Battle and Wolves

 Roman did not care about my feelings and tore off my pajamas.

 When his calloused hand touched my lower back, I screamed in fear.

 "Roman!"

 The deafening scream stopped Roman's wandering hand.

 But he only paused for a moment before pulling at my clothes again.

 I could sense that his wolf was taking over, and if that happened even more, I wouldn't be able to get through to him.

 I'd experienced when Griffon's wolf took over, and no words could get through to the animal.

 I regretted not bringing a baseball bat to the door to beat him to death.

 "Roman, if you dare to r ape me tonight, I promise you'll see me in pack court tomorrow!"

 Roman's hand paused again, but then he sneered, as if he had heard a great joke.

 "You think I'd be afraid of seeing you in court? A Beta against a

 little girl with no wolf?" he scoffed.

 I clenched my fists. "I know your pack is powerful, but I swear I'll make your scandal public!!"

 "Sure, go ahead. It's been awhile since I made headlines anyway." Roman raised an eyebrow and smirked.

 He was clearly not threatened at all. I suddenly felt a strong sense of powerlessness. This bast ard wasn't just some random perve rt, but a rich and powerful wolf shifter. He could easily change the narratives in news. If I fought with him head-on, he would bury me.

 I couldn't match his strength, nor did I have his strong

 background and power. To save myself, I would have to use my brain.

 I softened my voice. "Beta Starke, I didn't mean to threaten you with anything. It's just that I don't feel comfortable sleeping with someone I don't love."

 Roman raised both eyebrows this time.

 "Oh yeah? But I can't wait to f*c k you." He dropped a peck on my collarbone.

 Disgust coursed through me, yet I had no choice but to endure it at the moment.

 "How about giving me some time? So I can get used to it. When I fall in love with you, things will get easier. If you force me now,

 it won't be as pleasant for me."

 Roman wasn't convinced; he wasn't a man who cared about how pleasant the experience was for the women he f*c ked. "It doesn't matter. As long as I enjoy it."

 I resisted the urge to slap Roman as I continued to persuade him. "But se x with feelings is definitely better. Don't you want to try it?"

 Roman wasn't a fo ol. He knew I was only talking to him like this because I wanted to get away from him.

 He tilted his head and stared at me for a while, as if pondering whether to let me have time or not. "Whatever. Se x is s ex, it won't feel too different."

 "Believe me, it's totally different. Only when two people truly love each other can they have s ex that pa*sionate and pleasurable."

 He leaned closer. "Have you had a taste of that?"

 I stilled. The memory of Griffon holding me in his arms flashed through my mind, and my heart suddenly ached.

 If Griffon knew about this… If he knew a perve rt was trying to force himself on me, what would he do?

 Would he be angry? Jealous? Or…

 I tried to imagine how he'd feel. But a voice told me that he

 would not feel any of these things.

 Roman sneered at my silence. "You want me to wait until you fall in love with me? That's cute."

 He hunted for prey to satisfy his desire. He had no time to develop feelings and all that c rap for those women! Ridicul ous, and too much trouble.

 I felt a bit defeated, but seeing that the desire in Roman's eyes wasn't as strong as before, I tried to persuade him more.

 "Beta Starke… Roman… How about three months? When I fall in love with you, I will be happy to sleep with you, okay?"

 "No." Roman refused, growling. "I can't wait for that long. My wolf want you NOW."

 But I sensed that there was still room for negotiation, "Two months, then?"

 Roman grabbed my chin and pinched, the tips of his claws coming out. "Three days."

 Shit.

 I had offered three months because I would no longer be in this world by then. And if Roman still wanted me…well, he could go and sleep with my ashes.

 But three days? That was hard to accept.

 As I was about to reply, Roman let go of me. I swallowed the words back.

 In any case, I could at least get away tonight.

 "Alright, babe." Roman bent down and kissed my cheek. "I'll leave you alone tonight, then. See you in three days."

 I touched my check, resisting the urge to wipe it off, feeling disgusted.

 I struggled to keep an obedient face as I nodded.

 Roman seemed content and finally walked toward the door.

 "By the way…" He stopped half-way and turned to give me a meaningful, pointed look. "Harper is your friend, right?"

 My mask of obedience cracked for a moment.

 "What about her?"

 "Nothing. Stay home and wait for me, okay? Don't go anywhere." Roman chuckled.

 He didn't say anything threatening, but I knew exactly what he

 meant.

 If I dared to run away, he would go after Harper.

 Powerlessness once again crept up my spine, making me let go

 of my clenched fists.

 "Leave her out of this. I will stay here for you."

 Roman blew a kiss. "That's my good girl!"

 Disgust in g!

 I slammed the door shu t and locked it, then ran into the bathroom.

 Getting in the bathtub, I picked up the loofah and scrubbed hard at the places Roman had kissed and touched.

 Even when my skin turned red and bruised, it still felt like it wasn't enough.

 I washed and washed, until I was too tired to continue, and I finally started to calm down.

 If I didn't do what he wanted, Harper would be in danger. I had

 to find a way to handle this situation, or goddess only knew what he would do to her.

 I quickly wrapped myself in a bath towel and returned to the bedroom. I picked up my phone, wanting to call the regional pack police.

 But as I thought of Roman's power and influence…I gritted my teeth and thought better of it.

 My life didn't matter that much. I was going to di e soon,

 anyway.

 But Harper still had a future in front of her. She was about to get married. She was going to have a mate and would have pups… The life I'd always wanted.

 I couldn't get Harper into trouble.

 I stood in the same place, completely still, and thought for a long time. Finally, I went to the Contacts on my phone, and my finger lingered on the number I'd blacklisted.

 That familiar name had my heart beating hard and fast.

 He was the only one who would stand a chance against Roman. But he didn't want to see me anymore. If I called him…would he

 answer?

 After a long hesitation, I still didn't dare to make that call.

 I knew Griffon very well. When he got tired of something, he

 never gave it a second glance.

 He might think I was trying to pester him if I called to ask for his help.

 I had chosen to walk away, with dignity… It'd be better not to bother him.

 I went to make a spare key and picked up some meds.

 The doctor said I should be hospitalized and wait for a suitable heart donor, but I refused.

 My heart issue was congenital, and for a while, my condition improved after artificial bypa*s surgery.

 But since the two hard kicks at my heart five years ago, I'd started to have relapses of heart failure. Treatments and therapies didn't seem to help much.

 Of all the times I had longed to find my wolf… Wolf shifters my age didn't have problems like this.

 A few months ago, I started having edema and difficulty breathing-which were late-stage heart failure symptoms.

 I knew the end was near.

 I no longer expected to find a suitable heart donor.

 I no longer expected that I would ever be blessed with a wolf.

 The goddess had forsaken me, and I was doomed to remain human for the rest of my short, pathe tic life.

 The meds I took were mainly painkillers and for controlling the edema.

 One of the only things I'd ever had going for me were my looks, and I'd be dam ned if I d ied ug ly.

 I grabbed a handful of pills and took them with a gulp. Then, I put pepper spray and a laser into my bag.

 I couldn't think of anything better, so I would have to fight Roman head-on.

 One life for one life? Sweet deal!

 I had nothing more to lose anyway.