Chapter Two

Dustin made it to the truck, and I wanted to sigh with relief, but it was short lived. "Very brave of you to sacrifice yourself for him." I felt like he was mocking me and that just pissed me off.

"Do you know who I am?" He asks when he started circling me. I felt him getting closer and closer as he circled me. I wouldn't let my guard down this time though.

"Why would I care who you are. You will be dead shortly anyway." I seethed at him, but he just smirked back at me.

"Oh, kitten I can't let you do that you would miss me too much," He taunted me.

"Ha yeah not in this lifetime buddy."

"I Marcus Vangard am your mate." He announced turning to stand facing me.

Marcus Vangard. Oh shit! I might be a little out skilled here. This man destroyed an entire pack of wolves single handedly back during the war. I squared up not ready to give up without a fight. Then I processed the last part of his statement. "Mate?" I whispered out finally taking in the man fully.

His eyes were drinking me in, and I could see the desire in them that made my heart speed up. Mate? As in the term I have heard the creatures use for their "other-half."

"I can't be." I lost the will to hold up my posture as I addressed him.

"You are."

"I don't want to be." I argued glaring at him. His lips twitched in amusement.

"Too bad. You are mine and soon you will be begging for me." He approached me and I retreated until I felt my back come into contact with the building. He smiled he had planned this he was playing a game of chess and I was losing.

"Kitten," He exhaled as he lowered his face toward mine. The closeness of his body to mine had my mind frozen. "Breathe." He whispered as his lips lightly brushed mine. He didn't kiss me, but he was so close that when he spoke his lips brushed mine. I realized I wasn't breathing and instantly got angry.

I lifted my blade to lash out at him, but it was pointless. He grabbed my wrist and held it against the building above my head as he stepped even closer to me. His body holding me up against the bricks. His face bending down into the crook of my neck, and I gasped as his breath fanned out across my exposed skin making my body tingle. I felt the hair rise on my body as it betrayed me.

I was lost until I saw Dustin. "NO!" I screamed as Dustin plunged his knife into the demon's back. I saw the tip of the blade come out of his chest my other hand instantly went to the area. My eyes went up to his and I saw his face fall as his hold on me loosened. I caught his limp body staring down at him.

"Raven let's go!" Dustin grabbed me around the waist trying to pull me away with him. I couldn't get my body to move though. I was still holding on to the demon who was now reaching up to my face.

"I will find you." he whispered out before his eyes rolled back into his head his hand falling away from my face. Tears rolled down my cheeks and I couldn't figure out why. I turned to run with Dustin to the truck.

When we were on the road. Dustin turned to me, "What the fuck was that Raven? Did you not hear me calling you?" He punched the dash of the truck making me flinch. I was still in a daze. In ten years, I have never let my guard down like that. I have never felt that... connection.

"Raven!" I finally came to looking over at Dustin who looked angry and concerned. He pulled the truck over on the side of the road. We were just outside the compound now. He got out of the truck walking around to my side. I knew he was upset but I couldn't understand why.

He swung my door open grabbing me and pulling me out only to push me up against the side of the truck caging me inside his arms. "I will only ask you one last time. WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?"

I looked away from him guilt raking over me. "I-I don't know." I honestly didn't none of it made since to me yet. I couldn't understand any of it.

"Was he kissing you? I swear I saw-"

"NO!" I interrupted him looking up into his eyes trying to step toward him now, but he only stepped closer to me pushing me back against the truck with his body.

"Why is he so interested in you?" I shook my head denying it, but my denial was ended when Dustin grabbed my face in between his hands and roughly kissed me.

I pulled away pushing him away from me. "Dustin!" he punched the bed of the truck walking away pacing around the side of the road his hands on top of his head. Dustin and I use to be a thing a few years ago, but since it ended, I have never seen any interest from Dustin, so the kiss caught me off guard.

"Look we both had a long night and things got fucked up quick. The sun will be up soon we need to get back to the compound and get some rest." I tried to defuse the situation, but Dustin's anger wasn't going anywhere. "We can look at all this in the light of the day after we have had some time to reflect." I got back into the truck taking the choice away from him.

He was silent but got into the truck and drove us the rest of the way home. Even after getting home neither of us spoke. I passed everyone in the garage that were working nodding their heads at me in respect. I normally would address them but today I wasn't in the mood I went straight to my room and throw my gear onto the table in my small quarters.

Heading to the shower in my room I stripped my combat pants off after undoing the bullet proof vest to reveal the black tank top I had on under it. I felt the pain radiating from my left shoulder down my arm and back. I turned in the mirror to see a cut I must have gotten at some point. Taking a quick shower, I knew I would need to stitch it up after I got out. Grabbing my needle and thread I kept in my medicine cabinet I poured alcohol over it welcoming the pain that followed. I needed something to make since and bring me back to reality. I felt like the past couple of hours I had been in LaLa land. I quickly stitched it up and got into bed ready for the day to be over.