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1242 Words
My brows knit together as I study the camera. Turning my head to the one on the other side of the room, I realize that it is also not working.
Leaning on the mop, I stare at them, "They were working before just fine."
I consider calling Henry and letting him know, but as I look down at my phone's screen, the hair on the back of my neck stands, and I instantly know that I am no longer alone. I look over my shoulder, only to see Bond standing a few feet away from me.
"You?"
When he just sneers at me, I glance in the direction of the security cameras and then look back at him, "This was your doing, wasn't it?"
Bond just smirks, "Not everyone needs to see me teach you a lesson."
I set the mop against the table calmly, "So, let me get this straight? You turned off the security cameras and then came here to attack me so that there are no witnesses?"
He just scoffs, "You can try and act tough all you want, but once I break you, you will be begging for forgiveness. I'll have you licking the bottom of my shoe while I-"
I hold up a finger, bringing my phone close to my mouth, "Hey Henry."
Bond stiffens, and I continue, "Listen, I'm just dropping you a voice note. I left the cash where you told me to keep it, and I locked everything up and am on my way home. Just wanted to give you a heads-up. Some of the customers got a little rowdy here, and they broke some of the tables and chairs. The security cameras weren't working for some reason. I've pushed the broken pieces against the wall for you to deal with when you come in."
Bond looks confused at my calm statement.
Once the voice message is sent, I place the phone on one of the tables and roll up my sleeves, smiling at Bond, "You were saying?"
"What the hell was that?" He growls.
My lips curve even more deeply, "Well, you were right about one thing. There won't be any witnesses around."
I see the flash of uncertainty in Bond's eyes, but there is still a layer of confidence. He thinks he can assault me, and I won't be able to do anything about it. I've seen so many men like him. My father was like Bond, confident in his strength, a bully at his core. he would corner my mother and beat her within an inch of her life, use her, and toss her shivering and crying to the side like she wasn't his mate, the mother of his children.
She never taught me to fight back when someone came at me.
She taught me to curl up into a ball and beg for mercy.
I taught myself how to fight and protect myself.
My whole life, especially after I escaped the hell I was born and raised in, I swore to myself that I would never be a victim.
I watch Bond approach me, and I don't move. I won't touch him till he makes his first mistake, which would be touching me.
I can see the sweat form on Bond's forehead at my eerie calm. However, his ego has been hurt once. He won't tolerate it a second time. His hand comes to rest on my chest, his fingers curling to tear my blouse. That's the moment I grip his wrist and twist.
I'm not an i***t.
Wolf shifters, like the rest of the supernatural beings that live alongside humans, are not allowed to reveal themselves to the human world. So, I don't flash my teeth at the man or rip him to shreds with my claws, no matter how much the wolf is salivating inside. No. I lift him up and throw him straight into the chairs and tables along the wall.
He lets out a shout of pain before crumpling to the ground, unconscious.
I blink.
That's it?
That's all it took for him to pass out?
I made my way towards him to make sure he didn't die. Leaning down, I check his pulse. It's there.
I can't leave him here.
'Unless," a wicked smile makes my lips curve, and I strip the would-be r****t of everything and drag his limp body to the door. Since it's four in the morning now, nobody's around. I toss him on his bare ass and lock the doors. Pushing the debris to a corner of the room, I pick up a shattered chair leg, only to freeze. A strange heat builds up inside me, and I nearly fall to my knees.
Hand on my chest, I struggle to breathe. The heat was building up inside me in waves.
'What is happening?' I think frantically, trying to get rid of the haze around my head. My abdomen is throbbing.
My other hand is still on the chair, and I push it away out of instinct.
The ball of heat inside of me relaxes, and I sink to the ground, my body shaking with stabs of arousal.
Pulling myself to the wall to lean against, I hold one hand against my chest, my eyes darting around panicked.
“What the hell was that?!” I breathe, terrified.
CHAPTER 2
Aisha
I don't know how I get home, but I'm feeling slightly better, enough for my brain to be working normally. Harry is fast asleep, and Maddie smiles as I pick him up carefully so as not to jostle him awake. For a preteen, Harry is still too small in stature. My heart aches at how underdeveloped he is. It's only because he isn't eating enough.
"Thank you, Maddie," I give her a grateful look as Harry buries his face in my neck where my scent is the strongest. "I'm sorry I keep waking you up at this ungodly hour every day."
"It's a small sacrifice, Aisha," The old woman beams at me through her tired eyes. "Your brother's presence lights up my home. Come have breakfast with me tomorrow before you leave."
I open my mouth to refuse, but she cuts me off, "You're too thin. No girl your age should be skin and bones."
I yawn before I can catch myself, "Alright. Thank you."
She waits by the door till I've crossed the hall and opened the door to my apartment. The sound of her door closing makes me want to smile.
Closing my own door, I carry Harry into his bedroom. Laying him down, I pull up the blanket and stroke his hair, my heart throbbing at the sight of the child who needs his pack so desperately.
"We can't go back, Harry," I whisper hollowly. "I won't have them turn you into a monster, too."
He just mumbles something in his sleep before letting out a small snore. I wipe my wet eyes and stroke his hair once more. I turn on the night light and leave his room. Heading to my own room, I slide out my laptop and turn it on. It takes a couple of minutes, but I'm used to the lagging. I got it secondhand from one of my classmates. She had been happy to give it to me instead of having to dispose of it. I've always been good with technology, so I managed to change the motherboard and get it functioning again.
- Writer
