STOLEN BY THE HEARTLESS LYCAN

Chapter 8: Protective Measures

Creed’s pov.

“That’s odd…” I heard Hunter murmur.

I looked up from my phone with a lack of interest that soon turned into something akin to worry when I saw what he’s talking about.

Cora. Standing on the porch and eagerly peering at the car. A quick look at her confirmed one thing; she was frightened, her hands were balled up into fists at her sides and she was shuffling on her feet, not to mention the flushed red staining her cheeks.

Before Hunter could make another comment I was out the car and striding quickly towards her, the irritation that hovered over me like a cloud since my meeting with the council turned into a worry that someone might see her here and take her from me.

Maybe that’s what happened even, my eyes narrow into slits and I pull my gun out of its holster, fully prepared to take aim and shoot whoever it is might have gotten in.

I paused briefly to look Cora over; no wounds, no scrapes, other than the fright that she was clearly now working to contain, there seemed to be nothing wrong with her physically.

“Stay here,” I tipped my head towards Hunter and a few of my men, two followed behind me while Hunter waited outside with her.

Cora looked like she was about to speak, but she must have thought against it and kept her mouth firmly shut.

We went in.

The first thing I noticed is the significant lack of light. I can hear the few helps that I have muttering something about the lights too, I curse. Whoever came in, likely blew out the bulbs in hopes of catching her off guard.

“The rest of you comb the house,” I told the men behind me, they chorused a yes sir and I stepped outside again, my intent was to question Cora, but she was already moving towards me with Hunter behind her. “What-?”

“The lights went out, there was a power surge I think,” she placed a palm on her forehead. She sounded oddly calm now, but her hands were still shaking and her body is stiff. “I came outside because it was stuffy without the AC.”

The last part was an obvious lie, but I let it slide. She was probably just terrified of the dark, I’ll have to keep that in mind.

“Hunter, go in and tell the rest of them to stand down,” he nods. “And fix the lights.”

I slipped my gun back into its holster, I was less tense now, but my eyes were fixed firmly on Cora.

She had cleaned herself up, her lilac hair that was dull and ratty just this morning had been brushed and pulled up into a ponytail by a white ribbon. Her pink sweater was dropping off her left shoulder and she hugged herself, shivering slightly.

Something cold and dark burned in the pit of my stomach. I was suddenly filled with the urge to grab her, pull her into my arms.

An irritating itch burned the back of my neck when she shrinked away as Hunter brushed past.

It wasn’t unexpected that she would be uncomfortable by him, by any man within an arm’s length of her and when one brushed past her as he tried to get to me, I snarled, “back the f u c k away from her.”

Her eyes blinked in shock at my reaction, a look she quickly concealed. “You didn’t have to put up such a fuss,” she drew closer to me, her violet eyes half lidded with false gratitude. “Though I do enjoy you taking care of me.”

She seemed to have returned to her default tone and expression, sultry and flippant.

“Do you?” I grunted, looking away from her when the lights came back on, she visibly relaxed and faked an even brighter smile.

My lungs exhaled for what seemed like the first time today.

“I was about to have dinner when the lights went off,” she tilted her head to the side, so that her ponytail swished against her face as she purred suggestively. “Would you like to join me?” She slinked up close to me, resting her tentative hand on my chest, right on top my heart.

I glanced down on her hand, trailing a part down south as she stood on her tiptoes and whispered against my ear, rubbing her nose against my stubble. “I’ll make you enjoy it.”

I grabbed her hand, relishing the softness and turned slightly sideways so that my lips was pressed against her ear. “Careful songbird. You might have more on your hands than what you bargained for.”

Tense fear flashed across her eyes as her body locked up again from the suddeness of my action.

It was almost amusing how she could dish it out but not take it.

Releasing her, I said gruffly, “I need to freshen up first. Come with me.”

I led her back inside. Still scoping the inside for any threats, it was just my men and the few members of home staff I had, they of course were preparing to leave and one in particularly, a short, pale woman gave Cora a wide berth.

“Come with-” She swallowed, “yeah! Sure! I’d love that. I’ll uh- help you relax too! I’m really good at it.” She smiled tightly.

I smirked and took her chin in my hand, tilting it up so that she looked deeply into my eyes. Her sultry smile was still in place and every inch of her was doused with suggestiveness. I was almost tempted to push her even further, see how far she’d play this game.

“Worry about getting yourself to react, and Cora,” I lowered my voice. “What have I said about lying to me?”

Her smile faltered. “Are you going to punish me Creed?”

I bit back a curse. She was tempting, very tempting, her words were enough to set my entire body on fire again, and it was like she knew it too, because her smirk became even more confident.

I don’t want to punish her. I want to desecrate her. Ruin her. Break her, remould her, so that she works only for me. So that she understands that she’s mine and mine alone.

“Not in front of my men Coralie,” she chuckled as I pushed her back, relief sagging her bones. “Either way, work on calming yourself.”

She looked mildly confused.

“You’re scared of the dark, that’s why you ran out? You’re still wound up even though you’re trying to pretend you’re not,” she didn’t challenge me on that statement.

Hunter approached us and once again she immediately stiffened, she gave him some space when he drew close to me and he pointedly did the same to her.

“There was an issue with the circuit breaker, I’ve fixed it and it certainly won’t happen again, but if it does,” he was addressing Coralie now. “There’s a backup generator that should come on automatically.”

She nodded but she still didn’t look at him, her hand wrapped around her arm. I was not surprised by how she was shying away, but I was surprised that Hunter was extending any form of comfort to her, he’d made it clear - both on the drive here and on the day I brought her home - that he didn’t like her… at all.

I found myself considering something. If someone really did get into the house, they’d get to Cora before she could even get outside. There wasn’t much security here as normally, no one would dare break in, but now, with her here…

I could only get home so fast and the thought of someone getting to her set me on edge. Leaving even one of my men with her would give her a fighting chance, but the main question was who would that be?

I considered it for a few seconds before settling on the person I actually trust.

I eyed Cora and then Hunter. It was almost as if he read my mind, because he folded his arms and pressed his lips together.

“Cora,” I turned to her, she smiled plaintively. “This is Hunter, one of my most trusted men.”

She smiled at him too, hiding how uncomfortable she felt by leaning her hip against the wall and inclining her head at him.

“He’s your bodyguard from now on,” she went still and when she turned to look at me, she was frowning.

Sick satisfaction bloomed in my stomach at her first real reaction.

“Why?” She placed her hand on her hip, her eyebrows furrowed. “I’m sorry for overreacting today, but I’m fine on my own really.”

“If someone does come for you, you won’t be,” I countered.

She sighed and tried to sound a lot more solemn. “It’s nice that you’re looking out for me, but…” she forced another bright smile. “I don’t need a bodyguard on me at all times, besides I’m sure I’d just bore Mr. Hunter to death, don’t you think so?” She looked to him to confere with her.

Hunter didn’t say anything, but I was sure it was on the tip of his tongue to affirm what she just said and probably add a little more.

“This isn’t up for discussion.” I said firmly.

“But I already have you, I don’t want to be the reason you lose one of your more… valuable men,” she placed a hand on my arm and looked up at me with imploring violet blue eyes that would one day be my undoing.

I glared down at her, my voice dark. “You seem to have a funny habit of making me repeat my words, Cora, and I don’t like it one bit.”

She looked ready to talk some more, but she must have decided against it, probably in her attempts to make herself seem more agreeable.

But she smiled tightly and nodded. “Whatever you say, Creed.”

Hunter bit down on his lower lip and frowned a little. I could tell he wanted to complain as well, but unlike Cora he wasn’t as gutsy.

“Go back to your room,” I said to Cora and ever the picture of false submission, she nodded and shot me a flirtatious look before walking off.

My gaze burned at the gentle, purposeful sway of her hips as she left before turning back to Hunter.

“Hand over everything concerning the Kerringtons to Gerald,” I tell him. He nods stiffly. “What is it you have to say?”

“You’re doing way too much for her. I mean, it’s clear that she’s just trying to get on your good side so she can run off or even worse backstab you for her own safety,” he said in a low voice.

“I’m not stupid, Hunter,” he looked away. “I can see what she’s doing. But like I said before, she’s mine and try as she might she’s certainly not going to get away from me.”

“Still…” he stopped when he saw the forbidding look on my face. “Whatever you say. Just tell her to not try any of that s**t with me.”

I chuckled dryly. “Trust me, she won’t. And if she does, she won’t be the one getting in trouble.”

Hunter once again clenched his jaw, full of unsaid words. But he was not a fool, crossing me more than this won’t end well for him.

“Tell the rest of them go home, you’ll stay here in the meantime,” he nodded stiffly again and I walked away satisfied that Cora will get some sort of protection while I’m away.