Madeline’s POV
“Let me help you, Maddie,” Seth said as he wrapped his arm around my waist and picked me up.
There was a huge rock on our path. It was covered in snow and I couldn’t see where I was going. Seth managed to step over it, but I couldn’t. I was too short and not coordinated enough to pull it off.
Seth tightened his arm around me and pressed me against his chest. He smiled at me as he pulled me over to him.
“I forgot that you don’t have your wolf yet,” he chuckled as he put me down.
“I don’t think it will get any better after I get my wolf,” I mumbled. “I’ve always been a bit clumsy.”
Seth chuckled as he fixed my hat and scarf.
“Are you cold?” he asked, making me shake my head.
“I’m okay,” I said, giving him a small smile.
I was cold, but there was no way I would go back to that house any sooner than I had to. I wasn’t going to let Janet hurt me again.
Seth smiled and took my hand in his.
“Watch where you step, okay?” he said as he continued walking. “There are a lot of rocks here.”
I nodded and looked down at my feet. Seth wasn’t wrong. I could see the sharp edges of the rocks beneath my feet. I couldn’t really see how big the rocks were or how many were there. The ground was covered in snow and it was very slippery. I was suddenly nervous. I could already picture myself falling and breaking a few bones. I tightened my hold on Seth’s hand and gulped.
“I won’t let you fall, Mads,” he said softly, making me look up at him.
He stopped walking and he looked at me. He gave me a warm smile and I was so thankful to him It helped me relax a little.
“I know,” I said as I smiled back at him.
He grinned and turned around.
“I am so excited to show you the lake,” he said as he started walking again. “It is one of my favorite places on our territory.”
A wave of excitement washed over me and for a moment I forgot about the slippery path I would have to cross to get there.
“It is gorgeous in the spring, but I think that I like it even more in the winter,” Seth continued. “There is something magical about a frozen lake.”
“I agree,” I said as I looked around me.
A small smile spread across my face. The tree branches were frozen and the ice made it look like they were glistening. The green branches of the pine trees around us were creating a beautiful contrast against the whiteness of the snow. The sun made it seem like the snow on the pine tree branches was glowing. The view was beautiful and I couldn’t wait to get to the lake. I loved winter and I loved the scenery the snow created.
“Hold on, Mads,” Seth mumbled as he picked me up again.
There was another huge rock on our path. He was just putting me down when I heard someone scream my name.
“Madeline!” the voice shouted.
Seth and I turned around abruptly. Seth’s arm around my waist tightened. My eyes widened when I saw Alpha Dimitri rushing toward us.
He looked panicked and terrified. He was running so fast and he wasn’t even looking where he was going. I was afraid that he was going to slip and fall.
My heart raced. Did something happen? Did something happen to Mike?
Alpha Dimitri growled loudly when he saw Seth holding me close to him. His eyes blazed with fury, making me furrow my eyebrows.
“Alpha Dimitri,” I mumbled. “Did something happen?”
He didn’t respond. He continued approaching us at a fast pace and ripped me out of Seth’s arms as soon as he was close enough. I gasped and grabbed his shoulders to stop myself from falling backward.
Alpha Dimitri growled loudly. My whole body vibrated with the force of his growl.
“What the fuck were you thinking, Seth?!” Alpha Dimitri shouted. “This trail is dangerous even without the snow! She doesn’t have her wolf yet! She could have fallen! Something could have happened to her! Are you fucking insane?!”
My eyes widened as I glanced back at Seth. I could see a mixture of fear and anger on his face. Alpha Dimitri was holding me tightly. I couldn’t move. I was pressed so close to him that I could feel his heartbeat. His heart was racing.
“It’s okay, Alpha,” I forced myself to speak. “Seth is taking good care of me. Nothing will happen. I will be okay.”
He looked at me and a shiver went up and down my spine. I had no idea why his eyes on me made funny things happen inside my body.
“You will be okay because I am taking you home,” he said, growling quietly.
He looked at Seth and tightened his jaw.
“I am taking both of you home,” he continued. “That is an order, Seth.”
I looked back at Seth and saw him nod. He tightened his jaw and looked at me.
“You can put her down, Alpha,” Seth said. “I can take care of her.”
Alpha Dimitri growled loudly again.
“I am not putting her down,” he said, making the nervousness inside me grow. “I am not risking her getting hurt.”
I gulped and opened my mouth to tell him that I wouldn’t get hurt, but he looked at me before I could even say a word.
“Don’t start, Maddie,” he mumbled quietly. “I am making sure that you are safe.”
But why? Why did he care so much?
Alpha Dimitri turned around and started walking back. I looked at Seth who was following behind us. His fists were clenched and he had a pissed-off look on his face.
“Don’t you ever do something like this again, Madeline,” Alpha Dimitri said sternly, making me look back at him. “You can’t put yourself in danger like that.”
I wanted to ask him why he cared, but the look on his face told me not to.
It was probably because of Mike. I was Mike’s daughter and he didn’t want anything to happen to me.
I sighed and looked back at Seth. I saw him looking at me with a mixture of emotions on his face. I gave him a small smile, but he didn’t smile back.
I felt guilty. I ruined our hike. I would have to find a way to make it up to Seth.
