Mine to Protect Chapter 14: SLEEPOVER

*Hazel*

“When you clim…” he goes to say, but I shut him off, placing my palm on his mouth.

“Don’t say it, please, I’ll never leave through the embarrassment,” I plead with him, and released his mouth, with a warning glare.

“What’s so embarrassing about sex?”

He had to go and say it!

“Can we just stop talking about it?”

“Are you still a virgin?”

Arghh, how can he ask me this? He has absolutely no shame!

It’s true that I am his mate, and that we might get there eventually, but we barely just met, I’m not going to lay on my back for him anytime soon! I haven’t even decided if we should go through with this mate thing, I’ll need time, a lot of it, to think things through.

“Look, I think we are taking things too fast, we need to slow down.”

His face falls a little, like I’ve scolded him.

“Virgin, no virgin, I am ok with both; I wasn’t trying to be judgy.”

“I think we should go back inside,” I say, before I sprint for the door, and get inside to prevent him shoveling his own grave.

My mom greets me at the entrance and hugs me tightly.

“I was worried you weren’t going to come back,” she confesses in a small whisper.

“Mom, I just needed a moment to absorb it all. I admit that I am a little angry with you and dad; this secret you kept from me is just too big, but I understand why you did what you did, and I forgive you. Just, try not to keep other stuff from me in the future, even if it is for my own safety.”

“I honestly can’t promise you that, but I am happy to know that you are adjusting,” mom says with a smile. “And how is it going with Alpha Handsome?”

“Can we not talk about this? I am just really tired, and my head is killing me, so I’d rather go to sleep now.”

Damon chimes in, “I think that’s a good idea, it’s late, and we are all dead bit. “Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Channing, for your hospitality. We shall leave now and let you rest.”

My mum immediately replies, “Enough with this nonsense! After what we have all been through together this evening, you are calling us Elizabeth and Josh. And you are Hazel’s mate’s brother, so you are already part of the family. Why don’t you just sleep here tonight? It’s already three in the morning. We’ll be happy to have you.”

I stared at mom in surprise. She wants them to sleep here?! We have known them for one day at top.

“Thank you, Elizabeth. I really appreciate your kind thought, as much as I’d like to stay, in the morning I have training with our warriors, thus I must really go back,” the Beta explains.

“What about you Alpha Derek, will you stay the night?” mom keeps pushing.

The Alpha gazes at me, like to gauge my reaction before he answers. He then smiles at my mom and says, “Just Derek. I would love to spend the night here. Actually, I was planning on asking Hazel if she would like to visit my pack tomorrow. To see how werewolves live there, maybe make a few friends. I could drive us there after she wakes up.”

I feel like my eyes are going to pop out of my sockets in astonishment. Me, go visit his pack? A place full of mean werewolves. Not happening anytime soon. I might be a werewolf myself now, but I definitely don’t feel one, and I would just feel threatened surrounded by a pack of them.

I hurry to say, “Tomorrow I have to work! I need start working on your project immediately, otherwise my boss won’t be happy.”

It is the truth after all.

The Alpha’s smile vanishes, then he looks at me suspiciously, “Is Mr. Jones giving you a hard time at work?”

I don’t answer, I am mystified by the sudden change in his demeanor, from nice and gentle to murderous in the blink of an eye. Is he going to beat Mr. Jones up if I tell him he’s treating me unfairly? Better play it safe. Even if I don’t like my boss, I still don’t want to see him beaten to a pulp. I was right thinking that werewolves are indeed volatile and aggressive, even gentler looking.

“No, absolutely, not. He is the best boss ever. I just take my work very seriously and try to give my best in every project,” I hurry to say.

He does not seem completely convinced by my explanation but does not insist further.

“Ok, I can drive you to your office, then. This way you won’t have to take public transport, and you will be able to sleep a little longer. We can also discuss your ideas for the design, so that you can get started on the right path.”

“That’s very thoughtful of you, Derek,” mom hurries to say, before I can reject his offer. “Hazel is so lucky to have you.”

I roll my eyes at my mom for being so obvious.

“Ok, then, I’ll better be going,” says the Beta, while walking towards the exit. “Good night, Elizabeth, Josh.” Then he turns my way and says, “Good night, Luna.” He winks at me and leaves.

Luna. Me? Who says I want to be his luna! I think scrunching my face up a little. My move does not go unnoticed, as I hear the Alpha chuckle lightly.

My mom immediately goes into welcoming host mode and busies herself making the bed for the Alpha on the living room’s sofa bed.

“I am sorry we don’t have spare rooms for you to sleep in. Will this work for you? I suppose you are used to other standards,” mom says apologetically.

“Not at all. This bed looks really comfortable. Thank you for your hospitality, Elizabeth.”

“It is my pleasure. Come, I’ll show you where the bathroom is, so that you can freshen up. There are some spare toothbrushes and fresh towels too.”

They depart up the stairs; my mom basically physically dragging him, in her excitement. I follow, staying a little behind, wanting to go to my room, but not being caught up in my mom’s enthusiasm. Why is she so happy having a stranger sleeping in our home is beyond me. When I reach my bedroom’s door, which happens to be near the bathroom, I hear my mom say, “I’ll go fetch you one of Josh’s PJs to change into; you should be around the same size.”

I stifle a snort. My dad is definitely shorter than the Alpha, like 1.75m to 1.87m, and he has an evident beer belly. How could my mom think they are the same size?

“No need, Elizabeth, thank you. I don’t usually wear PJs; they make me feel uncomfortably hot when I sleep. Thank you, though,” the Alpha replies candidly.

My mom wiggles her eyebrows at me while passing my door. I can’t help laughing out. Poor Alpha, now he has my mom ogling him too. Ultimately, it is all his fault, he is the one with the body of a model, the one who sleeps without clothes on, and the one who decided to sleep here, when he could have gone back to his home.

I am lost in my thoughts, when the Alpha passes my door and stops by. “You should go to sleep; it has been a long day. Have sweet dreams. See you in the morning.”

He says in a gentle tone, his breath scented of mint. I can only focus on his lips moving, and the urge to kiss him surges again, like happens every time he’s close.