Hunter’s POV
Not her. Please, Goddess, not her.
My heart was beating so hard against my ribs. It was painful. I was sure that my ribs would crack. My whole body was shaking. My canines and claws were out and I couldn’t stop growling and snarling.
My reaction didn’t make sense. None of the people here in the room would hurt her. But my instincts had me grab her. I couldn’t let anything or anyone hurt her.
I felt her hand on the back of my neck. She squeezed it gently and ran her fingers through my hair.
She was telling me something, but I couldn’t focus. I couldn’t hear what she was saying.
All I could think about was protecting her. All I could think about was keeping her alive.
‘She is in danger, Hunter!’ Holden was screaming at me. ‘We need to protect her!’
I fucking knew that!
But how could I protect her from this? How could I protect her from the darkness that was inside her?
I closed my eyes and buried my nose in her hair. I took a deep breath of her wonderful scent. I focused on the feeling of her fingers in my hair.
The only thing I could hear was my blood pumping in my veins. The only thing I could feel was my heart beating frantically. It felt like it was beating all over my body.
I tried to focus on her soft voice, but it was hard. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t swallow the huge lump in my throat.
She placed a small kiss on my neck and it was the only thing I could focus on. The tingles spread through my body, making me shiver. My heartbeat slowed down a little.
I focused on her fingers in my hair. I noticed how gentle she was. I noticed how her touch soothed me and made me feel like I was in heaven.
I took another deep breath and released it slowly.
“It’s okay, Hunter,” I finally heard her gentle voice. “Everything is going to be okay.”
Nothing would be okay if she left me. Nothing would be okay if she didn’t exist.
I could feel my canines and claws retract slowly.
“Come back to me, Hunter,” she said quietly as she placed another small kiss on my neck.
She didn’t have to ask me twice.
It was like a switch was turned on. Everything came back into focus. I could hear her. I could feel her small body against mine. I could focus on everything around me.
She needed me. I had to pull my head out of my ass and come back to her.
“I am not going to let anything happen to you,” I spoke, my voice raspy. “I am not letting the darkness take you away from me. We will find a way.”
I lifted my head and kissed her temple.
I looked at her family. Anna and Luna Emma were looking at me and smiling softly. Alexander was staring at me with an angry expression on his face. He was probably angry because I grabbed Sophia like that, but I couldn’t give a shit. I needed to protect her. She was mine. Mine to protect, mine to love, mine to cherish and adore.
I looked back down at my mate and took a deep breath.
“We are in this together, Sophia,” I told her. “I am not leaving. I am here.”
She looked up at me and I saw tears in her eyes. She studied my face for a few moments.
“Hunter, this isn’t an easy decision to make,” she mumbled. “If you need time…”
I interrupted her by pressing my lips against hers.
Alexander groaned and cursed under his breath. Luna Emma and Anna chuckled.
“Stop it,” Alexander said. “I am not watching this.”
I chuckled and stopped kissing her. I smiled at her and caressed her cheek.
She took a deep breath and glanced behind her.
“I guess he isn’t going anywhere, honey,” Luna Emma said, chuckling.
“I am not,” I said, shaking my head. “I am here. She is mine. I don’t care about the past of her darkness. I will fight for her. Nothing will stand in my way.”
I tightened my arms around her, pulling her even closer to me.
Luna Emma smiled. Anna winked at me. Alexander rolled his eyes and sighed.
“Not so fast, Hunter,” Alexander said. “I still don’t fucking trust you or your father. You will have to get past me first, and I will not make it easy.”
I smiled at him, making him furrow his eyebrows in confusion.
“I am so happy that Sophia has someone who loves her as much as you do,” I said truthfully. “I am happy that she has someone who will always protect her. I know it won’t be easy, but I will prove to you that I am worthy of your sister.”
Alexander’s eyes widened a little. I could tell that I left him speechless.
“You are the first person who managed to do this,” Sophia mumbled, making me look back down at her.
“Do what?” I asked, confused.
“You are the first one who managed to leave Lex speechless,” Sophia said, smirking a little. “He usually never shuts up.”
I snorted. Luna Emma and Anna laughed.
“Fia,” Alexander growled warningly.
Sophia turned around to look at him. She smiled at him, making my heart skip a beat. Goddess, she was beautiful.
I leaned in to place a soft kiss on her cheek. She looked back at me and smiled.
I wanted to make it official and tell her that I accept her, but I wanted to do that in private. I wanted us to be alone so I could kiss her and touch her after.
“Would you want us to tell you everything we’ve tried to get rid of her darkness?” Anna asked, making me look up at her.
I loosened my grip on Sophia, allowing her to turn around. I didn’t move my arms away, though. I wouldn’t let her leave my arms. Not now, not ever.
“Of course,” I said immediately. “I want to know everything. I want to know if you have any other ideas. I want us to try and come up with something else. We are going to deal with it and we are going to find a way to destroy it.”
I wouldn’t let anything hurt my mate. I would find a way to destroy the darkness. I wouldn’t let it take my mate away from me.
I bent down to kiss the top of Sophia’s head before I looked back at Anna. I tightened my jaw and took a deep breath.
“Tell me everything,” I said with determination in my voice.
