Chapter 14

Monte's heart raced as Kiri held out the silver bracelet, its intricate design shimmering in the soft young sunset. His heart seized as he recognized Lyra's handiwork. His emotions swirled as a mix of embarrassment and concern flooded through him.

The gift Lyra had chosen and given to her on his behalf.

"Where did you get that?" he rumbled, even though he already knew the answer.

"Lyra just gave it to me. She said it would protect me." Her brow furrowed slightly, her hazel eyes searching his face for answers. "Protect me from what, Monte?"

He reached out, gently encircling her wrist. The bracelet looked so fragile against his touch. Monte took a deep breath, composing himself, but her sweet scent filled his nostrils, making his pulse race.

"It's meant to protect you from me," he said quietly, unable to meet her gaze. Shame weighed heavy in his chest.

Kiri tilted her head, regarding him thoughtfully. Her blonde hair, softly curled around her shoulders, highlighted the warmth in her eyes as her hand came up to cup his cheek, guiding his face back to hers. Her touch was soft, tender as he leaned toward her. "Monte, look at me. I'm not afraid of you."

"You should be," he ground out. "I'm a monster, Kiri. I could hurt you without meaning to."

She shook her head, her voice steady and sure. "You've never hurt me. Not once, in all the time we've been together." Her thumb stroked his cheekbone. "I know you would never hurt me on purpose."

His chest tightened at her words, gratitude flooding through him. Monte leaned farther into her touch, his eyes fluttering closed for a moment.

How could this intelligent, beautiful human female trust him so completely, despite his monstrous appearance?

And yet here she was, standing before him, her faith in him unwavering. It was both humbling and terrifying. He wanted so badly to be worthy of it.

"Thank you, Kiri," he breathed, bringing his large hand up to cover hers. "I promise you, I will never hurt you willingly. You don't understand what I'm capable of."

"Then help me understand," she implored, hazel eyes searching his. "Don't push me away out of fear."

He swallowed hard past the lump in his throat. Her nearness was intoxicating, clouding his judgment. The beast within him stirred, drawn to her scent, her touch, her warmth.

Monte knew he should pull away, put distance between them. But he was weak, so weak, when it came to her. Instead, he drew her closer, folding her into his embrace.

"I will never willingly bring you harm," he vowed fiercely, his voice muffled against her hair. "I swear it, Kiri. No matter what happens, know that."

She relaxed into him, wrapping her slender arms around his waist. "I do know that. I trust you with all my heart."

Monte held her tighter, savoring her softness, her acceptance. For this moment, at least, he let himself believe that everything would be all right. That their love could overcome tonight—the monster was unleashed every full moon, demanding to mate.

Monte inhaled deeply, drinking in Kiri's intoxicating scent that seemed to call to him on a primal level. Her blonde hair tickled his chin as she pressed closer, fitting so perfectly into his embrace despite their difference in size.

He knew he should step back—but right now, lost in her, that was the last thing he wanted to do.

"The bracelet," he rumbled, voice strained. "It's not just a trinket or a token. Lyra crafted it with powerful enchantments." He hesitated, warring with himself over how much to reveal. "A precaution for monsters with mates in need, but I want you to know that you can trust me."

"I do trust you, Monte. With my life." Kiri tilted her head back to meet his gaze, hazel eyes alight with curiosity and a stunning lack of fear. "But what are the enchantments for? Why would I need protection from you?"

The lump returned to his throat. He cupped her face with a large, callused hand, careful to avoid snagging her delicate skin on his claws.

"Because as much as I care for you, there are parts of myself I can't fully control. Urges and desires… changes I undergo."

She absorbed his warning, brow furrowing slightly. But she didn't recoil from his touch. "What kind of changes?"

"Every full moon, my more animalistic nature takes over. I become feral, more beast than man, searching to breed." The words burned like acid on his tongue. "The bracelet ensures I can't hurt you."

Color bloomed on Kiri's cheeks, but her gaze never wavered. "You think you'd force yourself on me?"

"No!" The denial came out harsher than he'd intended, and he softened his tone. "I'd never knowingly do that. But I'm afraid that I won't be able to control myself around you." He brushed a thumb over her full bottom lip. "That I may be too… enthusiastic with you."

She shivered but leaned into his caress. "So what does the bracelet do, exactly? Is it some sort of a supernatural chastity belt? Seems a bit extreme that I can't take it off."

A startled chuckle escaped him, and he relaxed fractionally. Trust Kiri to find the humor in the madness. "Something like that. It also provides a level of protection, in case I get too rough."

"Monte..." She flattened her hand over his heart, searing him with her touch even through the thickness of his fur. "I appreciate the concern but I'm not some fragile flower—"

"Compared to me—and the rest of the monsters on this island—you are, Kiri," he corrected firmly and shook his head. "Every full moon, I'm more beast than man, ruled by my baser instincts." He allowed his fingertips to drift down the silken skin of her throat, taking in the lack of fur and how he loved how smooth it was. "I refuse to risk your safety for anything."

"Then let me help you. We can find a way to work through this together. You shouldn't have to deal with this alone."

The soft glow from the setting sun on Kiri's face as she looked up at Monte made his breath hitch. Her hazel eyes held her trust in him, making his heart swell with both love and shame—shame for having her deal with him, deal with his baser, primal self. The warmth radiating from her body, coupled with the intoxicating scent of her skin, sent shivers down his spine and heightened his senses.

He could feel the beast inside him stirring, but he fought to keep it at bay.

"Monte," Kiri said softly, resting her hand gently on his arm. "I trust you. I know you won't hurt me."

Monte knew she meant well, but she had no idea the danger she'd be courting getting close to him at a time like tonight.

The bracelet was designed to protect her from him, but he worried if it would truly work on a human like Kiri. He couldn't bear the thought of causing her harm or worse, impregnating her with a monstrous offspring that she didn't want.

"I will explain everything in more detail later," he promised gruffly. "But for tonight, I need you to trust me. I promise you have nothing to worry about. Just wear the bracelet for now, and I'll explain everything over breakfast, okay?"

Her fingers traced the intricate enchantment runes etched into the silver band as her gaze darted to the darkening sky, the fading light highlighting her profile in gold. "Tonight's the full moon, isn't it? That's why you're so on edge."

His mate was both clever and perceptive.

"Yes," he admitted hoarsely. Already he could feel the familiar prickle dancing along his nerve endings, the hot itch beneath his skin, his body demanding him to mate. There wasn't much time. "Which is why I have to go. Now."

She frowned, opening her mouth to protest. He silenced her with a searing kiss, his desperation bleeding into the contact. Kiri made a soft sound low in her throat and deepened the angle, her fingers clawing his chest fur.

It took every ounce of Monte's formidable will to tear himself away, his chest heaving as he felt the pull of the moon growing stronger. "I promise, Kiri. Now, please, stay at the cabin. Enjoy yourself in the hot tub tonight. Relax, and I'll be back in the morning to explain everything."

She bit her lip as her hazel eyes searched his face, a hint of hurt flickering behind the steadfast trust she held for him. "Fine, but promise me you'll explain everything when it's safe tomorrow. We're a team, Monte. I refuse to have secrets between us, especially important ones like this."

"I'll return at dawn and we'll talk.," he rasped, desperation creeping into his tone. "I promise."

"All right," she murmured, reluctantly stepping back from him. "Until tomorrow."

"Forgive me, Kiri," he whispered, his chest tight with emotion as he forced himself to turn his back to her with clenched fists. "I'll make this right, I swear."

With every step, he fought against the beastly desires that threatened to overtake him. With each passing minute, his thoughts grew more primal, more urgent. He needed to distance himself from Kiri before the darkness swallowed him whole.

He prayed to the Moon Goddess that his mate would soon forgive him for his actions…