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"Mate!" The large man said loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. The silence that followed was deafening. Dawn flinched ever so slightly when his strong arms slipped around her waist and gently pulled her to him. He seemed to be in a daze as he held her tightly pressed against his body, almost as if he was afraid she would vanish if he let go.

Dawn allowed his tight hold for only a brief moment before firmly pushing on his chest in the hope he would free her. It was her first time being this close to a man and it scared her. The electric heat that seemed to be pulsating through her entire body was far too much stimulation for her. It didn't help that his scent made it impossible to think. He smelled like after shave, soap, and something Dawn couldn't quite put a name to. It was earthy and slightly metallic in nature. She had a feeling that on anyone else the smell would be nauseating. But on this man it was pleasant and seemed right.

He shook his head a bit as if to rid it of a numbing fog and suddenly he grabbed her wrist and pulled her out of the room. He was silent as he led her up four flights of stairs and through a locked door into a small but nice two bedroom apartment. He pulled her to the couch and gently sat her down as she started to tremble fearfully. Dawn knew all too well that men have explosively violent tempers and it was a bad idea to be alone with this one.

"It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you." He said gently as he crouched down in front of her so that they were eye level. She nodded and he let go of her shoulders and raised his eyebrows as if to say 'see you can trust me.' "I didn't want to answer any questions and I need sometime to process all this." He moved to the coffee table as he spoke and sat with his elbows propped on his knees as he watched her closely. "Did you know fear has a very distinct scent?" He tapped his nose as he asked.

Dawn shook her head giving an immediate answer for fear of what he would do if she didn't. "Well it does, which begs the question, why are you so afraid of me?" She swallowed hard as the color drained from her face. Experience taught her that he was upset and ready to go off on her.

"Ca-can I go?" She whispered so quietly he almost didn't hear it. A sad look crossed his face and he sighed deeply.

"Will I stop you?" He murmured gently. He didn't move from his spot as he stared unblinking at her beautiful pail face. She stood and began to inch towards the door, terrified he would reach out and grab her a second time. She watched him him sit there completely stiff and un moving save for his face as he watched her go.

Once she heard the quiet click of the door behind her, she let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "Dawn you're a damn coward!" She hissed under her breath, than bolted back to her class to finish the tour of the pack house.

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Brandan sat watching her leave and it took all his strength to let her. When he asked if he would stop her, he had been asking himself. He wanted to, it would have been easy to reach out and grab her small waist. It would have been all too easy to take her to his bed and make love to her until she begged him to let her stay. And even easier to sink his fangs into her delicated neck and let everyone know that she was his alone. But, to his surprise he let her inch her way out the door and now sat listening to her footsteps fade away.

She ran down the empty hall to get away from him. She was terrified he would hurt her. He didn't blame her though. After all humans didn't prepare their daughters to be mated to werewolves. No, instead they warned them about the dangers of strange men and how they should never be alone with them. It was not ladylike and went against their believes of keeping pure for their husbands.

At that thought he stood up and put a large hole in the wall. She was his and only his. He would kill any man that tried to take her from him. "Fuck!" He snarled as he walked towards the bathroom. An image of his beautiful mate being pinned down by another man had him striking the mirror over the sink. The glass shattered and his knuckles began to bleed. "FUCK!!!" He roared at his shattered reflection, the silent yell and twisted features mocking his rage.

"Temper temper." A young man said juviolly. He was smiling from the door way.

"I never should've given you a key, Conal." Brandan hissed as he jerked the hallnd towel from its ring on the wall to wrap his injured hand.

"You know you love me. So where is she?"

"Who?"

"Your mate? I would like to meet her." He glanced around the bathroom as if he would find her hiding in a corner.

"She left already." Brandan grumbled as he shoved past his best friend to seek medical treatment for his still bleeding hand.