Adrian watched the men approaching Natalia. Natalia sidestepped, glancing at them and shaking her head. They laughed, believing she was theirs for the taking.

Adrian lowered his head to look at Natalia. Her eyes were teary; she looked lost, a far cry from the confident woman he’d met before. Her distress infuriated him. The men then caught his attention, bending at the knees and exhaling sharply. One said, "Dude, she's ours."

"Yours?" Adrian muttered, questioning the statement.

"She's playing innocent. I bet she's looking for a wealthy Alpha for sex. We're not rich, so she's acting now. But we've got something else to offer," the man sneered.

Adrian growled—a loud, guttural sound that shook everyone. Natalia fought to remain composed, but the men bowed and fell to their knees in submission.

"Did they touch you?" Adrian asked deeply, his gaze fixed on the men.

Natalia remained silent, speechless.

"I SAID, DID THEY TOUCH YOU?!" Adrian roared in anger.

Natalia's body jerked. Tears streamed down her face. "Y-yes," she whispered.

Adrian clenched his jaw. "Where?" he demanded.

Natalia, believing him no better than the men, felt humiliated. "Why are you aski—"

Adrian cut her off. "Where?"

"M-my hand…" she paused.

"Oh, hero. Stop wasting our time. If you want her, we can share," one of the men interrupted, seeing Adrian speaking with Natalia. Despite being on their knees, they believed Adrian's intentions were no different from their own.

The instant the man finished, Adrian lunged, grabbing his arm. The sickening sound of breaking bones echoed through the alley. Realizing Adrian had broken their friend's arm, the other two attacked.

Natalia watched, aghast, unable to flee. But before she could react, she witnessed something horrifying. She gasped as Adrian's eyes blazed red, claws extending as he pierced their jaws. One man, terrified, stammered, "W-who are you?"

Adrian looked at him, then answered, "Your death." The man fled, but Adrian swiftly caught and killed both men, breaking their necks. He scoffed, hissing in frustrated anger at his inability to kill the last man, watching his escape.

Turning, he saw Natalia staring at the bodies, her expression shocked. He rushed to her, pulling her into a hug.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice surprisingly soft. The hug felt good; his indignation at their audacity to touch her burned fiercely.

Recognizing him, Natalia pushed him away, trying to leave.

"S-stay a-away," she mumbled, turning.

As she walked toward the hotel, wiping away tears, he called after her.

"Why are you so stubborn? I'm the only one who can protect you," he said.

Ignoring him, she continued walking. The memory of his past actions, of the day she'd been forced to leave her pack because he wouldn't accept her children, viewing her only as a sexual object, haunted her. He had saved her today, but what was the difference? She didn't know what he wanted.

A car pulled up beside her. Eric rolled down the window.

"Why are you here at this time?"

Natalia glanced at Adrian, standing a short distance away, watching her.

"Let's go to the hotel," she said, opening the passenger door.

Eric, seeing Adrian, started the car silently. Natalia glanced in the side mirror; Adrian remained motionless, simply watching the car drive away.

"Why are you with him again?" Eric asked, annoyed.

"He saved me from some thugs."

"I saw two men on the road. They're dead?"

"I think so. He killed them."

"Are you okay?" Eric asked.

"Hmm," she murmured, leaning back. "Thanks, Eric," she whispered, closing her eyes. "For being there today. I saw your post."

"It was my responsibility. But avoid Alpha Adrian at all costs."

"I know," Natalia mumbled.

Silence settled between them.