Ivan
"Do you like pizza?" I set my mate in the chair facing the window, ignoring the people staring at us. "Or a burger?"
She didn't answer, her lips quivering a little.
I hated this. She was terrified. No wolf wants its mate to feel that way, especially about them.
This would've been awkward even if there wasn't something darker going on, but I don't have the words to make things easier.
'How do I make her more comfortable?'
"My name's Ivan." As embarrassing as this is, I haven't introduced myself yet. That might help some, since I'd be someone with a name instead of a stranger stalking her. Fuck, I'm not good at this. "What's your name?"
"Nefretiri…" She doesn't look at me, staring at her hands as she digs her fingernails into her palms. "Jordans… Sorry, North. Nefretiri North."
"Nefretiri…" Repeating her name, I try not to mess it up. I'd half expected her to refuse to tell me, but she trusted me enough with that. I glanced at the nearby table where the pack's setting up, Vince nodding, pulling out his phone. He'd listened and was already looking into her past. "That's beautiful… Nefretiri? I swear I won't hurt you. All I want to do is get you some food. Will you let me do that?"
"I need to go," she looked up, her eyes dilated like a cornered deer or rabbit, watching the predator. "Please. Let us go… You can have my money… I… I need to get home."
"Shh," she's breaking me. I expected her to fear me, but I'm wrong. She dreads whatever's waiting for her at home. "It'll be okay."
'You're trying too hard,' Vince's voice entered my head. 'She's used to being told what to do. Try taking charge. She's more used to that than to being given freedom.'
I didn't ask how he figured that out. Vince's job involved things like this. So, I sighed, pulling on my role as an Alpha before crouching beside her.
It churns my stomach, but he's right. My mate's fragile, so I need to take control and guide her out of it.
"I'll get you a burger and we'll share a pizza. Is there anything you don't like?" This was second nature to me, but I never expected to be doing it to my mate, not like this. I wanted to flirt with her, get to know what she liked, and learn about her life in a way that's fun and memorable. Not interrogating her as if she were a victim. "I like my burgers with everything; do you?"
"No," her voice was flat, her emotions hidden behind a wall I can't breach. How did I do this? "I… don't like raw onions."
That was a start.
"Okay, so no onions. What about pizza? They have a supreme that looks good. How does that sound?"
"I don't… like vegetables on my pizza." Her cheeks turned red, embarrassed by the revelation.
"Nothing wrong with that," and there wasn't. She could've told me she just wanted dough, and I'd make it happen, as long as she ate. "I'll get us some drinks, too. What would you like?"
"Cream soda" still had that flat tone, but at least she was talking. "No ice."
"Good, I'll get all that for you. Just wait here."
My wolf doesn't want to leave her, scared of the consequences. Would she try to run? We had the baby at the other table, but would she think it was worth the risk?
That would complicate things. I'd get her back, but we'd have to leave so the humans didn't cause a scene.
I placed our order and took our cups to the drink fountain, glancing at our table. She hadn't moved, watching my sister with the baby. I don't think she knows I'm watching, because her mask slipped as she buried her face in her hands.
What I assumed was fear was a cover for something very different. Vince was wrong. She wasn't used to following orders.
My mate was used to defying them.
That changed things.
Was she acting fragile to trick me? No, her pain was real, but there's a better chance of her stabbing me than cowering. I can work with that.
All I needed to do was get past her defenses. Once we were on even ground, we could talk.
'Fuck, she's perfect.' I can't help but marvel at how blessed I am to have this goddess as mine. 'Moon goddess. Thank you.'
Werewolves all claim their mate is flawless, but mine really was.
It's clear she's malnourished, but that didn't stop her from having a body that would make any man with a single brain cell fall to his knees and cry. She's made of curves, breasts, hips, and an ass that was made for grabbing. Those jeans hug her just right, showing off the longest legs I've ever seen, and I can tell they're powerful.
When she's healthy, I bet she'll love running through the mountains with me.
All my life, everyone explained how the bond meant everything, but no one taught me it'd be like this.
Meeting your mate changes everything about you, and considering where I was less than a few hours ago, that's miraculous. She saved me and doesn't realize it. Fate brought us together, but it's more complicated than expected.
It's obvious she has something going on, but so do I, which was one reason I wasn't keen on interrogating her yet. How can I ask her to trust me when I wasn't?
"Here," I set the cup in front of her, sitting across from her. We sat in the corner so that I could see everything going on, a habit that refused to die. "So, I hope you don't mind sharing the fries…"
"I don't," we were back to short answers. I would've believed it five minutes ago, but after seeing the flash of anger she thought I hadn't seen, she won't fool me now. She wasn't a victim, but she was in danger.
"What's Princess's name?" Let's try something a little heavier. Would she give me the name of our pup?
I won't lie, I feared her at first.
No one tells you what to do if your mate is with someone else or has children. There's no one in my life I can ask. So, I'm having to wing it.
I've heard stories of werewolves forcing their mates to leave their families, abandon their children, and pretend they never had them. Even though I was unsure of how I felt, I knew I couldn't do that.
Nefretiri loved her daughter. It would destroy her if I forced her to abandon her. Not that I could.
I tried not to focus on the pup when I'd been comforting Nefretiri outside, but she wouldn't let me ignore her. The pup understood something that took me looking into her eyes and holding her tiny hands to realize. We were family, and she'd been waiting for me to come and claim them.
I fell in love with her, becoming her father even though we don't share blood. She was my daughter, and anyone who didn't like it could go fuck themselves. As it stands, she's got us all wrapped around her little finger.
My pack is fawning over her as if they've never seen a baby before, babbling like idiots and fighting over who gets to hold her next. Even my cousin is hooked and ranted about not liking babies. Now look at him, holding her like she's made of glass and grinning as my sister takes photos with her phone.
'No one says anything to anyone,' I mind-linked, sending them the warning, hoping they hadn't done it already. 'Especially not Mom and Dad, Taylor.'
I wasn't ready to deal with that.
'Mom will kill you if you don't tell her!'
'I know, but I don't need her driving down here and complicating things. Let me handle this first.'
"Her name is… Penelope," Nefretiri finally spoke, her voice so soft I barely heard her.
"Penelope," I repeat, something in my chest twisting at my daughter's name. "Penelope Treyson."
I like it. That's a good name for an Alpha's daughter.
"It's Jordans." Oh, I hit a nerve. The mask slipped a little, and she glared at me. Yet her voice was still as sweet as honey.
"Well… I'm sorry to tell you, but that will have to change." I pushed her, but I needed her to open up a little. "We'll change it when we get home. You'll get used to it."
"Get… used to it?" Her hands were on the edge of the table, gripping it until her knuckles turned white. Instead of screaming, her voice grew softer, but I could almost see her adding the poison to the sweetness. "I don't have to get used to anything. Let us go."
"No."
"All I have to do is scream."
"Then do it," I challenged, leaning across the table so I'm in her face. "Don't make threats you don't plan on following through with, baby girl."
It was a dangerous gamble, something I shouldn't be testing, but I have to trust in us.
The bond had the power to bring me back from the void. I have to believe it's powerful enough to make Nefretiri see that I'd never hurt her, and that I will protect her. She doesn't know our world, so she can't understand what's happening or how she's changed me.
That's okay. I don't need her to fall in love with me right away.
All I want her to do is stay safe.
"I'm married…" I wish she hadn't said that. It would've hurt less if she'd told me she hated me. "I have a family. I need to go home before my husband gets back."
"You think I care about him?" I wouldn't pretend, especially when he'd done what he'd done. In fact, I hope she leads me right to him. It might not buy me any favors with her, but he'll be dead by the night's end. No one hurts my mate and gets away with it.
"You have no idea what you're getting into."
Now she sounds afraid, but she's scared for me. Odd. I need to figure out what's going on before I decide how to handle this, but from her body language, it's something I need to worry about.
What did this man do to make her fear him so much? What is he doing to make her want to go running back to him, even though he's abusing her?
"Nefretiri..."
We're at the point of no return, but she's right about one thing. In this game, she holds all but one card. She has the power to keep this a conversation or send me to jail. It won't stop me from caring for her, but I can't protect her from behind bars. The problem is we can't keep ignoring the truth.
The humans noticed it already, but they won't help her. Some might, but not like I can. Even if she doesn't want me, which is a crisis I'll deal with later, I won't let her stay in a dangerous situation.
So, I have to push past her fear and hope it pays off.
"I won't let you go back to him."
"You're not in any position to tell me what to do," she said, and the temperature in the room dropped. She's not hiding anymore, and I'm finally meeting my mate. She's broken; no one can pretend she isn't. I recognize my own, and I'm just as damaged, but there's fire in those hazel eyes and a determination to fight.
Life's tried to destroy her, and she's kept getting up.
'That's my girl.'
"I won't let him hurt you again." My wolf wants us to shift. He wants to lick away the bruises and claim her, but I push him back. We can't handle this like animals. Not yet. "You can't ask me to let you go back to someone willing to put their hands on you."
I take a second to enjoy her shock. Her eyes are as wide as plates, and her full lips are parted, but she can't say anything. That doesn't mean I can celebrate.
This isn't a victory, only a pause. Whatever happens here at this table will affect the course of our future. She'll either be mine and come home with me, or I'll have to battle a war to keep her safe.
Either way, I'm not letting her go.
"Yes, I know."