will know.

“He’s helping Emma get something from the car. Here, have a drink,” Grace explains, offering me a glass full of a fizzing clear liquid, which I suppose is Champagne.

“Thank you,” I reply politely, I’ll need all the liquid courage I can get to get through this trip.

I finish my drink, but Derek is not in sight yet, that’s strange. I try to mind-link him, but get nothing, and I can’t feel anything through the bond; is he blocking me?

I make my way to the back of the yacht, feeling lightheaded; geez, I only had one drink, what is wrong with me?

I don’t make it to the back, I fall down halfway, unable to get back on my feet, my vision swaying terribly, making me want to be sick.

I hear the sound of heels clicking on the wooden floor of the boat, and a familiar face comes into focus, Grace.

“Luna Hazel, what a predicament you have put yourself in. I am sorry to tell you, that your beloved Derek has left together with Alpha Davis, and they seemed very much in love. He asked me to take care of you, and I eagerly accepted the task.”

I can’t believe a word of what she’s saying, Derek would never do something like that, he loves me, he would never betray me. This must be a trick; she has made everything up to hurt me. I thought we were past the hate, I thought we were friends, but now I know it was just me being delusional.

Where is Derek? What has she done to him?

I want to ask her, but my mouth is not cooperating, I can’t move even a muscle, she must have drugged me with some paralyzing substance. My powers are not working either, or I am willing to bet that the mind-link is out of service as well.

Damn it! She played me well.

“Rest, Luna Hazel, we’ll arrive soon at destination; a place you will love.”

The evil smirk on her face tells me that it is some place I won’t love at all; anyway, there’s not much I can do for now, but pray that the paralyzers, like other drugs, fade faster on me like the other drugs and poisons.

I must have got asleep at some point, because when I wake up, it’s already dark, and the yacht is docked in a new location.

I hear the loud screeching sound of metal wheels approaching, and I am horrified at the sight of what is coming, a huge cage made of transparent glass, and I already have an idea who this cage is ready for.

I tried to get up, but I still can’t move, apparently, they gave me a good dose, or maybe they have administered a new dose again while I was asleep.

Someone slips silver cuffs on my wrists, like that is really necessary, I can’t even move!

Then two people carry me to the cage, one lifting me by my feet, one by my arms, and then they throw me unceremoniously in the cage, making sure of locking the door’s padlock.

Before they wheel me away, Grace approaches the cage smiling victoriously.

“Revenge is a dish best eaten cold; you’d better remember it next time. Au never revoir!”

If I could just get out of this cage, I’ll show her what I think of her clichés and Frenchisms. Heinous little sh_t!

The two guards wheeled and loaded me into a truck, then shut the doors close, before starting the vehicle and driving away. I am completely alone in here, and although I am terrified about where they are taking me and what they are going to do with me, I am more worried about Derek. I don’t believe a word Grace spouted, I am sure she made everything up just to bring us apart; but something must have happened to him, to let them take me like this, he would have never allowed it.

Grace said that he went back to help Emma with something, and then Emma and Derek both disappeared, which means that Emma must have done something to him, and that she and Grace were in on it together. Although I know for a fact that Emma likes Derek, she wouldn’t hurt him, and Derek is not one to go down or to be tricked easily.

The chilling thought that Grace could have said the truth, that Emma and Derek are in love and that they have left together, makes its way through my mind, but I push it away firmly, Derek loves me, I am sure of that. But as much as I try to reassure myself, the faint doubt still remains.

I find myself praying to the Goddess, deep down I know it is useless, but there is not much I can do at the moment.

Please, Goddess, let Derek be fine, and lead him to me, please, please, please!

The truck stops, and the doors are ripped open, letting the outside light of the lampposts illuminate the interior. I can see a figure just outside the doors, I can’t see him clearly, because the outside lights cast a shade on his features, but I can’t tell he is a man, and probably a werewolf. There is something oddly familiar about him.

“Long time no see, Luna Hazel.”

I recognize this voice, I know who he is even before he takes a few steps towards the cage, coming fully into view, his eyes studying me, that same glint in his eyes that makes me uneasy, making me want to cover myself, even if I am already fully dressed.

Alpha Liam Preston, Alpha of the Moon Shade Pack, or I should say, former Alpha, as their new Alpha is now Lukas.

“I am sorry we had to transport you like this, but you surely understand why these precautions are necessary,” he goes on, with an unnerving smirk on his face.

I feel some mobility coming back to my limbs, and I lean forward placing my hands flat on the cage, my face inches from the glass.

“Where is Derek? What did you do to him?” I ask, letting venom coat every word I enounce.

His smile grows wider, irritating me even further.

“I wish I knew; I was wondering why he hasn’t come to your rescue yet. Maybe he’s not as much into you as you think, after all, who wants to have a white wolf for a mate? You only bring trouble and death; if he’s smart enough, he’ll take this chance to let you off the hook and find himself a less troublesome Luna.”

His words sting; as much as I tell myself that he’s only messing with me, he hit home, because I am trouble, and I feel guilty every day for the mess I have brought to Derek’s doorstep, it’s true that he does deserve a better mate than me.

“You are cute, though, worrying about your mate, when you should worry more about yourself. Do you know where you are? What is going to happen to you?”

I don’t move, I just stare him down, hoping that behaving fiercely, he won’t see how utterly terrified I really am.

“In ten hours, you will be put to auction, and the highest bidder will have the pleasure to own you and do whatever he/she pleases with you.”

Despite all my efforts, I can’t hide the shock and fear from showing, making Preston smile widely, pleased at getting a reaction from me.

I can’t let them do that, what if the people from the lab buy me? They will experiment on me!

I draw on my powers, feeling them flicker behind the veil of placidity induced by the drug and the silver handcuffs. I give it my all, I pull on them with all the strength I have, and I can see the green glow of my eyes in my reflection on the cage’s glass; I make them grow inside of me, the tension inside me building, until I let them free, trying to create an explosion which can destroy this cage.

Unfortunately, the cage does not break down as expected, my powers bounce back from the glass walls hitting me hard and knocking me out cold.