Chapter 10

TEN

T he night air was crisp, carrying with it the promise of ending the evening on a sweet note. Alex had surprised Lena with a visit to her favorite dessert spot in town, a quaint little place that boasted the best chocolate lava cake she'd ever tasted.

The warmth of the night, coupled with the thrill of sharing something so simple yet intimate, left Lena feeling a mix of contentment and anticipation as they walked toward his place for a quiet end to their date.

"That was so delicious," she groaned. "I think I ate too much."

"Nonsense," he said, hugging her to his side. "There's always room for dessert."

They stopped and shared a sweet kiss that quickly turned into something hot and filled with promise.

"Let's get home," he growled and her blood thickened at the sound. "I can't wait to get you naked."

She couldn't wait for him to get her naked either. She wanted him naked too.

Their laughter mingled with the night's whispers, the streets bathed in the soft glow of the streetlights. But the serenity of the moment shattered when shadows detached themselves from the darkness, forms materializing with a predatory grace that spiked Lena's heart into her throat.

Fear blossomed in her chest so fast, it almost left her gasping for air.

"Stay behind me," Alex's voice was a low growl, his body tensing as he positioned himself between Lena and the emerging threat.

Three figures, young men with a wildness in their eyes that spoke of the wolf within, blocked their path.

"Do you know them?" she whispered.

"Hillside Pack. You're on my land," he stated, his voice an angry growl.

The guys looked like they were in a biker gang. Their leather jackets held a strange insignia she guessed belonged to their pack.

The attack came swiftly, a blur of motion as the Hillside wolves lunged. Alex met them with a ferocity that was both terrifying and awe-inspiring, his movements a dance of primal power. Lena's heart pounded, fear and adrenaline coursing through her veins as she witnessed the raw strength of the man she was coming to care for deeply.

Lena's senses spiked with alarm. There was something unnervingly deliberate in their approach, a sinister intent that set her heart racing. Alex's body became a shield, a barrier between her and the looming threat, his posture rigid with a primal readiness.

Two of the guys shifted into large brown wolves. Had she blinked, she would have missed it. She didn't see clothes anywhere, so she had no idea where they went. Then, Alex was a massive black wolf. He was much bigger than the other two, but it was too many against Alex.

The tranquility of the night shattered as the first assailant lunged, a swift brown shadow aiming for Alex. But Alex's wolf, with a fluidity that belied his size, met the attacker with a fierce counter, his bites and massive jaws connecting with a satisfying crunch on a paw. The sound of the snarling, biting, and impact – teeth against bone – echoed in the narrow street.

The other brown wolf attacked, his movements coordinated and ruthless, yet Alex met them with the ferocity of a storm. Lena watched, awed and terrified, as Alex's wolf fought two others. The man who had shared dessert with her, who had laughed at her jokes, was now a force of nature, his every move a testament to his strength and his resolve to protect.

But the odds were uneven, and she couldn't just stand by. When the only one who was still a human broke through, his gaze locking onto her with a malicious gleam, a surge of fear propelled her into action.

Grabbing an empty beer bottle off the ground, she smashed the end against the sidewalk and swung up with desperate strength, the makeshift weapon connecting with the attacker's arm. The guy staggered, surprise and pain flashing across his face before he regained his balance and turned his attention back to her, his eyes bright with renewed fury.

The world narrowed to the sound of her own heartbeat, she couldn't focus on Alex with this guy trying to get at her. As the attacker advanced, Lena braced herself, but one of the brown wolves had been faster than her. The pain came suddenly, sharp and searing, as claws raked across her side. A cry escaped her lips, a sound of pain and defiance, as she stumbled back.

There was no time to dwell on the wound, no moment to process the shock. Alex's roar of rage was a clear signal of the turn in the tide. With a burst of speed that seemed impossible, he was there, between her and the wolf and the human, his next move a blur of motion that sent the attackers reeling.

The fight escalated, a dance of violence under the crescent moon. Alex, outnumbered but undeterred, fought with a relentless determination. Then she heard the sound of approaching men. Even with others coming to their aid, Alex continued to fight. He snarled, bit, and attacked, each block was a declaration of his intent to protect, to preserve her life.

And then as quickly as it had begun, the confrontation ended. The Hillside wolves took off at the sound of the men. They were chased away.

"God," Lena mumbled, her voice trembling. Alex's ferocity had been something she didn't expect. Her own resistance and quick thinking to fight was a shock.

Alex shifted back into his body, his clothes still on. She wondered how he did that. She'd have to ask him about that later.

"Are you two okay?"

"Wes, thanks for coming," Alex said, his voice tight and hard. "How'd you know?"

"The guys and I were on our way to Chelly's Tavern to play some pool when we heard you." Wes glanced from Lena to Alex, a deep frown on his face. "We'll figure out how they got to this side when we increase the patrolling earlier tonight."

Alex, breathing heavily, his knuckles bloodied, turned to Lena with concern etched in every line of his face.

"We need to get you home," he said, his voice firm despite the evident strain. His gaze fell to her side, to the blood that stained her clothes, a stark reminder of the night's reality.

Lena, still reeling from the adrenaline, the fear, and the new pain, nodded. The reality of what had just transpired settled over her like a heavy cloak. They had faced danger together and emerged victorious, but at what cost? What was going on between Alex's pack and the Hillside pack? And why did they attack her?

"I'll check in with you later," Alex said to Wes.

As they walked away from the scene, Lena leaned on Alex, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotion. The night had revealed the depth of Alex's commitment, the lengths to which he would go to protect her. She had seen Alex in all his terrifying strength, had witnessed the lengths he would go to protect her, and instead of running, she found herself drawn closer to him.

"Alex," she began, her voice shaking not just from the cold but from the onslaught of emotions. "I?—"

He silenced her with a look, a tender but firm shake of his head. "Later. Let's take care of this first."

As they made their way to his place, Lena couldn't help but marvel at the complexity of her feelings. Fear, yes, but also admiration, and a fierce sense of protectiveness toward Alex and his world.

Tonight had changed everything, and as the adrenaline began to wane, replaced by the throbbing pain of her wound, Lena realized she didn't care that Alex was a shifter. She was already in over her head.