Mine to Protect Chapter 82: ALPHA JACKSON

*Hazel*

He’s seated in the spot on my left which was still empty a few seconds ago.

“How do you know? Can you read minds?” I asked genuinely bewitched.

He looks at me with an unreadable expression, replaced quickly by a boyish smile.

“Yes, so be careful what you think about, better not be anything nasty.”

I give him a side glare, feeling stupid for even entertaining the thought that he could read minds. It’s just that, he and Derek, they always seem to know what I am thinking or what I am feeling. Maybe I am just too bad at shielding my feelings.

The crackling sound of a microphone being switched on makes me look at the stage, which is now occupied by Derek plus five men seated on blue baroque stuffed chairs, all exuding power and importance, while one man is standing behind a podium equipped with microphone, on the right side of the stage. He’s looking straight at me, his deep brown eyes not giving any emotion away.

“That’s Alpha Jackson, Alpha of the Westside River Pack, and Head of the board,” Lukas explains, probably noticing the staring competition going on.

Well, Alpha Jackson, let’s hear what you have to say.

Alpha Jackson finally breaks eye-contact with me and shifts his gaze to the rows of Alphas and Betas waiting for him to start the meeting.

He is a handsome man, very distinguished, I give him that. His salt and pepper short hair and beard are styled fashionably, he’s wearing a very expensive suit, which fits him like a glove, and his moves and attitude exude power and demand respect.

It’s clear that he is used to being in a position of power, being an Alpha and Head of the Court, he is very guarded, not letting any emotion transpire through his gaze or his words, making it impossible for me to read anything. Is he a friend or a foe? I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

“Thank you everyone for taking time from your busy schedules to be here today. This special meeting was requested by Alpha O’Brien, after the events which have taken place north of highway 360, not far from Westinton City, culminating in the death of four people, two warriors and two civilians.

Alpha O’Brien states that the location where the events took place was a hidden laboratory where illegal tests and body mutilations were carried out at the expense of innocent werewolves. A number of Crescent Moon’s warriors support this belief, stating that they have entered the facility before it was destroyed.

When the troops of the Court arrived to the spot, there was no more trace of this alleged laboratory, but a caved in mass of crumbles and dust.

We are here today to look deeper into this case and decide if any action will need to be taken.”

“Alleged laboratory?! Seriously! Why do I feel like this meeting has started all wrong?” I mind-link Lukas.

“Don’t get all worked up, little wolf, let’s keep our cool and see what happens next.”

“Are you aware that I am not a grenade, but a level-headed young woman who thinks things through before acting recklessly?” I reply, giving him a side glare topped by an arch brow.

“Excuse me, who were you talking about?”

I roll my eyes in response and shift my focus back to the stage.

“Alpha O’Brien, would you mind recounting the events for us to hear?” Jackson says with a strange tone, like it’s a challenge more than a testimony.

Though Derek doesn’t lose his cool, he walks to the podium proud and tall, his alpha aura raging around him like a powerful armor. Handsome doesn’t even start to cover it, my mate is the most gorgeous male I have ever seen, and I can’t help but lick my lips at the thought that he’s all mine.

“Stop teasing me, kitten,” Derek’s husky voice comes through the link.

He’s staring straight ahead, not giving anything away, but I can see that glint in his eyes, and I know it is all for me. I can’t help smiling a little at our secret exchange, at our chemistry.

Derek then starts recounting the events of that day; thinking about it, I have never heard him talk about that day, after what happened everything went on in a blur, not even giving us time to sit down and talk it out.

“I followed the SUVs in wolf form until they reached a fenced facility, it was heavily guarded, and surveillance cameras were placed everywhere. I had no way to break in alone, so I came back the following day with reinforcements, and contacted the Court of Alphas for support too. Luckily Hazel and her mother were able to escape the facility, and we met them at the entrance of the building when they were on their way out. I took Hazel to a safe spot, while Elizabeth and 20 of my warriors, including my Beta descended in the underground building to rescue the prisoners, and abduct their wardens.

They were able to save 200 prisoners, and abduct 30 guards, who are now under the Court of Alphas’ custody.

The facility was destroyed during the battle, and it’s now reduced to debris and practically inaccessible.”

Derek stops talking, his speech delivered with a steady rhythm, an impartial tone, that makes him look incredibly professional and unbelievably sexy. I can’t help imagining him with a pair of glasses and a tweed jacket on.

“I think I need a private lesson later, professor,” I tell Derek teasingly through the bond.

He smirks slightly, and even if he tries to hide it, it doesn’t go unnoticed by me and his groupies seated behind me, who start giggling like schoolgirls. They are seriously grating on my nerves; I am this close to turning around and pinning them with a glare.

“Luna, behave.” Damon voice comes through the link, startling me. I turn right, feeling a presence beside me, and I see that Damon is seated at my right, in the spot that was empty until a few seconds ago.

“When did you sit here? I didn’t see you.”

“I have been sitting here since Alpha started talking, and while you were all absorbed in drooling after him, I have been watching you closely. You are becoming more and more naughty,” he states with an eyebrow raised and a stern expression on his face, like a mother scolding her kid.

“I have not, I am listening to what’s been said, that’s all.”

“Mmm, whatever you say.”

I decided not to push it, after all Damon seems to read me like an open book, so I shift my focus back on stage and to my Godlike mate.

“Thank you, Alpha O’Brien, for your detailed description of the events. I have a few points I’d like to clear up though, as my understanding of the facts seems to differ from yours. For starters, you never entered the facility yourself, so how can you be sure that it was a laboratory, and that experiments on werewolves were conducted down there?” Alpha Jackson asks in a slightly accusatory tone, laced with unmasked superiority.

I hate this guy already!