I loved seeing her so happy, so carefree. It was moments like these that made me realize how much I cared about her, how much I wanted to be a part of her life.
But at the same time, it absolutely terrified me down to my bones. Yet here I was, bonding with Elle and experiencing a fierce protectiveness over her.
What if I messed it up? What if I let her down somehow? The thought made my stomach clench with anxiety.
"Rissa, what do you think of this one?" Elle snapped me out of my thoughts. She was wearing a deep purple dress with a beaded bodice, the skirt swishing around her ankles as she turned.
I swallowed past the lump in my throat, forcing a smile. "It's beautiful. You look stunning."
And she did, with her eyes shining and her face lit up with joy, she looked every bit the young woman she was becoming. My heart swelled with pride and affection, even as the fear lingered in the back of my mind.
I couldn't let that fear hold me back. Elle needed me, and I needed her too, in a way I hadn't fully realized until now. I would do everything in my power to be there for her, to support and love her like she deserved.
Even if it meant facing my own fears and insecurities head-on.
Elle disappeared into the dressing room with another handful of dresses, still giggling as Tavi tossed one more onto the pile for her to try. I smiled, shaking my head at their antics.
I stepped toward the mirrors, intending to check my reflection, when a flicker of movement caught my eye. A man lingered near the dressing rooms, too close for comfort. His gaze was fixed on the area where Elle had just gone, and a sinking feeling settled in my gut.
The moment he shifted his stance, angling his body toward Elle's stall, I moved. Fast. I was between them in a heartbeat, my eyes narrowed and my voice low. Dangerous.
"Can I help you?"
The man's eyes flicked to mine, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "Just looking."
His tone sent ice down my spine, a chill that had nothing to do with the air conditioning. Every protective instinct in me roared to life, and I fought back the urge to bare my teeth.
"You're in the wrong section," I snapped, hard as steel. "Move. Now."
I didn't raise my voice or make a scene, but the threat in my words was clear. This man was not welcome here, not anywhere near Elle.
I stared him down, every muscle in my body coiled and ready to strike if needed. I may have been small, but I was a wolf. A predator. And right now, my prey was standing right in front of me.
The rational part of my brain knew I couldn't actually shift in the middle of a crowded store,but my inner wild part didn't care. All that mattered was keeping Elle safe, no matter what it took.
The man's smirk faltered, but before he could respond, Caleb was suddenly there.
"Everything okay here?" His tone was pleasant, but there was an unmistakable edge beneath it. A warning.
The man hesitated, then shrugged, trying to play it off. "Didn't mean any harm."
But Caleb didn't ask again. In one swift motion, he grabbed the man by the collar and hauled him toward the front of the store, not giving him a choice. The man stumbled, caught off guard by Caleb's strength.
I followed closely and watched as Caleb shoved the man through the store's entrance. He threw him out into the mall with zero effort, sending him sprawling onto the carpet.
"Don't come back," Caleb said.
The man scrambled to his feet, shooting us a venomous glare before slinking away and disappearing into thecrowd of shoppers.
I let out a breath, my shoulders sagging with relief. It was over. Elle was safe.
Speaking of. I turned back to the dressing rooms just as Elle peeked out, her eyes wide with shock and awe.
"Holy crap," she breathed. "That was awesome."
I shook my head, a wry smile tugging at my lips despite the situation. Leave it to Elle to find the excitement in a potentially dangerous moment.
"Come on," I said, ushering her back into the dressing room. "Let's find you that perfect dress."
