Big Bad Wolfie

"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.

Which is. . . Weird, now that I think about

Why did he —

quick enough, and I almost didn't even succeed in catching Maria mid fall. I didn't see

What

She fainted?!

she went. Pay attention to our mate Jason!' Ki

'You were distracting

noticed, or else you would have just

to the more

part I don't mind,

Now.

happened next happened very quickly. A woman I half recognize from the momentary introductions, came running out her door and down her porch

"Maria!" She shouted, eyes wide,

I

Malaki cleared

I don't. I've never been scared in

and

She's freezing.

REALLY, freezing.

She's

But now

nearly let a growl rip out of him at the thought

at me,

"Go get the doctor," she

but we both let it slide because

is he?"

"She," she corrected. "And where

Breathe.

Don't

nudge my head in the direction

toward the master house. I don't have time to think about what happens to the lady behind me, but I hear her yell something

Brandon with you!" She yelled to Zach, "you're gonna need

don't know what Zach responded, or if he even did. All I can seem to think about is getting

able to multitask, but all my attention is on her. I can't seem to tear my eyes away from her lid covered ones that

I finally made it to the room I've been staying in and set her on my bed. I don't know why I brought

I started pacing the floor, but before I knew it, Zach's voice filled the mind link, "where are

"My room," I

"On

'Hurry,' Ki

"Yes alpha."

I shook my head, what did I do to deserve such a good beta

lucky," I heard through

"You weren't supposed to hear that

chuckle, then it gradually faded away. He left the

later, he came running into the room, Maria's friends,

is a middle aged looking woman with light brown hair tied up in

after which, cells and other bodily functions are supposed to start depleting. Well, not for us, so this 'middle aged' woman is probably well within her 500th or so

Yeah. Old.

"What did you do to my girl?" The doctor glared at me, rushing to Maria's side and checking her vitals and temperature and everything. She somehow didn't look stressed or panicked. She just had a scowl

expertise only someone with centuries of experience

I were still fidgeting over the

We scowled at her,

people off by coming here and messing with her," she

Malaki

"Well what's wrong with her?"

mention exhausted. Skipped last month's feeding, and only the moon knows when the last time that child got some

told all that by feeling her temperature

thinks she's slick skipping feedings when

"And Doc, we're convinced she didn't even have a full portion the

is wrong with this girl? Why can't she get self care

The other friend, Brandon, I 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. . .

Malaki stirred.

our last round we found someone had been tampering with the quality of

pause. A

past few

. . . Um.

Maria's friends on the other hand, are making no

I opened my mouth, but Brandon

an angel on earth, and it's not what she would want, because if that wasn't the case, I would rip you

of us like

matching marks on his and Rose's necks, along with their scents — they

Just a

when he was done, it would be my turn,"

threw over her shoulder while trying to make Maria comfortable on the

Jeez, these

It definitely wasn't

go grab my blah blah blah

took off, followed

get impatient, "Well then, what

the air. She rose an