Her Dark Protector

Chapter 8

Julians POV

When he returned to the car, all he could smell was her. He took a deep breath in, getting almost high on her scent. She must have at least a drop of werewolf blood in her for him to feel like this. There was no way she could just be human, and he needed to find out more about her.

First, he messaged his Beta, Logan, to find Thomas and bring him to the pack house. Then he messaged his tracker. There were a few wolves among their pack that could find anyone or anything. He wanted to know more about Velvet, to start, what her real name was and more about her family. It was obvious she wasn’t a full wolf, so it would be harder to find out about her in the human world, but Simon was renowned for tracking.

‘Where to sir?’

‘To the house.’

‘Of course.’

It was a clear, cool night, the stars bright in the sky. The goddess shone down on Julian as though she was happy about his choice this evening. He took it as a sign that pursuing Velvet was the right thing. He just had to figure out how to explain it to the pack.

When he arrived at the house, his sister was waiting for him. She could always sense when he needed to talk.

‘Alpha, welcome home, how was your evening?’ She frowned when she noted his change of outfit.

He ran his hand over his face, ‘it was an interesting one.’

‘How so?’

‘Has Logan returned?’

‘No, he hasn’t. Don’t change the subject, what happened tonight?’ Julian walked past her to his office. She followed very closely behind, not willing to let it go.

Julian sat down. ‘So, Thomas showed himself to a human, a woman. I had to step in, and I showed her my wolf as well.’

His sister slumped into a chair on the other side of the desk from him, mouth open. ‘What was he thinking, what were you thinking?’

‘I have no idea, Jen. On either part. It was a reflex on my part, to protect her. On his side, it was trying to exert dominance. I think he was going to kidnap her.’

‘Holy s**t Julian.’

‘I know. This is a huge test for my leadership. The Elders will not be happy with what I did.’

‘Who is this woman?’ Julian laughed, himself confused.

‘I have no idea, that is what is getting to me. She isn’t a wolf, but there is just something about her that I, I can’t leave her alone.’

Jen narrowed her eyes at him. ‘Where did you meet her?’ She was judging, knowing exactly where he met her.

‘La Lune Noire.’

‘Of course, you guys are all the same. Is that where Thomas knows her too.’ She stood and lent on the desk between them. ‘Does he have a contract with her?’

‘Not anymore.’

‘You didn’t, did you? Tell me you didn’t take on a contract with her.’

‘I can’t tell you that Jen.’

‘Goddess Julian, you are so fucked.’

‘Thanks sis, I was actually hoping for some advice.’

‘I have nothing Julian. You are Alpha now. Since dad died, and you came back, you have been all over the place trying to find your feet. This is not the way to show leadership. You can’t have a human as Luna, you know that.’

Julian slumped in his chair and shook his head. Sitting there at his father’s desk, he felt like a kid again, being scolded by the Alpha. The whole room reeked of his father. The previous Alpha was a force, truly supported by the pack. But he was untested. Looking at the desk now, in the six months he had been back, he had made no changes. He felt like he was floundering in his role, and messing everything up. He needed to start making decisions and making this position work for him, not just how his father did it.

‘I don’t care. I will not give her up. I have asked Simon to look into her; I will wait to find out what he says before I make any other decisions. First, I need to find Thomas and punish his actions.’

Jen smiled. ‘Okay, good. I also think you need to change this office. This room screams dad, not you.’

‘That is probably a good idea, but not something for tonight.’ There was a loud bang outside shaking them both.

‘What the hell?’ The doors to his office flew open, revealing Logan. He had a bruise coming up under his eye and a large tear in his shirt and gash, currently healing, on his upper left arm. He was angry.

‘The bastard got the better of me. He and his two friends jumped me. They distracted me while he got away.’

‘Damn it. I need to send someone to Velvet’s place now. She needs to be watched closely.’ Both Logan and Jen stared at Julian. ‘I don’t care what you think, do it.’ He yelled at Logan. Logan nodded and left.

Julian turned to look out the window. Nothing was going right tonight, and he was taking it all on himself. It was all on him, he was Alpha now, he had to fix it all. He suddenly felt very tired and just wanted to go for a run. He was about to leave the room when his mother came. She still looked as beautiful as the day his father claimed her as his Luna and they married.

Her long grey hair was tied in a bun, and she was wearing her comfy white shirt and sweatpants.

‘Hello children.’

‘Hey mum.’

‘What is all this commotion about?’

Julian sighed, ‘there has been some trouble with a wolf. I am trying to locate him to talk to him.’

‘Hmm, obviously there is more to it Alpha.’

‘Please mum, let me just deal with it.’ She turned to Jen. ‘No, she will not tell you anything.’

‘Actually, I will, our Alpha is in love with a human.’

Their mum didn’t say anything for a moment, just watched Julian. ‘Interesting.’ She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. ‘Hmm, very interesting.’ She didn’t say anything further, just smiled. Then she turned around and left her children in the office.

‘What was that?’ Jen was bewildered.

‘I have no idea.’ Julian followed their mother. ‘Mum, stop.’ He put some authority behind it and she stopped and turned.

‘My dear son.’ She placed her hand on his cheek. ‘I can tell from her scent that there is something more there. I see how you feel about her; it is all over your face. I look forward to meeting her soon.’ Julian just stared at her as she wandered away.

He shook his head and turned as the front door opened, and Thomas was thrown into the entrance. Julian snarled in that direction. Everyone else cleared out, so it was just Julian, Thomas and Declan, one of his warriors.

Thomas was cowering on the floor.

‘You changed in front of her. What the f**k were you thinking?’

‘I, wasn’t thinking sir.’ He didn’t even look up at Julian.

‘Look at your Alpha, coward.’ Declan growled. Julian nodded his appreciation. Thomas glanced up.

‘Why?’

‘I want her. I didn’t like your attention on her. I want to claim her.’

‘No, she is not yours.’ Julian roared over him.

Thomas shrank further into the ground. Even Declan grimaced at the power in it.

‘She is.’ Julian crouched.

‘She will never be yours.’ Thomas looked at his Alpha and took a breath. He gave a small growl in response.

‘You touched her.’

‘I did; I protected her because you didn’t’

‘I can protect her.’

‘No, you will go back to your wife, you will never go to the club again, and you will never see her again.’

‘No.’ Thomas stood against his Alpha. Julian smiled, his face became darker. It was a face ready to fight. Declan moved away, to give the Alpha space. With no warning, Julian pulled his arm back and punched Thomas in the face. Once, twice and a third time.

Thomas tried to fight back, but the power of the Alpha overpowered him. A punch to the ribs took Thomas to the ground, with a further few punches to the ribs and a kick to the face on the way down.

‘Go home Thomas. I will not have this conversation with you again.’ Thomas barely crawled out the door, bleeding from the face and holding onto his ribs.

‘Are you okay sir?’ Declan asked.

‘Yes, thank you for bringing him to be.’

‘Of course.’ Julian nodded and Declan left the house.

‘Feel better now?’ Julian turned, having forgotten that his sister was still there.

Julian rolled his shoulders. ‘Yes, I do.’ He ended the conversation and walked up to his room. He needed a shower and some sleep. He hadn’t been sleeping well recently, dreaming of Velvet. He could only hope taking his feelings out on Thomas might have helped.