Baby after One Night with the Prince

Tanya's POV.

I race towards the two, my hands pressing firmly against Raphael's chest, shoving him away from Mr. Barlow. Of course, my hand meets with the bully's rippled chest, and I can barely push him. He chuckles at my feeble attempt, only stepping back with a malicious grin.

Raphael isn't as tall as Marco, but he is still a decent height for a male. And he didn't get classed as a bully for no reason. Although muscular, there is no smooth elegance or refinement to his physic. Raphael is a rough piece of work, as if he has been carved with a blunt knife. Curated with jagged edges, a shaggy unkempt beard and buzz cut. He is like a rusty machete, worn, weathered, and ragged, but still dangerous enough to cut you and give you a nasty infection. "Stop! Stop this nonsense!" I yell, decently fearful, as I feel a close friendship with Mr. Barlow. Even with his annoying old man tendencies. I don't want to see him getting hurt.

Everyone stays away from Raphael and tries hard not to get in his way, including myself. And for good reason too, while the color of his eyes matches mine, I know my optics are a soft and soothing sage, like the forest leaves. While his are unsettling like a coiled snake, piercing as he stares at his prey.

Course Raphael doesn't seem to care about my concerns, he viciously turns to me, all intensifying my fear as he yells in my face. "Go away woman! This isn't any of your business. This lunatic owes me money. So, I have the right to take anything from him that is of equal value to the money I'm owed," he points sharply at the badge he has snatched away previously. "This badge covers it, and I have every right to take it!"

"NO! That's mine you bastard," Mr. Barlow wails.

I frantically think of a way to deescalate the situation. "Let me pay for the money he owes. I can give you the money you want," from the money I have saved up from working at the perfume shop I am sure could probably gather enough money to pay off Raphael. And even if that isn't enough, I can ask others for help.

But despite my offer, Raphael just scoffs, shaking his head in clear disapproval. "No, I'll only take his money. You aren't the one paying the money. He is!" the terms seem totally unfair, and a clear attempt to just cause more problems for Mr. Barlow for no good reason.

It is as if Raphael enjoys the chaos he caused for the rest of us. As if he revels in creating havoc and invoking fear. His tyrant behavior is sickening to me. Why would any want to cause this much disruption in other people's lives?

But I couldn't get into the mind of the male before me, I could only try to plead and reason with him. I watch the look in Raphael's eyes shift into something different, behind them I sense the gears in his head turning in malevolent thought process. His gaze trails down my body in a slow and methodical manner, licking his lips in clear temptation. My heart sinks as the hairs on the back of my neck stand.

"But... if you're so desperate to help this pathetic old man, I'm willing to make a bet with you."

"A bet?" I ask. Mr. Barlow behind me has now fallen silent, he too trying to decipher what Raphael is about to ask of me. Apprehension rises in us all knowing of Raphael's malicious tendencies.

"Yeah, if you win, I'll return the badge. But if you don't win," the grin on his lips stretches poisonously. "You stay with me for the night... alone, just the two of us," I shrink in growing despair as Raphael inches closer lustfully, clearly liking what he saw. His hand reaches out, desperate to caress my face and skin.

But we both flinch in response to Marco's primal growl erupting in the air between. Marco moves suddenly. He viciously slaps the hand away from my face, and rushes into Raphael's personal space, forcing the shorter man to back away as Marco towers over him dominantly, wolf-like in his method of intimidation, whilst baring down a formidable glare.

"I'll bet against you," Marco's voice is low, and yet brutal in its delivery. Raphael even attempts to puff his chest to not seem afraid, but he's no match to Marco's Alpha-like qualities.

"Oh yeah? And what do you have to offer?" he says as he glares back.

"You can cut off one of my arms if I lose," My mouth gapes in pure horror and disbelief. And I'm almost relieved when Raphael refuses.

"Hell nah! Why would I want your arm? It's no use to me!"

My hand presses against my chest, as I try to calm my racing heart. I look utterly panicked, and Raphael picks up on this. I see that evil grin once again take its place on his lips before he rolls his eyes.

"Fine, but Tanya has to compete against me. Not you," he either knows that he is no match against Marco in any and all situations, or he wants to get closer to me. "You sure you can trust her with your life man? Are you willing to risk your arm for this?"

A chill runs up my spine, I rush to grab Marco's arm, turning his attention to me. "Marco, this is crazy. Don't do this. We can get the badge back some other way. You've only known me for a couple of days, you shouldn't be risking your life and limb for me. What if I lose?"

He doesn't seem to register, or blatantly ignores the desperate pleading in my eyes. He remains focused in his gaze, so overly confident which I can't understand why. He shakes his head and leans closer to me to explain. "You might be right Tanya. And despite the fact that I initially doubted your morality, my wolf completely trusts you. And if he trusts you, then that's a good enough reason for me to trust you too."

My eyes widen in disbelief, but I can't utter a response before Marco turns back to Raphael, scoffing in full fledge confidence. "Tanya has my full confidence, let's do this." Raphael is clearly surprised but tries to hide this. "Fine, so if Tanya wins, I will return the badge, but if she doesn't win, you will lose your arm. This way."

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The bully takes the four of us to the site of the Blue Moon Tree as his chosen location for us to compete. I couldn't fathom any idea of how the Blue Moon Tree could be involved in his plans. And so, I ask, "Why are we here?

He smiles at me smugly. "The competition is whoever can make the Blue Moon Tree sparkle and shine its dazzling glow within thirty minutes. If you do. You win."

I'm utterly dumbfounded, looking at the Tree and then back at Raphael, before peering down at my watch. It's already dusk, and the Blue Moon Flowers unveil their natural glow in about forty minutes' time. But that is on their own accord, like any natural plant, it is completely impossible to force the flowers to open up before their said time. Raphael's request is totally absurd.

"You're tricking me. What you're asking me to do is impossible. Not only I can't do it, but you wouldn't be able to do it either. This competition is pointless," I say in bewilderment.

He smiles wickedly, "I don't have to win to keep in the badge. I specifically said that it's only if you 'win' that I'll return the badge. But if it's a tie, then I still keep the badge and Marco has to lose his arm," he manically laughs at my despair, and it's then I realize that Marco has made a bet with the wrong man. A man with no morals or common sense. We are helpless.

I want to sink deep down into a hole of nothingness as I would be responsible for not only losing Mr. Barlow's badge, but also forcing Marco to cut off his arm! My eyes are welling up in tears as I'm near breaking point, until...

Through my watery pupils, I see a small butterfly gracefully flutter past my field of view. Extravagant colors shade its wings as it hovers nearby, before flying away. At this moment, my eyes light up with an idea that gives me a solution to this terrible situation!