Chapter Four

Chapter Four. 

Nala. 

I wasn't sure what to expect when I woke up, but it sure as hell wasn't to find myself flying across the ocean in Salvatore’s private jet. The interior was well known to me, with its slick surfaces and plush leather seating. The soft carpet always gave way beneath my bare feet, and i had more than one good memory of flying the skies with Salvatore at my side. He had introduced me to so much in so little a time, and It had only taken a few choicesand deadly words to end the

fairytale. Well, it was gone but he seemed intent on dragging me back into his

world.

I carefully glanced around the room, closing my eyes when dizziness overtook me again. I didn’t need to see him in order to know Salvatore was nearby. His scent permeated everything around me, and it was clear he had been at my side very recently. Gathering what little strength i had, I forced my lids to part once again and i blinked against the brightness that invaded my eyes.

The low murmur of voices reached me and i grimaced, recognizing not just Salvatore’s, but Stavros, Leo, and Dr. Martin one of the pack doctors as well. It

was not long before the voices rose while snarls and growls were interjected between words. That was the way Salvatore communicated. He had no idea how to simply speak with someone. His wolf always got the better of him. I was glad to know he wasn’t just saving his bad temper for me.

“… must remain calm.” The doctor’s words were probably meant to be soothing, but fell short of the mark.

“You dare lecture me on calm? I am calm!”

Yeah, he was totally calm.

“You must think of the child, Alpha.” Again the tone was comforting.

I didn’t need to see the change in Salvatore’s appearance. I felt it in the air. It

vibrated through the entire plane, sliding into my flesh and sinking into my bones. His wolf was out in full force, and had been looking for a target. He couldn’t come afte me, so it seemed the doctor would receive the brunt of his anger.

A single gasp told me i was right. The doctor knew better than to push his Alpha when the man was so on edge. Or rather, he did not.

A soft whimper slid past the doorway and i realized that not just Dr. Martin was being forced to submit, but it seemed the other two males as well. And because of me. Swallowing my fear, I swung my feet over the edge of the bed and pushed myself up until i sat on the edge. Another look at my surroundings revealed i was in the bedroom I had once shared with Salvatore we had made love more than once on this small surface. Was it intentional that he laid me to rest there? Or was a simple coincidence?

No, he had done it on purpose. The man didn’t do anything without careful planning.

I pushed to my feet and shuffled toward the door, grasping the knob with one hand while clutching the frame with the other as i swung the panel wide. And i found exactly what i anticipated. Dr. Martin, Stavros, and Leo, as well as the flight attendant whose name I could not remember kneeling on the plush floor of the plane. Each one had their head tilted to the side, baring their neck for their Alpha. I leaned against the frame, hard won strength already leeching away due to those small movements.

“Salvatore ,” i whispered his name with a small breath.

It took that barely there sound to get his attention, and he swung his yellow eyed

gaze to me. The orbs bore into me, as if sinking into my soul. He weighed me and I couldn’t figure out if he found me worthy or lacking. His expression did not change, his bearing remaining rigid and firm. Did i see a small flicker in his expression? A hint at the compassion and caring we once shared?

No. Never from him. It had never been there to begin with, had it?

“Save your anger for me. Don’t take our problems out on them.”

He narrowed his eyes, glaring at me, weighing me once again. “You would

defend my own wolves to me? Do they seem like children to you to need a woman to hide behind?”

I swallowed the first words that sprung to my lips, and instead said, “No, I merely point out that they are not the reason for your bad humor. They have done nothing but support you and stand beside you. I’m simply trying to make you see their worth as more than verbal punching bags.”

He tightened his lips slightly, and yet another emotion slid through his eyes

for the barest moment before his face was shuttered once again. “So, I should use you instead?”

I could no longer hold his gaze and instead tore my eyes from him to stare out one of the windows. There was nothing but a sea of blue with soft splashes of white clouds that occasionally sped by.

“Yes,” i snapped.

“I would dare not turn this rage onto a female.” His words were harsh but filled

with truth.

No, you would simply give the task to the Alpha bitch.

“That doesn’t change the fact they don’t deserve this treatment.” i still wouldn’t look at him.

“Stavros and Leo allowed you to escape, doesn’t that deserve a certain amount

of punishment?”

I cut him a glance. “I’m sure you have done enough at this point, but it wasn’t

Stavros and Leo who allowed me to get away from you. That person is beyond

even your reach.”

And I would never reveal the name of the kind old man whoo had met me in the dead of night and driven me to the docks. He was human and sympathetic since he

knew of a wolf’s violent nature.

“You are so sure he is beyond me?”

Of course I was. I wouldn’t have involved anyone who would suffer for involving themselves in my life. It was why i hadn’t depended on anyone. Not truly.

“Yes.”

His attention snapped to the three kneeling men and single female. “You are dismissed.”

All four slowly rose to their feet, the flight attendant the first to scamper away and retreat to the front of the plane. Stavros and Leo carefully made their way back to the seating area they typically claimed. It was only the doctor who seemed brave enough to remain in place.

“Alpha?” The male’s voice wasn’t hesitant in the least.

“What?” A snarl was on his lips.

“The bearing one?”

The bearing one. Couldn’t the physician even say her name? She was basically being referred to as the incubator. Nice.

Salvatore returned his attention to her. “Have you been seen by a physician?”

“Of course.” As if I would endanger my own child.

“One that specializes in werewolves?”

I snapped my jaw shut, refusing to answer the question.

“I thought not.” Salvatore gestured toward Dr. Martin. “He will attend you since your examinations have been lacking.”

I had no response to that autocratic statement and instead met the doctor’s gaze. “I’m ready whenever you are.”

Despite the circumstances, i was looking forward to being examined by a werewolf physician. I knew mixed pregnancies were different than traditional humans, but i hadn’t had a werewolf doctor at my disposal. If I had approached a pack, they would have demanded the name of the sire, and that was something i refused to reveal.