A groan slipped from Akira’s lips as the first sights and sounds of the new day slipped in. Mondays, did anyone like Mondays? They never seemed bring any tremendous amount of good news or outcomes. Must get up and go run. Must get up Now! Her brain attempted to motivate her body into its daily routine. Three weeks in and it was still difficult to make it out the front door most days.
Five minutes later, Akira was tying her shoes, while shooing her kitten, Mishka, and stretching before a jog around the block. She knew those first few steps were always the hardest, but often once she got into the groove she frequently lengthened her route.
Still the four am wake up phone call was rough.
The air was heavy as she stepped down the stairs leading to her home. Ugh, why do people choose to live here again? Pressing play her iPod picked a random song, Breaking Benjamin.
Two blocks in and her breath had become a steady pattern and feet had found a steady cadence, she slowly became vaguely aware of a group of men eyeing her and walking in the path she jogged. It was times like these that she wished that she prepared a little better before her morning runs. Slightly nervous she tried to maneuver out to the main road to avoid them, but one of them beat her to the move and sped up in combination with stepping directly into her path. Digging deep she tried to focus on the music as a means of blocking them out. They were undeterred in herding her into the center of their group, increasing her nervousness.
“Hey, babe it’s Friday. Why you jogging so early?” The first thug addressed her.
“Lookin' good, hot stuff. You wanna catch a shower together?” The second added.
Akira turned up the music to drown them out. Seizing the moment she used to speed up her stride. Step it out, step it out. There you go nice and easy. Just ignore them. Her inner voice drove her forward. Half way through her stride a hand reached out and grabbed her, stopping not only her body but the breath in her lungs. Before she could let loose the scream already building in her lungs she was slammed against one of the cars parked on the street. The handle from the car door cut into her back adding a second jolt to her system. Her body prepared to fight as the three other men closed in on her.
“If you just relax you might even enjoy this.” The first one closed in, he reached up to adjust his red baseball cap. His hand slid down to wipe the corner of his mouth, a tongue snaked out in the process. The thug's grip on her tightened and pressed her further still into the car door.
As he pressed into her and she felt that he was already aroused. Akira swallowed hard holding back the bile that threatened to rise for another moment. Despite that vomiting on him would buy her some time she wasn’t sure what sort of wrath it could cause.
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Acton lifted his head as he strolled down the side walk. Something wasn’t right; he could feel it just beneath his skin. He could feel it as vibrantly as he could the beast that cohabited inside him. He didn’t entirely know what had possessed him to leave his bed. He was tired, but the recent turmoil in the house thanks to his roommate was beginning to wear on him. Kyle and Andrea had been together for four years, but when Andrea had finally found the courage to ask Kyle why he was so content to keep their relationship in one place, the man had stupidly stated he didn’t see why they should get married. Andrea had left that night. That night was a week ago; there had been no peace in the house since then.
Acton shook his head, he had been on the couch awaiting a phone call from a fellow pack mate when the fight had taken place. Acton had cringed as soon as the explanation had left Kyle’s lips. How could the man have thought that it had been the right answer? Acton didn’t date, did little more than seduce a woman for a night to satisfy the needs of his body. He was happy, but even through his confirmed bachelor state he had recognized the dangers of Andrea’s loaded question. Even more asinine than Kyle’s reaction had been his response when he finally realized that following Friday that perhaps Andrea was truly finished with him. The Cro-Magnon wheels in head had clicked and since then Kyle hadn’t stopped pestering Acton for advice on getting the love of his life back. Kyle had certainly not been pleased when Acton had initially smiled and said,” I would have responded differently in the first place.” Egregious errors aside it was a sad state when he had looked at his friend and realized that he would never be happy without her. Andrea knew and accepted what Kyle and Acton were – Lupines. Knowledge and acceptance were rare; Acton perhaps should have taken better care in pointing out that fact to Kyle over the years.
Acton withdrew from his thoughts once more and the faint scent of fear reached him. He closed his eyes and savored the flavor as it flooded him. Acton opened his mouth to let the scent fully assault his palate. For many of his kind, fear and arousal were intertwined. It was easily attained for him when he bedded human women. His lids cracked as he slowly reopened his eyes and his conscience knocked begging an audience. He needed to focus; he wasn’t tucked in bed where the scent may have been more appropriate. Instead he was on the street and at this early time of the morning, it meant that someone was in danger. The subtle tang and the end of the inhaling told him it came from a sweet woman. Perhaps this was why his thoughts had drifted to the bedroom rather than rushing to the scene for assistance.
Acton funneled all of his energy into tracking the delicious fragrance, two steps forward was all it took to confirm that he was already heading straight toward whatever delightful scene was currently unfolding. Although his step never faltered he didn’t feel the need to increase his speed. No, he was content for the moment to enjoy the sweet scent if he ended it would he still get to enjoy it? As the scent grew stronger, canines has the top of his gums began to descend.
Acton looked up noticing a congregation of people near the street adjunct to one of the cookie cutter suburban homes. He slowed hoping to get a better assessment of the situation before he got too close, he always was choosey about whether or not to intercede in a situation. As he got closer though he realized this would be one such situation which would warrant his attention.
The first thing he noticed about her was that she was calm, considering the current position she was in. It almost made him think she knew them. Her lips were drawn tight, eyes determined. But it was the way they were pressing her into that illustrated their intentions for her. This was not good.
“Get. Off. Me.” She was clear, and her tone left little room for confusion. She was angry. Acton smiled, good. Anger could be useful. Perhaps she would keep her head enough to listen when the time came.
Akira snapped her head to the side, someone was coming. It was just a matter of time before the thugs were either distracted or some poor Samaritan shmuck tried to help her. She said a small prayer they would only just provide a distraction.
“Gentlemen, a little early to start collections isn’t it and based on her attire she doesn’t have anything to give you.” Acton said sauntering up to the scene. That will work, Akira thought as she heard the man walk up to the thugs. The leader still pressed up against her, seeking uninvited entry turned his head. One Mississippi, two Mississippi, Akira shoved at the leader, attempting to knee him in the balls while yanking her wrists free of the other two thugs. Perhaps Mr. Good Samaritan would be able to handle himself after she got away.
The thug leader absorbed the strike but kept her pinned abating Akira’s plan of escape. The stranger who had interrupted them advanced. He reached for the closest thug and slammed his fist directly into the side of his body. The soft, sickening sound which followed made Akira wonder if he had snapped a rib with his strike. The thug crumpled to the ground sending the other two into a panic that they might be next.
“She’s mine get your own dude.” The thug leader attempted to assert his claim. The look flashing across the Samaritan’s face reflected something. Akira sensed that this was not the statement the thug should have made if he wanted a chance to escape unscathed. Akira dug deep to go a second round against the thug leader still trying to pin her down. The Samaritan reached for the thug leader at the same moment, gripping him around the neck. Teamwork took the thug leader down thirty seconds later. The final thug let go and backed up, glancing down at his fallen comrades and being the wiser for it turned and abruptly ran in the opposite direction.
Akira bent forward over the unconscious thug leader to catch her breath. Cocking her head to the side she took her first long look at the Samaritan who had come to her rescue. What happens now, do I just say ‘thanks’ and jog back to the house? She noted that he was tall with smooth slightly tanned skin, his hair was short and dark, but caught the sun. His body was al lean sinewy muscle. The sun had finally come up enough to reveal that he had deep brown eyes which captured her own and refused to let her break the gaze. Who's that puppy in the window? Akira 's inner voice chimed.
Acton lifted out of the gaze and finished the once over, and was shocked that the scent that had held such appeal to him came from such a plain woman. Her face held no distinguishing features, her hair was mousy brown not a touch of sparkle, her skin was touched with sun but was sure to pale quickly. He was sure that a block later he would forget her face.
“Thank you,” came the small still voice, Akira was holding it together-barely-better than even she had expected.
“Yep…” He turned to acknowledge her gratefulness and to coax her into getting on with where ever she was head, but in turning around he found that she had already left. Thank God some women don’t need to be told twice or even once, he wasn’t by nature such an ass. But the thought of having to deal with her hero worship on top of the fight had left him less than enthusiastic to engage her after the ordeal.
Akira jogged back toward her house. She had been quick and quiet in rendering her appreciation for his assistance. However, she had seen the all too clear look of boredom on his face and didn’t need to be reminders of her ordinary appearance. It was her ability to hide in plain sight that had proved most useful to her though. She knew she would be forgotten before lunch, and with it any embarrassment.
Akira sprinted toward the house eager to get back to safety, lock the doors and take a bath. How early is too early to lose yourself inside a bottle of wine? She was light on her feet bounding up the steps and quickly pressing in the code to her front door. Once inside and the locks secured she took a moment to let the events of the jog sink in, she leaned against wall just inside the house nearest the door and took a moment to fall apart. Pushing out of her mind the thought that the thug who had escaped could have followed her back to her house.
Rap, Rap, Rap. Three sold knocks at the front door.
Akira swallowed her heart, which was beating furiously somewhere in her throat.
Fuck.
She pulled open a small part of the curtain to see who stood outside. Mr. Good Samaritan. What the--? Two more deep breaths Akira considered darting upstairs and ignoring him. Something said he wouldn’t go away that easily though. She turned the main bolt lock, but left the chain on and opened the door.
“Can I help you?” Akira knew she was visible through the door crack, but couldn’t bring herself to make eye contact with the man. What was the point? He had shown about as much interest in her as he would a gnat.
“Hey, are you okay? You just took off, did you want me to call the police so you can file a report against them?” Mr. Good Samaritan asked.
“Umm huh? No no, I’m fine, you know, just shaken. There’s no need for concern.” Akira kept her head down and mumbled out her response. She felt a flutter in her stomach that he was at her door. He was without a doubt an attractive man. The breeze picked up and his scent drifted through the door, musky and natural, she tried thinking that if she could remember the smell she’d run to the store and search for his body wash. His beautifully curly hair and thick black rimmed glass alluded to his sense of style and attention to his image.
Acton, had to concentrate hard to hear her, which was remarkable considering his heightened hearing. He was still trying to remember why he was here. The last thing he remembered, he had been delighted that she had left before the situation could become awkward. His beast however had not been pleased that she had run off, the simple fact she had he felt translated to playtime. She hadn’t wasted time in jogging back to her house, the added exertion ensured he had no trouble following her. He nodded back, his beast seemed sated with the knowledge she was safe, although he tried to hide his deep inhalation of the air seeping out of the house. He felt a shudder ripple through him.
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