Sanctuary

by Teresa Gabelman

  “Sorry.” She took the bottles from him and dodged around him, needing to escape whatever in the hell was building between them.

  Escaping the heat of the house, they stepped back outside. The night was muggy but felt much better than inside. Gemma leaned against the railing. “I really hope you find that man and make him pay for what he did.”

  “I will on both counts.” Eric’s answer was spoken with such confidence that Gemma had no doubt the man he searched for was a dead man.

  “Listen, you’re more than welcome to stay for as long as you need to,” Gemma added, not really knowing what else to say. She couldn’t beg him to stay like she surprisingly wanted to do. The thought shocked her a little.

  “I plan on staying tonight to make sure trouble doesn’t come back for you.” He headed toward the steps. “If you need anything, I’ll be at my SUV.”

  As Gemma watched him retreat, she had a sudden urge to run after him. Not wanting to be foolish, she restrained herself, and instead called out, “Thank you, Eric.” She watched as he stopped and glanced at her from over his shoulder. “For today. I never thanked you.”

  “You’re welcome, Gemma,” he replied with a slight bow of his head and then disappeared into the growing darkness.

  Gemma felt a twinge of sadness as she was left alone. She almost called him back, but stopped herself. She barely knew this man and yet, it felt like she had known him all her life. How could that be?

  Chapter 7

  Eric lay on the ground with his head on his bag, staring at the sky. This was his favorite time of night, quiet with no one around but the night animals looking for prey, and the stars. Except tonight, the alone part wasn’t sitting too well with him. His mind was full of Gemma Stone. The sooner he made her his, the better for them both.

  He knew it was different with humans, but he could sense her attraction to him, and that was a start. For a shifter, once their mate was found, it was instant. He couldn’t really say it was love at first sight, but it was definitely an instant attraction that one could not deny.

  He felt her before he heard her soft footsteps. He lay still, only moving his eyes in the direction he knew she was coming. Soon she was a silhouette, her head turning as if searching for something.

  “Eric?” she whispered, moving closer to him. With the moon hidden behind a cloud, it was pitch-black. The undertones of worry in her voice had him sitting up.

  “What is it?” he asked quietly, so not to startle her.

  He watched as she searched him out and as the cloud moved, exposing the moon, he saw the worry on her face. “Why are you sleeping on the ground?”

  “I prefer to sleep outside under the sky. Plus, I’m bigger than my back seat,” he replied as he stood slowly. “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s Luna.” Her voice lowered, and Eric knew it wasn’t good. “She’s not doing well. She’s close to….”

  Eric knew when he had touched the old wolf it wouldn’t be long. “I know, Gemma. I’m sorry.” Her eyes glistened, but he refrained from pulling her to him.

  She nodded, then cleared her throat. “I don’t want her to die in the enclosure.” A small sob escaped when she spoke. “And I don’t want to let her out to wander off and die alone. Could you…?”

  He understood exactly what she was asking him and without hesitation, he knew he would do anything for her. “Go to her enclosure and say your goodbyes. I’ll be there in a second.”

  Again, she nodded before turning. After two steps, she stopped and looked over her shoulder. Her eyes slowly rose to his as tears rolled down her cheeks. “Thank you.”

  A lump formed in his own throat as he watched this woman mourn for an animal. If he wasn’t certain he loved her before, he knew it now. Not all mates were a love match. But he knew for a fact his would be.

  After she once again turned and walked away, Eric began to undress. He would give way to his wolf, who knew how best to soothe another in this time. He had done it before, and it was a comfort to have another of their kind with them as they exited the earth. His change was fluid and swift. It felt good to be in his wolf form. He enjoyed both forms his body took, and if he were in one too long, he became restless. Shaking his body, Eric headed toward the enclosure, briefly wondering what Gemma would think of his wolf form. It never bothered him before what others thought of him, but it did now.

  ******

  Gemma cried all the way back to the enclosure. Wiping her eyes with swift swipes, she opened the gate and walked in. Luna lay with her head down, but her eyes found hers. Kneeling in front of the old wolf, Gemma touched her soft head then lay down beside her.

  Wrapping her arm around Luna, to give not just the wolf comfort but herself as well, Gemma buried her face in Luna’s fur. So many nights Gemma had found herself outside in Luna’s enclosure just to feel the comfort of a warm body next to her. Luna had offered her a special friendship, a friendship she would never find again.

  “I’m going to miss you so much,” Gemma whispered into her fur as her tears began to flow. “I want to be selfish and keep you here, but that’s not fair. Eric is going to take you somewhere safe so you can be at peace.”

  Noise at the gate had both Luna and Gemma looking that way. Gemma gasped as a huge black wolf walked into the enclosure, its golden eyes solely focused on her. She slowly sat up, her hand still buried in Luna’s fur. She knew it was Eric and felt no fear as the wolf stalked toward her. It wasn’t an aggressive movement, and Gemma instinctively knew that was how this alpha wolf always moved, with purpose, always with purpose.

  The wolf, Eric, stopped in front of her, and they stared at each other for a long minute. Finally, Gemma reached out and touched the side of his head. His fur was soft and warm, welcoming, and she really wanted to bury her face into its softness as she wrapped her arms around his neck, but she refrained. This was Luna’s time.

  “Thank you.” Gemma felt a lone tear cruise down her cheek and let it go. She turned to Luna, who struggled to stand. Gemma helped her up and then again, knelt in front of her, giving the wolf a long hug. “I will never forget you, friend.”

  Gemma stayed where she was as Luna followed Eric out of the enclosure. The elderly wolf turned once to look at her before they both disappeared into the darkness.

  The tears became hard, wracking sobs, and then all around her, the wolves howled, saying their own farewell to Luna.

  ******

  Eric made his way back to his SUV. Dawn was only a few hours away, and he was exhausted. The old wolf had been ready, more than ready, and he knew for a fact Gemma had been right. Luna hadn’t wanted to die in the enclosure and for a human to realize that was something very special.

  After finding a secluded spot for Luna to die in peace, he had sat watch by her side as comfort. It had been quick. Once she was gone, he had rushed back, shifted, and dressed before heading back to Luna. In fear that other animals would dig her up, he’d found some broken tree limbs and made a makeshift bed to lay her on before he’d set it on fire. It was a burial of respect, and he’d been sure to stay until the fire was embers.

  Now back at his SUV, he couldn’t stop thinking of Gemma and if she was okay. Since sleep was out of the question, he headed toward the house, but as he passed Luna’s enclosure, he spotted Gemma curled up in the corner with her head resting on her arm.

  Rushing inside, he knelt in front of her and noticed her cheeks still wet. She hadn’t been asleep long. “Gemma.” He reached out, touching her hand. Slowly, her swollen red eyes opened to stare at him. She would know what seeing him meant.

  “She’s gone.” It wasn’t a question; it was a moment of reality.

  “It was quick and peaceful,” Eric assured her and watched as she sat up.

  “I wasn’t ready to let her go.” Gemma swiped at her eyes. “I hate this part. I care for them all so much, but Luna was special. She was truly the only friend I have. She listened to me always, and I know she understood me. These wolves are my family, my friends.�
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  Eric nodded, letting her get it all out. She was hurting. Hell, he hadn’t even known the old wolf, but he had felt her spirit and knew she was special. Her passing had even gotten to him a little.

  “Did you bury her deep enough so nothing can get to her?” Gemma frowned with a sniff.

  “After she passed, I came back and shifted. I went back to her and built a makeshift bed and gave her an honorable burial by fire,” Eric replied, hoping she wouldn’t be upset. “Nothing can get to her, and it is a burial of respect among my kind.”

  “I wish I could have been there.” Gemma bit her lip, visibly trying not to cry. But it was no use. A sob escaped. Eric couldn’t stand it any longer. He reached out and took her into his arms. She came willingly and wrapped herself around him. She cried into his neck, and he held her tightly against him, giving her all the comfort he could, giving her everything he had to give. Holding her, he realized that this was exactly where she belonged, in his arms and by his side.

  Chapter 8

  Gemma tried her best to keep as busy as possible the next day, but passing her empty enclosure meant it was impossible not to mourn. As she cleaned all the water buckets, her eyes kept going toward the SUV that was still parked in the same spot.

  Eric had held her until her tears had dried up and the sun had started making its appearance. Larry and Alex had shown up at the same time. She had introduced Alex as a volunteer for the day, which was not unusual since volunteers, though rare, did come to help out. She also had to explain that the wolf escaped from the enclosure because she must have left the gate unlatched. She used that excuse all the time and wondered if Larry really believed her, but he never said otherwise. She felt bad, but she couldn’t tell him the truth, that Alex was the wolf who had actually been in the enclosure.

  After a quick shower, she made Eric, who was reluctant but appreciative, shower in her tiny bathroom. As she sat on the back deck waiting for Eric to finish, she was dreading that he would say he was leaving. She couldn’t explain it, but after only two days of knowing the man, she found herself depending on him, and she depended on no one, ever.

  The door opened and out he came, his dark hair still wet and slicked back, making him look more handsome than ever. She sighed. She went and freaking sighed. When his eyes met hers, she sat up straighter then handed him a beer.

  “I don’t know how I can repay you for everything you’ve done.” She hoped her voice didn’t sound as breathless as she felt. She may be sighing and practically slobbering all over for this man, but she didn’t have to let him know that.

  He sat down across from her with a smile. “You trying to get rid of me?”

  Gemma frowned with a shake of her head. “Absolutely not,” she responded, a little too quickly. Embarrassment colored her cheeks. “I mean, I can use all the help I can get around here, which you’ve obviously seen. I just hate not being able to pay people for the hard work they do, that’s all.”

  “Good, because I’m not leaving, yet.” Eric took a long drink of beer and stared at her over the bottle.

  “You’re not?” Gemma asked, surprised and totally relieved by his words. She knew he had more important things to do like finding the man who raped two women in his pack, and she suddenly felt selfish for wanting to beg him to stay with her.

  “I need to talk to you,” Eric began, but stopped as Alex rushed up.

  “Hey, Larry wanted me to come and get you.” Alex pointed over his shoulder. “Someone just brought in a wolf-dog, and it’s in a bad way.”

  Gemma didn’t need to hear more. She was up out of her chair and down the steps before Alex could finish. A man and woman stood with Larry, and at their feet was a crate. It must be a young wolf to be in such a small crate, she mused. As she got closer, she could hear the pitiful sounds coming from inside.

  “Gemma, this is Ted and Mary Sams,” Larry began the introductions, but Gemma was more concerned with the wolf in the crate.

  “Oh my God.” Gemma had bent down after giving the man and woman a nod. Anger overcame her as she looked up at the people. This was not a young wolf, and it was crammed inside the crate. “Did you do this?”

  “Oh no.” The woman shook her head, looking horrified.

  “We found it on our property by the road. Someone just dumped the poor thing,” the man said as he comforted his wife. “We didn’t know where else to bring it, so we came here.”

  Relieved that these people weren’t the ones responsible, she let Larry do all the talking as she knelt in front of the crate. “You poor thing,” she whispered as pain-filled eyes stared back at her. “Let’s get you out of there.”

  Alex and Eric grabbed the crate and followed Gemma. The only vacant spot was Luna’s enclosure. Even though she wasn’t ready to put another wolf in her place, Gemma knew she had no choice. She opened the gate and got out of the way. She noticed the look Eric gave her, but she ignored it. Luna would want it this way. The front enclosure was always free for the shifters who showed up during the late-night hours so she couldn’t use that one. Plus, she wanted this poor creature close to where she was most of the time.

  She watched as Eric and Alex set the crate in the middle of the enclosure. Alex backed away as Eric reached out to open the door and then knelt at the entrance. She wanted to warn him to be careful, but she kept quiet. He knew better than any of them what needed to be done.

  “Is it a shifter?” Gemma whispered and was relieved when Eric shook his head. “Thank God.”

  Eric stood and headed their way. “Let’s all get out and see if he will come out on his own.”

  After they had exited, Eric closed the door. Gemma watched and prayed the wolf would come out and then wondered if it could get out; it was so wedged inside. “Why are people so cruel?” she cursed in a harsh whisper.

  “I don’t know.” Alex shook his head. “But they are. I’ve been known to bite a few assholes.”

  Even in the dire situation Gemma gave a half grin. She bet Alex had in fact bitten a few assholes, and she wished the assholes who did this were there because she’d probably bite them too.

  After a few minutes of agonized waiting, Eric cursed. “I’ll be back.” He glanced over his shoulder. “You’ll have to cover me with Larry.”

  That’s when Gemma knew exactly what he was going to do. She touched Alex’s arm as she passed him. “I’ll be right back.”

  The man and woman were getting ready to leave. “Hey, thank you both so much.” Gemma rushed up to the retreating couple. “I’m sorry if I was a little short, but my first concern was for—”

  “Please, no need to explain to us.” The woman held up her hand. “We think what you do is inspiring. Larry explained how your sanctuary works, and we’re going to be big donators as well as volunteers. I would help today, but I’m not dressed for it.”

  Gemma smiled, liking the older woman instantly. “You’re welcome here anytime you like. We welcome any help you can give. Thank you so much.”

  “We will see you soon.” The woman waved as her husband helped her into the car.

  After they had pulled away, she looked at Larry, who seemed very pleased with himself. “Guess you’re expecting a raise?” Gemma teased with a grin, then reached up and gave him a big hug. “Believe me, Larry, as soon as I can, I will pay you a pretty penny.”

  “Honey, a hug every now and then is payment enough. You’re like a daughter to me.” Larry gave her one last squeeze and then quickly pulled her behind him. “What in the holy hell is that?”

  Not understanding, Gemma looked past Larry’s shoulder and saw Eric in wolf form stalking toward them. She realized Larry had pulled out his wicked looking knife he always wore.

  “No, Larry.” She grabbed his arm. “He won’t harm us.”

  Larry didn’t look convinced, so Gemma went around him, dodging Larry’s grasp toward her arm. “Gemma, get back here.”

  She walked straight up to Eric, putting her hand gently to the softness of his head. “Please hel
p him.”

  The wolf pressed its head into her hand before walking past her and then Larry, who watched in both awe and fear. Eric stopped in front of Larry, then bowed his head slightly before continuing.

  “Son of a bitch.” Larry’s eyes widened as they went from the wolf to Gemma.

  “Please don’t ask,” Gemma begged as she followed Eric.

  “I wouldn’t know what in the hell to ask.” Larry shook his head, following behind Gemma.

  Alex opened the gate, letting Eric pass. They watched in anticipation as Eric paced around the crate, frequently stopping in front of it, but still, the wolf remained inside.

  “Eric said to get some water,” Alex said, his eyes leaving the wolf to look at Gemma and then Larry. “Get some water!” he ordered when no one moved.

  Larry looked around before turning away. “How in the hell can Eric tell you anything? He isn’t even here.” He stopped to turn to look at the wolf that stared at Larry. Larry looked away, only to look back at the wolf and shake his head before he rushed to get the water.

  Gemma knew she would have to address this later with Larry, but for now, all she cared about was the wolf wedged in the crate and getting him out. “You can understand him?” Gemma asked, surprised. “I thought that was only if you belong to packs.”

  “It is.” Alex grinned proudly. “Eric asked if I would like to be a part of his.”

  “That’s wonderful,” Gemma said with excitement. She did know how important packs were to wolf shifters. “They will be lucky to have you.”

  “Thank you,” Alex said, his face turning serious. “For a human, you’re okay.”

  “Ehh, I have my moments.” Gemma snorted, her eyes back on the crate, wishing that the poor wolf would trust them and come out. “Notice only Larry sticks around. That says a lot I’m afraid.”

  “Well, since you’re mates, you’ll belong to the pack, even as a human,” Alex said, then found himself backing away from a growling Eric, who had leaped across the enclosure and was in his face.