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 quaking a little.
I hated this. She was terrified. No wolf wants their 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 know how to make it 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 was setting up, Vince nodding, pulling out his phone. He'd heard her and was already looking into her past. "That's beautiful… Nefretiri? I swear I'm not going to hurt you. All I want to do is get you some food. Will you let me do that?"
"I have to go," she finally looked up, her eyes dilated like a deer or rabbit who knew they were cornered by the predator. "Please. Let us go… You can have the money I have… I… I have to get home."
"Shh," This was breaking me. She isn't afraid of me like I thought. She's scared of whatever was waiting for her at home. "It'll be okay."
'You're trying too hard,' I heard Vince's voice in my head. 'She's used to being told what to do. Try taking charge. She's more used to that than being given freedom.'
I didn't ask how he knew that. Vince's job was to know those things. 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 have 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 thought I'd 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 different way. 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 couldn't breech. 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, and she was embarrassed by the fact.
"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…"
Part of me was scared to leave her. 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 thought 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, she was really hurt, but I think there's a better chance of her stabbing me than cowering. I could 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 couldn't help but marvel at the goddess I'd been blessed with. 'Moon goddess. Thank you.'
Werewolves all think 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.
I didn't know it would feel like this, even though I've heard it my entire life.
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 is more complicated than anyone could hope. It's obvious she has something going on, but so do I, which was one of the reasons I wasn't keen on interrogating her yet. How could I ask her to trust me when I wasn't?
"Here," I set the cut in front of her, sitting across from her. I'd sat us in the corner so I could see everything going on, a habit I couldn't get rid of. "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 I knew better after seeing the flash of anger she thought I hadn't seen. 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 was scared of her at first.
No one tells you what to do if your mate is with someone else or has children. I don't know anyone this has happened to. 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 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 fingers. My pack are fawning over her like 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 link, sending them the warning, hoping they haven'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 speaks, 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 went 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 challenge, leaning across the table so I'm in her face. "Don't make threats you don't plan on going 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 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 be 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 be in a situation where she's in danger. 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 says. She's not hiding anymore, and I'm finally meeting my mate. There's no pretending she isn't broken. I recognize my own, and I'm probably 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. That 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."