Chapter Six: Saving You

Rune

“Open your eyes, coward!”

My head snapped to the sound of Layla’s voice. She was pissed off. I haven’t heard Layla that angry since he last fought with Willie in high school.

My blood turned to ice in my veins.

Mate! Mate is in danger, my wolf howled, must get to her.

Fuck.

The only person that ever managed to anger Layla that much was Willie.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I began to sprint down the sidewalk. I dodged other Pack members as I weaved toward Layla’s voice. My blood rushed in my ears and I felt my heartbeat quicken. Adrenaline surged through my veins as I ran.

“Not so tough now, are you bitch?”

“Shit,” I cursed under my breath. She’s really angry. I have to make it. I have to be faster. I turned the corner and stopped dead in my tracks. There was Layla, standing next to Owen’s truck, staring at me with wide eyes. She was mid-transformation and her hands were wrapped around Willie’s slender neck as she dangled in the air and clawed to Layla’s grip. Her claws were digging into Willie’s pale skin and her crimson blood dripped down her shredded blouse. A deep growl erupted from the back of my throat and anger flared inside as I saw Willie’s face start to turn purple as she gasped for air.

“What the FUCK are you doing? Let her go!”

Layla’s eyes were as wide as saucers. She took a step back and released her grip on Willie who fell to the ground like a rag doll. She reached up and grabbed her throat. I watched in horror as she began to cough and wheeze.

“Holy shit, Layla!” I growled. I was beyond furious. Looking at Willie as she struggled to breathe made me see red.

“Rune.. I-I..” Layla sputtered but I didn’t want to hear it. She took a step toward Willow, maybe trying to comfort her, and I snapped.

“You could’ve fucking killed her! Get the fuck away from her!” I shoved her away and didn’t bother to watch as she ran down the street and got back into her car.

I kneeled on the sidewalk beside the truck and pulled her into my chest. I wrapped my arms around Willie as she sobbed and gasped, struggling to breathe. I stroked her hair and took in her feminine scent as I held her close to me. I didn’t care that she was too out of it for her to recognize that it was me hugging her, I just wanted to stay in the moment. I fully realized that when she knew it was me who was comforting her, she would try to push away. I tried to savor the moment before it would inevitably fall apart.

I’m screwed.

This girl is my obsession. My downfall.

She looked up at me with her teary blue eyes and I gave her a small grin. She immediately flinched and those pretty eyes of hers widened like a doe.

“Holy shit, Willie. Are you alright?” I stared down at her. She could’ve died. Layla could’ve killed her. It would’ve been easy.

She said nothing and tried to wiggle away from me. I tightened my grip in response to her struggling and pulled her closer to my chest so she was flush to my body as I kneeled on the sidewalk beside her.

“Dammit, Willie. Stop struggling.” I growled and stared down at her with frustration. “Just settle down. You can’t get up yet.”

“Let me go. Rune, let go.” She continued to try and writhe away from me.

I frowned. Willie was always stubborn as an ass. She wasn’t going to listen to me unless I gave her a reason. “Willie. I said stop. You can’t get up yet, you could pass out.” I explained as she kept struggling. “Fuck,” I hissed. “Do you ever do what you’re told?”

Willie laid limp in my lap. I smiled in approval. “Good girl.”

I saw her face heat up at our closeness and watched as she averted her eyes. Aww. She was shy.

Cute.

“When can I get up? You know, since you’re apparently a doctor now?” She snapped sarcastically.

I couldn’t help but laugh. This was Willie alright. She has a wild tongue. Her tone alone is a punishable offense. I made a mental note to add this infraction to the list I already had going against her. Damn. I couldn’t wait until she was mine. The things I wanted to do with her body…

I hooked my finger under her slender chin and drew her gaze up toward mine so she has no choice but to stare into my eyes. I wasn’t laughing anymore. This was serious. Willow could’ve died. I almost lost her. If I didn’t make it in time...

No.

I made it. Willie is fine. She’s going to be okay. “Are you alright, Willie?” I asked her.

I watched as she bit her lip. Fuck. I hate it when she does that. Unbeknownst to my sexual frustration, she nodded. “I’ll live.” She paused as if she was in deep thought and I wondered what was going through her head. “...thanks.” She mumbled.

I couldn’t help but raise a brow. “Did the Willow Howard actually thank me?”

She rolled her eyes and punched my chest with her tiny fists and I laughed again. “You asshole. I was trying to thank you.”

“I know how you can thank me.” I winked and her face turned bright red. Adorable.

She scrunched up her nose. “In your dreams, Marmaduke.”

“Marmaduke? That’s a new one.” I mused.

She shrugged as if it didn’t matter but her plump lips were twisted in a wide grin and her blue eyes sparkled in amusement. “Yeah. I’m trying to find new and creative ways to insult you.”

Yeah... she definitely needs some correction, I thought to myself with a smile. The horizontal kind. The kind where she’s writhing beneath me.

“I see. Well, Marmaduke is a weak one. You and I both know you can do better than that.”

She bit her lip again. Fuck. This woman. “Yeah. I suppose you’re right. Maybe I should call you Ol’ Yeller instead.” She stuck her tongue out at me. I stared at her. She was snappy and feisty and everything I’ve ever wanted. She’s going to make the perfect Luna. The traits we pass on to our children.. they will rule the world. Apparently, I was staring at her for too long without saying a word because she struggled in my grasp again with a nervous laugh. “Ahah.. yeah. So, I’m fine. I guess I’ll see you around?”

She just expects me to leave her? After she was almost strangled to death. I don’t think so. “No.”

“No?”

“No.”

“What do you mean ‘no’?”

I sighed. “I’m taking you to the hospital. You need to be seen. Those wounds on your neck are nasty. I don’t want them to get infected.”

She shook her head and once again tried to escape. I held her tighter and she glared up at me. “I’m fine, Rune. I can just take care of them back at Papa’s House. Or Owen can help.” I watched as her face once again turned bright red. “A-actually he’s gonna be back any minute now so..”

“I’m taking you to the hospital. No arguments. I say you need to be seen so you’re damn well going to be seen! Now stop being so stubborn!” I snapped at her. She was infuriating. She never listens. She never just obeys.

That wasn’t in her nature. And I loved it.

“I don’t have to listen to you—ahh!” She exclaimed as I hooked my arms around her back and knees and lifted her into the air. “Let me down! I mean it Rune. I’m not going to the hospital.” She stared up at me with absolute fury in her eyes.

I smirked down at her. “Oh sweetheart, you don’t have a choice.”