The Forgotten Heiress novel Chapter 52

The wolf reached them first, it growled and she tried to back away but there was nowhere for her to go. She was stuck between a hard place and a really sharp...set of teeth. With her adrenaline pumping, everything that followed, she experienced in slow motion. The wolf took a step closer and she shrank back, she had to bite her lip to keep herself from screaming like a little girl again.

Axel and Christian closed the distance between her until they were shoulder to shoulder and less than an inch away from her. She thought they were trying to protect her from the wolf but, when it moved its head to the side, to her amazement they moved aside to let the wolf stand between them.

As it turned to face the way it had come, the tail graced her leg and Jessica cringed away. The reality that she was most probably looking at a werewolf became too much to take. To her, werewolves and shifting, it had all been like aliens-just a possibility. Now that she was staring at an honest to freaking goodness wolf she felt like life had just flipped on its axis.

She'd believed everything Nick had told her but now there was zero doubt in her mind. Wolves didn't act this human; they just didn't approach you and turn around to protect you without being prompted. They didn't, she shook her head, they just didn't.

"Get away from her Matt."

The order snapped her attention up to owner of the voice. He was walking slowly towards them with barely contained energy sizzling around him. As he got closer, Axel and Christian shuffled back nervously but the wolf stood his ground. Nick balled his hands into fist and snarled. "She is my mate!"

His eyes began to glow as he got closer to them and Jessica brought a fist up to her mouth and bit down to keep a scream from escaping. Those eyes, they weren't human. She knew that most of her fear was irrational, but she couldn't help it. Healing bones, extra strength, speed and super sense, she could handle but furry legs were a-whole-nother thing.

The wolf crouched down and curled its lips back, exposing his fangs and stuck its tongue out. It was a simultaneous act of aggression and submission. She remembered reading about that before and slowly her irrational fear began to abate. She took a deep breath through her nose and dropped her fist down to rest at her sides.

The movement was caught by Nick and his piercing stare trapped her, like headlights on a deer. He stepped closer and the wolf let out low rumble that stopped Nick mid step. He looked at the wolf, then at Axel and Christian before looking back at her.

"They are protecting you." He told her. "My most loyal, my friends, they are standing against their Alpha to protect you."

Jessica looked at Axel and Christian, they'd promised to protect her but only now did she believe them, truly believe them. She could tell that they were uncomfortable standing up against Nick but they weren't moving.