9 Dante 5

I wanted to remain with her, naked in the bed, but I knew that I couldn't. The fact that she had been going toward the back of the motel meant that, wherever she was going, someone could come from, for her. She had clearly been afraid of being stripped of her powers, of who she was, so I knew that at the very least, I needed to get her away from here.

The wound from my fangs would heal in a few hours, once she was near waking up, as her own wolf found it's place within her soul, but I still felt anxious. I knew that she hadn't been human, once she woke up I planned on getting the rest of the details, but I didn't know what effect it would have on the wolf. Part of me even feared that she might not get a wolf at all.

I grabbed a blanket, not remembering where her dufflebag had fallen, and not really caring, but also not wanting to have the mark hidden by the annoying hoodie. I wrapped the blanket around her as carefully as I could, then lifted her from the bed.

Outside, it was still dark, with the stars and the moon lighting my path. The trees around the motel would keep us shielded from prying eyes, at least until we got closer to the road, which we couldn't avoid if I wanted to reach my car. It was a safer choice for us to get my car to drive to my home, than it would be for us to just walk the distance across town, completely exposed, and just get the car later.

As we got several feet into the treeline, a new, slightly bitter, smell hit me. I turned around in time to see a tall woman with soft red hair walk around the side of the motel. Clearly she was heading toward the room that we had just left, and her red, glowing eyes made it even more clear that this woman wasn't human. She had to have been there for Hannalee, but I wouldn't let the woman take my mate anywhere.

I turned away from the woman, glad that she didn't have the senses of a wolf, or she might have heard me, and quickened my pace. I sped up further when we exited the trees and came onto streets. Just like any other newly mated wolf, I didn't want anyone to see my mate yet. She was in a vulnerable, weakened state, not proper to be shown off. Once she was awake and her strength was her own again, I would bring her to meet the pack, and let everyone see how proud I was of her.

The restaurant came into view quickly, as did my car, and I didn't hesitate to lay her down in the back seat. I got into the driver seat, breathing a sigh of relief at not only having her with me, but at knowing we were basically safe at this point. I started the car, turning the headlights on and pulled out of the parking spot, half-expecting to see the red haired woman at any given time. I didn't know why I felt such paranoia. I knew that I could protect my mate no matter what, but I didn't want to see my mates expression turn to one of shame or fear when she met with one of her own people. I knew that would happen eventually, but I wanted her to be comfortable in her new body when that day came.

Lights passed from the rare vehicle and the store signs and streetlights. If I hadn't mentally prepared for taking her as my mate days beforehand, I would have worried that the lights would wake her up. But her body was too worn out from the night and the steady transition within her. But, even with the mental preparation, it still shook me to my core every soft breath she released, each slight groan that her body produced. Of course, the transition to wolf wouldn't be easy for her, even if she was stronger than a human.