"Pierre qui roule,

n'amasse pas mousse."

-unknown

---------------------------

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟚𝟟

ℂ𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕞𝕖 𝕠𝕟𝕔𝕖,
𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕔𝕒𝕟'𝕥 𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕡 𝕞𝕖 𝕥𝕨𝕚𝕔𝕖

I couldn't do this anymore.

I've been driving since forever in this urine covered seat that I could feel on every inch of my bare skin. I shuddered as I tried to shift away from the liquid, but it was of no use.

I held Nora tightly in between my arms as I squinted my eyes against the bright sun.

My lips stuck together from dehydration and my body reeked of sweat and body odors that far bypassed the normal levels oh human stink.

I managed to understand the working of this machine just hours into its working. If you pressed harder into the metal rectangle, the machine went faster. The other rectangular piece of metal stopped the machine.

I sighed as I felt Nora reach for my breast for the fifth time in three hours. With one hand I gently moved her hand away and pulled my jacket closer.

If she kept going at this pace, she'd be fatter than an overweight panda.

And as expected, a short whimper was heard before Nora's cheeks reddened as her loud cries shattered my ear drums. Soon, she started hitting me with her small fists as well.

"Nora! Stop it." I said, struggling to veer the machine with her tantrum. "Nora, if you don't stop now, we both are bound to crash."

Nora's eyes widened, further emphasizing her huge eyes, like she understood what I was saying. "Boo boo?" She whispered, like it was a secret.

I nodded, glad that she finally stopped. "You're gonna get more than a fucking 'boo boo'."

I realized my mistake only after it was too late.

"Fakin?" Her soft voice said, confused.

My eyes widened until I was sure it was the size of Jupiter. "No, no, Nora. That's a bad word."

"Fakin." She giggled as she repeated the word. "Fakin, fakin. Fakin, falcon!"

I grinned as I realized she just discovered a new word on her own. "Yes, Nora. Fal-con. Falcon."

Nora shook her head and I sputtered as some of her feathers went in my mouth. "Fakin!"

I sighed as I left her to do her babbling while I focused on the sand in front of me. I could feel my eyes drooping and my legs aching in it's consistent position on the rectangular metal.

I knew I couldn't stop. If I did, who knows when Reya would come to get me. Or Kane. Or the doctor.

I shivered and froze when the smooth material under my palms turned white with frost. I hadn't been able to freeze anything in months.

I frowned as the machine suddenly slowed down in speed until it came to a standstill. I puffed out my cheeks as I pressed my foot harder against the foot metal, but the device didn't move.

Oh well. I had to rest anyway.

I held Nora's squirming form under her armpits as I jumped out, sighing as I could finally get out of the soppy seat I was sitting on. My mouth turned down in a grimace as I eyed the stagnant liquid on the seat.

Shaking my head, I placed Nora on her feet gently as I used the jacket to wipe myself off.

Despite the fact that no one was around, I felt strangely vulnerable without my clothes in the middle of nowhere. Wrapping the jacket around my waist, I shifted my hair so it covered my exposed breasts at least slightly.

I held Nora's hand as we walked over to a boulder that was seemingly placed in the middle of nowhere. I sat down and watched Nora absentmindedly as she flapped her wings for a few seconds, flew up and then thumped down as her wings gave away under her entire weight.

I sighed in relief as my aching legs finally got what they deserved. I untied the jacket to tie it tighter, when a metal object fell out of one of its pockets.

My eyebrows furrowed as I picked up the round object. Recognition filled my eyes with tears.

Kane's ring.

The one he gave to me when he said that he trusted me. When he told me he loved me.

I rubbed my finger across the insides of the ring, trying to reach closer to the only physical remembrance I had of him.

I swear I could still smell his faint scent on the ring. But it was fading away. I clutched the ring in my palm as I sobbed into it, remembering all the sweet kisses I rejected. The baby that we had lost. Despite it having grown from his clone's seed.

I wish that I could just turn back time, just so I could lean into his chest once more as he hugged me, but this time with acceptance and not rejection.

I was such a horrible mate.

What kind of mate doesn't realize her other half's going through life threatening trouble?

Deep rumbling tensed up my relaxed body as I jumped up, eyeing the many moving machines that were approaching from the distance.

Nora stopped goofing around and ran behind my legs as she hid behind it, peeking out occasionally.

I held my breath as the rumbling grew louder and louder until the machines stopped around us in a circle.

I could feel the panic rise build up butterflies in my stomach as I realized there was no way out of this. Panicking would do no good, but I couldn't help it. I placed a hand on Nora as I looked at the opening doors warily.

My breath hitched, as a man three times as large as me stepped out of the car.

I wouldn't stand a chance against that frame.

The bulky man had a pair of eye protectors on his face. He had a head full of long golden hair that was done in braids down his shoulders. His skin, as rich as the freshest cup of hot coffee, shined under the bright afternoon sun.

He held the door of the machine open as a well toned leg clad in expensive clothes stepped out of the car. Following the leg was a body and head to match. My heart beat at a strange pace as I watched the sun glint off his silky smooth charcoal black hair.

The sleeves of his white dress shirt were rolled up his forearms, revealing a muscular arm coiled with sinewy muscle. Peppers of dark hair decorated the smooth skin.

My breath hitched as I noticed the thick firm thighs that ignited a strange burning fire from deep within me.

I lifted my eyes to scan his face, but was stopped by eyes that glowed as green as the newest leaf in spring. Those eyes were hooded as they assessed me with an unreadable expression further covered by sweeping dark eyelashes.

I took a step back as Nora let out a whimper in fear. Quickly, I gathered her into my arms as I held her tight and far away from dangers harm.
"M-mama."

I looked into her wide blue eyes and I knew what she was thinking. Fleeting images of the doctor burning my skin with Nora screaming in the background passed like shards of glass through my sensitive mind.

I pressed her head into my chest as I placed my chin on top of her soft hair. "I'll protect you, baby girl."

My eyes shifted up to glance at the mysterious man once more, only to be surprised as I saw glimpses of sympathy and pity in his brooding eyes.

I didn't need no pity.

My feet moved another step backward as I assessed the number of men that had stepped out of their machines and that were now present in an invisible circle around me.

My breathing grew more and more labored as my mind went into overdrive, trying to think of a solution out of this situation.

"Mate," I heard a gravelly voice purr. "I'm not going to hurt you."

I froze as the deep voice elicited feelings that made my stomach clench powerfully.

Mate.

Mate.

Mate.

But I didn't have one. He was dead.

I eyed his stubbled clenched jaw and straight nose, wondering how someone so powerful could be my mate. He oozed with dominance and control, and looked like someone who got what they wanted to get.

Zaire had told me that wolves had one mate in their lifetime. If they died, the other half was bound to pass away from grief and depression in the few years after.

I don't remember anything about a second mate.

But even if I had one, I don't think I could ever trust a man ever again. Or a mate. Not from what happened last time. I didn't ever want to experience fluttering butterflies or a fast beating heart of it meant it had to end like this. I don't think I would survive a second round.

Nora bared her fangs as she hissed at the man.

Okay. I so did not know that she would develop fangs.

Her wings moved back and forth, giving away her agitation and fear.

My chest puffed with pride as I kissed her forehead with a small smile. "My brave girl."

The man looked taken back as his shoulders tensed the slightest bit before relaxing again.

He seemed to have realized something as suddenly a growl tore from his mouth. Immediately all men in the clearing lowered their heads until their eyes weren't on me anymore.

Why wer-

Oh.

His eyes were focused solely on my chest, barely covered by a few pieces of stray hair. The jacket around my hips hung wide open, and my cheeks burned with such intensity as I realized that I had practically exposed myself to all these strangers.

But a newfound feeling of shyness overcame my feelings as I shrunk away and tried covering myself further by pulling forward more hair.

"Where are-" he coughed, clearing his throat. "Where are your clothes?" I heard his rough voice say. It was tinged with what sounded like—longing? Lust?

I opened my mouth to say something, but no words would leave my lips. So I shut them again.

"I do not like it when people avoid my questions, mate."

I shivered, but said nothing more.

I gasped as my cheeks were suddenly grabbed in a firm grip. I struggled as I tried escaping his grip, but he was too strong. Nora blubbered as she let out an offended noise and hit the man's chest with tiny balled up fists.

The man turned around and nodded at one of the other bulkier men. I watched, horrified, as Nora was snatched away from my very hands.

No. My Nora won't be taken away again.

I flung my head from side to side, trying to escape, but it was fruitless. My jaw was held tighter and tighter, until I was finally forced to look into the man's smoldering gaze.

"You're beautiful." My eyes moved with his pink plump lips, mesmerized. A dot of a beauty mark sat just beneath the right corner of his nose.

"You're eyes. They're truly as unique as they said they were." My eyes moved to his, mind registering his comment, but lips not producing a word. My heart thumped faster, stronger, his eyes seeming to reach through my very mind. It was almost as if he could read all my secrets, strip all the barriers of my very soul.

But all I knew was I had to get out of his grip before his alluring scent overpowered all my abilities of common sense.

I raised one hand, and laid it on his shoulder gently, rubbing it as I watched the surprise filling his eyes at my brazen move. I placed the same hand behind his head and in a split second, slammed our heads together.

The man groaned and clutched his head as he let go of my jaw and stumbled back.

Ten bodyguards forming the circle stepped forward, but stopped upon seeing the man's raised hand.

No time to waste.

I twisted on the heel of my right foot and grabbed a random man's shoulder, flinging it forward. I watched as force worked on his body and flung it forward. In one motion, I grabbed the shot gun hanging at his hips.

With a swing, I knocked him out with the butt of the pistol, simultaneously shooting the bodyguard holding Nora in the calf.

He fell down with a crash, as Nora remained suspended in the air, with only the support of her fragile wings.

Slowly, she drifted down into my outstretched arms as I hugged her to me.

I turned around shooting blindly behind me before bolting.

"Catch her! Don't harm her if you want to keep your fucking heads on. She's all I have."

I pumped my legs further, tears gathering in my eyes as I realized that it was pointless. They were clearly faster and stronger, with years of experience. And it's not like I could hide anywhere or make them loose track of me either.

I fell down to my knees, giving up at the last moment and breaking down. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you, Nora."

But as minutes passed by, I felt no grabbing hands or kicking feet. I raised my head, gasping at the spherical transparent form tinged a light blue that managed to cover all of my form and a few extra feet.

Multiple men banged at the structure, my body flinching with each hit. Nora was laughing and holding her tongue out to the men.

Elex! He must have placed a protection spell on her.

I stood up, shattering the spell. Rage swelled in my chest as I realized a two year old could protect herself better than me.

The guards immediately reached for me. I had them flying back with singed clothes before a hair strand touched my body.

I was sick and tired of being the weak little girl who couldn't defend herself. That just meant Kane was succeeding in turning me into his puppet after all.

I swung my fist in a wide arc behind me as I knocked down two more men onto their backs.

I raised my other fist to land a hook punch on another, when I felt arms wrap around my waist and drag me backwards.

"Damn. Didn't know my mate was this fiery." I could feel his infuriating smirk against my neck. To my embarrassment, I shivered in pleasure, which further broadened his smirk. His right hand pressed against my stomach protectively, as I frowned in confusion.

He was touching the exact area where I had been stabbed just a few months ago.

"These hands won't ever inflict pain upon your soft skin, my love."

I flinched violently as I heard the nickname, the words filled with love, but disguised within a sheen of sweet memories that could now never be.

My eyes widened as I felt something sharp trace across the skin on my neck. The man paused in a certain area, pressing kisses on the same spot as my mouth opened with a breathy moan.

Why did it feel so good?

Before I realized what he was doing, he held me tightly to his chest, as his sharp canines plunged into the delicate skin of my neck. I shivered and I pulled at his arms to get away, as the wound burned uncomfortably, but he held me firmly until he retracted his canines and licked my wound gently with his rough tongue.

Each sweep of his tongue made my stomach clench in toe curling ways.

I can't believe the nerve of him!

"Well, you'll know how fiery I am now." I retorted. Clasping both hands over my head and behind his neck, I used all of my momentum and power to flip him over my body and onto the ground at my feet.

With a smirk of my own, I ran to one of their dark sleek machines, calling Nora to follow me. She reached her arms up to me just as I settled in the seat.

I pressed the rectangular metal that I knew would shoot us forward. But instead of the familiar roar I was accustomed to, a rough grating sound was heard.

What was wrong?

Turning my head, I noticed something that wasn't present in the previous machine that I had driven.

The shift stick.

It was my worst nightmare. Kane had only showed it to me twice during one of his better moods.

When the real Kane was with me.

I didn't understand it back then. Nor did I plan on ever understanding the shift stick.

As I fumbled with the stick, pressing down on the foot metal at each level, I noticed the man from the small mirror at the side of the car, stand up, looking strangely calm.

I paused as my eyes met his through the mirror.

I heard the door open from the other side as Nora screamed.

My foot instinctively pressed down hard on the foot metal and we went shooting forward, knocking the bodyguard off.

Surprisingly, none of the men ran behind me. None of them jumped into their machines to catch me either. All of them just stood back and watched me as I sped away.

Catch me once, but you can't trap me twice.

I rubbed my neck, wincing as my hand ran over a sore spot; where the mark was.

I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of longing and pain rise within me as the distance grew farther and farther until the man was just a speck in the mirror.

But I swear I could still feel the power of his gaze and the rumble of his voice even from so far away.

I'm coming for you. His voice echoed through my mind.

But one object that I hadn't realised I'd left behind was the ring. The ring that now rested in the hands of the man now long gone from my view.

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What do you guys thing of "the man"?

Is it sad that I'm getting excited over my own story? xD
The exciting part's finally here.

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