Mine to Protect Chapter 63: FRUITLESS

*Derek*

“Stay inside the room, don’t go outside and don’t talk to anyone. I will send Alice upstairs for protection; in case someone is planning anything funny,” I instruct Hazel, before I hurriedly place a kiss on her forehead and head out of the room.

I can feel her restlessness through the bond, but I need to find the culprit and settle this media disaster first, before my companies’ crumble to pieces and we are left with nothing.

I enter my office, where Damon has already gathered all the pack members who witnessed Hazel pole dancing that evening. When I get inside, my aura rages around me, and everyone bows his head in submission.

I don’t waste any time, I sit behind my desk, summon my Alpha power, and start interrogating the group of trembling women before me.

“Who has leaked the video of Hazel pole dancing?” I ask menacingly, infusing my Alpha power in every word I say; there is no way they can fight against it.

No one answers.

I stand up and make a tour among the subjects; they all looked frightened, but no one seems to be fighting the command. To be sure, I ask them one by one “Did you share the video with anyone?” But each of them answers negatively, without any sign of hesitation or struggle.

Dammit, we are on the wrong path. No one in this room is guilty, but only they were present that evening, apart from me, Damon and Alice. And Macy. I am sure that Damon and Alice wouldn’t do anything like this, and they didn’t record the dance with their mobiles.

Macy. She is not here, so I cannot interrogate her, but the same line of thought as Damon and Alice applies to her too, she did not take any video of Hazel dancing that evening, so, unless she had a hidden camera, I am not aware of, she should be in the clear.

Someone could have copied the security cameras’ recording, but the angle is different, and the resolution would be nowhere as good as the video spread on the web.

What am I missing?

Frustration and anger are getting the best of me, making me want to thrash my office into small debris.

I dismiss everyone, before I lose it, and end up hurting someone.

Damon ushers the women out of the office, apologizing for the inconvenience, and telling them to have a good rest, and to be assured that everything is under control. Always the optimist.

I sank into my chair, completely exhausted by this never-ending nightmare of a day. When will we get some peace? I just want to spend some time with my mate, have fun together, do the things that normal couples do. We have never even gone on a date yet; that one at the White Dove doesn’t count!

Sulking like a kid is not going to take me anywhere, so I mind link Alice to know how Hazel is doing.

“She feels guilty for what happened, and she thinks that you are angry with her. I explained her that it’s not true, that you just want to find the transgressor as fast as possible, but you know how stubborn she is.”

I heave a sigh; why does she always have to think the worst of me? Well, it’s not like I didn’t give her any reason to, today I have been the king of jerks, but I thought we were past that.

I’d better go to her, and make things right, before she gets strange ideas.

“Damon, I think we should call it a night. I need to go check on Hazel, and it’s been a long day.”

“Check to that. Tomorrow, we have arranged an interview with the press and a meeting with the company’s board to assess the situation and draw out an action plan, so it’s going to be a tiring day. Let’s get a few hours of sleep in to recharge.”

We leave the office together and head to the third floor, I stop at my room, while Damon walks on to his. I press my thumb to the screen, and the door clicks open. Alice is sitting on the armchair near the table, while Hazel is sleeping on the bed.

“She cried herself to sleep. Goodnight, Alpha,” Alice reports, while passing me on the way out. She squeezes my shoulder as a sign of support and leaves gently shutting the door behind her.

I near the bed and gaze down at my beautiful mate; her face is all puffy from crying, but she is still looking divine.

The last days have been hell for her, I really hope faith can stop taking its wrath out on her, and gift us some happiness. Or maybe, we just need to carve out some happiness for ourselves during these hard times.

I kiss her forehead and whisper into her ear, “Kitten, wake up!”

I want to make things good between us, before I am hit by the tornado of things I have to handle tomorrow; I don’t want to leave any misunderstanding between us.

Her eyes sprang open, glowing a bright green, like she was ready to defend herself from an attacker.

“It’s me, kitten,” I say sweetly, trying to appease her.

She wakes up completely, and her eyes go back to their normal dazzling green. I love her eyes, they are so brilliant and full of emotions.

She gets up into a side sitting position, her eyes now looking down at her hands, which are nervously playing with the bedding.

“I am sorry Derek; it’s all my fault. I know you are angry. You can punish me if you want,” she says in a small voice, full or remorse.

I feel my dick twitch at her last words, and images of ways I could punish her fill my mind, making blood rush south. Now it’s not the time for this, we need to talk things out first.

I clear my throat which has now become incredibly dry; the effect this woman has on me is ridiculous.

I gently cup her chin and make her look me in the eyes.

“Kitten, I am not angry at you, I am angry at the person who is clearly trying to hurt you, and to distance you from the pack and from me. This person wants you to be vulnerable, to be at his mercy. I am angry because I have let this happen under my nose, and until now I still haven’t found the person or the people who are behind it. It makes me feel like I have failed you.”

I say the last few words defeated, which is how I am really feeling right now.

“No, Derek, I am the one who keeps bringing troubles your way. I am sorry you ended up with me as your mate. The Goddess should have paired you with someone better.”

My anger flares up again at her words, why does she always have to think this way? Like I would want any other woman beside her!

“Kitten, I think you need your punishment after all, you keep trying to push me away and mate me with someone else, when the only person I want in this world is you.”

My eyes glow a brilliant blue, my wolf feeling excited at what we are going to do, while Hazel gulps in astonishment, and starts retreating further away from me on the bed.

I laugh at her attempt.