Chapter 33

Chapter 33

The smell of Derrick surrounded the house like a shield, and with each breath I took, my desire to be by his side grew stronger.

I felt like I was about to blow up, and when he cut the engine and stepped out of the car, I believe Gabriel noticed it too. Before I could even make sense of what I was feeling, I watched as he moved around it and opened my door for me. After I successfully got up from my seat, he gently shut the door behind me while I strained to get a closer look at the intimidating structure.

The size of the royal packhouse could only indicate that the pack that lived here was ten times larger. Thinking about the figure made my breath catch in my throat—so many people I would let down and so many individuals who would grow to despise me.

With a gentle command, "Follow me," Gabriel made his way to the house's door. My trance was shattered, and I reverted to my wolfish determination as I followed him.

As he led me through the throngs of people, the atmosphere was solemn, but that all changed when they saw me.

Derrick's pack recognized me exactly, even without his mark.

As I passed by, I could hear whispers all around me. Some were based on jealousy, but most were expressions of wonder and respect. My heart was pounding again as I followed in time with their delta as they bowed their heads and created a passage for me. Since I was discovered as a pack rat, I had never received this kind of attention, and all it appeared to accomplish was increase my anxiety.

My wolf's need was merging with mine, and my nerves were jangling.

Even though they didn't know me, they already saw me as their Luna, their queen.

They were unaware that I was the reason this had occurred to them in the first place and that I didn't deserve any of this. Even though I had put their pack in danger and was to blame for the death of one of their warriors, they still treated me with respect and devotion. They treated me as if I were someone other than who I was, as if I hadn't already brought about so much suffering and wasn't someone who had the power to end the royal dynasty.

As Gabriel walked me directly to Derrick's office, the familiarity of the location relieved some of the pressure in my chest, which was becoming more difficult to ignore.

I saw him when he ushered me to the front of the group.

I clenched my fingers into claws and pressed them into my palms to keep myself from moving foolishly.

My heart was racing as I basked in the power that Derrick was radiating from him as he stood in front of his desk, his overwhelming presence choking the space. I had grown used to seeing him feel both angry and hurt whenever I was with him, but this time it didn't appear to be the same.

His eyebrows were wrinkled; he was staring at the two men in front of him without even acknowledging that I was there. He bowed his head, closed his eyes, and inhaled deeply as I watched. Just as quickly as I had taken to his scent, his wolf had taken to mine. I waited for him to turn to face me, but he didn't even acknowledge my presence.

I could practically feel my heart bruising against my ribcage as I glanced at him and saw the grief in his eyes. It felt like a hollow chunk in my chest.

I wanted to go to him, put my arms around him, and comfort his hurting heart. It hurt to resist my wolf's cries for me to do my job as his mate, but I couldn't help but be enthralled because I had never seen him in his natural habitat before. It was only now that I saw how he commanded his pack.

"You undermined your king; you put your pack in danger for shirking your responsibilities on patrol, and now a warrior is dead—your friend is dead." There was a voice next to Derrick, and I could identify it. I looked across at him, and I knew right away who it was. It was the same man who had kidnapped me and thrown me into those cells, the one who started this whole mess, and the one who made me face certain death.

"He said he would be okay; it was only a couple of hours."

A mess, the warrior was on his knees before his pack leaders. His face was battered, his nose was completely shattered, and tears were pouring out of his eyes. I understood exactly what it felt like to be a scapegoat, to take the blame because you felt like you deserved it, and it felt like they were putting the blame on him because he was the only one left to blame.

"Morgan—

Derrick opened his mouth to say something, but I had moved closer without thinking, and in that instant, his eyes met mine. As he took me in, his rigid posture softened a little, his eyes tracing over and over my body until he was content with how I looked. Though emotionally, a lot of things had become considerably worse, physically, I was the same as the last time I had seen him.

His intense stare lingered on my body, and I yearned for him to go nearer to me because of how much it burned into my flesh. I needed to feel his heart's demanding beat beneath my fingertips, and I wanted to feel the heat of his skin against mine. However, he did not approach me, and when he turned away, I nearly let out a savage roar.

I could feel my wolf's possessiveness pressing in on me; she detested my hesitation, but in a room full of strangers, I didn't want to be the one to initiate contact.

Derrick looked back at his beta, but his eyes were focused on me this time. As soon as he realized who I was and what he had done to me, his face went pale. One of the worst things a wolf could do was hurt an alpha's mate, and he'd done just that without realizing who I was.

I was shocked that Derrick hadn't punished the beta yet, judging by the surprised expression on his face, even though it seemed like he had been a little distracted.

"There is no need for this, Morgan." Derrick got his act together faster than I could have and finished the sentence I had interrupted. His words were laced with tiredness and the same sorrow as the warrior before him, and for a split second, I didn't know what he was going to do.

It didn't seem like he wanted to do any of that, and I wasn't the only one who noticed that. I had witnessed firsthand the way alphas treated pack members who disobeyed them; I had witnessed the trials and punishments; and I had seen wolves being made examples of in the most brutal ways.

"Not necessary? This stupid idiot defied our commands while knowing exactly what we were attempting to protect everyone from, and as a result, one of our pack members is dead. His friend was shredded and left to rot; the outlaws are becoming increasingly ferocious." Morgan held back. "You can't be the king of wolves when you no longer have wolves to rule over." The viciousness of those comments nearly caused me to double over since they were like knives to my heart.

Breathing hard, I attempted to remain upright, but Gabriel's notion had now solidified into reality.

By disgracing his Alpha and undermining his confidence in his leadership abilities, Morgan had harmed him in the one way he knew would cause the greatest pain.

With a roar that filled the room with his demand for respect and authority, Derrick took a menacing step in the direction of his beta.

With insatiable interest, I observed as the other wolves in our vicinity lowered their heads in defiance of their Alpha's demand, causing my heart to race.

Derrick had shown that he was ten times more vicious than any wolf in this room by extending his body once again and hiding from his beta's disdain. I just wanted to get closer to the beta's volatility, even though it had stepped away from his alpha's, for some insane reason.

How the heck was this making me feel attracted to you? You think I'm not aware of that? I feel it all, Morgan; I feel it each and every time a wolf is slain. More than anything, I want them dead, yet punishing him in this way won't make it happen. He is already aware of his mistakes, and he could have saved his comrade if he had been out on patrol with him. Rather, for the rest of his life, he will have to deal with the shame of not being there. That serves as sufficient punishment." Derrick glared down at his beta and waited for him to submit, so his words were final.

For a little period, Morgan refused to back down, and it was then that I realized why he had been appointed second in command: Derrick didn't want someone in that role to be so easily submissive to him due to his unique personality. It was almost too long to stare down, and when Morgan lifted his head, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Derrick's gaze had darkened with his wolf's determination, but it brightened again when he turned to face me. With a purpose now, he approached me, halting an arm's length away and glancing past my shoulder.

His hand crept to my waist, and something inside me snapped. My heart began to race nervously.

He only needed a single, small touch to completely undo me.