Lucia. The name almost sent a boil to his blood. As beautiful as the girl she seemed to lack common sense. It goes to show that intelligence doesn’t mix well with beauty. Once more the precious kitty got her tail in a twist and was off running like a banshee straight out of hell. And. Once again the faithful little hybrid was forced to chase after her. Did she not realize that her running meant more work for him? And of course, that she got caught every. Single. Time. She seemed to forget that he didn’t like doing this. He didn’t like grabbing her by the hair and dragging her ass back to work. No, she just had to simply misbehave which meant his head was on the chopping block. Not only was he supposed to nab these damn women but he was also to guard them and treat them like they were his flock. If one steps out of line he was to use the cattle prod or any force necessary and put them back in line.

Her trail wasn’t too hard to find. She ran quite more than what was necessary and so he had to smell her out more often than naught. She was engraved in his brain and unlucky for her that meant she wasn’t going anywhere. His wolf senses were strong and he could smell her for miles.

Though he wondered why she kept trying? Her bounty kept shooting higher and higher almost to the point there was no conceivable way that she’d be able to pay it off. Not in this life time anyways. The woman seemed to enjoy digging her own grave. Though he supposed it was like how his mother said “you made your bed, now you get to lie in it”. She was indeed about to lie in the bed she made and kept making. The pace he moved was a lot steadier than hers and that was because he knew she would give up eventually. She wasn’t in cat form so that meant getting further ahead of him wasn’t going to be that easy and her human form… well… it was weaker. Much like all of the shifters/hybrid shifters he knows.

He was gaining on her. Her scent lingering in a pool in the area. That was when he spotted the tree and as he stepped to the side to peer around it to see if she was there, a branch snapped beneath his weight. He rolled his eyes. So much for a sneaky approach. The muscles in her feminine form were easy to spot stiffening and though as much as he would like to just grab her by the hair and start heading back, he wouldn’t. He didn’t want to go back just yet anyways. ”If we are going to play these games of hide n seek at least be better at it.” his arms crossed over his chest as he stared at the sweat glistening woman. ”I actually expected more of a challenge this time with it being what your thousandth time?” His features didn’t show his amusement as he just stared at her only moving close enough that if she thought she was going to run further he could just trip her or tackle her. Which ever came first. He wished she could see that he hated this job as much as she did – maybe not as much as she did since he got the easier of the two – but it still wasn’t fun. He still had to chase after her.

”Naughty sheep-kittys get the prod you know.” He frowned slightly. ”And chains but I suspect you like being chained and man handled.” It was a taunt obviously. However she knew and he knew that punishment was going to come out of this.

If only that could be true. If there was one thing about Felix that was notable, he didn’t get caught being friendly with the sheep. As she rose to her feet and brushed herself off, he could see what was coming. His wolf was skittering to a corner hiding in the back of his mind with its teeth bared. The wolf was uncomfortable which was steadily making him uncomfortable by this rather attractive woman skittering closer to him. Blue eyes iced over as she dared to even breathe on his skin, flit her fingers over his chest. Jaw muscles tightened as he continued to watch her move against him, sending unwanted chills and bumps on his skin. She knew how to get under his thick skin and that was what made her so dangerous. He wasn’t blind not by any means. ”We’d be found…” His voice was tight lingering on agitated. Why was she playing them both a fool?

Her hand started to creep lower as she continued to whisper sweet poison into his ear causing his skin to ache and wish to press in harder. It was normal to have urges but Felix knew consequences. She was flock, he was a herdsmen. You don’t taint the product. As it were he received enough ridicule for what he was and it was probably why the boss picked on him the hardest. He had no rights. They were revoked the moment his werewolf father laid with his immortal mother. ”I want nothing more than to be free… but if I can’t. Neither can you.” Wolfish eyes were now peering at her. ”I don’t want to go back or take you back, Lucia.” He was trying to appeal to her human side and get her to understand though with as dimwitted as she seemed to be, she wouldn’t see that. ”So stop making a fool of both you and me.” With that he grabbed her harshly by the wrist and pushed it away.

She had no interest in him and that much he knew. He kept her here. He kept her working and anytime she left he was forced to bring her back. So no, there was nothing there. He wasn’t that dumb. Besides that this was not a woman he could have even if he wanted her. She didn’t belong to him. His head tipped to the side for a moment, eyes lowering towards her feet before moving back up towards her face. His expression was unchangeable. Nothing to be read other than hard lines. ”Even if I wanted to let you go, you aren’t mine to release. I have about as much rights as you do… if not less. So spare me the drama of your seductive technique.”

Words she be spoken carefully around these girls and he knew it but he couldn’t help certain ones falling from his mouth. He didn’t like dictating over a group of women not when he didn’t like it being done to him. He got where she was coming from and though his perspective was completely different than hers, he still understood. To have your freedom just within reach, dangling in front of you, and quickly having it yanked away again was horrible. She hissed at him as yanked her wrist and shoved her away. His usual aggression being a key here. He didn’t need her snaking her way out of this one. He wasn’t going to get punished because of something stupid she did… or better yet… by playing hero.

He is no hero and he wasn’t about to start playing one now. Heroes got killed.

”You’re lucky I didn’t break it.” He snapped back in usual wolf fashion. A loud vicious canine growl mixed in his words as body seemed to bristle and become taut. No less he allowed himself to smooth back out. Sucking in a deep breath and blowing it out his nose. He pinched the bridge of his nose as she spoke it seemed to have caused his brow to arch. ”I have no reasoning of my own to keep you, Lucia. Do you think I like stealing girls? Do you think I like giving them a way to a life so entangled and fucked???” he was bristling again. It was obvious that this subject seemed to bug him a bit. ”I do what I am told. That’s it.” It was a harsh life. Not being able to have any control over what it was he did or said. What woman he could and couldn’t have. If it was a working girl there was no way he was allowed to touch even though he knew some of his co-workers skirted just above that line. Just above where it was appropriate. Knowing his luck he would get caught holding a girls hand and it would cause he to get flagged. That didn’t mean he didn’t think about it and it also didn’t mean some of the girls didn’t touch a soft spot in him much like Lucia.

Even though he had soft spots he knew well that those couldn’t be shown to any one individual. They would use it against him much like he suspected she was trying to do. She wasn’t the only predator in this situation. He knew how her mind worked. She kept pushing though wanting him to agree with her. Wanting him to just toe over that line with her so she could skip on her merry way. ”Why wouldn’t I? But my life is a lot different than yours.” he said a little quieter this time. ”Even if I was free as you would call it, I am still shackled.” Features that only showed the slightest bit of softening only hardened again. ”And I’m not taking the fall for you.” The words came out harshly as he spoke the one single ending word. What would he get in return? Nothing. She wouldn’t be on the other side to help him lick his wounds she would just be gone and what would he left? Not only would he have a broken ego but a far more broken body.

She started speaking again and that was when her voice was starting to edge on his patience. He just wished she would give it up! No less she kept going. Kept digging. Though one comment made him pause. He liked men? ”you have to be kidding me.” He almost laughed a little … almost. ”I don’t touch you girls because I value where my manhood is. I would like to keep it where it is. Thanks.” He snorted at her. She started to spew about how she was sold to the highest bidder and that her life was so hard. It was true. He didn’t expect her life to be easy but his wasn’t sitting on a golden throne neither. ”I understand perfectly fine who has it harder. I’m not a child. I just wish you would understand where I am coming from to. I have no choice. I’m bound!” Sort of in a way a blood oath worked. He didn’t know what type of magic the big man had but he knew he had it and he knew he could make Felix down whatever he wanted. They fell quiet for a moment. He staring at her and she staring right back at him.

”Alright…. But we have to make it believable before we get back. You gotta… bite me or something… and make it look good. I don’t want to fucking die because of you.”

She didn’t – or maybe she did – know who she was pushing. ”Challenging me sweetheart won’t get you anywhere.” He said with a defiant tone. He could puff out just as well as she could and he was sure he could probably do it better. It was a masculine thing. She may have the claws and the agility but he had the power and the teeth. She however knew he wouldn’t or at least couldn’t do much. If he broke a bone she would be deemed as useful as a three legged horse. No one wanted to pay money for a damaged woman. Of course there were some sickos out there that wouldn’t mind but it wasn’t the type of money the boss wanted. It was an empty threat but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t hurt her other ways and a nice trip down a long steep hill was sounding better and better by the minute.

Then don’t. Those words sounded so simple. So doable. The corner of his mouth tugged upwards in a sort of smart ass smile. ”If only that were so simple.” But it wasn’t. Nothing ever was just ‘don’t do that’ for a hybrid. He lived by different rules than she did and it wasn’t just their boss who enforced them neither. All of this would be so much easier if she wasn’t so damn likable. Either way he didn’t want to go back and he found her a lot quicker than he had actually anticipated. The boss wouldn’t expect him back for at least another day. Luckily the big guy knew sometimes things took a couple days to achieve but that was all the leeway he would get. Two days. 48 hours. It was a risky game but it was one he was oddly into playing. Mostly because he didn’t want to hear the complaining. He also knew that this woman was going to attempt to sly her way out of this. Get a little taste of freedom and she would want more. Much like their power hungry boss.

She tossed herself at him and he stiffened. Her lips pressed into his cheek as he closed the eye she was closest to. ”yeah, yeah. Get off.” he grunted. ”Don’t get used to it.” He didn’t know how to handle anything other than anger or retaliation. This was new. The feeling felt good but he didn’t have the slightest idea on what to do with it. His brows furrowed as she turned to him for answers on what to do. Part of him was stunned. Why did she care on what he wanted to do. For a moment he looked to be nervous to be put on the spot like that. He fidgeted a little as he crossed his arms over his chest. ”I don’t… really know.” he answered. All he ever wanted to do was relax, to sit in silence and relish the feeling of not having to worry. He imagined that was what freedom felt like. Not having to run errands not worrying about a girl stepping out of line… not…. Having to hurt someone by taking them. Just pure bliss of control of his own life.

It was then she suggested swimming and he paused for a moment. ”Neither one of us have a change of clothing.” and he really didn’t want to walk around in wet clothing. It also wasn’t like they could scrurry back and grab a pair real quick. ”Have you ever went… horseback riding?” he asked curiously. ”We are out here… might as well enjoy some of the trails?”

His brow arched almost like she was the crazy one. ”Of course I can.” He stated simply not going to go further on the subject. The point was he knew how to do a lot of things that she probably didn’t expect apparently. ”Guess I can keep you on your toes.” He winked at her but it wasn’t flirty it was more of an informative type of thing. Something that said she didn’t know what he would come up with if she pushed him. ”I didn’t bring one… no.. So I guess that’s a terrible idea. But to be honest here I don’t know what people just do to relax.” He furrowed his brows nose as his fingers retreated back to the pockets of his pants. ”Every breathing moment is spent working for someone else.” It wasn’t a lie. A slave never got to relax and with those few rare moments he did get to catch weren’t long enough for him to enjoy.

She spoke up rather quickly excited about whatever idea may have come to mind. However she was quick to squash that idea. ”Well you seemed excited about it so… what was it?” His voice was low and actually warmer than any other tone he had used with her. He wasn’t in the zone of trying to make sure she wouldn’t escape. Really it was relieving to just kind of have some type of simple conversation and this was very simple. As she spoke about just relaxing he nodded his head. ”Pretty sure that’s what its going to be. Do you know of a swimming spot?” not that he wanted to deal with wet clothing but he could deal. ”Seems better than just standing around.” Though to be honest he wasn’t that great of a swimmer. He could hold his own but he didn’t exactly like it.

His tone had even truly shocked him. He hadn’t meant to be so unguarded just then to let warmth actually slip out. He always liked the girls to think he was some kind of monster because in truth that was how he felt. If they thought him anything but a man with some decency than they would be less likely to force his hand and he would feel unattached when he did have to do cruel things. But there it was. It slipped out like warmth from the sun and it internally made him cringe. This was not a voice to be used for her… or for anyone. ”I didn’t say that, now did I?” She was putting words in his mouth. He knew she didn’t like her job. He didn’t either but he stuck her there that was all that could be said about the manner.

He prodded her further about what was actually on her mind and though she laughed at her own joke, he barely gave her a smile. He knew what she was getting at but well it wasn’t anything he found funny. Maybe that’s where they got the impression of him just being a hard ass. ”Something sweet does sound good though.” He added though his voice a little weaker this time, half interested in the idea. All he could really think about was what if this whole thing went south. He was likely to get the crud beaten out of him or that mark placed on him again that held a magic spell. Idly he glanced at the under part of his wrist before looking up to her when she started walking. He followed. ”I wasn’t meaning that. You were running after all maybe you spotted one as you went by. Fuck if I know.” he said back. It was weird how he was the one following her now and part of him despised the idea.

As he parted his lips about to speak again that was when she let out a shrill scream of his name. To be honest he was surprised she even yelled for him. He moved pretty quick and looked at the situation she had gotten herself in. A soft growl erupted in his throat that was very canine. He should leave her there. If she hadn’t run she wouldn’t be here right now about to be swallowed up. He wanted to walk away and just take the punishment he knew he was going to receive when he got back but her words… those desperate words got to him. It hit him in guilt bone hard with a sucker punch. His brows furrowed and he glanced around. He didn’t want to get stuck in it himself and so he looked around for a long stick that she could grab onto. ”Quit wiggling. The more you squirm the faster you will sink.” In his mind the beast was showing him images of just bludgeoning her to death to cut the misery out but…. Instead he just decided there was no time with her wailing and grabbed her by the hand. Her yelping and carrying on would likely draw some unwanted attention from other wolves or larger predators in the area. ” Now quit your squawking unless you want to get eaten by something far bigger than a wolf. I will pull but don’t kick your legs just use your upper body and lift up to help me get you loose.” His fingers gripped her wrist tight using both hands as he leaned back on his heels to give her own good hard tug.

It took quite a bit to get her out but once she was free he fell back on his butt with a hard thump. Checking to be sure she was free, he sighed and fell back on his hands. ”You okay?” Actual concern accidentally shown itself. Blue eyes were soft and his breathing was a little heavy as not only did he use every ounce of strength to pull her weighted body out but because fear had started to grab him.

The searing pain in his arms made him almost immediately want to let go but his wolf refused. His wolf wanted to lurch forwards as the pain seemed to just beckon him. The smell of blood, even though it was his own, was causing the wolf to build to the point of escaping. A wolfish whine though escaped him as he kept pulling trying to get her out of there as fast as he possibly could so he could let go. His eyes began to change their color to the wolf though he closed them as he tugged.

And then it was like immediate freedom.

She fell loose and he fell backwards onto his hands. He quickly caught himself but his arms were burning from the scratches. As he breathed through his nose before looking back to her, the golden colored optics began to slowly shift back to their deeper blue. As she started to speak he could feel the rattling of a growl in his chest. It wasn’t necessarily his doing. The wolf could smell the blood. The wolf was hungry and much like their boss was never satisfied with just some here and there. ”Don’t gawk.” he snapped. Sitting upwards as she finally skitter to the side he sat there, looking down at his arms that held deep red marks. He knew she couldn’t help it and it wasn’t even necessarily he was mad at her. It was the situation he was in. ”Son of a bitch.” His nasty foul language was starting to come take a shine again. He was having a hard time pushing his wolf back. His eyes starting to turn more golden again. ”Yeah I’m super fucking fantastically happy you’re fine. God damn it.” He rose to his feet not even bothering to brush himself off. He needed to pace. He needed to push the wolf back below the depths. He was almost half tempted to tell her just to go for it. Run. He would catch back up with her later but his tongue remained still. The wolf wouldn’t let him. ”Lucia…. You…” the words refused to come out. Instead he just stared at her, jaws clamping tightly shut.

He bit the inside of his mouth just to try and knock some sense back into him. To keep him from saying something utterly stupid to provoke the reaction he was fighting. ”We need to find somewhere.”