A Hunter's Keep - #1 of "The Hunter's Series"

Lizzy’s POV

“What’s her name?” I asked, taking the warm glass of milk Derik was offering me.

“Mindy,” he said, his tone a whole over level of pure and young, now that he had hope again. “Madeline, but she hates that name with a passion.” He grinned and shook his head. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of it.”

He went around the island and sat down again.

“Yeah, that IS kinda dumb,” I muttered, forgetting about that stupid werewolf hearing of theirs.

“Watch it!” Derik frowned, but couldn’t get really angry. “I’m still an alpha and I don’t like being insulted.”

“Then you really should consider kicking me the hell out of here,” I sorted back.

“Good point,” he smirked and emptied his cup. Apparently warm milk was the cure for just about anything

I shrugged and drank. It’s not like I could ever compete with a mate. At least I knew that much…

“I’m sorry,” Derik said, pulling me out of my thoughts. “For losing my temper like that.”

I didn’t know what to say so I just shrugged my shoulders. I’d seen worse…

“I’d never hurt you,” he continued, like he’d just read my thoughts. I hated when he did that! “You know that, right?”

I scoffed.

“Sure,” I mumbled, know that a wolf would first and foremost protect his own.

“I mean it,” he repeated, as if he was offended that I didn’t believe him.

“So, you won’t hurt me?” I scoffed and looked up. “Even if I possessed a threat to you or your pack?”

“I promise,” he said, this time, his voice was lazed with authority and power. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

I wanted to believe him. I wanted it to be true so badly…

“I wouldn’t make promises I couldn’t keep,” I replied, pulling my eyes away from his perfect blue ones.

“Are you trying to push my bottoms, Lizzy?” he grinned, before turning serious again. His hand rested on my shoulder, while the other pulled my chin up, so I was facing him again.

“Why would you pose a risk to my pack? Who are you afraid of?”

My heart felt like a sledgehammer against my chest and I had to pull away from him, before I lost myself in his beautiful eyes. I’d never heard anyone talked with such power, yet kindness in their voice. Would it be so bad, to just believe him? What’s the worst that could come from it?

“I can protect you!”

“Ok,” I said and looking into his eyes, I let my walls down. Just a little bit. “I believe you.”

He smiled and kissed the top of my head, before I went up to bed. I smiled. So, perhaps I could trust him. Perhaps I could tell him everything and it wouldn’t be the end of the world. Perhaps I could have a happy ending. Me and Sif…