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Chapter Twelve

My irritation was ticking just like a time bomb, about to go off within the next few seconds.

I had been standing in front of Kendall's door for so long I had memorized the pattern painted on it. Someone had knocked on my door and woken me up, ignoring my growling and snapping.

So I had gotten dressed against my will and walked out, giving death glares to those who attempted to look at me in the wrong way. I knew they disapproved of me waiting outside in a layer of skin instead of a pelt of fur, but I just couldn't bring myself to care.

I growled loud enough that the nearest guard tensed, his hand tightening on the thick chain he held. My eyes drifted to the wolf attached to it, and I shivered inwardly.

This wolf must've never seen the cruelty of John because his eyes didn't hold a broken look. Instead, they held raw, blinding fear. It was the type of fear that kept this particular wolf from stepping out of line. It was something John had stripped from the others, leaving them with nothing.

The emotion in his eyes was a silent cry for help. It was one I'd promised I'd answered no matter what it took.

This once magnificent wolf gave a low whine towards me as he caught my eye. The other wolves nearby, all already broken, stiffened in preparation. Unlike me, they knew what was to come next.

The guard handling the wolf yanked on the thick chain before pulling out a sleek item that looked like a metal baton. I just watched, uncomprehending. I don't know why, but my brain couldn't seem to connect the dots.

He raised the baton and I could hear the air whistle around it as he brought it down against the wolf. There was a sickening crack of his ribs, and the wolf cried out.

Before he was able to bring the object down again, I flew through the air, snarling as my skin sprouted into fur.

The guard hadn't expected anyone to try and stop him, that much was obvious. His eyes widened with surprise, and he tried raising the baton towards me, but it was far too late.

My paws met his chest, and we flew to the ground before I heard it take his breath away. That was when a vicious snarl erupted through me in warning at the guards who'd tried stealthily moving forward.

I clamped my jaws around his neck, squeezing lightly when he opened his mouth to try speaking. His eyes now held fear equivalent to the same fear the wolf had just felt.

I let a growl escape from me, startling the guard beneath me. I watched another guard let go of the thick chain in his hand, hearing it thud against the floor.

His face was expressionless as the wolf he'd been handling raised it hackles and let out a low growl. What surprised me was the fact that the wolf wasn't growling at the man who'd held him by a chain, but that he was growling at me.

I debated whether to let the guard go and attack the wolf, but that would only lead to the guards thoroughly beating me with enjoyment fueling them. But if I didn't let go anytime soon, the wolf would harm and possibly kill me.

The dusty-colored wolf whom I had just saved from a severe beating lowered his head and let out a low growl of his own. He was trying to become my savior, but his heroic act would most likely end with his death and my own. The other wolf towered over him, but the dust-colored wolf continued holding his ground.

"Enough!"

It was amazing how much the single word did. The two wolves silenced and the guard beneath me quit whimpering. The surrounding guards seemed to stand a little taller, all eyes on the same person.

Kendall stood by his room door, his face a mask of nothing as he took the escalating scene in. He glanced at the massive wolf whose eyes were glued to his handler, waiting for another command to obey without question. He glanced at the dusty wolf who let out a feeble growl, but looked down when Kendall's eyes hardened just the slightest. Lastly, Kendall glanced at me and the welting scratches my jaws had created on the guard's neck. Kendall took all this in before assuming his role.

"Call off your wolf," Kendall said, his voice holding the same level of calmness his expression did.

The guard nodded quickly before giving a sharp whistle. The massive wolf trotted over to his handler like a Golden Retriever as if the last five minutes had never happened.

"Assign that wolf to the training room for further lessons," Kendall added, and a nearby guard grabbed the chain attached to the dust-colored wolf, yanking it roughly along. He looked back at me once before disappearing around the corner.

"Come, Snowflake," Kendall said, his voice firm. If I could have laughed out loud in that moment, I would've.

Kendall's eyes hardened further with frustration when I didn't obey. The guards paid attention with interest, wanting to know how the Prince would handle a disobedient Protector.

"Now!" he snapped, his patience with me completely gone.

Kendall would benefit from me listening to him because it would show his authority over not just his guards, but his Protector also. But how would I benefit?

I decided it was best to meet Kendall halfway by removing my teeth from the guard's neck and stepping back, closer to Kendall. But I still wasn't by his side as he wished me to be.

Kendall visibly clenched his teeth before converting his anger for me into anger at his guards.

"Which one of you has an explanation?" He asked, but none of the guards stepped forward as none of them held enough bravery to face Kendall's anger.

"Fine, every single one of you are fired. Pack your personal belongings immediately and leave. Dismissed," he said curtly before pinning his eyes on me.

"You. Come now," he growled before stalking back into his room.

I followed after a minute, the glares of several guards burning into my back. They each blamed me for their sudden unemployment. I might have been at fault partially, but I couldn't control how competent they were.

Kendall's room was dark, every light off. But from what I could see with my enhanced sight, the room was rather plain. There was nothing personal, excluding the lone picture frame sitting in the nightstand. Otherwise, the room was tidy and impersonal.

Kendall stood in front of a full length mirror, dusting off invisible particles on his classic black suit. His eyes flickered to my figure standing behind his own in the mirror before he sighed and allowed them to travel back to himself.

"Are you aware as to what your job as a Protector is?" He asked, his voice smooth and slow as if he didn't have a palace to run. No, but I'm sure you're about to tell me.

I ignored his question since I couldn't verbally answer. I knew what answer he was looking for, but the answer I wished so badly to give him wasn't the correct one in this situation.

"Your job as my Protector is not only to protect me at all times, but also to do as I say," he explained before turning around to face me.

"Which is exactly what you failed to do not a moment ago," he added, and I just stared back at him. Did he honestly expected me to obey his every command when he was nothing but a stranger?

"However, that went as expected. This should change over the course of a few months," he finished before moving towards the door.

He paused, providing me with a warning: "If it happens again, Snowflake, there will be punishment." I knew his threat was empty. He had promised me no harm, and he would go through with it, no matter my behavior. He was a Prince after all.

I followed him as he left, making sure to keep a slight distance before the two of us. The only sound I could hear was the echoing clicks of Kendall's heels hitting the ground.

We went through the series of maze-like halls before we slowed down as he opened a pair of familiar, proud mahogany doors. They groaned open and I walked in, ignoring the collective gasps from the watching guards. It was inappropriate to walk in before a Prince, and I had just done so.

"You are going to cause others to question my sanity if they are not already," he muttered, closing the doors.

As before, his whole body seemed to relax. His shoulders lowered a fraction; he didn't stand as tall; and his eyes even seemed a shade lighter. I supposed if I ruled thousands of acres I would be uptight, too.

I trotted over to his desk, jumping onto the chair I had sat in during our first meeting. I could see a field of green through the window behind Kendall's chair.

Kendall walked over slowly, amusement lighting his eyes up. I narrowed my own slightly, but he only showed further amusement as he laughed.

"Others might find you threatening, Snowflake, but I do not. I happen to know underneath those large teeth, there is a beautiful woman who is more human than wolf," he remarked. I blinked, unsure of how to respond.

I tried baring my teeth at the insult, but he only laughed once more and continued to do so for another five minutes when I sneezed. I couldn't seem to find an ounce of the humor he held at me sneezing.

Kendall grinned at me as he calmed down, his eyes glittering. "I think I have found myself a new source of entertainment."

I huffed, disappointed. If Kendall didn't find me as threatening as everyone else did, then my service as his Protector would undoubtedly be a long one.