Chapter 6: Are You Okay?

JASPER

“As much as I want to," I replied, "a treaty has been signed.”

My wolf snarled in response. “I’m just glad you’re bringing her along.”

“Me too, Lupus. Me too.”

Speaking of Dora, I noticed that she had changed into jeans and a black sweater and was looking slightly better than last time. Still, she looked like a walking pile of pitiful bones as she retrieved a small bag from a corner underneath her bed. I watched her open it, and when she poured the contents into her hand, I was surprised to see it was a pendant with a large ruby stone attached to it.

Why would Dora have something so expensive? I wondered as I watched her clutch it tightly before holding it to her chest like it was a long, lost cherished item. Seeing as this was a private moment for her, I quietly left the cell and went to stand with Angel.

Shortly after, Dora came out of her cell, hugging a tiny bag to herself.

“That's all you got?” I asked, concerned, and she looked away before shrugging in response.

“Shall we?” Angel asked, and I blinked back to reality.

“Yes, of course.” I smiled and made sure the women went first. Then we came out of the basement, and I had one of my men help Dora carry her things. Dora suddenly stiffened, and when I looked at her, I found her face plastered in fear. Following her gaze, I discovered her father and brother were glaring at her.

Can’t they just let her catch a break?

Angered, I stepped forward and blocked her view from them while throwing them my own worst glare. “It’s okay.” I whispered to her. “They’re mad cause they can’t hurt you anymore.”

Dora bowed politely before moving forward, and I kept her shielded until we left the house. When we got to my car, which was a limousine, one of my men opened the door for her, but she stopped again and turned around.

In the distance, I saw her family standing in the distance, watching her. Assuming that they were using the mindlink to bully her, I stepped in front of Dora, blocking her view. She raised her eyes to meet mine. “Are you okay?” I asked. “Are they bothering you?”

She hesitated, but then she shook her head before turning to the car.

When I offered her my hand so she could get in the car, Dora stared at it for a moment before slowly putting her bony hand in mine. The moment we touched, faint sparks thrummed through my fingers, travelling up my hand, but then it faded into nothing. Stunned, I looked at Dora to see if she felt it, too, but she simply sat in the car and withdrew her hand from me.

There was no hint of recognition on her end, and that puzzled me.

Why wasn’t she feeling what I was feeling? Was it all in my head?

I closed the car door gently and went around the other end to get in while Angel sat opposite us and was working on her tablet. Soon, the car began to move, and I watched Dora look out the window till we were out of the pack area.

I pulled out my phone to answer a few emails, and by the time I looked at her again, Dora had fallen asleep with her face pressed to the window. She looked extremely exhausted, and despite the trauma that she had just been through, she was still heart stopping beautiful, and I was just glad that she could finally have a break.

I moved to adjust her head so she wouldn’t strain her neck but she wiggled under my touch and the next thing I knew, she was sniffing the air in her sleep until her nose led her to me and she slowly laid her head on my shoulder.

I immediately froze, not wanting to wake Dora but also not knowing what to do at the same time. Angel looked at us and smiled before going back to her business. Before I could ask what was funny, Dora wiggled closer and made a cute noise in her sleep, a sound that sent blood rushing to my cock.

“Isn’t this nice?” My wolf purred. “Pull her closer.”

“No.”

“Why not?’

“Because we are not sure if she’s ours yet.”

“Does that matter?”

I felt my heart squeeze with pain. “It does, Lupus. I don’t want to get my hopes up.”

“I understand.” Lupus replied and stayed silent.

I stayed as still as possible, watching her frail body move as she breathed in and out. I couldn’t help but wonder, was Dora really my mate? Was there another reason why she was mistreated by her family? Considering what she said about her mother, I didn’t think she did anything worthy of death or this much hatred, so why?

Why did her father say he spared her out of mercy? Why was he later so eager to let her go knowing he might never see her again?

Something's not right but I will get to the bottom of it.