RALPH
My grip on the man tightened as I felt the primal surge within me, propelled by the relentless force of my wolf. He refused me to relinquish my hold until he assured the guy no longer drew breath. The torment inflicted upon his mate had stoked an inferno of fury within my wolf, and this man had callously reopened the wounds. He’s the one to suffer the consequences.
His struggles for breath were palpable against my hold. Each gasp felt like a jolt of satisfaction, a vindication for daring to put his hands on what was mine. My wolf roared in protest, demanding retribution for the pain inflicted on his mate. As his eyes began to cloud over, I couldn’t suppress the grim satisfaction that curled my lips. It was a twisted pleasure, a grim reminder that no one had the right to touch what belonged to me.
The simmering rage within me spoke louder than any growl, a declaration that reverberated through the silence.
I’m the only one who’s allowed to hurt her. Not you. Not anyone, I seethed, surprised to realize that the words were my own, not just my wolf’s primal urges. With a sudden resolve, I overpowered my wolf and released my grip, letting the guy crash heavily onto the frigid ground.
I made my way back to the car, eager to depart from the lingering presence of my mate’s scent that seemed to envelop everything around. Just as I revved the engine and began to pull away, she suddenly appeared in front of my car, arms outstretched. I couldn’t help but wonder if throwing herself in front of cars was some sort of habitual act for her. My teeth ground together in frustration as I wrestled with the abruptness of her appearance.
I glanced at the side mirror and noticed that the guy had disappeared, while the woman stood at the entrance of their house. Briefly, she cast a glance in our direction before going inside and closing the door behind her.
The passenger door opened, and this human mate of mine got in. Before I could bark her out, she secured her seat belt and turned to meet my gaze. Our eyes locked, and in that moment, I found myself captivated by her stunning beauty. The world around us seemed to dissolve, leaving only the rhythm of our beating hearts. Unable to resist, my gaze drifted down to her softly parted lips. An overwhelming urge to draw her into a deep, passionate kiss began to well up within me.
I quickly tore my gaze away and accelerated the car, weaving through the traffic in a frenzy. The human beside me held onto the car holders tight while frantically screaming at the top of her lungs for me to decelerate. Her screams only fueled my mounting frustration, driving me to push the car even faster. She has a way of driving me to the edge. Ever since she entered my life, I’ve felt like a different person altogether.
The cacophony of screeching tires and blaring horns filled the air as I pushed the car to its limit, the rush of adrenaline drowning out all rationale. Her voice pierced through the car, imploring me to stop, to think.
But I couldn’t.
My frustration reached its peak as I saw an obstacle ahead, a collision waiting to happen. The car in front seemed to mock my predicament, daring me to continue this reckless path. My foot pressed down harder on the accelerator, propelling me forward at a dangerous speed. I was almost ready to accept the impending crash when my wolf cut through the madness. If you kill her, you’ll never see or hear me again in your life.
In that split second of his threat, I swerved the car with a sharp turn, narrowly missing the collision. The tires screeched in protest as I fought to regain control, the vehicle finally coming to a shuddering halt by the roadside. The human sat breathless, wide-eyed, her fingers still tightly gripping the handles, her scream now caught in the stillness of the air. She didn’t speak, but her eyes spoke volumes. They held a mixture of fear, anger, and something else. I opened the door and got out. I heard her doing the same.
I pounded my hands against the car in frustration, berating myself for losing control like a reckless teenager over a mere human. Fuck me. She was my mate. As I turned around, she startled me by tiptoeing closer and delivering a stinging slap across my face. The abruptness of her action stunned me.
“What was that about? Are you out of your damn mind?” She retorted looking at me like she’s about to pass through me. She didn’t give me any gap to react to the slap as she unleashed a torrent of words, her voice tinged with anger and hurt.
“If you’re planning to kill me it won’t work. You’ve tried so many times, and I’ve always come back alive. It’s like I’m meant to live till I’m old and gray,” she declared vehemently, pausing momentarily to collect herself before resuming with a piercing question, “Why do you despise us so deeply? What did humans do to you that I must bear the burden of?” Did they kill-
“Enough!” I growled, cutting her off sharply. She recoiled slightly but pressed on.
“Okay, fine. Whatever they did to you, it’s between you and them. But… I am not them. I’m totally a different person with a different mother to be responsible for their actions. Look at me, she urged, her voice softening, her eyes now moist with tears. “My life has been in shambles since I intervened to aid your mother. I wish I had walked away, just like everyone else did.” I wouldn’t have been here in the middle of the night standing on the roadside with a man who’s a nightmare and a threat in my life. Tears flowed out freely before she broke down and started crying out loud.
My heart twisted in an unfamiliar ache. “She’s hurting, my poor mate,” my wolf whimpered in agony. “It’s a shame that her mate is the one causing her such pain,” he added, intensifying the ache of guilt throbbing within me.
As I leaned down to help her up, she abruptly rose, accidentally colliding with my nose. “Damn,” I muttered, feeling the impact. She gasped, visibly alarmed. “Your nose,” she uttered, concern etched on her face. “It’s bleeding. Are you okay?”
Frustrated, I made my way to the car, cleaning up the blood while she hesitantly joined me, avoiding eye contact. “Why am I avoiding you?” She snapped, her voice edged with irritation.
“Shut up!” I scolded, my tone sharp and menacing. But my words seemed futile as she continued ranting.
“What happened was an accident. It’s nothing compared to what I’ve been through,” she said quietly. I rubbed my forehead, growing increasingly agitated.
“I prayed to a werewolf god to separate us,” she said, forcing me to focus on her. I could feel her words piercing through my wolf. I furrowed my brow, confused as she turned serious. “You don’t want me, and neither do I. So, I prayed to your god for separation. I don’t know when that prayer will be answered, but until then, as your chosen mate, I’m sticking with you like glue. I’ll remain by your side, fighting for you, laughing with you until you realize that not all humans are the same.” With that, she leaned back and closed her eyes.
Her words had struck a chord within me.
I made a swift U-turn and headed back to her place. Glancing over, I noticed she had dozed off. Pulling up to her house, her aunt was standing outside their house. I brought the car to an abrupt halt, jolting her awake. Blinking groggily, she surveyed her surroundings, a smile spreading across her face at the sight of her aunt.
“Look who’s here waiting for me,” she exclaimed cheerfully, her voice laced with affection. “My favorite person.” With that, she eagerly stepped out of the car, hastening over to her aunt and enveloping her in a warm embrace before darting inside.
I lowered the window and lit a cigarette, my thoughts consumed by the impending council meeting tomorrow. At first I wasn’t interested in whatever decision they held toward her. But now, I’m inexplicably anxious. As I exhaled a plume of smoke, I ran a hand through my hair in utter confusion. “What on earth is happening to me?” I muttered aloud. Could it be that I’m already inexplicably drawn to her?