5

December 2016, Brooklyn, New York

November slammed against a brick wall, across the dark alley, she hit the concrete wall so hard that when she fell on the snow-covered pavement, the wall shook heavily and huge cracks were left to the wall. She growls, her eyes turning crystal blue, her vision turning into a wolf’s.

Standing up slowly, she cracks her neck, the wound healing right away. November bared her fangs and snarled at the four male wolf-shifters standing across her. She was on her way to her new home when she was suddenly thrown off by a sudden force, but she inwardly blamed herself for missing the scent and was taken off guard by her enemies for she had been deep into her thoughts. She noticed it but she was almost a second too late before that hand swayed her.

“Awww… did we upset the Princess?” One of them smirked. Then they started moving towards her.

“You kept us in the run Sweetheart, always running after you, tracking you… but now you’re trapped. Then, you’re going to die.”

A smirk formed slowly into November’s lips. Her crystal blue eyes glinted in the dark. “Not if I end you first.”

Then she attacked.

She moves like a blur, she was too fast, and before they know it one of them went flying after she had swiped one of her attackers with just one hand. He hit the bricked wall too, only his head smashed against it and blood splattered all over the wall.

“GODDAMNIT!”

“WHERE THE FUCK DID SHE GO?!”

One of them jerked all so suddenly. His eyes widening and blood just gushed out of his mouth taking the other two men’s attention. They too went still like all of them stared down at their companion’s stomach where her hand shot out, she was standing behind him, a dangerous smirk on her lips.

Eyes not leaving her two opponents, she whispered against the man’s ear, “I know we don’t kill our kind when they’re in human form. That would be too troublesome to explain to the human police. Kill them when they’re in their wolf form so they stay as wolves when they die. Most wolf shifters do not do this often.” Then she pulled her hand out of his system. She chuckles, “I don’t mind killing shifters in their human forms…I want them to stay human when they die.”

The man dropped before his two cohorts. When the two men looked up she was gone. “GODDAMN FUCK! THAT BITCH IS GONE AGAIN!”

“LET’S GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE. THAT BITCH IS A LOT STRONGER THAN WE LET ON!”

“ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR GODDAMN MIND?! NICOLE WILL DO WORST IF WE DON’T GET HER SISTER’S HEAD ON THE PLATTER!”

“FUCK!”

“We just have to get November off guard okay?! Then we kill her! GOT IT?!” One of the men demanded as he turns around only to come face to face with November James, her fangs out, he wasn’t able to move any further for November already had her hand wrapped around his neck. Her hand still had blood from her earlier kill.

“I will shred your body to pieces. Slowly. I will make sure you watch what I’m doing, I want you to see your end.” She said, her smile widening, her fangs showing a lot more. Her long dark hair splayed around her shoulders.

She turned to the other man, “If you’re afraid of my sister…” She dipped her head to the side, looking thoughtful, when she blinked her eyes turned colder blue, “Be very afraid of me.” Then she snapped her enemy’s neck like a twig.

The only man left gasping and cursing as he struggles to run away. November let go of the dead man and starts to go after the only left enemy when a cold metal touched the back of her head. “I wouldn’t do anything if I were you.”

November stiffened. She didn’t hear a thing!

“Let him live, November.” The unfamiliar voice said. Yet she had a feeling she knew who the man standing behind her is, the smell, the smell was so overly familiar yet something had changed in the smell of this person.

“Aidan…”

November spun around, the barrel of a gun brushed against her forehead and she gapes at the Aidan James, all grown up. He was not the same boy she used to play with, but a grown man with a gun aimed at her head. He isn’t her brother by blood but they both came from the same pack, after all, he decided to take her last name.

She blinked, a lump forming into her throat. Despite the situation they’re in, seeing an old ally made her smile. “Aidan… You’ve grown up.”

Then November realized something. The change of his scent. “You smell like Nicole rubbed herself all over you.” Her voice shook as she stared into him with wide eyes, “Oh God… Aidan…”

“I didn’t mark her.” It has been a long time since she ran away from Luna Puer Pack, from Tvor Forest, from Russia but she always believed that with Jennie left behind, she’d be able to at least control Nicole and her mother. November expected that until Jennie calls her back home, Jennie would be able to handle and guide the rest of the packs and to make sure nothing will happen to the rest of them.

Aidan shrugged. “She didn’t mark me as well. If that’s what you’re thinking.”

Tears formed into her eyes, her lips quivered, “She sent you to kill me…”

His expression remained neutral.

November’s fangs retracted. “You’re going to kill me using a gun too. A human weapon.”

He shrugged, “Silver nitrate, kind of weapon that only kills wolf-shifters like us within seconds.” He didn’t move his hand, “This gun had to be improvised so shifters like us could use it. Human inventions… they’re fucking disgusting.”

Two more shifters appeared behind Aidan. “What are you waiting for? Kill her already!”

Aidan and November both ignored them. “What happened?”

Aidan scoffs, “What happened? Things happened, a lot of things changed all over the years since you left November. You left us all just to save yourself… after killing your father-“

“I didn’t kill him!”

Aidan pressed the barrel harder on her forehead making her sob. Aidan glares, “After you left… it was a whole different shithole. Nicole’s mom became the new Alpha, more wolves of Luna Puer Pack died. It was a bloodbath inside the pack. It was a different kind of survival. Jennie was next to strongest to you but even she was nothing but just a teenage girl compared to a seasoned bitch like Nicole’s mother.” He shrugs, “Now we all just work with them… now we are all accepting our fates… except Jennie…but well… she’s crazy these days and she stays locked up anyways.”

November’s hand shook. “I…”

Seeing the fearstricken expression on November, Aidan laughs, “Yes… While you ran away here to live among humans and other shifters quietly in America, back there in Russia, Luna Puer Wolves sank to the bottom pit of hell.” His wolf eyes glint in resentment, “While you were having the time of your life here, there we were forced to do things we cannot fucking stomach.”

November tried to reach out to him. “Aidan..I..-“

“HEY, YOU! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” A man standing at the end of the street thundered out. Then the man started running towards them.

“Shit. A full human!”

 “Let’s just kill him.”

“Are you crazy? This is not our territory. If we kill a human here, all the other packs will know that a stranger stepped into their territory! All those packs will come running after us!” The man behind Aidan stresses, “We can’t bring more trouble to Nicole.”

Aidan held November’s gaze for a few moments more before shoving her down that she fell into the pavement, suddenly, she felt so tired. Before Aidan walks away, “Nicole always knew where you are… obviously, we’ve been trying to kill you for years and fails but don’t worry I’m here now.”

They immediately took the bodies of their dead comrades and went to ride one of the waiting vans.

November closed her eyes through the confusion that clouded her mind.

The man was nearer and he was still bellowing, “Hey! You! STOP!” His gaze dropped to the woman and the thoughts of running after them changed as immediately went to the woman instead. “Hey… Miss?” there was a gasp, it almost made November smile, “Miss James?!”

November felt a hand patting her cheeks. “It’s okay Jamie…you’re safe now.” Said the rather comforting voice. “I’ll take you to the hospital...Christ! You’re bleeding! Your hand…your arm has blood…you’re bleeding!”

November groaned when she felt she was being held in a pair of warm arms. She realized she was suddenly cold. “Not mine…” She didn’t mind opening her eyes for the feeling of being safe in this pair of arms was enough. “No hospitals please…” suddenly, she felt sleepy, and shockingly for no reason whatsoever, the scent made her feel protected and completed.

That scent…that familiar scent was lulling her to sleep.

Leonidas Maximilian stared down at the bleeding woman in his arms, “Jamie…”

                                                   

         _____________________________________________________________

November opened her eyes when she felt a gentle pat against her cheeks. Which were pale from the cold winter night.

She was welcomed by deep brown eyes filled with concern, dark fringes of his hair almost touches his eyes.

Her heart gave a strong lurch, her breath caught, time stood still.

She blinked up when he started cradling her toward his body, his arms around her protectively, she lay there, in his arms, in the dark alley, in the cold pavement. He stared down at her meeting her gaze. His eyes are deep brown and they’re concentrated into her.

Snow started to slowly fall from the dark sky. Moon Gods are cruel were her last thought as she closed her eyes.

Leonidas Maximilian.

No matter where she goes, fear-stricken, hides, and no matter how much she stays away from him, she should’ve known better than to make a mockery out of the Moon Gods decisions. The Moon Gods decided that she is fated to be with this human, Leonidas Maximilian and nothing can stop them from crossing their paths again.

She had known the fact about Leonidas Maximilian, that he is her fated mate a year ago when he walked into that library. His scent sends shivers down her spine, his deep brown eyes glints with pureness. Gods, he was handsome and tall, his features sharp. He was lean but muscled and athletic too, she could tell, no, she saw because after that day she just couldn’t stop thinking about him she just have to see another glimpse of him. She already got his name and there was no self-respecting wolf shifter who isn’t good at tracking down something they do want to have, in her case, someone.

November knows her boundaries. This man had never seen her before, never knew anything about her kind or her world. Once her sister finds out about this man, it doesn’t matter if he is clueless, Nicole will kill him to fuck November up. The Moon Gods may have made him her mate but she wouldn’t ruin his life that way, no, she wouldn’t put his life at risk knowing of what she is and her current situation. So she left him alone, didn’t even go to see him even from afar. Completely making him nonexistent in November James’s life. Maybe one day, when everything is in place and everyone safe and open-minded, then maybe, maybe they would have a chance. In the meantime, it was better to hide to keep him safe, but the Moon Gods are impatient.

A year after she set her eyes on him, on the dance recital night for the dance studio which she teaches, one father of her student decided to bring a guest.

As they were being surrounded by the school staff and some parents, November was grasping at straws.

“Miss James. I’d like to introduce you to one of my most trusted associates in the company, Attorney Leonidas Maximilian. He is also one of my best, mind you.”

A tall handsome man in a black suit, with deep brown eyes and a killer smile, held a hand before her flustered face, he looked at her like she was a gift.

“Hello, Miss James.”

God, that voice melts her. She swallowed and stuttered, “E-everyone calls… calls me Ja-Jamie.”

Her fangs starts to creep out of her gums, her heart pounding as she shakily reach for his hand and when he grasp hers, she almost gasped.

Her student’s father, Mr. Hill was still talking jovially. “My wife adores Miss James so much, she told me to introduce her to one of my finest guys.”

It’s amazing how all these humans surround her and none of them could hear her heart beating so loud, maybe it’s a good thing too that none of these humans could smell her longing, desire, and fear. The man she was destined to be with is right there before her, smiling charmingly at her.

“Miss James?” Maximilian thought the lady was very beautiful, what with her big doe eyes, cute nose, and full lips.

She blinked hard, not knowing what to do in the situation, feelings getting the better of her, November decided to flee. “I… I have to go… excuse me.”

“Miss James!”

She rushed out of the hall. Not looking back. Hoping to melt in a puddle right there. She was so embarrassed and surprised.

7 days later and on the night of the attack, Leonidas Maximilian watches Miss James sleep peacefully in the stretcher of the emergency room of the hospital. The Doctor smiles at him and motions him out, Leonidas follows her. A police officer was there too.

“Well… Miss James here has no cuts or any internal bleeding, her internal organs are okay, her head is fine too, and her vitals are good. She’s perfectly healthy.” The doctor was saying, “Miss James passed out of shock. Once she wakes up, she’s good to go.”

“The blood on her hands and clothes wasn’t hers either.” The police officer beside the doctor said.

“Well the blood on her wasn’t of a human’s.” The doctor pointed out, her expression turned confused. “It’s of a wolf’s.”

Both Leonidas and the police stared at the equally confused Doctor. Then the police officer sighed, “Actually, there’s been reports of wolf hunting. It’s an underground case and we’re currently on it. Some gangs traffic wolves from other countries and take them to the city to breed, some make them as their pets and others sell them for illegal dog fights you know.” He sighed, “This is why we need Miss Jame’s statement after she wakes up to know what happened, she might’ve been caught in a middle of a sick game of hunting wolves in the city. She could be a witness and we’d like to have more leads into this matter.”

“It’s a good thing Mr. Maximilian that you were in the vicinity when this happened to Miss James.”

Leonidas nodded and turns to the sleeping November James. “Yes. It’s fortunate too that we’ve already met. I was just out drinking with my older brother when I happen to notice she was being harassed. The guys ran away with some of their drunk friends so I didn’t see any of their faces.”

Leonidas sat straight when November starts to stir from her sleep. He smiles when she turned him. Instantly, she blushed to amuse him so.  “Hi. Miss James.”

She panics, “What?” and she starts to sit up, “What’s happening? Am I at the hospital?”

“Hey, hey…” Leo helped her sit down right and he didn’t see more panic crossed in the lady’s face. “Calm down. You’re at the hospital. I brought you here after you passed out.” He went back to his chair and smiles encouragingly at her, “I hope you still remember me. Leonidas, the guy Mr. Hill introduced to you at the dance recital of his daughter.”

November swallowed, she licked her lips and looked everywhere but him, “Uhm... can I have a glass of water?”

“Oh, yeah. Of course.” Leonidas stood up to get a glass on the counter, “You’re safe now you know. You’ve not hurt anywhere but the Police would still like to get a statement from you. You see, you’ve got blood all over your clothes and your hands but they’re wolf’s blood. And the guys that were harassing you ran away from the scene.”

She shakily reached for the glass, muttering a stuttered thank you and drinking the whole thing in one go. “I… I’ll go and give my statement to the police…Uhm…Later…when I…” November is nervous to be around him, she knows he is to her but he took her attitude for being still rattled at the accident. He sat down beside her and made her gasp when he held her hand. “Don’t be scared. I know what happened last night was traumatizing but you’ll get through this, we may not really know each other but you look like a tough girl.”

He followed her gaze dropping to their hands making him chuckle uncomfortably, “Sorry. I know we’re practically strangers.”

November knew she was blushing but Leonidas would probably take it as fear. “No…it’s fine… I remember you from last week. Yeah, sorry I ran out on you …I just… I had something to do that I forgot.” She lies. She took a deep breath and stared into his eyes, hoping he wouldn’t see hunger and longing in her eyes, “Nice to meet you again and… thank you for saving me, Leonidas.”

His smile this time was downright charming, “My friends call me Leo…sometimes. And you’re welcome… Jamie.”

For the first time, after everything, after a long while, November smiles, and her eyes were brighter than ever.