Chapter 28: Kali

28

KALI

W aking from a delicious nap, I let out a contented sigh and snuggle further into the warm blankets, keeping my hand entwined with his. I should get up and make us some breakfast, but I don't want to leave my bed just yet.

Maybe a few more minutes before I slip out and put on the coffee.

As I stare down at our joined hands, something tickles the back of my brain. My nails are dirty. There's a bandage around my arm. The air inside my house is cold. Is there a window open?

Confused, I lift my head and look around, my blood turning to ice, as realisation hits once more.

This isn't my house. I'm at the hunting cabin.

The scratches on my hands and arms come into focus as someone strokes featherlight touches down my spine, caressing my side and hip before slipping from me, his copious seed spilling onto the sheets and down my thighs.

Memories of him filling me, taking me from behind, assault my mind. I slept with him inside me, his cock nestled deep inside me like it belongs there. But there's only one person who I should be cuddled up to at night.

Oh no. What have I done? Tears immediately spring to my eyes and fall across my face onto the thick arm I'm using as a pillow. Feeling dirty and ashamed, because I'm well aware how much I enjoyed that, I turn around to face him. Slowly, unable to face the man I've let take me when I should have scratched his eyes out for even looking at me that way.

Eyes squeezed shut, I grab a blanket and tug it up to hide my breasts. My mate will never forgive me. Even if I was delirious with pain or fever, I should never have allowed it to happen.

I came so many times.

"I… you need to leave…" I'm stumbling over my words, big sobs wracking my body as I struggle to believe I've committed the ultimate act of betrayal. But then… as I suck in a hiccuping breath, I catch a scent I recognise. Then more.

"Griffin? Griffin?!" I cup his face and wrap my arms around him. Except, something is off. Leaning back, I stare into his smirking face and frown. It's Griffin, but… not Griffin.

I haven't seen Griffin since he left me at the bar, hurt in his eyes, as Jack forced him to leave.

The amber eyes staring back at me and the stern look on his face, tell me this is the man who kidnapped me. His beast.

He may have finally shifted back to his human form, but from the strange tilt to his head and the lack of any emotion other than lust and satisfaction, I can tell it's not the Griffin I met and gave myself to.

This version of my mate is fine with keeping me trapped in the mountains, instead of returning me to my worried family.

Looking at him now, I realise I made a dangerous assumption. I presumed that when he eventually shifted, he'd retake his human form again easily. But as I stare at the powerful beast who has seized control of Griffin's entire being, I can appreciate the error of my ways. I was naive.

This animal has been locked away for a long time, and he's not giving up his freedom that easily.

I shouldn't have acted so rashly, knowing Griffin didn't even know what was going on inside him. My confidence that he would never hurt me was solely based around the notion that his beast wouldn't attack me. But this situation is much more complicated.

Tugging more of the blanket free, I slide further away and slip my fingers from his.

Griffin's beast stares back at me, growling quietly, as I cover more of myself from his view. His glowing eyes try to burn a hole in the blanket, like its existence personally offends him.

His beast is definitely still the one running the show. The lights are on, but Griffin's still not home.

"Mine." He growls, and I edge away. His hand reaches out to pull the blanket away, but I slap it down.

"You tricked me. I was dreaming. I mean, I thought I was dreaming. I didn't mean to…"

He stares at me blankly as I trail off.

That's not the truth. I was having the best dream of my life, and I was one hundred percent on board.

His expression falls briefly, but he's not to be deterred. Soon, he's doing that sexy, rumbly thing again, eyeing me up like the last piece of chocolate. As he makes another grab for the blanket, I snarl at him.

"No." I warn, scolding him like a toddler.

He scowls, looking adorably confused. His manners leave something to be desired, but lounging there beside me, hot, naked, and extremely pissed off at a blanket, he's a sight to behold.

I suppose I may have given him some mixed signals.

"I need water and food." I demand as I scan the ground for my clothes. Did I strip them off myself? I have a vague, hazy recollection of seducing Griffin and tempting him under the blankets with my nakedness in my dream. Mortified, I choose not to deal with the embarrassment. Instead, I'm going to brazen it out.

"And a wash, Griffin. I need to make sure these wounds are all clean."

Griffin snorts, but a determined look appears on his face as he disappears to the far side of the cabin, rifling through his supplies.

My face heats as I check out his ass and think about how incredible that was. That wasn't just sex, that was otherworldly. Even my beast is conflicted. She wants more, but is it cheating if the real Griffin is nowhere to be seen?

Wrapping myself up tightly in the blanket, I tuck in one side to make a toga, and then move toward the door, relieved to find I'm finally moving more freely.

Griffin growls, a warning not to try anything, but I wave him away. I know I'm too weak to get far on my own.

His eyes never leave me as I drift around the cabin, taking in all the supplies he's brought here, ready to keep me stashed away indefinitely. He's not going to just let me go, even when I'm healed. How would he explain what happened?

I've bought myself some time to bring Griffin back… Now I just have to figure out how.