Her Dark Protector

Chapter 6

Julians POV

He watched her closely as she entered the room. A quick glance told her she was uninjured from Thomas’s outburst. Julian swore he would have words with the man later. But for now, his entire focus was on her, Velvet. She was more than just beautiful. She had some kind of power over every man in the club. None of them were able to take their eyes off her, and now he had her to himself.

It probably wasn’t the best move to be alone with her, not with her arrangement with Thomas, but no doubt he could get that terminated.

The manager left them alone, and he took a small sip of his whiskey. She slowly turned to face him. She was nervous, unsure of why he chose her.

She went to talk, but he held up his hand.

‘Hi Velvet, my name is Julian, it is a pleasure to meet you.’

She relaxed for a moment, and he watched her sink into her dance persona within seconds. She smiled. ‘I am honoured you requested a dance, sir. I hope I can please you.’ Stepping up to the stage, she grabbed onto the pole and started moving to the music playing through the speakers in the ceiling.

He was mesmerised. He felt almost like he was in a trance. The feeling he had in the main area was intensified in this small space, so close to her. If he had been human, there was no way he would have been able to resist her. It felt like magic, as though she had cast a spell over him. But it wasn’t possible. She gave no impression of being a witch. Though there were so few of them these days, it was possible she had some witch blood in her.

But he sat back on the sofa, glass in hand, and took her in. Watching her as she swung around the pole, her dark hair swinging behind her. The core muscles she had was impressive, the way she could hold herself up on the pole. There was hard work behind that ability.

In the small space, her scent hit him hard. A combination of lavender and honey, sweet and enriching. It was more than intoxicating. He so desperately wanted to touch her. It was taking all his strength to sit back on the sofa.

Before the song ended, he knew it was too much. ‘Stop, please.’

She looked panicked. ‘I’m so sorry sir, was it not what you wanted? Is there something else I can do.’

‘Trust me, that isn’t it. I don’t think I can trust myself in her with you. I am overcome. And please call me Julian.’ She was obviously taken aback. But he could see there was something more, perhaps a touch of desire. He could scent something else, her sweet nectar, and he took a deep breath.

She gasped at the action. ‘Would you like me to leave?’ It was clear she was unsure of what to do.

‘No, please don’t leave. Can we talk?’

‘Talk, no one ever wants to just talk.’ Julian laughed, a deep chuffing sound. But it made her smile.

‘I am sure that is the case. However, I would like to get to know more about you.’

‘Why?’

‘There is something about you, I just can’t explain. I have tried to keep a distance, but after seeing Thomas’s reaction tonight, I needed to make sure you were okay. Being in this room, so close to you is bringing something to the surface I haven’t felt before.’

‘Oh, is it good or bad?’ She furrowed her brows, not knowing where this was going.

‘Good Velvet, only good.’ He gestured for her to join him on the sofa, which she did.

‘What would you like to know?’ This was his chance to find out about her. But so many of his questions he couldn’t ask. Too closely related to his world to keep her safe.

‘Where are you from?’

‘I am from a country town about four hours west of here. I moved here for university six years ago and decided to stay.’

‘What about your parents?’

‘What about them?’

‘Are they still in that town, what do they do?’

‘Ah, they are. My mum is a psychologist, and my dad is a lawyer.’

‘And you are a dancer?’

‘I wanted to be a ballerina and dance for the Royal Ballet Company. But I got injured. I found this and chose to stay. I can dance every day, and I get paid well to do so.’ He knew there was so much more to her story, but she wasn’t going to tell him anything else tonight.

‘Do you like Thomas?’ The question threw her; she opened her mouth to respond but closed it again. She thought for a moment before answering.

‘He seems nice enough. I don’t know a lot about him. I was surprised at how angry he was tonight. But there are often high tensions around here. It’s not the first time I have seen a man behave like that.’

‘Not the first time, I suggest in your life.’ She just smiled and tucked her legs further under herself.

‘Is there anything else you would like to know?’

‘Oh, my dear, there are a lot more things I would like to know about you.’ He leaned slightly closer to her. She didn’t move away.

‘Ah, well, you can ask me.’

‘I get the feeling you won’t answer them.’ She shook her head and stood. So, he sat back against the sofa.

‘I think our time is done for tonight.’

‘Yes, I don’t want to monopolise your evening. I am sure the others out in the club want to see more of you.’ With that, she left the room.

Julian just sat there, annoyed at himself. He was sure he had scared her away. Sometimes he would excerpt his power over others, but hadn’t done that tonight, wanting her to stay because she wanted to. His taste of her tonight wasn’t enough to sate his need. He walked back out to the bar and returned his glass before leaving. Outside, he could breathe in the cool air and clear his head.

He messaged his driver and climbed into the car when it arrived.

‘I want to stay for a moment, just park around the back.’

‘Of course, sir.’ The driver moved the car to the location Julian requested and turned off the lights. They were parked in the shadows. Julian just wanted to make sure that Velvet was okay and would get home safely. He wondered if she had her own car.

The back door opened, and Velvet stepped outside. It looked as though she was trying to get some air as well. She looked a little shaken and cold. She started rubbing her arms as she took a few steps from the door. He knew she wouldn’t see him here, so he just watched her, every movement. She turned suddenly as though she heard a noise, and her mouth opened as though she was going to scream. But someone placed their hand on her mouth before she could. She struck out her legs but couldn’t get out of his hold. Two more men appeared. Her eyes grew wide as she saw them.

Julian growled in the back seat, unsure what to do. When he recognised one of the men was Thomas, he went to get out of the car. But what happened next was beyond what he thought Thomas would do. Thomas turned in front of Velvet, her movements becoming more agitated. Julian was incensed. Before he realised what he was doing, he threw himself from the car and turned into his own wolf and roared.

Thomas immediately stopped and the man holding Velvet dropped her. Thomas got his hackles up and growled in return, ready to face Julian. So, Julian pulled himself to his full height as a wolf and turned his Alpha voice to full and growled again. Thomas started to whine. The two human men ran. For a short moment, Thomas wanted to stay and fight but knew better than to take on the Alpha. He, too, turned and ran after the two men.

Julian turned his attention to Velvet, who now sat slumped on the ground, tears streaming from her still wide eyes. She was shaking, whether from fear or the cold, it didn’t matter. Julian turned to the car to see the driver grabbing a bag from the boot.

Facing Velvet, he did the one thing he had been taught his whole life to never do and turned in front of a human. He stood to full height and though he didn’t think it was possible, Velvet got smaller on the ground. He crouched down, he was aware he was naked, but that seemed the least, well not really the least, thing to be concerned about right now.

‘Please don’t hurt me.’

‘I won’t Velvet, but tell me, are you hurt, physically?

‘No, I’m not, physically, but I can’t unsee what I just saw right.’

‘No, you can’t. I am sorry Thomas did this. He will be punished severely when I find him.’

‘You’re naked.’ Julian laughed, some of the shock must have passed.

‘I am, let me get dressed and we can talk.’ She just nodded. He stood and walked to his driver and took the bag before dressing. It was only his gym clothes, but it would be enough. He handed his jumper to Velvet and helped her stand. He put her in his car to warm up and they could talk privately.