Anastasia's P.O.V.-

Christian tugged me into his warm embrace; his shallow breath drifted onto my back. I could practically feel his eyes close. "Thank goodness…." He sighed, he genuinely sighed after a moment. His grip tightened around me; I didn't know it was possible to be so close to another animal. "I mean it…" After uttering this, his body began to quake. My eyes widened as he suddenly collapsed onto me; his eyes were still shut. He looked exhausted.

Oh my god, I realized as I squirmed my way out from under the apex predator. Blood, scraps, and considerable wounds covered him all over; he was bleeding profusely from some injuries. I wasn't sure if he was the only one here or not, but for the time I assumed that he was. I have to get him outta here, my feet sprang up as my protective instincts kicked into gear. I wasn't strong enough to physically carry him, but I could let him lean on me the whole way. As gently as I could, I shook him until he came to. His eyes opened a sliver and he looked at me.

It took a few minutes to get Christian to his feet; I let him use me as a crutch the entire time. But while he did lean on me a little, what it seemed he really wanted to do was to hold my hand. Fine by me! Hand in hand we very, very slowly made our way out of that god forsaken room and down the hall. I had to let Christian guide me since I had no clue where we were going from here.

Neither of us dared to say a word. The wolf led me to a back and thankfully empty staircase. Christian went down first, just in case there were anymore gang members hiding about. But no one else- enemy or ally- appeared and we finally made it outside. "Can you walk? How is it easier for you to walk?" I heard myself ask the moment we were out, and the door was closed behind us. Christian didn't reply, instead giving my hand a squeeze and continue to limp forward.

The wolf could only go so far as a bench off Lincoln's property. I helped Christian lay down into a comfortable position and sat beside him. Christian… I scanned his wounds over again and again. They'd need to be treated and soon; the last thing I want is for him to get an infection. We stayed there…. for a long time. I can't be sure, but I think Christian kept drifting in and out of consciousness. It was at the one-hour mark that my head worriedly yanked back to him as he started to groan; he was obviously in a lot of pain. He groaned and gasped several times, but I wasn't sure if he was asleep or not. I continued to watch him afraid, only waking him up when his groaning became more severe.

"Christian? Christian!" I yelled in a whisper, trying to shake his shoulder as mildly as I could. His eyes shot open, then automatically lowered. His head lifted my way, but he didn't say anything. I let out an audible sigh, visibly relaxing. "Thank goodness. Are you alright, Christian?" My tone was more than a little peppered with worry. Seeing my expression, he tried to grin for me- in vain, I'm afraid. "I-I'm…. ok…." His lips managed to slip out. Needless to say, I wasn't convinced. Instead I elected to stare at him, my hands balling into fists on my lap. All my fault… This is all my fault. He came to save me; after all, if he hadn't come when he did, he wouldn't be in such a bad condition right now. He didn't have to come for me…. I never want any harm to come to him. Not at all.

"I'm sorry….. I'm so sorry, Christian," again, I heard my voice crack as a tear rolled down my cheek. Christian instantly lifted his upper half up in alarm but I couldn't stop…. I was just too…. "You did this for me…. you're in this shape because of me…." Even more tears fell down my face. "Anastasia, it's alright," he sounded much calmer and quieter than me just now. No, no it's not alright. It's not! My eyes winced shut in a frenzy; both my hands lifted up. "You got hurt because of me! That's the last thing I'd ever want! I….!"

"Anastasia," my savour interrupted me by grabbing my hand again. I paused to glance back at him perplexed. But he merely smiled back at him, naturally this time. His fingers wrapped around the sides of my hand, giving it a loving squeeze. The sincerity and adoration in the look he gave me just now. "You have nothing to apologize for; you did nothing wrong. I just…. I just….." Before he could finish his sentence, his stomach let out a loud growl. Still clasping onto my hand, his head fell defeatedly back onto the bench. "I just need something to eat."

Food! Yes, we could do that, and we did. While Christian barely managed to stay fully conscious, I found an open restaurant for us. One loin we passed asked Christian why he didn't take me to the black market in a mocking tone. I knew it was a joke since there's no such thing as the black market. Christian didn't say anything, though he did shoot the carnivore a warning glare. We just continued on while he went away laughing with his friends.

The restaurant was more of a fast food place. After setting the wounded wolf down at an outdoor booth, I went to order him some food: a tofu burger with two eggs and lots of water to wash it down. Despite him being the one who's gravely injured and just took on a mob boss, the first thing Christian did when I presented the food was to divide it in half and give me the bigger half. I could only gawk at him in pure astonishment, but he motioned for me to eat. It was only after I took my first bite that he started eating his.

We ate in relative silence; I suppose we were both incredibly tired. But while no verbal conversation was occurring, a lot was still being said. I know because we kept peering up to check on each other every minute or so. I'd peak up to find Christian already looking at me, or he would glance to see me staring back. At some point while wordlessly observing him I smiled- I smiled and he organically mirrored my expression.

I don't need to tell you that we got a lot of weird side glances and comments from onlookers. One had the gull to say that the burger was an appetizer while I was the main course; I hoped Christian hadn't heard. Even the server kept an eye on us, or rather me, once he realized I was with a wolf. Ok, I get it: a wolf and lamb being seen out in public together is stranger. But did everyone have to be so obvious about it? Did they not notice us smiling at one another with googly eyes? No? Well what they don't know is that this wolf just risked his life to save mine; he killed another wolf for me. And now he's making sure I have enough to eat before he even considers feeding himself. Sitting here, eating cheap tofu burgers with him like this…. Despite everything that's happened today, this is a memory I'll treasure for the rest of my life. This moment right here, right now.

"Excuse me?" Or, so I thought. We both flinched at the intrusion of someone coming over to our table. He had this arrogant air about him, for a zebra. His hands were on his hips. "Might I ask what you think you are doing?" He asked in the smuggest adult tone you can imagine. "Uh, eating?" I cocked my head to the side confused. The zebra shook his head in disapproval. "You're high school students, aren't you? Do you have any idea what time it is?" Christian and I looked at each other. I didn't have my phone with me and by the looks of it, he didn't either. Seeing our confounded reactions, the annoying adult rolled his eyes and gave a sigh.

"It's almost midnight. The last train left the station ten minutes again," he enlightened us. "It did?!" I gasped. Oh no…. "Well, what do you have to say for yourselves, hmmmm? Where do you expect to sleep tonight? I'm not even going to mention this sick, interspecies date you're on right now." I wanted to rebuff that this wasn't a date and even if it was, that was none of his business, but all angry words turned to cotton in my throat. I looked back to Christian instead, who was staring back at me with a worried face.

"Anastasia…" My wolf began but I stopped him, attempting to smile to lighten the mood. "Er, how much….. money do we have?" I inquired shyly. It didn't help that zebra tyrant was standing over us here. Christian checked his pockets, only to look back at me flushed. "Fifty bucks….." He replied sheepishly. The zebra gasped in horror and disgust. "Don't tell me you're planning to go to a motel? No! You're minors, and she's a lamb! I won't have you defiling someone as innocent as her in some sleezy sex motel!" He was now full on yelling at Christian.

Welp! Looks like that's our cue to go. As if to be reading my mind, Christian had to take one look at me to formulate an escape plan. Meanwhile a minor crowd had started to gather around us. They all looked very unimpressed with Christian and more than willing to help me out. "Who are you? Who are your parents? Someone get the cops! These minors are trying to sneak out tonight!" The zebra didn't help matters by shouting even louder. "Oh, that poor lamb," I heard one lady crone. "Can you imagine?" Another guy added. "I'm so sick of carnivores taking advantage of young, sweet herbivores. Whatcha gonna do if she doesn't put out?! Rip her throat across?!" Someone hollered to my wolf.

Time to go! We stood up like a shot at the same time. Then, holding hands yet again, we made a dash out of there, surprising many spectators. Some yelled at us, and the a few even tried catching us, but we were too fast. Somehow- don't ask me how but somehow- we escaped the hoards. Once in the quiet and clear again, we paused to take some deep breaths and calm ourselves down. Only then did I turn back to Christian.

"But yeah, let's find a hotel for the night."