Betrothed

Chapter 26: Gut Punch

Brayden

A wolf stood there burying a body, a golden-brown male wolf, as I slowly came across the tree that Romellow used to try and hijack my mate. I have no clue who this guy is or why the hell he was burying a body in a field of flowers to begin with. He looks almost as if he is of alpha heritage in his build. I stood there quietly trying to make sure I go unnoticed as I crept over behind the tree in my wolf form. I watched as he then picked up flowers and placed them on the mound, he just created in burying a body. Whose body was underneath? Was he working with Romellow to try and ambush Willow? I got upset and started growling lowly and instead of charging I scratched at the bottom of the tree trunk. My claws bursting with noise as they scrapped loudly against the bark. I knew that the other wolf would hear my noisy arrogance and be curious. 

It did not take long and then I heard him approaching. I waited for the male golden-brown wolf to get just close enough. As soon as I could smell his scent next to me my wolf started growling ready to attack this other wolf and get answers. I jumped out from behind the tree colliding with the other wolf throwing us both back far enough that the golden-brown wolf gets agitated. He growled at me. I went for the pin and almost had him until he rolled away from me. As he rolled away the wind shifted and I smelled a familiar heavenly aroma of lavender and honey. Willow! My mind went to hyperdrive as I got irritated that fighting this male wolf is getting in the way of my mate. The male wolf stood back up snarling at me trying to get me to back off, but it was too late I knew she was close. It has been far too long without her next to me knowing that she is safe. In this moment I did not know if she was safe or dead but smelling her scent meant she was close. Alive or dead I am not certain. The male wolf blocked me and that is when I realized that he was standing in the way of me getting to her. Why guard me away from her if not for alternative reasons? 

The male wolf meant business which only meant one thing. He either has a death wish keeping my mate from me or he was attempting to protect my Willow. I calmed down by breathing and shifted back knowing that was the only way to communicate with this other wolf and get to my mate. The male golden-brown wolf eyed me studying my appearance. After doing so he shifted back into his human form as well. He stood only maybe four inches shorter than me with curly dark brown hair. Then he starts speaking.

"Give me a second before we do introductions." He says to me as he disappears and grabs a duffle sack from behind a tree. He then tosses me a pair of red shorts. I quickly put them on. "There we go. I hope that is comfortable enough as that is all I have at the time being." He states.

He then just stands there in front of me both f us in a sea of silence and then it was like a light bulb went off in both of our minds at once. Willow! He runs over to her and starts touching her and there was blood lots of blood and an unconscious Willow. Anger rips through me as I reach and grab him pulling him away from her. He shouts at me, but I keep dragging him away.  He keeps fighting me as I continue to pull him until we have distance away from Willow.

Then he begs me with words, "I need to help her she needs to wake up." I stop dragging him because why is he concerned about my mate. I am the one that has that job not him. Right now, I need to deal with him to save her and take us both back home. I filled with rage standing over the wimp that still has not tried to move after I released him from my grasp. 

"She is mine! So, get lost Optimus scum!", I yelled as I balled my hands into fists.  The anger just started exploding into my veins as I envisioned getting this over with. He already killed someone the evidence is on him still and I watched as he buried the body. 

Then his words cut through the air like a sharp blade to the heart when he said growling at me as he spoke, "She is not just yours, Brayden!" How did he know my name and why the hell did he say that? 

The anger exiting my body as I made contact with my fist to his face. He fell unconscious quite fast because I gave it all I had. His body dropping as he lost consciousness. I did not care. I started running over to Willow. I swear she was just here where the hell did, she go? Did she awaken from her injury? I searched the trail for a few slow seconds heading back in the direction that the guy had buried a body at when I finally laid eyes on her she was headed that way to the mound. I followed her so excited that she was almost within my reach. I did not want to startle her, but I could not help myself. I slowly approached her as she studied the mound. We were so close. I was scared to say anything. I just wanted to reach out and bring her into my arms to caress her close to me. When I took another step Willow quickly swooped around and punched me right in the chest. 

Our eyes locked and it's like the seas were flooding the Earth as our emotions heightened to new extremes. I could not resist the urge to kiss her any longer. I quickly took my hands to the sides of her cheeks caressing them gently and slowly going in for the kiss when Willow came in at full force. The kiss igniting our every mood we stood there for what felt like hours just stealing each other's breath. In reality it was maybe a mere fifteen minutes of uninterrupted bliss. I finally had my mate in my hands literally. I moved my hands to her hips bringing her closer to me as she wrapped me in her embrace. I missed her too much and it was in this moment I vowed I was never going to let her go.