Chapter 4

LEANNA’S POV

I stared, heart thumping as the rustling sound grew louder. My calves were taut as I was ready to spring into action.

But my actions were short lived as a low cry floated into my ears. “Help,” a soft voice rang out, as the figure in the bushes was finally revealed. 

I stood, frozen as I watched a bloodied male stumble out, before falling to the ground with blood quickly pooling around him.

My taut nerves gradually relaxed as I was unsure as to what I was supposed to do. My gaze darted between the bloodied man and the direction I came in, as I contemplated leaving him to his fate.

At that moment, my mother’s kind face flashed through my mind, forcing me to grit my teeth as I approached him. She had taught me kindness. And I refuse to lose any more of her than I already had.

As I reached forward to touch him, I stood transfixed as it felt as though a jolt of electricity passed through my body. 

A wave of pleasure coursed through my body as goosebumps sprang up across my skin.

A low growl escaped from my lips as I bared my teeth before mumbling, “Mine.”

I stood transfixed as the knowledge ingrained in every Stormfang child from birth sprang to the forefront of my thoughts. He was mine.

Without giving what just happened any more thought, I burst into action. Tearing his shirt to see a bullet wound lodged in his rib cage. 

A silent hiss escaped my lips as I wondered how he had managed to get this far with such a wound. 

I moved away from him, rummaging through the bushes around as I searched for anything that could serve as an anaesthetic.

A light smile of relief tugged at my lips as I found a bunch of poppy flowers. They would have to do. I stuffed a stem into his mouth, before compressing his skin as I forced the bullet out.

Even with the impromptu poly flower, he still grunted in pain. Tears pooled in my gaze as my skin crawled as though his pain automatically translated to being mine.

I gritted my teeth, fighting through the rush of unfamiliar emotions as I eventually forced the bullet out. I had a string of cloth ready as I prepared to control the bleeding.

But it seemed as though my worries were unfounded as barely any blood rushed out.

His breathing slowly evened out as the painful crease between his brows slowly evened out. 

It was then I took my time to observe him. He had dirty blonde hair that was caked with mud and blood. His sharp features were smudged with brown blood, leaving me unable to fully make out his face.

My gaze travelled down his neck to his torso, where his well defined eight-pack shone. Even with the blood all over his body, his beautiful figure was undeniable.

It was then I noticed that the blood surrounding him didn’t seem to belong to him. A hint of worry flashed across my brows as I wondered who was after him. 

The worry was quickly replaced by murderous intent. Anyone who went after him would pay with their lives. 

My gaze softened as I turned to face him. His breathing had evened out and he looked extremely peaceful as he laid unconscious.

My hands moved of their own free will as I found myself stroking his hair. Tracing the lines of every curl on his head.

A burst of warmth blossomed within my chest as I continued to imprint his features into my mind. 

“Mine,” I whispered, still surprised by the recent turn of events. I sat next to him, our figures illuminated by the full moon. 

“I wonder what grandpa would say,” I muttered, anxiety creeping up as I wondered how I would explain the presence of an injured wolf as my mate. 

Wait. My nose crinkled as I stared at him. My eyes widened as I realized he didn’t have the characteristic smell I had grown accustomed to while growing up.

I felt bile rise to my throat as I turned him over slightly, ignoring my trembling hands as I looked towards the nape of his neck.

Instantly, blood drained from my face as I noticed the absence of the tattoo that marked every wolf. Pureblood or not.

“No no no. This doesn’t make any sense,” I jumped to my feet. Pacing around his figure with my hands in my hair trying to make sense of the situation.

My chest heaved as I tried to calm myself down. I was sure there was a reasonable explanation for everything that was happening.

I closed my eyes as I tried to use the breathing technique my mother once taught me to calm my nerves. 

I stood, my moonlit figure immobile as my chest slowly settled. I opened my eyes slowly, as they were less troubled than before.

“I have to get to the bottom of this,” I muttered as I gazed at him lovingly, completely unaware of the rustling that was coming from behind me.

Grr

My stomach dropped, as I turned around to the low growl that seeped out of the bushes. “Not again,” I muttered, grabbing my knife once again as I hoped whatever was coming out was as harmless as my mate.

My prayers were destined to be unanswered as I watched a large man stroll out of the bushes. 

The knife in my hand shook slightly as I watched him approach me. He was clad in nothing but a set of torn pants. His long black hair billowed in the cold wind, obscuring his face somewhat.

He had a wild and unrestrained aura filled with an innate confidence that forced one to submit. I gritted my teeth tightly as I recognized that aura. It was the characteristic aura of an alpha.

One that up until now, I thought only my grandfather possessed. “Who are you?” I yelled despite my fear as I stared the wild alpha down.

But it was to no avail. It was as though he was determined to avoid my gaze as he stared right past me. I gripped the knife until my knuckles turned white, ready to fight to the death.

We stood, tension rising in the air as the moonlight intensified. Bathing the clearing in an even more ethereal glow.

“Human,” suddenly, the wild alpha growled. Baring his teeth as he strode towards my unconscious mate, barely taking a few steps before he transformed into his wolf form.

He took on the figure of a large, black majestic wolf with obsidian crystals for pupils that were narrowed into slits. A wave of terror overwhelmed me as I felt extremely helpless at the eight-foot tall wolf that was going to rip my mate away from me. Leaving me all alone again.

I blinked and the wolf was instantly next to him. Raising a large, black paw as he reached to strike. “No!” I yelled, with every fiber of my being as my throat burned.

Leaping to block the blow without regard for my life as my vision turned white.