Chapter 3- You Are Mine

Salara’s POV

Henry pulls me in close to his side, causing uneasiness to settle in the pit of my stomach. “Stop drooling over our guest, it is embarrassing.” He tells me before pulling away and shoveling food in his mouth. 

My eyes cast downwards towards my plate, afraid of angering Henry more than I already have. Since the moment that Derrick made his way into my kitchen, I have been unable to tear my eyes away from him. Each time that I would try, I would find my eyes drawn right back to him. 

I quietly pick at my food silently as Henry continues to talk business with Derrick in between bites of food. I can feel Derrick’s eyes boring holes into me periodically, but I refuse to look up from my plate of food. 

When dinner is finally complete, I stand to start clearing away the table quickly in order to escape the feelings that Derrick has been stirring up in her by just being near. Derrick offers to help clear away the dishes, but Henry waves him away, inviting him into his office for a drink and to finish going over the properties he has found for him. 

The press of a little body against mine draws me out of my darkening thoughts and down to the sweet little boy that graciously helped me gather everything for dinner. “Can I help you with the dishes?” He asks, his bright eyes staring up at me. 

A genuine smile spreads across my face at the offer. “I would love to have your assistance.” I tell him, handing the stack of plates over to him before bending over to retrieve everyones cups and bowls. I lead the way back towards the kitchen where we work together to get all of the dishes cleaned up and put away in record time. 

Miguel told me about his dad the entire time we were cleaning up, receiving short responses from me each time. My heart ached everytime he would mention how great his father was. If only my husband could be as amazing as this stranger is in his son’s eyes. 

Henry lacks in the father department just as much as he lacks as a husband. Never has he changed a dirty diaper, or given a bath in the three years that we have become parents. All of the child raising has been my responsibility since the day she was born. 

“Thank you for dinner mo-Ms. Salara.” His slip-up barely registers in my overthinking brain. 

My mind is on other things as I make my way out of the kitchen so I didn’t see Henry and Derrick making their way back towards us. My face slams into a hard chest, knocking me back a step and almost making me fall on my bottom if it wasn’t for a set of strong arms reaching out to stop me. 

A gasp leaves my lips as Derrick’s fingers grip my upper arms. Sparks erupt along my skin everywhere his fingers touch me. My eyes snap up to his finding his darkened eyes staring down at me as if he wanted nothing more than to eat me up. 

“Sorry.” I mumble out breathlessly, frozen in place in his arms as our eyes lock. His head slowly descends towards mine. Anticipation crackles along my skin as I watch his head descend in fascination. What would it feel like to have his lips on mine?

The clearing of a throat followed by rough hands pulling me away pulls me from my trance and back to my surroundings. Embarrassment heats my cheeks when I realize that I almost let a stranger kiss me right in front of my husband. 

Henry gives me a disapproving look before turning his attention back to our guest. “I will see you tomorrow afternoon at your pack.” He says, a forced smile appearing on his face. 

Derrick’s eyes never leave mine, I can feel them burning holes in the top of my head as I stare down at my feet. “Bring your lovely wife and that daughter of yours that I didn’t get the chance to meet.” He says cheerfully. 

Henry stiffens beside me, clearly unhappy with having to bring me along with him tomorrow for whatever it is that they had planned. “Salara is unfortunately allergic to dogs.” Henry says appogetically, gripping my arm tightly in warning. “So she won’t be able to make it with me tomorrow.”

I was in fact not allergic to dogs, it is just an excuse to keep me from coming along with him. I have begged Henry many times to let me get a dog, but he shoots me down each time saying they are smelly creatures and don’t belong in his house. 

“I will have the dogs kept in their kennels during your visit and we will stick to the outdoors so Salara doesn’t suffer.” Derrick replies, leaving no room for another argument. Henry reluctantly agrees before walking Derrick and Miguel to the door and waving them off. 

As soon as the door shuts behind him I can hear his angry stomping headed in my direction. I stand in the hallway, waiting for the mental abuse that I know is coming. “Whore!” He spits out as soon as he is within eyesight of me. His booted feet stomp all the way up the hall, only stopping once he is right in front of me. 

Gripping my chin roughly, he yanks my head upwards until I am looking into his hate filled eyes. “If I hadn’t interupted you would have given yourself to him right there in front of me and his son.” Spit flies in my face from his words being yelled down at me. His grip on my chin prevents me from pulling away from him as he continues to yell foul words at me. 

“He only wants you to be his human whore.” Henry sneers at me, his face contorting in an ugly manner. “You are nothing.” He grips my chin harder. “He will figure that out quickly and drop you like the garbage that you are.”

Letting go of my chin, he pushes me away from him, disgust evident in his expression. “You will be coming with me tomorrow.” He says surprising me. My eyes shoot up to meet his. “You will make it clear to him that you are not interested in him and then you will go wait in the car as if he means nothing to you.” 

Tears spring to my eyes at the thought of being so cruel to him, confusing me further. Why would he care whether I want him or not? Like Henry said, I am no one of importance, least of all to a man like Derrick. 

A look of triumph fills Henry’s face as he lifts his hand to stroke my face in feigned love. “You are so stupid sometimes Salara.” He says harshly. “He called you his mate.” My eyes widen, he did say that word didn’t he. “I see the wheels are turning in that daft head of yours.” He mocks me, laughing at how pathetic I am. 

“He might have called you his mate, but he was wrong because you are mine and I will never let another man have what is mine.” With those words, he storms away, leaving the house and me behind. 

The shattered remnants of my heart fall to the floor as tears begin to trickle down my cheeks. Once again I have to give up my happiness for a man that doesn’t deserve my loyalty. What a cruel world.