39. Prince Charming

He bashed my head into the wall, the impact hard enough to rattle my teeth- and make me drop my backpack. A gloved hand twisted my arm behind my back, shoving further when I grunted in pain.
"This is what happens when a lone wolf chases lions," the man-Dylan, if I remember correctly from the photo- said, voice coated in mock regret.
"Why does she have rope in her bag?" Susan demanded.
"It's for you," I wheezed out, jerking my leg upwards.
The heel of my boot connected savagely with flesh and the hand squeezing my arm was suddenly gone, Dylan's shout of agony ringing in my ears. Wincing at the sound, I twisted around and swung a fist that was supposed to get his temple but unfortunately connected with his jaw. He grunted, staggering away from me, but I didn't have time to follow, the girl was advancing. I caught the viscous kick she aimed at my stomach, shuddering a bit from the force of it. Despite not being a werewolf, she was all hard muscles, and obviously knew how to use them too. But I could handle that.
Susan tried to whip her leg out of my grip but I held tight, gritting my teeth. "Sorry," I said, then spun her in two complete circles before throwing her across the alley and into a wall. She hit it head first, crumbling to the ground and heaving once before stilling.
Knocked out, I hoped.
I leaned over, huffing, my arms aching. A slap across the side of my head snapped me back to reality real fast. I reached out blindly, grabbing him by the neck and lurching forward to thrust a knee into his abdomen. He released a sound that appeared caught between a gasp and a groan, a sound that made me think he was only just finding out I wasn't the relatively harmless omega they all thought I was.
Which meant I couldn't give him a chance to change gears. I drew back my right fist, let it fly with all I had.
He dropped unconscious.
Thank goodness.
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the pulsing pain in the hand I just used. No broken bones but the skin was definitely torn. I sat down, waiting for the pain to pass.
I've been following these two around for nearly a week, looking for weaknesses and a chance to nab them, but when I'd finally gotten the opportunity it'd turned out to be a trap. Not that this was the first time I've been caught. Something I wasn't going to tell Teddy when I went over for another name- he's become less reluctant now but he wasn't exactly ecstatic about it the first time I'd asked him.
"Let's get this straight," he'd said, eyes drooping in that imperious way that I used to mistake for drowsiness, "you want names, photos and info on dangerous people who might be causing Kane Wilder trouble?"
"Or anyone after him," I added firmly.
He tapped thick fingers on his mahogany desk. "I've got the contacts to scope out a few- but even those could be out of your league, kid. It's not like the cage, no one will call time out or stop them from killing you. Are you going after them yourself?"
"Yes."
"Not a good idea, Alpha."
I cringed at the nickname, it no longer gave me the pleasure it used to. "The bad ideas are usually the effective ones," I replied.
He shook his balding head. "Suit yourself then, get yourself killed. Not on me."
I only smiled. "Some of us don't die easily."
And I've had a few close calls too. Some of them bad enough to make this look like a little scuffle.
I shook off the thoughts. Time to finish the job. I took out the rope and began the tedious task of tying them up. I had to make sure it was tight so they couldn't run off before Darius came to get them. I don't know what he did with them afterwards but I knew he wasn't telling anyone what I've been doing in my spare time and that's all that mattered to me.
"There you go," I said, admiring my handiwork.
The two of them were lined up against the wall, hands tied behind their backs and ankles tied in front of them. Their heads were touching. I took out the gags, no use restraining them if they could scream for help.
"You could've called me."
I started.
His voice came from the edge of the alley, to my right. It was quiet-the kind of quiet that hid a brewing storm.
I wasn't naive, I already knew Kane would find out sooner or later. I've already rehearsed my reaction several dozen times too, so instead of running for the hills like I wanted to, I kept my feet locked in place.
"You should be asleep," I replied, giving Kane what I hoped was a cool, annoyed look.
But then he stepped forward, into the light. And what I saw wasn't anything I could've prepared myself for. He was covered entirely in blood- dripping with it even. His hair was matted with the red liquid, skin reddened and shirt riddled with holes that could've been bullets. Add the glower, and the image wasn't a pretty one.
I dropped the gag I was holding.
He nodded at the horror I couldn't hide. "I should be sleeping, want to know why I'm not?"
I covered my nose at the stench. It wasn't just the blood, I could smell the fear and hate embedded in it as well. Like the feelings of the people he'd killed were hanging around him.
"I was out killing their bosses," Kane pointed at the people I'd tied up, "so they wouldn't turn their attention towards you since you've made a hobby of picking off their underlings."
I swallowed hard. "You didn't have to do that."
He raised a bloodied brow. "I thought we were both doing whatever we wanted?"
I scoffed. "As if you have a right to say that."
He laughed, a terrible void sound that made him seem more the cruel killer he already looked like. "You tell me you don't want me near you but then you sneak around behind my back, picking fights with people you shouldn't be within a mile of- what is this, revenge or something?"
"Of course not!" I exclaimed. "I was just trying to..." To protect you.
"Trying to what?"
I folded my arms, glowered at him. "I don't want to be considered a lowly omega."
"You know I didn't mean those things," he snarled.
"I didn't say you did."
He sighed, shoulders slumping an inch. "Jett is waiting on the curb, he can take you home."
Two things stopped me from flat-out refusing him: he hadn't phrased it as an order, and I've never seen him slump his shoulders tiredly that way.
I cast one last look at my ex-hostages and walked out of the alley, making sure to hold my breath as I passed an immobile Kane. I found Jett's car right away, the door to the backseat already open. He didn't look at me as I climbed in and took off my mask. He started driving.
"We're leaving Kane behind?" I asked.
"He's not dirtying my seats."
I pursed my lips at the tension in his voice. "I trying to help him," I said.
"You weren't," Jett said. "You were being selfish."
I pressed my lips into a thin line, if I started yelling at him I know he'd only deadpan and I'd look even more like a fool.
"Werewolves hunt together in packs but you set off on your own. You apparently don't even trust me enough to have your back."
I blinked, shocked. "You're angry I didn't invite you? Not that I went even though I'm a weak omega?"
His different colored eyes met mine briefly in the mirror view. "You're a child, but not a weak child."
I grinned. "You keep calling me a child- exactly how old are you anyway?"
"That's enough talking."
"Now I'm really curious."
"One more word and I'll abandon you on the street," he warned.
I narrowed my eyes. He narrowed his. I threw my hands up in surrender. "Fine! Your virtue is safe. For now."
I ignored his glare, leaning my head against the cool glass of the window and watching the streets stream past. Wondering if my actions really hadn't had anything to do with getting back at Kane.
***
The knock came thirty minutes after I got home, while I was sketching. I put my sketchpad down, slippers flopping against the hard wood floors as I walked over to the front door and opened it.
Kane stood outside it, spotlessly clean in a gray sweater and dark jeans, his hair damp. I caught the scent of lemon shampoo before he was striding past me without an invitation. He strode in like he owned the place, planting himself on a stool in the kitchen.
Rolling my eyes, I shut the door and went to stand on the other side of the counter. I crossed my arms, ready for the impending battle.
"Thank you for looking out for me," Kane said.
I stared at him. When I saw that he was actually serious, I clutched at my chest in mock horror. "Who are you and what have you done to the real Kane Wilder?"
"Should I stop?"
"Feel free to continue," I grinned.
"I appreciate your help, but next time take someone with you- even," he frowned, face strained as if the words tasted bitter on his tongue. "Even if it isn't me. We don't hunt alone."
"I won't go alone again," I promised.
There was a long stretch of silence as we both regarded each other.
Kane was the one to break it. "That was easier than I expected."
I shifted my feet. "What did you expect?"
The corner of his lip curled upwards, blue eyes light as they sketched over my features. "The usual. A fist speeding towards my face, a creative insult or two and then a boot to the front door."
"Well, I was expecting the 'don't protect me, I'm the alpha that's my job' lecture," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant and unaffected by the way he was looking at me.
This was exactly why I wanted him to stay away- one look and I was all but a goner. That was dangerous.
His eyes shifted, studying the pale browns of the kitchen cupboards and black and yellow tiles of the walls. There were few dishes but I was glad I'd washed and put them away earlier today. A sink full of dirty dishes would've been embarrassing.
"Don't be fooled, I still want to tie you up and lock you away in a tall tower," he said.
"Like a witch?"
"More like a prince."
I snorted.
"I thought you wanted a Prince Charming," he smiled.
I shook my head. "After meeting Alpha and Arius, I don't believe in Prince Charming anymore. He's a myth."
"I could be your dark lord."
I laughed.
His watched me keenly.
"What?" I asked, laughter dying in my throat.
"I made you laugh," he stated absently.
"You did," I agreed cautiously. "But not for the first time."
"The first time lately," he corrected.
I shrugged.
"Come here."
I was around the counter and in front of him before I could rethink my actions- and a second later he had his arms around me, his lips moving on mine, hand weaving through my braids and bringing me closer as his lips devoured mine. His thumb coaxed at my mouth.
"Open," he breathed.
I parted my lips, knees turning to water as the kiss deepened. I stumbled, he caught me, pulled me closer.
"Marry me," he groaned against my lips.
Hold up.
I moved my head back, blinking at him dazedly. "What?"
He traced my lips with a long finger, blue eyes electric and paralyzing. "Marry me," he repeated.
"Marry who?"
"Me."
"Why?"
His hands tightened around me, as if he was worried I might bolt any moment now. Maybe that's exactly what I should be doing.
"You're all I see, Ember Yale, all I want," he said, eyes glinting although his face remained tense. "And if you'll have me, I'll make sure you'll never want for jolly ranchers again."
It was supposed to be a joke, I knew, but there was nothing funny about this. I shoved away from him. "No."
The lightness in his eyes died out.
I walked back to the other side of the counter. Creating a barrier between us.
"Keep telling yourself you can get away from me," he said, glowering.
"Quit reading my mind," I snarled.
"I will, when you admit you don't really want to go anywhere I'm not."
"How humble of you, Prince Charming."
He got to his feet slowly. "Tomorrow night, I'm coming to take you."
"Take me where?!"
He raised a brow. "You want details?"
"Don't bother showing up at my door, I won't open it."
But he was already stalking out, the door slamming shut behind him.