Outrunning Her Past

Chapter 9

Wyatt

When that creature stepped from the shadows I was furious. How dare he try to hunt here? How dare he think that I was feeding on her? Once I get her to safety I'm going to hunt that bastard down and shred him limb from limb! Dani made a whimpering sound as she clung to me. I could feel her fear of moving so quickly through the woods, but I also felt the faint strings of trust. When I'd traveled enough that all traces of his scent vanished I stopped. Her body shook as I lowered to my knees. She wrapped her legs around my waist even tighter and sniffled, "Wh...what just happened? How can you run like that? Who was that guy?"

I pulled back a bit and lifted her chin. "I need you to trust me for just a bit longer, darlin. Leo is on his way to get us and we are all going to sit down and have a talk."

She looked so innocent staring up at me. "But how...you don't even have a phone...where are we?" Tears began to spill down those beautiful cheeks as I held her tight

"I know nothing makes sense right now, but I promise we will tell you everything. Just know I will do anything to keep you safe, Dani. You are our whole world." She nodded slightly, then leaned back against me, shivering. I couldn't tell how much was fear, or how much was the lack of clothes she had on. I kept her wrapped against me as she finally fell asleep only moments before Leo's headlights appeared on the single-lane road.

His eyes widened as he took in our appearance. "What the fuck happened?" Leo hissed as he helped me get her into the truck.

"Scavenger demon. He must have smelled her arousal and followed us." She made soft noises but didn't wake up. "I had to run with her."

"Oh shit, Nate's gonna flip. First Dean's parents, then those nosy aunts show up, and now this," he groaned running his hand down his face. "How much did she see?"

"Enough that we need to come clean, no more secrets. If the aunts smelled Talon on her, they will gossip all over the kingdoms. If we don't acknowledge her they will label her as...." I couldn't even finish the sentence. I would never want her reputation tarnished like that.

"Okay, one good old spill-the-beans session coming up," Leo said with a half-hearted laugh. "By the way, I'm completely jealous you got to see her half-naked first."

"I also got to give her an orgasm first," I grinned. Leo grumbled under his breath as he drove and I just chuckled softly. She looked so peaceful in my arms. I know we are about to tear apart her world as she knows it, but I have to believe our bond is strong enough. It just has to be.

The others were already on the porch when we arrived. Dean and Nate appeared fairly calm, but Talon was frantic. I could feel his rage even inside the truck. Even Dalton was here, lingering in the doorway. Leo opened the door for me as I carried her into the house. In moments, Dean had a long shirt and slipped it over her head, making her stir slightly. Those dark eyes looked at me and whispered, "Are we home?"

"Yes, darlin, we're home. Everyone is here if you're ready to listen," I brushed a strand of hair behind her ear as she gave me a soft smile. Helping her lean up, she looked around sheepishly.

"Here beautiful, sip this to warm up," Dean handed her a mug of hot chocolate and she giggled, blowing on the whipped topping.

"Thank you. So who gets to go first because I adore all of you, but you suck at secrets," she grinned. Pointing at Dean, "Between his marriage-happy parents, and your nosy aunts looking me up and down like a broodmare, I was already suspicious." Talon made a choking sound at her comment. "Then that creepy guy, well I think it was a guy. I only heard his voice and it made my skin crawl. He said he knew better than to interrupt a demon feeding. What did he mean by that, Wyatt?"