Page 17 of Her Werewolf Protector

Don’t freak out. Just don’t. Freak. Out.

But my racing heart wasn’t getting the memo.

As fear sunk in, clutching the basket to me I broke out into a run. I ran until my lungs burned and I was doubling over, gasping for breath. Running in the woods over uneven terrain was an entirely different beast than a treadmill at the gym.

With my breath caught, I was straightening up when a loud howl echoed through the forest. Catching my second wind, I stumbled forward, then skidded to a stop as I came face to face with a large wolf with bright shining eyes, similar to Roosevelt, but not him.

The creature’s head cocked to the side. Its lips peeled back, displaying a row of sharp teeth. The wolf let out an ungodly screech as its body began to twist and move in ways that seemed impossible. I found myself frozen in both fear and awe as the creature transformed into a naked female. She was nearly as tall as me, but her body was thick with pure muscle.

“Sophia,isn’t it?”

I nodded.“Yes. I’m Roosevelt’s.” I took one step backward, then another. The way she was looking at me was that of a predator about to swoop on its prey.

She advanced on me.“Good to hear. Does he love you?”

I blinked, unable to speak. Unsure of how to respond.

Closing the distance, she grabbed my arm, her claws digging painfully into my arm.“You and me are going on a little trip.”

I cried out, dropping the basket as I attempted to free myself from her grip.“Please. Let me go. I need to get backhome.”

“The only place you’re going is with me.” She bared her teeth, and she had the long sharp teeth of a wolf, her amber eyes flashing.“But if you’d prefer the hard way, then that’s much more fun for me. I love hearinghumans scream.”

Chapter 9

Roosevelt

“Here you are. Bonappétit.” I set the lasagna on the table in front of our town’s mayorand town siren, Sylvia Haasenfrau.

“You seem different.” She cocked her head to the side, eyeing me.

“Same old Roosevelt.”

Grinning, she ran a hand through her unruly curls only to have them fall back in disorder.“Looks like love to me.”

“I really don’t want to talk about it.”

Unfortunately for me, she wasn’t taking no for an answer.“Has she declared her love for youyet? You only have until tomorrow.”

“I’m well aware, Mayor. But thanks for the update.”

“You know she feels the same. Even if shehasn’t admittedit to you – or herself.”

She wasn’t about to let this go.I sighed as I sat down on the chair opposite her.“This is complicated. She has a life outside ofhere. A family. Friends. It’s a lot for me to ask her to give up. It feels selfish for me to even try.”

“You can’t stop destiny, and destiny brought her here for you. Be selfish, Roosevelt. Open your heart to her and let her know. Leave it up to her to decide which path to take. But I guarantee that if you don’t tell her how you feel, and she leaves, you’llnever forgive yourself.”

“Do you ever get bored of always being right?”

“Nope.” Grabbing her fork she scooped up a piece of the lasagna and shoved it in her mouth. After she finished chewing, she smiled.“This is good. If we ever get out of here, I’m really going to miss your cooking.”

“Thank you mayor.”

Sophia

“Who are you? Why are you doing this?” I yanked at the rope binding my hands behind me and to the support beam of the cabin she’d brought me to.

After tying me up, the werewolf had shifted into her full human form and gotten dressed in a basic pair of jeans and a white t-shirt. She was now intent on ignoring me as she reclined on the wooden kitchen chair, her feet on the table, reading some book that I couldn’t make out the title of.

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