Edgar
I feltthe floor rumble with footsteps before the man appeared. I'd already spun around to face the new arrival before Mel realized we weren't alone anymore.
A middle-aged beta with a furrowed brow glowered at Mel. My senses instantly flared. How dare anybody glare at my sweet Mel like that? I didn't care what the reason was, Mel didn't deserve it.
Mel squeaked as the land-lord's voice filled the air. He spun around with a meek expression on his face. Why did he act sheepish?
“A-ah, it's nobody,” Mel said, holding up his hands. “I was talking to myself.”
I frowned. The man couldn't see me, but he heard me—and now he was blaming Mel for something.
The beta huffed. “What, are you crazy or somethin'? Keep quiet in the hall. I can hear you all the way inside my apartment.”
My blood boiled. Nobody spoke to Mel that way.
“Y-yes, of course, sorry. I'll be sure to stay quiet,” Mel promised, bowing his head.
Why was he acting this way? Was he afraid of this man?
My urge to protect Mel overrode everything else. Not caring if the man could see me or not, I pushed myself forward until I towered over him.
“How dare you!” I boomed.
The man cried out and stumbled back, falling on his ass. “What the hell?” he blurted out.
“Don't you ever talk to Mel like that ever again,” I ordered, anger laced within my voice.
The man's gaze darted around, fast and terrified. “Who's saying that? Where are you? Oh god, I'm going nuts!”
My alpha instincts screamed at me to protect Mel. I loomed over the blubbering man.
“You're perfectly lucid,” I growled. “I'm right here. I'll always be beside Mel, defending him fromyou—and anyone else who threatens him. Understand?”
“Edgar,” Mel murmured behind me.
“The hell?” the land-lord uttered in confusion. “Fuck, I gotta get out of here... Just—pay your rent on time, Mel!”
The man stumbled to his feet and ran back into his unit on the first floor, slamming the door shut.
When he was gone, I huffed. My blood still raced but I was glad to be alone with Mel again.
“Are you all right?” I asked him.
He stared up at me with wide-eyes. “Yeah, I'm fine. I didn't expect... that.”
“Didn't expect what?”
Mel lowered his gaze and spoke softly. “For you to protect me.”
I scoffed. “What sort of alpha would I be if I didn't protect you?”
To me, this made perfect sense. I cared for Mel, so of course I'd save him from bullies and anyone else who tried to harm him, physically or emotionally. But Mel blushed harder and avoided my gaze, as if suddenly shy. He rubbed his arm and fidgeted with the frayed edge of his jacket. It reminded me that he must still be cold, no thanks to that flimsy thing.
“Come,” I suggested gently. “Let's get back to your apartment and warm up.”
This seemed to bring him out of his daze. He blinked and nodded. “Right. This way.”
Mel led me up the narrow stairs to a small landing with a few doors.
