20. Chapter 19

I'm standing on the cliffs where I fell in love with a woman who I had no idea was destined to be my fated mate.

What's wild to me is how everything looks the same after so many years. The trees are the same, the view is the same, but nothing is the same, is it? I stare at the part of the woods I'd have to enter to go to where I grew up. It's probably only run-down homes, old firepits, and collapsed roofs now. The part of the forest we made ours would be overgrown with trees.

There's a part of me that wants to go and explore, but I don't need to see the destruction Brenden made us cause. There's no point in turning back when the past is lost.

Yet there is one part of my past that will always be stitched into my future.

Elouise.

I jump from the cliff, using my claws to dig into the stone as I slide down. I glance out to the night sky while I descend to the cave that I hope no one knows about. Guilt stabs my heart, engulfing it in pain at the knowledge that I am the reason she has been in her coma.

Never did I intend to bite Elouise. I made a promise that I would be in control of my beast, that I would never hurt her, but I did. I'll never forgive myself and I'm not sure how she was so forgiving. All I know is I'm going to spend the rest of eternity making her promises that I will always keep.

I growl when I think I hear someone coming from the left, but it's just a bird creating a nest for its future eggs. Other than animals, this place that once used to be my home is deserted. I hear no heartbeats, no footsteps, no howls, or laughter echoing in the night like I used to.

The place I was born to rule is dead in its own way. The only part of it that I plan to revive is my mate. Then, we are getting out of here and never fucking looking back at the place that wouldn't allow a vampire and a werewolf to be together. I can't wait to go home to my pack. I've never been so accepted so easily before and that's the only life I want to live.

Every choice made has either love or hate waiting at the end of it. I'm lucky to have love even with all the heinous crimes I have committed. Even with the killer I have proved to be, even with the promises I have broken in the past, Elouise doesn't care.

She will always be the first choice I make from here on out.

The more I glide down the cliff, my nails create that horrible grind, but the nearly full moon shines its light on me, powering me with what is to come. Lust begins to brew. The need for Elouise somehow becomes stronger. My humanity clutches onto my heart tight, but I feel the venom of the moon wanting to numb it.

I'm able to resist the urge to give in but tomorrow, there will be no fighting what will happen. I'll finally get to knot and claim Elouise. I'll be able to make her mine, something I should have been able to do years ago if the chance hadn't been taken from me.

And I'm going to make fucking sure it is never taken from me again.

I grip the edge of a protruding rock, the stone warm and rough under my hands. Testing my grip to make sure I won't fall, I lift myself up and down, swing side to side, and I'm satisfied the cliff can hold my weight. Reaching behind me, I whip out Uri, needing more leverage to swing down and into the cave.

"Please work," I grunt, swinging Uri with all my strength, and smashing him below me.

He cuts easily through the rock, and while still keeping a grip on the cliff, I find the handle of Uri. I test the weight with my feet, making sure it can support me. I jump down, squatting onto the handle and gripping it with my palms.

Sweat trickles down my forehead, and I sway when I see what is below me.

Fucking nothing but an abyss of thousands of feet that will lead to my death.

"Don't look down," I mumble to myself, knowing that's impossible given the situation.

The cave is below me. All I have to do is use Uri to swing and I can jump into the cave. It has my memory jogging, wondering how the hell Elouise and I got into the cave so easily on rainy days.

I remember us going another way but as I look around, I don't see a trail of any kind.

Securing my grip on Uri, I have to swing myself down while removing Uri from the cliff with my upper body.

"Should be fine," I say to myself, hoping it brings a little confidence.

I swing once, twice, then lift Uri from its place, backflip, and completely miss the mouth of the cave.

"Fuck!" I roar, slamming Uri down on the edge. I dangle from the cliff, pissed off and out of patience.

I use Uri as rope, climbing up the handle until my hands hit the mouth of the cave. Extending my claws to get better traction, I inch my way forward, using my hind legs to climb the cliff. I fall flat on the cave's floor, gasping for breath, my muscles trembling.

And then I smell her.

I lift from the ground, standing in the dark void. I follow her scent, hope and panic blooming in my chest.

"Where are you? Where could you be in here?" I can see better at night than I can during the day. From one side of the cave to the other, there's only a dirt floor surrounded by rock.

My growl echoes back to me in the small space. Every second that passes that I don't have her, I become more annoyed. I inhale, sniffing the air in constant beats.

The cave parts in two directions and I hang left. I shift into my human form when the tunnel becomes too narrow for my beast. I had no idea there were tunnels in this cave. We only ever hung out at the mouth of it to watch the rain fall.

Water drips somewhere in the distance. The cave walls are damp and slick against my palm. The air has a bite of cold to it. Small whooshes of wings flap around me.

When I get to the end of the tunnel, it opens to a small round space. The ceilings are high and a small amount of light peeks in through a crack in the cliff's foundation.

The walls are slick with water causing the dark brown color to appear black. Her scent is heavy here. This is where she is at. Following the rounded walls, I continue to trace her scent.

My cock begins to harden, my want and need telling me she's right here. Why can't I see her if I can feel her? Where the fuck is she? I smash my fist against the wall, cracking it more. More sun falls through the crack, and I shuffle my weight when something groans under my feet.

Looking down, I test my weight again, swaying back and forth when wood groans.

Falling to my knees, I brush years of dirt off the trapped door. My eyes water and tears fall with every cup of dirt I push out of the way. I'm frantic, my arms moving faster than they ever have.

A silver handle mocks me but I grab it, uncaring if I burn, and rip the door from the hinges. I jump down and it's cooler instantly, goosebumps arising on my skin.

I sweep the floor with my gaze, searching for any sign of her body.

When there, in the far corner, lying on her back, is Elouise.

"Louie! Louie, I'm here. I'm here. I'm here fucking here, My Light. Can you hear me?" I slide across the ground, skinning my knees, and scoop her into my arms. I brush her hair back, marveling at her beauty.

Her dress is worn and tattered from years of being down here. It's nearly falling off her body. I brush my fingers down her arm, her skin warm against mine, and a sob escapes.

"I finally have you." I extend my claws, using one to cut my jugular open. "Come on, Louie. Drink." I press her lips against my throat, waiting for her to awaken and take all she needs. "Come on, come on," I beg, falling into a seated position while holding her in my arms. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry you're here because of me. I need you to wake up. I need you to wake up so we can live the life we have dreamed."

I focus on her heartbeat, needing to hear its slow comatose beat.

It's there and I release a breath, waiting for her to have enough of my blood in her system to feast.

Finally, the smallest, quietest whimper slips from her and happiness explodes in my chest. I clutch her to me, squeezing my eyes shut as emotion boils over. After everything, we can finally be together.

Her teeth slice into me and she moans with every drag she takes that I willingly give.

"That's a good girl." With a gentle hold, I cup the back of her head to keep her as close as possible. "You're doing so good. Take all you need, My Light. I'm right here and I'm never going anywhere. I have you." I lean my cheek against her head, relaxing as she feeds for the first time in fifteen years. "I'm so fucking proud of you for bringing yourself someplace safe. I'm so sorry, Louie. I'm so sorry," I repeat, needing her to know how much I regret what I did.

She leans away, her lips and chin soaked in red. Her teeth are coated with my blood. Her eyes are glowing garnet.

"Aziel?" she croaks.

I cup her face, smiling from ear to ear. "I'm here, My Light. I'm here." I watch as her soul rights itself in place. Who she was and what she looked like in Purgatory begins to shine through. Her braids appear, then her daggers.

"Aziel." Her own tears wet her cheeks. "You found me."

"I'll always find you. You hear me? No matter where you are, I will always come to you." I trace her lower lip with my thumb. "Run away with me," I say for the first time since we were seventeen. "Run away with me and never look back."

"I'll go wherever you want to go as long as I'm with you."

Resting my forehead against her, the smell of my blood heavy on her breath, I breathe it in, knowing it means she's alive. She's in my arms and there is no one stopping us from being together.

"We finally get to run away." A laugh breaks free and it's contagious. I can't help but chuckle too. "Where are we going to go?"

I dig into the pouch, grab a handful of sunset magnolia powder, toss it into the air, and say, "We're going home. A place where I can give you the world."

"You are my world."

"Then a place where I can give you so much more than I have ever been able to give." I swing her into my arms so she doesn't have to walk. "I planned my entire life the first time I saw you, remember? That plan is still in motion. It might have changed direction, but it never stopped."

"Let's be together," she says, reminding me of what she said when we were seventeen.

I step through the portal, marking the journey of us finally starting our lives together.

The End.

Maybe you kind of like me? Join my reader's group where I post updates, art, and nonsense.

Facebook group: January's Raynestormers