Rise of the Dragon Princess

CHAPTER 10

~ROMAN~

I'm woken up by a cold breeze the following morning and turn. Brooke's naked form spread out next to me on my bed in deep sleep. She stirs a bit and continues sleeping probably gliding through dreamland. She is beautiful I can't deny that. But the image of Wren in her room changing can't get out of my head. And that of the kiss we shared. Wren is perfect. I should be with her and not someone else.

The thought of that raises questions in my mind. How would she react if she knew I have a girlfriend and just had s*x with her? Would she be angered and jealous like I am at the thought of someone else finding her captivating? I didn't give Brooke the answer she wanted last night but I know in my heart that I want Wren.

Her innocence is intriguing but so is her boldness. I was holding back to kiss her fearing that I might freak her out after what I did to her in the field but she kissed me. I can't forget that warm smile and how it makes my heart jump on alert each time. It is a pity our moment got interrupted too fast.

I want to see her again before the day begins. If I don't I might not get an opportunity to since it is going to busy day outside campus. I'm supposed to take my pack with me in search of underprivileged werewolf cubs who are on the verge of turning for the first time on that full moon. They need a safe place to live in and people to teach them. We are never allowed outside the school on our own until we are old enough. A number of us have turned eighteen which means we get that privilege and I get to lead them.

I'm late by almost fifteen minutes. I'm not sure I will find her there but I push on. I'm hungry but breakfast can wait until later. Just as I am turning in the hallway, I see her walking sluggishly. She doesn't appear as strong as she was yesterday and suddenly I am alarmed. I'm about to head over to her when she bumps into a younger werewolf.

"Stupid abomination!" the werewolf spits in her face and continues walking.

Anger flares up inside me. How dare he! His words seethe through me like a raging fire. I exhale sharply and head forward. He is about to walk past when I grab his shirt and push him against the wall. I move my hand to his neck and squeeze roughly.

"What did you just call her?" I demand. The guy breathes hard, his eyes darting around my face in fear. He tries to get my hand off but I push him harder. "What the f**k did you just call her! Don't let me ask for the third time," I warn.

"An abomination," he manages in a strained voice.

Hearing the word roll out of his tongue again awakens the beast inside me. I punch him hard in the stomach and throw him off onto the floor. He groans in pain but I don't care.

I follow him with several more kicks that send him several steps away. I kneel beside his body and pull him up by the collar. I draw back my hand and drive a punch into his face. His nose breaks and I see blood.

The guy grunts and falls back. I lean over his half-closed eyes and point a warning at him.

"If you ever dare to insult her again or do as much as lay a claw on her, you will not live another day to nurse your broken bones!" I warn and get up looking around. "And that goes to every one of you. No one touches her and no one dares to look at her twice or insult her! Now leave!"

Everyone scampers away in fear. I sigh heavily, wipe some blood on my shirt and then turn. It is then that I see Wren standing by the door staring at me. Her gaze on me is horrified. I take a step toward her and for a moment I think she is going to bolt. She however remains still until I get to her. Her breathing is rapid and her eyes are haunted. I offer my hand to her in silence but she just stares at it and then my eyes without making a move.

"Come on, let's go get breakfast," I state as if nothing has happened.

Wren's lips part to say something but it ends in a sigh. I draw my hand back and sigh heavily.

"Do you want me to take you inside forcefully?

"So, you are done pretending that you are a nice person around me?"

Her question baffles me. It's my fault. I shouldn't have asked her that. I don't want her to be afraid of me. I want her to trust me and I'm doing one hell of a job pushing her towards the opposite direction. I close my eyes and exhale slowly to calm myself down.

"I'm sorry. I'm not going to force you into anything."

"Why did you do it?" she asks and then adds. "You broke his nose and you could have killed him!"

"He insulted you," I state as calmly as I can trying to be patient. I know I would do it over and over again and for that, I'm not apologetic. "No one disrespects my mate! No one insults you and goes unpunished."

She shakes her head in disbelief, "I'm not your problem!"

Her eyes are glassy but I don't understand why. Have I upset her that much? Regardless, I can't watch as she gets mistreated for being different. It makes my heart ache.

"You are my mate!" I snap and my deep voice alerts people around me. "That makes you my problem and I won't let anyone walk all over you, Wren."

"Oh yeah?" she questions and steps closer. "Don't you have a girlfriend to worry about?"

My mouth hangs open. She already knows. Damn, Brooke! She must have let it slip intentionally when she met her.

"What does that make me, your side piece?" Wren goes on. I don't know what to say at that moment. I was not expecting her to bring up anything like that. "I don't need your protection, Roman. I am quite capable of doing that myself. Leave me alone!

I'm about to speak but she walks away without giving me a chance to say anything. I think about grabbing her arm to stop her but rethink before I make another mess. She is angry but there's something else. Something behind those eyes that's troubling her. Maybe it's something to do with Brooke but I'm not sure. The urge to follow her is too strong but I manage to fight it. If she wants space, I'll give her that for a day. I can't stay away longer than that.

Across the room, I watch her briefly as she picks up her breakfast and joins Sage. Sage turns toward me with a disapproving look. I swallow hard and turn to leave. Inwardly, I make a vow. Whatever it takes, I will win her. She is mine and I'm not letting her slip away.