My Arrogant Mate
Chapter 29

I tried to fight back in a panic, but that didn't help me at all, except that his grip became even tighter and I felt more and more helpless as a result.

"Shhhh, calm down," he whispered from behind me and while his one hand still prevented me from screaming for help, he pushed me violently against the tree with the other.

My heart was beating like crazy and my ribs felt bruised, but I certainly wasn't going to let him r**e me here, or whatever this guy was going to do to me.

I tried to transform myself with all the strength I had left, but I was horrified to find that it didn't work. My hands were shaking, as they always are, but otherwise nothing happened, which made me close my eyes discouraged. "Nanana, you f*****g wolves think we'd just watch you transform and run away? You ain't getting off that easy."

His deep voice ripped through my mind, giving me uncomfortable goosebumps, and I quickly opened my eyes again when I felt something on my neck. It felt like a chain, only it burned like fire on my skin and in excruciating pain I tried to free myself again, which resulted in this a*****e punching me in the side.

Tears streamed from my eyes while deep inside me there was only anger and pain, and as he then jerked me full force, I finally looked that bastard straight in the hate-filled eyes. I didn't know him and didn't even know why he was pushing me against the tree and putting a collar around me...

My hatred seemed to be driving me insane, but my fear was greater. If he hadn't had his hand over my mouth to shut me up, now would have been the time to beg for my life.

"So beautiful and yet so useless," he whispered in my face and wanted to reach for the waistband of my trousers with his hand, but I pushed him away with all my strength to look into his eyes, which were shining with anger.

"Keep your hands off me!", I screamed with a trembling voice and when he came towards me again, I bravely balled my hands into fists and was ready to defend myself to the death, but then something happened that everything in me to froze.

I stood there, in tears and ready to fight, until I heard that dull, loud bang that seemed so powerful it could surely be heard for miles. As if in slow motion, I watched as this man with blond hair, who had just been moving towards me, suddenly stopped and his eyes widened. He looked at me wide-eyed while my heart stopped and I saw his dark blood running down his face.

A sight I would never forget. It was burned into me... Forever...

"Oh god," I breathed in panic and covered my mouth in shock until I realized that I had drops of his blood all over me and I was shaking so badly that I couldn't stand.

The man fell to the ground, as did I, but something stopped me...

Silvan stopped me...

He was just there, grabbing my arm and pulling me into his heaving chest, before pulling me tight in a hug. I clung to him for protection, began to cry bitterly and almost despaired of what I was just seeing.

"Everything will be fine," I heard his voice softly over and over again, but I hardly noticed it anymore. Everything around me was slowly getting darker and I was reluctantly drawn into the darkness.

The last thing I knew was him picking me up in his arms and I inhaled his familiar scent, bringing inner peace to me.

"Ahhhhhhh!!!"

I woke up screaming, shaking all over and sweat dripping from my forehead. It was bright outside, even if it was raining again, and looking at the window, I slowly tried to calm down.

But I didn't succeed at all.

I sat up in a panic and clutched my heart, which surely wouldn't survive much longer at the furious pace it was beating. I tried to banish this man's face from my memory, but he kept reappearing and dying before my eyes, which made me gasp in horror. "Jade?"

I jumped and looked wide-eyed at the door, where Silvan was standing with a cup in his hand.

Actually, I should have yelled at him, or even condemned him, for what he had done, but I owed him everything and at that moment I did the only thing my heart really desired and which I no longer resisted.

I hurriedly got up from my bed, ran towards him and threw myself into the arms of the only man I still fully trusted.

"I did... I really thought he would..."

I sobbed those words, but couldn't get a proper sentence in his arms. Imagining what he would have done to me if my companion hadn't appeared like my guardian angel in the deepest darkness was too bad.

"I know," he breathed softly and then broke away from me briefly to put the cup on the bedside table behind us before enclosing me tightly in his strong arms again.

There it was, the connection and I felt incredibly comfortable and secure. Better than ever, even though such bad things had happened. Eyes closed, he listened to his calm heartbeat and savored the scent that clung to him so familiarly, like a transparent veil. When I finally calmed down after a while, I looked up into his eyes and gave him a grateful kiss on the cheek, which he accepted with a gentle smile.

His hand went to my cheek, which he then rested on his thumb to wipe away the last of the tears, all the while scrutinizing me with concern.

"Who was this man?" I asked him, but he immediately shook his head and gently pushed my back into the hallway.

"You eat something first and calm down, then I'll explain everything to you."

I looked him deep in the eyes and then nodded in agreement.

I could really use something to eat now, and while I really didn't want to be treated like a frail child anymore, I was just glad he was there for me that morning.

My light in the dark.

****

SILVAN

I walked ahead of her into the open kitchen and waited patiently for her to sit comfortably on one of the bar stools.

Only then did I hand her a plate of pancakes, which she accepted with a grateful smile.

Her green eyes darted fleetingly across my face, unleashing a warmth within me I had never felt before.

Can't imagine what would have happened if I hadn't run after her. I would never have forgiven myself.

When she stormed out of my room yesterday, I knew right away that I really screwed up. Sure, I was an alpha and shouldn't be disrespected, but Jade had every right in the world to resist the connection.

I had torn her from her home, turned her life upside down from one day to the next and then expected that she would get involved with me without any ifs and buts...

What kind of selfish a*****e was I?

It was no longer just about the connection, as I initially thought. This young, naive, stubborn girl had really turned my head by now... and even my heart was dancing now that I was watching her happily scooping up her pancakes.

So f**k being alpha and f**k Viola's stupid sayings. Screw what my father was spinning in his vengeance-eaten mind. She was my priority from now on and I realized that at the latest when I felt like I could lose her because of this bastard.

"Um, Silvan," she whispered, drawing my full attention back to her face, which was looking at me with red cheeks, startled. "Why did I... I had..."

She stuttered in embarrassment and her cheeks, which were only ruddy at first, suddenly took on a fiery red color.

I followed her gaze down and then watched in irritation as she fidgeted with my red sweater. That's when I realized what made her blush so much.

"You had blood all over you. I changed you," I explained, eyeing her curiously as she fidgeted on the stool.

So beautiful...

"And now will you please explain to me what kind of man that was and what he put on me?"

With her big green eyes she looked at me questioningly and just looking at her put me in a kind of trance for a moment. It was really hard not to just tag them because my inner wolf had nothing else on my mind, so it was hard for me to focus on anything else. "Silvan?" The sound of my name from her mouth... She would yet be my downfall...

"Sorry," I cleared my throat, trying to get the words in my mouth right. "First of all, I want to apologize to you, Jade. I let myself be influenced by others, like I always have, and out of self-doubt I didn't behave fairly towards you. That won't happen again." She just looked at me thoughtfully and I also knew that a single apology would certainly not make things right, especially with the whims I had been showing her lately.

As I was about to continue, she suddenly raised her arm and gently placed her delicate hand on mine, which rested on the kitchen island.

"It's okay. I wasn't always fair either. But you shouldn't kidnap people."

My gaze fell on our hands, how they calmly lay on each other and inside, a thousand feelings erupted in me at the same time, just because of this so innocent touch ...

My wolf wouldn't put me in the devil's kitchen...

"And to the man," I continued, watching her body tense with excitement. I immediately took her hand in mine and wrapped my other hand around hers to let her know I was there for her.

"Igor came to us back then because he-"

"Found his mate and shot his friend, I know," she interrupted, and I gaped at her in total confusion. "Igor already told me the story," she added sheepishly and then looked at me full of curiosity again.

I had to admit that at that moment I was really trying to fight my jealousy, which was completely unfounded, but my inner wolf made no attempt to calm down until I just blocked out all the feelings inside me and focused on the essentials.

"Yes, exactly. Then he must have told you that the third hunter just ran away and he is also the reason why werewolves are always being killed in the forest. He told the story of the wolves in his village and this rumor spread then from place to place and more and more hunters come to see for themselves." "But no one has ever been killed among us below. At least not that I know of," she interjected, shocked, and I felt her small hand begin to tremble between mine. I would have loved to spare her all this, but she deserved the truth...

"Why do you think it's forbidden for you to enter the forest and transform? Also, I have guards from my pack all over the forest. Most of the time it hits them..."

Tears welled up in her beautiful eyes and she looked at me in desperation, which made me yelp internally. I could hardly bear to see her so broken.

"So this man wanted to kill me..." she breathed and I could only watch in silence as the tears left her eyes and flowed down her tender cheek.

"Jade, I assure you that nothing will happen to you. I never locked the door to lock you up. I don't want anything to happen to you. That's my number one priority."

I walked around the corner of the kitchen island and hugged her tightly, hoping to ease at least some of her fear.

"And what was that ribbon that he put around my neck?" she then asked with a trembling voice, but unfortunately I didn't know that myself.

All I knew was that it took away one's ability to shapeshift... nothing more.

"I dont know."

She dropped her head against my chest and clutched my side with her hands while I rubbed her back gently.

I glanced at the clock above the front door. A meeting was coming up and my entire pack would probably rip my head off before long, but I certainly wouldn't leave them alone.

She was more important to me... even if everything else would fall apart.

After holding me in his strong arms until I calmed down somewhat, he settled comfortably on the couch and only seconds later fell into a sound sleep.

He certainly hadn't closed his eyes after the whole action. If I hadn't either, I wouldn't have fainted... I also didn't have the feeling that I would be able to fall asleep in peace anytime soon. My head was too full for that with images that kept taking my breath away with their hideousness.

At least thanks to his explanations, I no longer had the feeling of being imprisoned here. On the contrary. I felt safe, secure, and protected for the first time since stepping into this home. But only if he was here too.

My eyes drifted over to him and for a long time my eyes stayed on his sleeping face, which at that moment even made me smile with its familiarity, although I felt more like crying.

Because despite all the positive feelings towards him, which became more and more intense due to his suddenly understanding nature, there was still the bitter realization that someone really wanted to kill me...

I immediately thought of Devin, who, like siblings, had often enough threatened to throw me in the lake. But that was something completely different. That man in the woods really would have done it, even though he didn't even know me...

What kind of shitty world was I living in?

I could hardly stand all these negative thoughts without Silvan's company, which made me nervously pace back and forth behind the couch. Those ugly demons in my head, roaming my mind, threatening to drive me crazy, but I would never dare wake him up after he's been watching over me all night.

He really deserved some rest. Also, I didn't want to be that little girl anymore who had to be held by the hand all the time, so I pulled myself together, accepted that there were hunters who wanted to butcher us all, and then ran up the stairs, shaking my head. What total bullshit...

Once at the top, I immediately entered his room, grabbed his blanket and a pillow and packed like a donkey, I then padded carefully down step by step.

That's how Igor must have felt, even though I must have been a lot heavier... Poor guy.

Back on the couch, I carefully tucked the covers over him, then lifted his head to squeeze the pillow underneath.

Satisfied, I looked at the result and then immediately thought that he would definitely get too warm, so I pulled the white blanket down a bit again to get a glimpse of his chest muscles, which, despite the light-colored t-shirt, were tight were recognized.... Don't stare so stupid!!!

Rolling my eyes at myself, I covered him up to his neck again, which made him move jerkily.

Wide-eyed, I hoped that my stupid behavior wouldn't wake him up and luckily for me, he slept peacefully on and just looked damn good doing it.

But seriously, that was really too warm.

I held my breath again and then pulled down the covers one last time, whereupon he suddenly opened his eyes and looked at me sleepily. He stretched happily, then ran a hand through his tousled hair before targeting me again.

"Hey," he whispered in a still tired voice and his sleepy bedroom eyes made me just gape at him.

Well done Jade. You don't even allow your lifesaver to sleep!

"I didn't want to wake you up," I then apologized after catching myself, but inside I was really glad that I didn't have to be alone anymore.

"No problem," he said smiling and then slowly got up to stand right in front of me. "Everything OK with you?"

He looked at me questioningly and then carefully took my hand in his, which immediately made my heart race again. How magical that connection was, that even after so much shit, it could make you feel so much good...

"Yes, I just wanted to tuck you in and then thought you were too warm. But then, you were cold and then too warm again... Oh, I don't know...", I babbled embarrassed and immediately took his encouraging one smirk as he gently rubbed his thumb across the back of my hand.

"Thank you," he whispered, kissing my forehead lightly before pulling me along behind him.

"What you up to?"

"We're going for a little walk. Fresh air will do us good."

Arrived at the front door, he let me go for a moment and put on his white sneakers and then handed me mine.

Hardly dressed properly, I looked deep into his dark eyes and we left the house hand in hand. It felt so normal and easy being with him under the bright sun that I really thought nothing could ruin our day today.

But I had thought wrong. Unfortunately.

****

Holding hands, we strolled along the quiet streets like an old married couple, stopped in front of several shops and looked at the different things in the shop windows together.

It was so idyllic that I really didn't give a thought to last night, or even think of anything other than the two of us...

When we quietly arrived at a small park where children were playing football and parents were chatting in a good mood, we sat down on a wooden bench at the edge and enjoyed the pleasant rays of the autumn sun, which kept making its way through the thick clouds paved.

He held my hand the entire time and made no move to let go, which kept me smiling at him in embarrassment.

Those dark eyes, the black hair that fell slightly in his face. Plus the dimples and tanned skin. The sight of him made my heart beat faster, especially in the fleeting seconds in which our eyes met so intensely.

"I like it when you smile like that," he whispered, and I immediately had to grin, shaking my head.

"I like it too. Better than hitting you with a crutch."

He was laughing, beaming from ear to ear, which made me happily lay my head on his shoulder and watch the kids play...

I tried to remember exactly when I stopped hating him, but it took several situations to really get closer to him.

My brother was fine and I was safe here. Who else could have protected me in the forest besides him? Certainly nobody... Except maybe Igor, who also liked to shoot people in the head.

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and then pushed away the thoughts that were dragging me down. I much preferred listening to his calm breathing and concentrating on our hands, which rested clasped on my lap.

Only when I suddenly heard him take a sharp breath and felt his body tense extremely did I open my eyes in shock and looked over at him in irritation.

I followed his gaze along the narrow path between the meadows until I saw a black Mercedes parked by the road, and his father got out of it at that moment.

Even from this distance, I noticed his hateful gaze, which seemed to be focused only on me. In addition, his irascible demeanor. He seemed very angry about something... Maybe he knew about last night?

Of course he would blame me then, after all I ran into the woods alone at night...

Adjusting his black suit, he walked quickly towards us and the closer he got, the faster my breathing went and my pulse shot up unintentionally at the sight of him.

"Wait here," Silvan said reassuringly, and as I watched him get up and let go of my hand, I felt terribly guilty.

He did everything for me and I only seemed to bring him trouble with my sometimes too impulsive behavior.

They stopped in front of each other a good distance away from me. So close that I could clearly see their gestures and facial expressions, but so far that I couldn't hear what they were talking about.

His father's devastating look kept hitting me, but Silvan was very good at building himself up in front of his father so that our eyes could no longer meet.

I shifted nervously on the bench and looked down, overwhelmed. It was starting to feel like the whole universe was against me having at least a day off.

In a week I was kidnapped, almost shot, had to wear crutches and so much more and now that I finally forgave Silvan and got closer to him, his father apparently had something against me...

Because I was a lower class... what was so bad about that? idiot!

My nervousness slowly disappeared and gave way to anger. I didn't want to stand idly by while Silvan had to justify himself because of me, so I got up, threw my brown hair over my shoulder and ran towards the two of them determinedly. They were totally caught up in their discussion and didn't even notice me.

"I hope you know what you're doing! Otherwise I don't guarantee anything!", I heard his father say, who then noticed me first, but immediately avoided my gaze and ran back to his car.

"What was going on?" I asked curiously, still looking at the black Mercedes, and then stood so close to Silvan's side that our hands clasped together again as if by themselves.

"I missed a meeting, that's all," he then turned to me, but that couldn't be all. I saw the brokenness in his eyes. Felt the inner tension he carried inside, as if we were one in this moment. "Does he know, from last night?"

Silvan shook his head and then avoided my gaze to watch the car drive away.

"No, and nobody needs to know that either. Igor took care of everything."

We stood there for a while, and while he just seemed thoughtful, I tried to figure out what his father's problem was with me.

But why rack your brains when you could just ask...

"Why does he hate me so much?"

He ran a hand through his black hair, then gave me a concerned look and took a deep breath.

"He thinks your father killed my sister."

The words echoed through my mind several times, feeling so unreal. My first reaction was to freeze in confusion before I gasped and shook my head wildly.

How absurd was that?

My father? The man who couldn't hurt a fly what? This was supposed to be a joke...

"That can't be at all!", I explained loudly, but Silvan was probably not the one I had to convince.

"I don't think so either. He was simply looking for someone to blame and since your parents ran away, he had found one. The thoughts of revenge are eating away at him... He's not the same anymore..."

He sadly avoided my gaze. Typical Alpha. The main thing is not to show weakness, but I was here and I was there for him and I wanted to prove that to him.

I carefully placed myself in front of him so that he immediately eyed me questioningly and my thoughts no longer revolved around his or my father, but that he had a sister who was murdered. This realization broke my heart... "Let's go home," I breathed sympathetically, gently stroking his cheek, making him gasp and close his eyes, causing a single tear to fall down his cheek.

"Nothing better than that."