Mine to Protect Chapter 57: FUNERALS

*Hazel*

Derek walks in our direction, sits beside me and enwraps me in his powerful arms.

“What power are we talking about?” Derek asks curiously.

I turn to look at his handsome features, he turns his face to gaze at me too, and I take the opportunity to test this newfound power again.

“Kiss me!” I ordered him. And he does, his lips crush against mine, in a sizzling hot kiss.

“Hew, you two are disgusting!” Lukas complains, turning the other way. “Get a room!”

I moved back, ending the kiss, and laugh at Lukas’ disgusted expression. Derek is watching me astonished, his eyebrows raised so high they’re soon going to disappear through his hairline.

“You just commanded me!” Derek exclaims, still unable to recover from the shock.

“Yes, I have, it seems I can command anyone, even you arrogant Alphas. You’re my bitches now!” I say laughing out loud, power already going to my head.

Derek narrows his eyes, I recognize that mischievous smirk of his, he’s certainly going to do something.

“Well, that is, if you can manage to get the words out.”

As fast as lightning, he places a palm on my mouth sealing it, making it impossible for me to utter a single word.

“Who’s my bitch now?” he asks sexily through the mind-link. This man is too fine to be real, if I have to be his bitch to get a piece of him, then I am all for it.

“I am your bitch, baby,” I reply breathlessly through the link.

With inhuman speed, Derek frees my mouth from his hand and blocks it again using his lips, kissing me hungrily, like he can’t get enough of me. Oh, how I love to kiss this man.

When we break the kiss, I am surprised to see that Lukas has already left, well it was to be expected, no one likes to be the third wheel, and we must have looked kind of gross eating each other faces out.

Anyway, after we were left alone, I asked Derek if I could go with Lukas to mom’s old pack, and he wasn’t completely against it, although he’d rather come together with us. I can’t wait to see the place where mom spent her life before moving to the humans’ city.

Now it’s time for mom and dad’s funerals; two warriors have also perished in the rescue mission, and they will be celebrated together. Derek explained to me that according to werewolves’ customs when a wolf dies it gets cremated, then his ashes are scattered in the forest, while the pack runs in wolf form, this way his soul can go back to nature, to the Goddess. Derek and I have debated whether I should run with them in my wolf form or not, most still don’t know I am a white wolf, maybe they have heard the rumors, but have no real proof, while others have already seen me shifting in my wolf. I have decided that I don’t want to hide anymore, I want to honor my parents as I should, I would be in constant danger anyway, so better let the cat out of the bag sooner than later, and deal with whomever has a problem with it. We need to be united for what is coming, now it’s the time to put all the cards out on the table.

We are in a clearing near the woods, a lot of people have gathered, werewolves from our pack, some from neighboring packs, and the Alphas of the court who have already arrived. Derek stands tall and imposing in front of the crowd, ready to start the ceremony with his speech. I feel nervous, today I will show the entire pack that I am a white wolf, I wonder how they will react, hopefully they’ll decide not to burn me at the stake.

“Thank you everyone for gathering here today,” Dereks voice booms through the clearing, and everyone goes silent. “Today we celebrate the lives of four of us, four heroes, ripped from their families far too soon, Josh Channing, Elizabeth Channing, Arthur Leroy and Kyle Prescott. They fought stoically to save hundreds of lives of innocent people, lives who otherwise would have been lost into nothingness, hidden in the dark trench of our society.

We shall learn from their courage, we’ll stand strong against the dark, and we’ll spread the light where it does not reach. Because we are one big family, we stand for each other, we fight for each other, until the end.”

A huge round of applause spreads through the crowd, giving me some hope that maybe, just maybe, they will accept me in their family as I am, and fight with us when the time comes.

“I invite now the families of our fallen heroes to join me, together we will gift their souls back to the Goddess, who will honor them as they deserve.”

I step out of the crowd and come to stand beside Derek, my nerves are wreaking me, but I do my best to look strong and self-confident. Derek takes my hand and brings it to his lips, placing there a feathery kiss; I smile at him, and he smiles back at me, his love making me feel stronger than ever.

Murmurs start spreading through the crowd, most of the pack members haven’t seen their Luna yet, and they are probably asking and sharing all the information they can. When the Alpha marks his mate, usually a Luna ceremony is hold, to present the Luna to the whole pack, but seen our special circumstances, we haven’t had the time to arrange it yet, and more important matters need to be addressed before we can indulge in this kind of festivities.

“Dear all, I know you are all probably speculating about this beautiful woman beside me, yes, she is your Luna, my fated mate, Hazel Channing. We will arrange a Luna ceremony in due time, to make it official, but in the meantime, I hope you will start treating her already with the love and respect she deserves, because I know she is the kind of Luna you were hoping for, loving but fierce, smart but humble, powerful and kind.”

Another round of applause travels through the crowd. I wasn’t expecting to be presented like this to everyone, and I can’t help blushing at all the stares I am getting. Can white wolves disapparate like Harry Potter? No? Damn it!

Derek looks at me expectantly, encouraging me to say something to the masses. Holy crap on a cracker, I have never been one for speeches, especially in front of so many people. I feel my strength and self-confidence disappear, and my body is reduced to the size of a small ant. My silence is becoming embarrassing, I need to say something, anything.

Suddenly I feel a wave of calmness go through me, and I feel stronger, powerful, it’s my wolf lending me the strength I need, I have never been more grateful for her presence within me.