Mine to Protect Chapter 20: MEETING AGAIN

*Hazel*

The following two weeks are very hard for me, some of my werewolf abilities start coming to the surface, and they make me feel completely disconcerted. Some things I loved before, now I hate, and the other way around. Like the sound of the coffee machine brewing coffee in the morning; I used to love this sound, accompanied by the strong aroma of coffee drifting to my nostrils and waking up my lazy brain. This was one of the things that made me enjoy my day. Now the sound is so loud to my ears that feels like there’s a tractor taking a stroll in our kitchen, and the strong aroma makes me want to gag. I had to switch to drinking hot tea, although the sound of the kettle gets on my nerves too.

My parents are getting really fed up with me for my continuous complaints. It’s not my fault that my senses are going on overdrive and making me irritable. They are werewolves too, they should know how unpleasant some sounds and smells are, instead they keep clattering around the house and using perfumes so powerful they make me lightheaded. I think their senses have lost some sensitivity with age, I mean, they are not that young anymore. I pointed it out to them, but they just got all indignant, and said I was the one being oversensitive. Sure, whatever makes them sleep at night.

Yesterday, I unlocked a new “power”. I was in a hurry to finish my concept for the new project, bitchy Carol wanted it on her desk by Wednesday, and yesterday was already Wednesday! I was so focused on working faster to meet the deadline, that I did not notice my fingers working on the keyboard at super speed, it caused the keyboard to breakdown, black smoke was even floating out of the keys, making the entire office reek of burnt plastic. With my enhanced smell ability, it sucked three times worse. Plus, I got a scolding by my boss for not taking good care of the office equipment, and the expenses for the new keyboard will be deducted from my next salary. Just great.

Apart from loud sounds and strong smells, the worst part of it all is the longing. Longing for that stupid Alpha, or Derek, as he wishes I call him, who hasn’t called me or texted me even once! I knew he said he wouldn’t, because he’s supposed to be on some kind of silly secret mission; who does he think he is, 007 Were-Bond?

I hate him for making me feel like he cared, and then throwing me away as if I mean nothing to him. I feel miserable and pathetic.

That blazer he lent me that night, I still have it in my bedroom. I should have given it back, I just forgot about it, with everything that happened. Anyway, it smells like him and makes me want to cry every time I enter my room. I thought about throwing it away, out of sight out of mind, but I can’t get myself to do it. What if this is the last I see of him in this lifetime? In my darkest moments I even hug it close and sniff it until its scent calms me. Which makes me even more frustrated, because he is the cause of my suffering, yet his damn jacket is the only thing that soothes me, when I want nothing to do with him and his stuff. As I said, I am just pathetic.

For revenge, I saved his phone number on my phone under “Alpha-hole”, serves him well. I have his number, I could try to call him, even if he said he can’t take calls, to “avoid being detected”, whatever it means; but he also said that he would be away one week top, and now it is already two full weeks!

I don’t want to be the one to call first. I would be the weak one. And he’ll know I have been missing him. Which is true, but he does not need to know that.

Nevertheless, tomorrow Alpha-hole is coming to our office for a follow up meeting, and I will show him what happens when you don’t contact your supposed mate for two long weeks. Tomorrow I am going to be so cold to him that Iceland will look like the tropics in comparison.

THE FOLLOWING DAY

*Derek*

Today I am finally going to see her again. My beautiful mate. I wonder how she is going to greet me. She still owes me a kiss, maybe I’ll be lucky this time.

I haven’t called her since the day I drove off after our skate-date. I was supposed to stay away one week, but then the mission went awry, and I was able to make it back only yesterday. I wanted to go see her first thing, but it was already too late, so I opted for seeing her today directly at the office, kind of a “I’m back, surprise!” thing.

These days apart, controlling my wolf has been a nightmare, he was always trying to convince me to cancel the trip and go back to check on our mate. One night he even tried to sleepwalk me to the airport! I swear, if I don’t mark her soon, one day he is going to take over and do it himself, no matter if she is willing or not. I can’t let this happen; she would hate me.

To appease my wolf, I have asked her parents to send me some pictures and updates on her on a secret email account. They have been very helpful, giving me detailed recounts of her new developments as a werewolf, her crazy tantrums and struggles. They even sent me a few snaps of her, in one, she was reading on the bed while holding my blazer tight in her embrace. Was she missing me?

I’ll know the answer soon, as I am entering her company’s office at this moment.

“Alpha O’Brien, Beta Damon, this way please.” The receptionist leads us toward one of the meeting rooms.

On the way there we pass by Hazel’s desk, and I see her sitting at her desk, busy on her computer. She is ravishing. Wearing a sleeveless black sheath dress, with a plunging neckline that shows just the right amount of cleavage, while her right thigh peeks through the skirt’s side slit. Her lips are painted a bright red, making a beautiful contrast with her fair skin and her black dress.

How am I going to sit through a full meeting with this goddess in my proximity? It’s going to be torture, and I am not sure I will be able to keep my wolf at bay.

When I pass her, she does not even look at me, she just keeps tapping harshly on her keyboard, like the keys are not very responsive. Maybe I need to buy her a new keyword.

“I think someone is in a bad mood. Just giving you a heads up,” Damon says through the mind link.

“Why would you say so? She looks fine to me. She just did not notice us.”

“Dude, she has enhanced sense of smell, and you are her mate; no way your scent would go unnoticed. Plus, she’s tapping those keys like she’s trying to murder them. I am sure she is angry with us for something. Most probably with you. And, she has clearly dressed up to kill. Believe me, I know a woman on a warpath when I see one.”

Suddenly I feel nervous. Could he be right? Is she angry with me? Why?