Page 65 of The Alpha's Protective Mate

“And what are you?” I find myself asking.

She tries to move her shoulder in a shrug and grimaces in pain. “I don’t—What does it matter, Robert? You know the truth now, and Arabella knows where I am. She knows I’m alive. It won’t be long till she finds out where I live and decides to finish the job. I’ll…” She looks away from me. “You’ll get what you want. I’ll be out of your hair by tomorrow.”

Out of my hair? Is she leaving?

“And just where do you plan to go?” I ask softly, touching a strand of her hair that is coated in her blood. My wolf is pacing furiously inside me.

She doesn’t seem to hear the dangerous edge to my tone as she twists her fingers together. “I have savings. I’ll find a job. I’ll leave Portland. I have Mano, and we’ll find another place to live. Homes are what you build yourself, right? Mano and I, as long as we’re together…”

She’s rambling now, not realizing that tears are streaming down her face. When I touch her hands, they’re icy cold, and she’s shivering.

“Charlotte,” I cut her off abruptly. “Stop talking.”

She shuts up immediately, but her shaking increases.

Taking off my jacket, I wrap it securely around her before saying firmly, “You’re not going anywhere. I’m not kicking you out. And nor will you let the fear of your sister drive you away from your home. Do you understand me?”

She’s staring at me blankly. “I have to go. You don’t know Arabella.”

“Arabella does not know me.” I rub her hands in mine, trying to warm them. “You will be safe. I’ll make sure of it. You and Mano will both be safe.”

Her lower lip trembles. “When she was—When I couldn’t breathe, I kept thinking about what would happen to Mano. Who would look after her? She’s my baby, and she’d be all alone…”

“No, she wouldn’t have been,” I reassure her, watching new tears spill from her eyes. “I would have taken her in.”

“Really?”

She’s a little delirious now, most likely from the pain she’s in, but I have no problem indulging Charlotte. She’s had a terrifying experience, and she has a concussion, on top of that.

I kiss her hands. “Of course. I’m not going to let anything happen to your cat.”

This time, Charlotte starts to sob, and I feel helpless watching her break, knowing she needs some outlet for the emotions pent up inside her. I wrap my arms around her, kissing the top of her head and holding her close.

She doesn’t say a word, just breaks down in my arms.

The sight of her tears enrages me.

Seeing Charlotte collapse like this, believing the cruel words her own sister spewed at her, makes me wish I hadn’t listened to her earlier. I should have torn that vindictive, bitter creature to shreds. How dare she touch what’s mine?!

My grip on the woman in my arms tightens.

This is merely a breakdown. She’s overwhelmed. She’s had a horrifying experience.

I know Charlotte is strong. This is just a moment of weakness; I’ll shield her from the world and let her gather herself till she feels whole again.

******

Healing is not an easy process. When your insides repair so quickly, it puts a ton of stress on the body and mind, so I’m not surprised to see Charlotte passed out again. I lay her down on the couch and study the wounds on her face. They will take a long time to heal, and given the fact that she doesn’t have the same abilities as other vampires, I don’t know if they will scar or not. Her palm still bears evidence of the knife wound she accidentally gave herself the day we met.

A knock on the door has me glancing up.

To my surprise, it’s Adam Moore.

“Adam.” I feel my protective instincts buzzing and immediately step in front of Charlotte.

My friend tucks his hands in his pockets. “Don’t bother. I already know what she is. Could smell her a mile off.”

He’s exaggerating, but it does worry me. It is better for Charlotte to blend in with the humans completely, and the only way to do that is to hide her scent.

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