What was left of an Alpha aura seeped through me. It barely touched us. We could overcome his alpha command, but his words gave us pause. We wanted all who touched our mate to pay, not just the mayor.
“That’s it,” he coaxed.
The room’s sounds, muted from my intense rage, filtered back. The room filled with yells and snarls, softening as my rage depleted.
The mayor laid limp in my arms, his body smelling of blood and piss.
“Great job.” Locke reached for the body, handing it off to Morpheus. He dragged his body and the men that accompanied the mayor to the cellar.
“I’m sorry,” I choked. “I almost shifted.”
“That you did,” Locke mused. “But I’m glad you didn’t, otherwise you would really have to explain yourself.”
I already knew I would have to explain. Locke didn’t see my fangs, didn’t see that my face was forming into a snout, fur running up my body as my mate stared at me in horror.
Would she come to me again? Or ever feel safe again?
I turned, following her scent. The closer I came to the door, the more nervous I became. She could reject me, send me away like my first mate and all would be lost forever. I’d return to being rabid and slowly die a painful death when my wolf finally snapped and tried to kill my brothers and sisters.
I opened the door, heat radiating in my chest in anticipation. She sat by the wall, her legs pulled to her chest and her eyes gazing at the floor. My heart pounded in my ears as I approached, and the moment of truth revealed itself.
She stared up at me, but not in fear. She peered so deep into my soul, I could feel the bond thread together piece by piece to prepare for the steel cable that would tie us together for all eternity.
I lowered myself to my knees, ready to explain, but she wrapped her arms around my neck willingly.
I sighed in relief, my hand stroking her back until my wolf slipped out the traditional “mine.”
Lifting my mate, who was as light as a feather, I strode to the door, the humans that worked in the bar all staring wide-eyed. I didn’t even look at the doctor, who had a sedative in his hand. I growled lowly as I passed him.
My mate was in obvious distress, but even the thought of more drugs entering her system infuriated me.
Bones mouthed a “sorry,” but he was already on my shit list.
Journey did not take her face away from the crook of my neck. Her soft breathing trailed down my blood-covered chest. We both smelled of blood by the time we reached the apartment.
My grip tightened around her, her fingers threading through the loose tendrils of my hair. Once I reached the bathroom, I turned on the water to the highest heat setting and sat her on the counter.
Her arms didn’t leave my neck, her face staring up at me with wide eyes. “You’re different,” she whispered.
I could only nod as I gently removed her clothing. She didn’t have any bruises or marks, for that I was thankful. I couldn’t imagine holding my wolf back if something had happened in those brief moments we were separated.
Journey didn’t protest. She let me peel away her undergarments, and once she was naked, I picked her up to put her in the shower. She wouldn’t let go of my arm, pulling me to stay.
Toeing off my boots, I pulled off my cut and shirt. Pulling down my pants, I left the black boxer briefs on as I entered.
Journey didn’t question it and allowed me to surround her with my body as we let the hot water stream down our skin.
I reached for the soap, cleaning her body. She didn’t argue, didn’t move. I waited for the tension in her body to appear, but it didn’t.
It seemed she understood I needed to care for her, to hold her and keep her safe. For that, I was once again thankful because even my wolf calmed, laying inside me until he let out his contented purr.
Once Journey was clean, she turned to me, her body pressed against my chest, and grabbed the soap. She washed me, as I’d washed her, and my purr grew louder.
“So, it is purring,” she muttered. “It isn’t a humming sound I thought you were making, it’s like a cat.”
I growled.
“Not a cat. But…you can hear it?” I asked.
