Big Bad Wolfie
Chapter 17) Sleeping Beauty
"Isaiah, please gently escort these girls, back to their homes," Wolfie finally conceded.
"We know the way," Manda, Tessy's thirteen year old sister, snapped.
We all looked to her.
I sighed, "Manda please. Go. Stay safe. Take care of your little sister. I'll handle all of this."
She looked at me, wariness in her eyes.
Manda's not the type to be wary or worry. She's tough and doesn't like people seeing her as anything but. Which is why even her small expression of uncertainty is saddening.
"I promise. Your parents will be back soon, and everything will be alright."
I didn't coo it to her. She's not the kind to buy that. Her little sister, who I'm still holding close to my side, eats it up, but her? No. I looked her in the eyes and promised her, and thankfully, I could tell it made her feel a little better.
She sighed, "c'mon Tess," she glared at the wolves while taking her sister's hand and going in the direction of their home with her nose up.
I smirked, you go girl.
Isaiah only followed behind them, glaring at their backs. The other guards that were chasing Manda, dispersed and wandered off. Off to find some other little girls to hunt down, I'd assume.
•••Jason's POV•••
I watched Isaiah trail behind the young girls.
I shook my head silently, but made sure Maria was still turned the other way while I did.
This isn't what I wanted.
I don't like hurting people. Especially not kids.
Especially not my mate.
I hate that there are little girls being chased around by. . . By "monsters".
And. . . And I hate how close Isaiah just got to Maria. He got too close to her, right? I'm not just being unreasonable, right? When he was in wolf form, he was growling way too threateningly, right? And then I put a stop to it — like the knight in shining armor that I am, well. . . That I am most of the time — right? But then in human form he got even closer. Way. Way too close. . . . . . . . . . .
Breathe.
Am I right?
But she can't know that.
She has to see me as the ruthless leader that I truly am willing to be, to keep all the power.
'You sound like you're trying to convince yourself,' Malaki budded in.
'Did anyone ask you?' I snapped back.
'Chill man, and don't worry, when you lose your will to keep control because of our breathtaking mate — like I know you will — I'll be there to snap you back into it.'
'You're alright with our mate hating us for all eternity?' I sent an image of me raising my brow to the back of mind, where he resides. 'And never actually mating with us?'
'Oh please, she'll give up and come crawling to us in due time.'
'. . . I don't know Ki. I've heard things —'
'Forget about all that. Besides I've got a plan.' A picture of his wolf grin flashed in front of my eyes. 'It's for the next time we get her alone in her room.'
'Wait, you're not gonna —'
'Don't be stupid, of course I'm not gonna mate with her.'
I let out a small sigh of relief.
'Not unless she says please.'
'Ki!'
'What?!'
'I can't even with you.'
. . . Oh goddess, please get that image out of my head. I'll lose my mind.
'No, keep it there as long as possible.'
'Malaki!'
'What?!'
'Stop being such a creep!'
'She's our mate, and don't pretend you don't like it just as much.'
'I know, but you don't have to say it out loud. I half mumbled in my head, checking around us for any eavesdroppers.'
'I didn't! I'm in your head! And stop looking around, no one can here us.'
'Y'know what, just shut up and go to sleep.'
And he actually listened to me.
For once.
Weird,
Why did he
and I almost didn't even succeed in catching Maria mid
What
She fainted?!
she went. Pay attention
'You were
I noticed, or else you would have just stayed standing there like
turned to the more pressing
don't mind, but
Now.
quickly. A woman I half recognize from the momentary introductions, came running out her door and down her porch steps, over
"Maria!" She shouted, eyes wide,
I
Malaki cleared his
I mean, no I don't. I've never been scared
and cheeks, and I did the
She's freezing.
REALLY, freezing.
She's
But now she's
growl rip out of him
The woman looked up at me, her eyes now
"Go get the doctor,"
that, but we both let it
"Where is
"And where
Breathe.
Don't
I turn to Zach and nudge my head
master house. I don't have time to think about what happens to the lady behind me,
"Bring Rose and Brandon with you!" She yelled to Zach, "you're gonna need
even did. All
seem to tear my eyes away from her lid covered
in and set her on my bed.
floor, but before I knew it, Zach's voice filled
"My room," I
"On
'Hurry,' Ki growled
"Yes alpha."
do to deserve such a good beta and
don't know, you got lucky," I heard through the link. I could practically
"You weren't supposed to hear that
then it gradually faded away.
five seconds later, he came running into the room, Maria's friends, and who I assume to be the house
tied up in a messy bun and wise black eyes, betraying her not
25, after which, cells and other bodily functions are supposed to start depleting. Well, not for us,
Yeah. Old.
Maria's side and checking her vitals and temperature and everything. She somehow didn't look stressed or panicked. She just had a scowl on her face. Most likely directed
worked on Maria with the expertise only someone with centuries of experience
Malaki and I were still fidgeting
at her, "what do you mean
She set her glare on me. "She's everyone's girl. You've pissed a lot of people off by coming here and messing with her," she shook her
Malaki growled in
wrong with her?" I
looked at me, "She's starving. Not to mention exhausted. Skipped last month's feeding, and only the moon knows when the last time
"You told all that by feeling her
"No, she just thinks she's slick skipping feedings when she's not," the doctor
even have a full portion the month before either," one of her friends, Rose, spoke
"Jeez, what is wrong with this
think his name was, rolled his eyes, "It's because we've been running short on blood for the past few months and she refuses to let anyone else skip a feeding. She tries to pull the whole "I
Oh no. . . That's
Malaki stirred.
Rose abruptly turned to me and stared me down. "And on our last round we found someone had been tampering with the quality of the blood
pause. A sliver
past few months," she finished, her eyes narrowing at
. .
a deep breath, presumably trying to restrain herself. Maria's friends on the other hand, are making no effort to
I opened my mouth,
not what she would want, because if that
Malaki growled back. Neither of us like
along with their scents —
Just a little
"Yeah," Rose voiced, "And then, when he was done, it would be my turn," she glares right through my entire freaking
"Then mine," the doctor threw over her shoulder while trying
Jeez, these vampires
subconscious, more logical part of my mind thought. It definitely wasn't Malaki. It was me, the part of my thoughts
my blah blah blah medical
He took off, followed by
started to get impatient, "Well then,
Everyone glared at me, but the doctor took a whiff of the air. She
she was talking about, but once
to Maria, then to me. A small conflict