Chapter 6 - Fisher

The moment I notice the tears glistening in her eyes, something inside me twists with guilt and regret. Dammit. How did I let things get this far? I”ve always prided myself on being a man in control, but right now, I feel like I”m on the edge of losing it. The traders will come after her, and I don”t have the money. I need to protect her, no matter what.

”Elizabeth,” I start, my voice hoarse, ”we need to go back inside.”

But she”s beyond reasoning with, her fury crackling like lightning between us.

Without warning, she slams her head into my chin. An explosion of pain rockets down my jaw. My grip loosens for just a second, but it”s enough. Before I know it, I”m toppling over, and she”s scurrying away like a woodland animal trying to flee a predator.

Shifting into my wolf form, I run as fast as I can, darting after her with a snarl. Elizabeth darts over a fallen tree and behind a cluster of boulders, and even with my enhanced abilities, I have a hell of a time trying to corner her.

She looks over her shoulder and squeals, and I realize she had no idea I was a shifter. And why would she suspect I was? I”m not saying all shifters are angels, but we”re not the type to enslave our own kind.

I snap my jaws at her, but somehow, she evades my claws. Clearly, this girl is a force of nature, fearless and unstoppable.

A wave of shock runs through me. It takes effort to capture and tame such a fiercely independent creature, and her spirit humbles me. For all her bravado, her recklessness is endearing. As much as I want her to submit to my authority, I admire her refusal to do so.

But with her in her human form and me in my lupine one, I have the advantage. I chase her, both amused and amazed by the lengths to which she”s willing to go to escape. Finally, I rear up on my hind legs, blocking her exit. She stops in her tracks, eyes wide with a mixture of anger and fear.

A low, menacing growl rumbles in my throat. With my teeth bared, I lunge at her and shift back to human at the same time, catching her in my arms.

She cries out in protest, fighting with all her strength, but I have the superior leverage. I thrust her against a nearby tree and cage her with my naked body, using my powerful arms to pin her wrists to the rough bark. Her labored breaths are heavy and quick. Angry silver eyes glare into mine.

”Look, darlin”,” I tell her, holding her gaze, ”I get that you”re a free spirit, but can we continue this little chat inside so I can get some clothes on?” I grab her arm, a little more forcefully than I intended, and lead her back towards the cabin. ”There”s something you need to know.”

Once inside, I shut the door behind us and turn to face her. The tension in the room is palpable, a thick fog of uncertainty and unease. I run a hand through my hair, struggling to find the right words.

”I”m not a Nightrunner,” I admit. ”I belong to the Stardust Hollow Pack, and I don”t have ten million dollars. Judging by the fact that you didn”t shift out there to get away from me, I”m guessing you haven”t recovered enough to be able to. You”re no match for the people coming for you, not in this weakened state. If I let you go right now and they track you, the odds are you”ll wind up back in their possession and be sold again to god knows who. Is that what you want?”

“What difference does it make?” Elizabeth shoots back. “Whether it”s you or someone else, you”ll still be in control. You”re no different from the others, Fisher.”

”You”re wrong,” I insist. ”I”m not trying to control you. I”m trying to help you.”

”By putting a ring on my finger?”

”If that”s what it takes.”

”God, you”re an idiot.”

”Maybe,” I concede. ”But I”m the idiot that”s standing between you and a life of torment. Like it or not, for the time being, you need me. Which means until I can figure out a long-term solution, your life is in my hands.”

She narrows her eyes at me, her lips curling into a scowl. ”You think I need you?” she snaps, her voice dripping with disdain. ”You”re delusional, Fisher. I don”t need anyone to protect me. I”ve been taking care of myself just fine until you came along.”

”Really?” I scoff. ”Then how did you end up on the auction block in the first place, huh? Tell me that.”

”Fuck you,” she spits.

Her defiance ignites something within me, a primal response that both excites and unnerves me. There”s a fire in her, a fierce determination that”s as captivating as it is infuriating. I find myself drawn to her spirit, to the way she refuses to back down, even in the face of overwhelming odds.

”Believe what you want, darlin”,” I reply evenly, trying to keep my own temper in check. ”But the truth remains the same. You”re in danger, and I”m the only one standing between you and those who would do you harm.”

To her credit, Elizabeth keeps her chin held high. ”Like I said before, Fisher, I don”t need your protection, but... for now, I suppose you”re the better option.”

Elizabeth”s expression softens, just a fraction, but it”s enough to ease the tension between us. Still, I can see the doubt lingering in her eyes, the uncertainty gnawing at her resolve. She”s scared, and who can blame her? She”s been through hell, and now she”s trapped in a situation she never asked for.

As much as I want to comfort her, to reassure her that everything will be okay, I know I need to give her some space. She”s exhausted, both physically and emotionally, and she needs time to rest and recover.

With a sigh, I step back, giving her some distance. ”I”ll let you get some rest,” I tell her, my tone gentle. ”You”ve had a rough day, and you deserve some peace. Just do me a favor and don”t climb out your window again. I”d like to get some sleep tonight. Maybe tomorrow we can put our heads together and figure a way out of this mess.”

Elizabeth raises her chin defiantly. ”I”d appreciate it,” she says, sarcasm dripping from every word.

I quirk an eyebrow at her but decide not to press the issue. Instead, I watch as she disappears into the bedroom, the door closing softly behind her. Alone in the living room, I sink onto the couch, exhaustion weighing heavily on my shoulders. But even as fatigue threatens to pull me under, my mind is alive with thoughts of her.

I can”t shake the image of her fiery gaze, the way her defiance sends a thrill of excitement coursing through my veins. Despite everything, despite the danger she”s in, she”s unbroken, a true survivor. And while her attitude may be testing my patience, I can”t help but admire her strength of will.

My wolf stirs, eager to claim our mate.

The thought startles me, and I sit up, frowning. We”re not in a position to deal with that complication. No. Right now, Elizabeth is no more than a damaged, rebellious girl-woman I”ve taken under my protection. That”s it.

But that doesn”t stop my mind from wandering. A vision flashes across my imagination, vivid and burning with desire. I close my eyes and drink in the picture of her sprawled across my bed, naked and trembling with anticipation. My cock twitches at the idea of tasting every inch of her curves, of devouring her sweet pussy and making her come undone.

On their own accord, my hand traces a path down my chest and belly, inching closer to the rigid length of my shaft. Once I grip the hardness straining against the fabric of my pants, I can”t hold back. I”m still naked from when my clothes ripped during my shift, and in a second, I take the hot, pulsing flesh in my fist.

Her silver eyes heavy with desire, her wet, pink lips encircling the tip of my throbbing erection. The image is so real, so intoxicating, that I can”t resist any longer. Holding back a groan, I rub my swollen member, stroking and teasing the sensitive skin until I”m on the brink of explosion.

The tension builds, and before I can stop myself, I erupt in a string of ragged moans. Thick ropes of warm, sticky cum coat my hand and stomach, and the image of Elizabeth, open and wanting, drives me over the edge.

When I open my eyes, the aftershocks rippling through my body, the daydream dissolves, leaving behind an empty room. Reality creeps back in, and I”m overwhelmed by an urge to go and explain things to her. To somehow make her understand that I”m not the enemy.

And yet, I stay rooted in place. She”s been through so much, and the least I can do is give her a few hours of peace, time to recuperate and regroup.

She”s my wife, but I”m still a stranger to her.

***

The next morning, I wake up with a start, my senses immediately alert. Elizabeth—where is she? Did she get away again? I jerk upright on the couch, my heart hammering in my throat. Then I hear her in the bedroom, muttering to herself about men who snore.

Licking my dry lips, I swing my legs off the cushions and get to my feet. There”s a crick in my neck from the odd position I fell asleep in last night, but I ignore the aches and pains. I grab a pair of jeans out of my sack and slide them on along with a fresh t-shirt before I walk to the bedroom door. I hesitate for a moment, debating whether to check on her. Deciding to give her some privacy, I head to the kitchen to make some coffee. Maybe she”ll be in a better mood with a good dose of caffeine flowing through her veins.

A little while later, Elizabeth emerges from the bedroom, fully dressed and seemingly no worse for wear. Her eyes lock onto the cup of steaming liquid in my hands, and her eyebrows arch.

“Is that a hint?” she asks.

”It”s whatever you want it to be.”

She smirks. ”Very diplomatic.” With a theatrical sigh, she accepts the mug I hand her and leans against the kitchen counter.

”How”d you sleep?” I venture.

”Like crap. I suppose that”s to be expected given the... unusual circumstances.”

”That”s one way to put it.” I fish around in the fridge, but there”s no food inside. No one has used this cabin in a year or better, so I count my blessings that there was even any coffee. It”s a far cry from the gourmet blend in my own kitchen, but beggars can”t be choosers.

I turn back to her and sigh. ”Listen, I hate to throw one more thing at you, darlin”, but it seems my pack hasn”t replenished the stocks in the kitchen. Guess we”ll have to eat when we get to Stardust Hollow. You think you”re ready to head out, or do you need a minute?”

”Doesn”t matter either way,” she mumbles into her coffee cup, staring at her pale hands that look tiny as they hold it. ”It”s not like I have a choice.”

”Still stuck on that, huh?”

Elizabeth darts a wry grin in my direction. ”You really have a way with words, you know that?”

”A way with more than just words,” I tell her with a wink. ”Let”s get to it, then, shall we? Should make it there in a couple of hours.”

We walk in silence for a while, the only sounds our footsteps and the rustle of leaves in the breeze. As we approach Stardust Hollow, the familiar landmarks bring a sense of relief, but also a pang of anxiety. What”s my sister going to think of all this? For that matter, what will my friends think? Hell, what will the whole damn pack think?

Finally, we arrive at the outskirts of town. Elizabeth pauses, gazing around at the rows of picturesque houses and shops, a flicker of surprise visible on her face.

“I expected you to live out in the wilderness or something,” she admits.

I chuckle. ”Sorry to disappoint you, darlin”. Lots of shifters call the woods their home, but I prefer modern conveniences.”

”Good to know.”

Nodding toward Main Street, I gesture for her to follow. My sister”s house isn”t far, and I breathe a sigh of relief as her front door comes into view. Reaching it, I ring the doorbell, and in a matter of seconds, my best friend and brother-in-law swings the door open. ”Well, good morning, sunshine,” David jokes, but then his eyes settle on the young woman standing beside me. ”And who is this?”

My sister, Leah, materializes behind him, her face just as curious. ”Oh, hello. Didn”t expect visitors,” she says, a note of curiosity in her voice as she takes in Elizabeth”s torn outfit. My new bride stares right back at my family, saying nothing.

I clear my throat, searching for the right words. ”David, Leah, this is Elizabeth. My wife.”

Leah”s eyes widen as her mouth drops open in shock. ”You got married? When? Why didn”t you tell us?”

”It”s complicated,” I admit, glancing at Elizabeth, who”s watching the exchange with a wary expression. “Elizabeth, this is my sister Leah and her husband David.”

David looks between us, his brow furrowing. ”Clearly. Come on, let”s go inside. Sounds like we need to talk.”