The use of her name is the last straw I raise my hand and go in to slap him right across that damn smirk. I don't even make a connection to his face. He grabs my wrist, "Do not try to slap me." He says sounding calmer than ever, which is scarier than when he yells. At this point I'm close to him, too close. We are both breathing hard from our anger. His eyes piercing through me. I would like to blame the alcohol for what happens next, but I feel like our yelling match has sobered me up. He still has my wrist in his hand, not letting go. I try to pull it away, as I do, he reaches down and grabs my other wrist, "Anastasia, do not try to slap me again." I try to yell at him and correct him again on my name. Before I could get any words out, he uses his grip on my wrists to turn him and I towards the wall with my back against it. "Ryder," I say pleading with him trying to pull my wrists free again. He lifts them above my head completely immobilizing me. "Anastasia," His smirk has returned. In this moment I completely forgot how angry I was. All I could see was how hot it was as he brought his tongue out across his lips stopping at his piercing pulling it in again. Staring straight into my eyes with a look I have yet to experience from him, or anyone for that matter. At almost a loss for words, mesmerized by his blueish grey eyes, until I finally find a few, "My name is Stassi." He switches so he is only using one hand to hold both of my wrists, which he does easily. His breathing is still as hard as mine but this time I don't think it is from anger. He uses his free hand and lifts it up towards my face. I flinch, even though for some reason, somehow, I know he wouldn't hit me. He pauses still staring into my eyes, as if he's shocked I'd flinch at him raising his hand. He brings his hand to my face and as if it was my second nature, I rest my cheek into his palm. And with one word, one word coming out of that smirk, I lost it. "Stassi." ___________

The Sacrifice, the lamb led to slaughter The Protector, the burning light of redemption The Ancient legend tells of the moon and Sun becoming linked and the wolf will below a mighty howl starting a chain of events that will bring the end, telling of a time when all wolf kind will fall to a deadly plague. OR Haven was so not in the mood for this, he really wasn't. Here he was crouching behind a store shelf clutching a hand gun. Not far off he could hear gunshots and very, VERY anger howls, growls and snarling in general. To his right, his best friend in the whole world was bleeding out and oh yeah his sister was being held captive by Werewolf hunters. Where in the hell did his life go wrong? Oh yeah, it started around the time that damn mutt decided to squat in his mother's flower garden. ~~~~ ATTENTION - In the process of being redrafted in another novel by the same name. It can be found by going to my main page. PREVIOUS IN THE SERIES - None NEXT IN THE SERIES - The Woodsman then Cinder Princess OPTIONAL - Little Red Second Draft ~~~ Content - BxB