Mate… Ours… His wolf growled his discontent.
“It’s beautiful out here.” Chloe’s breath fogged into the still air.
Arms extended and head lifted to the sky, she twirled around, once, twice, three times. She stopped and peered at him. A playful laugh burst from her lips, and her smile seemed brighter than the sun.
The mark at the base of her throat that claimed her as his, remained blatant and obvious in the two scarred puncture wounds. Although the mark would heal and disappear, he hated what he’d done to her.
His chest tightened at his misdeed, and a weight like a heavy anchor settled around the bruised and damaged organ. She’d never accept him now.
Chloe glanced from the cabin to the trees before returning her focus to him. “So, is this where we shift?”
Unable to speak past the lump in his throat, he nodded.
Chloe shuffled her boots in the snow and nibbled her lip. “I hate to admit this, but I’m a little nervous.”
He loathed to see her unease and crossed the distance to her in an instant, his protective side coming out in full force. Whatever she needed, he would do.
Issac grasped her hands and gave them a gentle, reassuring squeeze. “Remember, take deep breaths to help calm your mind and open yourself up to your wolf. Clo will know what to do.”
She closed her eyes and nodded, still gnawing at her bottom lip. The urge to wrap her in his arms and tug that plump flesh between his teeth roared within him with such intensity, he took a step closer. After what he’d done, marking her without her permission, he didn’t deserve her, though. She’d reject him for sure as soon as she found out, but he’d enjoy these few moments with her while he had them.
Tiny plumes of warm air crystalized the cold into fog as her soft breaths eased in and out of her parted lips. Her long, reddish lashes graced her cheeks, accentuating the freckles he’d grown to adore. The sun blazed through her red hair and highlighted the strands with gold, and he took a mental snapshot. When the time came and she left him, he’d have the perfect image to remember her.
“I feel Clo. She’s close.” Chloe’s whispered words echoed in the space between them.
He released her hands and took a step back, the effort scraping across his heart like a knife. How he longed to remain close to her. Gods, he was a mess, an absolute, freaking mess.
A moment later, she shifted. Her jacket, jeans, and boots slipping beneath her fur courtesy of the wolf magic. Clo stood on four legs before him. She barked then a soft whine eased from her, and she wagged her tail. The happiness radiating from her warmed him on the inside and chased away some of his self-imposed reprimanding.
A laugh he couldn’t contain bubbled from the depths of his soul. “All right. Yes, I’ll shift now, too.”
He released his wolf, the change instantaneous after so many years of practice. Chloe brushed against him and nuzzled his nose. Her affection and her actions played along his guilt, but his wolf pushed that aside without a second thought.
She was his mate. They were together. All was right in the world.
“Let’s go for a run. C’mon.” He playfully nudged her.
She stiffened and blinked, her green eyes widenening. “We can communicate telepathically.”
He’d forgotten about that, taking for granted the special gift of telecommunication between wolves. Issac nudged her with his nose. “Yes, we can. Cool, huh? By the way, tag, you’re it.”
With a burst of energy he bounded through the snow, keeping within the clearing’s boundaries. She chased him, and he dodged her a few times before he let her catch him. They rolled in the snow, soft yips and gentle nudges a part of their play. This was how things should always be between them. His wolf knew that far better than Issac.
He rose to his feet, shook off the snow, and studied his beautiful mate. With her mottled fur, a mixture of golden brown and rustic reds, she was absolutely stunning. His wolf raised his head and howled his joy.
Chloe joined him, her voice matching his in intensity. They finished their wolf song, and her tongue lolled from her mouth, her green eyes bright and full of energy.
He wagged his tail. “Now, see if you can keep up with me.”
Not waiting for a reply, he dashed into the woods. The rush of air into his lungs expanded his chest and raised a sense of euphoria. He jumped over a fallen log and ran along an old path he and his brother used to take. Every now and then, he turned to look at Chloe, keeping a close eye on his mate.
She kept up, eyes attentive, running light and nimble over the ground.
Beneath the tree cover the drifts thinned, patches of dirt and underbrush visible beneath the blanket of snow. After several minutes dodging trees and leaping over a few large boulders, they emerged into a clearing next to a large outcropping of rocks on the mountainside. As kids, he and Jarik used to play in the small cave hidden behind the brush. He hadn’t thought about the place in years.
He stopped, air whooshing from him in short, panting breaths. Why had he come here? He hadn’t intended to, but the run with Chloe had stirred a passion for life in him he hadn’t experienced since before his brother had disappeared.
“What is this place?” Chloe swept her gaze up the rock face where several scraggly evergreen trees clung to the edges like prisoners on a gang plank. One more step and over you go.
He padded to her and nuzzled her ears. “Jarik and I used to play here as kids.”
She drew away and stared into his eyes. “You miss him. A lot.”
An ache born of time and distance settled deep in his soul. “Yeah. I hadn’t realized how much until…”
A slight breeze picked up and wafted through the trees. The current carried the slight scent of wolf, one with a unique brand. The hair along his nape rose.
Had the rogue battened down for the night in the cave? Was the scent still fresh or had the bastard left?
For once, Issac regretted never joining the pack hunters. He’d been asked, but given his shy nature, he’d refused. Too much interaction with others. Now, however, his decision tasted bitter on his tongue. Although he was a decent fighter, he wasn’t trained like the pack hunters.
He stepped closer to Chloe, putting himself between her and the cave. “The rogue was here. Not sure if he still is. Stay behind me.”
Chloe did as he asked, her ears down, but she glanced between the trees. “What do we do?”
Issac couldn’t leave without examining the cave. If the rogue was there, he’d take him down. Otherwise, the bastard might follow them and attack while they ran.
“I have to check the cave. Wait here. I’ll be right—”
“I’m going with you.”
With her stiff posture, straight tail, and the determined glint in her eyes, she wouldn’t stay put. His lungs expanded to their fullest as he drew in a satisfied breath. His female was strong and courageous.
“All right, but I’ll enter first.” He padded toward the rhododendron covering the cave’s entrance.
Time and nature had grown the old bush to three times the size he remembered as a kid. The massive trunk seemed as large as some of the trees, its tangled branches intertwining and weaving like a drunk’s version of the old game Pick up Sticks. A couple of ripped and torn branches, a few of the tips covered in dried blood, hung along the rock opening’s edge.
The rogue’s bitter scent intensified, coating the back of Issac’s throat. A growl rumbled in his chest. “The rogue was definitely here.”
“I sense him, too.”
Having Chloe next to him eased his inner wolf, and he was glad she hadn’t waited outside. He would’ve worried over her safety. At least this way, he could protect her.
He eased between the rock and the brambles. His fur caught on a branch’s pointy end, and the tip poked painfully between two of his ribs. He gritted his teeth and proceeded forward.
A moment later, he emerged into the cave. Blinded by the darkness, he relied on his ears and his nose to determine the r
ogue no longer inhabited the place. As his eyes adjusted, familiar forms took shape.
Against the far wall rested an old toolbox his brother used to haul around when they’d built forts and tree houses between the pines. In one corner, sat a collection of old beer bottles they’d experimented with in their teens. He spotted a ratty old teddy bear. The stuffed animal had comforted Issac on the many nights his father had used his fists instead of giving him a good-night hug.
Tears stung his eyes, and he thanked the gods for the darkness so Chloe wouldn’t see them.
“You’re upset.” Her soft voice eased into his mind, stroking him with comfort.
“I haven’t been in here since my brother disappeared. The memories are overwhelming.”
She brushed her muzzle alongside his, soothing him with her touch. “You loved him, very much.”
“Yes.” Not willing to stay another moment, he turned around and headed for the cave entrance.
He pushed through the brambles, and the limbs seemed to reach for him, as if eager to hold him in place and force him to deal with his memories. At long last, he burst into the clearing. His breaths heaved from his lungs in long labored gasps.
Chloe emerged from the rhododendron’s tangle. The teddy bear from his childhood dangled from her teeth, and one arm of the stuffed creature reached for him as if the thing had missed him.
His chest tightened to the point of pain.
“I thought you might want this.” Chloe’s steady gaze held him in place.
He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. Leave it.”
She opened her mouth. The tiny bear, the one he’d loved with such passion as a child, landed on the soft snow. Its dark eyes stared into the sky.
“We should stop at the cabin, grab your backpack, and return to town. If we’re lucky, the rogue is long gone.” Before she could reply, he padded into the forest, eager to forget about his past. The problem was he had to deal with his future, the one he suspected wouldn’t include Chloe.
Gods, he was screwed.
Chapter Fifteen
Issac padded through the snow that had fallen onto the path, his thoughts a confused, jumbled mess. Between the memories of his brother that had assaulted him in the cave, to discovering the rogue was still around, to processing his guilt over biting Chloe, he’d bought himself one hell of a headache and an aching heart.
At least the run through the woods had allowed him to stretch his muscles and had given Chloe a chance to let her wolf run free. He glanced over his shoulder at her.
She trotted right along behind him. Her tongue lolled from her open mouth, bouncing with each step. When she met his gaze, she barked, and a glow of pure happiness emanated from the depths of her eyes.
How he wished she would look at him like that once he coughed up the nerve to tell her he’d claimed her as his mate. He’d do it soon. Rip the damn bandage off.
As they entered the clearing next to his cabin, he shifted into human form. His denim jacket, jeans, and boots reformed over his skin. Chloe followed suit, and a moment later, she stood next to him in her down jacket, jeans, and hikers.
“That was awesome! I think I’m figuring out the whole change thing. Thank you for taking me…” The delight in her eyes dimmed, and a frown marred her pretty features. “How’re you doing? I’m sure seeing those items from your past brought up painful memories of your brother.”
Her concern sent an unexpected rush of warmth to his chest, expanding his lungs, and he had to beat down the tiny bit of hope that maybe she’d forgive him for being presumptuous and want to become his mate.
Issac pinched the bridge of his nose. “That was a long time ago. Let’s go inside and get your backpack.”
He marched up the steps, knocking the snow from his boots, and gripped the door handle. A familiar scent assailed his nostrils. The hair at his nape rose.
“Stay outside.” He warned Chloe.
Bracing himself for a fight, he shoved open the door.
A man sat in one of the kitchen chairs, his steel-toed boots crossed at the ankles of his jean-clad legs and resting on the tabletop. Fingers laced together in his lap, he didn’t appear to have a care in the world. If not for the long scratch that marred his chin and the mismatched eyes, the guy could’ve passed for a tourist or someone’s uncle.
“Hiram Adaire.” Issac seethed the words.
“Well, well, about time you returned. I’ve been waiting for you.” The rogue’s voice echoed in the cabin.
Wind whipped through the broken panes over the kitchen window, glass scattered along the countertop. So that’s how the bastard had entered. There were no footprints in the snow leading up to the front door.
“That’s the rogue, the escaped convict, the killer…” Chloe set her hand on Issac’s shoulder and leaned around him.
Adrenaline speared through Issac’s veins. He placed his arm in front of Chloe. “Keep back.”
She moved her hand to Issac’s waist but didn’t retreat far.
Gods, if anything happened to her. No, Issac wouldn’t go there. He’d protect Chloe no matter what it took. His wolf stirred inside, the beast’s need to fight almost overwhelming. He stepped into the cabin and took a long breath.
“You said ‘you’ve been waiting for me.’ Why? What do you want?” Issac growled.
Hiram planted his feet on the wooden floor, one at a time, then placed his palms on his knees and leaned forward. His shoulders bunched beneath his dark jacket.
“Your brother killed my mate and did this to me.” He pointed to his milky white eye.
Issac’s gut tightened into a knot a sailor would admire. “Impossible. I knew my brother. He wouldn’t do something like that.”
“You think not? I was there. I know.” Hiram rose to his feet. “Since you don’t seem to have a clue, I’ll elaborate for you.”
Issac’s muscles stiffened.
Chloe’s grip on his waist tightened, but she held her ground at his side.
The wind picked up and blew through the open door, rustling the paper he hadn’t noticed sitting on the table.
Hiram snatched the page and held it between his hands. The single piece of parchment with the image of a young woman shook from the force.
Fold lines marred her nose and part of her lip, but the deep blue of her eyes remained vibrant.
“This was Natalia, my mate. We were on a walk through the woods not far from here and ran across a couple of hikers. They were easy pickins’. Your brother must’ve thought otherwise because he jumped in our way. The hikers ran, and we fought, two against one, but he killed my mate.”
“Good for him.” Pride swelled Issac’s chest. Protecting strangers from renegade wolves sounded like the brother he’d known.
A tic formed in Hiram’s jaw. With a nonchalance belied by his tense shoulders and shaking hands, he folded the paper and placed it in a pocket on the inside of his jacket. “I’m not surprised you’d say that. Brothers alike, I suspect.”
The slim chance that his brother might still be alive swept over Issac on a wave of hope. He clenched and unclenched his fingers, warming himself for the confrontation he knew would come. He’d have to shift fast in order to take this bastard down.
His senses on high alert and his wolf in synch with the man, he took a step forward. “That doesn’t fully explain why you’re here, now.”
“An opportunity arose at my prior residence—”
“You mean you escaped from prison.” Issac curled his hands into fists.
“—and I am able to relocate. But before I do, I want revenge.” A growl rumbled from Hiram’s chest. “An eye for an eye, so to speak. I’ve waited fifteen years, but since Jarik is dead, I’ve come for the next best thing, his brother.”
Issac’s world pinpointed, his mind tripping over the rogue’s words. “J…Jarik is dead?”
Hiram eased closer. “After he killed Natalia, I took him down and left his lifeless body for the birds.”
“No, no, no…” R
ed spots of anger formed in Issac’s vision. His wolf clawed at his insides, eager to shred this bastard into tiny pieces.
Hiram’s gaze flicked to Chloe before meeting Issac’s once again. “By the marks on this female’s throat, you’ve taken her as a mate. Seems she would make a better target, and a true exchange, one mate for another.”
“What?” Chloe blinked and ran her fingers over the mark on her skin. “I’m your mate?”
She took a step back, a crease forming between her brows. “Y…you didn’t give me a choice.”
Fear gripped Issac’s chest, squeezing his heart to the point of pain. He didn’t deserve Chloe, and by the hurt in her eyes, he never would.
Hiram’s snide laughter bellowed throughout the room. “How ironic, but that doesn’t change the outcome. She will die.”
Issac’s heart seemed to bleed from numerous self-inflicted wounds, but a determination to do right by Chloe and protect her at all costs rose from the depths of his soul.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of fur and sharp claws as the rogue launched himself into the air.
“Get back!” Issac shifted, and his elbow knocked into Chloe’s chest, sending her tumbling out the door. A modicum of relief settled next to the conviction in his soul. She was out of the rogue’s reach. To keep her safe, Issac would fight to the death.
* * *
Chloe’s shoulder rammed into the doorframe. She lost her balance and tumbled onto the stairs. Her knee banged against the top step, and she caught herself before she landed in the snow.
The crash of wood splintering, mixed with growls, echoed from within the cabin.
Mate… Protect…
Clo’s urgent words burned in Chloe’s mind, but her brain still reeled from what she’d learned. Issac had bit her, claiming her as his mate, and he hadn’t even asked her what she’d wanted. Memories of Chad and how he’d conned her into marrying him returned with a vengeance.
Hurry! He needs us. Clo scratched at Chloe’s insides, her need to surface bringing Chloe out of her stupor.
Dark Moon Falls: Volume 2 Page 124
