Chapter 18
As Serah stepped into the mall, she got the feeling that something horrible was about to happen. She couldn't place her finger on what it was but the feeling was there, gnawing within her as she tried to stay calm but try as she may, she couldn't.
Serah walked into the mall, flanked by bodyguards who stood by her side. She instructed the guards to wait outside as what she wanted to buy were for female eyes only well, with the exception of her mate who was soon to be her husband.
"Greetings ma'am. How can I help you today", a young female attendant said.
Serah was used to the mall. This was the only place in the whole of new your city were she got her underwears. She wanted to surprise Brian tonight hence her coming here but now, she had an inkling that it wasn't really a good idea.
"Hi, I'm just going for a simple design this time, something on the cool side", Serah said.
"Okay, we have that. Please, follow me", the girl said.
Serah signalled to her guards to remain there, informing them that she wouldn't take too long as she wanted to be out of the mall as fast as possible.
The girl led her to an array of beautiful underwears that glimmered under the sharp neon lights. Serah felt the texture of one and felt that same creepy sensation in her neck. She looked around, scanning the area with her powers for threats but she found none. She was alone with the young attendant who was skimming through another set of underwears for her.
The girl handed her one. Serah took it from her, heading over to the changing room. When she got there, she scanned the whole place but still came up with nothing.
Deciding that it was just a trick of her mind, Serah forgot about the whole incident. She put on the underwear, deciding to pick this one and just get over with it since she wasn't comfortable staying there.
When she was done doing the testing, Serah walked out of the changing room but the sight before her was one she desperately wished she could erase from her memory. The young female attendant was held in a vice grip by a man in a black ski mask. Serah didn't know who he was as his whole face was covered.
She sniffed the air, trying to get a scent. She discovered that this man wasn't from their pack nor the demon's pack. As a matter of fact, he came from a strange pack Serah didn't know of.
"Unhand her", she growled.
She could feel her wolf threatening to break to the surface and the only reason it hadn't was because of the restraint she had on it.
"I will, if you follow me quietly without alerting your guards", the man said.
Serah tried to capture his voice with her magic but she couldn't as she didn't know where this man came from. The only thing she could make out from everything was that he was huge and had a gruff voice.
"I will. Please, just release her, I know it's me you want", Serah said.
The man pushed the girl away who staggered to the door, trying to call for help. Serah silenced her temporarily with her magic so that she lost the ability to speak for several minutes pending the time she left rgr building. Serah couldn't take the risk, knowing that if the girl reported, she would be risking the lives of everyone who were at the mall.
The girl groaned, trying to talk but she couldn't. Serah opened the door with her magic, instructing the girl to go out. She knew it was time for battle and the only way she could do that was if she were alone with her attacker.
"Now, it's you and I alone. State your business", Serah growled.
The dark figure walked towards her, brandishing a sword. Serah felt no fear as she watched him walk towards her. She had faced numerous and more deadlier enemies in the past and this was nothing compared to those.
"You've been summoned by my master, fhr dark lord", he said.
He stopped right in front of her face. Serah took a step back not because she was scared but because of the foul breath coming out of his mouth.
"Dude! You should really brush your teeth. Your breath stinks", Serah mocked.
"You really have some guts to talk to me that way", the man said.
Serah was done talking, she launched her magic, sending a blast of heat wave towards him. He didn't expect him and Serah watched with satisfaction as he staggered back, clutching the side of his stomach.
"Bitch!",he swore, taking a swing at her.
Serah deflected, sending another blast of magic but this time to his leg. She wanted to weaken him, render him powerless until he gave up and the only way she could do that was to destroy his legs.
"Buddy, you should really go for some fighting lessons. I mean, you're a man and your attacks are sloppy", Serah taunted.
The next moment, she found herself on the ground. She hadn't seen his blow coming which took her totally off guard.
Just as she was about rising up to give him the final blow, the door to the outer changing room burst open. Brian stood there, his face perched in concentration. When he saw his mate, he heaved a huge sigh of relief. Then, his face turned to fury when he saw her attacker.
"Who are you?",he growled.
The foundations of the building shook under his apparent anger. Serah moved back a bit because she felt the pure anger radiating from him.
"Brian, it's okay?", Serah said quietly.
Brian paid her no heed as he stalked towards the masked man. The masked man had the decency to feel ashamed as he shivered under the furious eyes of Brian.
"For the last time, who are you?", Brian thundered.
Tht attacker remained mute as he looked everywhere else but at Brian. Right before her eyes, Brian gripped the attacker by the neck, snapping it into two.
He dumped rgr body on the floor like it was a piece of doll. Serah watched him stare at the body and she wondered what was going through his mind.
"Get this body out of here", he growled.
As quick as lightening, his body guards lifted the body, taking it away. Serah shivered when she saw the man's lifeless eyes opened wide.
"Brian", Serah said.
She knew he was in a trance especially after what he just did. The only thing that could snap him out of this feeling was through calm and kind words.
"Brian", Serah said, more forcefully.
Her mate looked up, staring at her dead in the eyes. Serah walked towards him, taking his hands in her's. She gave it a gentle squeeze, silently reassuring him that everything would be fine. She didn't even want to think about the things that were currently running through his mind.
"Let's go home", she said.
"I almost lost you", he croaked.
"Shh.. it's okay. I'm fine, that's all that matters", Serah said.
She took his hands in her's, gently leading him out of the room. They got into the waiting car which was parked outside the mall.
Brian was still numb and Serah had a feeling that this affected him more than he was letting on.