Reluctant Guardian

by Elisha Bugg

  "Then kill me and get it over with."

  Thane's heart was in his throat as he waited for Richard to move, to attack. He would have to stop him if he tried. It wouldn’t matter if he gave himself away, he couldn't allow him to kill Lucas. Except Richard didn't move.

  He tilted his head back and laughed.

  "You never change do you, Lucas? Even after all these years, you wish for death. I'd have thought you would want to be with your child," he laughed again, this time heading for the stairs.

  “Don't worry, I'll find her for you and bring her here. Then I'll decide what to do with her."

  Still not getting the reactions he had been hoping for, Richard sighed and began to climb the stairs, calling a pathetic goodbye over his shoulder.

  After hearing the door slam shut and the lock click in place, Thane emerged from his hiding spot.

  "You should go, before he comes back and finds you here. You need to protect her, keep her from him," Lucas insisted, shoving the key in Thane's hand as he leant in to say goodbye.

  "I can't take this, Lucas."

  "How else do you expect to get out of here? Richard locked the door behind him and will expect it to be locked next time he comes to it."

  "But this is a gift from her, a means for your escape," Thane pleaded, shoving the key back toward him.

  "Until you find a way for me to break these chains, I am stuck here with or without that key. You need it more than I do, and if Richard finds the door unlocked, he’ll assume she is to blame."

  Thane nodded, taking the key offered to him and rested his forehead against Lucas's.

  It was a brief touch, but it was something that meant a lot, marking their friendship.

  "I will not rest until I free you."

  "I know, just like I know you'll take care of my girl."

  Thane turned, heading for the steps with a pain in his chest.

  He didn't want to leave him down there alone, but he knew he couldn’t free him. Not yet. He needed to break that chain.

  "And Thane?"

  Thane paused, looking over his shoulder with his foot poised above the first step.

  "You cannot resist the call. I tried, and it almost destroyed me. I never got to spend much time with her-" Lucas croaked as he swallowed the lump in his throat. "Don't make the same mistakes I did. Enjoy the time you have, as fate is a cruel mistress and she will take her from you forever."

  Thane ran up the steps, Lucas's final words echoing inside of his mind.

  Lucas was right. Thane had tried hard to push her away, to keep himself at a distance when he didn’t trust her. But she proved she was loyal and found her way into his heart.

  Would she still want him when she learnt what he was capable of, why the Guard’s all feared him?

  She may have the spirit of a warrior, but his past was painted in blood.

  Chapter Twenty Five

  After almost two hours of sketching on Thane's doorstep, Anya's patience was wearing thin.

  She thought Thane would have been home by now.

  She didn't remember it taking this long when she saw Lucas shift for the first time. What if something had gone wrong? What if Thane was now stuck down there with Lucas?

  Anya leaned her head back against the door, and looked up at the night sky.

  It was no use worrying. She’d just have to wait longer, or go home and call it a night.

  A faint sound of footsteps echoed down the alleyway in front, startling her and making her flinch.

  It was probably Tynan again.

  In the last hour he'd passed by several times, stopping to chat, or watch her draw before he left, only to come back again.

  At first she'd thought nothing of it, but by the fourth time she knew he was up to something.

  Either he was lonely and wanted someone to talk to like when he kept dropping by her house, or he was waiting for Thane.

  Anya couldn't help but smile as he passed her yet again with a big grin and a shy wave.

  After how they met, she never would have expected that in just a few weeks they'd become friends. There was just something about him she couldn't stay angry at. Whether it was his witty charms, or his relentless apologizing.

  Giving up, Anya pushed to her feet and hugged her sketchbook to her chest.

  She glanced over her shoulder once more before Thane's house disappeared from view and smiled.

  No matter how much Thane tried to push her away, she could see him softening toward her.

  When she had leant back in Hugh's arms earlier, Thane's eyes had flashed to life, even if it was only for a brief moment.

  Could it be that he was jealous?

  It didn't make sense. Why would he send her away with Hugh if he was jealous of her being around him? Perhaps it was anger instead, or disapproval because of him being a hunter.

  Why couldn't he just tell her how he felt, and what he was thinking?

  When Anya finally arrived home, it was well past midnight.

  Her modest little house looked deserted and dark, another cruel reminder that she lived alone.

  Perhaps she should move back with Edwin. At least then she would feel loved and protected. But was she ready to trust him again?

  She sighed and breathed in deeply. Why did it have to be dark? Anya hated the dark. But she couldn't leave her light on all the time.

  That same faint sound of footsteps echoed in the alley behind her, forcing her to spin around.

  Surely Tynan hadn't followed her home, not this late at night.

  She watched, waiting to see who appeared, listening for more sounds.

  Nothing.

  No shadows moved toward her. No unnerving feeling that someone was there, and no more noise.

  She shrugged her shoulders and turned back to her door, rummaging around in her bag for her keys.

  Perhaps if someone had taught her how to use her abilities, she might have been able to decipher what the sound was.

  The noise sounded once again, making her pause her search. Only this time it grew louder as something seemed to approach from behind.

  Anya spun around and listened, waiting to see who would emerge. The sound changing from steps to a moan, nothing like she'd heard before.

  Curious and concerned someone was hurt, Anya stepped forward, the moan turning into an inhuman snicker.

  Soon realising her mistake, she spun and bolted back toward her door.

  The laugh behind her grew louder, almost mocking like it enjoyed the chase.

  Giving up with her bag, Anya searched her pockets for her key, when a large hand gripped her shoulder, spinning her around on the spot.

  His eyes were glowing bright blue, like Thane's.

  No, not like Thane's. They didn't seem right, didn't look human.

  He leaned in close to her face and inhaled deeply. So close, she could smell his putrid breath and the citrus gel in his hair.

  A shiver travelled through her body making her cringe and back away from the man in front of her. He smiled a menacing smile and moved closer, taking a strand of her hair between his fingers and bringing it to his nose.

  "You smell divine," he croaked, his voice more animal than man.

  "No wonder, Thane likes you."

  "Y-you know Thane?" she managed, praying that he meant her no harm.

  "Is he alright? He's not home yet."

  "No idea. Haven't seen him for a while."

  The man moved closer still, his huge body pressing against hers.

  Anya tried to back away, but her back hit against the wooden door, the handle digging into her spine.

  "You know you should never run from an animal, especially one that likes to hunt," he smiled that same terrifying and menacing smile.

  "What are you?"

  He stood back astonished, looking down at her through furrowed brows.

  There was something about him different from all the other shifters she’d met. Something dangerous.

  "What do you want from me? "
/>   "Now my little wolfy, that's the question you should be asking."

  "How do you know that? "

  "I can smell it on your skin, like you should be able to tell what I am."

  He leaned forward, offering his thick neck in front of her face.

  "Take a sniff. "

  Anya did as she was told, fearful that if she refused it might offend him in some way. Still she couldn't guess what he was. His scent unexpected and strong, combining with the citrus of his hair.

  He shuddered and moaned, placing one of his strong hands on her hip, the other around her throat in a threatening hold.

  She didn't struggle. It would be futile to try. Just answered him honestly, "I still can't tell."

  "Such a shame," he replied, his eyes glowing even brighter as he pulled her closer. His erection pressing into her abdomen as his hand slid down her hips, skimming over her thighs.

  Anya pushed further into the wood behind trying to escape him, still fumbling in her jacket pocket for her keys.

  "That won't help you."

  He looked down at her hand and grabbed a hold of her wrist, pinning it by the side of her head on the door as he leant in close to her neck.

  A loud growl sounded behind the man making her heart stop.

  Just how many were there?

  He spun on his heels, holding her behind him as the growl grew louder.

  Anya peered around him to see a large black wolf climbing up the steps toward them, snarling. His sharp teeth bared.

  "T-Thane. I thought you were busy," the man stumbled, taking a step back into her.

  Thane snarled louder, edging closer to the man, his hackles raised and his eyes like granite.

  "What? I didn't know."

  "Don't lie to me," Thane growled, snapping his teeth shut.

  "I'm sorry. I was just testing what she knew. "

  "Liar," Thane roared, drool dripping from his razor like canines. “You're trying to take what's not yours again.”

  "Wait, Thane, don't do this," the man begged as Thane opened his mouth to bite.

  "Stop," Anya shouted, moving between the men, holding Thane back.

  "I think you should leave now," she said to the man, hoping he would never come back.

  "Yes. Leave, Duncan. "

  "I'm sorry, Thane. I really didn't know."

  Duncan shifted into a jaguar, much like Tynan, only his pelt matched Thanes in colour, his eyes wilder as he ran away quickly, not daring to look over his shoulder as he disappeared into the darkness.

  Anya turned back to Thane still in wolf form, staring her in the eyes.

  She crouched down in front of him, placing her hands on his face.

  This close, she could see the scar that cut across his jaw, marking him the same as the man.

  "Don't growl at me," she snapped when she heard a deep rumble coming from his chest.

  To her surprise he whined and lowered his head, rubbing his cheek against her hand.

  "Thank you for saving me again, Thane," she sighed, leaning her forehead against his.

  His fur soft, tickling her nose in the gentle breeze. She wrapped her arms around his neck and moved closer to his warmth.

  He shifted back into a human and picked her up in his strong arms.

  Taking the keys from her hand, he carried her inside and up the stairs. Her heart pounded in anticipation, until her hand brushed against something wet on his arm.

  "You're bleeding," she gasped, spotting the deep laceration on his forearm.

  "What happened?"

  "Nothing. I can barely feel it."

  She traced her fingers around the top of the wound, saw it was red and inflamed. Thane closed his eyes and sucked in a breath through his clenched teeth, stopping himself crying out in pain.

  "I thought you said it didn't hurt? " she teased.

  Thane reopened his eyes and glared at her obviously displeased that she had seen him in pain.

  Memories of him in the arena flooded her mind.

  She’d been too far away, surrounded by hunters she didn't trust, unable to go and help him like she had wanted, but now things were different. He was in her home and nobody was there to see her aid him.

  "Let me clean it for you. Please."

  "I'll do it later, when I get home. "

  "It already looks infected. Don't be so stubborn."

  He raised his eyebrow and smiled.

  Thane may be stubborn, but so was she, and this time she wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

  She gently rubbed her fingers over his arm, noticing lots of little cuts, bruises and scars across his neck and bare chest.

  She gasped as her palm grazed over his searing hot flesh.

  "Thane - you're-"

  "Yes. It's a side effect of the shift. Try not to look down."

  Anya bit her lip, trying not to think of him naked, holding her against him as she forced her attention back to his eyes. No longer the ominous navy she had seen downstairs. Now they glistened a pale, ice blue that reminded her of a glacier, both beautiful and deadly.

  Suddenly he was placing her on her bed, turning away and heading for the door.

  She sat up quickly. He wasn't getting away that easily. She needed to make sure his wound was clean. But she was at a loss for words when his bare behind caught her attention, her hands itching to touch and feel his golden skin beneath her palm.

  "You know, it's rude to stare," he called over his shoulder, pausing by the door to flash her a devilish smile.

  She hid her face behind her hands as blood rushed to her cheeks.

  He rarely smiled, but whenever he did, it took her breath away.

  Anya stepped toward him, intent on forcing him to stay, to let her take care of him, until he turned to face her, that wicked gleam never leaving his face.

  She needed to clean his wound, to take care of him knowing he'd be too stubborn to do it himself, but all she could think about was placing her hands on his body.

  He sucked in a deep breath, shuddering as her hands landed on the solid ridges of his stomach. Inching lower. Needing to feel his warmth. Enjoying having his scent wrapped around her.

  “W-what’s this?” she asked as her hand brushed over raised skin.

  It looked like a tattoo, the dark ink forming symbols that seemed familiar. Only, each symbol was raised as though it was under the skin rather than a part of it.

  “Tattoo's react differently with our skin where we shift. So we use a different method that's passed down through our generations.”

  Anya continued to stare down at the symbols on his skin, tracing her fingers along the edges of each of them. She could feel his stomach muscles tensing as her hand moved lower.

  Suddenly he snatched her hand away with a sigh, holding it in the air by her head. His eyes burned brightly. It was impossible to resist glancing down at the impressive length of him.

  “Don’t,” Thane whispered in a voice laced with arousal.

  Anya bit down on her lip and reluctantly pulled her hand back, trying to think of anything to take her mind off the hunger she suddenly felt for him, the deep ache between her thighs intensifying.

  “What do they mean?” she asked, her voice deep and husky.

  “They’re runes to protect me and those around me. Symbols that help me keep control and remember my past.”

  The mere mention of his past dimmed the passion in his eyes, yet he continued to stare into hers with a look so intense she felt a shiver tingle down her spine.

  She longed to ask what happened to him, but she didn’t want to push him away, not when he was finally letting her close. Not running from their intimacy.

  “Why is there a gap here?” she asked, her eyes drifting south once more, spotting a gap in the pattern decorating his lower abdomen.

  “My mate will fill that gap.”

  Her heart felt like it stopped. The thought of this beautiful man belonging to another was too painful to bear.

  She’d already fallen for him, and t
here was nothing she could do to stop it.

  Anya lifted her eyes to his and gasped. His face was mere inches from her own, that bright glow filling her vision.

  Suddenly she found herself pressed up against the door-frame with his lips on her own, one large hand fisted in her hair, tipping her head back to deepen the kiss.

  She moaned into his mouth and clenched her hands tight against his chest.

  His kiss soft, yet passionate, and so very unlike him. His hold on her possessive, and almost needy.

  Just as fast as the kiss had started, he pulled back whispering, "I'm sorry," in her ear before he dashed out of her room, shifting back into a wolf as he leaped down the stairs. Everything happened so fast, leaving her stunned in silence, staring after him.

  Sighing, she perched on the edge of her bed, her heart racing and her stomach twisting into knots as she buried her face in her hands.

  She never had a chance to ask him what happened with his arm, or what he'd learnt from Lucas.

  Chapter Twenty Six

  Thane had gone to Anya's the other night with the intention of telling her what he'd learnt whilst being among the hunters. To explain to her why she needed to stay away from them as they grew more and more suspicious of her.

  Instead, he'd found Duncan on her doorstep, getting far too close for his liking.

  The young Guard had always rubbed Thane the wrong way, trying his best to undermine everyone in a higher position than himself.

  It was no secret that he wanted to be top dog, craving the title Thane was supposed to inherit. A title Thane didn't even want. It was Lucas’s, not his.

  But when he saw Duncan place his hands on Anya’s skin, something inside snapped, demanding he take her, and claim her for his own. No shifter, vampire or any other creature of Lore would dare touch her then.

  Only he couldn't go through with it. Not yet.

  She needed to know the real him first.

  Thane sighed loudly, leaning back into his chair.

  "What's up?" Tynan asked, glancing over his shoulder from the video game he was playing on the TV.

  "I can't think how to break Lucas's chain. It needs to be something inconspicuous."