Kyle's POV
As soon as Hannah entered the room she hugged me tightly, "what's going on?" I was confused. She was a pretty strong woman, what could have happened that shaken her up like this.
I swear a faint familiar scent reached my nose. My nose scrunched as I goosebumps. Wait, did Adrian do something? I wondered.
"I thought it was almost over for me". She breathed into my shirt as her head remained buried in my chest. I could feel her breathing slow down.
"Did an animal attack you?" I asked.
"How…" She was puzzled. Her expression confirmed my suspicion.
"What happened, are you hurt?" I searched through her body, looking for any signs of scars or damage or anything.
"Babe, calm down. I am fine". Hannah tried to reason. "It didn't directly attack me. It almost attacked me". She informed me, emphasizing on almost. She took a deep breath before explaining how they ran into a wolf which almost jumped on her car on the way back. From her description, it was a tall black wolf
'So that's how Adrian looked in his wolf form.' I pondered. I imagined his black fur and his teeth, sharp and glinting, should have scared me — but instead, they pulled me closer. And in those fierce, predatory storm-dark eyes, I found a comfort I couldn't explain.
"Babe?" Hannah called again, so I simply hugged her. I couldn't believe I was thinking about Adrian again, already when my world was collapsible against me. As I hugged Hannah, I knew how much I loved her, and yet it felt different.
I was lucky that she was away when I had my heat, but what happens next time when she's around? I couldn't keep sending her away every month. Neither could I control whatever the urge I was having. How could I explain to her what was happening to me.
Adrian hasn't bothered me directly, but he was still around. What happens when he shows up again and finally crosses the boundary, or worse, I do. After all it was me who kissed him. Me, who couldn't stop thinking about him. Me who was getting obsessed with him. I always thought if I ever have a mate, I'll have a hard time convincing them to reject me, but I couldn't even convince myself to move on.
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As promised, I brought Hannah to a Rustic Italian restaurant, Cassa de Nona, a place she liked very much. After every big win, her parents would bring her here, which is why even though this place has grown a little shabby, and didn't have the glow up my restaurants did, I brought her here.
I did once offer to buy this place, but even before I could pitch the offer to the owner Hannah shot me down. Apparently some things should remain as it is. I guess it makes sense given her emotional connection to this place.
"I know I was shaken up by what happened today, but you didn't need to bring me here". Hannah smiled.
"I know you love it here," I smiled back at her. Honestly, that's not why I brought her here today, but because I have been feeling really guilty lately ever since that kiss. I wanted to make up for it, so I brought her here.
"Hannah?" A familiar voice caught both of our attention. The middle aged man walked towards us as he greeted, "What brings you two her" Charlie asked us.
"Date night." I shrugged flatly.
"I see." Charlie nodded. He somehow seemed unconvinced. About what? I don't know. "Hey, Adrian didn't trouble you anymore right?"
I narrowed my eyes on him. What did he mean anymore? Suddenly I realised he might know what was going on. Adrian was a werewolf, and despite the lack of any scent, so was Charlie, Adrian's dad. Which means he might have heard our conversation if not more from Thanksgiving.
"Why would he bother us?" Hannah was confused. "I mean yeah, he did seem a little crazy at first but would he really go that far for no reason?" Oh Hannah, he has a very good reason to do so.
I glanced at Charlie who seemed to be thinking the same thing. "I wish I could say no". He looked at us apologetically. "I tried my level best to raise him, but somewhere down the line I failed. He would always give me trouble, bother innocent people. I tried to support him, help him, and yet, I failed." He sighed, looking down ashamed.
That's when I realised, even though he was my mate and I couldn't stop thinking about him, I had no idea what kind of a man he was. He was an Alpha, so his arrogance makes complete sense. The other day he provoked me, and then he sent the shirt to my place. He wasn't innocent, not even close.
But hearing about him from Charlie, his own father, made me realise how dangerous Adrian could be. After all, who would know him the best? Which father would want to berate their son instead of praising them, especially whose son was an Alpha. If anything, Alpha's doted on their children even more since they are next in line.
"Don't blame yourself Charlie, you tried. That's what matters." Hannah, being her usual kind self, offered her sympathy. "We will be careful."
"I know you will." He smiled at her and shot a knowing glance at me. I pretended to not know much and nodded along, avoiding his gaze as much as I could.
"What brings you here Chalie?" Hannah asked.
"Oh, I wanted to get some Aglio e Olio for your mom. She loves it, especially from this place. Unfortunately my cooking skills are terrible." Charlie chuckled. "Anyways, I should let you lovebirds get back to it. Your mother must be waiting for me. It was nice to see you two." He nodded at us and left.
"Poor guy, he is so nice, can't believe his son would treat him like this,"Hannah shook her head in disapproval.
"Family can be complicated," I mumbled. She looked at me but didn't say anything. She knew I had a complicated relationship with my own family, and she was always considerate enough to not dig deeper.
The rest of the night was pretty quiet. Hannah must have thought since the topic of family came up, because every time it happened before she would brush her hand over my forearm to make me feel better. However, this time my mind was drifting to Adrian. He had made subtle moves, but didn't make anything obvious. What exactly was he planning? Just how dangerous was he?