Chapter 10

10

Maize stirred, feeling the gentle warmth of the sun as it kissed her cheeks. The first thing she noticed was not the sun, but the warmth enveloping her, seeping into her very bones. It was a different kind of warmth, richer and more intense. Gideon's strong arms were wrapped around her, his body heat keeping her snug as they lay in the open woods.

She lay naked against him. It wasn't just the warmth that surprised her; it was the fact she didn't itch from a single bug bite. She guessed the night crawlers were no match for her werewolf.

Her werewolf.

She felt his breath against her forehead, rhythmic and soothing, a reminder of the surreal reality she had found herself in. The scent of pine and earth filled the air, mingling with the faint, woodsy musk of Gideon. It was just how the furniture of his cabin had smelled. It was a scent she had come to associate with safety, a scent that grounded her in this world of werewolf shifters.

Maize's eyes fluttered open, and she was met with the sight of Gideon gazing down at her. His eyes were filled with adoration, and something deeper—perhaps love. She wasn't sure. She'd never seen that look on a man.

Gideon's rugged features softened in the early morning light, creating an almost ethereal glow around him. She saw the tenderness in his expression, a vulnerability that was out of place with the primal strength of him.

"Good morning." His voice was a low rumble that sent shivers down her spine.

"Morning," she replied, her voice still thick with sleep. She couldn't help but smile at him, feeling a flutter in her chest that had nothing to do with the cool morning air over her bare skin.

Maize had no idea what to say next. Apparently, neither did he. Though they were fated mates, they didn't know each other very well. What Maize realized was that she didn't want to be with anyone else.

The forest around them was still, save for the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze and the distant call of a bird greeting the dawn. As she lay snug against his chest, Maize felt a new sensation blooming within her. It felt like the sun rising inside her chest, spreading its golden warmth through every fiber of her being.

She'd tried to deny the bond last night. It felt so long ago. The bond between them felt tangible, a shimmering thread that connected them in ways she was only beginning to understand. In her mind's eye, the threads were so close together and moving closer. Though they weren't entirely clasped together like the back of a necklace that hung loose. There was the slightest gap there.

From the top of her head, where Gideon's fingers gently brushed through her hair, to the tips of her toes, which curled with the heat of her feelings, Maize felt alive in a way she never had before. The warmth radiated outward, chasing away any lingering doubts and fears, leaving only the pure, unfiltered truth of her emotions.

She snuggled closer, pressing her face into the crook of his neck. Again, the two sides of the necklace in her mind moved even closer together. The clasp opened, preparing to latch the two sides together.

Gideon's scent filled her senses. The earthy musk of him grounded her. The smell of him, the feel of him, reassured her that this thing between them was real.

The rising sun cast a soft glow over the forest, the golden light filtering through the trees and illuminating their small clearing. It felt like the world was waking up around them, a new day dawning not just in nature, but in their hearts as well. The sense of new beginnings filled the air, and Maize felt a renewed sense of hope and courage.

She took a deep breath, letting the warmth of their bond wash over her, filling her with a confidence she hadn't known she possessed. "Guess there's no backing out now."

"Do you want to back out?"

She shook her head, her nose rubbing at the space between his pecs. Then she looked up into his eyes.

Gideon's eyes shone with a mixture of relief and joy. He leaned down, capturing her lips in a kiss that was both tender and passionate, sealing the promise they had just made to each other. There was another moment of silence, filled only by the distant chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves. Maize felt a surge of emotions—confusion, fear, but also a deep, undeniable attraction. She wanted to ask him so many things, to understand this world better, to understand him better.

The piercing ring of a cell phone shattered the peaceful silence. She knew it had to be her phone since Gideon had shed his clothing back at the festival. Reluctantly, she untangled herself from his embrace and reached for the phone. The sight of the unfamiliar number almost had her tossing the phone back to the ground.

Before she could, Gideon snatched the device from her. "It's my brother, Caleb," he said, his voice a low rumble.

He answered the call, and Maize heard Caleb's urgent tone through the speaker. "Gideon, Liza is missing. She disappeared from the festival without a trace."

Maize shot up, her pulse racing. "No," she whispered, her voice trembling with fear and anger.

A cold dread settled in her stomach. This was her worst nightmare come to life. She knew without a doubt that Rob had snatched Liza away.

"I thought she was with Elijah."

"She was, but then he went off after some she wolf. The next thing I knew, Liza was gone too. I tried to call you, but I just found your phone and clothes."

Maize's hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms. She felt a surge of fury toward Gideon and his pack. They had promised to protect Liza, to keep her safe.

"We're on our way." Gideon ended the call, his face a mask of tension. He turned to Maize, his eyes filled with regret. "Maize, I?—"

"How could you let this happen?" she interrupted, her voice shaking with anger. "You said your pack would protect her. You promised me, Gideon!"

He reached out to her, but she crawled back, the distance between them growing. "I trusted you," she continued, her voice breaking. "I thought Liza would be safe with your pack. But now she's gone, and it's because of you. Because you led me away from her."

Gideon's expression was stricken. "Maize, I swear, we will find her. I'll do everything in my power to bring her back."

Maize couldn't hear his words over the roar of her own fear and fury. The thought of Liza in Rob's clutches was too much to bear. She felt her world spinning out of control, and the bond she shared with Gideon felt like a fragile thread on the verge of snapping.