Hunter stood there, a tingling sensation coursing through his veins as the vibrant red energy pulsed through his arms. It felt as if a warm, electrical current was surging from his fingertips to his shoulders, each wave leaving an invigorating trail in its wake. Whatever this energy was, it also made him stronger. He had a feeling he would be in for a surprise the next time he shifted.
You’ll have to see what we look like now!Blaze howled in his head.
Oh, so you’re talking to me again? Did you know?Hunter asked his wolf.
Hmph, of course. I’m not just an ordinary alpha wolf. We were born to lead. We are the present and future leader, and our pups will continue to rule long after we’re gone.
What pups?Hunter thought bitterly.
We have a mate out there. Whether she be chosen or fated, she is out there.
Hunter looked up at the podium. On the bright side, he no longer had to worry about convincing the packs. Now he had to do the best he could to lead them wisely. He didn’t want to have a very hands-on approach. Each pack had an alpha for a reason. He would be there to step in and resolve disputes, to make sure packs were being fair, and to unite them for war. Hunter walked back up to the podium and turned, looking over the represented packs. This time, as his gaze swept over them, he was looking at them as their king.
She leaned over the railing and looked down at the fountain below her. The water shot upward and returned to the pool in cascading ripples. It was beautiful. She could feel the cool breeze on her face when the water hit its highest peak.
She turned her head and looked behind her.Oh no.She’d only been distracted for a moment, but she lost sight of Susan and Renee in the crowd. Her eyes frantically darted around, but it was no use. There were so many people, they probably hadn’t even realized they’d lost her yet.
Jin walked over to a bench and sat down, leaning her head back and looking up at the glass ceiling. She could hear the endless chattering of people and the constant shuffling of feet. She wasn’t used to being around crowds like this, but she was certain that, if she just waited here, they would come back and find her.
“Hey there.”
Jin straightened up and looked at the owner of the voice in front of her. There were two young men standing there, and the one who had said hello was smiling at her. He had sandy, wavy hair and blue eyes.
“Umm … hi,” Jin replied quietly. She tucked her bottom lip into her mouth and gnawed on it nervously.
“Are you here alone? We were about to go and grab something to eat. Want to join us?” the same boy asked in a coaxing tone.
“I actually got separated. I’m going to wait here for them. Thank you, though,” Jin replied sweetly, hoping they would leave her alone.
“How about we wait with you? We can’t leave a cute kitten like you here by herself.” His voice was kind and he didn’t seem threatening, but Jin didn’t feel comfortable. She didn’t know how to tell them no without being insulting. She squeezed her hands together and looked up at him quietly.
“Jin?”
She turned her head and beamed widely. She immediately jumped up and hopped into the safe, familiar side. A large arm wrapped around her and she relaxed. She was safe.
Chasen looked up at the two men, who only nodded at him with a smile before walking away. He looked down at Jin, who was still tucked close. Her head was slightly buried into him, but she looked all right.
“Are you okay? What did they want?” Chasen asked quietly.
Jin peeked up at him, her gaze meeting with his chocolate eyes. “I’m okay. I got separated from Renee and Susan, and they wanted to keep me company so I wasn’t alone. Thank you.” She smiled at Chasen. “I’m not used to crowds. Thank you for being here.” She let out a relieved breath.
“It’s easy to get separated.” Chasen kept his arm wrapped around her as he began to lead her away. “Stay close to me,” he said, though it didn’t seem like he needed to mention the last part, because she was velcroed to his side. He kept his hand wrapped around her small form as he continued to navigate through the mass of people, taking her to a less crowded area and toward a particular store. A smile rose on his face when he saw her eyes light up in excitement.
Jin’s eyes darted around the room. There was so much chocolate. Chocolate-flavored chips, chocolate-coated gummy bears, chocolate-dipped fruit, and so much more. Her eyes lit up as she smiled up at him, and he chuckled down at her.
“Go pick out whatever you want,” Chasen said gently. He watched her bounce around the room in excitement as he slowly trailed behind her. When he saw her sitting on the bench all alone, he stood quietly nearby, slowly studying her. He was about to approach when he saw two other men walk up to her. When he saw her squeeze her hands together nervously, something inside of him ignited. He wanted them away from her, and for a moment, a millisecond only, the only thought that rushed through him was that he wanted these men away from what was his. He quickly shook that thought off, though. That wasn’t what he was doing. He was just making sure shewas okay. That was it. At least that was what he kept trying to convince himself. The flicker in his eyes betrayed him as he watched the excited girl in front of him, though. His heart was betraying him, as he felt it making room for her, room he didn’t want to make … room that he was afraid of creating.
“Chasen, Chasen, Chasen!” Jin chirped happily at the front counter.
He chuckled and walked up to her. “What is it?”
“Lookie! It’s chocolate-covered coffee beans. Like the stuff Hunter was drinking, right?” Jin looked at him in excitement.
“I don’t think you’re someone who needs caffeine.” Chasen observed her with amusement, taking in her cute and energetic demeanor. Her enthusiasm was almost contagious, like a burst of sunshine on a cloudy day, and it brought a wide grin to his face as he looked down at her. His walls were slowly breaking down, and he felt himself becoming more and more like himself around her, no longer the cautious guardian but Chasen the person.
The employee across the counter handed her a couple to try. She plopped one in her mouth, then reached up on her tiptoes and pushed one in Chasen’s mouth. She crunched hers slowly. The chocolate was delicious, but what was under the chocolate was bitter. Her face distorted as she hurried and swallowed the evil bean down, shaking her head in disgust, and Chasen laughed at her … a loud, hearty laugh.
“It tastes as bad as it smells.” She frowned and looked up at Chasen, who was still laughing at her.
