Mine to Protect Chapter 135: BANISHED

*Hazel*

“I asked her to take those pictures, so the pervert is me, not her, stop putting the blame on the wrong person. And those were private moments shared between us, not meant to be released to the public. How would you feel, if someone released photos of your mate naked on the internet?” he asks the crowd, eliciting a number of low growls.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought! Secondly, she didn’t cheat on me, ok? She was in her heat, and I wasn’t there, she had to suffer for hours because I was not there, because of people like you, who are always trying to break us apart. A kiss happened, but that’s it. I have already forgiven her, and it’s not anyone else’s duty to hold a grudge against her because of this. Stop trying to saw discord between us, because it is not going to work. I have lost her once, and it nearly destroyed me, I will not lose her again, for anything in this world.”

The pain and sincerity in his words make my heart swell with warmth, and I lace my fingers with his. He responds immediately to my touch, holding my hand tightly, then he raises our entwined hands to his lips and kisses my knuckles softly. Sweet tingles run up my arm and down my spine, and I would hug him tightly and kiss him passionately, if we weren’t in this awkward situation.

“She just played mind games with you, making you feel responsible for stuff that she concocted. I am sure that she seduced you in taking those pictures, and how can you be sure that it was just one kiss? Maybe she fucked one hundred men before you got there, and you just wouldn’t know!”

This time is my time to growl, this woman is outrageous, making up stuff about me without any shame.

“Stop spitting bullshit, you don’t know me at all, you just have this crazy idea of me in your twisted mind, and you are trying to project it to others. I’ve had enough of your insults, I don’t deserve them, I have done nothing but try to do the right thing, and if the result is not to your liking, you can suck it!”

I initially didn’t want to be rude, but I can’t control my temper anymore.

Her face becomes red with rage at my words, apparently, I am not the only one losing my cool now, and it gives me great satisfaction seeing her like that.

“How dare you talk to me like that? You, little…”

Derek does not let her finish, in a few strides he’s in front of her, and grabs her by her neck with one hand, choking out her words.

He lowers his face to be level with hers, and then says, “I’ve had enough of your tantrums, you have done enough damage as it is. I, Alpha Derek O’Brien, banish you Melissa O’Brien, from the Crescent Moon pack, thereby making you rogue. I forbid you to ever step foot on my pack lands, disobedience will be punished with one hundred lashes.”

Once finished, he releases her neck, and she flops on the ground like a heap of rags, her eyes wide with horror, her mouth slightly open, like she’s willing it to say something, but no words come out.

“Take her away!” Derek orders his warriors. They hesitate a moment, after all, she was their previous Luna, they have grown up under her care.

“Now!” Derek bellows, and the warriors this time move quickly to do his bidding; they haul her up by her arms, and practically start dragging her away. This wakes her up from her stupefied state, and she suddenly plants her feet on the ground, making the guards stop.

“You are making a mistake, Derek! This choice will cost you, will cost everyone. She is a bad omen; she will only bring death and disgrace!”

“The only disgrace is having you as a mother!” Derek roars back, and then yells again to the warriors, “Throw her out! I don’t want rogues on my territory!”

His mom keeps calling Derek’s name, while the warriors take her away.

“As for you,” he thunders, addressing the people gathered around us, “if you have a problem with my choice of Luna, you can relocate to another pack; but if you decide to stay, you will show your Luna respect. I don’t want to witness or hear about any form of disrespect against your Luna, and if you defy my orders, you will be punished and forcefully removed. You should know by now that I am one who keeps his promises. Now go back to your homes, the show is over!”

Then he storms inside the packhouse, leaving me there like an idiot. Probably, he just wants to get his emotions in check before facing me, I can understand that; he’s just banished his mother from his pack, all because of me, it must have taken him a lot to do that.

I walk slowly to the packhouse too, feeling completely exhausted, it must be tomorrow already by now, I hope this new day is going to be better than the last.

I don’t even get to finish this thought that a mind-link comes through.

“Tonight at 11 p.m., at the Valley of the Fairies, it is neutral territory. Come alone.”

Jackson doesn’t even wait for my reply before he cuts the link, what a jerk! Tonight. I hoped it would have been sooner, and the fact that they had chosen to meet after dark, makes it all the more worrying. Should I tell Derek? Ask him to come with me? But will he let me go?

I come back to our bedroom, take another shower, and finally I am clean with my PJs on. When I come out of the bathroom, I find Derek lying on the bed, his arms cushioning his head, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. I climb on the bed and put myself into his line of sight.

“Hey,” I say softly, not sure what kind of reaction I will get from him.

Unexpectedly, in a flash he frees his arms and brings me down to him in a tight hug; I am completely flush against his body, lying over him.

We stay like this for a long time, without talking, just soothing each other with our closeness. At one point, I even start wondering if Derek has fallen asleep, so I crane my neck back to look at his face, and I find him still staring at the ceiling, unmoving.

“Found something interesting there?” I asked him, trying to lighten the mood.

He shifts his gaze on me, a storm of emotions passing through his eyes, then he cups my cheeks and starts kissing me with passion, making sweet tingles spread all over my body. The way this man kisses, is just perfection in every way, I could spend hours just staying attached to his lips, without feeling any need to complain. His hands slowly slide down to grab my ass, before he turns us on the bed, so that he’s now hovering over me. He presses his hips to me, letting me feel his arousal, and I can’t help a moan, which he swallows hungrily, not leaving my lips.

His hands start wondering over my body, caressing and massaging my soft spots, and although I can feel his anger through the bond, his touch is incredibly gentle, more tender than usual.

I cup his cheeks and push him back a little, so that our lips are not touching anymore, and I can clearly see his face.

“What’s going on, handsome? Do you want to talk about it?” I say softly, hoping he would talk to me about what is troubling him. I mean, what just happened with his mom, and Alice, will make anyone lose it, but I want him to let his feelings out, and not keep them inside to fester and push him down.

“I just want to feel good,” he replies, his eyes clearly showing his internal torment.

He tries to kiss me again, but I hold him there, gaining a little frown from him.

“Are you aware that once the sex is over your troubles will still catch up with you, right?”

“Who says I am going to stop?” he replies with an arched brow.