C105 Please don't kill him, Derek

Derek's hand abruptly lifted my chin, his touch gentle yet commanding. "I love you, Elena," he declared, his voice filled with a fierce protectiveness. "I will not allow anyone to hurt or love you."

His words were a solemn vow, a promise to shield me from the shadows of my past. They were both comforting and intimidating, leaving me with a sense of security I hadn't felt in a long time