STAY AWAY FROM ME

CHAPTER 66: STAY AWAY FROM ME
~ Harper’s POV ~

The city still visible below us on our right, the forest was growing thicker to our left the farther down the trail that we walked. Crickets were chirping, and I heard owls hooting. I loved nights like this. We stopped at an area that had some pay to see through binoculars. Chad looked back at me and smiled. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a couple of quarters and placed them in the coin slots on the binoculars. He looked at me again and grinned.
“This is great!” He said to me then looked through the lenses. He pulled back and motioned for me to take a look. “See?” I stepped up to the binoculars and peeked through the lenses. They were pointed at a tall apartment building far away into the city. Wow, you really can see all sorts of things through these. I giggled when I saw an old man and woman dancing through their living room window. I pulled back and smiled at Chad. He took the binoculars back and pointed them in another direction. “Oh, this is a good one.” He stepped away and I peeked through the lenses again. It was a man and woman fighting. The woman pulled back and slapped the crap out of the man she was with, then she stomped away. I giggled,
“I don’t know what he did, but I’d say it serves him right.” Chad laughed at me. He took the binoculars from me once more and repositioned them.
“Oh, these are also interesting.” He said, looking at me biting his bottom lip like he was holding back a laugh. I peeked through the lenses once again. This time Chad leaned down with me, placing one hand on my waist like he was helping me get into position. He brought his mouth close to my ear. “See what I mean?” He asked me. I focused through the lenses and immediately blushed. There was a man and woman getting hot and heavy between the sheets. I quickly pulled back and almost fell off the step that the binoculars were mounted to. Chad Quickly reached out and caught me. He held me in his arms a bit too long for my liking, so I stepped away from him and cleared my throat.
“Um…well, that was interesting. Remind me to keep my blinds closed.” I know my cheeks were red. I can’t believe people can stand up here and watch other people have sex! “Do those people know that…. That people from up here can see what they are doing.” He shrugged his shoulders.
“Some may know, some may not, some may like the idea of being watched.” He laughed. What kind of people are those?! “It’s good to see you smiling, Harper. You have a beautiful smile.” He reached up and caressed my cheek with one hand. I blushed a little at his sweet complement. I need to let him know right now that there is a line that won’t be crossed with me.
“Thank you for the sweet compliments, and for cheering me up a little. You know that Gabriel is my mate. It doesn’t matter how rocky our relationship gets, as long as I am with him, I won’t let him be disrespected.”

I stepped back away from him. A mischievous grin spread across his face, and the atmosphere changed. I stepped back a little more, but Chad followed, closing the distance between us. He aggressively grabbed my forearms.
“Chad, what are you doing?!” I question him.
“I plan to change that soon, Harper. I know the mate bond between you and that ass Gabriel is strong right now. That will be changing soon. He doesn’t deserve you, come with me. I can make you happier. I would never betray you.” What the hell is happening? I jerked my arms from his hold and slapped him across the face.
“Stay away from me Chad! This meeting is OVER!” I turned to walk away from him then I heard a *POP, POP* I felt a sharp stinging pain in my thigh. I looked down to see a dart sticking out of my leg. I swung around to look at Chad. He wore a devilish grin.
“You’ll be asleep soon, Harper. You will be coming with me. Don’t worry, your warriors have already been taken care of. As for Tanner, I’ll deal with him myself.”

He launched himself toward me and I stepped back quickly, causing me to trip. I landed on the hard gravel rock. Chad moved to step toward me, but before he could a large hand thrusts through his chest holding Chad’s still beating heart. I watched as Chad’s face instantly paled, and his body went limp. I was in shock as I watched the hand pull out and Chad’s body hit the ground below. I looked up to see red eyes staring straight at me.
“See? I’ll kill any man or wolf that dares to touch what’s mine.” An evil smile spread across his teeth. Thane! I instantly shot up to my feet. I am not afraid of him. This is my chance to kill him once and for all. I shifted into my huge Lycan. Mia was more than ready to go. I was breathing hard, eager to tear the flesh from his bones. Thane wasn’t shifted. He was still in his human form, though the red lava lines were still present.
“Harper, damn! You’re so fucking hot!” He walked toward me. But I stepped forward and struck him across the face. He hardly flinched but the gashes from my claws were deep. I started feeling the effects of the injection from that damn dart that struck my thigh. I am not giving up this chance! He laughed at me, which only made me angrier.
“HARPER! NO!” I Heard Tanner’s worried voice. He was running down the trail. Thane’s head quickly turned toward Tanner.
“NO TANNER, DON’T!” Thane grabbed my arm while still looking toward Tanner.
“Where’s that mate of yours Harper? I was hoping he would show up.” I growled loudly and used my free hand to punch Thane in the face. This time he felt it because he stumbled back. Tanner didn’t give a warning.
“HARPER! RUN, NOW!” He shifted in midair and landed on Thane’s back. Tanner bit into his neck hard. He shook his head, ripping and tearing at Thane’s flesh. Tanner’s wolf was no match for him. Thane wasn’t even shifted, and he merely grabbed Tanner with one hand and threw him onto the ground. Terror rolled over my body, as I knew Thane was going to kill him.
“NO!” I screamed as Thane picked Tanner up with both hands and moved to snap his spine. I heard a loud CRACK and Tanner’s wolf howled out in pain. The wailing of his wolf echoed straight to my core. Thane placed his foot on Tanner’s neck ready to finish him. This can’t be happening! I won’t let this HAPPEN! I felt a surge of energy that I had never felt before. I stepped forward, the wind picked up around me and the trees started tilting with its force.
“DON’T TOUCH HIM!” I yelled. My voice came out like a blast. This time Thane listened. He looked at me, seeming surprised. My anger had surged to an all-time high as one of my best friend’s was lying motionless on the ground. With no effort at all I moved and appeared straight in front of Thane, placing myself between him and Tanner. Before Thane could react, I grabbed hold of him and twisted myself up landing with both feet, one on each shoulder. I placed both my hands on either side of Thane’s head, like I was trained to do, I moved to rapidly twist Thane’s neck with enough force needed to snap it. Before Thane’s body hit the ground, I swiftly jumped and landed beside Tanner. I knew Thane wasn’t dead. I could see that he was already starting to heal, and I could hear his heart still beating. I heard howling in the distance. They are from Thane’s pack, no doubt. I looked at Tanner. I must get him out of here. I was getting weaker from that dart. What did they inject me with? All I could think to do was pick him up and run. He was heavy but Mia could carry him with ease. Tanner had shifted back to his human form. I paid no mind to his naked body as I ran as fast as Mia could go. I had to get far away from Thane. I don’t want him to be able to track us. I had run for miles and miles.
We were in the forest, still high above the city. Fatigue and sleep were taking over my consciousness. I found a large hollow tree that was big enough for me to walk into with Tanner. I placed his body on the ground and prayed to the Moon Goddess to help my friend. Kelly would be heartbroken if something were to happen to him. I laid beside Tanner. Darkness started to overtake me as Tanner’s heartbeat became weaker. With the last of my strength, I whispered.
“Moon Goddess please! Don’t let him die, save him.”