Mine to Protect Chapter 121: PAYBACK

*Hazel*

I keep crying for I don’t know how long, long after Derek had left.

I can’t believe he accused me of being in a relationship with someone else; he is bonded by the mate bond too, he should know how it feels, the longing, the illogical and uncontrollable need for one’s mate.

And when he hugged me, I broke, because I couldn’t stand being so near to him knowing I couldn’t keep him. His scent was so inviting, he smelled like home and love, his scent alone promising everything I crave for. But how can I be sure he won’t hurt me again? I can’t take any of his hate anymore, it would destroy me beyond repair. And he’s doubting my fidelity, even after we broke up, makes me think that he’s not ready to trust me fully again, and I can’t be with him like this, I can’t put my heart at risk again.

After he left, I cried because I made him leave, I felt guilty for rejecting him and heartbroken because I had lost him again. He said that he will wait for me forever, but will he? Or were those only empty words to lure me in?

The next morning Derek sends me a message, “Sorry for yesterday, it was never my intention to make you upset. I love you, and always will. I’ll wait for you.”

The message triggers more tears, and I spend the rest of the day with swollen red eyes, trying to concentrate on my job, which has become practically an impossible task.

Another night tormented by dreams of Derek goes by, and in the morning, I make my way to my old company, to discuss a project I am working on, which was assigned to the both of us, me doing the design of the common areas of the building, while the company will design the office area.

I am quite happy to be going back there, I have worked there for a few years, and I feel nostalgic of the place; plus, I didn’t even have the chance to say goodbye when I left, this time I will do it properly.

When I enter, the receptionist invites me to sit in the waiting room, and brings me some water, a stark difference from the treatment I received when I was working here.

I wait for a little while, but no one comes, so I decide to go around to say hi to my previous colleagues, there are a few I had a good relationship with.

I am walking down the corridor, when I hear a voice coming from the restroom, and I immediately recognize it as Carol’s.

“She will be here any minute, are you ready? But are you sure that she doesn’t know you are my mother? She must have noticed the similarities, maybe she was just faking ignorance. Ok, I’ll do as you said, according to the plan. This time she won’t escape.”

I have a strong suspicion that the “she” Carol is talking about is me, and if I am right, they have put a plan in place to capture me.

I open the door to the bathroom, shutting and locking it behind me.

“Hi, Carol, long time no see.”

Her eyes go wide, and I smell fear.

“So, tell me, who’s not going to escape this time?”

Her face turns pale, and she takes a few steps away from me, her arms extended in front of her, like she’s trying to calm a feral beast.

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” she fakes ignorance.

“Then why are you cowering from me? Why are you afraid?”

“Because you are a werewolf,” she spatters.

“Derek is a werewolf too, and you were all over him. That’s not it. I’ll give you one more chance, Carol, who’s your mother?” I say, advancing towards her in a menacing way.

But she only shakes her head, a fearful expression on her face, while she takes another couple of steps back.

“You know, I never tried it on humans, but I am willing to bet that it works the same as on werewolves. And now I can test it on you. Tell me who your mother is, and what she wants with me.”

I use my Alpha command, and as expected, she immediately spills the beans.

“My mother is Meredith Lacroix, and she wants you for her experiments.”

That’s when it clicks, I did say she looked familiar, how stupid I am! I should have made the connection earlier. The woman from the lab, the one that tortured me, mom and Cindy, is Carol’s mom!

When we were kidnapped, we didn’t know where they got the information about me and mom being white wolves, and now I wonder if Carol had anything to do with that. We got abducted just a few days after that meeting with Derek, and I unintentionally used my powers in the meeting room. Could it be, that she is the snitch?

“Did you tell your mother I am a white wolf?” I use my Alpha command again.

“Yes.”

She’s trembling in fear now, and she has every right to be scared, because I want nothing more than sink my claws into her heart.

“How did you know?”

“I heard you and the Alpha talking in the restroom.”

“Why did you do that? I mean, we were never friends, but you practically sent me and my mother to our death. Why?”

“Because you werewolves are an abomination, and you should all die a painful death. You shouldn’t exist.”

“That’s why your mom is trying to create mutants? To have more abominations around? What you say doesn’t make any sense. And why were you trying to get into Derek’s pants if you hated werewolves so much?

“Because we need Alphas for testing, he is a strong one, and a playboy, he was the perfect candidate. Who would ever have thought that he’d turn out to be your mate. But even he didn’t want you in the end, he rejected you and threw you out of his pack. Poor little Hazel. Now I can have my chance with him.”

As soon as her final words are out of her mouth, I slash her throat open with my claws, which I didn’t even know I have pulled out. At the mention of her wanting to hurt Derek, my wolf and I went into protect mode, and killed her without even thinking it twice.

Now she’s lying on the floor, her eyes opened in shock, blood gushing out of her wound, coloring the floor tiles red.

Strangely I don’t feel any regret, she is the cause my mother and father are dead, if she hadn’t snitched, they would still be here with me. Actually, she deserved much worse, but I find solace in the thought that her mother will find her like this, and I will make sure she knows who did it.

I dip my finger in Carol’s blood and write PAYBACK on the white floor. She’ll understand.

Now I need to get the hell out of here, before they catch me. I have one hand on the doorknob, when I hear numerous footsteps approaching, they must know I am here.

I put my shield on, and tried to mind link Damon, but I can’t reach him, is like the line has been disconnected. I try Alice, but I get the same feeling. I took my phone out, but there was no signal. What’s going on?

I started to panic, I got right into their trap, and now I don’t know if I can get out if here on my own.

I hear a male voice say from outside the door, “She’s in here.”

Shit, they found me so quickly!