Chapter 60 WORDS THAT BITE
DEREK’S POV
I've always known my mate was beautiful, but the instant she comes out, something in me tightens. My wolf purrs gently, sending a low rumble through my chest, seeing how pretty our mate looks.
“You look beautiful,” I say as I get into the carriage after her, resisting the urge to hold her tightly and take in the scent of her hair.
She only nods to that, and my wolf whines, feeling hurt by our mate’s dismissal. I’ve been a really awful person to her lately, though, so I don’t expect less.
After the banquet, I realized how much I have come to take pride in having her as my mate. She is perfect in every way except for the Snow’s blood she is carrying. If only she were from a different pack, I'd have marked her a long time ago.
Once we get back, I sleep with a faint sense of pride that at least she embodied the standards my Luna is supposed to.When the sun filters through the wall, I wake up feeling refreshed, and my wolf is calm as well.
Amber lies beside me, breathing slowly and evenly. Her scent is everywhere. I feel her stir beside me, and I can't help but admire how beautiful and vulnerable she looks in her sleep. I reach out to touch her, but before I can, her eyes jolt open.
“You’re awake,” I say casually. “We’ll be late if you don’t hurry.
She gives me a confused look but says nothing, then gets up to prepare for breakfast, and after she comes out of the bathroom, I do the same.
“You’re doing it wrong,” I say, already stepping closer.
“I didn’t ask for help.” She retorts, still fumbling with the laces
“No,” I reply flatly, taking the laces from her anyway. “But you need it.”I feel the skin beneath the laces, and my hand brushes her skin briefly, sending a wave of shock through me.
“Thank you,” she mutters awkwardly
As we head down to the dining hall for breakfast, Amber is walking in front of me, and I can't help but notice the way her hips move in a sexy circular motion. I force myself out of my thoughts as we stepped into the dining hall.
The conversation quietens as we enter the dining hall. I feel it immediately, and I know Amber feels it too." Stay close to me," I whisper gently to Amber, who is now walking next to me, but she seems on edge, so I wrap my hands around her waist.
“What are you doing?” She whispers sharply. I do not reply to her; instead, I lead us to our reserved seats and pull out a chair for her.
“Huh?” She mutters under her breath, and I can see the confusion and wariness in her eyes. I take my seat next to her, and I help myself to some food.
“The food was excellent,” Amber says, and I take that as my cue to stand up. “Thank you”
“Thank you for the wonderful breakfast, Luna Chloe,” I say to the Luna of the golden moon pack as I help Amber up from her seat.
“She carries herself well for someone who still hasn't been marked.” I stop in my tracks, and my wolf ears perk up at that statement, and I immediately recognize the voice.
“What did you say?” I growled quietly, looking straight at Chloe, and she immediately averted her gaze from mine. She had whispered to a wolf that was seated beside her. The dining hall went silent, and everyone's attention was now on us.
“What did you say?” I repeat louder. Amber’s arm has tightened around mine and my wolf is furious asking to be let out.
“Let's just go,” Amber says quietly, tugging my arm as her hair droops down to cover her face. I have never seen her cower like this, and this enraged both my wolf
“Um…. I meant-” she quickly tries to explain, but I cut her off. Just save whatever you want to say. Is this how you treat your guests? I ask, directing my question to Chester.
“Derek, I'm sure she didn't mean anything by that.” He says, hurriedly getting up from his chair
“Talk about what exactly? You mean to tell me that the Luna of your pack can't control anything she says? Is she even fit to be Luna?”I have heard rumors that Chloe is a pathetic gossip, but this is the first time she has ever crossed a line with me, and it was definitely going to be the last.
“Derek, I need you to calm down. I'll make sure she is adequately punished for this, but please let us have this talk somewhere else.” Chester pleads frantically
“Goddess knows if she wasn't your mate, I would have had her head rolling on the floor by now. I say every bit of my word, laced with anger. Come on, we’re out of here,” I say, walking Amber out of the dining hall.
“Where are we going?” Amber asks once we leave the dining hall. “This is not the way to the room.”
“We're going back home. I'll mindlink someone to get our things.” I keep my eyes focused ahead. My wolf is still furious at me for not letting him out, and guilt has started to eat at me from within.
Why haven't I marked her already? A simple bite is all it takes, and she wouldn't have gone through all that. It wasn't like I could even mate with anyone else, so why hadn't I just marked her?
My thoughts are conflicted during the entire journey back home. I debate whether to mark her, but thoughts of my parents immediately fill my head, and I eventually dismiss the idea.
“I'm sorry,” I say to her as soon as we step into our room back at the pack house. “You had to go through all that because of me.”
“Thank you for standing up for me,” she mutters quietly, her round gray eyes staring directly at mine, and with a sudden urge, I crash my lips down on hers and kiss her, a blast of heat coursing through my body.
CONTROL OVER INSTINCTS