by S. K. Yule
He took care of her. He protected her. He hadn’t forced the change on her. And now her early doubts were doused in certainty. Certainty that he would never force her to turn if she chose not to do so. If such self-sacrifice wasn’t love, then she didn’t know what was. He did love her. And . . . she loved him.
She smiled. She couldn’t wait to tell him, but could she become what he was? She still wasn’t certain about that, but maybe they could be happy for the time being until she could accept such a thing.
“Do you think you could help me to my room? I’d like to take a bath, get out of these damp jeans, and lie down for a bit.” Rindy sat up, and placed the ice pack on the coffee table.
Karen helped Rindy to her room. She knew she wouldn’t sleep. She was too worried about Brent, but she needed time to herself. Time to think about the choice she was now faced with. She tried to put herself in Brent’s shoes. How would she feel if she were faced with years and years of loneliness, finally found the one person she was supposed to spend her life with, and he eventually died, leaving her to face even more years of loneliness?
Loneliness was a hard pill to swallow on its own, but to have been loved and to have loved, only to lose it? She still ached for her sister’s laugh and her mother’s arms to hold her. If she didn’t choose to let Brent change her, she would one day subject him to the same pain when she died. Could she willingly put him through that?
Chapter Nine
Rindy had tried to sleep, but worry over Brent’s safety gnawed at her. She’d tossed and turned, and every time she’d come close to dozing, she’d jerk awake. She sat up and hobbled to the door, down the hallway, and to the living room. Karen sat on the sofa with her legs tucked under her. She was reading a magazine.
Karen put the magazine down when Rindy got close. “Hey. How’s the knee?”
“Hurts like hell, but I think I’ll survive.” Rindy tried for a smile, but it felt forced.
“Just think, when you turn, if you get hurt, all you have to do is shift to wolf form. Once you change back to human, all your wounds are healed.”
“Yeah. Brent told me. I have to admit, that seems pretty handy.” Rindy limped to the couch and sat down on the soft cushion at the opposite end from where Karen sat.
“Can I get you anything?”
“I would like something to drink if you wouldn’t mind.” Rindy didn’t think she’d ever get used to other people offering her help, but she had to admit, she liked it.
Karen stood. “Not at all. What would you like?”
“Water is fine.”
“Water coming right up.”
Rindy watched the graceful way Karen moved. She wondered if all lycans moved that way. It would be logical to think so since they were part predator. But Karen had been human like herself. Had being turned changed who she’d once been?
Karen came back with two cold bottles of water. “Here you go.” She handed a bottle to Rindy.
“Can I ask you something?” Rindy unscrewed the top of the water and took a long sip of the cool liquid.
“Shoot.” Karen downed half her bottle and leaned back on the couch.
“Are you still the same? I mean, are you still the same person you were before you changed?” Rindy screwed the top back on the bottle and sat it on the end table.
Karen laughed. “God! You sound so much like me. I was so worried that I would become this monster when I changed. I thought I would hurt people, lose who I was.”
“You didn’t?” Rindy waited for her response.
Karen leveled Rindy with a gaze that could only be interpreted as confidence personified. “No. I am still very much the same old Karen I was before I turned lycan. Yes, I have better hearing—way better—improved eyesight, speed, and strength, but mind and soul—the same. I admit the first time I changed, it was terrifying and awing all at once, but Anthony was there with me and helped me through it. Since then, I’ve never looked back. I feel freer, more confident, and happier.”
“Oh.” Rindy sighed.
“No. It’s better than ‘oh.’ I cannot tell you what joy there is in running through the snow- covered forest floor in the middle of the night with your mate by your side, your fur blowing in the breeze. It is magical; it is amazing.” Karen smiled and closed her eyes as if imagining what she’d just described.
“Do you, um, do you . . . never mind.” Rindy could feel the heat burning in her cheeks.
“Let me guess. You were going to ask if we have sex in wolf form. Yes. We do. And, I will be honest, it took me awhile to come to terms with that. But once I did it? Well, you will just have to wait and see.”
“How did you know that is what I was going to ask?” Rindy’s cheeks were still burning.
“Because, I told you, you’re a lot like me. And I had all of the same worries.”
Karen started to say something else, when the cabin door flew open and slammed against the wall. After Anthony dragged Brent’s unconscious body through the door, Rindy jumped up and grimaced when she landed on the knee she had forgotten was twisted.
“What happened?” Rindy limped over and gingerly knelt beside Brent, trying hard to keep her eyes averted from Anthony’s nude body.
Rindy pushed the tangled hair off of Brent’s face and gasped. His eye was swollen shut and black, and he had four long, deep gashes down his cheek and neck. The wounds were bleeding heavily. She looked up at Anthony, then quickly looked back at Brent, waiting for an explanation. If she weren’t so upset over Brent’s condition, she’d probably die from embarrassment, although she couldn’t deny Anthony was one fine-looking man.
“Brent changed to human form to lure the other two wolves out while I hid. Sometimes, they will attack us in human form because they have somewhat of an advantage that way. We only meant to draw them out, and Brent was going to change back once they took the bait. Unfortunately, one of the wolves came from nowhere and tagged Brent. But, rest assured, Rindy, those two will never bother you again.” Anthony’s voice was low and strained.
Karen carried a throw to Anthony and looked him over from head to toe as if checking to make sure he was unharmed. He took the throw and knotted it around his hips.
“Will he be okay?” A tear slid down Rindy’s cheek.
Anthony grunted. “Should be. If we can get him awake, he can shift. After that, he’ll be as good as new.”
“Can we get him on the sofa so he’s at least on something soft?” Rindy asked.
“Yes.” Anthony bent and picked Brent up with little effort and carried him to the couch. He deposited him gently on his back.
Brent mumbled under his breath, but his eyes remained closed. Rindy’s stomach knotted and she felt queasy. He’d gotten hurt because of her. He’d gone after the monsters who’d killed her family. Yet, as much as it galled her to admit to herself at this point with Brent lying unconscious and hurt, she’d felt utter relief when Anthony told her the bastards were dead. The turmoil that had swirled inside her for years had eased. Did it make her a bad person for feeling relieved that the lycans had died? At this point she really didn’t care. They had deserved it after what they’d done to her mother and sister.
But Brent hadn’t deserved what he’d gotten. And she’d wrongly accused him of being a monster. He wasn’t anything like the lycans that had killed her family. She trailed her fingers over his cheek. “Can someone get me a washcloth, soap, water, and some towels?” Rindy pulled the soft throw Brent had covered her with earlier from the back of the sofa and draped it over him.
Karen left the room without saying a word while Anthony stood by the glass doors, staring outside. If Rindy wasn’t mistaken, he looked remorseful. Surely he didn’t feel bad for killing such monsters. Yet how would she feel if she had just taken human lives, even if they had deserved it?
“Thank you, Anthony. I’m sorry you had to clean up my mess.” Rindy sucked in a breath when Anthony trained his green eyes on her. The man was intense, lethal-looking.
“You’re
welcome. Just do me a favor?”
“Name it.” She owed him, and he knew it, but what was he going to ask of her?
“Take care of the pup there. He’s a good guy.” He nodded toward Brent and turned his eyes back to the glass doors.
“I will,” she whispered.
She watched as Anthony slid the door open and stepped outside right before Karen came back with everything Rindy had asked for.
Karen glanced toward the glass doors and sighed.
“Will he be okay? ” Rindy asked.
“Yes. He gets a little withdrawn when he has to put rogues into place. It’s not easy to kill anything, but sometimes it has to be done for everyone’s safety.” Karen dipped the washcloth into a bowl of water, wrung it out, and handed it to Rindy.
Rindy squirted a dab of soap on the cloth and rubbed it together until a thin lather appeared. She gently cleansed and rinsed Brent’s wounds while he lay motionless. She took the dry towels next, dabbed at the cuts with one, then folded another and propped it under his neck to catch any more of the blood that might seep from the injury.
“Why isn’t he waking up?” Rindy frowned, and took one of Brent’s hands in her own. She stroked the back of his hand with her fingers, playing with the dark hair sprinkled on his skin.
Karen patted Rindy’s shoulder before gathering the washcloth, bowl, soap, and used towel. “He’ll be okay, hun. Our men are tough. You’ll see. Just give him a little time.” She smiled and left the room.
Rindy brought Brent’s limp hand to her mouth and kissed his palm. She held her cheek to it and closed her eyes. “I’m sorry you got hurt for me, Brent. I would have rather those bastards lived than see you like this. It’s all my fault.” The words were hard to get out over the lump in her throat.
He’d risked his life for her. He’d wanted to remove the threats of the wolves from her. And, when she’d seen him lying on the floor at the cabin door motionless, a strange ache had started in her chest, was still there now. How had she gotten so attached to him in such a short time? Yet it had happened. He had become important to her. And that revelation opened her eyes like nothing else could have. She knew what she had to do, however frightening it may be to her. She’d only gotten a small taste of the fear of losing him, and it had been near to knee-buckling. The thought of the pain she’d have to endure had he actually died was too intense to allow her mind to linger on.
“It’s not your fault, love,” Brent whispered.
“Brent!” Rindy scooted closer to him, and he wrapped his arm around her, hugging her to his chest.
“I’m okay. Just got knocked a little cuckoo.” He eased up into a sitting position with her still clutched to his chest. “Does this mean you really do care for me?”
She sat back and smiled. “Don’t get cocky, mister.” She sniffed.
He grinned and then winced. “Son of a bitch, but that bastard clocked me a good one.”
“Yeah, he did.” She reached for his face, wanting to smooth away the pain, but pulled her hand back before it made contact, worried she’d hurt him more.
Brent eased off the couch, just as Karen walked in. “See, Rindy, nothing to worry about. He’ll be good as new in no time.”
“Is Anthony still here?” Brent asked Karen.
“He flew the coop, but he’s close. He never lets me get too far away.” She wiggled her eyebrows.
“Tell him thank you for me.” Brent hugged Rindy again.
“Sure will. And now that it appears you are going to recover, I’m going to get out of here.” Karen walked to the glass door and slid it open.
“Thanks, Karen. For . . . everything.” Rindy called.
“No problem. Anytime you want to talk, let me know.” Karen stepped out the door and closed it behind her.
Brent stared at Rindy, and her heart thumped hard at the way his chocolate eyes nearly burned a hole through her, turning her insides to jelly.
“What is everything?” Brent asked.
“Oh, um, just girl talk.”
“Not girl talk.” He laughed, or at least attempted to do so, but didn’t quite manage through the claw marks. “I’ll be right back.”
Brent walked to the front door. His back was wide, and his shoulder muscles rippled with his movement. He had the most perfect, to-die-for butt she’d ever seen. He disappeared, and five minutes later, he was back, with the black eye and gashes to his cheek and neck completely healed. That was one incredible trick. She could only imagine how convenient such a feat would be, especially with the way her knee was throbbing at the moment. Other parts of her were beginning to throb as well, with his glorious body on full display to her.
Brent kneeled in front of her. He gently stretched her calf across his thigh, and inspected her knee. “How’s this feeling?”
She shrugged. “It’s been better, but I’m okay.”
“I’m sorry you got hurt. I should have protected you better.” He massaged her calf, and she nearly forgot she even had a knee when his warm fingers worked their magic on her skin.
“It wasn’t your fault. I ran away. But it was my fault that you got hurt. I’m so sorry.” She looked down.
He pushed her chin up so he could look her in the face. “It was not your fault. I’m supposed to protect you, and I didn’t do a very good job of it.”
“The ones that killed my family are now dead because of you. I think you did a very good job of it,” Rindy whispered.
“Yes. I knew Anthony would not let them get away. They didn’t stand a chance. If that bastard hadn’t gotten that one lucky tag on me, I’d have killed them myself.” He clenched his jaw, and the muscle there ticked.
“I’m glad you didn’t have to do it. But, nonetheless, I’m sorry you got hurt because of me.”
“Stop it. I do not want you to feel guilty. I chose to go after them, and I take full responsibility.” He kissed her on the lips.
She wrapped her arms around him and pressed herself against his chest. He was warm, and she never wanted him to stop kissing her. His mouth did wicked things to her, made her feel naughty and wanton. And, at this moment, she wanted him to make love to her again.
“Brent,” she whispered into his mouth.
He pulled away from her just far enough to break the kiss. His breathing was as ragged as her own, and he held her close and pressed his cheek to hers.
“Will you be okay here by yourself for a few hours?” His voice was quiet and laced with unspoken promises of pleasure.
“Why?”
“There’s something I need to do.” He gave her a little squeeze. “You’ll be safe here. I promise.”
“Okay.” Had she said or done something wrong? Where was he going? Had he changed his mind about her?
“I’ll be back before you know it.” He kissed her, and as he did it, his tongue tangled with hers in a sweet but scorching kiss. “Dream of me again while I’m gone, huh?”
“Wh-How did you know?” She gaped at him.
“That’s another thing lycans can do with their mates. Share their dreams.” He kissed her forehead and trailed his lips down her cheek to her neck, where he nibbled for a few moments. “I was very disappointed when you woke up. Until, that is, the hot tub.” He nipped her earlobe, and heat spread throughout her whole body.
“I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t dream much before,” she said.
“Yeah, I noticed that.” He scowled. “I didn’t like it.”
“It’s hard to dream when you only nap for an hour or two at a time. I was too anxious most of the time to sleep for more than that. I guess now I’ll have to be careful about what I dream of in the future.” She grinned.
“Please, don’t.” He gave her one last lingering kiss on the lips and stood. “I’ll be back.”
She watched him walk down the hall, and when he returned, he was dressed. He kissed her once again, and she watched him leave. She looked down at her knee and snorted. Apparently, he wasn’t too worried about her running while he was gone
. She wouldn’t have anyway, but her injury made it impossible.
“Please come back to me,” she whispered. “I love you.”
Chapter Ten
Brent drove for two hours before he made it to his destination. There were two things he had to do. He understood the pain and loneliness Rindy had carried with her for so long. He had to find a way to heal her so she could move on or she’d never be able to be with him one hundred percent. The deaths of the three lycans that had killed her mother and sister would go a long way in healing her, but he wanted to go a step further.
He’d called his lawyer on the way to tell him what he wanted done, and since he paid the man enough to keep his gold-digging wife in furs and jewelry for the next twenty years, the matter was expedited. After he’d signed the papers, he had two more stops—the bank and the jewelry store.
When he’d awoken to Rindy’s beautiful face earlier after he’d been knocked unconscious, he knew he had to have her in his bed from then on. He had hardly been able to stand sleeping in his room knowing she was only down the hall. And when they’d made love in the hot tub and he realized she’d been a virgin . . . He closed his eyes for a moment while the fierce emotions of love and protectiveness washed through him like tidal waves.
He’d been humbled, proud, and honored that he’d been her first. And he’d be her last. He parked the truck in the bank parking lot and was back out in ten minutes flat after making the transfer. The jewelry store was only a couple blocks from the bank, so he opted to walk. He spent over an hour at the store before making his purchase and smiled as he jogged back to the truck with the small box tucked in his jeans pocket.
He started home and decided on one final stop. Two hours later, he was driving down his lane. The snow was still deep, but it didn’t require four-wheel drive. Excitement stirred in him, and he tamped into submission the fear of possible rejection that threatened to take over. He had faith that everything would work out. After parking the truck and killing the engine, he grabbed the bags and papers and made his way to the front door.
