Chapter Seven

“Is there a problem here?”

Thing two stepped back and slid his gun into the waist of his pants.

“No officer,” thing one answered. “We were just looking for directions to a certain store in the mall.”

“There’s a directory a little past the entrance. I'm sure you can find what you’re looking for there.”

“Thanks.” They took off for the mall with a slight jog.

“Ma’am, are you okay?”

“Thanks, officer I’m fine, and I appreciate you stopping to check on me.”

“I never pass a pretty lady who looks like she might be in jeopardy. Although I admit, your boyfriend seems like he’s capable of taking care of those two. Have a good day and if you’re ever single look for me at the station house.” He winked and drove away.

She winced and raised her head to look at him.

“You’re not mad?”

“Why would I be mad? He'd have to be blind not to look at you, as long as he understands you’re with me.”

“What about the if I’m ever single part.”

“Then I’d be the blind one to lose you. I’m not upset Saffron. Males will always see your beauty as long as they acknowledge you’re with me; they get to live. You should bask a little in the fact that you’re beautiful. I’ve been told it’s good for the female soul.”

“Where did you hear that?”

“Deja. You’ll meet her and Enzo later. Ven, the one I was telling you about is their son.”

“I don’t understand your world. The more I hear about it, the less I want to leave it. At least, the men with the guns are gone.”

He nodded but didn’t say anything. They were gone, but they were just lying low they would see them again.

“Let’s get you some shoes.”

“Some?”

“Yes, females like different footwear.”

“Did Deja say this?”

“Yes.”

“I have got to meet her.”

She stretched her hand toward him, and he took it. She walked into the mall with a smile. Meeting thing one and two was a harsh reminder that someone still wanted her dead. Nothing about them jogged her memory, but she was sure they were there when she was shot because they recognized her in a moving car. It was like they were looking for her. Had one of them shot her or were they the ones who dragged her out to the river? Richard, whoever he was, didn’t strike her as the type who was into manual labor.

“Do you think they’re working for the guy who shot me.”

“I do.”

“Maybe we should just go back.” Her voice didn’t shake. She was proud of herself.

“No. You can’t hide forever.”

Right, but she could try.

Xander stopped and took her into his arms drawing eyes from random people walking down the corridor.

“We will fight them together. One day when we have children, we want them to be free to leave the barrier.”

Xander say what? She had never thought of having children with anyone. That she was sure of. Her life always felt like it was headed nowhere fast. Not that she wasn’t invested in living, she was. It just seemed no matter what she did it blew up in her face. The only thing she ever aced was being a teacher. She loved teaching grade school. Wait she was a teacher. How could she have forgotten that? A good one at that until something evil knocked at her door, and she had to give it up.

“I remember something; I used to be a grade school teacher.” There was pain in her voice as she thought of how much she missed interacting with the children.

“Maybe you can do it again.”

“That would be nice.”

They walked towards the shoe store he saw while his brain came up with ideas of how she could help the community she was a part of now.

She broke away when she entered the store. It reminded her of one of those big box shoe stores that carried everything and specialized in nothing. Except there was a section in the back that was filled with the type of shoes she loved.

“I like it back here.”

“I thought you would.”

He sat down on a seat that wasn’t even close to being comfortable as he watched her browse through the shoes. A sales man came back, and she told him what she would like to see.

Xander paid attention to what she was trying on, and after she was done, she had six pairs of shoes she loved. He knew, by the way, her eyes would caress them.

“Would you like me to carry them up front for you?”

“Oh no, I only came in for one pair of shoes.”

“You can take them up front, but she wants to wear this pair out.” Xander pulled out a pair of tennis shoes and handed them to her.

“I can do that.” The sales man reached into one of the shoes and pulled out a small sensor. He placed her sandals in the empty box.

“It will all be at the register when you’re ready.”

“You can’t buy me all those shoes.” She whispered after the salesman left.

“Why not?”

“Cause… Because it’s a lot of shoes.”

“Do you need them?”

“Well yeah, I don’t have any. I can’t even remember where my apartment is.”

“Then it’s settled.”

No, it wasn’t, but she was going to have to think through her argument. He couldn’t just be nice and buy her things. He was treating her as if she was special. What happened when they had to leave each other? She would be spoiled expecting other men to treat her well.

She put on the shoes and flexed her toes. “I’m ready.”

They walked up front, and she tried not to pay attention to the cost of the shoes. He picked up the bags, and they walked out. There were so many places she wanted to stop, but all she could think about was the shoes.

“I’ll bring you back so you can shop later.”

“Thanks.” Dollar signs went through her head. Was she really that caught up in money? She pondered this on the way to the Jeep, and even after they got in. She never saw the car from earlier slip behind them.

“Saffron is something bothering you?”

“Nothing I can’t handle.”

It wasn’t the money. That was disposable it came, and it went. It was the meaning behind it. Xander wasn’t trying to buy her or even prove his worth. He was telling her, she was worth what he had, and he was willing to share. She could get a job. She could contribute, but he hadn’t said those things. His actions told her that she was special and the last time a male’s actions said that it was her dad.

‘Saffron wait. He’s out there I promise you, and when you find him, you’ll be filled with joy.’ It was one of the last things her dad told her before he disappeared. Of course, he told her he loved her and would see her again soon.

“You think I’m your mate.”

“No, I know you’re my mate.”

She changed the subject. “Where are we going?”

“You said you wanted to go for a walk.”

“We can’t do that. What if those guys follow us?”

“Don’t worry I’m driving slow enough so they can’t lose us.” She turned to look out the rear window. Sure enough, two cars back was the car with the same men in it from earlier.

“Xander.” Her voice was hushed, but there was a combination of fear and outrage in it.

“Wild cat they scared you. They hurt you, and they’re going to understand what fear and pain mean.”

“What if they kill us?”

“Then we die boldly and unafraid, then Caden kills them. He’s already decided to hitch a ride with me. I can see through my brother’s eyes, and he can see through mine. It’s rather handy.”

“Because you’re not human.”

“Yes.”

“Have I mentioned that you should ease me into these revelations? If not take this as a word to the wise.”

“I will remember.”

He pulled the jeep into a spot next to an empty field.

“During the day, there are many people here, but when it starts to get dark, they leave.” He came around and opened the door for her.

She took his hand and led him to a sign on the edge of the field. “See this, at a certain time everyone has to go somewhere else.”

“That’s fortunate, now we know we won’t be disturbed.”

She laughed there was no arguing with him. He took her hand, and they began a long leisurely stroll around the track. She knew that runners came here to get in their workouts and prepare for competition. She could imagine families here with children just having nice time. Then she imagined herself heavy with child walking along the track holding Xander’s hand as he said things like see a little exercise is good for you and the baby.

She blinked real fast because she wasn’t going to cry. He was giving her something that was better than gold, shoes, or even a good meal. She had hope for the future; her life had been missing that for a while. This male who thought she was his other half was giving her the things she didn’t realize she needed.

He was also willing to confront the males who were supposed to make sure she disappeared. She looked up at him. He had realized the truth about them before she did.

“Let’s take this path.”

She looked for the path and realized what he saw as a nice little trail the rest of the world, including her, saw as an overgrown jungle warning you of dire consequences.

“Sure, I just wish I had a machete. That’s what everyone uses in the jungle.” His laughter rolled over the track, and her heart jumped for joy.

She could face evil with him around. They walked off the beaten path, and he cleared away the leaves, branches, and anything else trying to rip her up.

“Stop.”

It had taken longer than she thought for them to get up the nerve to stop her. She turned around to look at thing one. He had a smile on his face as if he was the grand prize winner. Thing two stepped out with a gun.

“Glad you could join us.” Xander’s voice was void of emotion, and that scared her. She had heard it soft or with low or even flat undertones, but it had never just been flat. If she was one of them, she would already be running.

“We followed you. We’re not joining you.”

So, thing one was an idiot as well as a killer. “I’d explain it to you, but the irony of what you just said is too much for me.” She inched a little closer to Xander but refused to touch him because he would need room to move.

“Which one of you kicked her?”

She sucked in a breath when the memory of that kick came back to her. Her hand went to her side remembering the pain.

Thing two smiled as if he remembered the same memory with joy.

“Which one of you hit her in the face?”

Thing one turned to look at thing two who’s chest was puffed out.

“I’m going to let you live.” He said to thing one, “because you didn’t touch my mate. I want you to run back to Richard and tell him I’m coming for him. If I ever see you again, I’ll do to you what I’m about to do to your partner.”

“You can’t threaten me; I have the gun.”

Thing two raised the gun, and Saffron swore she heard the trigger click into place before the bullet blasted out. That’s when she realized how quiet it was and how far away they were from houses. No one would hear her body being riddled with bullets or her screams because she was dying and what could have been was dying with her. No one would see the pain on Xander’s face as she slipped away from him. Then she cried because there were no rules when you saw your life slip through your fingers.

Her body fell to the ground the only pain she felt was on her side. Nevertheless, she heard the bullets in quick succession. One, two, three, four, five. She cried harder but made herself stop. They killed Xander, and her heart couldn’t take it. She screamed and tried to make herself go to her knees, but he was already moving.

He tore the gun out of thing two’s hand and used it to hit him on the head before he went for thing one. He threw him against a tree then picked him up and banged his head against it one more time. Then he turned around and came back to thing two.

He reached down and picked up the gunman. Thing two started to shout obscenities at him. He threatened Saffron’s life and graphically described how he would defile her.

“When we kill the two of you, I’m going to be important in the new world order.” He bloated himself up with confidence. “Richard and Koyzal are on their way.”

“Tell them I said hi when you see them.” His voice was still flat almost mechanical. Before her stood a warrior, she could see it in every line of his body. He changed forms making her place her hand in her mouth to keep from shouting. Then he took thing two’s head off with a swipe of his claws.

He turned around and approached her. There was a rustle of leaves, and she saw his brother and two others come closer.

“Xander.” One of the men called. His eyes turned wild. He was going to kill someone.

His brother stepped in front of the other male. “We’re just here for clean up.”

“Xander.” Her voice was so soft he probably couldn’t hear her. His head turned, and then he turned back to look at the males.

“Xander!” His head snapped toward her. “Eyes on me. I’m scared, tired, and my hip hurts from where I fell, I want to go home.” The quiver in her voice was a nice touch except it was real.

He was a killer, and she was freaking out on the inside, but he was the killer who never hurt her, unlike the other two and Richard.

Xander stood over her. He was so tall it felt like he was blocking out the sun. His claws were deadly. She’d seen a bear once, and Xander’s claws were longer and thicker. The fangs hanging out of his mouth made her want to curl up in a ball. He reached for her, and the male picked her up. How had he changed so fast? He held her close to his body and walked away from his brother and his friend without saying a word.