The Alpha And The Angel

2_Naked And Afraid

Ariella POV

“Urgh,” I grunt as I painfully push myself up from the dirt.

I look around at the trees, the lavish meadow, the big, bright moon, and the thousands of stars in the sky. Where am I?

And why does everything hurt? I roll my shoulders where the pain is most eminent. There is a dull ache through my entire body. Even my toenails hurt. Softly, I touch my body for injuries and gasp aloud when I realise, I am naked.

I am alone and in pain in the middle of the woods. Naked. What in the world have I done to be in this predicament?

Slowly, I stand up and reach for the closest tree when my knees start wobbling. I feel so terribly weak.

Whatever I have done to be here, I should not do it again. I am going home, and … where is home?

I close my eyes and try to remember anything, something, but nothing comes to mind. I have drawn a complete blank.

“Oh, no,” I mumble as I take deep breaths to fight the panic which is threatening to overpower me. Lost and alone in the woods is one thing, but naked and afraid, with absolutely no memory, is something completely different.

“What’s my name?” I whisper as if asking the question will jolt my memory.

In the distance, I hear wolves howling and I am on the verge of tears. Where do I go? Which way leads to a town or a farm? Any place where there are people who can help me.

Suck it up, I reprimand myself. Falling apart is not going to get me anywhere. I need some form of shelter or safety to spend the night. Wandering around in the dark is asking for trouble.

I look up at the tree next to me. It is sturdy and leafy. It will not keep me warm but at the very least, the wolves will be unable to get to me.

I grind my teeth to stop myself from crying out in pain when I reach for the branch but my scream echoes through the forest when I am roughly yanked backwards. Before I can comprehend what is happening, I find myself pinned against the tree and staring into piercing black eyes. The man sneers and I notice his fangs. A vampire!

Wait … vampires are real?! Fear consumes me as long, thin and pale fingers clamp my chin tightly while the bark cuts into my back. I want to break free, but he is impossibly strong.

“Oooh, yesss,” he hisses when he sniffs my neck. “Tonight is my lucky night.”

My heart drops to my feet. I might have no memory of who I am, but I can remember everything about vampires. As a human, I am defenceless. There is nothing I can do to protect myself. I do not have holy water or a stake or fire with me. This is it. I am going to die alone, lost and naked in the woods. I am not strong enough to prevent it, but if I must die, I will do it fighting.

“Please,” I beg to distract him while I slowly raise my arms. “Have mercy.”

“You smell so good,” he continues as if I have not said a word and I shiver in disgust when he licks my neck.

“I bet you’re even going to taste better,” he opens his mouth and extends his fangs.

As he lowers his head to bite me, I raise my hands and jam my thumbs into his eyes. I squeeze as hard as I can, and I scream in disgust when I feel the jelly of his eyeballs pop.

“You b!tch!” He screams and hurls me aside like a ragdoll. I fly through the air and crash hard into a tree.

“You’ll pay for this!” He shouts as his eyes regenerate.

Quickly, I get up and start running in the opposite direction.

“You can’t run away from me,” his laugh is ugly and taunting.

I know he is right. I know I am wasting energy running but there is no alternative other than allowing him to have his way with me. If he wants me to be his meal, he will work for it.

“You’re fast and strong,” his skeleton-like hands go around my waist and I scream bloody murder. I kick and hit in every direction until he loses his patience and slams my head so hard into a tree that my vision becomes blurry.

“But I’m better,” he grunts and moves my head sideways to expose my jugular.

“Let me go,” I squirm and wiggle against his hold with all my might. Suddenly, I am free. In disbelief, I stare at the giant black wolf on top of the vampire. The wolf viciously bites into the vampire’s neck and rips his head off with one jerk. Leaving behind a bubbling puddle of blood.

I am so overwhelmed with relief that my legs go numb, and I sit down in the dirt. My eyes are fixated on the wolf who rescued me. It is a gorgeous creature with its thick, pitch-black fur, and by far the biggest wolf I have ever seen – and then it strikes me. If vampires are real, then werewolves are real. This is not an ordinary wolf – this is a werewolf.

The world tumbles when the wolf turns to look at me, and I get lost in his beautiful blue eyes. I have an overwhelming urge to reach out and touch him. To glide my hand through his fur, but I do not.

Instead, I pull my legs to my chest and wrap my arms around my knees. I am uncomfortably aware of my nakedness and even if I were dressed, those piercing blue eyes would have made me feel naked. It is like he can look right into my soul.

“Th … thank you,” I mutter and pull my legs closer to my chest.

I expect the wolf to nod and run off, but instead, he shifts, and my mouth turns dry when I look at him.

Cole POV

Mate! Mesmerized, I openly stare at the girl.

“Son of a b!tch,” I mutter under my breath and look back at the pile of blood that used to be a vampire. That thing attacked my mate! I should have killed him slower.

“Stay back and out of sight,” I mind-link my pack. No way am I going to have them look at my mate while she is naked and vulnerable.

I was admiring the shooting star when I became aware of the stench of a foul vampire within our borders. My men and I instantly shifted and followed the scent. I thought it was just another night ridding the earth of the vermin. Not for a second did I think I would finally find my mate.

My first instinct is to wrap her in my arms and protect her against this cruel world. But I can see her fear and bewilderment and somehow master the self-control not to act on my needs.

I look back at her and frown. Obviously, she is not a wolf. Otherwise, she would have shifted and killed the vampire herself. And she would not have crossed our borderline. But that is not what is bothering me. Something is not right. Why does she not recognise me as her mate? Even as a human, she would feel drawn to me when we make eye contact. She should feel safe around me even if she does not know about our existence. Instead, her amber eyes are wary. The only logical explanation is that she is in shock.

“Are you hurt?” I ask softly and keep my distance.

“No,” her reply is soft and melodious, and the sound makes my heart sing.

“Come with me,” I hold my hand out, giving her the choice to come to me. “I will keep you safe.”