Mine to Protect Chapter 65: IN LAWS

*Hazel*

I wake up again to a cold spot beside me in bed. Derek has most probably gone take care of his business; I still feel incredibly guilty for causing this. I hope we can solve this problem soon.

I shower, get dressed and head downstairs for breakfast; I hope this time nothing happens, and I can get some food in, I have seriously lost some weight, and the clothes Derek has bought me hang loosely on my figure, I feel like a scarecrow.

When I get into the dining hall, and am searching for an empty seat, someone from the table on my right drops a small, folded paper at my feet, I pick it up and read its content. I hear snickers coming from his table, before I even finish reading the message, which reads «How much for one night? ».

Idiots! I should have expected something like this though, that fake news is spreading like crazy, and it is always easier to believe the worst, instead of seeing the good in people.

I feel someone behind me, and when I turn around, I see its Grace, reading the message in my hand from over my shoulder. I am completely astounded when she turns towards the table of idiots and yells at them, “Are you insane? How dare you disrespect our Luna like this? If Alpha finds out he will have your heads on a stake.”

They pale at the thought of what their Alpha would do to them.

“Apologize to your Luna, now!” Grace continues.

They all mutter an apology, and I give them a nod of my head, letting them know we are good.

“Thank you, Grace,” I tell her sincerely, “you didn’t have to do that.”

“Of course, I had to, it is our duty to protect and respect our Luna, even from idiots like this lot!” she replies, poking her eyes at them.

I am still amazed that she could accept me so easily, after our initial bad start, it makes me hopeful that the other pack members will come around too, with time.

We have breakfast together, chatting about stuff happening at the pack, things we like to do, places we’d like to go. It’s refreshing, for a few moments I feel myself again, that normal girl who was living with her parents, worrying only about her job and getting along with her colleagues, not the orphan people want to torture and kill, and who’s now despised by the entire country.

After breakfast, Grace gets to her work, while I go say my goodbyes to Amanda. She gives me a tight hug, and promises that everything will be alright, I just need to stay strong and wait for the storm to pass. Her words are so similar to what mom would say, that I feel a pang of sadness in her memory. I will stay strong, for me, and for her, I will make her proud.

After Amanda leaves, in her green jeep, Lukas keeps me company, we spend some time chatting and throwing jokes at each other in the packhouse’s gardens. Derek has left pack grounds, and I am not brave enough to go back to the training grounds, so I don’t really know what to do.

I wonder when I can go back to work, I have been missing for a while now, I hope they haven’t fired me already. If I could check my personal email, at least. I feel like I am living out of this world.

“There she is! Laughing like nothing is wrong, like she hasn’t destroyed my son’s life!” someone is yelling angrily, from the packhouse’s driveway.

Why do I feel these words are meant for me?

My gaze focuses on a plummy middle-aged woman, with dark hair and brilliant blue eyes; she’s tall, taller than me, and she can be described only as beautiful. Derek’s mom, their similarities are stunning, made out of the same mold.

Only, she seems very angry, and she’s stomping in my direction with a murderous glint in her eyes. I am tempted to hide behind Lukas, he’s broad enough to hide me completely, but I don’t want to bring him into my mess.

So, I square my shoulders and face the threat head on.

“Mrs. O’Brien, it is a pleasure to meet you! I wasn’t expecting you; Derek didn’t tell me…”

I don’t manage to finish my sentence because my face flies sideways with the force of her slap. I press my palm on my check, trying to lessen the pain.

I don’t know what to feel, I am mainly shocked, and a little angry and resentful. How could she slap me like that? And why?

I don’t even have the time to recover from the surprise that she grabs me by my forearm and starts dragging me toward the gate.

“Go back where you came from! You are not welcome here!” she shouts, while hauling me with unexpected force. Now I see where Derek got his manners from.

“Melissa, wait please! What is going on?” Lukas stands in her path, making her stop.

“Get out of the way, Lukas! I need to throw out this poison that is infecting my son and our pack,” she yells at Lukas, dripping venom from each word she speaks.

Lukas doesn’t budge, and she’s ready to get around him, when a middle-aged man, who I guess is Derek’s dad, reaches us with fast steps.

“Melissa!” he scolds her. “I told you not to make a scene! Let’s go to the study and talk it out like civilized people.” He doesn’t need to shout, his tone is firm and authoritative, making people naturally want to follow his orders. His aura exudes power, and even if he is not the Alpha of this pack anymore, the capacity to lead is still embedded in him like a never fading tattoo.

Melissa lets me go with a huff; she doesn’t even turn to look at me, and starts walking towards the packhouse. I massage my sore arm, not knowing what to say.

“I am sorry for my wife’s manners; she is quite temperamental. I am Hugo O’Brien, Derek’s father.”

He holds his hand out for me to shake, and I know I should shake it, but I am still so shocked that I find myself staring at it unmoving. He gazes at me perplexed, then clears his throat and indicates with the same extended hand that we should depart towards the packhouse.

Lukas places a hand on the small of my back, gently pushing me forward. “Don’t worry, I have already called Derek, he’ll be here shortly.”

I nod, grateful for his quick thinking.

We reach the study, and we take our seats, while Hugo shuts the door for privacy.

“There is nothing to discuss, she needs to leave! She is a disgrace! How could Derek be deceived by someone like her? She is not even beautiful, and she clearly is quite dumb, she hasn’t spoken out even one word yet!” The door is not even closed, that Melissa immediately attacks me again.

It’s clear that she has read those articles about me, but hasn’t Derek explained to her that this news is fake?

“Melissa, calm the hell down!” Hugo thundered, this time losing his cool.

Melissa huffs in annoyance and crosses her arms, fuming in silence.

Hugo sits behind the desk, opposite me, and looks me straight in the eyes, his expression is serious, showing that he is not here to play.

“Hazel, I need to ask you a few questions, and I hope you will answer truthfully. I don’t have the power to Alpha command you, but I know it when people lie to my face.”

His tone is not friendly, it’s cold and detached, like a policeman questioning a suspect.

I stare at him expressionlessly, I feel like everything that is happening is surreal, like I am here, but I shouldn’t be, everything around me is wrong.

“How did you make Derek believe that you are his fated mate? Did you use magic?” Hugo asks seriously.

Magic? If I could use magic, I would have already disappeared from here! He is not even questioning if I am guilty or not, he has already given his verdict, he is only interested in knowing the circumstances.

I feel outraged at their behavior, I know that I should be polite toward the elders, especially Derek’s parents, but they have really pushed my buttons. If they want bitch Hazel, bitch Hazel they’ll get.

“I don’t know what kind of misconception you have about me, but your behavior is unacceptable. You might have been the former Luna and Alpha, but I am the Luna now, and I don’t accept you barging in my house, insulting me and mistreating me. You’d better apologize and change your tone, before I ask our warriors to throw you out.”

Hugo’s eyes blaze orange, while Melissa sprints up from her chair, her hands balled into fists.

“How dare you? Little slut! I am going to kill you!”

She goes to attack me, her claws out, ready to rip through me, when the door slams open, and a very naked Derek makes his entrance, fury exuding from him in waves, making everyone freeze in their spot.