Wolf Mate by Natalie Kristen Page A

her face on his solid shoulder.
    His voice was gentle. “Are
you all right, Melynda? How do you feel?”
    “ I'm fine.” She
took a deep, painful breath. “Rebecca...”
    “ She's a survivor.”
    Melynda nodded, and sniffed.
“She's so brave, so very brave. We have to help her. You have
to help Levi!” Melynda clutched his arm. “You saw,
didn't you? Levi didn't kill the man! He only protected Rebecca!
That man is still out there, and...oh my God!” Her eyes
widened. “Do you think he knows...? If...if he knows that
Rebecca is still alive, he...he would try to kill her...again!”
    When Dax didn't reply, Melynda
gripped his hands.
    “ You saw her emotions,
her memories, Dax! You saw the truth! We have to protect her!
She...” Her eyes flicked to Rebecca, lying on the bed, hooked
up to machines, unable to move, unable to open her eyes to see who
came into her room, unable to open her mouth to call for help or
release a single scream.
    “ She might die,”
Melynda whispered.
    “ And then Levi would be
facing two counts of murder instead of one,” Dax shot back.
“He'd be accused of killing both Rebecca Rose and that missing
man.”
    Melynda's mind spun. No!
    But even through her shock and
pain, she caught one word that revealed Dax's view of the situation.
    “ Missing,” Melynda
said slowly. “That missing man,” she repeated Dax's last
three words and sucked in a deep breath. “You believe he's
missing, not murdered.”
    Dax held her gaze for a long
while. “Yes,” he said at last. “Phin Lester is at
large. But I don't think he'll try to attack Miss Rose again. Not
while there is a police officer standing guard outside. Phin is
cold, but he's calculating. He won't walk into a trap. He'll lay
low. At least until Levi has been convicted of his murder.”
    Melynda shook her head. “He's
an animal!”
    “ And animals are smart,
Melynda. They can sense danger, and they know how to hide and hunt.
They will watch and wait in the shadows, just waiting for the right
time to pounce on their target.”
    Melynda winced. “So...he'll
just hide away, until...Levi has been put down, for a murder he
didn't commit.” She narrowed her eyes and spat, “What a
conniving, cunning coward!”
    Dax inclined his head at her.
“I...agree with your assessment of him.”
    Melynda was about to turn
away. “Really?” She swiveled round to face Dax. “You
agree with me? That's a first,” she muttered.
    “ You have a class
tonight, don't you?” Dax said suddenly.
    “ Huh? Oh. Yeah, it's
the last class on Potions. And then we have a week to study before
the final exams,” she mumbled. Honestly, she was surprised
that Dax remembered. He usually just grunted and dismissed her
grudgingly when she knocked on his door and informed him that she
couldn't work late because she had to attend class that evening.
    “ I'll take you to
dinner,” he said curtly, steering her towards the door before
she could respond. “You need to eat, to replenish your energy.
I'll drive you to class later.”

CHAPTER
ELEVEN

    Melynda wrapped her jacket
tightly around herself, hugging her books and files to her chest.
Class had ended a little later than usual, since everyone stayed back
to ask the lecturer some last minute questions. It was the last
chance to clarify their doubts and questions before the final exam
next week. After tonight, the students would be left on their own to
study and revise.
    But as she hurried along, she
found herself thinking of Dax, rather than the exam topics. It was
the first time they'd had dinner together. The first time was
always...less than perfect. In fact, it was plain awkward.
    Dax had been silent and stern
as he sat opposite her at the diner. He just made sure that she
finished everything on her plate. Then he'd ordered a large slice of
apple pie for her, and made sure she finished that too.
    The apple pie was delicious
and she had rather enjoyed it. As she ate her dessert, his eyes had
drifted to