Chapter 8 SHE'S NOT MINE
DEREK’S POV
“What was that about?” my father questions as soon as we are back within our pack walls.
The ceremony automatically came to a close after the dramatic exit of the Spirit Pack, and since then, I’ve been in a state of unrest.
Everything within me is in discord, and now, staring at my father who is patiently waiting for a response, I have an intense urge to walk away.
“Amber Snow is my mate,” I say plainly, as I walk past him, in no mood for a conversation.
“What?! She can’t be the Luna of our pack, you know this. That would be a travesty,” he exclaims, speaking to my retreating figure.
“I know,” I say simply, with a fallen crested voice, for once since the day began, considering my wolf’s discomfort.
It has been nagging me ever since I said those words to Amber; it has been whining in discomfort every second I felt her pain and agony.
I had managed to put up a strong front throughout the event while my insides were in turmoil, but right now I’m exhausted.
I walk into my chambers, directly to where my liquor is kept, and I pour myself a glass, downing it in one gulp and enjoying the burn as it serves as a temporary relief to the heartache I feel.
I knew this would happen, and I was prepared for it. The mating bond isn’t to be trifled with, and I triggered repercussions by abusing my mate.
I hate her! I hate all she stands for and most of all the family she comes from!! This is certain.
But I can’t help the pain I feel. I mated with her and practically linked our souls together, which means I cannot ignore the emotional bruises I’ve caused her because, like the torrent of the sea, it washes over me in waves.
I’m only grateful that in my stupidity, I did not mark her because this would have felt like death.
I had walked into the hall of the event earlier, eager to see her and introduce her to my family as we had planned, when I saw her standing beside Trenton. I didn’t imagine they’d have a connection until she turned to the Alpha and called him father, and then I knew her identity.
That’s when my devastation began; all explanations pointed to the moon goddess playing a sick joke on me to taunt me, because of every family in every pack it has to be the one that history proved to be nothing but pure evil.
I knew in that instant that I could never have anything to do with her, and I had to get that sunk into her head.
Now all I have to do is wait out the pain and mental torture, and hope that the connection from our mating fades away with time until it’s convenient for me to officially reject her and sever our tie forever.
Right now, I just need to find a way to cope with the soul-crushing pain that’s pulsing through me.
I push my hand into my hair in frustration, pulling on the locks as I groan, unable to keep my mind from thinking of her and how she must be feeling right now.
A knock on the door interrupts my round of torment.
“Who is it? I want to be left alone!” I yell, coldly.
“Prince Derek, it’s me, Sea,” a soft voice comes through, and it takes a second for me to decide that a distraction might help with the pain.
Sea has been my lover for so many years; she has been by my side throughout my search for a mate. Initially, we’d go to the Malcrid together to see if we’d be fated together, but after years of trying, we gave up.
Regardless, she has remained by my side and has gotten the respect and regard of the pack as my woman. I had hoped she’d be my Luna because of her outstanding leadership qualities, her strength, and her compassion.
While I didn’t love her, she possessed all the qualities I needed in a Luna, but that never happened. This didn’t stop us from being together.
“Come in,” I say, and wait patiently as she opens the door and walks in.
“I just wanted to see how you are doing,” she says calmly, assessing me with her eyes.
“I feel like shit,” I say straightly.
“Why? Is it because you found your mate?” she asks, and I don’t reply, “Rumor has it that you are mated to some she-wolf from the Snow family,” she continues.
“Yes, but I want nothing to do with her, hence the reason I feel like shit. But you can help with that,” I say to her with a knowing stare, and she walks closer to me.
I don’t hesitate for a second before slamming my lips to hers, ferociously, desperately seeking pleasure to escape from the torment plaguing me.
She melts into my arms as usual, offering herself completely to me, and I grope her, pressing my body against hers eagerly, and for a moment, it seems like my tactic for distraction is working until I feel an overwhelming urge to puke.
“Fuck!” I say as I push her away, panting. “You should leave,” I say to her as, with each second I stare at her, I feel my disgust for her body grow, which I'm sure is thanks to the mating bond.
“What? I thought you wanted to make love to me,” she says, surprised.
“Not anymore, now I want to be alone. Leave.”
“But you said –”
“Now I’m saying you should leave, Sea, get out!” I say with a stern tone, giving her a sharp glare, and she gets the hint.
She walks out of the room with a look of hurt on her face, and I groan again.
I can’t even get sexual relief because of the damn bond, and I’ve managed to hurt two women in just a few hours.
If only I cared as little for Amber’s feelings as I do for Sea’s, then I’d be on cloud nine.
I hear another knock on the door, which irritates me.
“Who is it?!” I ask, annoyed.
“Prince Derek, the alpha requests your presence in the meeting hall,” he says.
“Tell him I’ll be with him soon,” I say, knowing there’s no avoiding this conversation, and the sooner I clarify things, the sooner I’ll be left alone.
After taking deep, composing breaths, I walk to the meeting room to see my father and a bunch of the pack’s heads seated and staring at me.
“Father, you called,” I say, standing in front of him.
“What is your stance on this issue, because we cannot have a Luna from Snow's bloodline?” he asks.
“There isn’t an issue, Father, I’ve made my decision already. Amber Snow is not mine
,” I say with conviction.
To end the pain