The Wanderer

Chapter 3

He thinks I'm automatically going to live with him?

"Woah... back up. Who said I was going to live with you?" I ask, stopping in my tracks. I don't understand his train of thought. I'm fine on my own. I actually enjoy being on my own.

"You have no home, and I'm giving you one. I expected you to be grateful?" Nikolai's face scrunches up cutely, confusion showing on his face.

Avoiding his question, I ask suspiciously, "Aren't you the Rogue Lycan? How can you have a home if you are a rogue?"

He looks at me, seeing if I'm serious. When he realizes I am, he bursts out laughing. Now it's my time to scrunch my face up, confused. Why is he laughing, I didn't make a joke.

"What's so funny?" I ask, my voice sounding more annoyed than I had intended. I don't like being laughed at.

"They call me the 'Rogue Lycan?' How literal. What else do they say about me?" His laughter dies down enough for him to speak, answering my question with one of his own.

I think about all I've heard about him. "You are the biggest werewolf, but you are a different species. You are a Lycan, hence the name, and you are known as a bloodthirsty monster." I shrug my shoulders, saying, "I don't see it."

He looks at me with a smirk, his lighthearted attitude disappearing. "Well... you haven't seen me in action yet, have you?"

Shaking my head, I don't know where he is going with this. Is he trying to scare me?

"I am a monster. I hurt those who come near me, and the only reason I didn't kill you for bumping into me was because you are my mate." His smile turns sinister. "Lucky you."

I roll my eyes at his act, knowing he is trying to scare me. "Lucky me," I say in a cheery voice, acting excited to have him as my mate.

We've started walking again, him leading. He looks at me in shock, before asking, "Why aren't you running away from me? I'm scary, a monster." To try to add effect, he says in an unsure voice, "Rawr?"

I could tell he was trying to make me not want him, but I wanted him all the more. I could tell that his past hasn't been the best, making him grow up too soon. He shuts people out, like he is trying to do to me. He is trying to protect himself from feeling, putting up a wall to prevent anyone from getting too close.

It is now my mission to figure out what happened and to help tear down his walls to the wonderful man underneath. The man he shows when he is with me.

Voicing my opinions, I say, honesty dripping from my tone, "I don't believe you are scary. I believe you've had to defend yourself for too long, whether that be from people or emotions. You have blocked people out, never letting anyone in." I pause, leaving him to think my words over. "But I'm here now. I know you are going to let me in, and when you do, the rest of your walls will come crashing down, and I will be here, helping you through it."

He looks at me, shock clear in his eyes. Sighing, he runs his hand over his face, looking more tired than he had before. Being so guarded must be exhausting.

Putting up his act again, he mutters, "Whatever." Walking a few steps ahead of me, I can't see his face, but I can tell he is going through an internal battle, trying to decide what he wants to do with me.

Will he let me in, or will he completely shut me out like he does to all others?

Will I, the Rogue Lycan's mate, finally be able to tame the beast?

My questions will be left unanswered for now, as only the moon goddess knows, but I will find out someday. I'm just hoping that I like the answer.