Mine to Protect Chapter 28: DINNER

*Hazel*

The beauty has long wavy black hair, shining black almond shaped eyes, full red lips; her skin tone is darker than mine, I think she must be of south American origin. Her body is perfect, she is so toned, has the right amount of muscle and curves, like a gorgeous version of a personal trainer.

She extends her hand for me to shake, and I do it dreamily, still entranced by her dazzling looks.

“I am Alice Garcia, Gamma of the pack. Nice to meet you, Hazel. I have heard so much about you, I couldn’t wait to see you in person.” She says with a genuine and contagious smile.

I think I like her already.

“The pleasure is mine, Alice. I hope you’ve heard only good things about me.” I say with a small laugh, sending Derek a look.

She chuckles, and loops her arm in mine, leading me towards the dining room.

“I know that you are an interior designer, that you are strong and smart, and that our Alpha is already head over heels for you. He’s been moping around for days during his business trip because he couldn’t be around you. I considered murdering him, just to put him and myself out of that misery. So, as much as I am concerned, I need you, and I will always be on your side, even if it means keeping the Alpha in line for you. I am completely at your service.”

Derek gives her a disdained glare.

“That’s really loyal of you, Gamma!”

We both chuckle at his expense, as we enter the dining room, and I find myself frozen by the number of eyes staring at us.

The dining room is huge and packed with people, all staring at us. I wonder if the whole pack has gathered here today.

“Hello everyone, this is Hazel, a special friend of mine, she will be our guest for this weekend. She is like family to me, so I hope you can treat her the same way you would your family.”

Everyone applauds, and I find myself blushing fiercely.

Alice leads me to an empty round table in the center of the big dining hall. As we pass other tables already occupied by pack members, I hear a girl’s sweet voice calling:

“Hi, Derek, honey. Where have you been the whole week? I’ve missed you.”

I turn around curious to see who’s addressing Derek in such an intimate way. I see it’s a girl around my age, with blond straight hair, big brown doe eyes. She has a great figure, taller than me and curvier. Her skin is the color of milk, so white that it glows. Damn it, why all the women in this pack are so gorgeous? I felt a little sexy when Derek looked at me in this outfit upstairs, but now I just feel like an idiot. There is no way I can compare to this goddess.

Derek replies with nonchalance, without lingering at her table.

“Hi Grace, I have been on a business trip. Enjoy your evening.”

He keeps the exchange short and polite, but I see the tips of his ears have turned red. It makes me think that he is not as calm as he appears on the surface. What is he hiding? Is he having a relationship with this woman?

He sees me staring at him, but he does not meet my eyes, he just passes me and pulls the chair back for me to sit at the table. I don’t want to make a scene, and honestly, I don’t have any right to do that, I am not his girlfriend or his anything. So, I just sit down and thank him. He takes a seat on my right, and awkward silence settles between us. I can see Alice poking her eyes at Derek from the other side of the table, he doesn’t say anything, but they stare at each other for a while, and from the changing of their facial expressions I gather they are mind-linking. It is something werewolves who belong to the same pack can do, talking inside their minds. I feel a little left out, but soon Damon joins us, and the main courses are served, bringing them out of their private conversation.

“How are you finding the Crescent Moon pack, Hazel?” Damon asks me to make small conversation.

“I haven’t been out of the packhouse yet, but if the packhouse and the people inside it speak for the rest of it, I think I am liking it very much.”

They all beam at me, and Derek suggests, while eating his steak. “I could take you for a tour of the training grounds and coffee shop area after dinner, this way you’ll know where to go tomorrow for training, and where to get the best coffee.”

“Sure, thank you,” I say, not raising my gaze from my plate, still upset by his reaction to that blond girl, wondering what kind of relationship they have going on.

“Have you ever trained for combat?” Alice asks me out of the blue.

“Combat? Me? No. I am not really into karate or that kind of staff.”

“I see. Then, we’ll have to start from scratch, build up some stamina.”

She must have seen the puzzled looked on my face, because she turns to Derek and asks him: “Alpha, haven’t you told Hazel that she will start combat training with me tomorrow?”

“I have mentioned it earlier, but I didn’t have the time to go into the details.” Derek replies truthfully. Then, he turns to me.

“Together with your parents, we have decided that, for your safety, it is better if you learn some basic combat skills, so that you can defend yourself if needed. In our pack everyone is trained for combat, they start at a young age.”

“So, you want me to train together with the children?”

“No, you will train with me alone. Of course, if you want to join the children, I can arrange that too. I am sure they can kick your ass anytime; they are little but demonic.” Alice interjects, grinning at me.

I chuckle, “I’d rather train with you alone, although I am not sure I’ll be able to keep up or learn anything. I am really bad at this kind of fighting sports, and I haven’t hit the gym in ages.” I point out, anxiety going over the roof. I will most definitely make a fool of myself in front of everyone, and make Alice despise me. I like her, I don’t want her to look down on me.

Derek seems to notice my distress.

“Don’t worry, I will be there to help too. We will make a fighter out of you in no time.” He says smiling gently at me.

My anxiety gets even worse thinking of Derek seeing me struggle with basic physical exercises. He’ll think I am pathetic!

The lights in the hall start to flicker, and I see my glowing green eyes reflected in the glass before me. I am losing control again, panic rises within me, at not being able to control myself. The lights go on and off multiple times, like someone is playing with the lights’ switch.