Chapter 9

ERIC P.O.V

 “I would highly recommend bringing her here so I can examine her.”

I got up and grabbed the phone before storming out of the tent. Something wasn’t right. She didn’t recognise me as her mate nor was her wolf present. I needed to talk to the doctor and I most likely would have to come clean with him.

“Um, there’s no sign of her hitting her head. There is a graze on her left cheek, but I doubt that would have caused any issue.” I rattled off walking away from the tent.

“Eric is there something bothering you? I can hear it in your voice.”

I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. This can’t be happening. I tried to think of a good reason not to tell him, but he was a doctor, and he knew how potent the mate bond could be. I couldn’t get out of telling him.

“She’s my mate.” I felt a little embarrassed.

“Are you sure.” Asked Dr Sven.

“What kind of question is that! My skin tingles every time I touch her. I have this overwhelming desire to be with her and protect her. Oh, and my fucking wolf yelled it to me!” I shouted down the phone.

Calm down Eric, I’m just surprised that’s all. Who knew you’d go out and find your mate in human territory?”

I paced over by a group of trees, hoping I was far enough away from Gavin and Sophie. Blaze hated I left them together. I rubbed the back of my neck trying to calm down.

“I’m sorry. I’m very… I can’t even explain it!” I snap.

“It’s ok Eric. I know this is a lot to take in. I think its best to bring her here. There isn’t much I can do over the phone, especially if she’s lost her wolf, it’s not a good sign.”

“Ok. Thank you and sorry again.” I mumble before hanging up.

She was coming home with me. Part of me was excited, including Blaze. While the other half of me was worried. Less the 24 hours ago I had decided that the best thing for my mate was to reject her to save her from humiliation. But now that I met her, I didn’t know if I could let her go.

I trudged back to the tent, a million thoughts running through my head. When I entered, I’m taken aback by her beautiful sunny smile. It is radiant, lighting up her face and I desperately want to pick her up in my arms. But then I noticed Sophie is holding Gavin’s hand and a possessive anger washed over me.

I pick up my bag and take out a pair of grey tracksuit pants and throw them towards Sophie. I grabbed myself a tank top and put it on.

“Get dressed.” I ordered not wanting to make eye contact with her. “We leave in five minutes.”

I stormed out of the tent before I could say something I would regret. But before I know it Sophie’s following behind me.

“Hey!” she yells. She’s angry and I love the fire in her tone of voice. I turn and look at her and can’t help but think about her sweet pussy and arse naked in my pants, her perfect breasts beneath my jumper. My manhood jolts and I looked away pretending to focus on something else.

“We can’t just leave.” She yells.

“Yes we can, and we are.” I snap back glaring at her.

“My Dad will be back this afternoon to pick me up. I can’t just go off with two complete strangers. I don’t even have my phone!” she stares me down. “Shit.” She says breaking our eye contact. “My phone is in my tent. My Mum will be calling. Please can we go at get my stuff?”

She looked at me again with her beautiful deep blue eyes and I melted. Blaze started purring and running circles in my head.

“Ok.” I mumble.

“Thank you.” She beamed at me.

“I’ll go get your things.” I say beginning to strip off as I made my way towards a group of trees that led off towards the swimming hole.

“What? Wait. No. You don’t know where to go.” She marched after me.

“I’ll follow your scent.” I replied. I didn’t need to divulge the fact Gavin and I had seen her at the swimming hole. “Are you staying for the show?”

I gestured to my pants as I put my thumbs in the waistband ready to pull them down. She blushed, turned, and walked off towards Gavin who had just emerged from his tent. He smiled at me and I forced a smile before turning, removing my pants, and leaping off as I phase.

It took me 35 minutes to pack up her belongings. Blaze was driving me crazy, urging me to go faster. She was right when she said her Mum would be calling. Her phone must have rung about 10 times. I was tempted to answer it but thought better of it. I made sure everything was secure and easy enough for me to carry back in wolf form, before phasing and picking up her things.

“I’m on my way back.” I said through the mind link to Gavin.

“Ok cool. Where packed up here to. Is everything ok with you man?”

I thought for a minute. Do I explain to him that I have this overwhelming urge to protect her especially when he touches her? I never knew the mate bond could be so powerful.

“Yeah, everything’s cool. I’m just concerned about her, that’s all.” It was partly true.

Suddenly, I was aware of being watched. I stopped and placed the bags down before looking around. Over by a group of bushes I saw two obsidian eyes staring at me. I growled and launched myself towards them. When I got to the bushes there was nothing there. No scent, no trace of anyone or anything being there. Blaze huffed and we went back to get Sophie’s bags before continuing back to the campsite feeling very unsettled.

“You took your time.” Gavin called picking up a bag and I frowned at him before using the mind link.

“Someone was watching me. I gave chance but there was no scent. It was like they just vanished.”

Gavin looked from me to Sophie who had just finished stuffing a sleeping bag into its cover. She looked up and smiled her disarming smile and walked over to me.

“Thanks for getting my stuff.” A light pink rushed over her cheeks as she grabbed the backpack I held in my hand.  Blaze was frustrated that she didn’t recognise us as her mate.

“Just tell her.” He urged.

“I can’t Blaze. She’s only known about werewolves for a few days.” Remembering her revelation this morning.

“I want to mark her and make her ours.” He snarled.

“We have shit to deal with at home first. Believe me Blaze I want nothing more that to have her in my arms again.”

Sophie was looking at her phone. “Shit. Shit. Shit.” She kept saying flicking her finger across the screen. I was about to approach when Gavin came up behind her.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. My eyes went dark as Blaze’s anger took control.

“Why is he being so friendly to our mate!” Blaze growled.

I pushed down the anger. “Relax Blaze, Gavin and Lisa are mates. Plus, he’s my best friend, he knows how we’re feeling, so he’s not doing it on purpose.”

The darkness faded from my eyes as Blaze grudgingly settled down.

“It’s my Mum.” Sophie said showing Gavin her phone. “She’s sent my Dad to look for me. He’s on his way here.”

“Great” said Blaze. “Now we have to deal with her hostile parents.”

“Stop it Blaze.” I commanded to him. “Better go meet him at the carpark.” I said aloud as I picked up a couple of bags.

Sophie looked at me with surprise.

“Well, I don’t want to be accused of kidnapping. Come on.” I took off towards the carpark not checking if they were following.

“Lighten up man.” Gavin said through the link.

“What?”

“You’re giving the girl whiplash with your mood swings.” I swung around and glared at him. He smirked as he passed me, Sophie following close behind him.

Just as we emerged at the carpark a maroon-coloured SUV pulled in and accelerated towards us.

“Oh god.” Sophie groaned and her cheeks turned bright red.

The man behind the wheel stopped next to us with a skid and jumped out.

“Sophie!” he yelled, barrelling towards her. “Where have you been? Did something happen? Why didn’t you answer your phone? Is everything alright?” He crushed her into a hug. She looked relieved to see him but also a little embarrassed.

“Dad stop. You’re going to strangle me.”

Although the man was a little shorter than Sophie, he held her tightly to him as if she were a small child.

“Dad stop. I’m ok…sort of.” She pulled herself away from him and beamed her happy smile. His thumb ran over the graze on her cheek. “This is Gavin and Eric. Gavin told me they’d rescued me after my first phase and then something happened…”

Her Father was looking at us with mixed emotions on his face.

“I’m Alpha Eric.” I extended a free hand, and he shook it.

“Apologies Alpha.” The man said with his head slightly bowed. So he knew how to behave with werewolves, interesting.

“We found your daughter after another wolf was beginning to attack her. She was unconscious at the time.” I looked over at Sophie, but she didn’t make eye contact. “The other wolf took off and I carried Sophie to our campsite. She was cold and I was concerned…” Sophie’s gaze snapped up at me and I had to clear my throat. “She um, woke this morning not being able to communicate with her wolf and had no recollection of the night’s events.”

He Father looked at her with concern. “You can’t hear your wolf?” She shook her head.

“My Dad is the head Pack Doctor. He asked us to bring her in.” Gavin added.

“Ok. I understand. This is not something I can help with, but my wife and I will want to be with her.” He patted Sophie’s shoulder reassuringly.

“Of course. We understand. But we must leave now. We have no way of knowing what the effects are on a werewolf whose lost her wolf. Give your number to Gavin, he can contact you and give you directions on our location.”

I began loading bags into the car as Gavin and Sophie’s Dad exchanged numbers.

“I’ll call as soon as we’re in pack territory and again once she is with my Dad.”

The man nodded before reaching out to give his daughter another, gentler hug.

“I’ll be fine Dad.” Sophie said.

“I know you will. You’re with an Alpha.” He grinned smile.

Sophie turned to face me and gave me a small, captivating smile. It was getting harder to keep up the defensive. As soon as I got home, I could then keep my distance. I hoped.