SCOTT'S POV
"NO!"
I laughed at Diana's wide eye spurning as she instantly answered no to my invitation. She's too cute when I tease her. We started with my heart in my mouth, trying to keep that fluttering feeling bursting in my head earlier today. And now, I could freely hold her hand, or rest my arm over her shoulder without that fear of rejection. Diana is far more different with everyone else. She's not dramatic like the other female wolves. She's reserved, and straight to the point. Not boast, nor wild. When she shed a tear, I feel numb with her sensitivity with a thought anything might break her. And yet, she stand tall holding her ground in those tiny feet.
I stepped on the pedals as soon as the light turned green. We drove in the long winding road full of pine trees swaying from the strong winds. By the looks of it, it's going to rain. I looked at her, and she seemed at peace. I can sense her heart pace so fast, and most of the time, it matches mine. Thus, my Alpha desires that catches her scent kept shooting all over the confined space of my car... that it was getting harder to contain myself.
While I drive through the road, a large tree suddenly fell right in front of us blocking the way. I stepped hard on the brakes as the tires screech until my car halted sideways. Despite being startled with the appearance of an unexpected downed tree, I was more in awe when Diana placed her hand on my chest so I won't budge forward. "Are you okay??", she asked as she breathe rapidly in shock with her hand still on my chest. Those restless eyes, that could stir up my emotions, looked at me giving me the impression that she's more worried than I am.
I held her hand and clasped on it. It was such a great feeling that she thought me first at the face of danger."I'm fine, are you? Sorry about that", I unknowingly kissed her fingers like an impulse, and let her go. She didn't flinched nor swat me away. Maybe she's too shock to react. "Stay here, I'll check it out", I unfastened my seatbelt then went out of the car, leaving my Luna on the passenger seat.
The winds violently whirled as I hop out to look into what just happened. Closely, it was an enormous tree that completely blocked the way to where we're headed. Judging from the cut of the trunk, it seemed clean like it was perfectly torn by a sharp material. The area is well lit, no places for shadows to hide. There were no other people not even cars can be seen around. Just the wind howling at the emptiness of the street. Strange, as it appear to be. Clicking my tongue, I can move the tree away without further delay, but it would just scare Diana if she sees me carrying this gigantic plant in my arms. Mulling over with my options, I suddenly heard the car door close.
"It's a good thing that it didn't hit us.", Diana crossed her on arm across her chest, and held her hair with the other as the strong winds circle around her.
"Yea, please get back in the car Diana. It's too cold out here. I can manage this", I smiled, giving her such ease. Then, my smile quickly faded when I noticed two men standing a few meters from behind her. My body warmed up as I clench my fists seeing their eyes glow in red. "Diana… please come to me", I slowly walked closer my Luna, as I reach for her with my hand. With every step that I take, the more fearful I become for her. What's more odd, these vampires have no stench of the undead that's supposedly diffusing all over the place. No warnings, no anything. "Come to me", I called again. Of all the times that I can bump into these suckers, why does it have to be now with my Luna? A thought came rushing in my head. These vampires might not be after an Alpha like me, they are here for someone else.
"Huh?", she tilted her head in wonder, squinting her innocent eyes. A surge of dread came running all over me. Minding that vampires are quick, and can take her in just a snap of a finger. Heading close, no strength can take these two down in my human form. I needed to shape shift as soon as possible but not in front of Diana. Not yet. Diana was about to turn around when the vampires swiftly disappeared into thin air. An illusion of an imminent attack. In a blink of an eye and with no other choice, I shape shifted to my wolf form right before my Luna.
AUTHOR'S POV
Diana couldn't believe her eyes seeing Scott turn into a wolf. She was caught in the spasm of fear as she held her breath. Without blinking her eyes, she watched along with the creeping feeling of dread swallowing her whole. Scott's clear skin is nowhere to be found anymore, and his beautiful lips changed into a mouthful of rabid, knife-like edged teeth. Those furry covering fluffed right before her wavering at the gusts of the wind, and he had these paws with sharp claws that would bury on anyone's skin when he pounce. The heavy rains started to pour making it difficult for her to see more, but surely, he is as big as the one she saw at the hospital before. Diana heard a growl thundering over the raging winds and the torrential rains, as the large shadow leaped over her. Ducking with her head, Diana thought that she has turned to Scott's dessert after their reconciliation.
As she lose her footing while her panic set in, Diana slumped on the rain-slicked ground standing on all fours. The wolf didn't attacked her after all. She turned her head and was instantly thunderstruck at the wolf's actual target. Watching how Scott tear the vampire piece by piece, she gaped crawling backwards as she slip off her feet. Then, she finally found the courage to stand up with her eyes still on the vampire who found its demise on the fangs of the wolf.
As soon as she's back on her feet, Diana felt a hand touch her shoulder, from her back. She instantly caught its hand and turned to punch the vampire on the face as hard as she can. She flinched with her left hand, from a terrible excruciating pain after that strike. The vampire smirked showing his sharp fangs and razor-sharp nails, then charged Diana. When she was about to strike him again, Scott made it on time to aim at the vampire's head biting it off.
Diana stood under the heavy rain, with her injured hand hanging on her side. The cold rain drenched her trembling skin that seemed not to bother her anymore. With slow steps closing in, she edged Scott closer to see him better. And that's when a piece of her puzzle was settled. "You saved my life again", she recognized the white spot on Scott's forehead as she patted on it. 'So it's been you all along', she thought.
Scott shape shifted back into his human form exposing his nakedness. He didn't bothered to cover up even if Diana is just a few inches from him. Scott could barely resist locking her in his arms under the cold rain."Don't ever try to be that brave again.", he touched her cheek with his warm palm, resting it on her neck. Scott couldn't understand why Diana, with all the courage she has to fight a vampire, didn't shape shift to her wolf form despite confronting a grave peril. A Luna with a faint wolf scent, less body heat, and can't shape shift is something he should definitely look into.
With all the adrenaline now slowing down leaving Diana's system, she flinched at throbbing pain on her hand and wrist. She raised her hand and stared at her swollen knuckles, as Scott held it with much gentleness."I think I broke it", she said as she smiled shuddering in the cold.
"Let's go back in the car", Scott kissed her hand and let her get inside first. Warmed the car well enough for Diana to stop shivering, and then looked around to check if there are any more vampires. He then removed the tree blocking the way, pulling it effortlessly at the roadside. The rain subsided a little, that gave way for Scott to grab some extra clothes from the trunk in the front. As soon as he's fully clothed, he want inside the car and handed an extra shirt for Diana replacing her soaked dress. It was tricky for Scott to divert his attention at his almost naked Luna beside him. He hardened his jaw staring at his reflection at the side mirror, while Diana toss her dress in the back and put on his shirt. It was more than tormenting that facing the vampire, he thought.
Scott listened to her jittering teeth to the cold. He held her cold hands to keep her warm, then drove straight to her home. "How come you're so warm?", her voice was shaking as she place his hand on her cheek. She could not refuse such generous offer for it was really making her feel warmer.
"It's actually a wolf thing", Scott smiled, as he caress her cheek. He sped up more to finally end the cold discomfort Diana is enduring. And in no time, they've reached the Villa Estates where Diana resides. However, Scott squinted his eyes sensing more danger in her home. He can clearly smell a stench of a nagual and some cold-blooded vampires lurking there.
"This is me", Diana is no longer surprised why Scott know which her house exactly is, for she knew that he may have followed her around. She opened the car door with an attempt to step out, but Scott extended his arm to shut it close. He noticed shadows swiftly moving around the roof.
"It's not safe Diana. Look..", Scott directed his gaze on the roof of the house. She looked out, but couldn't see what's Scott is referring to.
"It's my home, Scott. I'm safe here", she insisted as she remove his hand on the car door.
"Can I just bring you home tomorrow? I just want to make sure you'll be safe tonight. Don't you trust me?", Scott asked, as he stared at Diana intently.
Diana isn't sure what he is talking about. Why shouldn't she be safe in her home? She looked at her house again as the lightning strike. It feels like her home, her safe haven with nothing unusual as what Scott presumes. Then, she turned her gaze back to Scott. "I trust you".