Run! The Black Wolf's prey.

Chapter 40 - Tell me

As they walked down the street in silence, John's arm still wrapped around her, Isabel noticed a sudden commotion and the music abruptly stopping inside Royale. Turning to look back, she was surprised to see a few police cars pulling up outside the club's entrance. It seemed like she and John had just gotten out of there in time.

“Marcus and Lucas are still inside,” she breathed.

“They’ll be fine,” John held her close. “They can handle it.”

They continued walking with brisk steps towards John’s car, parked a little further down the street. Isabel couldn’t help feeling a bit nervous… John’s pure presence made her weak at the knees, her stomach full of little butterflies.

Not that she feared him, on the contrary! Even if he had a harsh look on his face, and despite what she had witnessed earlier… She couldn’t believe he had lifted a man one-handedly, throwing him to the ground as if he had been a floppy little rag doll. But no matter what, she felt safe in his presence.

Besides, his unbelievable strength and determination was a real turn-on. At the moment, all Isabel could think about was being wrapped in John's arms, feeling his hands on her body and his lips on her skin! She wanted to crash her lips into his, to claim him...

But as she thought these things, she felt a tinge of embarrassment realizing that Marcus and Lucas were still inside, fending off the men who were after her.

“Are you OK?” John glanced at her.

His blood was still pumping with adrenaline.

He had to muster all self-control he had to not let his wolf show, and still, he was caught breathless at the sight of her. He had forgotten the effect she had on him! All he wanted was to swoop her up in his arms and carry her away, far away from everyone and everything.

Her little black dress was floating around her hips as she walked beside him in her high heels, carrying herself like a queen, and he couldn’t help to think she would have been an extraordinary Luna. If only she hadn’t been human!

Nevertheless, she was the most precious thing in the world to him now. He couldn't let go of her again... He hadn’t figured out how exactly, but he had to find a way to keep her safe, and simply not being close to her was obviously not working.

He opened the door to the passenger seat, helping her get inside. As she tossed her honey blonde hair to the side and folded her longs legs when taking her seat, his eyes flashed with desire. He wanted her to wrap those legs around him. Then, when she looked up at him with her big hazel eyes...

Universe zoomed in at the two of them, bringing everything else to a halt. Their eyes locked, a million thoughts and feelings welling up in them both. Could they put their faith in each other, or were their obstacles too challenging? Did they know how high were the stakes? Was it truly love, or were they simply blinded by their mutual attraction?

Waking up at the sound of police sirens, he hurriedly closed her door as he ran around the car and threw himself behind the wheel. He drove off as fast as he could without causing too much attention. They drove for some time, John attentively watching the rear facing mirrors for possible pursuers, without any of them speaking.

“So….” Isabel broke the silence. “Where are we going?”

“I’m driving you back to my place,” he said absently, his mind occupied with what he was going to say to his parents about it all.

“OK…?” The thought of going back to John’s apartment awoke some mixed feelings.

On one hand, there was nothing she wanted more. On the other, she remembered how painfully it had ended last time, she couldn’t stand going through it again.

“I think you need to give me some answers first,” she frowned.

“I will…” he hesitated. “I’ll tell you when we come home.”

“No, John,” Isabel shook her head with determination. “You owe me that much. I need you to tell me. Now.”

“I…” John didn’t know what to say.

He wanted to tell her how much he had missed her, his whole body and mind longing for her. He wanted her to know that he had been thinking of her day and night since they parted! But how could he tell her how impossible the situation was, with her being human and him being not just a werewolf, but an Alpha, with duties and obligations?

He had to stop driving, there was no way he could handle it all at the same time. He pulled over, stopping outside a snack bar.

“Isabel…” he turned to face her, taking her hand.

She bit her lip, and he could see tears pooling in her eyes. Then he remembered what Emma had told him – Isabel thought he was married.

“Isabel, there is no one but you. Only you,” he said, leaning forward and kissed her soft lips.

Her body responded instantly, surrendering itself to him. She couldn’t help it, the pull was too strong! They kissed feverishly, and he was holding his hand softly at her neck, pulling her closer. She lost her breath, her whole being wishing to climb over the seat to sit in his lap. To straddle him. To have him. Here. Now.

Instead, she pulled herself away, catching her breath.

“Tell me,” she demanded, still panting. Her body was telling her to forget about it, but she couldn’t give in. She had to know.

“Isabel, it’s complicated,” John ran his fingers through his hair.

“Tell me, or I’m not coming with you,” she looked at him impatiently. Why couldn’t he just tell her?

“I can’t, it’s not so simple!” he ran his hand over his face, sighing exasperatedly. He turned to look at her. “Can’t you just believe me when I say that there is no one but you? I’m not married, I’m not engaged, and I don’t have any other girlfriend.”

“But that doesn’t explain why you left like you did, or what is going on,” Isabel insisted.

“I can’t tell you,” John looked at her pleadingly. “Please understand. I haven’t thought this through yet. I don’t know what to say.”

“What about the truth?” Isabel felt like she was holding her heart in her hand, offering it to him... If only he could be honest with her!

No matter what it was, she would accept it. It just had to be the truth.

“I can’t,” he sighed.

“Then drive me home,” Isabel’s voice was cool and unexpectedly calm, but her eyes were telling another story, filling to the brim with tears.

“Isabel…” John pleaded.

“Just drive me home, John.”

He started the car and they continued driving in silence. He was starting to panic, what was he going to do? How could he keep her safe now? He wanted to tell her truth, but it was too complicated. How could he possibly tell her that he was a werewolf? She would think he was crazy.

His mind was working on it frantically, but it didn’t help that his wolf kept howling that they had to keep her close, that he couldn’t let her leave the car.

“Please, Isabel, come back with me. I can’t keep you safe if I’m not with you,” he tried convincing her as he stopped in front of her building.

“I don’t know what all this fuzz is about, John, since you are not telling me. But I think I am perfectly safe here in my home,” she replied wearily.

“Can I come with you?” he tried.

“No. But when... or if... you decide to tell me the truth... and then I mean the whole truth,” she said meaningly, “you call me.”

She opened her door and stepped out of the car, John gazing at her with dreadful eyes. All he wanted was to run out after her, but he could see it in her body language there was no point. She had made up her mind.

“I hope you’ll call,” she said quietly, looking at him with a sad expression on her face, right before she shut the door and walked over the street.

“Damn it,” John breathed as she opened the main entrance door, glancing back at him over her shoulder, and stepped inside. The door closed after her, and he sighed.

“OK, i***t,” he looked at himself in the rearview mirror. “What are you going to do now?”