Derrick's pov
Why couldn't I do it? Why couldn't I hurt him? I mean I was so furious when I entered the pack house, but as soon as I heard his cry for help it all faded away and I was forced to push aside my true feelings and fake indifference to push him further away from me. Entering my room, and seeing laying chained and naked on my bed, I froze at the beauty before me until glazed violet eyes looked up at me, spurring me into action. I reached out brushing a hand over his chest, unable to resist the chance to do something I've wanted to do since I found out we were mates. He jumped at the sudden touch, pushing his soft flesh more firmly against my palm and I hade to subdue a shudder at the sparks running across my skin. As soon as he was relaxed I moved my hand lower until it was between his thighs, gently rubbing and stroking the hardness of his length. He moaned unknowingly pushing harder into my grip and his head fell back against the mattress. I could feel my breath becoming heavy as he gently writhed on the bed, letting out gasps and moans of desire and I knew I had to stop before I went too far.
"This is all your fault."
He stared at me for several long minutes, ecstasy mixed with confusion in his eyes.
"W-What?"
"If you hadn't left, they wouldn't have come here and I wouldn't have been forced to take a life."
"They?"
I tightened my grip on him and he let out a pain filled cry.
"Rogues! You led rogues here because you tried to escape me!"
"No, I didn't . . . I couldn't have, I was alone in the woods!"
"Rogues know how to hide Ayden! They followed your scent here, threatened our pack because of you!"
He trembled slightly, though whether from the pain I was causing him or my words, I didn't know.
"Was . . . Was anyone hurt?"
"The pack is fine if that's what you mean. After I killed their leader the others surrendered."
His eyes widened in shock as my words registered to him.
"You . . . You killed someone?!"
"That's right, thanks to you there's blood on my hands now."
"I didn't mean for any of this to happen."
I smiled down at him coldly, my anger finally starting to return. He didn't mean for what to happen? For me to fall in love with him? For me to sleep with whores, human and wolf alike, that throw themselves at me; just so I wouldn't have to think about him? Or how about the guilt I feel once my body is satisfied and my mind can once again return to him?"
"Of course you didn't . . . you never mean for these things to happen, but they still do, don't they?!"
"I don't__________________."
I cut him off, cruelly mocking his innocence.
"That's right, you don't understand anything."
"Alpha_____________."
The desperation and sorrow in Ayden's voice made something in me snap and I struck him across the face as hard as I could, barely forcing back a growl.
"Don't call me that! I am no longer your Alpha and this is no longer your pack. As of now you are nothing more than a slave, even lower than the Omegas. You will do what you're told without complaint or you will be beaten in front of everyone."
"Alpha, please__________________!"
"Shut up! I never want to hear your voice again."
I knew him so well, that the moment he opened his mouth to plead with me again, I quickly tightened my hold on him until he was squealing loudly and struggling to get free.
"Do. You. Understand?"
After a desperate nod, I finally released my grip and he turned away from me, shutting me out and ignoring my quiet apology.
I started to walk away when my wolf told me to go back to him and wait. Without making a sound I approached him, waiting to see what he would do.
"Why didn't you let them take me?"
Leaning over, I let my warm breath brush against his ear, smiling sadly when he jumped in surprise.
"I couldn't."
Ayden suddenly released a choked sob before, completely breaking down and I made my way out of the room no longer able to face him. Rushing outside, I was just about to shift into my solid black wolf, when a hand on my shoulder stopped me.
"Alpha."
"Dr Douglas . . . what are you doing here?"
"I came to stop you from hurting him, but it looks like I'm too late.
"Look, this is the way it has to be. I can't be with him, so it's better if I make him hate me, isn't it?"
"And who is it better for? I can see the pain and longing in your eyes even now. You don't want to hurt your mate and if you keep pushing him away like this not only is he going to hate you, he's never going to trust you again."
"Then I'll deal with it when the time comes."
Dr Douglas let out a disappointed sigh, releasing his hold on me.
"If you're not going to listen to me, will you at least allow me to help him with his heat?"
"Yes, but only after he completely turns against me."
Glaring at me, Dr Douglas started away.
"Let's hope he isn't the only one."
"Is that a threat?!"
"You know me better than that, Alpha. I
. . . I just hope you know what you're doing."
Without waiting for a reply, the man I respected most in this world walked away without looking back. As I shifted, I thought about his words. Was I doing the right thing? I was sure that if I could protect Ayden from the horrors I would cause him later by pushing him away now, then whatever pain we suffered was worth it. And if the time comes that I end up losing him to someone else . . . as long as he was happy then I'll have to stand aside, even if it kills me.
