Mine to Protect Chapter 42: PICNIC

*Derek*

“I was just saying in general, didn’t mean you in particular.”

She raises an eyebrow not convinced in the least by my explanation, so I decide to distract her with another topic, before she gets more worked up.

“It’s eleven already. Why don’t we take a shower and get dressed? There’s a place I want to take you.”

Her interest is picked, and she quickly forgets about her crusade against the felon who dared say she was freaking out, which she was, but we know better than to point it out loud.

“Ok, I’d love that!” she replies enthusiastically.

Then, she snatches my loungewear from the hanger and puts it on, then tip toes to the door, like she is afraid someone would hear her footsteps. There’s only the two of us, who is she hiding from?

I sneak silently behind her, deciding to tease her a little.

She peeks through the peephole, then goes to open the door, when I whisper into her ear, “Where are you going?”

She jumps in fear, clutching her hand on her fast-beating heart.

“You nearly scared me to death! Why did you do that?” she whines, still shaken.

“Before I answer your question, explain to me why you are sneaking out on me again, tip toeing like you is hiding from someone?” I demand raising an eyebrow.

“You said we needed to get showered and dressed, so I am just going to my room to get ready. The tip toeing was not meant for hiding my steps from you, but from the ears of the people who might be outside this door. I don’t want to have to make a walk of shame in front of your pack members, to have them know I spent the night in your room.”

The logic of this woman sometimes is beyond me!

“Hazel, seriously. You are bearing my mark, and you smell of me, every werewolf in a 200 meters radius will know that we have mated; that is if they haven’t already heard your screams last night, I think half the packhouse has.”

She pales at my words, her face changing to stone. My bad, I shouldn’t have told her that.

“Don’t worry, no one is a prude here, having sex is natural. Think of all the new mated couples living here, the ones going into heat, you can hear sounds of sex at every corner. It’s normal.” I try to pacify her, worried she won’t ever leave this room again out of embarrassment.

“What do you mean by “going into heat”?” she asks a little appalled.

Damn it, she doesn’t know about it, and I don’t want to be the one to tell her that once marked she would sporadically feel an uncontrollable desire to mate, until she gets pregnant. She would surely resent me for marking her, and it’s not really my fault if these are the laws of nature.

I’ll let the honor of telling her about it to her parents, I am sure they can explain it better than me.

“Nothing to worry about right now, kitten. Now, what I meant about showering and getting ready, was actually us showering together and having epic sex in the shower, so let’s go.” I command, leading her by her hand to the bathroom. She bites her bottom lip, but lets me drag her along without protests, looks like I am not the only one feeling horny this morning.

*Hazel*

I let him lead me to the shower, seeing him naked just now, feeling the heat of his body against mine, his member already standing to attention, has made me want to feel him inside me again. I have never been one too passionate about sex, but with Derek, I feel like I will never get enough.

After we get hot and steamy in the shower, and I swear the resting half of the packhouse has now probably heard my screams too, we finally managed to get ready.

I had to go back to my room for a fresh pair of clothes, and of course, in the three steps of corridor that separates my room from Derek’s, I managed to bump into Rose, who was delighted at the sight of my mark and of me coming out of Derek’s room just in his loungewear.

I guess I will have to get used to it, after all, they are happy for their Alpha, and I should be grateful that they are accepting me as their Luna too. Although, I don’t know if they’ll change their minds when they get to know I am wolf less. Sooner or later, they will notice the fact that Derek is still unmarked, and they will start to inquire about it.

I hope my wolf is going to wake up soon. Please, Moon Goddess, let my wolf wake up, I beg you!

I close my eyes, expecting some kind of miracle to happen. At the end of the day, I am the one blessed by the Goddess, it’s only fair that she listens to my prayers. Apparently not, because nothing happens at all. Stupid of me for thinking otherwise.

I am waiting for Derek outside the packhouse, he’s gone to grab a backpack filled with our picnic treats. It’s sweet that he has arranged this date for us, and I am looking forward to seeing this place he wants to show me, he seems particularly attached to it.

Finally, he joins me outside, and places the backpack down on the grass, announcing,

“I am afraid you’ll have to carry it. This place is too far to get on foot and too difficult to reach by car, so we’ll have to travel on four legs, I’ll carry you on my back.”

I stare at him dumbfounded, hoping he is joking. But I know he is not, when he starts taking his clothes off, in the middle of the garden.

“What are you doing? What if someone sees you?” I whisper yell at him.

“There’s nothing they haven’t seen before. I often shift on pack grounds, and I can’t always bring my clothes along.” He explains matter-of-factly, stuffing his clothes inside the bag.

“Are you jealous other people can see me naked?” he asks playfully.

“Maybe.” I reply, not looking him in the eyes. The idea of Grace running with him and shifting back to human form with him, makes me feel both jealous and sad. It is something I can’t have, at least not until I get my wolf, if I get it that is.

Derek seems to know what I am thinking, how he does that is a mystery to me, and gently tells me.

“Look, I am yours, you know that. There’s no need to feel insecure. Even if other people can sporadically see my sexy butt, it doesn’t mean anything. They don’t own me like you do.”

I smile at his words. I know he’s being funny on purpose to cheer me up, and I appreciate his effort.

“Now, don’t go running for the hills after I shift, my wolf is big, but he’s not dangerous, at least, not to you, on the contrary, he is a sucker when it comes to you,” he states shaking his head, like he can’t believe his wolf’s behaviour, “I won’t be able to communicate with you in wolf form, not having the mind link, so just climb on my back, and hold tight onto my fur. We will be running fast, so, you really need to hold tight onto me, don’t be afraid of hurting me. Ok?”

I nod my head yes, still unsure about this whole ordeal. Even if I have been at his pack for two nights, I still haven’t seen anyone shifted in wolf form, and the idea is making me nervous.