Chapter 7: Kali

7

KALI

T here's someone else here, and it's someone I don't know.

With heavy rain now starting to fall, I'm surprised anyone would brave the elements tonight, which instantly makes me wonder who it is and what they want.

Used to staying out of the way, I'm adept at identifying different beasts from a distance. My safety depends on it. I don't recognise the strong heartbeat and the faint scent I pick up as anyone I know from Sutton or Zora, but I haven't spent that much time here that I'd know everyone in town.

My beast is eager to investigate. Normally, she's extra cautious, trying to avoid any unknown situation, but tonight, she wants to see who it is.

I grab a coat from behind the door and pull the hat that was stuffed in the pocket down low over my eyes, dragging my hood up over my head to hide any loose tendrils of hair.

Stepping outside, I scent the air, scanning the trees for any sign of the mystery visitor, but whoever it is, they're a good bit back from the road. The hairs stand up on the back of my neck, and my heart beats a little faster. I should go back inside, but I can feel their pain. It doesn't seem right to sit by the fire, pretending I don't know someone's out here hurting.

"Hello?" I slowly walk down the steps and peer out into the gathering dusk.

There's no answer.

I don't see any parked cars as I look up and down the long private access lane. Taking a deep breath to catch the scent and commit it to memory, I step across the narrow dirt road and study the old forest across from my new home.

Nothing seems amiss, but it's impossible to forget that three humans have gone missing here. I'd be an idiot to go wandering off into the forest alone. My intuition tells me, though, that this person isn't a threat. In fact, my beast is pushing me to go and help them.

Him , she whispers. He won't hurt us.

With my hands on my hips, I look up at the heavy cloud blanketing the mountain, making it darker than it should be at this time, and try to decide what to do. I have no reason to be scared yet, so I stomp through the trees a little further.

Tilting my chin to catch his alluring scent on the breeze, I follow his trail into the tall trees surrounding the cabin. I won't be able to relax until I know who I'm dealing with, and whether he's okay.

My mother likes to joke that for someone who gets picked on all the time, I have a very trusting nature. Like I'm a labrador and not a dangerous beast.

As I pick my way through the low branches, I creep close to the edge of one of the pools dotted along the river. As I approach, instead of walking straight out into the open, I hang back, keen to have a look at the male who's wandered so close to my new home, and smells so damn good.

At first, I don't see him, but then a ripple across the surface of the mirrored water gives away his location.

My mouth turns dry as he stands, brushing his black hair back off his face, water running down his glistening chest and muscular shoulders.

He stretches his neck from side to side and wipes droplets of water from his face.

Swallowing hard, I can only stare as he splashes water over every inch of his tanned skin, and then rubs himself clean, his impressive muscles flexing as he works, spending a long time scrubbing his hands together.

I should have made my presence more obvious, because now, I feel like a peeping tom. And it's quite a show I'm getting, too.

As he turns away, the swell of his ass is visible over the water. His firm body, hard and dripping wet, is making my insides flutter. Watching him from the shadows feels both naughty and exhilarating at the same time. I imagine what it would be like to drag my fingers, or my tongue, over that gleaming, wet skin…

When his movements slow, and the muscles in his back twitch, I know he's finally picked up on my presence. He doesn't immediately acknowledge me or call out a friendly hello, and suddenly, I'm not quite so relaxed about a stranger lurking around my garden.

We're all alone out here, and I'm small, even for a female.

He's a big guy, which means his beast will be massive, and much more powerful than mine. This man could be dangerous, even if he is pretty to look at.

Stepping from the cover of the trees and into the dappled moonlight, I show myself.

"Hello there," I call in my friendliest voice, feigning confidence I don't really have.

After a brief pause, he grunts back, sounding tense and borderline unfriendly.

Wonderful. This was clearly a mistake. I should have stayed inside.

I shift awkwardly from foot-to-foot as he comes closer, a tight smile on his handsome face.

His gaze travels along the treeline, checking if there's anyone with me. Striding through the water until it dips below his waist, he slowly reveals his rippling abs, and the well-defined V that runs down between his hip bones.

My eyes follow the line of dark hair that runs from his navel, down to the surface of the water, and I wish I could see where it leads. Or trace it with my tongue… The distant rumble of thunder snaps me out of my daze, and when he clears his throat, I flush, knowing he's caught me staring. Embarrassed at so obviously checking him out, I snap my gaze back to his face, fighting the urge to apologise.

With a raised eyebrow, he doesn't comment, mercifully, but looks pointedly at the clothes hanging over a nearby branch.

Snatching them and then forcing myself not to sniff the bundle of material, I shuffle closer and toss them to him. Reluctantly, I turn my back and allow him some privacy as he gets dressed. The strong breeze carries his scent to me, and I close my eyes, savouring it.

"Funny night to be out taking a skinny dip." I comment, the silence unbearable. "Couldn't wait to get home for a shower?"

The splashing of water tells me he's stepped out, and my pulse races at the thought of him standing behind me. Naked.

I'm both disappointed and relieved when I hear him stepping into his trousers and then the sound of a zipper.

"Just needed to cool down. I didn't expect to meet anyone else out here." His voice is smooth and deep.

Turning, I'm just in time to see him tugging a T-shirt over his head, hiding his washboard stomach from view. He studies me, eyes narrowed and suspicious, before looking around as if to say, what are you doing out here ?

Like I'm the one who's doing something crazy, not the man I just found swimming in a lake during a storm.

"Normally you wouldn't, but I could sense you out here, and I wanted to make sure you're alright. Are you okay ?"

I don't want to offend him or pry, but even now, I can feel his beast roiling inside him, a storm of turmoil behind his calm facade.

He doesn't respond, just continues to stare into the distance. From the way his hands are balled up at his sides, I get the impression he's not happy to see me here and doesn't want to explain himself.

"I'm good."

That's a lie if I ever heard one.

The ground is getting soggy now and the branches sway around us, making his stillness all the more unsettling. He gives me a once over, taking in my soaked, muddy trainers. I get that I'm not dressed for trekking through the forest, but footwear doesn't really matter when you can shift and run.

"I'll clear out right now. I'm sorry if me being here made you uncomfortable," he says without looking up. His fingers deftly slip his belt through the loops, and my belly swoops watching them work.

I never knew hands could be so attractive.

Shaking my head and waving away his apology, I force my gaze to stay at eye level while he tightens the buckle and tucks the length of leather away.

"You don't need to rush off." I'm drawn to him. Despite being good-looking and confident, there's an air of vulnerability to him. And his beast is almost feral, so I don't understand how he's even maintaining his human form with the way I can sense it thrashing about inside him.

"Is your car nearby? The storm's getting closer. Everyone's been told to stay indoors until it passes."

Since coming here, I've avoided moving into Evan's so I would have some solitude. Now, I'm… what? Encouraging some hot stranger to stay? I don't know anything about this guy.

The man nods, tugging the hem of his T-shirt lower, and sadly, hiding the last strip of tanned, toned stomach from my view. As he steps forward to pick up his boots, I move back, staying out of arm's reach. The look he gives me is intense as he takes in my stiff body language, and the distance I'm careful to keep between us.

I'm not afraid of him. In fact, I feel surprisingly exposed. He's captivated my beast, and she wants him to stick around.

He can tell his presence puts me on edge, although he doesn't realise it's in a good way.

"Can you tell me how to get back to town? I got a bit turned around." He clears his throat to hide his embarrassment. Getting lost isn't something beasts do. He's obviously not from around here, and I dread to think what happened that has him so scattered.

"If you follow me to the road, I'll point you in the right direction, or I can give you a lift."

Nodding, he looks up at the dark, heavy skies above us, but I just stare straight at him, soaking in his alluring scent, admiring his strong jaw that's covered in dark stubble. Sensing he's not going to say anymore, I back away and retrace my steps to the cabin, feeling the weight of his gaze on my back, as I slip through the trees.

"So where did you say your car is?" I glance back, needing to get another look at this mysterious man who's causing every nerve in my body to light up.

"Gas station." He grunts before his tone softens, and he adds, "It was a long drive. I went for a walk to clear my head and got a bit lost."

"The gas station? I'm definitely going to drive you." I don't challenge him on his story, even though I know it's complete bullshit. With the way his beast is pushing forward right now, something must have happened there to set him off, although that's none of my business.

Back at the cabin, I climb the porch steps and open the door, keen to get out of the damp weather.

"Come in for a minute and let me change, first." I take off my shoes and leave them on the wooden deck, walking inside barefoot, and leaving the door open for him to come inside, if he wants.

I hope he does. My beast is intrigued by him.

He stands in the doorway, looking stiff and awkward, as he scans my small home.

I disappear into the back, taking a quick look in the tiny mirror on my bedroom wall. After stripping off my hoodie, I pull on something softer and a little more fitted, before re-braiding my blonde hair.

It's hot in here with the stove going. I'm doing it for me, not for him. At least, that's what I tell myself.

When I walk back into the living room, he's standing in the middle, eyes closed, drawing in a deep breath with a look of bliss on his face.

Without the wind and the rain to block it, his scent is stronger here.

Butterflies flutter in my stomach as it hits me. Clean but manly, and too intoxicating to let me think clearly. I blame my next words on him getting me lust drunk on his scent…

"You could stay. And go for your car at first light."

His eyes fly open and meet mine with a burning intensity that takes my breath away. Jaw clenched and nostrils flaring, he holds my gaze, and for a moment, I think that I've made a fool of myself. That I've misinterpreted the chemistry between us.

That is, until he steps forward and extends a hand to me.

"I'm Griffin. It seems only right you should know my name if I'm sleeping over." His gaze burns into me as he speaks, and I blink, momentarily startled. Heat spirals through my belly, and my core clenches in anticipation.

"Kali," I say, barely able to force my name out in a normal tone.

Am I really going to do this? With a man I've never met before, who I found naked in the woods?

I take Griffin's hand, and he shakes mine gently, stroking his thumb over my skin in the barest of movements. But it's enough to have my skin heating, and my insides tingling.

Our eyes lock again, and this time, neither of us looks away. His beast flashes in his eyes, bright amber and wild, as he smothers a low growl. Griffin tries to hide it with a cough, but it's unmistakable.

He feels this, too.

I smirk a little as he pulls his hand away, looking ashamed of his reaction to me. It's not what I expected from a man as good-looking as this, with a beast so dominant.

"Anyone else living here with you that would mind me sleeping on the couch?"

Evan would kill me for being so reckless, but there's no point in lying. I shake my head.

Griffin must know the answer already. He'd have scented them if there was anyone else staying with me. When a satisfied rumble comes from deep inside his chest, I feel myself get wet, my eager pussy getting slick and ready for him.

No man has affected me this way before.

Maybe because none of them wanted anything to do with me. Maybe, because I assume the worst and keep myself closed off to avoid getting hurt.

My mother laughs when I claim there's something wrong with me and my libido. "The right person will knock you off your feet," she told me.

As Griffin moves closer, his presence fills up my senses and excites my beast.

I drink in every inch of him, from his dark, messy hair, to the broad slope of his shoulders and the serious set of his full lips. I've never been as turned on before, or as ready for what's to come.

Now I know exactly what my mum meant.