Alpha Raven | #1 in the Trueblood Series

"No....they didn't. That's what I found odd about them. I thought they were coming for me. So, I tried to hide behind the trunk of the tree I was standing near. I heard them coming forward, growling all the while. But...but they didn't attack me, instead, they formed a circle around me. They were continuously growling but not at me...they never even looked at me. They were growling towards something from the direction I had just come from. When I shifted to look at what they were seeing, I saw Richard standing there. They were growling at Richard. It was...it was like they were protecting me from him." Charlotte replied, her brows furrowed and twisted from what he assumed to be confusion which later turned out to be fear.

Azraiel could sense they were nearing the end of her story and hence kept quiet. He wanted her to tell everything just as she remembered without any pressure. He couldn't even imagine the trauma she felt while going through this nightmare.

"Richard kept looking at me for a few seconds and ....and then something happened. His.....His body started twisting at odd angles. It looked....it looked really painful and I...I couldn't see it...so I just screamed. He was still twisting, his hands were now on the ground and he was starting to look more like an animal. Within a few seconds, he....he turned into a wolf. A freaking wolf! He was white and giant as fuck, almost half the size of the tall trees that surrounded us. He had wild scary eyes and saliva was dripping from his mouth. His eyes were still on me and he looked just ready to eat me alive. He let out a loud growl which quietened the other wolves.

They were still huffing but were much quieter now. And then within a second, the silence shattered. Richard....or the wolf...just launched himself on the other wolves. They started fighting, like real fighting. So, I did the only thing that came to my mind. I started running away from the chaos. I could still hear them growling but I didn't stop. I was still running when it suddenly stopped, the noises and growling I mean. So, I just looked back while running and there he was....Richard...or the white wolf was running towards me. So, I started running faster but just after a second my foot was lifted up in the air and I fell. the wolf was holding my foot in his jaw and dragging me towards the direction I had run from.

He kept dragging me until we reached where the wolves started fighting. They were all dead. All those five wolves with red eyes were dead. Their bodies were lying around. I don't know who died how but I saw a dead wolf without the skull and I just...I threw up. Richard was still dragging me but then he abruptly stopped.

There was more growling. Slowly, one by one more wolves started coming out of the woods. One of them was almost as big as the wolf Richard turned into. They were all snarling and growling towards Richard. I don't know what went through his mind but in a second he bit down my leg that he was holding between his jaws. It...felt like I was dying. The pain...it was horrible...I just ...I just can't describe it. I just remember screaming loudly. As soon as he bit me, other wolves started attacking him. I was awake but it was all a blur. I could faintly hear them fighting but I don't remember it clearly. The last thing I remember is being dragged away from them by one of the other wolves and then it all went black." Charlotte finished with a sniff. She had started crying again while narrating the events. She looked almost haunted as if she could still feel Richard's teeth in her leg.

Azraiel couldn't hold himself back this time. He stood up and slid himself beside her on the bed. He put an arm around her shoulder, guiding her head to his chest. Her whole body was shaking uncontrollably. He kept smoothing her hair down and then whispered softly in her ear, " ssh...sh..it's okay...it's okay. You are safe here. I won't let him harm you." He said what he meant. He would tear them apart. Each and everyone who hurt his mate. His wolf was begging to be let out, dying to tear through the flesh of those who dared to harm his mate.

He sat in the same position for a few minutes until he felt Charlotte calm down a bit. She lifted her head from his chest and wiped her tears. "Sorry and thanks..." she said looking at his tear-stained shirt.

He gave her a small smile and scanned her face. Her face had turned red and her eyes had swollen from crying. He was worried she would make herself sick. So, he decided to put a stop to their conversation. " I think we should stop. Your body is still weak." He was about to stand up when she slightly grabbed him by the elbow.

"Wait...there is something else." She said as if remembering just now.

Azraiel just looked at her questioningly. At that moment, he wasn't aware that whatever she was going to say would change the meaning of events she had described altogether. She was, however, looking at him just like that again. Like she was going to say something he couldn't imagine.

"After Richard's wolf bit me....I blacked out again. But, after some time I might have gained consciousness for a few minutes. It felt like someone was carrying me in their arms. I remember hearing two voices...both men. They were talking about me..I think. My mind was still hazy so I really didn't understand some of the things, but I remember one of them saying, " Let's just drop her near the Blue Orchid Pack, their Alpha will keep her safe." I am assuming they were talking about you Alpha Azraiel." She finished with a blank face looking straight into his eyes.