Chapter 10

10

PHOEBE

T he sun was faint, filtering through the thick clouds and trees as Phoebe leaned against a tree, catching her breath and pulling her jacket tightly around her shoulders. Despite the quiet around her, her thoughts churned in chaotic loops, circling back to one unavoidable truth.

They had slept together. And Jonah had kept a part of himself—a rather large part of himself—hidden.

She turned her gaze to where Jonah squatted by the fire, scanning the map he’d retrieved from his pack. His movements were deliberate, confident, but Phoebe noticed the occasional flicker of tension in his jaw, the subtle rigidity in his shoulders. He knew exactly what was on her mind.

“I should have known,” Phoebe said finally, breaking the silence. Her voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. “The way you move, the way you... fought. Your competence in the wilderness. Your unerring sense of direction. It’s not human.”

Jonah didn’t look up immediately, his fingers tracing a trail on the map before he folded it and set it aside. He met her gaze steadily, his expression unflinching. “You have a right to feel that way,” he said, his voice low. “But I can’t change it. And I don’t regret it.”

Phoebe’s breath caught, his words settling over her like a weight. “You didn’t think I deserved to know before we—before last night?”

His jaw tightened, but his gaze didn’t waver. “I should have told you. But it doesn’t change how I feel about you, Phoebe.”

She shook her head, her emotions swirling in a confusing mix of frustration and something she didn’t want to name. “I don’t even know what this is,” she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. “How am I supposed to trust you when I have a sneaky suspicion you’re still keeping things from me?”

Jonah leaned forward, his piercing eyes locking onto hers. “I’ve trusted you with the truth about what I am,” he said, his voice firm.

“Only because you didn’t have a choice…”

“I had a choice. I could have let them kill you and just gone on my way. I told you something I’ve never told anyone who wasn’t a shifter. And if I could go back and tell you everything before last night, I probably would. But I can’t undo what’s already done.”

Phoebe stared at him, her chest tightening as his words sank in. He was right—there was no going back, no erasing what had happened between them. And no denying how much it had meant to her, even now, when doubt gnawed at the edges of her thoughts.

Jonah exhaled, running a hand through his hair as he rose to his feet. “You need to rest,” he said, his tone softening. “There’s a cave not far from here. I’ll take you there, and then I’ll scout the area.”

She frowned, rising as well despite the ache in her ribs. “You’re leaving me alone?”

“Not for long,” he assured her, his voice firm but not unkind. “We can’t afford to stay in one place too long, but I need to know if anyone’s still on our trail. And I’ll bring back food.”

Phoebe opened her mouth to argue but stopped herself. The truth was, she trusted him—even when she didn’t fully understand why. She nodded reluctantly. “Fine. But don’t take too long.”

Jonah’s lips curved in the faintest hint of a smile. “I don’t plan to.”

The cave Jonah had found was smaller than the cabin but just as secure. He’d built a fire before he left, ensuring Phoebe would stay warm while he was gone. The fire cast dancing silhouettes on the walls, their light doing little to quiet her restless thoughts.

Phoebe leaned against the rough stone wall, her gaze fixed on the fire as her mind replayed the events of the last few days. Jonah had put everything on the line for her—his life, his secrets, his safety. He could have walked away the moment he found her, left her to deal with the fallout of the sabotage and the hunters who were still chasing her. But he hadn’t.

Why?

Her fingers brushed the fresh bandage on her arm, a reminder of how much she owed him. Jonah had saved her life more times than she could count, but it wasn’t just that. He’d trusted her with the truth about what he was, something he clearly didn’t share lightly.

She exhaled, her head falling back against the stone. He didn’t have to stay. He didn’t have to protect her, fight for her, or share his world with her. But he had. And that realization settled deep within her, the significance of it unfamiliar but not unwelcome.

The sound of footsteps pulled her from her thoughts. She straightened, her hand instinctively moving to the knife Jonah had left her. But when his familiar frame appeared at the cave’s entrance, her shoulders relaxed.

Jonah stepped inside, his sharp gaze sweeping the cave before landing on her. He carried a small bundle of what looked like freshly caught fish, cleaned and ready to cook. “I didn’t see any sign of them,” he said, his voice calm but edged with caution. “We’ve got a little time to eat and rest.”

Phoebe nodded, her lips pressing into a thin line as she watched him set the fish on a makeshift spit on the fire. “Thank you,” she said quietly.

Jonah glanced at her, his brow furrowing slightly. “For what?”

“For not walking away,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “For staying.”

His expression softened, a flicker of something unguarded passing through his eyes. He crossed the cave in two steps. “I couldn’t have walked away if I tried,” he said, his voice rough but sincere. “You’re mine, Phoebe. Whether you like it or not.”

Her breath hitched, her gaze locking onto his. “And if I’m not ready to be?”

Jonah’s lips curved into a faint smile, one that carried an unmistakable promise as he shrugged. “We’ll cross that bridge when we have to, but in the spirit of transparency, I’m not letting you go.”

Phoebe wasn’t sure how to respond to him. She waited until they’d eaten, and then she sat cross-legged by the fire, her eyes flickering over Jonah as he finished packing the last of their meager supplies. His broad shoulders tensed beneath his shirt as he adjusted his pack, and though his movements were calm and deliberate, it was as if she could feel his thoughts.

They couldn’t keep running forever. Not like this.

She pulled her knees to her chest, the warmth of the fire doing little to chase away the cold dread coiling in her stomach. Jonah had shared everything with her—his secrets, his truth, and a part of himself he seemed to keep locked away from the rest of the world. Now she understood the stakes. If the men hunting them ever discovered what he was, it wouldn’t just be her life in danger. Jonah’s freedom—his very existence—would be on the line.

And the thought of losing him sent a sharp pang through her chest.

“We can’t keep this up,” Phoebe said finally, breaking the silence.

Jonah glanced at her, his eyes narrowing. “We don’t have a choice.”

“There’s always a choice,” she countered, straightening. “We’re not going to last much longer out here without outside help. We need reinforcements.”

Jonah’s jaw tightened, his presence overwhelming in the confined space of the cave. “Reinforcements? From where? You think the Air Force is just going to swoop in and save us?”

Phoebe met his gaze, refusing to back down. “It’s not about saving us. It’s about turning the tables. They sabotaged my plane, Jonah. They want the flight computer, and they’ll do anything to get it. But if I can get word to the right people—people I trust—we might have a chance to fight back. They might not care about me, but you can be damn sure they care about the flight computer.”

Jonah’s expression darkened, his hand resting on the ground beside her. “And how exactly do you plan to contact them? Send a smoke signal?”

Phoebe exhaled sharply, forcing herself to stay calm. “I still have my emergency locator beacon,” she said. “It’s encrypted, and if I activate it, it’ll send a distress signal directly to the Air Force. They’ll know I’m alive, and they’ll come looking.”

Jonah’s brows furrowed, his voice dropping. “You’ve had a locator beacon, and I’m just hearing about it now?”

“Turnabout is fair play. You didn’t mention you could shift into a snow leopard.”

“Not the same.”

“Yes, it is, and you know it.”

Jonah looked like he was going to argue, but then thought better of it. “You think the men chasing us won’t notice a signal like that?”

Phoebe hesitated, her stomach twisting. “It’s a risk,” she admitted. “But it’s better than waiting for them to catch up to us.”

Jonah’s gaze burned into hers, his frustration palpable. “You’re talking about bringing more people into this, Phoebe. People who don’t know what they’re walking into. Do you really trust them not to turn on us if they find out about me?”

Phoebe reached out, her hand brushing against his. “I have no intention of telling them. I trust myself,” she said softly. “And I trust you. If we don’t try, we’re both dead anyway.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I’m not sure how much longer I can go on, and you aren’t going to leave me. So if I go down, you’ll go down too. I don’t want that. Not if there’s a chance we can get help and survive this.”

“And then?”

“I don’t know, but if we don’t survive, it won’t matter.”

For a moment, Jonah didn’t move, his eyes searching hers. The tension between them was electric, the firelight casting shadows across his strong features. Finally, he exhaled, his shoulders relaxing slightly.

“Where’s the beacon?” he asked, his voice gruff.

Phoebe hesitated, opening one of the zippered pockets on her flight suit. She retrieved the small, handheld device, its casing scratched but intact. “It’s here,” she said, holding it up. “It’ll take a minute to activate, and once it’s live, we’ll have to move fast. The signal will draw attention from both sides.”

Jonah nodded, his jaw set. “Do it.”

Phoebe swallowed hard, her fingers trembling slightly as she flipped the beacon over and pressed the small activation switch on the back. The device emitted a faint hum, its red light blinking steadily as it sent out its encrypted signal.

“It’s done,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jonah rose to his feet, his broad frame casting a shadow over her as he grabbed his pack. “Then we’ll need to move. I’m going out to take a quick look and then we go.”

It didn’t take him long to return. Phoebe scrambled to her feet—gripping the beacon tightly, her heart racing as she grabbed the knife Jonah had left her. Her pulse slowed slightly when his broad silhouette appeared at the cave entrance, scanning the interior before landing on her.

Phoebe exhaled shakily, lowering the knife. “You took longer than I thought.”

“Sorry about that. I got waylaid by some of our friends,” Jonah replied, stepping inside. His movements were deliberate, his shoulders tight with lingering tension. He held up a small pack, his lips curving faintly. “I helped myself to their supplies.”

Phoebe’s brows lifted as Jonah tossed her a couple of protein bars. “Stealing from the enemy now?”

“Better than starving. If your friends don’t come for us, these can help us get to safety,” Jonah said, his tone dry as he settled beside her.

“Is the trail clear?” Phoebe asked finally, her voice quiet.

Jonah nodded, brushing crumbs from his hands. “For now. But they’re close. We don’t have much time.”

Phoebe’s grip on the protein bar tightened, listening to his words. “Do you think the beacon will work? Will they even come?”

“Let’s hope so,” Jonah said firmly. “But we need to keep moving. We can’t risk staying here.”

Phoebe nodded, staring at the fire, the flickering flames casting shadows across Jonah’s sharp features. He was so steady, so sure, even when the world seemed to be falling apart around them. And yet, she could feel the burden he carried—the fear he couldn’t admit, the responsibility he’d taken on without hesitation.

“I need you,” she said suddenly, the words slipping out before she could stop them.

Jonah’s head snapped toward her, his eyes narrowing slightly. “What?”

Phoebe swallowed hard, her throat tightening as she forced herself to hold his gaze. “I need you,” she repeated, her voice trembling. “Not just to survive. I’ve never needed anyone before, but with you... it’s different. You’re different.”

Jonah’s jaw tightened, his gaze darkening as he leaned toward her. “Phoebe?—”

“I’m scared,” she continued, her voice soft but steady. “But I trust you. And I don’t know how to do that with anyone else.”

Jonah stared at her for a long moment, his breathing slow and deliberate. Then, in one swift motion, he reached out and cupped the back of her neck, pulling her toward him. His grip was firm, commanding, but his touch sent a shiver racing down her spine.

“Don’t ever doubt how much I want you,” Jonah growled, his voice low and rough. “But this—us—isn’t just about what I want. You’re mine, Phoebe. And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”

Before she could respond, his lips crashed against hers, fierce and urgent. The kiss was primitive, filled with everything they’d been through, every emotion they’d fought to suppress. Phoebe melted into him, her hands clutching at his shoulders as the heat between them burned away the cold fear clinging to her.

Jonah pulled her closer, his fingers threading through her hair as he deepened the kiss. She felt the tension in his body, the raw power he carried so effortlessly, and it only made her hold onto him tighter.

When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathless. Jonah stroked her cheek with his knuckles, his voice a low rumble. “We’re going to get out of this,” he said, his tone serious.

Phoebe nodded as she steadied herself. “I know.”

Jonah pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead before pulling back. “Let’s go,” he said, his voice firm. “We’ve got miles to go before we sleep.”

Phoebe followed him toward the cave entrance, her heart racing as she braced herself for whatever came next. She didn’t know how this would end, but she knew one thing for certain: she wasn’t alone anymore.