Chocolate Temptation

by A. C. Mason

  He closed his eyes, absorbing his surroundings. Wind blew between the branches of the crackling trees outside the cabin. Snow packed the ground, providing a dampener to sound. A bird squawked in the distance, unafraid of any approaching danger. For now they had lost their stalkers.

  Cathen opened the closet door and crawled out into the open space to find frost-coated windowpanes. “We need to check each of the rooms to find any items that may be of use to us on our journey.”

  Alexia emerged covered in his dress shirt, trousers, boots and coat. A wool hat flopped on her head, cocooning her face. Her pretty emerald green eyes were swollen, red from tears and lack of sleep as she shuffled by. One by one, she opened drawers and cabinets, tossing things onto the floor.

  His heart ached for her. He would trade places with VanWolf to spare her this pain, but that wasn’t his fate. Cold air misted around him. He placed the leather bag on the table, then joined in her efforts. Silence came easy.

  Chapter 7

  Alexia lay on Cathen’s back, gripping his fur. His warmth seeped into her body, keeping out the cold that surrounded her. The motion of his smooth strides rocked her to sleep. Her eyelids lowered as she grew more dull and sluggish. She slipped to one side. A sense of falling startled her, and she yanked his fur.

  “Stay awake,” Cathen snapped at her for the third time in less than an hour.

  Tears welled in her eyes, clouding her vision. She struggled to swallow. Her hunger had grown more intense in the past two hours, air pained the pit of her tummy. She couldn’t help that every part of her ached and all she wanted to do was sleep.

  “We are nearly in Tirano. There, I’ll find us a place to spend the night.” His pace remained brisk but even.

  Not another night away from the pack. With his sharp edge and need, she didn’t think she could bear much more from him. It was one thing for his behavior to change toward her when she had paired with VanWolf, but to so coldly claim her to his bed was incomprehensible to her. Her tears burned the corners of her heart. She wanted far away from him as fast and soon as possible. But she didn’t know how to get her freedom. There had to be a way.

  “Your thoughts wound me.” He fixed his gaze on the path before him. “I did what I had to ensure I didn’t claim you.”

  His every need scared her. Even worse, thrilled her too. She’d let him touch her, betraying her love for VanWolf. What kind of woman did that make her?

  He growled, reminding her once more he was in her mind. The darkness grew inside him. She sensed the black force like a weed, working its way out destructively from inside him. Why did she want to help him contain it? Maybe she couldn’t help it, but she wouldn’t give in to it, either.

  Up ahead, the roof of a barn peaked over the steep hill he climbed.

  A familiar scent tickled her nose. Shunus were nearby. A female and a male. But not of the VanWolf Pack.

  “VanLoup Pack,” he corrected.

  She squeezed her eyes shut. Of course the pack was his and carried his family’s name once again. She knew the history. Cathen had sided with the rest of the pack against his older brother, Reeme, when they sought vengeance for the murdered members. The elders of the pack and the young had been slaughtered, the others left to wish for death. VanWolf had requested the right to sharuwatee–death to those who murdered. The then pack Alpha, Reeme, denied his request. Cathen had needed to pick a side when VanWolf challenged his brother. The pack had been thirsty for blood.

  “The pack isn’t all that is my responsibility.” The delivery of his words was flat.

  VanWolf’s corpse was barely cold and Cathen’s hunger to complete the bonding only grew. She didn’t see the point in responding to him, since he seemed to have lost his ability to listen when he became Alpha.

  “I have not,” he barked at her. “I’m hearing your thoughts clearly. I’m just making sure the information you have is correct. I haven’t the luxuries betas are afforded.”

  How kind of him. All she wanted right now was food and sleep. She didn’t understand why this all had to happen so fast. Would they really expect her to live by their outdated beliefs? No way, no how, would she do that.

  He sped up his pace into the barn. “And to tend to your mate’s needs.”

  Pointless to remind him that man was dead. Cathen insisted on informing her sooner rather than later that she was his. She’d just see what the pack had to say about that.

  “Why put them in a situation where you will be hurt by their inaction? Are you so bound and determined to make this difficult for everyone that you don’t care about the pain they are in?”

  The man she’d once believed Cathen to be was gone, one who worried for her wellbeing.

  “I do care for you, and this is my reason for asking why you want the others to act in a way you’ll only feel betrayed by. Did anyone interfere regarding you and VanWolf? Why do you think they would listen to me, their Alpha, any less?”

  “Leave me alone. I don’t want you responding to my thoughts anymore,” she mumbled, hiding her face in his fur, holding in her tears.

  “Never.” He slid into the barn. “I must, if only to help you transition.” He lowered to the ground.

  Alexia dismounted, looped the bag off her shoulder and set it on a stack of hay, sure any moment she’d burst into tears. The scent of hay invoked the image of Jericho, her brother, in the barn playing hide and seek with her, laughter. Tears burned. She forced her eyes shut, unable to bear the pain of the loss.

  Light cast in flashes against the wall in front of her. Cathen transformed into human form.

  He swooped in behind her and tucked his lips to her ear. “I’m sorry.” His large hand rested on her shoulder.

  Warmth rushed through her. “Please. I don’t want your touch.” She jerked away.

  He stepped back. “But your body does.”

  No, it didn’t. It just wanted to feel anything but the pain of losing VanWolf. If she didn’t get away from him, she’d scream. Yell. Fall to pieces and never pick herself up again. “I saw some horse blankets at the back we can use.” She took heavy steps away from him to a back stall.

  A chestnut horse stepped closer to the gate end of the enclosure. The animal’s beautiful dark eyes stared at her as it breathed her in.

  Alexia held her hand out. The soft tip of its muzzle made contact with her palm. She rubbed up the horse’s long nose. It leaned into her touch. Friendly.

  “Ugo senses your sorrow.” Cathen wrapped a hand around her waist and pressed his body against her back. “Animals don’t take kindly to predators like us–they grow unsettled. It’s amazing he allowed you so close.”

  She needed to escape–for him to relinquish her. “As the male, wouldn’t he have more to worry about from you?”

  “My gift is to communicate with animals. I’ve told him as long as he doesn’t put the moves on my mate he has nothing to worry about.”

  Every time he said that, he pushed her away. She couldn’t just turn off how she felt for VanWolf and transfer those emotions to Cathen.

  “Stay behind me.” Cathen turned, using his body to shield her.

  “Hand her over and we will stop hunting you and your pack,” a male with a thick German accent said. The white trim on his dark uniform told her he was Gestapo. Where there was one maggot more would appear.

  She put the pack in danger because of what she was. To end this madness, she would have given herself over to them, but there was more than just her to consider now. She could only imagine what they would do to…

  “I won’t let them harm you,” Cathen said. “You mustn’t worry about me.”

  Right, him… “I know you’ll protect us.” He too would be in great danger as long as he was with her. They would kill Cathen. A second Alpha would die because of her.

  “It wasn’t your fault,” Cathen scolded.

  “Stay out of my head.” She backed away from him and opened the gate to Ugo’s stall.

  “What do you think you are doin
g?” the Gestapo asked.

  As she retreated, Cathen grabbed her arm. The tall soldier behind Cathen followed, pointing a pistol at them.

  “Grab the gun and direct it away from the horse,” Alexia ordered him.

  Cathen spun, took hold of the man’s wrist and twisted the weapon away. Ugo lifted his front legs and came down on their attacker. A shot went off with a flash and a bang that made her jump. She closed her eyes. For a moment, she was afraid something might have happened to Cathen. It was only because she needed him to keep her safe to get back to the pack, definitely not because she cared about him.

  No more. She couldn’t do this. Too much death and pain surrounded her.

  Chapter 8

  Cathen pulled back with the pistol in hand. “I’m all right, coquette.”

  Ugo reared and brought his hooves down on the man’s head again. A bird outside alerted Cathen to another man with a weapon outside.

  He handed Alexia the gun. “If he moves shoot him.” Though he was sure the man had expired, he needed to put any fears she might have to rest about him stepping outside the barn.

  Making short work of removing his clothing, he maneuvered around Ugo. As he picked up his pace, light burst from his body, lifting him from the ground. Hair covered his flesh as his limbs morphed from two legs into four paws, sprinting in wolf-spirit form. These men dared to threaten his mate’s life. He’d kill them–all of them. He snuck around the building to grab the intruder by surprise.

  Another male Shunu approached the Gestapo, growling, and the human backed away. How was it that the animals had not sensed the other Shunu outside?

  “Who are you?” Cathen questioned the male. For all he knew he was the creature who had given his blood to transform Alexia. He could be working for the Gestapo.

  “I am Varor Ulfr. My sister, Tyra, and I aren’t your enemy,” the other male Shunu responded.

  The completely white furred Shunu carried an ancient name of the Norse, “guardian of the wolf” That didn’t mean Cathen trusted him.

  “I shall be the judge of that,” Cathen said.

  Varor lunged at the man. The soldier pointed his gun at Varor and Cathen bit down on the arm, forcing him to release the weapon. Varor leapt on the Gestapo’s chest, shoved him to the ground and tore open his jugular. Blood sprayed in the snow and on Varor’s fur, making him appear more wild than tamed.

  The tension inside Cathen did not lesson. If anything, having another male of his kind would increase his anxiety toward his unsealed bond with his mate.

  “Tyra and I welcome you both to spend the night at our home, and to rest up for your journey.” With his snout, he gestured to the small farmhouse. “However, I don’t suggest you linger too long as more will come looking for the ones who don’t report back in.”

  Cathen bit his tongue. “Thank you. We need to continue south, then west.” Not a single part of him trusted either of these two, so he lied. Why hadn’t the animals warned him of the other Shunu outside? Something didn’t add up.

  Varor nodded. “So we may dispose of the bodies, Tyra can see your mate into the house.”

  “No,” Cathen snapped. “Thank you, but I must see her into the house.”

  “I understand. Tyra tells me you are marked but you’ve yet to complete the union. The first room in the hall to the right shall be for you both with its own bathroom.” Varor bit into the dead man’s collar and dragged the lifeless body away.

  Beneath where the body had rested, Cathen covered the bloody snow. The sister had powerful abilities, and so did Varor. What were their other gifts? How had Varor managed to remain hidden from the animals?

  “They mean us no harm.” Alexia’s voice sounded in his mind.

  There was no talking him into trusting them, even if she was an empath. Since she’d already broken her word to him, he wasn’t inclined to trust her, either. “That may very well be, but you are my responsibility.” He entered the barn. She sat shivering with the pistol pointed at the lifeless body. She was physically shutting down from the trauma.

  He sensed his words had angered her. Tension tightened his insides with the weight of the need he felt for her. “Come,” he demanded and turned from her.

  A few steps behind, she followed him into the house. No sign of Varor’s sister. Once Alexia entered the room, he turned from her.

  “I shouldn’t be long,” he said. “Lock the door and do not open for anyone other than me.”

  She saluted him. “Yes, sir.”

  Pain struck him in the heart at her actions. Every moment that passed between them, she hated him further. He did not know how to mend the gap widening between them. She was his world. Without her, he would be a hollow creature.

  * * * *

  Cathen held the doorknob in his hand to the bedroom’s bathroom. Alexia had locked the door and gone into the shower, forcing him to wait until she was done to enter. He wouldn’t have it. Varor unlocked the room with a spare skeleton key, giving him one more reason to worry about their hosts.

  At this very moment, he feared for the emotional state of his mate. Alexia cried, huddled in the base of the shower just beyond. He was losing her. She went in circles, contemplating if there were ways she could end the danger she put the pack in without giving the Nazis access to her blood.

  There was but one way for that to be possible. The mere thought of her burning alive tore his heart into tiny pieces. No one should suffer such a horrible death.

  He turned the handle, breaking the locking mechanism, entered, then closed the door behind him.

  Alexia stood and clutched the curtain. “What are you doing in here?” With puffy eyes, she peered out from the other side of the shower curtain.

  To calm her, he’d steal, beg and lie. “You know the answer to that question.”

  “I won’t. I refuse you.” She backed away, clutching the material, fear plain in her face.

  Pain rippled through his chest from her words. “You cannot.” Verbally she could say what she wanted, but her body would not be able to reject him. He wouldn’t put her through a forced sealing of their bond. No love could come of such a betrayal. He removed the trench coat Varor had provided him.

  “I already have,” she said.

  “I know that you are hurting and I am sorry for your pain. Lashing out at me will not bring him back. Nor will it fill the pit of emptiness you feel. I can.” He pushed aside the barrier. “But you won’t let me, so I will make you a deal.”

  She covered her breasts with her forearm and the triangle of curls between her legs using her hand. Every part of him ached to touch and know her. As if her hiding could erase the imprint of every inch of her curves from his mind.

  “For you to make an informed decision you must know what is at stake. And if I were not in danger of losing you and myself, I would never allow you to know this...” He grabbed her hand, pressed her palm to his chest and closed his eyes. The scar tingled beneath her fingers.

  She retreated.

  He held her wrist to prevent her from pulling free. With a deep breath, he opened himself to her, releasing the floodgates of the agony he contained.

  She screamed and collapsed to her knees. “Please…enough. Stop.” Blood streamed from the inner corners of her eyes.

  He kneeled and cradled her in his arms. “I’m sorry.” It wasn’t as if he wanted her to know the burden he felt at her refusal, but how else would she know the danger he could pose? Nor did he want her to agree to be his mate out of pity or guilt for what he suffered.

  “What is this deal you offer me?” she asked, yanking back from him.

  “Your freedom. I will release you from our bond if you help me return to the pack and we get them out of Europe.”

  “You’d release me?” She narrowed her eyes, examining him with mistrust.

  “Yes.” Did it matter that the only way he could do that was to take his own life? For him to die a dishonorable death by leaving the pack without a leader to take over would damn his soul
to the underworld. She was his mate and he would give her anything she needed for her happiness. He would take his own life for her.

  “And what am I to do to get you back to the pack?” she asked.

  “Allow me enough of you physically to keep me from being swallowed by the hunger growing inside me. I promise to take the least I can from each exchange to tide me over.”

  She lowered her head.

  “I won’t touch you again that way unless you consent.” He reached for her face.

  She jerked back.

  “Alexia, I give you my word.” His actions had already cost him her heart. He would not risk her safety or life. Nor either of them feeling further ashamed at his careless actions with her the first night.

  The water splashed over her skin, running down her curves. He was filled with an insatiable desire and hated he could not control what was going on inside him. Like an animal with rabies, he’d need to be put down if she did not come to accept him as her mate. There was no other way he could agree to take her. It was completely, body, mind and soul, or he’d free them both. And he had to make sure the pack did not come to realize what he was planning or they would try to pressure them both into sealing their bond.

  Chapter 9

  Alexia squeezed her eyes shut, trying to purge the red haze of pain swirling her mind into despair. No matter how she wished to forget this was what her rejection did to Cathen, she couldn’t absolve herself of feelings of guilt.

  “Alexia, please. I’m begging you.” Cathen’s voice was raw with pain. As Alpha of the pack, he’d need to see to their safe escape.