Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

James pov

I walked inside the room and saw Linda having a nightmare in her sleep. I ran towards her and asked her to wake up.

"Linda? Linda? Wake up. Linda, you're dreaming. Wake up. Wake up, Linda." I said in a worried tone. She was flinging her hands in the air as if trying to fight someone's hold. She still didn't wake up. This time I decided to shake her. I grabbed her by shoulders and shook her.

"Linda, Linda wak -" I started but stopped when Linda jerked awake. She opened her eyes and looked everywhere, frantically. When her eyes stopped on me and took me in, she calmed down a bit, in her frantic eyes movement.

"James?" She said in a breathy voice. Like she could not understand if I was real or not. Her breathing was still deep, and she was panting, like she just ran a marathon. When she looked at me, her eyes misted on their own and I felt my heartache for her.

I pulled her to my side, and she clutched to me like a baby. I didn't know what was going on but I held her. I ran my hand up and down on her arm when I felt that she was shuddering badly.

"Shh. Shh. It's okay. I'm here. It's okay. Don't worry. Nothing will happen to you as long as I am here." I whispered to soothe her and to stop her shuddering so that she would calm down. I pulled her closer to me, and she snuggled in my chest more. I put my chin on her head and continued to stroke her hair with my second hand.

It was a rare opportunity for me and my wolf to hold our mate. I could not let it go.

My wolf roared with happiness at the opportunity to ease the pain of our mate. It was a plus, that we got to touch her at the same time. I was a forever pervert, and I was aware about it.

What bugged me was her nightmare. What did she have a nightmare about? What was so bad that made her like this? Was it that bad? What did she see in her dreams?

For quite a time, I continued to hold her like this. I stroked her while she hid her face and clutched my shirt. Eventually, she calmed down and pulled away from me.

"Sorry for that. It was just, that nightmare - She tried to explain but I stopped her.

"You don't need to explain anything. And you also don't need to apologize for anything. You didn't do anything wrong." I told her gently. She looked at me and then nodded her head.

And then she SMILED.

It was not a smile to be taken for granted. It was a smile that was earned. It was pure, grateful and a smile full of gratitude. I couldn't believe it but I actually felt an ache from the way she smiled at me.

"Did you imagine your first kiss in your dreams for you to be like this?" I teased her to lighten the mood.

"I bet that your first kiss had been a nightmare." I said to Linda and saw a hint of pink color creeping into her cheeks from her neck. It made me smirk and I decided to continue to tease her.

"Don't tell me that you didn't have your first kiss." I said as I feigned a mock surprise.

"I've already had my first kiss." She mumbled the words but only barely. I felt like laughing at her timid response but controlled myself. I raised a brow at her.

"Really? I don't believe you. You definitely didn't have your first kiss. Maybe I should give you the taste of your real first kiss." I said and leaned down on her face. She tried to dodge my face and pushed my head back with her hands. So I grabbed her hand in my one hand and playfully started to pull her to me.

"No. James. No. I don't want to kiss you. Please, just don't." She said as she continued to dodge my attempts. When suddenly I saw Michael came into my view. I was pulled away from her and a punch landed on my face. My nose broke with a cracking sound and blood spattered on the floor.

I stood up in a flash and knocked my fist on his jaw. He staggered back but gained his footings in seconds. Blood poured out of his split lip. I grabbed his collar and he rushed to grab mine. When we got face to face with each other, I heard Linda's voice.

"Stop! Stop it, you both!" Linda yelled at both of us. I pushed Michael away when my eyes darted towards Linda. She looked startled at our behavior. For a second, I thought about saying something to clear out but then I changed my mind. Without giving a damn about anything, I strode out of the room, leaving them behind.

I didn't know why but I left without explaining anything. It's not like that I have to but still. I walked outside in the woods. It was the only place, I could find peace. I inhaled a deep breath and tried to calm myself down.

My mind flashed me ugly thoughts. I left Michael with Linda, alone. What would he be doing with her? What were they doing now? I left her there unprotected. What if he took advantage of her. When I left her, she was still recovering from the daze of her nightmare. Damn! I left her in such a vulnerable condition. That bastard was with her.

My nose had already healed on its own. And except for some blood, on my nose and jaw, there was not any pain or discomfort.

Wolf powers.

When I took the hit from him, I didn't even feel much pain. I had taken much worse. The worst out of many wolves.

I was thinking about changing my form and turning into wolf so that I could run freely and release the steam that I was carrying inside me but I didn't. I changed my mind. I couldn't leave her with him. Damn, that idiot will definitely turn this situation in his favor. I comforted her when she needed it. But I knew Michael. Somehow, he will take the credits of my doings. Like he always does. Without giving a second thought, I spun around and jogged to her room. In the middle of my way, I sensed Michael coming towards me.

He stopped in his tracks when he saw me. I thought I would see him angry after Linda tell him the truth but it was the complete opposite.

He looked happy.

Shit.

I knew this guy would turn it in his favor. Michael threw a cocky smirk at me when I noticed the faint cream on his lip. From the smell of it, I knew it was an antiseptic cream. My eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Did she first - aid you?" I asked him. All he did was reply with a shrug and shit eating grin.

"And much more." He said and I felt my veins popping up in my head. I rushed from beside him towards the guest bedroom but calmed myself down, right before I entered her room. I knocked once and opened the door. It creaked open.

The room was empty. I entered and heard voices that were coming bathroom. My head whipped in its direction when I saw Linda coming out of the bathroom. She stopped when she saw me. Then she strode toward me.

"James? Oh my god. Are you okay?" She asked. Her eyes searched my face and without hesitation touched my face. Her hand grabbed my jaw and moved my head from side to side. Her finger traced my nose and cheek. I closed my eyes from the effect of her touch, she was having on me. I exhaled a shaky breath and opened my eyes.

"You walked away like that in anger. I was really worried." She said, retracting her hand away. A worried expression crossed on her face.

"You didn't even let me explain anything to Michael. I don't understand, why he acted that way." She said and I shook my head at her.

"Don't worry about that. I'm fine." I said. Her eyes pinched in as she narrowed her eyes at me. Her gaze lingered on my nose.

"You're right. Your nose isn't bleeding anymore. How is your nose healed already? I saw it earlier, and clearly heard it breaking. But now, you don't have as much as a scratch on your face. Except for this dry blood." She said. With a wicked expression, I leaned on her face.

"Wolf powers." I said. She stared right back at me.

"Wolf powers?" She asked. I grinned and leaned back.

"Of course. We can heal ourselves in no time." I explained. Her eyes darted towards the door, then back at me.

"But I did first - aid on Michael's wound." She said dumbly. Looking even more adorable. I let out a breathy laughter.

"Well then. He probably didn't tell you on purpose. I don't blame him though. If you were to do first - aid on me, I would have hid it too." I told her. Her eyes lowered and her cheeks colored up in a light shade of red. I knew she was embarrassed. Somehow, she looked even cuter. With her shy eyes and tomato red cheeks.

Still, I did not spare her.

"How about you clean my face for me. Then I will forgive you." I pointed to my face as I suggested to her. She crossed her arms which pushed her breasts up even more, in the most delicious way. I had to tear my eyes away from her cleavage. So that she would not catch me ogling her shamelessly.

"And why would I do that?" She asked looking a bit annoyed.

"Because I took this hit because of you." I retorted, smiling smugly. Her expressions jumped from and between acceptance and denial. Finally, she spat out the word, "Fine."

Then she was gone inside the bathroom with her foot stomping heavily on the floor.

Within seconds, she was back with a bowl filled with water and a clean cloth. She walked to me and sat down, right beside me. Picking up the clean cloth, she dipped it inside the water and brought it up to my face. To my surprise, when it touched my face it was surprisingly warm. She started cleaning from beneath my nose, then to my lips. Dipping the cloth back inside the bowl, she brought it back. The water had turned into a shade of red blood. She continued to do it until everything was clean. When she was done cleaning it wet side of the cloth, she used the dry part of the cloth to soak up any remaining water or blood from my face.

Finally, when it was completely over, she handed over the wet cloth and stood up with a huff of breath.

"Here. Done. Now get lost. And hurry with whatever you wanted to find out about, so that I could leave as soon as possible." She said and I stood up. I draped my arm around her shoulders.

"Not before I give you a detailed tour of our place." I said.