Chapter 24: Kali

24

KALI

T he pitter patter of rain against glass and corrugated steel filters through my foggy brain. Tugging my blankets under my chin, I wrap them tighter around me against the sharp chill in the air and moan in pleasure as a hint of Griffin's heady, masculine scent fills my nose and floods my senses.

My heart skips a beat. He's here.

With a smile on my face, I stretch out a hand and run it along the space beside me, expecting him to be there, but the covers beside me are cold and empty. It's a cruel trick of my imagination. I'm not at home in my own bed, with my mate. I'm all alone.

Disappointed, I pull my arm back. The sharp pain when I move too fast jolts me back to reality, and I twist to the side, trying to force my swollen eyes open.

Immediately, my limited field of vision is filled by the blurry vision of a dark and broody beast, watching.

His chin rests on his paws as he stares at me from across the room. He doesn't move, only the slight narrowing of his eyes gives any indication that he's even noticed I'm awake.

"Still not feeling chatty?"

One ear twitches, but other than that, he continues to watch.

Bracing myself for the pain, I shift onto my side. Spots of darkness appear at the edges of my vision, and I grit my teeth, stubbornly trying to get one elbow underneath me so I can sit up.

With an angry snarl, the beast is on his feet immediately, looming over me, pressing his broad snout into the middle of chest. He forces me flat onto my back again, a warning rumbling deep in his chest.

"I wasn't trying to escape, I just want to know where I am." With a furious glare, I smack down his nose and then groan in pain, knowing that definitely hurt me more than him.

Moving is not a good idea, and hitting my captor probably isn't either, but I figure since I'm already dead, I may as well find out as much about what's going on as I can. Sucking in a few steadying breaths, I struggle to sit upright and blink hard, reaching out with all my functioning senses to take in my surroundings.

"Why bring me to this place?" I mutter to myself, knowing full well that the beast lurking once more in the shadows won't be answering me any time soon. He doesn't need to, and now, I know why.

This is the hunting cabin. One of John's favourite remote hideouts. Even if I could escape, it's too far for me to make it back to town on my own.

I'm trapped.

Lifting the blankets, I run my fingers over my arms and legs, wincing when I feel the myriad of bandages criss-crossing my limbs.

Tentatively moving to my abdomen, I feel the thicker wrappings around my middle where the greatest pain I have is. I raise an eyebrow at the giant creature studying me and wave my arm over his handiwork.

He was human when he did this, so why not reveal himself now?

Touching my nose, I wince at the pain. It'll heal, but that explains the poor sense of smell and why my eyes will barely open. I stare at the beast. Have I met him before? Without my sense of smell, it's hard to tell. There is some kind of ointment coating my skin, tight on the skin where it's dried, but bringing it to my nose, I can't make out what it is.

"I'm assuming you didn't do this with those?" I nod towards his massive paws, covered in thick dark fur, with black talons gleaming in the light. "You can change back if you want. Who am I going to tell?"

The beast huffs, his eyes flashing, clearly irritated.

Definitely not feeling chatty.

Climbing to his feet, he paces away and then back again, coming near me and then taking a deep breath before he stalks away once again. The air practically hums with his frustration.

Even my sluggish brain can tell he wants me to know who he is. Maybe there are others, and he'll get in trouble if he reveals himself. Fear suddenly grips me, and I turn my attention to the old door and the noises beyond it.

Are there more people on their way? Is he waiting for someone? That could be why he hasn't just killed me and put me out of my misery.

"You know, if you want to kill me, there are faster ways than letting me get an infection. I hope whatever you're rubbing into my wounds is antiseptic." I ignore his grumbles and press a hand to my tender stomach. I'm glad I can't see the injuries. I dread to think what I must look like underneath the sterile wrappings. That bitch did a number on me. "Are you helping Serena and Scott? Is that what this is?"

He growls loudly at that question, but despite the terror I feel at the prospect of meeting Serena again, I pin him with an angry glare, pointing a finger in his direction, then down at my flayed skin.

For some reason, I'm not afraid of him. "Don't you dare get pissy with me. I'm the one who looks like a fucking tiger."

I bury my face in my hands as quick glimpses of memories flash before my eyes: the sight of Serena catching me off guard. A bone-chilling scream. Strong arms. Maisy in my cabin. I can't piece it all together, but I'm not sure I even want to.

"Is Holly alive? Evan?" I ask quietly, not sure whether I can even trust the answer he gives me but needing to ask anyway.

In the dim light, the beast jerks his head in a nod of confirmation, that they're both okay.

I let out a sigh of relief and relax a little. Hopefully he's telling the truth.

The beast edges closer, his head low, and nudges a bottle of water toward me.

Reluctantly, I take some sips before downing half the bottle of water in one go. My mouth is dry, and I run my tongue over my lips, feeling the cracked dry skin and lingering blood. I'm a mess. Dehydrated and hungry, my healing is going to be slower. If I'm going to get better and get back to town, I'm going to need food.

"You planned this." Pointing at all the items set out around the room—water, blankets, bandages—annoyance flares within me. He kidnapped me in a premeditated way. He knew what he was doing.

But why me?

"I need to go back! They'll be looking for me. You're going to get yourself into a lot of trouble." I warn, genuinely concerned about what will happen when Ben and Evan find out someone stole me out from under them. I don't want them to get into trouble, or worse, get hurt. "And the town has enough shit to deal with without another missing persons case."

The beast's eyes glow as he prowls to the front door and turns to face me, blocking the only way out in an act of defiance. The message is clear. He's still not going to let me leave without a fight.

"This is bullshit." With a rueful shake of my head, I stare down at my hands, dried blood still buried under my nails. Picking at it absently, I don't look up, even though I can feel his gaze on me. "And just when something good happens in my life."

The beast tilts its head and stares back blankly. I know I'm wasting my breath.

Eyeing the entrance behind where the beast stands guard, muscles bulge under dark skin, and his fur shines in the first shards of light streaming through the windows. I sigh. There's nothing I can do for now but wait.

"Accelerated healing will only work if I have food and water. And if I get an infection while I'm weak like this, it could kill me. If I die because you dragged me out to the middle of nowhere without thinking this through, I'll come back and haunt you."

The beast's brows draw down. Even though that didn't come out exactly right, judging by the beast's agitated body language, I've hit the mark.

"I'll tell Evan and Ben I went with you willingly. That I was afraid someone would come back to finish me off. You won't get into any trouble." Bargaining and pleading. I'll try anything to get through to this thick-headed animal.

His eyes narrow suspiciously, but he comes a little closer, head tilted, as he listens intently. He's an impressive animal. He really is huge.

My heartbeat picks up, suddenly feeling less brave when he's not all the way across the room. Holding as still as I can, I try not to make any sudden movements as his large beast steps into my personal space and runs his black snout along my neck. He buries his face in my tangled hair and breathes deep.

With a hard shove, he pushes me back to a lying position and looms over me, menacingly. Dipping his head, he trails his snout over me, touching every inch of exposed skin, letting his breath and his tongue skim over my flesh.

Squirming, I'm angry when my body reacts, anticipation building deep in my core, as he drinks in my scent. When he nuzzles my hip, his snout moving lower to the apex of my thighs, and growls, it's a dark, possessive sound.

Giving his head a shove away from my intimate bits, I'm about to snarl at him when he grips the edge of the blanket in his jaws and yanks it up and over my body. Turning away abruptly with a sharp flick of his tail, he leaves me lying there, flustered, confused, and mad as hell.

I don't understand what's going on, but I know this beast is an asshole.

"Fine. Be a dick. But I still need food."

Covering all but my head, I stubbornly twist onto my side to face the wall rather than having to look at him… Or think too hard about why I just had such a visceral reaction to a beast I should hate.