Chapter 12

Wolfariane Daminor Throne picked the man up and threw him away. He landed flat on his back on the cold pavement and passed out cold.




In a dark empty alley, he stood alone once again, barely holding himself from roaring to the sky. His ring is not with this man, Ethan.




He'd hunted those two men—Aiden and Ethan—that attacked the woman in the restroom but the nightclub, but they are not in possession of his ring. 




It had taken a lot of convincing for them to get him to believe that they aren't with his ring. He'd believed them too because the wolf couldn't smell it on them.




That leaves one last person. The female. His mate. She is the one that stole his ring.




Damned female! The basic rules which keep the changelings in check in the non-changeling world stopped him from shifting forms and letting the wolf hunt her down. Rules he helped create.




So, instead, he closed his eyes and allowed the memories of three nights ago to wash over him. He recalled her scent—her main unique scent that isn't liquor or death—and allowed the scent to fill his nose again, after suppressing it for so long.




The scent of spice and earthy daisies. Intoxicating. Addictive. 

She is near.




Wolfariane stepped out of the alley and called the first cab that drove by. 




"Where to, sir?" The cab man asked.




He has no idea. "Just drive, I will direct you." His nose will direct him.




**************




"So, I... uhm, I really like you." Taren admitted an hour later, "I will like to spend some good time with you if it's okay with you?"




"Your place or mine?" Ismena drawled, taking a sip out of her orange juice.




A full-blown smile split Taren's lips. "Yours. If it's okay with you."




"Definitely okay." She returned his smile. Yeah, she's crossing off 'one-night-stand' from her list tonight, and if Taren is good, she might even be crossing off 'Get A Constant Fúck Buddy' too.




"Alright, I'll just pay the bartender," he rose to his feet, "I'll be back really soon."




"I'll be waiting." After he walked off, Ismena concentrated on taking sips out of her orange juice.




Her back prickled. Why does it feel like she's being watched? Stalked?




The feeling has been there for a few minutes now, and it's making her really uneasy. She looked back again, but nothing. Just couples talking and drinking.




I'll just wait for him outside. Holding that thought, she picked up her bag and walked out of the bar.




 Aah, the night's air is really night and refreshing. Those stars up there are—




She walked into a wall.




Not, not a wall. A man.




 This 'solid rock' does feel familiar, was her thought as she stepped away from the collision and looked up...




"Big Bad Wolfe!" She gasped, taking several steps backward.




"Fee-male." The way he let the single word slip out of his lips told her that there was a fire burning in the mountains. And he was scowling again.




These past few days she'd thought her drunken state had made him up to be soooooo... larger than life, all stoic, cold, and handsomely scary in her mind. Nope, it wasn't her drunken state, the man is all that. And more.




Her nipples hardened inside her bra, and her panties soaked. Who gets scared and aroused at the same time? Jesus, what in satan's eyelashes is wrong with her!? 




"W-What brings you to this part of town!?" She let out a nervous smile. Another step back.




"You know why I am here, female. Hand it over. Now." He gritted out through his teeth, outstretching his arm towards her.




Ohmigod! Ohmijesus! Ohmimary! 

The calm but volcanic words did it for her. "I will just...uhm..." She pointed behind her, then, whirled around and took off in a dead run.




Wolfariane was too stunned by her reaction to react.




As she ran, her heels clicked—click click click click—on the floor so much she stopped, bent down, and took them off one after another. Then, she threw him a glance behind her and continued running barefooted. This time, faster than the first time.




Prey. The predators in him stretched satisfyingly as he recognized prey. 




She holds his diamond ring, he is sure of it. Why won't she want to give it back?




Doesn't matter. As far as it's in her possession, he will get it from her. If she wants to be chased, he will do so too. The thrill of the chase is exhilarating to a predator.




His mate is about to find out what it feels like to be prey to a dangerous alpha predator.




*********




What will he do when he finds out she pawned his ring!? How did he find her!?




Ismena was breathing hard as she rushed into her hotel room, slammed the door, and threw in the locks. She leaned against it, trying to catch her breath, her chest heaving.




She's in trouble. Big trouble. "He's rich or why won't he let her go because of just one ring!?" She gasped out loud, "Is it a family heirloom of some sort or what!? Dammit!"




Finding it harder than usual to catch her breath, she walked to the drawers, withdrew her meds, and threw them into her mouth. She found water and downed it.




Then, she sat on the bed and waited for her breathing to regulate. At least, she'd lost him. She'd taken three different taxi rides, and she'd instructed each of them to take a different sneakier road that leads to 'Bagas Hotel' which is her hotel.




So, yes, she knows for sure she'd lost him.




 Feeling better, she walked into the bathroom and ran herself a warm bubble bath. Stepping into the bathtub, she relaxed and closed her eyes. Thoughts of him filled her head.




The man she's doing her very best to avoid is the only man her body reacts to. Not even the normal 'react' but a full brown slutty reaction that's completely abnormal for her. 




She has lived and breathed her work for the past seven years, men just don't do it for her when it comes to her daily life. Yet, these past few days she has creamed her panties—according to him—more than she has ever done in her whole life. Worst, she touching herself intimately a lot lately, another abnormality for her, and it's always the thoughts of him in her mind too whenever she indulges.




Heavens, whatever the hell is wrong with her? What is it about him that makes it all...different?




Afterward, wrapped in a towel, she walked back to the bedroom and put on her clothes.




Hours passed. She was trying so hard to sleep but couldn't.




 Someone is watching her. Stalking her... Like a predator.




He is here. She can feel it.




So, she rose from the bed, making the only decision left for her.




.