“I smelled the scent of a strong presence coming from here…” he said, his voice silky and smooth in my ears, “Was it him?” It appeared to me that he was talking to himself and not to me. I saw a look of disgust wash over his face when he looked down at the dead rogue.

“It couldn’t have,” he looked at me and I blushed and quickly lowered my eyes, “Was it you?”

I couldn’t bring myself to talk. He crouched down in front of me and caressed my chin with his soft, pale fingers. I looked up and saw that his face was only inches away from mine. My face flashed a bright red.

He appeared to have been searching for the scent he supposedly smelled. His face moved in closer and closer until his lips brushed against my forehead. I didn’t think he was aware of what he was doing. I faked a cough, and he looked deep into my eyes.

“Excuse me,” he said softly, moving closer. Was he going to kiss me? I closed my eyes and waited for his lips to touch mine, but all I felt was the rope on my wrists and ankles loosening,

Embarrassed, I quickly looked away and rubbed my sore wrists.

“I’m… I’m sorry. I thought…” My voice vanished.

“You thought what?” He asked and I looked back at him. Why was he still so close to me? He reached his hand out and held firmly to the back of my neck, moving his face closer to the blood in my hair.

“It is you… This smells so good.” I could almost feel the warmth of his body. We were silent with him enjoying the scent of my blood and me awkwardly allowing him to do so. My heart beat aflutter. He saved me. It was the least I could do to thank him.

Finally, when he had gotten his fill, I saw his eyes widened, as though he had just realised what he was doing. He blushed and stood up, taking off his coat when he saw I was cold.

“I’m sorry. I got carried away,” he started, handing me the coat. I took and wrapped it around my shoulders. As I attempted to stand up, the bruise on my thigh throbbed painfully, and I fell down. He caught me before I hit the floor. He lifted me up in his arms. My face was now against his chest and that had me excited.

“Thank you,” I muttered, my face still red. I couldn’t walk properly, yet I was glad that I was not hit in my stomach area. This man who saved me was very handsome and captivating. I didn’t care that he killed the rogue, but I wasn’t certain if I could fully trust him.

“Do you want me to call the police or take you home?” He asked. I sensed a tint of passion in his voice. How could he be so caring towards me when I was a complete stranger to him, I thought.

“I want to go home,” I answered. He nodded. I could tell that he was curious and wanted to ask me questions. I had questions for him, too, but right now I just wanted to keep feeling his chest against my face. Also, I didn’t want to be in the same room with a corpse for another minute.

He walked towards the entrance and stopped when he spotted the briefcase.

“Is this yours?” He asked and I shook my head.

“That’s the money my father paid to get rid of me.” I didn’t want a single cent of my father’s money. Frankly, I didn’t care whose hands the money would end up in.

My savior walked out the door and stopped only a few feet out. I saw him look up at the moon. His chest further pressed against my face when he inhaled deeply. I looked up at the moon, too. I had never cared for it as much as I did tonight.

There was a black, first-class SUV parked outside. He walked towards it and opened the passenger door to help me sit down inside. He reached over to buckle the seatbelt and as his face was in front of mine, I couldn’t stop looking at him.

Once he was in the driver’s seat, he turned on the car and reached his hand out to the navigation system.

“Where am I taking you?”

I gave him the address to the home I shared with Levi. He turned his head to look at me. There was a look of surprise on his face.

“Are you Merryl Evans?” He asked. I felt anxious, thinking that he was someone else who wanted to harm me.

“Yes?” I said, holding tightly to the coat. I was ready to open the door at any moment.

“Don’t worry. I won’t hurt you. The address you gave me belongs to my nephew, Levi,” he said reassuringly. I sighed a heavy sigh of relief and chuckled.

“Oh, you’re Xavier Evans. The leader of the Vega Moon Pack, right?” I asked hopefully, believing that Levi had sent him to save me, “Levi sent you to save me.”

I saw the surprise drop from his face to be replaced by curiosity.

“I wasn’t aware that anyone needed saving. I only came here because the scent of your blood drew me to you,” he said, reaching his hand out to touch the side of my face, “Levi did always say he would marry an exquisitely beautiful woman. I never got the chance to meet you because I was out of the country.”

I didn’t move as Xavier turned my head to look at the wound. He used his fingers to brush aside my long, curly auburn hair. It had a tint of a red shade along the edges. Levi told me many times that my hair reminded him of a burning sunset in the evening sky.

“Oh, I see,” I said lowly, then grabbed his hand to push it away, “Don’t worry about this. It’ll be healed in only a few minutes.” Even though my wolf form hadn’t awakened, I still had the healing abilities of any regular wolf. I looked down at his hand in mine. The softness of his skin felt strangely familiar, as though I was used to how his skin felt against mine.

I hesitantly released his hand, and he sat back properly then started the car. The car drove out of the parking lot, and we sat in silence, and I caught the scent of his cologne. I was not paying attention to it earlier, but I was now.

I tilted my head to smell more of the cologne. It was so intoxicating that my body froze up as my mind hit a hard reset. It was like a flashbang had blown up in front of me. A wave of water surfaced inside my head. I thought I heard what sounded like a voice within the wave. I brushed it aside until the voice spoke again.

“Foolish girl! You’ve been keeping me waiting for so many years!”

I frantically looked around the car. There was no one in the backseat and Xavier was not speaking either.

“To think that it would take you 27 whole years to find my mate! I’ve been starving!” The voice continued. It was a silky voice, like that of a middle-aged woman. I felt calm and reassured at the same time.

“Do you hear what I’m saying? The full moon is tomorrow! Mate with him!”

“What the hell are you talking about?” I thought back, very confused, “My mate? Xavier? I’m married! Levi is my mate!” I mentally shouted back at the voice. For a moment, I didn’t think she would respond, but she did.

“Are you in denial? That marriage means nothing to me! If you don’t fulfil your destiny, I’ll do it for you!”

Before I could react, a flash of white fur crossed my mind, and the inside of my mouth started salivating. I felt a tingle between my legs. I recognized this feeling. I had felt this way many times when I shared the bed with Levi. This time it was more intense.

“Are you crazy? Whatever you’re doing, stop it!”

“Don’t tell me you don’t feel excited at the prospect of mating with Xavier. I’ve been watching you this entire time. You’ve considered it. Now, all you have to do is get on him.”

My body moved on its own and my hands unbuckled the seat belt. Within a second, I jumped up on my seat and threw my body in front of Xavier. Surprised, he quickly hit the brakes as I sat on his lap. I rested my hands on his shoulders and my face leaned in closer to his. He was surprised by my behavior, but he wasn’t shocked. I wanted him to push me away, but he didn’t. Instead, he gently placed his hands on my hips.