Page 33 of Missing

"Shit," I muttered under my breath, my chest tightening with frustration. I knew she'd been through hell, but seeing her like this just fuelled the fire inside me – that primal, animalistic urge that demanded I protect what was mine.

My wolf had been warring within me all day, snarling and pacing restlessly as it tried to break free. It wanted out, wanted to mark Harper, claim her as ours, and God help me, I couldn't blame it. From the moment I'd caught her intoxicating scent this morning, my dick had stayed stubbornly at half-mast, refusing to accept that now wasn't the time or place to act on those desires.

Fuckin' great timing, buddy, I grumbled internally, trying to rein in the beast inside me while also attempting to be supportive of Harper. She needed someone strong right now, not a horny idiot who couldn't keep his shit together.

"Alright, everyone," I said, trying to sound casual despite the raging storm inside me. "Let's head down to lunch." Turning to Harper, I offered her a hopeful smile. "Harper, we have transportation class together after lunch. Can I escort you there and be your partner for the class?"

She sighed, clearly still shaken from the earlier confrontation, but nodded in acquiescence. "Why not, Wolf?" she replied, the nickname making me grin despite the circumstances.

"Move it, pup," she teased as she approached the door, her voice carrying a hint of playfulness that eased some of the tension in the room. Scrambling to my feet, I jumped up and flung the door open, holding it wide enough for everyone to file out.

"Thanks," she murmured as she brushed past me, her body just inches from mine. The scent of her drifted towards me, intoxicating and maddening, sending jolts of electricity down my spine. I fought back the urge to pull her close and bury my face in her neck, knowing how inappropriate that would be right now.

As I held the door open, my gaze lingered on Griffin. He hauled himself up from the floor, his broad shoulders squared and tense. I couldn't help but smirk; no one had ever put him in his place quite like that, except maybe his mumma. The shock was written all over his face, and it was a sight to behold.

"Shit," I muttered under my breath, shaking my head. Harper had really done a number on him, and for some reason, that only fuelled my desire for her more. It was like watching an alpha female take charge, and my wolf howled its approval.

"Hey, mate." My voice broke through his daze as he stepped out of the room, and I clapped him on the shoulder. "It's all good, you know? Your mate is meant to have your balls in a vice sometimes. Plus, she only told you what you already knew."

His eyes met mine, a mix of relief and amusement sparkling in their depths. "Fuck you, Wolf," he replied, grinning and using the same term Harper had just called me. The camaraderie between us helped ease the tension left by Harper's words, and I let out a chuckle.

"Come on, let's get some grub," I suggested, patting him on the back. Closing the door behind us, the sound of laughter and chatter from the hall beckoned. Harper strode ahead confidently, Melody by her side like a shadow. I couldn't help but admire her peachy ass as she walked, hips swaying hypnotically. Shifting my dick to a less conspicuous position, I silently cursed my wolf for making it so damn hard to concentrate.

"Damn, Dante," Griffin snickered, clearly noticing my plight. "How's your dick gonna handle being left alone now?"

"Fuck off, Griffin," I shot back, glaring at him. "I've got two hands to keep it company, just like you do. Just don't screw this up for us."

"Us?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Damn right, 'us'," I said with a grin. "My wolf won't let me touch another now, anyway. So I guess I'm already wifed up."

"Man, you're whipped," he laughed, shaking his head in amusement.

"Watch it, you'll be next," I threatened, only half-joking. We continued following Harper and Melody toward the dining hall, the aroma of food wafting through the air like a siren's song.

Orlando slid gracefully beside us, his presence adding a sense of calm to our group. We walked towards the dining hall in comfortable silence, aware of the weight of our task ahead. This was going to be challenging, but my determination to make Harper understand she belonged with me pushed me forward. I didn't even care anymore if bonding with her eventually led to my demise - my wolf had chosen his mate and I was more than willing to heed his call.

As we entered the hall behind the girls, we took seats closer to Harper and Melody this time, leaving no room for any others to join us. After the incident this morning, it was clear that we needed to show Harper that our world was not only safe but also amazing, and being our mate would only enhance her life.

I took the seat on Harper's left as Melody settled in on her right. Perusing the menu, I decided on a bacon cheeseburger with fries and a can of Coke. As I ticked off my choices, I couldn't help but notice that Harper had opted for a salad and an apple juice. Does this woman only eat food for rabbits?

Curiosity getting the better of me, I asked, "How come you never get a cheeseburger or something more substantial?"

Harper turned to me with a small smile, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I'm not used to eating a lot, and there are so many things on this menu that I've never tried before. So I'm choosing options that are new to me." A hint of sadness crossed her expression as she looked down at the table.

Without hesitation, I reached out and gently lifted her chin with my fingertips, meeting her gaze directly. "Do you want me to start trying them with you? There are plenty of things I've never tasted before, too. I just always end up ordering the same thing."

A genuine smile spread across Harper's face as she replied, "You want to try a salad?" She held back a laugh at the absurdity of it all.

The sight of her smile made my heart flutter like butterflies finding their home. "I'll try anything for you," I said sincerely.

This caused Harper to burst into laughter like a mad woman, which only made me like her even more. "Oh wow, that was smooth," she joked as she picked up her fork and began eating her salad.

Chapter 30

Harper Hillstrom

Icouldn't believe how pleasant lunch had been with the boys. They were actually talking to me, being nice even. The laughter and easy banter between us felt strange, considering how things had been going around here.

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