Mine to Protect Chapter 35: AGAINST US

*Hazel*

Oh my god, someone has seen us! I hide my face in Derek’s chest, shielding my exposed breasts with my arms the best I can. Derek emits a low threatening growl, and puts me down of my feet, shielding my nudity with his broad body. Peeking around him, I see that the intruder is none other than Grace, of all moments, why did she have to see us like this? It’s so embarrassing.

“What the fuck are you doing in here? I mind-linked everyone to stay away from the locker room,” Derek demands in a menacing voice.

“I forgot my bag after training. And it’s not like you explained the reason why we should stay away. If I had known that you were having indecent sex in a public space with your sorry excuse of a Luna, I would have never come in here,” she replies with a snarky tone.

“What did I say about respect? You need to learn to listen to your Alpha’s orders.”

“Respect is earned, not given for free. And for the moment, I see nothing worthy of respect in her, I only see a useless slut trying to get her way with a powerful Alpha.” Grace counters dripping poison from every word.

I feel angry, ashamed and saddened by her words, how can she be so mean to me when she does not even know me? I suppose her jealousy is making her vicious.

“Get out of here!” Derek booms through the hall, “You will be punished for your insolence!”

The deadly tone of his voice makes my hair rise up on my arms, I don’t dare imagine what kind of punishment he’s planning for her.

Grace turns and leaves the room like she’s told, leaving us in a weird silence. I adjust my bra and take a few steps away from Derek.

“I don’t think you should punish her; it will only make it worse. I am not so fragile that I can’t take a few insults. She is angry and jealous, it’s understandable,” I say, trying to diffuse the situation.

“Still, her behavior is not acceptable,” Derek affirms, still fuming.

“Give her some time.”

I turn to leave, I am halfway to the door, when Derek suddenly calls me, disbelief and irritation in his voice.

“Where are you going?”

“Well, I thought, since training is over, I could take a shower and then get ready for lunch.”

“Sneaking out like that behind my back, without even saying goodbye?” he asks raising an eyebrow in disbelief.

Before I can make up an excuse, he closes the gap between us and envelops me in his strong arms.

“Why don’t we go to my room, and start where we left off, before we were interrupted?” he says in a sexy voice, placing soft kisses on my neck.

I cup his face in my hands and peck him lightly on his lips.

“After what happened, I am not really in the mood, sorry. Plus, I have promised Cindy we are having lunch together, I can’t let her down, we have so much to catch up.”

He pouts like a kid.

“You left me alone at breakfast, and now at lunch too, you are cruel.”

“Oh, come on, you are a busy Alpha, I am sure you have more important things to do than babysit me.” I try coaxing, not wanting him to feel left out.

“Since the day I met you, the only thing I care about is you,” he claims seriously.

I can’t help laughing out loud.

“Aren’t you a tad too corny for being an Alpha?!”

“Who says that Alphas can’t be corny? It appears that you have some serious double standards yourself, my kitten,” he says cheekily.

I can’t help a laugh; it is absurd how this man can make me desperate and content in the span of a few hours.

“How about we grab dinner together?” I suggest, in an attempt to make it up to him.

“What about after lunch?”

“Ehm, I have promised Cindy, I will help her with her dance classes, so that we can have more time to spend together.” I reply guiltily. I planned the whole day on purpose to stay away from him, thinking that he spent the night with Grace, but now I am starting to regret it.

He looks annoyed, and a frown appears on his forehead.

“Are you in a relationship with me or with Cindy? I am starting to feel like I am the third wheel. On Monday you will have to go back to work, and we won’t have much time to spend together.” he complains, sulking like a toddler.

“I am sorry that you feel neglected. I promise we will have dinner together this evening, and that I will devote my whole tomorrow to you.” I say pleadingly, hoping he can accept my offer and cheer up a little.

His mood seems to light up a little.

“Ok, then, but I am taking you out for dinner. There is this nice pub in the town nearby, I am sure you’ll love it.”

“Dinner at the White Dove? Count me in!” Damon’s voice comes from the locker room’s entrance.

“Me too! Me too!” Alice’s as well.

Derek growls in annoyance and turns around to face them.

“You are not invited!” he claims annoyed.

“Alpha, don’t be stingy, we deserve some fun too!” Damon interjects.

“You can have fun somewhere else.” Derek counters still pissed.

“We want to spend some time with our future Luna too, you know?” Alice butts in, then starts shouting, while jumping and clapping, “group outing, group outing, group outing!”

Damon joins her, and I can’t help laughing at their enthusiasm and childish behavior.

“Derek let’s go together, it will be fun, the more the merrier. Can I invite Cindy too?”

Derek looks defeated and majorly pissed at my words.

“Do as you wish.”

It’s the only reply I get, before he storms out of the locker room, sending a glare at Damon and Alice on his way out.

“Looks like our Alpha is angry,” Alice declares with a hint of surprise, “didn’t you just have sex? He should be in a better mood!”

How does she know about that? Is all the pack aware of what we have been doing here?

I feel my face flaming red, and I wish the earth would open up to swallow me whole and hide me in the abyss where no one will ever be able to find me again.

“They obviously haven’t, I recognize a serious case of blue balls when I see one,” Damon asserts knowingly, “Luna, you must do something about it. Alpha can be a real pain in the ass when he doesn’t get laid.”

I stare at him wide eyed, is he seriously trying to discuss my sex life?

“I, … have something important to do. Bye.”

It’s the only excuse I can come up with, before I run from the room like my ass is on fire.

I go back to my room, getting a few stares from the pack members on my way up. I shower, get dressed and go back downstairs looking for the laundry, to wash my training outfit before I get lunch with Cindy.

Asking a few people for directions, I finally manage to locate the laundry room, but I stop frozen at its entrance when I hear some female voices chatting about someone I presume is me.

“You should have seen that ugly slut, panting like a dog, asking Derek to screw her. I really don’t understand why our Alpha would be interested in someone so low. I am sure she only wants to become Luna, she does not even care about Derek, like I do.”

I recognize this voice to be Grace’s. I am starting to regret asking Derek to not punish her, she is definitely a nasty person, who does not care about other people’s feelings.

“Alpha will come around, he will see that she is just a social climber, and he will come back to you, pleading with you to become his Luna.” another woman’s voice says.

I decided that I had heard enough, so I straighten my shoulders and walk into the room.