The next day after school Dante was the one to accompany me to work. I hadn't really talked to the twins since the night before. I was still angry at them, but I knew it wouldn't last for very long. Mandy was her normal cheery self, and I couldn't match her energy today. "You, okay?" She finally asked close to the end of our shift.

Her smile disappeared and concern shimmered in her eyes. I sighed and nodded. "Yeah, I just had a fight with the twins last night," I answered as close to the truth as I could.

Her brow furrowed, "I'm sure you guys will work it out. They seem crazy about you. I'm sure whatever it is will clear itself up" She reassured me.

I smiled, "Thanks that makes me feel a bit better."

I was being honest too. Her perspective did make it seem less daunting to get back to where we had been. Though I guess going back to how it was is impossible now. Another customer came in as I tied a bag for the dumpster up. A short shrill ring sounded, and I watched as Dante picked up his phone and started talking on it. "I'm going to take this out. I'll be right back." I told Mandy.

She nodded at me while typing the order into the register. Through the small kitchen was a door that led to the back of the building where the dumpster stood. The large dumpster was enclosed in a brick casing with a gate across the front of it. Using the key, I opened the lock before stepping up to the dumpster. Standing on tiptoes, I pushed the lid up before hefting the bag in. I stepped out of the enclosure and my hair stood on end. I felt greed that felt more menacing than Caden's ever had. With a quick glance around I didn't see anyone. I swung the gate closed and snapped the lock back into place. The crunch of gravel behind me made my skin prickle.

I felt eyes on me but when I turned, I couldn't see anything in the limited light. Somehow, I knew there was someone watching me from just in the shadows. I backed up a step towards the café. A growl sounded out from the shadows and shuffling made me realize that they were circling. I could hear them pacing back and forth through the gravel around the half-circle of light that illuminated me and the brick enclosure. The shadows concealed them but as I took another step there was another deep warning growl closer than it had been before. "Get away!" I shouted into the dark.

My eyes shot back and forth over the shadow trying to see anything, but the darkness was too thick. I knew that I needed to get away but whatever or whoever was out there sounded a lot stronger and faster than me. The shuffling continued closing in closer and closer making me take another instinctive step back. The distinct sound of snapping teeth and a snarl sounded and a flash of something darted by. I cried out in terror the wings on my back burst out on impulse. They flapped down and up, and my feet suddenly lifted from the ground as they continued. I raised a few feet shocked before the realization that I didn't really know how to fly hit me. I had risen above the enclosure around the dumpster, and I looked around frantically. My wings faltered as I continued to rise. The beats became irregular as I started lower, and I saw the awning over the back door. Angling myself towards it I made it just to the edge before almost falling too short. My nails dug into the bricks to pull myself all the way onto the small aluminum platform.

I looked around seeing the subtle shift in the shadows as the creature watched from the darkness. "Dante!" I screamed finally remembering that I was not alone.

I had protection. The night suddenly went silent, and I watched and listened as the shadows shifted before the creature retreated. The shifting of gravel underfoot told me that it ran off. A bang sounded as the door flew open and Dante ran out. My breathing came out more evenly. His head snapped around searching the dark. "Sage!" He shouted into the night.

"Dante," I whispered.

My voice was unwilling to rise above the small sound. I had been so scared and the overwhelming relief coursing through my veins took so much of my energy away. He whipped around his eyes meeting mine. His breath rushed out in a huff and my body relaxed in that instant. My wings pulled back in and I frantically looked around terrified that someone had seen them. Someone besides the person who had almost attacked me. My shirt and bra were in taters ripped down the back of the arms keeping it from exposing my chest. Dante stepped towards the awning reaching up his fingers just brushed the overhang. "Jump down. Let's get you home." He spoke softly.

I sat on the edge hanging my legs down to shimmy forward. I waited for Dante to assure me that he was ready with a nod before I slid from the awning for him to catch me at the waist and lower me to the ground. He stepped back from me before taking his shirt off to reveal a white tank top under his tee-shirt. He handed the shirt to me, and I put it over my destroyed shirt. Pulling me into his chest he held me there until I had calmed down enough to walk. When he pulled away, he looked down and his eyes hardened when he saw the tears in my eyes. "Thank you for coming." My voice broke at the words.

"Always. I will always come when you call." He answered quickly. "Let's get you out of here." He wrapped his arm around my shoulders before leading me away from the building.

"But what about work?" I whispered.

"Fuck work. I'll send your mother money if they fire you." He snapped.

A laugh bubbled up my throat. "You aren't sending my mom money." I shook my head.

He laughed, "Just wait till the twins' mother finds out your mother needs financial help. You won't be able to stop her." He said matter of fact.

"Why would she do that?" I asked shocked.

His arm squeezed me tighter. "You're currently mated two of her four children, for now."

"For now?" I questioned.

"Mhmm, just a matter of time before it's all four of us." He spoke sure of himself.

I rolled my eyes at him, "Not happening." I responded.

"We'll see." He responded simply ending the conversation.

The rest of the walk to the cabin was quiet but I was still on guard waiting for someone to jump out of the dark. For a note to be laying on the ground in our path with another threat. The anxiety followed me all the way to the door of the cabin but there was no reason for it. Dante was there with me. He wouldn't let anything happen to me.