The car ride to the mall would be one he would never forget. The whole ride there, he was losing his mind as he felt her panic attack. He felt agitated communicating with a distressed Nikki as she tried to calm Hannah down and at the same time drive.

It wasn't until they had reached the mall's parking lot and parked, that he slammed his gears into park as well and jumped out of the car, and walked toward them.

The scent of her relief washed over him the moment he opened her side of the door, and she along with the loud music, poured out of the passenger's side into his arms.
"I do not like this," she blurted out, standing straight and nearly climbing all over him as Nikki finally turned off the car.

He glared at Nikki that returned a sheepish smile before she climbed out of her side of the car.

"Jesus, Nikki, did you not see the last two stop signs?" Brody slammed his door and walked up to her.

She huffed and confronted her brother, and their little sibling fight began. Mumbling under his breath, Maddox shook his head at the two of them as they went to insulting one another.

He lowered his gaze to Hannah that clung to him still trembling and looking at the car horrified. As if it would come to life and grab her.

He didn't understand. Has she never driven in a car? He frowned.

"Hey," he murmured.

Slowly her gaze lifted up to look at him.
"I guess it's just you and I, kiddo. These two will be here for a while," he nodded in their direction.

His fingers tingled then as she entwined hers gently with his.

He tugged her forward as she stared dazed and confused at the two of them bickering and walked off toward the main entrance following him. He pulled the door open and led her in first.

Stepping forward into the densely populated entrance, she stood awestruck and wide-eyed by the sheer size of the place.
Her gaze lifted to the top half and she could feel her wings ripple beneath her shoulder blades in anticipation and the slight urge to take flight. Then she lowered her gaze, slowly snapping back to reality. She could not do that. Her shoulders lowered before she turned to look at him.

Soon he found himself being pulled along as she inquisitively went from one store to the next. It was as if she were a child in a toy store. He trailed behind her, taking in her curious gaze filled with wonder as she went from one department store window to another.

She pointed to everything and everyone with the biggest smile. Suddenly he was taking large strides behind her as she dropped his hand and walked off towards something that caught her attention.

She had abruptly stopped before a large window display. Her gaze danced over the mannequin with inquisitive confusion as her fingers trembled and rose to touch the cold glass. He stood behind her then, confused by her scent. He followed her gaze and noticed the familiar storefront. Victoria's Secret...

Awestruck, she stared at the mannequin in a lacy bra and panties, but it did not hold her attention for long he noticed. She slowly walked the expanse of the glass and strolled slowly inside. Her gaze fixated on the poster above another display. He followed her gaze that landed on three Victoria's Secret Models clad in  lacy ensembles with wings.

"It's the new Angel line," a soft female voice said behind him.

He turned slightly to look at a tall woman with dark curly hair and tanned skin; sporting the logo of the store on a black t-shirt that was way too tight for her own good and she knew it as she straightened her spine to thrust her breasts out a bit at him.

He looked away slowly in annoyance at the human's shameful display of interest in him and looked at Hannah that was paying no attention to her at all. Her scent still; he noticed masked the pungent stench of the humans. He swallowed down the urge to growl and bark for her to leave. But...she was doing her job.

"There is a special on the panties their 5 for $28..." she offered walking up next to Hannah.

His jaw clenched as he noticed her sizing Hannah up and observing her as if wondering what was so special about her that she was here with him.

Her presence barely phased Hannah as she continued to stare with wonder at the poster.

Her siblings...she frowned.  She did not recognize them. How could they be here? Why were they dressed like that?...she had to swallow hard at the image.
Angels were not supposed to show themselves.
They were not supposed to show their wings.
Sweet blinding light! Were they 'fallen' like her? She sucked in a breath and stumbled back with the thought.

But before she could say or think anything, a woman stood before her, pulling her attention away from the images on the wall, and offered to show her the latest collection of bras...

She frowned at her with a puzzled stare as the woman asked for her cup size and stood back, observing her from head to toe.

"You look like a..." before the girl could continue, Nikki stepped between them giving the salesclerk a sharp scrutinizing gaze just as the lowest growl rumbled up behind Hannah from Maddox.

"I can take it from here, we'll call you when we need you," Nikki said with a dismissive smile. The clerk stared at her annoyingly for a long moment then turned to leave.

Nikki turned to Hannah then.  She held a concerned gaze and softly rubbed her shoulder. "Are you okay?"
In truth, she was not.

"They said it was forbidden," Hannah whispered.

Nikki's gaze narrowed and caught Maddox's frown.

"Hannah?" Nikki stepped closer.

But as soon as the words came out, Hannah caught herself. She was suddenly aware that she said too much. She pulled away and began to stroll out of the store.

Maddox trailed behind her. Koda was driving him nuts pacing and whining as her overwhelming scent of panic, confusion, and worry bounced off of her in waves, drowning him in the process.

"Hey," he called to her gently. Quickly he reached for her and turned her around to face him.

Never has he ever dealt with this before. He has scented fear and even rage with his pack members. But nothing like this. He didn't understand why she was feeling this way. Her perplexed look, as quick as it spread across her face; it disappeared with a timid smile.

"I am fine," she said, reaching for his hand. The jolt of awareness that came with her touch ignited hot chills throughout his body. He saw as her color flushed, but she just as quick averted her gaze and pulled him forward.

He trailed behind her; letting her lead the way as he scowled grinding his teeth at her overwhelming scent that had Koda anxious.

Just before bending the corner of a store they were met with a full on crowd of shoppers that he noticed some wore costumes and were standing in line.

A Comic-Con Convention...

Great!!! Just what he needed.

He decided to go through the crowd to get to the other side.
Possessively he held her before him and edged around participants that wore anything down from the most elaborate costume to the most bizarre.

This, in turn, intrigued her, he noticed as she stopped briefly and watched with fascination as a man with wings walked towards another entrance and disappeared.

He felt her trying to pull him in that direction, but he held her back.
"We don't have tickets to go in there," he told her.
She held his gaze, silently begging him to let her go, but his unwavering gaze was stony as he refused.

He shook his head. "We can't go in there, Hannah," he frowned still trying to sort out in his head what was happening.

Nikki joined them just in time to feel her getting flustered.
"What's up?" she looked up at Maddox's not-too-happy face and looked over to Hannah that was on the verge of dissolving into tears.

What is going on?

Nikki stood silent, assessing her as she mind-linked with Maddox that looked as if he were on the brink of changing.

I don't know. She is overly perplexed and anxious. I have no clue why. But she seems to have lost it with all of these people around.

His jaw clenched. He turned to look away from her as his gut clenched. He has never felt this way. He simply could not do this. Koda was tearing him up from the inside demanding control.

Nikki sensed Maddox's inner battle and immediately stepped forward to calm the situation.

"Lets eat! There is nothing more exciting than eating takeout at the mall," she chirped happily reaching for Hannah, but she refused.

"I want to go in there, please male," she could not look away from him. It was imperative that she find that male angel. She needed answers.

He shook his head.

"Are you trying to get your picture placed in the dictionary beside the word difficult." he leaned closer to her.

She noticed how tightly clenched his jaw was and how dark his eyes had turned. His heart jumped, hearing the tiny quiver of desperation in her voice when she insisted.

She wouldn't let up. And neither would he. He narrowed his eyes and looked towards the people waiting in line. "Why are you so anxious to go in there anyway. Is it someone you know?" a lover from her past. He wanted to ask.

"N..no but," she trailed off, lowering her gaze.

A sudden flare of possessiveness washed over him at the thought. He felt annoyed that he was feeling this way. He had no right.

You have every right...she's our mate!
Koda growled and began to prowl furiously.

He ignored the wolf within.

His features tightened, and he stiffened with the way she looked with her face downcast. Compellingly sweet and demure with misted eyes that nearly brought him to his knees.

Damn it! He itched just to pull her close.

Do it!

His jaw clenched. Suddenly, Brody came forward and distracted him.

"This place is swarming with weirdos," he shook his head.

"Let's go eat and then check out more stores," Nikki insisted; gently pulling Hannah along toward the food court.

They found an empty table and pulled out the chairs to sit. They agreed on Chinese food. Silently Nikki and Hannah watched Maddox and Brody take off to get their food.

"Do you want a smoothie?" Nikki asked, pointing behind them on the opposite side of the food court. Hannah did not answer. She had no clue what that was. With a saddened gaze, she watched Nikki smile then stood up.

"I will bring you one. You are going to love it." Nikki turned and left.

Hannah watched as Nikki disappeared into a crowd of people. Now she sat alone watching everyone around her. She felt overwhelmed by their customs. The human realm was nothing she imagined it would be. So lost in her thoughts, she never heard or saw the commotion a man was starting as he made his way to the food court.

A couple of girls stepped away from him as he began to shout at them.

"Repent!"

He thrust a Bible he was clenching in his hands at them.
He made his way to another table; scaring another woman. And finally, he stood before Hannah.

Beady-crazed eyes held hers. "Repent, our savior comes. The wrath of God is upon us."
She gasped, shaking her head. It cannot be true.

"The end of the world is near. Take heed and repent for your sins before it's too late." he stepped closer.

"No!" she cried.

Her face turned warm with his words. Frantically, she shook her head, and the lump in her throat grew, and so did her fear.

"Repent, sinner! Or be damned!" he slammed his fist on the table and just as quickly a growl erupted from behind her.

In a blink of an eye, the man was yanked up by his shirt and facing a very irate Maddox.
Distraught with the man's words, she did not feel Nikki pull her up from the chair until she forced Hannah to look at her.

"I am... not... a sinner," Hannah blurted out breathlessly between sobs. "He lies," she hysterically tried to pull away from Nikki.

"Take her to the car." Brody urged Nikki before turning to face Maddox that held the old man now by the neck ...nearly in mid-air.

"Bro...easy...He is just some religious nut," Brody stepped closer. Never had he seen this side of Maddox. Ever.

Then the older man began to holler even louder. "We are all gonna die. Soon!"
Brody tightened his eyes shut and shook his head as Maddox shoved him away with a disgusted growl over the table. But he continued to holler. "We are all going to burn in the fires of hell!"

I seriously can't stand humans.!!!.. He mind-linked Brody as he stormed off and left.

The trail of her scent and distress had him stomping off with determined strides through the mall to get to her. He was enraged and wanted to rip the human's throat out. But again that would've caused a scene.

The moment he slammed through the exit into the parking lot, Nikki's mind linked both of them.
Guys come quick!

He broke off into a run, and Brody followed. Frustrated he couldn't go into wolf form here in public, he ran quickly.

He made it to the side where they had parked their car and skidded to a halt when he saw Nikki. She turned to face them. Maddox let a feral growl spill from his lips, his claws grew, and his fangs lengthened.

"Dante!" He growled with an undeniable power — his Alpha voice.

His wolf slowly came to the surface as he pinned his now glowing eyes on the three vampires before them. And the one in the middle held a terrified Hannah.

His Mate!

And he saw red...

*******

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