Chapter 26 - Friends or Something More Than That

Alaric

I had spent the entire day keeping the safe distance that separates us while watching her from afar and monitoring her from the sidelines. If she had been the same kind as me and Leif, I would have gone crazy and reckless and tried to lay claim to her right then and there. However, Clara exists in a whole separate universe and extended dimension, and I am well aware that attempting to win her favor and approval by moving quickly and decisively will never be enough to win her love. In fact, it might even repel her from what I have to offer and make her never even consider becoming my mate. That would be tragic for both of us, most especially for my wolf, Leif.

When I observed her rummaging through her purse in the parking lot, where she was likely looking for her keys, I couldn't help but think how delicate and easily damaged she is. This, though, only made me swear that I would do everything in my power to protect and keep her safe, no matter what.

I would offer her my life if that's what she needs. Leif said.

But the Moon Goddess never makes mistakes, and she is even pregnant with my child after just one session of artificial insemination. And even though I am thoroughly disappointed that I am not the one who physically embedded my seed inside of her and therefore missed out on the whole experience, the fact that she is carrying my child is proof enough to me that she is my destined mate, given to me as a gift by the Moon Goddess.

In addition to the fact that she never errs, the Moon Goddess also possesses immaculate and impeccable timing.

Even before seeing the truck, I could already hear the screeching of tires against the paved driveways, which occurred as the truck's speed grew exponentially as it descended the ramp. I heard the truck beginning to lose control of itself, bumping along the rails and metal tubes. Within two seconds, it had reached full speed and was speeding directly for the location where Clara had been standing. She was standing in front of her car's hood and making her way to the driver's seat when she was startled by the sound of car tires screeching against the asphalt of the parking lot. She stopped walking. I remember seeing her for a fraction of a second and how scared her expression was, as well as the split second when she stopped still and stared directly at the truck as it was about to hit her.

Even before my mind was able to process what was happening, my body reacted. Gaius and I were in the same parking lot at the same time. We were only a little distance away from where she had parked—in fact, we were directly across from her on the opposite side of the lot. That was irrelevant since the instant my body launched itself in her direction, at the same time I was throwing away all self-control and any thread of self-preservation, and the moment my body reached her, it was too late. I am aware that I am going to reveal myself to her and that now is not the appropriate time to do so; yet, there is no way in hell that I am going to allow my mate to get crushed and die right in front of my eyes, even before I touched her hand, and especially now that she is carrying our child. That thought alone caused me to jump and leap two times in a row, and as a result, my body transformed into my form, which was half human and half lycan, and I accomplished something that a typical werewolf male is incapable of ever accomplishing. Before I appeared in front of her, my wolf made sure that I was in human form, even though my arms and back were still in lycan form. Leif realized that our presence could increase her level of anxiety at a time when she was already on the verge of losing it, so he took precautions to prevent this from happening by having her see us the way we are before she's even ready for it. I moved quickly to pick her up from where she stood frozen in place, taking care to avoid squeezing or otherwise injuring her as I set her down on the hood of her vehicle. If she hadn't been covering her eyes, I can only imagine how frightened she would have looked when she saw the changed version of herself.

The tears fell from her closed eyes. She was shaking from fright, and I made certain that I hugged her closely while being careful not to crush her while I was trying to console her and bring some comfort, one way or another. Lycans are terrifyingly strong, and the last thing I want to do is accidentally break any of her bones in the process of trying to protect her.

"Shhhh, don't be scared; I'm here, baby," the nanny whispered. I hushed her so that she could hear me. I attempted to calm her by moving her back and forth, and I noticed that her breathing became more shallow.

During this time, Clara was clinging to me for dear life, and we were both waiting for the entire scene to unfold and be over.

Before I heard the vehicle smash and the incredible sound of the metal cracking and creaking, I felt the metal and the truck itself strike my back. I also heard the crash against my bones and hardened skin. I was well aware that parts of my back bones were able to fracture and break again even after having been repaired only a few milliseconds earlier, and I could feel them cracking and fracturing as well as mending at the speed of a nanosecond.

These are the rare occasions on which I am thankful that I was born a Lycan, and the fact that I was able to use my abilities to save my mate from her own impending death makes it even more clear why I was given this gift. She is shielded from the force of the crash, and we can only pray that the only injuries she sustains are minor scrapes and cuts from flying debris and shards of glass. Because our child is still alive, and she is still alive, that is the only thing that is currently relevant to me in this situation.

"How did you?" she started to ask as soon as she raised her head, having realized that she was still alive and breathing. "You saved me and my baby." She said this incredulously as tears escaped her eyes without her knowledge. She couldn't believe what she was seeing—the damaged truck and several other cars hit by the truck were all dented and partially crushed.

"I've got you, baby." I answered back. "I always have you."

She flashed a grateful smile just before she passed out completely while she was in my arms and before she lost consciousness.