Chapter 9 Wind Down

Alek

“What are you talking about?” I’m confused because if she knows what happened to my men and me for the last three days, she wouldn’t think of accusing me of having a good time with my nonexistent girlfriend.

I have to leave one of my men in New York to heal because he risked his life and was severely injured to save my own from our enemy. I’m still wolfless just like hers, and I have to fight in hand-to-hand combat with werewolves.

“Never mind.” She tries to slide off my lap, and I let her go.

When Mirom gets back with a tray of food, I ask him. “What exactly did you tell Jasmine about where I went?”

He shrugs. “I couldn’t tell her the truth, sir. So, I told her you went to see your girlfriend.”

“My girlfriend? My fucking girlfriend? Are you fucking nuts?” I ask him in disbelief as I grab the tray of a glass of apple juice and slices of sandwiches from him and curse him in Russian. “Really? Couldn’t you come up with some good lies? How about you tell her the truth that I was on a business trip?”

“I’m sorry, boss. She didn’t want to eat because I told her she was not allowed to go out and change the bedsheet, as you specifically told me. Also, phone calls are not allowed.”

Growling, I shoo him out. “Get the fuck out.”

I grab the glass and swipe the hair covering her face. “Jasmine, drink this before you go into a coma.”

“Maybe it’s better if I just—”

“Don’t fucking say die, please?” I put the glass back on the tray to take off my jacket and kick off my shoes. “How about we make a deal? If you eat, I’ll let you call your mom.”

Her body stiffens before turning to me. She doesn’t have to say a word. Excitement and hope are written all over her face. I know she’s worried that her mom is worried about her, and she wants to speak to her.

She slowly sits down, resting her back against the headboard.

Smiling, I give her a glass of apple juice and place the tray before her. “Eat. Let me just change.”

She drinks in silence, and I go to grab clean clothes from the closet. I’m happy that she starts to feel something for me, even the lightest of jealousy— it has to mean something.

I take a quick shower because I wasn’t able to do it for three days. We’d been trying to change routes and flight schedules to avoid another ambush.

As soon as I walk out of the shower room, I hear a loud gasp, and I know it comes from Jasmine. Her eyes are wide, staring at me, particularly at my healing bruises.

She starts to hyperventilate. Before she can collapse again, I rush to catch her.

With wild eyes, she looks at the bruises on my chest, the sides of my abdomen, and up to my left shoulder.

“T-Turn around.” She stutters, pulling away from my arms.

“You’re not supposed to see this.”

“Turn around, please?”

Groaning, I do as she asked since she did it nicely.

“So those three days you were not only shooting kneecaps, collecting debts, but you were also in a cage fight?” She glares at me. “Goddess, Alek.”

“I’m fine.” I chuckle when she says cage fight because what happened wasn’t even close. “I’ve had worse.”

“You think it’s funny?”

I can’t help but smile as I cup her head and kiss her lips. She gasps into my mouth, and her hands come to my arms, clinging to me. I deepen the kiss, tracing my tongue at the seam of her lips.

As soon as she gives me access, I glide my tongue in her mouth, swirling to taste the sweetness I missed for three days.

She moans, kissing me back with the same passion, melting into my arms. The bruises don’t hurt anymore, and at this moment, I don’t care. I just want to kiss her, taste her, and feel her skin to skin, flesh to flesh, gripping her tightness around me as I sink my cock inside her again.

“Alek,” she says into my mouth, pulling away.

I still want to kiss, but she presses her finger against my lips. “I said I’m fine.”

“I know that. You said it already.” Her eyebrows are drawn together. Her face flushed. “What happened? Who attacked you?”

“Are you done eating?”

Her frown deepens.

“Then let’s brush our teeth together, and then we’ll talk in bed.”

She groans. “I’m tired of lying in bed for three days, Alek. Please, if you wanna keep me here longer, give me a little freedom.”

“I’m sorry about Mirom. He’s a good man, but he’s lacking a sense of humor.” I take her to the sink, grab her toothbrush, and put a good amount of toothpaste on it. “I’m taking you out.”

“Out where?”

“Just change to something comfortable. Bring a coat with you.”

She brushes her teeth in silence, and I do mine. Once she’s done, she leaves.

Thirty minutes later, we’re both dressed. She looks beautiful in a simple red blouse, denim jeans, and ankle boots. She takes the taupe wool coat with her.

As we descend downstairs, she asks, “Are you sure you’re up for this?”

“I’m healing, and we’ll talk about your question in the car.”

“Glad you’re not taking me on your bike.”

I chuckle as I take her hand. “I actually brought it with me, but I don’t wanna freeze your ass. You’ll ride with me when it’s not cold for you.”

The car ride is the most unusual thing for me to do. I don’t usually take women on a car ride with me. I fuck and leave after. I don’t want complications.

I can’t risk women’s lives to be in a relationship because of my line of business, and the lives of werewolves are also dangerous, and packs are always under attack from rivals for power and territories. But Jasmine is the exception. She’s mine.

“Radimir Varfolomey’s men, led by Maks Vanechko, were the ones who attacked my team and me on our way to the private airport in New York. I had to leave Oleg to heal. He’s wounded.”

“Who’s Radimir Varfolomey?”

“The younger step-brother of Anatoliy Varfolomey, the man responsible for killing my parents. I spared him because he said he had nothing to do with it. A few years later, he killed everyone running Anatoliy’s business, including the board members, and took over. He’s been after me since. If I killed five of his men, he would recruit ten more.”

“Maybe you should cut the head instead.”

I smile as I take her hand and press it against my lips. “I’m sorry for how I acted before I left.”

“Did you just—” Her mouth gapes as she stares at me, eyes glimmering in humor.

“Apologize, yes. And so, you were jealous, huh?”

She snorts. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

We make it to the restaurant. In between courses, she shares her college days and pack life, and how she wants to be a pediatrician or a pack doctor.

“Do you still want to pursue medicine?”

She shakes her head shyly. “It’s expensive. Mom can’t afford it. I don’t want to sell my Dad’s house, of what’s left of him, and I don’t want to be in debt either.”

“I’ll pay your tuition.”

She chuckles. “Looks like my stay with you is more than a month then. Do you think Liam will pay you?”

“I have many ways to make him pay me, but I have better plans.”

We leave the restaurant and take her to the woods for a while.

“Thank you.”

“For what?” I take her hand. Caging her, I press her back against the car, closing the gap between us. “Just promise me you won’t run away from me. If you want to leave me, I want you to come to me and tell me.”

“Would you allow me to leave?” She meets my gaze. I see hope and fear in there.

I tuck the strands blown by the wind behind her ear. “I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t want you to go. And you will not run from me, Jasmine. Ever.”