Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Barrett

The helicopters began circling an hour ago. Lights were strobing until the day dawned, and now they've been replaced by the whirring of rotors and the shouts of patrol units trudging through the woods.

My back has gone stiff, but I'm not going to move. She hasn't budged since we settled into this position, and I know now that she's sleeping. I don't want her to wake. If she hears what's going on outside, she's going to freak out.

I don't want her to be afraid like that. I'll do anything to save her from the fear. I'll do anything to get her out of here. And I won't leave without her.

Why the fuck not?

I could walk out right now and pass the hunters without being questioned. She's just a strange wolf I encountered in a forest while I was supposed to be on a mission. Which I fucked up royally, thanks to this insane obsession I've developed since I got here.

I heave out a sigh, cursing my own stupidity.

Her fur is silky beneath my fingertips. The rhythmic stroking motion is soothing me as much as her, I think. I roll my head from side to side, grimacing at the popping sound my neck makes.

My phone buzzes.

Cautiously shifting to pull it from my jeans pocket, I see a message pop up. It's Jagger, of course.

What do I tell him?

My thumb moves over the keypad as I type out a message…then delete it. I type out another and delete that, too. Because what do I say right now? That I'm stuck in a cave, surrounded by gunmen, with a she-wolf sleeping on my lap?

I stare down at her, tracing her sleek lines with my eyes. Her coat is beautiful, streaked with gold and platinum that almost glows in the dawn light. It's the same color as her hair in human form, which had tumbled in waves down her back. The same hair…chocolate eyes flecked with the same amber…

I still remember the shock of seeing her out there. The odd pull that had led me down the path where I met her. Seeing her face for the first time; it had sucked the air from my lungs. The determined line of her jaw, the sweet pout of her lips. And always those eyes.

I was transfixed.

I wanted to gather her up against me and never let her go. Promise her that I'd look after her forever.

And that's just nuts.

Yet, something moves within me, a strange sensation that clenches in my chest, a fist gripping my heart. My fingertips have moved to my throat again in a gesture that's turning into a habit.

She bit me.

My fingers trace the wound that's now healed, yet it's left a distinct scar on my skin. A perfectly shaped bite mark. It tingles when I touch it, and once more, there's that feeling in my chest.

Fuck…

Fuck!

I think I know what this is.

My phone buzzes with yet another message, and this time, I don't bother typing back. I dial Jagger's number.

"Where the fuck are you," are his first words.

"Still out here." I keep my voice low, not wanting to disturb her.

"Doing what?" he snaps out the question. "Everyone is back here. Alpen, Stone. They brought wolves in with them. Sierra's family."

Interesting. We've found Wildview wolves.

"That's good. I'm glad." My voice is still low.

"So then get your ass back here, you dick. What are you waiting for?"

"There's another one out here."

"Another what?" He's still snapping. I'm not offended. It's his way.

"A wolf. A big, golden she-wolf…with golden eyes." I'm not quite sure why I need to share that description; maybe it's because I can't get it out of my mind. "She's been out in the forest."

"So bring her in." He's firm.

"It… It's complicated," I say.

Yeah…complicated like I've brought the full force of an army down upon us. And if we're caught, there's gonna be a crap-ton of questions.

"Then I'll send in a team. Stone and the rest can help you get her out."

"No!" I say sharply. The last thing we need is a bunch of shifters running straight into the mess out there. "I'll do it."

"Don't be an idiot. We'll come in and help you. We—"

"It has to be me," I interrupt him. Why? Because I got her into this mess? Because I find myself unable to let go of this responsibility? Because…

"Why you, dammit? You're making this impossible."

"It has to be me because… Because…" I pull in a breath. "Because she's my mate."

"What?!" Jagger's voice rises several octaves. "She's your what?" I can practically see the disbelieving look on his face. It's coloring his voice. I don't blame him. I can barely believe it, either. But it's true. I know it.

"She's my mate. We're fated." Getting the words out settles something inside me. As if things are all falling into place. "She's my mate. I'm the one who will save her."

I end the call before he can continue arguing. My head is reeling with the enormity of what I just said.

My mate!

It all makes sense. The way I haven't been able to stop thinking of her since the moment our eyes met. The pull that's been impossible to ignore. The sense of not being able to be apart from her. The wound on my neck…

It's a fucking mate bite.

She's my mate.

Fuck!

I drop my head back against the wall behind me and squeeze my eyes shut.

I've heard of this…we all have, of course. But to find it this way? It's fucking insane.

And now, there's a good chance that it's all going to end before it can even begin. The threat outside is unmistakable. My jaw clenches with renewed determination.

I'm getting us out of here. I don't care what I have to do to get it right. My mind races with the options – not that there are many. But if I have to rush out there and take down troops, Rambo-style, I'll do it.

I stop my mad thoughts as I feel an odd shift in the air…a ripple.

"Barrett?"

I suck in a breath and look down. The wolf that had been resting against me is gone. And in its place is the woman. My hand is resting on her head. I don't move it.

"Cedara," I whisper the word with something like reverence. She's curled on her side, her cheek resting on my thigh. Her skin glows in the morning light. She pushes herself up onto one palm, golden hair falling over her shoulder in a wave. There's an immediate tightening in my groin, which I fight down.

Jesus, she's beautiful.

"Who were you speaking to?"

"Jagger. My Alpha." I can't stop staring at her.

Shit. How much did she hear?

Chocolate-colored brows pull together, forming a tiny groove between them. I stare at that, too. It's perfect. She's perfect.

"I… I'm back," she murmurs, looking down at herself, confused. "I couldn't…" She shakes her head.

"You couldn't shift."

"I don't understand." Her face clouds. "I tried everything, but I couldn't. But now…I'm here. What did I do?"

I'm wondering myself, but I'm not complaining. "Let's not overthink that. What matters is that you've suppressed the wolf."

She pulls in a breath. "I tried to hurt you again!"

I put a finger over her lips, shrugging aside the intimacy of the gesture. "Don't worry about that now. You need to get dressed. We can walk out of here if we're both human. But…" I pause because something is occurring to me. "But we don't know how long this will last."

I don't know what makes her shift into her wolf, but the fact that she can't turn back is a fuck up. If she does that while we're out there-

I stop my train of thought. "We have to move quickly," I say, abruptly rising. Putting distance between us feels like a physical pain. I stride to where I dropped the duffel bag last night and reach into it. "Put these on." I toss the clothes toward Cedara, keeping my eyes averted as she pulls them on.

"We need to move fast," I tell her again, my voice coming out gruffer than intended. "Those searchers aren't going to give up easily."

Her movements are quick and efficient as she buttons up the shirt I provided. I risk a glance at her face and find her watching me intently.

"Barrett…" She hesitates, uncertainty flickering across her delicate features. "About last night…when I attacked you. I'm so sorry. That won't happen again. She trusts you now. My wolf, I mean."

I hold up a hand to stop her. As much as I want to reassure her, to try to explain the magnitude of what's happening between us, now is not the time.

"We'll talk about it later," I say, meeting her gaze steadily. "But right now, we need to focus on getting out of here safely."

Cedara nods again, seeming to accept my words for the moment. I hand her a spare jacket.

"Stay close to me and do exactly as I say," I instruct. "We're going to move quickly and quietly through the woods, then back toward Steel Lakes."

"Steel Lakes?"

"My packlands. We'll be safe once we get out of these woods, but if you shift, we may be in trouble. There's no telling how far the news of this attack has spread. We might be dealing with a kill fest – every yahoo with a shotgun could be looking to bag a wolf."

Her eyes widen slightly at my blunt words, but she doesn't protest. Good. She understands the urgency of our situation.

Shouldering my duffel bag, I take her hand in mine, relishing the spark of connection that jolts through me at the simple touch. Her fingers are slender, but her grip is firm, a reminder of her inner strength. And I love the way she simply lets me touch her in this small way. Like it's natural for both of us.

With one last glance around the cave that has sheltered us, I lead Cedara out into the pale morning light. We move swiftly and silently, our footsteps muffled by the thick carpet of fallen leaves and pine needles.

The sounds of the search parties are distant but ever-present – shouts, helicopters overhead, the barking of dogs. My senses strain to detect any sign that we're being pursued.

Cedara matches my pace effortlessly, her movements lithe and graceful. Despite the direness of our situation, I can't help but steal glances at her as we hurry through the forest. The way the sunlight filters through the trees, casting dappled patterns across her smooth skin. The firm set of her jaw. The wild tumble of her golden hair.

She is stunning. Fierce and beautiful and brave.

My mate.

The thought still sends a shiver of disbelief and wonder through me. How is it possible to feel such an intense bond with someone I've only just met? And yet, the proof is undeniable – in the way my body seems to gravitate toward hers, the way my wolf howls for her on an instinctive level.

No time for that now!

We will have time for explanations later. For now, I must get her to safety.

I grip Cedara's hand tighter as the barking of dogs closing in reaches my ears. She tenses beside me, no doubt picking up the same sounds.

We move more cautiously now. The crunch of boots on the forest floor grows louder, accompanied by harsh voices.

Shit.

This is exactly what I was afraid of.

I tug Cedara closer, our bodies brushing together as we peer through the trees. An armed unit is fanning out ahead, baying dogs straining at their leashes as they catch our scent. The animals are unsettled, growling low in their throats. No doubt sensing that we're not quite human.

Cedara stiffens, her eyes flashing amber for the briefest instant. I squeeze her fingers in warning.

Don't shift…for fuck's sake, don't shift!

"Stay calm," I murmur under my breath. "Follow my lead."

She gives the slightest dip of her head, her expression schooled into one of meek compliance as we step out onto the trail. The unit leader's head snaps around at our approach, his hand dropping to the gun at his hip.

"What the fuck are you doing out here?" he barks.

"Whoa!" I stop in my tracks, trying to look unassuming. "Easy now. We don't want any trouble. What's going on here?"

"You folks need to get out of these woods," he snaps. "Didn't you hear there was an incident out here? Dangerous animals on the loose."

I raise my free hand in a calming gesture. "We didn't realize, sir. Just a couple of hikers out enjoying nature." I let my voice take on a slightly sheepish tone. "Got a bit…preoccupied, if you catch my drift." I smile at Cedara as if sharing a secret. With any luck, he'll think we've been out indulging in some "alfresco" romance.

The man's eyes flick between Cedara and me, his mouth quirking in understanding. "Well, you can't be too careful right now. We've got reports of a pack of killer wolves that escaped from…well, we're not sure what. But they're a danger."

"Of course, officer," I reply easily. "We'll get right out."

"I'll send some men with you," the man says. "Not safe to be out alone."

"No!" Cedara blurts.

I give her hand another warning squeeze as her eyes widen slightly. "That won't be necessary," I cut in. "We're parked not far from here."

The leader considers this for a moment before giving a shrug. "Suit yourself. Just stick to the marked trails, and you should be fine. But I'd suggest getting a move on before those animals double back this way."

"Yes, sir. Thank you for the warning." I start backing away, tugging Cedara with me.

Once we're out of earshot, she exhales a shaky breath. "That was too close."

"No arguments here," I mutter, lengthening my stride.

We hike in tense silence for what feels like an eternity, constantly scanning our surroundings for any sign of pursuit. At last, the trees begin to thin, and I catch a glimpse of open road ahead.

The relief is overwhelming. We've made it out. I slow to a halt, turning to face Cedara with a grin. We're not out of danger yet, but right now, all I feel is the bone-deep satisfaction of having kept her safe.

My mate.

"We're still a way off from Steel Lakes," I tell her. "But, I think that was the worst of it."

"Thank you." She smiles at me, and fuck, I could gaze at her forever.

"Thank me when we get there." I stay pragmatic, but my mood has lightened. Once we get back to Steel Lakes, everything is going to be okay.