I'm sorry for the delayed chapter and the slow progress! My life has been slightly occupied with hospitals and bad news, but I'm not gone! ;)
I'm posting a slightly shorter chapter than normal, just to keep from loosing my dear readers; YOU! :)
I'm back and will work harder and more often on my story, now that I'm finally focused on it again.
Do keep letting me know what you think!

13.

I woke up a few hours later. The warmth surrounding me eased my out of my sleep, keeping a thick blanket softly wrapped around me and I didn't want to move a muscle, enjoying the heaviness of my body. My fingers stretched out and I moved my arm slowly, feeling warm skin under my hand.

"Good morning." I heard Alcide whisper and I smiled dreamily, letting him tuck me closer against his warm chest.

"Did it go alright?" He asked gently and I felt a slight cold brush past me, thinking about my time with Eric was the perfect mood killer.

"It went fine. I'm fine." I whispered hurriedly. Alcide kissed the top of my head.

"I'm glad. Why didn't you call? I would've picked you up." He said with a sleepy voice.

"I forgot my phone here. But it was okay. The sun was up and the cool air did me good." I replied, just as sleepy. Alcide's free hand stroke up my arm, not stopping has he reached my shoulder but continued down my side. He barely brushed the top of my hip before gliding up again, but that tiny movement sent a fire through my spine, spreading like wildfire. I had to focus not to mutter a sound of pleasure. I lay perfectly still, concentrating on my breathing. Alcide's breath brushed my hair in steady beats but a light quiver in it made another warm jolt run through me.

"Ashlyn?" Alcide's tender voice almost made goose bumps form on my skin.

"Yes…?" I whispered. Speaking any louder would reveal a quivering voice.

"I wish I could be the one to take away your poison. Because I love to have you this close. Warm. Safe." He voice drifted off and the silence spurred on the heat even more.

"I wish that too." I whispered, feeling how new, vibrating feelings for this gentle giant grew in me. I couldn't be falling in love. I shouldn't be! Yet I felt the tingle grow in my stomach. The feeling of life under my fingers was indeed intoxicating. Alcide moved closer, lying on his side and his hands wrapped tighter around me. His lips found my forehead. Then my eyes, my cheek, my nose. It was such a light touch against my skin it would bring tears to my eyes, had I not been so dazzled by the sensation. When his lips slowly searched for mine I had no resistance left in me. Ever so gently his soft lips surrounded by a tickling beard hit mine and I felt myself draw closer, wanting more, begging for more. Ashlyn!

My body didn't listen to reason anymore. Alcide's lips moved slowly against mine while he rolled me over on my back, fingers cupping my face. I whimpered, intoxicated and dizzy, which only deepened the kiss, his hot tongue flicked over mine. The pure sensation of pulsing, steaming hot, vibrant skin was enough to make tears form in my eyes. How unfair it was, that I couldn't be satisfied by this and only this forever!

A terrible rumble from the hallway made us both jolt upright in shock. It sounded like the door was being smashed in and sure enough, someone was in the apartment.

"Oh Aaaaalcide!" A female voice called, followed by a crazy chuckle. Alcide roared and was out of bed in a flash. I gulped down buckets of air, calming my flustered cheeks and slowing my racing heart. Alcide pulled on his jeans and I stumbled to my feet.

"Stay here!" Alcide commanded, pointing at me with a fierce look on his face. I moved to object, but he had already shut the door in my face. I quickly got a pair of pants and a top out of my bag and got dressed, my ears prickled with curiosity at the sound of voices out in the hallway. I gathered my hair in a clip and couldn't stay here anymore. I silently opened the door and peaked out.

"You should just do yourself a favor and give her up Alcide, you can't fight us." The female voice said and I knew my reasoning said to quickly close the door and climb out of the window. My stubbornness told me otherwise, as usual.

"Alcide?" I asked carefully, stepping out in to the bare living room. I caught a glimpse of Alcide in the hallway with a female and a short, massive male before a whiff of heavy cologne caught my nose and I managed to duck away, just in time before a pair of massive hands was able to knock me over. I dove for the floor, rolling away and quickly turning to face my assailant.

"Stop squirming, brat!" A brown haired, bearded man growled and launched himself at me again. All my life I'd trained for these things. I sent the ball of my palm straight up in to his chin as he reached for me, sending him flying backwards in blinding pain.

"Ashlyn!" I heard Alcide call desperately and I saw him grabbing the female headed towards me and throwing her in to the wall. I got to my feet as Alcide stopped in front of me, shielding me from the attackers.

"Cooter, get your ugly rear out of my apartment or I swear, I will kill you!" Alcide's voice was so deep it sounded more animalistic than human. The man who had attacked me, Cooter, stumbled to his feet by the help of the skinny, shabby female. She glared at me with cold, evil eyes.

"No way Alcide, we're not leaving without that one." She snared, nodding in my direction.

"Debbie, I don't know what your problem is, but you need to take that and your scrawny boyfriend as far away from us as you possibly can, I am warning you!" Alcide roared. The female, Debbie chuckled.

"Us? So this brat is yours? Oh honey! Can you never get any better than me?" She threw her head back and laughed. Insanely.

"You are dirt under my boot Debbie. Now get out before I rip your throats out!" Alcide was shivering with anger.

"No! I told you! We ain't leaving without her! We've been sent to collect her and that we will do!" Debbie was matching Alcide's anger, glaring coldly at him without blinking.

"What? Who sent you?" I grabbed Alcide's arm, feeling my heart racing yet again, this time in fear.

Debbie moved her cold eyes slowly towards me, an evil grin tugging at her lips.

"Oh I believe you know him very well, brat." She said and I felt myself go cold. So, Raven was really set on getting his hands on me.

"You really have an attitude problem, don't you Debbie." I hissed.

"Bitch!" Debbie yelled and she moved to grab me, but Alcide was there, shoving her back against the wall. The stared and glared at each other.

"If you have any wits left in your drugged out head Debbie, you leave now!" Alcide snapped at her. Debbie stared back, obviously weighing her options.

"We will be back for her Alcide. You can't protect her at all times." She grumbled lowly. A quick nod at the others and they reluctantly moved out to the hallway. Alcide didn't relax before Debbie had backed out of the apartment and disappeared down the stairs. In the meantime I had moved in to the bedroom and quickly started to gather my things, shoving them down in my bag.

"Ashlyn? What are you doing?" Alcide came in to the bedroom, looking at me with a concerned look on his face.

"I have to move. I can't stay here, not as long as Raven is so set on digging his claws in to me." I breathed, forcing myself to fold my clothes to be able to fit them all in my bag.

"No." Alcide's plain, short answer made me stop and turn.

"What no? Alcide, you don't understand Raven, he won't stop before he has me and I am not going to put you in harm's way, just because I like spending time with you. He will kill everyone in his way if he has to. You saw what just happened!" I said, grabbing my boots. Alcide huffed.

"Debbie Pelt and her new dog is nothing to fear. If he hired that gang to do his bidding he's just desperate and he has nothing!" He walked over to me, grabbing my hands and forced me to look up at him.

"You are not leaving. You are not alone against Raven this time. You have an ally." Alcide smiled lovingly.

Allies. I have allies. I thought to myself, my mind conjuring an image of Eric and Pam.