The crazy man fell down but popped right back up again almost at once. He still had my coat and sweater clutched in his hands and he gripped them tightly as he stared at Jake.
“The Heir of the Absent Alpha himself,” he panted, swiping blood off his face where Jake had busted his lip. “Have you come to claim the Innocent Maiden at last, then?”
“Fuck off with your crazy talk,” Jake growled. “My father and I don’t believe your insane prophecy!”
“You should though!” Professor Sorenson exclaimed, clutching my jacket even tighter. “Do you want all of our people to diminish and vanish from the Earth? You should breed her this very night and knot her by the full moon! Do your duty!”
“Fuck you!” Jake growled and punched him again. There was a crunching sound and the Professor of Arcane Studies howled and fell on the ground, clutching his nose.
This time when Sorenson went down, he didn’t get right back up again. He looked up at Jake, blood streaming from his broken nose. It looked black in the moonlight.
“Strong,” he muttered. “You’ve grown so strong, Jacob—the blood of the First Wolf flows in your veins! None other could have drawn my blood.”
“Fucking asshole,” Jake muttered, shaking his head. He grabbed me by the arm. “Come on, Ani—we’re leaving.”
“But…my coat! My sweater!” I protested. I had my cards and cash stowed in my phone case, which was luckily jammed into my back jeans pocket, but I was still wearing only my bra and I didn’t like being half naked.
“Give back her clothes! What did you do to her, anyway?” Jake demanded, glaring down at the bleeding professor. “Why is she half naked like this? Were you trying to rape her?”
“No! I would not violate an Omega of the Royal Line!” Sorenson protested. He scrambled to his knees, and then to his feet, backing away slowly. “It would be a blasphemy for any Alpha but the Heir to knot her!” he exclaimed.
“What is he talking about, Jake?” I was half-crying now. I hated to be a girly girl, but the whole attack had been really upsetting.
“Give back her clothes!” Jake said again, taking a step towards Sorenson.
“No! I may need them if you will not do your duty.” The professor turned and ran then—going so fast he was nothing but a blur. He was gone in an instant, disappearing into the woods at the edge of the parking lot. How could a forty-year-old man move so fast?
I saw that Jake was about to take off after him and grabbed for my stepbrother’s arm.
“No, please!” I begged. “Please, Jake—don’t leave me out here all alone!”
“You’re right.” He looked around the parking lot, his golden eyes narrowed. “There may be more of the crazy fuckers out there.”
But he didn’t seem to see any, because he turned his attention fully to me.
“What the hell are you doing out here anyway, Ani?” he demanded. Taking me by the arms, he gave me a hard shake, so that my teeth clicked together. His eyes blazed with anger. “Don’t you know how dangerous it is to be out alone on a night like this—when the moon is nearly full? Don’t you know those crazy assholes are stalking you?” he demanded, his voice a low, intense growl.
“No, I don’t know anything except that you and your dad are in some insane kind of cult and apparently there are other people in it, too!” I exclaimed. “Even…even my own mom believes it!”
And then I broke down crying—sobbing actually. I couldn’t help it! My life was spinning out of control and everything was crazy and wrong and everyone around me—even my beloved mother—believed in some insane nonsense that didn’t make any sense at all.
“Ani, damn it—don’t cry!”
Jake looked like he wanted to comfort me but didn’t dare. At last he put an arm gingerly around my shoulders.
I shoved it off again and tried to get hold of myself.
“Leave me alone!” I half shouted—half sobbed. I swiped at my eyes, angry with myself for losing control.
“I will when I’m sure you’re okay.”
He put an arm around me again and this time I allowed it. He wasn’t wearing a jacket, despite the chilly weather—he had on nothing but a thin black t-shirt, as though he’d come out of the house on a whim and hadn’t thought to grab his coat. But still, he radiated heat like a furnace, which was nice, considering I was half naked.
“Jake,” I whispered, swiping at my eyes again. “I was…was so scared!”
“It’s okay, little Ani,” he murmured, squeezing me gently and running one big, warm hand up and down my shivering arm. “You don’t have to be scared. I won’t let him hurt you—I won’t let anyone hurt you, ever.” There was a low, protective growl in his voice that somehow made me feel better.