Chapter 13 - Malachi

         I was so close to kissing her. Just five more seconds and I would have done it. Fucking asshole, whoever they are, interrupting us.

At some point, I need to tell her the full truth. The reason why she feels connected to me, the reason why every time I touch her heat flares up in our bodies, and how every time she is aroused, I can sense it, and I want her too. She was my mate; it was hard to deny, and I needed to tell her today. If I didn’t, and that information got out, she would be in danger.

         I made it to the garage and looked up at the window where Harlow was looking through the scope, her finger was off the trigger. I pulled out my phone and pointed to it. I could almost hear her sigh.

         My phone rang and I accepted it. “Hello.”

         “Walk straight.”

         “Who is this?” I joked.

         “Ha, ha, very funny. Get your ass moving.”

         “Enjoy the view.” I winked at her. She could see me through the scope. I knew she could because she let out a sigh. She really didn’t work with others that often. She was fiercely independent, and it showed.

         I know it was going to be a challenge to bring up the fact that she is my mate. I needed to convince her that this is out of my hands and was written in the stars. I could almost see her rolling her eyes at me if I said that.

         I walked toward the big tree she pointed out; I hopped over a log. This was easy for me; I was athletic, not to mention a werewolf. I was designed to go run and find things…almost like I was playing fetch. 

“A little further, it should be on the ground around that area.”

         I walked through the brush, pushing small branches aside to find what the figure had left. No one was in the forest; I knew that much. They had a task to do, and they did it and left. I spotted the envelope ahead. “Got it.” I took a big inhale, trying to sense if I knew the scent of the person who left it. “The scent isn’t familiar. Smells like body odor and cheap cologne.”

         “Bring it back to the house and we can take a look.”

         I made my way back to the house, and Harlow opened the door for me. She snatched the envelope from my hands. Before she could open it, her cell phone went off, which made her jump.

         “Shit.” She accepted the call. I watched her face drop. “No, everything is fine. I’m taking care of it.” She paused to listen to the person on the other end. It sounded like a man. “I haven’t done anything.” She rolled her eyes, and I raised my eyebrows at her. “Someone from the area.” She let out a breath. “Jesus Murphey, everything is fine. And honestly, if it wasn’t, I’m the only person who would be able to take care of it.” She balled up her hand on the counter. “Yeah, bye.” She hung up the phone and threw it onto the table.

         “Everything okay?”

         “Just my boss.” She let out another breath. She took the envelope and looked at it. The front of it said, ‘Harlow.’ This was meant for her, without a doubt. She opened the envelope and looked inside. She tilted it up, photos fell out, and landed on the counter in front of her. She stared at them, open-mouthed, as she picked up one after the other. There were at least twenty photos.

The photos were disturbing, I picked up one. It was a woman who looked to have been beaten and starved. The next picture was of a dirty man lying in an alley, with a needle hanging out of his arm. The next picture had my blood boiling. It was of Abigail, my cousin, who was kidnapped. It was the picture of her sitting on a bed handcuffed to the headboard. This was how Harlow found her.

I looked at Harlow. She tried to contain the emotions that were rolling through her brain. But her face betrayed her.

“Harlow, what is this?” I said through gritted teeth.

“I—I don’t know.” She looked at a few pictures, and she pushed them aside. “These were the last few assignments that I completed.” She pushed more photos aside, there was a piece of paper under the pile. She pulled it out and stared at it.

“What is it?” I pulled the piece of paper out of her hands.

It read: I’ve been watching you…I’m coming for you.

My heart dropped. Someone was after my mate, my mate who didn’t know she was my mate yet. I looked at Harlow, her eyes searched for something, looking to find the answer as if it would be right in front of her.

         “Hey,” I said in a softer tone. She looked in my direction, but her eyes were focused on something not there. I stepped toward her and lifted her chin so her eyes would look at me. “Hey.”

         “What?” She said just above a whisper, finally looking at me.

         “Are you ok?” My hand was still on her face.

         “I’m fine.” She breathed out, the lie not convincing. I could feel her start to shake.

         “Talk to me.”

         She pulled away. “I think you should leave.”

         My heart dropped again. I didn’t want to leave her; something was happening, and I wanted to be by her side to get her through this situation. “No, talk to me. I can help.”

         “This has nothing to do with you.” She pushed me toward the door.

         If I left now, who knows when I would have another chance to talk to her and tell her she’s my mate. Even though she pushed me, I didn’t budge an inch. I looked at her, trying to think of a way to stay. I turned to face her straight on, I grabbed her face with both of my hands, leaned down, and kissed her.

         She fought me the first few seconds of the kiss. But after, she melted into it, deepening the kiss by opening her mouth and letting my tongue explore. I panicked and didn’t know what else to do. Everything about this kiss felt right; the thing that was missing from my life was finally found. This assassin was my life, my future. I was going to do everything in my power to keep her and try not to get shot in the process.

         I pressed my body against hers; she no doubt could feel how hard I was. She pulled up on my shirt, I took the action and pulled the shirt completely off. She put her hands against my bare chest as we continued to kiss. She was on her tip toes; I grabbed her hips and pulled her up against me.

She hissed out in pain.

“Sorry,” I mumbled against her lips. I forgot about her injuries. Even though I wanted to push her against the wall and fuck her until she sees stars, I needed to hold back.

“I don’t care.” She wrapped her legs around my waist.

I pushed the photos that were on the counter to the floor. I didn’t want her to think about that right now. I wanted her mind to be off the fact that someone was out to get her. I wanted her to forget about her other life of assassinations and just be in the moment with me. I sat her on the counter. It was the perfect height for me to take her.

I tore my lips from hers and pulled up her shirt, taking it completely off. Her body was athletic, and she had muscle definition in her abs and arms. She wasn’t wearing a bra, and she sat in front of me bare from the waist up. I noticed she had a few scars gracing her stomach. I would bet money that they were work injuries.

A growl emerged from my throat. Harlow smirked at me as she pulled me back into the kiss. My right hand went to her breast, and I cupped it, massaged it. Harlow let out a soft moan. I took her nipple between my thumb and forefinger and played with it until it beaded. I did the same to her other breast. Harlow let out another moan.

         I pulled back. I needed to be inside her now. My dick was pushing against the zipper of my pants, if I didn’t free it soon it was going to cause some damage. I took her sweatpants into both of my hands and ripped them down the middle.

         “Oh.” Harlow laughed. She started to work on my belt buckle. I watched her nimble hands work only made me grow harder. She wanted this as much as I did. Of course, she did; she was my mate. This might make it awkward to tell her that, but I didn’t care. I wanted to feel her, to be inside of her. I needed her.

         She released the belt and unzipped my pants. My dick sprung free, harder than it has ever been. She grabbed it and stroked it a few times before putting it against her entrance and rubbed her clit. I put my hands on either side of her legs, bracing myself for impact. I knew it was going to kick me on my ass.

         I couldn’t wait any longer. I took my dick and pushed it to her entrance, just allowing my head peek through. I took my thumb and started to rub her clit. Her head dropped back. I couldn’t wait any longer; I needed to be completely inside her. I pushed in, she took some of me, but I hit resistance. I had so much more to give.

         “Lean back,” I commanded. She leaned on her elbows, opening up more for me. I worked in and out, pushed myself further into her each time. I rubbed her clit.

         “Jesus Christ.” She yelled. I felt her orgasm wash over her as she tightened around me.

         “He’s not going to save you,” I growled at her as I continued to inch deeper into her. I took my hands and gripped her hips, pulling her to the edge of the counter. I held on as I rammed into her. She took all of me. I felt myself deep into her, I butted against her cervix.

         I could feel another orgasm going through her; she tightened. That was what pushed me over. I emptied myself into her. I didn’t care. She was mine. I wanted to mark her, but I couldn’t do that just yet. At least not before telling her that she was my mate.

         After I spilled all that I had into her, I pulled out. She leaned over and grabbed a kitchen towel that hung on one of the cabinets and handed it to me.

         “Thanks.” I took it and wiped my dick clean. Seeing her cum and mine mixed together made my dick hard again.

         “Shit,” Harlow said, looking down at her leg.