Today, I was taking Chelsea to Sabino Canyon. It was one of the places she had said that she wanted to visit. They had a tram tour, and I had already made reservations for us. Of course, that was before I realized that her ankle was completely healed.
I made a mental note to bring her back later and hike to Seven Falls. She would love seeing that. Looks like she would get to do some more hiking while she was here after all, although, I still wanted to make sure that she took it easy for a few more days.
The tram was two connected trolleys with bench seats. The tour guide would give us an informative tour, so Chelsea would get to learn a lot about the area. She was excited as we slid into our seat. Luckily, the tram was not full, and we had the seat to ourselves.
I kept her hand tucked in mine as the tram pulled away and the tour began. Chelsea pulled out her phone and took numerous pictures of the desert oasis around us. I could see it in her eyes. She was fascinated, and it warmed my heart that she loved my hometown as much as I did.
When she turned the camera on us, I reached my arm around her shoulder and leaned towards her, posing with a smile for her picture. She showed me the photo, and I could not help thinking how happy I looked. Truly happy. A happiness that I had never experienced before.
Since Chelsea stumbled into my life, the restlessness that I had been feeling for so long was gone. My every thought was filled with her, and I had never been more at peace. I knew that I was going to have to tell her soon.
I was going to have to tell her what I was and what I now knew that she was also. Somehow, I was going to have to figure out how to tell her without scaring her and without making her run. I didn’t want her to pull away from me. It was going to be a lot for her to handle, but I would be there with her.
Chelsea was looking down at her phone, and I knew that she had sent the picture to someone. Curiosity got the better of me.
“Who did you send that to?” I asked her. She grinned when she looked up at me.
“My best friend, Jessica. I’ve known her my whole life. She told me before I left that I had to find a hot guy while I was here. I’d definitely say I took her advice,” she said, and I laughed.
“Glad to know that you think I’m hot. You need to send me that picture too,” I replied. She gave me a gorgeous smile and looked back down at her phone. I could not help reading the text back from her friend.
“OMG!! SO JEALOUS!!” the reply message said. Chelsea grinned up at me again, and that’s when I saw it. The red laser dot on her chest.
Instinct had me grabbing her and flipping her onto the floor with my body covering hers. Her eyes flew open wide with alarm as the shot hit the seat where we had just been sitting seconds earlier.
“Just stay still. Someone shot at us,” I told her, needing her to know how serious this was.
I needed her to follow my every instruction. Everyone else on the tram seemed to be oblivious to the fact that someone had just shot at us, but at least it had not caused a panic. If people had started jumping from the moving tram, there could have been some serious injuries.
I reached for my phone and called Brady. Unfortunately, Chelsea was going to hear this conversation. If I could have, I would have protected her from knowing what had really happened, but there was no way to prevent it.
“Brady, someone shot at Chelsea in Sabino Canyon,” I told him when he answered. I saw Chelsea’s eyes open wide, and then I saw fear.
“Meet me at my house. We should be there in about an hour. We are still on the tram,” I told him.
He updated me on what he had found out about Chelsea’s birth parents so far, and I knew that Chelsea and I were going to be having a serious conversation when we got back to my house. This conversation could not wait any longer.
I had a feeling that her adoptive parents already knew what she was, even though they were human. Her world was about to be shaken up, even more than it just was. I just hoped that she would not pull away from me. She had only known me a few days, but she needed me right now to help her through this.
We remained on the floor until the tram returned to the parking lot. I looked down at Chelsea. She was terrified and there was nothing that I could do or say to take that away. I bent down and kissed her forehead.
“When I get up, we are going to need to run to the car. I don’t know who is out there or how many there are, but we can’t stay here. I need you to stay close, okay?” I asked her. She instantly put on a brave face, and I smiled down at her. I was not letting anything happen to her. I needed her too much.
The terrified look that had been on her face was nothing compared to what I was feeling as we made our way to the car. We were open and exposed, and I knew that anything could happen. I needed to get her to my house because I knew that I could protect her there.
When we were finally on the road, I kept my eyes alert all around us. If someone followed us, I would know. I was trained for this, but I never thought that I would be protecting the woman I loved.
I glanced over at her. She had not said a word since we left the tram. I thought she might be in shock, but I was surprised by the determined look on her face. She was holding it together and that made me proud. Reaching for her hand, her face turned towards me and her eyes met mine.
“I’m not going to let anything happen to you, Chelsea,” I told her. She didn’t say anything but nodded. She was putting her faith in me to protect her, and I would not let her down. I couldn’t.
It was a relief when I finally pulled the car into the garage. I had a security system on the house and surrounding grounds. Chelsea would be safe here. She was not going back to the resort. Brady’s car was in the driveway, so I knew that he was already inside the house, and I was anxious to hear what he had found out.
Chelsea opened the car door and stepped out before I could reach her. She leaned back against the car, and I saw her take a deep, shuddering breath. Then her shoulders dropped, and her head slumped forward. When I got to her, I pulled her into my arms and held her. I knew the moment the tears began to roll down her face. I could smell them.
She cried against my shoulder, and all I could do was hold her. She had held it together all this time, but now she needed this. She needed to release everything she was holding in, and I let her. This was all I could do for her right now, and it broke my heart.
Sobs wracked her body, and I ran my hands over her back and arms, just trying to soothe her. I needed to figure out what was going on and who wanted her dead, but right now, Chelsea needed this. She needed me to just hold her.
I heard the door to the house open, and Brady stuck his head out. When he saw Chelsea’s body shaking with sobs, I nodded at him and he closed the door and went back inside. He knew we were safe, and we would be inside when Chelsea was ready.
When her tears finally subsided, I kissed the top of her head. She tried to pull away, but I held her firmly against my chest.
“I’m sorry,” I heard her whisper, and I looked down at her in surprise. That was definitely not what I was expecting her to say.
“You have nothing to be sorry for, Chelsea. Someone shot at us. You have a right to be scared and angry and to cry. It’s natural,” I said softly, running my fingers through her hair.
She looked up at me, and I saw both fear and sadness. I reached both hands to her face and cupped her cheeks, wiping away the trail of tears with my thumbs.
“You are safe here, and we will figure out what is going on. Do you trust me?” I asked her. She did not hesitate to reply that she did, and I could see the sincerity on her face. She trusted me, and I would not let her down.
Taking her hand in mine, I led her into the house. Brady was waiting for us in the living room, and Chelsea and I sat down on the couch. She looked expectantly at Brady, and Brady looked at me. His look said what I already knew. It was time.
“Chelsea, there is still something about me that I haven’t told you. About Brady too, and everyone who you met at his house last night. Eve
ryone who was there, they are like family to us, but we are all different,” I began, and I could see the confusion on her face.
It wasn’t a great start, but this was going to take a lot of explaining. I looked over at Brady and he gave me an encouraging nod. How in the world was I supposed to explain to her what I was? What she was? I closed both of my hands over hers.
“Chelsea, I am what is called a shifter. In Hollywood terms, they would call me a werewolf, but I am definitely not a werewolf. However, I do have a wolf inside of me,” I told her, and her eyes flew open wide.
She pulled her hand out of mine and moved over on the couch, putting distance between us. I could see the fear in her eyes. She was afraid of me. I had to change that. If there was one person in the world who I did not want to be afraid of me, it was Chelsea.
“On the mountain…I saw a wolf. It was…it was huge. Much bigger than normal,” she whispered, and I nodded.
“That was me,” I told her gently. “I ran back to the house and changed to my human form so I could get dressed. Then I made my way back to you. My wolf found you. He smelled your scent on the mountain,” I explained, and she shook her head.
“No…no, that’s not possible. Werewolves don’t exist. This is crazy!” she exclaimed, and I could see pure panic on her face. She jumped from the couch and backed a few feet away from it, but her eyes never left mine.
I longed to go to her and hold her and tell her everything was going to be okay, but she needed time to process what I had just told her. She still thought she was human. I needed to handle this delicately.
“Chelsea, you told me that you trusted me, and I believe that you were serious. You CAN trust me. I have no reason to lie to you or make something like this up. Someone just shot at you. I am not so inconsiderate as to make light of that or what is going on here,” I said sincerely.
She looked at me as if realizing what I had just said was true. I let out a deep breath, but I kept my eyes locked on her. I needed her to not panic.
“Chelsea, there’s more. Your healing ability is unnatural for a human. However, it is normal for a shifter. That was what first made me suspicious. Your ankle should still be bruised and swollen. It was that, and the way that my wolf reacted to you,” I told her. She looked at me in confusion.
“What do you mean? How did your wolf react to me?” she asked. I let out another deep breath. Here goes nothing.
“Chelsea, you are my mate. My wolf knew it immediately. We were made for each other. It’s why we were both drawn to each other from the beginning. I could never do anything to hurt you, Chelsea. I love you,” I finally admitted.
Her eyes flew open wide and her hand covered her mouth. I stood and walked towards her and put my hands on her shoulders.
“Tell me that you don’t feel it. Tell me that you don’t feel the bond that ties us together. I know you do, Chelsea. I can see it in your eyes and written all over your face. No one is going to hurt you. I know this is a lot to take in right now, but I don’t want to let you go. You are my whole world,” I said softly. Then I pulled her into my arms.
She sobbed against me once more, and I glanced over at Brady. He had a concerned look in his eyes. Chelsea was feeling overwhelmed, and that was completely understandable. But there was still more that I needed her to know. However, it could wait until she was ready. We had plenty of time. When her body stopped trembling, her hands gripped my shirt in her fists.
I could not even begin to understand what she was feeling right now. Shifters were born knowing who and what they were. Chelsea had no idea. She had been raised as a human. She was getting ready to enter a whole new world, and I knew that she was afraid. I led her back over to the couch and we both sat down.
Her eyes were puffy and red from crying, and my heart was breaking at the turmoil that she was in. Turmoil that I had caused. However, I did not regret it. She was my mate, and I had finally found her. I would never have a regret about that. Her hands gripped mine as if she were afraid to let me go.
“Chelsea, I want you to stay with me until we get to the bottom of this. I can protect you here, but you won’t be safe at the resort. Will you do this for me? Brady has agreed to go back to the resort and pack your things. Please tell me you will do this. I don’t want anything to happen to you,” I pleaded with her.
Whoever was after her would probably know where she was staying. If she were here, they would not be able to reach her. She would be safe here, and she would be with me. When she finally agreed, she gave Brady the key to her room at the resort. Brady left immediately, and I pulled Chelsea across my lap.
“Chelsea,” I said softly. Her head was against my shoulder, and she had finally relaxed against me. My chin rested over her head, and my arms were around her, holding her tightly against me.
“I’m still the same man that you met three days ago. That hasn’t changed. When I told you that I cared for you, I meant it. You have been my whole world from the moment I found you on the side of the mountain. I have been waiting a long time to find you,” I continued gently.
“I don’t understand why someone is trying to kill me. I mean, everyone I know lives in Kansas City. I’ve never even been to Arizona before. If someone wanted me dead, it would make more sense to do it in Kansas City while my guard is down. This just doesn’t make any sense. Maybe they have mistaken me for someone else,” she said anxiously, raising her head and looking at me.
“Chelsea, I think that it is my fault that you are in danger,” I admitted softly. She was quiet for a few moments.
“Because of your job? Someone wanted to get to me in order to get to you?” she asked. I let out a deep sigh, then I laced my fingers with hers.
“No, not to get to me. When I first realized that you were a shifter, I had Brady look into your biological parents. One or both of them had to be a shifter,” I explained.
“That was why you asked about my birth mother,” she replied solemnly, and I nodded.
“I knew that we would have a better chance of getting to the truth than you would. We have contacts, especially among shifters. I wanted to do that for you. I wanted to find out who your father was. Your face when you talked about them told me that a piece of you was missing. I wanted to fill those gaps in for you,” I told her gently.
She leaned her head back against my shoulder again and snuggled into me. Her scent filled my senses, and I closed my eyes as I felt her relax against me once more. I hoped that she was as calmed by my presence as I was by hers.
“Chelsea, I would do anything for you. Brady thinks that our search into your background is what has caused someone to come after you. Someone doesn’t want you to know the truth. Whoever your father is, someone does not want you to find out,” I continued. I felt her breath hitch, and I tightened my hold on her.
“If I am really a…a shifter, how could I have not known?” she asked softly.
“Your wolf has been suppressed your whole life. The fact that you didn’t even know about her means that you would have ignored any signs of her. I can help you reach out to her if you want to try. Whenever you are ready,” I replied.
She stiffened in my arms for a moment and I knew that she was on edge with the idea, but then she relaxed. I could not imagine what was going through her mind right now. As surprises go, this one had definitely been shocking, and I was sure that this was not the kind of surprises that she enjoyed getting.
Looking up at the clock, I realized that it was way past lunch time. What Chelsea needed was a distraction. She needed some normalcy after the bomb that I had just dropped on her. Reaching for her shoulders, I pushed her away from me until our eyes locked.
“Chelsea, I am still the same man who carried you from the mountain. The same man who made love to you. The same man who wants to spend every hour of the day with you. That hasn’t changed. Nothing about what I feel for you has changed. Do you believe me?” I asked her.
Her eyes studied my face intently before returning to meet my gaze. T
hen she nodded and my heart melted. A smile spread across my face.
“Come on. Let’s go find something for lunch. It has been a very long morning, and I think you need some time to process everything that you just learned,” I told her.
Lifting her from my lap, I took her hand and led her into the kitchen. I pulled out a barstool and told her to sit, then I headed towards the fridge.
“As I’ve told you, I’m not a great cook, but I make a killer sandwich that can compete with the best,” I told her, and a small smile formed on her lips. It was something, and I would take what I could get. I longed to see her beautiful smile again, but at least she hadn’t pulled away from me.
Chapter 13
Chelsea
I was struggling. Struggling with everything that I had just been told and struggling to believe it. Someone was trying to kill me to keep me from finding out about my past. What could possibly be in my past that was worth killing for?
I watched Zeke as he moved around the kitchen. It was just too difficult to believe that he was the wolf that I had seen on the mountain. He could change into a wolf, and he said that I could too. It was just not possible. Certainly, I would know if a wild animal lived inside me.
Zeke talked to me the whole time he made our sandwiches. He was trying to distract me again, and I thought that it was sweet. I couldn’t help the smile that came to my lips as I watched him. His back was to me, but his voice was constant.
I had no idea what he was saying as my mind was going a million miles a minute, but I think he was telling me about Tucson. The sound of his voice was soothing, and it made me feel at peace. I concentrated on the sound of it, and it grounded me. It didn’t really matter what he was saying. No one had ever affected me like he did.
When he finally picked up both plates, he turned and looked at me. He instantly froze, and his mouth dropped open in the middle of a sentence. My eyes met his.
“What has put that smile on your face?” he asked as he started walking towards me once again. He set a plate down in front of me.
His to Protect: Book 1 in the Bound to Him Series Page 10
