Chapter 3

Raphael, I repeated his name through my head.

I smiled liking the name. He smiled back.

I told him he could sit at the kitchen table while I got some water for him.

As I opened the cabinet that held the cups, and walked to the fridge to fill it up, my mind was working over time. 'Prioritize Brooke, focus on one thing at a time, he's a wolf, a Lycan. Yes, and he's here in the same house as Paul, I mean Raphael hasn't done anything to hurt me, I mean he charged at me, why did he do that? Are he and his wolf two separate people or something? Prioritize Brooke, Water, getting water.

My hands were shaking slightly as I put our cups down on the table, he probably noticed.

"Who's the boy?" He asked seeming worried or angry, I couldn't tell.

"The boy? Oh you mean Paul. Um, he's— I'm his nanny." Ugh I was stuttering so much, having to have a conversation with him was hard, having to look in his eyes, they were beautiful but unsettling.

"Hmm." He seemed pleased by my response, my eyebrows scrunched together slightly in confusion. "So." He started, "You probably have some questions." He looked at me.

"While I asked most of them already." I said with a slight smile, "But I'll re-ask one, what's a beta doing all the way out here, so far away from your pack?"

"Well." He took a rather long pause to which I smiled to, it was kinda cute that he had to take such a long pause to come up with something to say, "My Alpha has some business in Victoria and he told me to go with a couple scouts and do some recon to check up on things here." He finished with a smile but my face held confusion.

"Why? I mean is this your territory?"

"Yes." He was still smiling. I gave a nervous laugh, his smile was a little funny and disconcerting.

"What's with your necklace?" I asked. I had nearly forgotten about it, but it glinted in the sunlight and caught my attention.

"Oh, this?" He held it up.

I nodded.

"This." He said still holding the gold necklace, I then noticed that it had tiny carvings on the chain links. "Helps to keep my clothes on when I shift." He said, with a smile that suggested something…

I made a weird strangled, squeaky sound in my throat then laughed, the idea of him without clothes on made me very nervous, but excited. 'Seriously girl, get it together.'

His expression changed suddenly and his eyes went weird, they were slightly foggy or murky, the glow was still there it was just, faded.

"I should go." He stood up suddenly and bumped the table, his cup, which he had drained of water, nearly fell, I caught it. I turned to see him with a slight smile and a look of awe in his eyes.

"What?" I asked with a smile, I could guess why he was smiling. It wasn't that cool, or anything, I had just caught a cup.

"Nothing." He was still smiling, I laughed nervously again. He laughed at that. His laugh made my eyes go wide, and my insides melt. I smiled and bit my lip.

"Well, I'll go then." He said

"Oh, um okay then. Y-you can head out the way you came in." I told him. He turned to leave, "Raphael!" I called after him.

He stopped, 'oops, maybe I should've just said wait' I told myself. He turned and there was a huge smile on his face. I smiled back, holding in another nervous laugh.

"Yes." He said I never noticed how deep his voice was, or maybe it had just gotten deeper.

"Um." I don't know why I asked him to stop, 'And why was I being so friendly with him?' I only now questioned myself. But I knew why.

He wasn't a threat. I don't know how I could tell, I mean there was all those danger signs, he was huge, a wolf, extremely good looking, had those golden eyes, and his voice could do stuff to me, but he wasn't dangerous my body kept telling me.

While I was engrossed in my thoughts, he came closer to me, his huge frame blocking out the light, and he hugged me. I tried to protest, I did not like hugs. But before I could my head was nestled in his firm, warm, chest. I could hear his heartbeat it was a firm steady beat, and comforting. Everything about this hug was comforting.

I was completely enveloped in his scent. He smelled so good. He smelled sharp, that was the first word that came to mind. He smelled minty, my favourite scent. I wonder does he taste like mint. 'What! Goodness Brooke, where did that come from?" I asked angry at myself, but I couldn't help but wonder.

The hug was taking a while but I didn't mind and it seemed he didn't either.

After a couple more minutes he let go, I did too, I looked away from him embarrassed, 'Why did I do that?' I couldn't make sense of my feelings, and my heart was beating way too fast. I had only met Raphael just a few minutes ago, what was happening? I had a sneaking suspicion but I shook it away, no that's not possible.

"Brooke." He said my name, I turned to look at him. He had a small, happy smile on his pale, soft face. It looked sharp and soft at the same time. I swallowed.

"Yes." I said quietly.

"Goodbye."

"Wait your wound." I said panicking, I didn't want him to go, I mean I guess he had to. I also had work to do. He pointed to the hole where the arrow had pierced his shirt to reveal smooth flesh.

I smiled, happy to know he was okay.

"Goodbye. Raphael." I added his name because I like the way it rolled off my tongue.

He smiled, a sad smile and left. I was smiling, but I was also sad. He was gone and I'd never see him again.

I'd never see my mate again.