Mine to Protect Chapter 13: RIGHT TIME

*Hazel*

We sprint through the empty streets, in the direction of the nearest subway station. If we can get on a train, maybe we can lose them. But we don’t make it far, the high heels we are wearing slow us down, and we are no match for werewolves’ speed.

They have us cornered in a narrow dark alley, with their eyes glowing, fangs protruding from their mouths and claws ready to rip us to shreds.

Then, the tallest guy, who I think is their leader, takes a few menacing steps closer.

Cindy warns him, “Stay back! I called the police; they will be here any moment.”

The guy just laughs. “I am not afraid of the police. What can they do against us? Right guys?” he asks, turning towards his buddies. They laugh and owl, excited at having their prey at their mercy.

“What do you want with us?” I gather the courage to ask, although my voice comes out weak and quivering.

“I want nothing to do with you, sweetheart. I just want her,” he says mockingly, indicating Cindy. “But if you plan to stand in my way, my friends will be happy to take care of you,” he adds smiling evilly. His cronies whistled in the background.

Cindy squeezes my hand and pleads with me in a low tone, “Hazel, go. I’ll be fine. I’ll find a way to escape, don’t worry. Please, go, before they hurt you.”

“I am not leaving you alone! We’ll find a way together.”

“No. I can’t let them hurt you. Forgive me, Hazel.”

With a speed I wasn’t expecting, Cindy strikes her hand hard on my neck, and I lose consciousness.

END OF FLASHBACK

“When I finally came to, I was completely alone in that alley. After that night, I never saw Cindy again. She never went back to work, to college, or to her place. She just disappeared. I went to the police to report her missing, but they never managed to find her.”

I was so engrossed in my memory that I did not notice the Alpha taking my hands in his and rubbing circles on the back of my hands. It feels soothing and intimate.

After a few moments of silence, the Alpha tells me in a calm tone, “I am sorry you lost your friend. It’s clear this event was very traumatizing for you, and I understand why you feel scared of werewolves. Yet, what happened was definitely not normal, and I think there is more to it that we don’t know. Why would those werewolves go after your friend? The way you described them, does not seem like they are common wolves, more like criminals or rogues. I will have some of my intel team contact you, they will ask for more information, like the full name of your friend, physical descriptions, and other details that might be helpful. They will do their best to locate her.”

“Thank you, I really appreciate your help. Even, after the way I treated you,” I say timidly.

“Damn, you are cute,” he says smiling at me. “No need to thank me or apologize to me. We are mates. It goes without saying that I’ll do everything I can to help you.”

I blush a little and smile at his kindness. I see his gaze study my blush, then dip to my lips. Is he thinking about kissing me?

Then he looks the other way, scratches the back of his neck and stands up. I feel kind of disappointed. Maybe he is not that much into me.

“I think we should go back. It’s very late, your parents will start to get worried.” He offers me his hand and helps me up. I put my hand in his, relishing in the sparks that erupt from our touch. He pulls me up, and starts walking in the direction of the house, still holding my hand in his. I feel like a schoolgirl at her first crush, with butterflies in my stomach, and excitement ripping through me like electricity.

I should be thinking how to solve the mess I am in, instead of having romantic fantasies about this Alpha. But this man is already charming his way into my heart, and I don’t know if I can keep him at arm’s length; I don’t know if I want to. I wonder if this is the effect of the famous mate bond, or it’s just all me, falling at the feet of the first handsome men who showed some interest in me.

A thought suddenly comes to my mind.

“Why did those guys attack us at the restaurant? Were you able to find out?”

“Yeah, they just wanted revenge for the beating I delivered in the morning. Rogues, they are reckless individuals; there’s a reason why they are not part of a pack.”

“I see.”

“You scared me today, you know?” he asks, looking closely at my reaction.

“My, so even mighty Alphas get scared once in a while; although I can’t take the full credit, I am not sure what I did to scare you.”

“When that man took you, and then when you crashed on the ground and fainted, I thought my heart was going to stop beating. Does it still hurt? Your head,” he says, while touching my head softly, right on my aching bump.

I can’t help wincing, and he grimaces.

“I suppose that’s a yes. Would you like to get it checked at the hospital?"

“No, I think I’ll be fine. Plus, I am a werewolf now, I should be healing in no time!”

He chuckles. “It doesn’t work like that, you need your wolf to heal, and you haven’t shifted yet.”

“Right, and that will happen only after you mark me,” I ponder.

“Yes. And just so you know, I am ready whenever you are,” he offers, wiggling his eyebrows jokingly.

“Yeah, well, I guess I’ll need to get used to this whole werewolf thing first. Plus, a bite is still a bite, and I bet it hurts, and a lot. I am not really looking forward to that.”

“There are ways to make it painless, if I time it right.”

“And when would the right time be?”

“When in the throes of a sensation so pleasurable that would overcome the pain.”

I stare at him for a second; is he implying what I think he is implying?