Mine to Protect Chapter 36: WASHING ROOM

*Hazel*

All eyes turn my way, and an evil sneer appears on Grace’s face. How can she still be so beautiful even when sneering? God is unfair!

“Speaking of the devil,” she says glaring at me.

“Were you talking about me? I hope it was only good things.” I say faking ignorance.

“We were talking about your stunt in the locker room earlier, it was very bold of you to seduce the Alpha in a public space, but it is to be expected, seeing your background.”

“My background?” I ask suspiciously.

“Yes, Derek told me everything about it yesterday, he was very upset when he discovered you worked as a whore. I don’t understand why he hasn’t rejected you yet, but I think he’ll do it soon enough. There is no way he’ll let a dirty whore become the Luna of our pack.” she declares with disgust.

My heart breaks into tiny pieces, the pain is unbearable, I feel like I cannot breathe. Did Derek really tell her that? He must have, otherwise, how could she know this information? There was no one else with us yesterday, and I am sure Cindy wouldn’t say a word about it.

How could he? And today, he just acted all normal, he even said he wanted me to be his Luna, was it all just an act? Did he try to have sex with me because he thinks I am easy?

I feel my thoughts spiraling out of control, and my powers surge fed by my inner turmoil; I need to stop, before I hurt someone, but I can’t.

Suddenly the lights become incredibly bright in the room, blinding us, until the light bulbs explode, glass raining on our heads.

The girls leave the room screaming, and I am left alone unable to move one step. I don’t know how long I will stand there, stunned and lifeless, until a concerned voice reaches my ears.

“Hazel, here you are, I was looking for you. What happened here?”

Cindy stares appalled at the mess of broken glass on the floor, thanks to her werewolf sight which allows us to see clearly, even in the dark.

Then she notices the tears streaming down my face, immediately she holds me in a tight hug.

“Why are you crying? What happened?” she inquires again, but I am unable to reply, I feel completely numb.

In that moment, Alice enters the room, staring aghast at the mess, and concerned at my state.

“What happened?” she too, asks me and Cindy, but I still don’t utter a word. I feel Cindy shaking her head at Alice, conveying that she doesn’t know either.

“I’ll take Hazel to my room,” she says to Alice, who nods in agreement.

“I’ll arrange for the workers to fix the lights and notify the Alpha of what happened.”

“No!” I voice loudly, “don’t tell Derek, please!” I beg with her, desperation in my voice. If he knows about this, he will come to find me, and I don’t want to see him.

Alice and Cindy exchange glances, and I think they are mind-linking, because their eyes go out of focus for a few moments.

“I won’t tell him, but if anyone said something or did something to you, I hope you would tell me. We are on your side, Hazel, but I can’t help you if you don’t let me.” Alice states, concern lacing her words.

I still keep my mouth shut, looking at my feet, not able to stand their gazes full of pity.

“Let’s go!” Cindy leads me away, an arm draped over my shoulders. I am so lucky to have her here with me, I don’t know what I would do if she was not here.

We get to her room, on the second floor, luckily, she lives in the packhouse too.

“I am going to grab something to eat at the canteen, wait for me here, ok?”

I nod my head yes, and she leaves closing the door.

I decided to wash my face while I wait, I must look horrible with all this crying. She is back soon enough, bringing an array of different foods, which make my stomach rumble. I shouldn’t have an appetite, after what happened, but I haven’t eaten much at dinner yesterday, and skipped breakfast today, so I am ravenous.

We dig in without talking, and we spend the next half hour just enjoying our food. When we are done, Cindy looks straight at me with a serious face, her arms crossed.

“Spill the beans,” she orders in a bossy manner.

I am not surprised by her behavior, I have always loved her straightforwardness, it makes me feel at ease.

“It’s nothing really. I just overheard a conversation which made me upset.” I try to be vague, not wanting to relive the ugly details.

“That’s it?” she asks skeptically, raising an eyebrow.

I say nothing, and she just keeps staring at me with a hard look on her face. Our stare down goes on for a few minutes, until I crumble in defeat, and tell her what I have overheard, and what Grace told me.

She goes into a fury as soon as I am finished recounting the events, she jumps off the bed and starts pacing the room gesticulating wildly.

“That little piece of shit! I have never liked her; she’s always been manipulative and power hungry. Alpha has been an idiot hooking up with her, only because she has a nice face and big tits. I don’t believe a word of what she said. There is no way Alpha would tell her those things about you, he is in love with you!”

“You can’t know that!” I say stubbornly.

“I do! This morning Alpha called me to his office, he said he’ll help me bring the crimes my father has committed in front of the Court of Alphas, this way I will be able to help my sisters and all the other women of my pack. While I was there, he asked me so many questions about you. He wanted to know everything about how you were at college, what you like, or dislike, what kind of date you would enjoy. He was planning on proposing to you during your date.”

I stared at her in disbelief, my mouth hanging half open.

“Propose? Like in, marriage proposal?”

“Yes, dummy! He wants to marry you! So, there is no way he would talk behind your back like that, and with Grace of all people!”

“But then, how did Grace get the information about the Black Dungeon? How could she know about our misunderstanding?” I ask doubtfully, still not convinced that Derek is completely innocent. Maybe he told her out of anger, I don’t know what to believe anymore.

“Maybe, she overheard your conversation. You haven’t been very subtle about it, she could have been eavesdropping in one of the other classrooms, or in the gym.” Cindy points out, and I must admit that she is making sense. I really want to believe with all my heart that Derek does indeed love me, and Grace’s were only empty words meant to hurt me.

“Grace clearly wants to break you and Derek apart, don’t be stupid and let her, have some faith in your mate.”

“You are right!”

I jumped up and strangled her in a bear hug.

“I love you; you know? You are the wisest sister I have!”

She laughs, and then hugs me back.

“I love you too. But next time don’t keep everything inside, you know you can tell me anything, I won’t ever judge you.”

“I know, and I will!” I affirm nodding vigorously.

“Now, do you plan to stay here and keep moping, or are you coming with me to the dance lessons?”

“Definitely coming, I need the distraction.”

Suddenly I remembered I haven’t told her about this evening’s group outing.

“This evening, Derek, Damon, Alice and I are going to the White Dove for dinner, come with us!”

“The White Dove, I like that pub. But, an Alpha, a Luna, a Beta and a Gamma, I feel like I am not rank enough to participate,” she mutters a little embarrassed.

“Are you being serious?” I ask affronted, “since when do we care about ranks? We are just a bunch of young people going out for fun, this is not the army, and they are not nobility. Come, please. I beg you! If you don’t go, I won’t either!”

She seems to hesitate for a moment, then gives in.

“Ok, I’ll come. Just to keep an eye on you,” she declares narrowing her eyes at me, “But Hazel, a pack is not like among humans, there are hierarchies which must be respected. I guess you’ll learn soon enough.”

I don’t reply to that, although I don’t agree with that system in the least, but now is not the time to talk about revolutions and equal rights.