Pursued (Completed) ✔️

Chapter 17

By now I am beyond surprise at how people are treating us. This guy steps up into mine and Bens personal space. "Bad enough that a mutt comes to a pack gathering this close to the full moon but bringing the human that drives the car of an Alpha blood is unacceptable."

Before I can process what he said he shoves Ben hard in the chest. Ben stumbles back but not without pushing me into Adrien who catches me without hesitation and pulls me further back.

"Just go with it. He'll be alright Juliette." His warm breath fans over the side of my face and I hear him but... I can't think...his arms around me, his face so close to mine... I can feel his chest against my back and I shiver...I'm not cold...I feel like I'm protected here.

The sound of punches being thrown brings me back to myself and I look.

Ben is winning, easily, he dodges every punch the guy throws and every time his own fist shoots out it connects. The guy is slowing down, they don't talk trash, only the sound of Bens fist meeting his opponent ring through the air. My brain screams 'why doesn't anyone stop this madness!' But my eyes are glued to the scene and my mouth is open to accommodate my quick breaths. I'm not sure why but I don't actually find myself disgusted. The guy goes down, Ben kicks him once and looks around.

"Next? Let get this over with now shall we? Because I am not leaving the area!"

His voice rings out in challenge, sounding very unlike the placid and funny guy that works for my father and practically lives at our house. This man sounds strong and dangerous, he actually sounds like the kind of guy that steps forward on his challenge. This man is build like a brick house, muscles rippling under his tight black shirt and violence oozing out of his pores.

"Ben!" I half yell in the silence. He turns to me and his eyes tell me what he said in the car 'Don't back down!' Somehow he knew something like this was going to happen. Well, we are in it together so I yell...
"You can kick their scrawny asses, just don't break anyone, we are guests here! Oh, and hurry up I'm starving!"

Adrien chuckles behind me. Ben laughs and turns to the man that takes that moment to attack him. This one gets a few good hits in on Ben but he is slower than Ben. The fight is vicious and it surprises me that nobody cheers for either of them, instead there the air is heavy with expectancy. A tension that is almost palatable. Nobody crowds the fighters and Adrien refuses to let me go as I try to wiggle from his grip.

"Just stay still!" He finally snaps loudly. "If he wins this he's done and if he looses there will be a few more fights. Nobody will touch you if you are with me, I'll kill them if they try so.. just..stay..still!" He ground out the last words angrily.

It's almost as if everybody heard him, even the fighters turn to look at us. Ben winks, actually winks and bows to me. "I guess I'll have to make it fast Juliette. Don't worry, I'm almost done."

A few growls ring around the clearing and I hear mumbles about some top warrior but the fight has resumed. Ben suddenly speeds up and moves like a freaking ninja as he beats the bejeezus out of the other bigger man. I am the only one that cheers a loud 'Yes! Go Ben!' as the guy goes down.

Instead of letting me go Adrien's grip on me tightens as Ben struts over. When he gets closer I realize that he is looking at the guy holding me, not me. He actually raises his hands a bit, palms out, in a universal sign of surrender and stops. It's still deadly quiet.

"I solely lay claim to her as my pack, no threat, she is family."

It was apparently the right thing to say as Adrien relaxes behind me but his grip stays firm.
"Euh? Dude? You can let go now?"

"Can't." He growls lowly, hot breath fanning my ear. One word but one word so loaded, so full of emotion that it scares me. The fights didn't but one word managed to scare me. I'm now fighting to get free, panic suddenly overtakes me. One word. Adrien has turned my struggles against me and I am now chest to chest. My hands on his arms pushing, his arms around me keeping me close. He's not looking at me but I see his eyes and, again, they are not normal.