The Rouge

Chapter 12

Recap: She looked at me, "I should have kept running. I stop running and he finds me. Like when I was 5. And 7. And 14."

"14?" The bastard that killed her parents found her five years ago.

She nodded like she didn't see me. "He would have killed me. His arms around me. Blacked out. Had to get away. He's going to find me again. I stopped running. He'll find me."

I pressed my lips to her's to cut her off. "He won't. I will protect you. You aren't alone. I won't let him hurt you, Ally. I promise."

What she said next is something I'll kill that bastard for. "Good, because I already have a mate. I don't want him."

Marcus's P.O.V.

Those words turned my blood to ice. The only thing that kept me from shifting was the fact that Ally was in my arms. But the vicious growl that escaped my throat sounded loudly through the room. Alicia's heart started racing and she jerked against my arm that tightened round her. Her eyes were wide and panicked. My wolf instantly calmed realizing that my outburst of anger is what set her off. 

Alphas. Despite her fierce exterior, Alicia's terrified of Alphas. It's deeper than just the hate she has of them. I've never seen so much of her on display. So many of her walls down. "Shh, shh, I'm sorry. It's okay, baby."

She looked at me with uncertainty but after a long, silent moment she nodded and relaxed back into my chest. "I'm scared," she whispered so quietly I almost missed it.

"Whatever you're scared of, Ally, I'll protect you," I promised her.

She shook her head, "I'm scared of you. I don't want to love you. If I love you I'll lose you. And I don't think I could make it after that. I don't think I could make it if I lost someone else that I love. Because the people I love end up dead. Because I can't protect them. I can't protect anyone."

"No, Ally," I whispered brushing her hair behind her ear. "That's not true. You protect your cousins all of the time. And it's not your job to protect me. It's my job to protect you. Let me take care of myself."

"But what if you can't?"

"I can."

"How do you know?"

"Because nothing is ever going to keep me from you, Alicia. I love you. And I won't let someone take me from you. That how I know I can protect myself. Because I will always come back to you."

She put her head on my chest. "Promise?"

I nodded even though she couldn't see it and pressed my lips to the top of her head. "I promise, Ally."

"Good," she mumbled. "Because I think I might be falling in love with you, Marcus."

With that I momentarily forgot about the bastard after her. And that I'd have to go back to work. And that she doesn't want to be Luna. I forgot everything outside of that single moment. 

Because for once I had hope. Hope in us. Because my mate is falling in love with me. I don't care how long it takes for her to love me. Days, weeks, months. Even years. But it's happening. It took her a couple of weeks to trust me, and even then it wasn't completely. It'll take time for her to love me. But for her I'll wait forever. 

§•§•§•§•§

A couple days I drove to my parents' house. I hadn't even knocked on the door before it swung open and my mom was hugging me. "Finally! So where is she? Where is she?"

"He's alone," Dad said.

Mom pulled away and scowled at me. "I want to meet your mate. Now. Today."