CHAPTER 7 Since You Asked So Nicely

　　Thomas's POV

Rain begins to pelt my windshield as I race down the road to the Moonshadow Pack. There is only one thing on my mind and that is saving Mia. It is well known that Alpha Richard doesn't treat his mates or his mistresses with any sort of respect. The man has been trying to produce an heir for his pack for the better part of three decades with no luck. His line will end with him.

My headlights pierce through the darkness and the falling rain and land on a small blonde figure carrying a trash bag over her shoulder. Her thumb is stuck out as she walks on the other side of the road trying to flag down a ride to take her in the opposite direction that I am going. At first, I plan to ignore the small figure trying to hitchhike but I can't do it.

Skidding to a stop in the middle of the road, I honk my horn to get her attention. The small woman runs up to the car, holding her trash bag over her head to shield herself from the rain. As she approaches my tinted window, I realize that it is none other than Mia.

I roll down the window and before I can say anything, Mia yells out over the falling rain. "Sorry, Mister, but you are heading in the wrong direction."

Once I roll the window down all of the way I look at my soon-to-be mate. Her blonde hair hangs limply down to almost her waist and her green eyes shine even in the darkness of the night and rain. She has on a white t-shirt with no bra underneath and it is leaving little to the imagination. Even though I know this woman is too young for me I cannot help but feel a tinge of arousal as I glance down at her perky nipples poking through her wet shirt. But not only that I feel protective over her at the same time.

"Get in," I growl at her but she stands frozen where she stands in the middle of the street.

"Alpha Thomas," she stutters. "What are you doing?"

"Apparently I am picking up a hitchhiker," I fuss at her. "Now get in the car."

Mia draws her lower lip into her mouth and thinks for a moment. "No," she finally says as she walks back to the other side of the road.

Letting out a growl of frustration, I get out of the car. The falling rain immediately soaks through my jacket. "I said to get in the car," I yell at her as I chase her down the road.

"No," she yells back at me. "You will just take me back to my father and I am not going back there."

I suddenly wish I had changed out of my dress shoes and into something more comfortable. My dress shoes are causing me to slip and slide in the mud and water that is draining alongside the road.

"Would you just fucking stop for a moment?" I yell as I chase her down the road.

Mia doesn't say a word; she simply picks up the pace and begins to run faster. I run faster to try and catch up to her but she is uncommonly fast for a girl who supposedly doesn't have a wolf. Suddenly my shoe slips off my foot and I fall face-first into the mud that is running down the side of the road.

"Fuck this shit!" I yell out after her. "I am too old for this bullshit."

Mia stops running and turns to look at me. The terrified look that was on her face is now one of humor. She unsuccessfully tries to hide her giggles behind her hand, but it is too late. I can see her eyes sparkling with laughter.

"Go live with Alpha Asshole," I groan as I get myself back to my feet. "I am done trying to save you."

Mia pauses mid-stride and turns back to look at me with her eyes wide. "What is that supposed to mean?"

I wipe the mud from my hands onto my already-soaked pants. "It means, I was on my way to negotiate with your father for your hand but if you are just going to fucking run off what's the point?"

Anger sits in the pit of my stomach as I walk back to my car. I try to hide the limp in my step from an old injury to my knee but between the fall and the chill in the air, it is hard to disguise.

"What makes you think that my father would negotiate with you?" She is pretending to be tough but I can hear the longing in her voice. I am her only escape from the hell she is in and she knows it.

Standing in the middle of the road with the rain pelting down on me, I stare at the woman that I am fighting for. She is stubborn and crass. Is this what I really want for my pack?

Mia wraps her arms around herself to keep herself from shivering in the rain and all of my doubts melt away. "Get in the car and I will explain," I command her but once again she doesn't budge.

"Get in the car... P-p-please," she retorts with a smirk on her face.

I roll my eyes at her childishness but I am getting tired of standing in the rain. "Will you please get in the car?" I ask her again through gritted teeth.

"Since you asked so nicely," she jokes as she walks across the road and climbs into the passenger side of my car.

I climb in next to her and cringe and the amount of water and mud that is dripping off of both of us. I just had the car detailed before I came on this trip. Pulling a U-turn in the middle of the road, I head back towards the hotel.

Glancing at Mia out of the corner of my eye, I see her chewing on her bottom lip. She clears her throat awkwardly. "Umm, where are you taking me?"

"Not back to Moonshadow, that's for damn sure," I try to keep the growl out of my voice. I can see straight through her tough-girl act and I know that she is scared.