by A. C. Mason
Dense woods surrounded them. The altitude grew higher. Alexia clutched him, cold from the frigid thin air. Her thoughts drifted to their reunion with the pack. Their sorrow could be felt even over this distance.
Rejoining them would be bittersweet for them both.
Chapter 11
Alexia’s body hurt from the cold and lack of moving her limbs. Cathen and Varor grew tired. Even in their peak physical conditions the thin air this high from sea level wore on their bodies.
“Can we stop and rest?” she asked.
“No,” Cathen snapped at her. “We don’t have far to go.”
If they were attacked, neither of them would be in a position to fight. “Please.”
“We haven’t any shelter. It’s too dangerous.”
As she’d suspected, there was more to his refusal than he told her.
“I can make us a shelter and we can set a trap. I need to walk, drink and eat. You both need water, food and rest.” She knew his mind was consumed with his need for her. So in many ways it was easier for him to keep going than to stop. “Please…Cathen.”
He barked to Varor and stopped.
Once he lowered to the ground, she dismounted next to partially frozen water. Her legs felt weak and she wobbled. As circulation returned to her legs, she scouted for a fir, and found one that looked like a large Christmas tree. It had full boughs, which covered the ground beneath.
Cathen did not interfere with her gathering of branches. Soon he and Varor brought more to her. Every time Varor was near her, she felt Cathen grow uneasy.
She used some spruce boughs to pad the bottom of the area and cover any gaps in the branches above. Bark and woodbine vines kept everything in place. It wasn’t impressive, but it wasn’t bad, either. She hadn’t made one of these shelters since she was a girl with her father and brother.
“I’m impressed. I had no idea you could make such a thing,” Cathen said.
“In America we have ancient people who don’t live among us in our cities, towns and villages. Indians. My father had a very good relationship with the tribes in our area. Not unlike Shunus, they live in communities.” For the first time since she’d become VanWolf’s mate she missed America, the land and the people.
She filled a bowl with snow, crawled into the space and placed the container to the side to melt, opened the bag and pulled out the food Tyra had wrapped for her. Why did anyone have to die for her? Tears burned her eyes.
Varor and Cathen covered their tracks and created a false trail for anyone stalking them to follow.
Alexia took a few bites, but didn’t have the stomach to eat. Now that she’d stopped moving she felt nauseous. She ran out of her makeshift shelter and heaved. This couldn’t start now.
“What cannot start now?” Cathen stopped behind her.
“Nerves and stress.”
Cathen’s jaw tensed. “I pushed you too hard today.”
The last thing she wanted was for him to hold himself responsible. “No, I didn’t say anything earlier.”
“But I sensed your fatigue and should have stopped. I’m sorry, coquette.” Regret made his voice deeper than usual.
She patted his head as she walked by and reentered the shelter. The inside was warm. She removed her boots and jacket, then lay down by the door, staring out.
* * * *
Night fell. Dark gray clouds covered the sky. The moon rose on the horizon. Alexia watched Cathen and Varor play fight in the snow. Though they were both tired, restless energy made them aggressive because of the waxing gibbous moon and her. Always her. Chasing, nipping and biting, Cathen pinned and released Varor, asserting his superiority over the other male. Varor seemed good humored enough about the game they played.
Cold and tired, she retreated into the makeshift shelter she’d created for them and wrapped herself in the animal skin blanket from her bag.
A snapping sound came from the woods behind them. Her heart pounded in fear that they had been tracked and now were in danger.
Cathen and Verror grew still, then crept along the ground. One went around one side and the other headed in the opposite direction.
“Alexia, grab the gun out of the bag,” Cathen ordered.
She did as commanded and held the weapon. Yet it did not make her feel safe but rather more fearful. Had her insistence in stopping cost more lives?
Low growling came from farther away, a menacing snarl she didn’t recognize. It was a werewolf.
“He isn’t alone and the other one is searching for you. Listen to me very carefully. Get dressed and go to the hollow tree stump where the dense shrubs are by the water. Follow the northeast side,” Cathen instructed.
Alexia put on her boots, coat and jacket, then stuffed the animal skin cover back in the bag. A second werewolf was in the woods waiting to catch her and take her to the Gestapo, those who wanted to cage and breed her.
“Go now,” he growled at her.
As fast as she could, she ran along the northern shoreline to mask her scent with the water. It was nearly deja vu. Paris all over again. At the time, she’d thought she was running to someone, but the pack had sent her away for her own good. It was the only way they thought she’d survive. She slid into the water. The cold burned the flesh of her legs and splashed her. She pressed on to the dense wood, into the hollow tree stump hidden in the shrubs.
Above, the fight raged on. Varor howled out in agony. Cathen growled low and menacing. There was nothing she could do to protect them. She was afraid for their lives. Not a day went by when she didn’t cause danger to those who cared for her. She retreated further into the stump and huddled in the dank darkness. Please don’t let anything happen to Cathen. She couldn’t bear it.
All sound stopped. The eerie stillness was accompanied by a heavy fog that blanketed the woods.
“Cathen?” She reached out to him mentally, but no response came from him. If he were dead she would have felt the loss of him as she had for VanWolf. Cathen would have told her he’d set her free and where to go to meet up with the pack.
A twig snapped nearby. She slowed her breathing in hopes the stump would hide her scent enough that her stalker would keep going on by. Snow crunched beneath paws.
She pulled out the gun from inside the bag and held it pointed out, ready to shoot anyone who would think or attempt to attack her.
“Cathen.” Once more she reached out to him, hoping to connect with him.
Nothing.
Just outside, red eyes turned toward her and the snout inhaled. Large canine teeth hung over the sides of the creature’s mouth. He continued past her. She remained as still as she could and kept her breathing even. An owl’s hoo hoo and branches swaying in the wind were the only sounds that were left.
Cathen could be lying in the snow dying, and to protect her, he would not call to her. What had she done to deserve this? Her father had always taught her God had a grander plan, one bigger than we can understand. Right now, she hated them both.
Low snarling startled her, and ruby red eyes gazed upon her. “Are you going to come out, or make me come in and get you?” His tongue passed over his lips. In beast form, the were would not fit through the opening of the stump.
“You’ll need to come get me.” She pushed her body further back.
“I was hoping you’d say that.” It jerked and contorted with deathly cries as beast vanished and a man appeared. “I want a taste of you to know what the fuss is about.”
Blue eyes fixed on her, the large dark-haired man lunged into the stump, grabbing for her leg. She kicked his hand with her foot.
“You like it rough.” He clutched her leg, his fingers digging into her skin. “I like that in a dame. When I mount you, I’ll make sure every second hurts.” Lust gleamed in his eyes.
She cocked the gun and aimed it at him. “Let me go.”
“You can’t stay in there forever, and you haven’t it in you to shoot me or you would have already.” He smiled, revealing his jagged, yellow tee
th.
“I don’t want to shoot you, but I will.” If he didn’t leave her a choice, she wouldn’t let him take her alive.
He cried out, eyes bulging, and was dragged out, reaching toward her with both hands.
Dark shadows moved in the night like shaded silhouettes. Snarls, growls intermingled with whimpers carried off in the wind. Limbs were torn from the half-transformed creature’s body.
At the opening, Cathen gazed in. Blood soiled his face. “Varor is gravely injured.” Cathen was more beast than human. His eyes glowed gold. “Come.” He gestured with his snout.
Chapter 12
Cathen turned from Alexia, exiting the stump. Inside him, he wanted to claim her with every muscle, but rather, he rolled in the snow to clean off his fur and cool down from the heated fight.
Up above in the makeshift shelter, Varor bled to death.
Alexia climbed the side of the mountain. He wanted to pounce in front of her and prevent her from going to the wounded creature. Though he knew if he did she’d only hate him more. He followed her a few steps back and entered behind her.
She reached for the nude male. Cathen’s paw covered her hand.
“I must touch him to heal him.” She stroked over his snout.
Cathen did not move. In a transient motion, he shifted from beast to man, yet felt no less settled. “Continue.” He wrapped his arm around her waist to calm the darkness. He needed to maintain body contact with her otherwise he might become wild.
She dipped her hands in the bowl of snow she’d collected, now filled with water. Sparkling drops dripped off her fingers. She glided her hands to Varor’s human-form thigh. Blood gushed out from an open wound. The light of life shone from beneath her hands.
Varor whimpered. Below her touch, the claw gashes in his legs closed.
She crawled forward over Varor’s lower body. Cathen scooted closer with her. Immersing her hands in water, she brought the glimmering source of life to the slice in Varor’s abdomen. Beneath her radiating fingers the wound shut.
Cathen pressed to her back to contain his need to pull her from this male, roll her under his body and seal their bond. The yearning edged him near madness. Sweat covered his brow. All that remained was the laceration on Varor’s neck. She slipped forward further, her legs on each side of the male’s torso. Cathen evened his breathing and swayed with the movement of the spirit trance. He slid his hand over hers. Alexia directed her stroking fingers over the blood-drenched flesh. Bright light emanated from her hands and the marks vanished. Love and sorrow whirled inside her.
She was magic. Special.
“You are amazing,” Cathen whispered into her ear.
She leaned into Cathen, cheek pressed to the side of his face. “Help me get him beneath the cover.” She hesitated. “I need you to lie with him to bring his body temperature up.”
Varor’s flesh was cold as ice. And Cathen knew the heat of both their bodies would be required to warm Varor. There was no time to think of the state it would leave him in.
“We both need to help him.” Cathen pulled the cover from the bag. “I’ll lie on the outer side of the shelter. You lie stripped down to your panties in the inner part with your front to his back.” Cathen lay facing Varor whose lips were blue, but his heart still beat.
Alexia pulled heavy branches over the opening to the shelter.
“Once he has improved we will need to vacate, as more of them will come looking for us.” Cathen closed his eyes not to see her undress and pressed against the other male. Every minute movement put him further over the edge without a safety line.
Alexia reached over Varor’s neck and cupped Cathen’s face. “I’m grateful, thank you.”
“For what?” Cathen wasn’t sure of her meaning.
“Your courage and strength. The restraint you demonstrate.” Her thumb traced his lips.
Heat ignited in his chest. Flames flickered at the point of contact. Even that ability faded with each passing moment. Cathen reached over Varor and touched her soft skin. Static rippled through him at the feel of her. He trailed his fingers to her neck. She lifted her head, skimming his thumb along her lips as he cupped her face.
She moaned. “Cathen.”
“Yes, coquette.” He tucked closer to Varor and rested his face against his.
Alexia’s lips met his, setting his body ablaze. Need like none other shot through him. In this state, madness could take him over. She opened her mouth, accepting his tongue. He slid his hand around the back of her head into her curls, pressing her to him. Her hand met with his abdomen and moved downward.
She wrapped her fingers around his length. “I want to help alleviate your discomfort.”
He groaned. “Thank you.” Some of her own need too, perhaps.
Up and down, she moved her hand along his shaft. “Do you remember how you warmed me?”
The body between them had yet to improve.
She covered Cathen’s hand and guided it to Varor’s torso. “I can’t, but you can save him for me, please…” Her teary eyes pleaded with him. She directed his hand over Varor’s cool abdomen, and lower.
The flesh was like ice beneath Cathen’s fingers. She descended his touch downward.
Her tongue entered Cathen’s mouth as she wrapped his fingers around Varor’s shaft.
“For me, please…” She took Cathen’s length in her hand. “Like I do for you.”
Cathen pumped into her touch, wanting for her to end his suffering. With his teeth, he grazed the line of her jaw. “Please, don’t stop.”
She worked his shaft faster, drawing his seed to the tip. Though his mind wasn’t joined with hers, the scent of her arousal engulfed his every breath. He mirrored her stimulation. Varor’s length grew. He pumped, emulating her skilled caress. Varor’s flesh warmed under his stimulus.
“Cathen.” She gasped his name.
“That’s it, coquette.” He worked the cock in his hand as she did him.
Varor stirred between them.
“Please…” She jerked his cock off faster.
Cathen reached over, picked her up and set her on top of him.
Breathless, she stared into his eyes. “Thank you.” She lowered her mouth to his chest, kissing a path, descending lower. Warmth licked and nipped his flesh. Not being connected to her mind during physical exchanges made it difficult for him to know what she needed.
She drew the head of his cock in her mouth. Satin heat coated his shaft in the feel of her. She twirled the length of him with her tongue.
Cathen pumped up and down Varor’s rod. Knowing his mate wanted him to see this through…
Varor grunted.
In and out of her mouth, she drew Cathen to the brink of heaven or hell. She wrapped her hand around the base and worked in tandem with the movement of her mouth.
“Coquette, I’m going to come.” He stared at her.
She lifted her gaze to his, moaned and lowered her lips, taking him to the depths of her throat. Her soft tongue suckled the length of him. He stroked her cheek, spilling his seed in her mouth. She swallowed his offering.
Varor drew air between clenched teeth. Hot fluid gushed on Cathen’s hand.
A tear slid from her eye and slowly descended her cheek. She relaxed her lips, resting her face against his abdomen.
He tucked her in his arms and kissed her temple. “Merci, coquette.” For a moment, he’d believed the act had been one of her own desire for him. But once again, it was clear the bond they shared wasn’t one she wanted. He rubbed her back. Please, let him make it through this without breaking her in a way that would kill everything about her spirit that he loved.
There was a special type of hell for men like him, those who wanted the mate of another, and he was deep in the clutches of it.
Chapter 13
Alexia stood on the balcony of the hotel room, wet hair tossing in the wind. Below the city was lit by the first morning light. Ocean in the background set the stage for the reunion with the pack.
Last night Varor had taken part in her and Cathen’s exchange. She knew Cathen had done as she’d asked, for her. Varor had witnessed her and Cathen’s strange arrangement. Interestingly, Varor’s lack of action during the interlude put Cathen at ease with trusting him. So much so, Cathen provided Varor the location of the pack and his emblem. If they were separated, the pack would know he was to be welcome among them.
Armored patrols monitored the way into the city and the three of them didn’t have the coverage of the night. They would enter the water and make their way around the city through the submerged streets on a water taxi. Though the temperature was cool, it was warm compared to being up in the mountains. The first order of business had been to get Cathen and Varor clothing, as Shunus in the open would attract the attention of the Italian military.
“They say Venezia, Italy is the city of romance.” Varor’s voice came from behind her.
Lost in thought, she hadn’t sensed him. She faced him and nodded. So she’d heard. She and VanWolf had spoken of their trip there, the quaint little places they’d share, but now the city lacked luster.
“You’ve been quiet since last night.” He crossed his arms. “Are you regretting your decision to turn from your destiny?”
She shook her head. What did anyone know of her destiny? Three years ago, she was a preacher’s daughter. She sang in church. When she lost her father and brother, the home that had always been filled with joy grew hollow. Dancing and singing for men half naked was as far a cry from home as she could come. Then talk of war was whispered and reported about. None of those she knew living in Paris had wanted to believe it. Had she always been meant to be some strange type of creature? Not Shunu, not werewolf, not human. Would she have become whatever she was even if she hadn’t met the pack? Questions she’d never get answers to now.
