beverlie4055: I'm glad! Thanks for the review!

Call Me Toni: That's the way I'm hoping to head with the story :3 Yeah, that was a tough chapter to write. I'm sorry for letting you down. Last week was insanely hectic. Exams are a pain. I'm certainly glad that they're over. Thanks for the reviews!

aliceindeepdarkwonderland: I'm glad you liked it! Just wait! A bust-up may be in the coming chapters. I'm really liking Mr. Richards as the bad guy. Thanks for the review!

Sailorraven34: She issss :3 None of the grades have been posted yet, but I already know that my physics final was rough . Thanks for the reviews!

Wow, I fully intended to update last Friday, but it crept up on me way too quickly. My deepest apologies to all of you! I hope that you all had a very happy holiday, and that you can forgive me for being so terrible at updating.

Disclaimer: I do not own MARVEL or any of their affiliates. I am not making any money by writing this. It is for entertainment purposes only.

Chapter 19

November 5th

Natasha's P. o. V:

When I wake up, I momentarily panic, not remembering who is laying beside me. However, Clint's soothing smell washes over me a second later, and I relax. As carefully as I can, to avoid disturbing Clint, I reach over and grab my phone.

I have several missed calls and text messages, all from the same number. My blood runs cold as I realize who it is. My body stiffens, and Clint stirs next to me. I force my breathing to return to normal before beginning opening the texts.

Where are you?

I know you were here.

I saw you and that bastard that I warned to stay away.

ANSWER ME.

If you're with him right now, I'll call the cops.

I'm getting angry. You won't like me when I'm angry.

The texts following the last one are gibberish, as if his fingers were unable to type properly. With bated breath, I begin listening to his messages.

"You thought you could sneak past me, didn't you? Thought I wouldn't notice. Well, I did."

"Answer your phone!"

"That's it. If I see that pup one more time, he's dead. If I so much as scent him on you, or in the house, I will hunt his ass down and kill him."

"Don't even bother showing up to the funeral tomorrow. Do it, and I'll call the cops and have you reported."

The last message is just filled with inhuman snarls and growls. A shiver runs up my spine, and I desperately try to choke back the sobs that are rising in my throat. Clint must feel me shaking, because he wraps his arms tighter around me. "Hey, what's the matter? Are you okay?" I shake my head, unable to speak. Clint's eyes fall on my phone, and he begins reading the texts and listening to the messages. When he's finished, he sits in silence for a few seconds, his eyes flashing red.

"Clint?" I ask tentatively.

"I'll kill the bastard," Clint whispers, shaking with rage.

"No, Clint, drop it! He's just angry. The cops would be on his side. Please, don't do anything stupid. I can't live without you," I admit. Clint calms slightly, but I can still see the anger in his eyes. Suddenly, I hear someone knocking on the door. The sound is angry, and I know without a doubt who's behind it.

"Open this fucking door! I can smell the pup! I know he's with you! Open up, before I call the cops!" His voice is that of the Alpha that he is, and I cannot help but to obey. Clint tries to stop me, but I manage to slip out of his grasp. My hands unlock the door and open it before I can register what I'm doing. Mr. Richards is standing on the other side, his eyes glowing red. A shudder runs through me. It's very rare in this day and age for people to allow their wolf forms to show.

Clint appears behind me, teeth bared. His incisors have grown, forcing his face into a snarl. He looks more animal than human. "I challenge you to a fight to the death for the right to take Natasha as a mate. Should you forfeit this fight, I may kill you on the spot without any resistance. Do you accept this challenge?" Clint manages to growl, speaking around his newly lengthened teeth.

"I accept," Mr. Richards snarls, his teeth lengthening and sharpening as well. "I look forward to tearing you limb from limb, pup." In the blink of an eye, it is not Clint that is standing next to me; it is a large, solid black wolf with angry blue eyes. Mr. Richards morphs as well, becoming an even larger brown wolf. Fear coils in the pit of my belly, and I worry that I may get sick.

The two wolves circle each other slowly, occasionally making false lunges towards each other. My breath catches in my throat each time. I find myself praying to any God there is that Clint will be the winner of this fight.

Mr. Richards darts forward, trying to grab a hold of Clint's leg. However, his size works to his disadvantage, and Clint is able to jump away. Before Mr. Richards has time to recover, Clint whirls around and clamps down on his back leg, snapping the bone between his teeth. Mr. Richards howls in pain and begins circling again, forced to hold his injured leg off of the ground.

Clint tries to rush Mr. Richards, but the larger wolf is ready this time. Mr. Richards whirls around and manages to rake his teeth down Clint's side. A pained whimper comes from Clint as he retreats and begins circling again. It takes all of my willpower not to rush forward and go to Clint. Blood streams down his side, darkening the fur.

Mr. Richards lunges, trying to grab on to Clint's neck. Clint twists away at the last second, only allowing Mr. Richards' teeth to scrape his shoulder. Immediately, Clint darts in and grabs a hold of Mr. Richards' other hind leg. Mr. Richards tries to twist away. A snapping sound breaks the air, and I cringe, dropping to my knees.

Mr. Richards is effectively immobilized, but he continues to snap at Clint whenever he gets close. Unexpectedly, he morphs back into his human form. "Go ahead, pup. Finish me off, if you're man enough to do so!" Clint snarls, before morphing back into his human form as well.

"I will not kill you. I won't sink to your level." Mr. Richards laughs, a horrible, grating sound.

"If you don't kill me, I won't give up. I'll keep fighting for her. She's mine!" Mr. Richards morphs back into his wolf form, waiting. Clint morphs as well, albeit unwillingly. Slowly, he edges forward. Mr. Richards lowers his head, waiting for the inevitable. When Clint is within striking range, Mr. Richards lunges up, clamping on to Clint's throat.

"NO!" I scream, rushing towards the fight. I fall to all fours, my wolf forcing its way outwards. As Mr. Richards sees me approach, he releases Clint's neck. I stop, bewildered by his action. He morphs back to his human form again.

"I can't keep living. She was going to be my mate. We were going to start a family!" Anguished tears roll down his face. "She's the only thing I had left of her!" he yells, pointing a finger at me. "And she wants nothing to do with me. Kill me! Kill me!" He dissolves into sobs. I sit back on my haunches, my heart breaking. I can't imagine what it would be like to have Clint taken away from me.

Clint looks at me. I give a small nod, before turning away and heading back into the house. I hum to myself, but it isn't enough to block out the horrible crack Mr. Richards' neck makes as it snaps. At least it was a quick death, I console myself, trying not to puke. "Are you okay?" Clint asks, coming up behind me. I realize with a start that I've morphed back to my human form. I shake my head.

"Everyone around me is dying, and it's all my fault," I sob, leaning against his shoulders. "I'm banned from the funeral, there's a dead body on the lawn, I'm pregnant, and everyone hates me."

"I don't hate you," Clint murmurs against my hair.

"Prove it! Make love to me, Clint," I command, clinging to Clint. He pushes me back, gently.

"Nat, no - ," he begins. I shove away from him, tears spilling down my cheeks.

"You don't want me either! Nobody wants me!" I know in the back of my mind that I'm not being rational, but I can't stop the words from falling out of my mouth. Clint pulls me close, against my protests.

"Shh, honey, I want you very much. I love you with all of my heart, and I'd do anything for you, but you're not thinking straight right now. I don't want to do something now that we'll regret later, that's all." I curl up against Clint's chest, allowing him to hold me. We stay like this for at least an hour, drawing comfort from each others' presence.

I hope you guys had a fantastic holiday, and hopefully, I'll have a new chapter up for you tomorrow. Reviews, as always, are welcomed and highly appreciated.