Chapter 3 THE NEED TO PROTECT

Kael's POV

I knew better than to intervene.

Every fibre of me shouted don't do it. Don't go anywhere near him. Don't ruin it before it has even begun.

But the wolf inside of me had no regard for logic or for holding back. It growled for him — restless, angry, and protective. The growl echoed inside my ribcage until I couldn't breathe.

They touched him.

They hurt him.

The images flashed before my eyes, haunting me — the uplifted hand of the man, the explosive snap of flesh against flesh, the flinch in Adam's face but no cry from him. He just stood there, mute, like a boy who'd been punished too many times to expect anything else.

My partner. Withstanding the pain as if he'd deserved it.

I crouched in the bushes outside his window, as motionless as stone, every nerve drawn tight. The moon rode high and pale and cold, silvering the glass where he slept. The house had settled quiet hours earlier — no more footsteps, no voices, no laughter. Only the hum of darkness and the distant thud of my heartbeat.

Now, Chaos whispered, low and guttural in my brain. Now, before they hurt him again.

"I shouldn't," I voiced out loud. "He'll be scared. He'll—"

He's already scared, Chaos growled. But not safe.

And that was sufficient. That one word. Safe.

The thing I'd vowed to my mate, regardless of cost.

I moved towards the window, silent and slow. My claws hurt to spread; my body shook with restraint. The latch opened smoothly under my fingers. Inside, the scent of him greeted me — warm skin, fear, soap, and something slightly sweet at the base.

He was curled on the mattress, hoodie pulled tight, breathing uneven. Even in sleep he looked tense, shoulders drawn, fists curled as though bracing for another hit.

My heart broke cleanly in half.

Ours. Ours.

I reached down and lifted him into my arms. He weighed almost nothing. Bones and thin fabric. My chest burned with fury at how small he felt. We’ll feed him, Chaos rumbled. Make him strong again.

And then Adam moved. His eyelashes fluttered, his muscles tightened, and before I even had the courage to breathe—

He screamed.

"HELP! SOMEBODY—HELP ME!"

The scream sliced through the blackness like a blade. My heart skipped. "Shh, please," I whispered, holding on to him just to keep him upright from thrashing himself off track.

"WHO ARE YOU? LET ME GO!" He kicked and struggled wildly, hitting my chin with a clenched fist. His eyes were wild, wide, not-identifying — naked human fear.

"Adam, listen to me—"

He punched me again. "Don't say my name! What do you want?! MONEY?! I don't have any! Please—"

"I'm not going to hurt you," I promised him, but he was already attempting to shove me away from him, trying to get free.

"Bullshit! You're that creep from earlier! The stalker freak!"

His words hurt more than his blows. "I just want to protect you."

"PROTECT ME?!" His voice broke. "By breaking into my house at midnight?!"

He shoved hard and fell out of my arms, crashing onto the floor with a grunt. I struggled to grab him, but he dashed for the door, fumbling at the lock.

My wolf's fear surged.

Don't let him get away. Don't let him escape.

"Adam, wait!"

"GET AWAY FROM ME!" he yelled, moving away while I charged towards him.

The thump of his heart echoed in my head. I took a slow step forward again. And another. His chest was moving up and down. He grabbed something — a lamp, maybe — and swung it wildly back and forth. It crashed against the wall beside my head.

"Stay back! I'll— I'll kill you!"

I should have let it stop there. I should have taken a step back and told him, but the stench of his fear, the tremble in his voice — it made Chaos snarl. They jumped him. They touched what's ours.

I was shifting suddenly.

The bones cracked first — brittle, echoing in the tiny room. My vision blurred; fur ran through my skin, claws tore free, and my growl rumbled up from some ancient, long-buried well.

Adam didn't move.

He stared at me like his mind was having trouble keeping pace with what he saw with his eyes. His mouth opened wider. His voice lowered to a whisper. "Oh my God."

I crept closer, massive paws pounding against the floor.

“Oh my God, you’re— you’re a monster.”

I stopped dead in my tracks. His voice was small, trembling. His whole body shook. His back hit the wall, his breath coming in sharp gasps.

You scared him, Chaos hissed, guilt now replacing the rage.

"Adam," I tried to tell him, but in this form it slipped past me in a low snarl that only terrified him more. His eyes rolled back, and I couldn't shift back quickly enough as his knees collapsed beneath him.

I caught him when he fell, propping him up against the ground. His body leaned into mine, racing heartbeat pounding against my chest.

"Damn it," I panted, holding him close. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

His head rested on my shoulder. He was unconscious, soft breaths against me. Even so, in fear and having fainted, he smelled like home.

Chaos was still now, quiet. He's ours. Bring him home. Feed him. Heal him.

I glanced back again at the house — that hateful place where they hurled names at him, raised hands against him, made him feel like nothing.

No. He wasn't spending another night here.

I pulled back, holding him close within my arms. His hoodie fell, and a bruise above his jaw appeared, red and raw. Seeing that shattered the final of my control.

I climbed up through the window, staying silent outside. The night air chilled, sharp coldness, the stars distant and unfeeling.

I looked down at him, shoving the dark strand of hair out of his face. "I shouldn't have done this," I murmured, voice breaking. "But I couldn't leave you there. Not with them."

He remained motionless, unresponsive — simply breathed softly, mouth agape in tired submission.

I shoved my forehead into his. "You're my mate," I whispered, barely more than a breath. "And even if you hate me for it. I'll never let anyone hurt you again. Not even me."

And then I ran across the woods, cradling him in my arms, the shadows closing around us utterly.

And though guilt tore at me with every step, something inside me purred in icy, aching relief.

Because for the first time since I’d scented him, my mate was safe.