17. Raul

17

RAUL

" Y our healer is overwhelmed," Helena said. "No one can blame her. This is all new to her. You should go back to Dawson and give her some space."

I heard her but I couldn't suppress a growl at her words. I could see as well as she that Monica was overwhelmed. I didn't need the witch to point out the obvious to me. Monica had been struggling to process everything even before she'd learned about Penelope's prophecy. Going from her mundane human view of the world to finding out about shifters was enough of a shock for anyone. But add in witches? A prophecy? No, that book had been the last nail in the coffin of her peace of mind.

More than that though, I didn't appreciate the witch's suggestion for another, much more personal reason. I wanted to be there for Monica. I knew she was one curious woman and was sure that, sometime during the night, she would come back to the main floor looking for answers to all her questions.

I know I didn't have all the answers for her, but I did have some. I could tell her more about my kind. I could also tell her about my father's and grandfather's deaths. I avoided thinking about them as much as possible because every time I did it broke me up inside. I was there with them. I saw them both surrender to the same flaw. I had watched them waste away until they found relief in the cold embrace of death. I didn't want to remember it or go into details, but if this was what it took to convince her about our weak hearts, then I would tell her all the details I could about the most painful losses of my whole life.

I ignored the witch's advice, pacing the floor for more than an hour before I headed downstairs to find Monica. Finding her was easy. Her scent was clear to follow, right to a door behind which I assumed was one of the bedrooms the witch said was down here.

I hesitated at the door, debating if I should knock or enter at all. Was the witch right? Should I give her space? Patience has never been a strength I've had, and my wolf hated it more than I did. Barely suppressing a growl, I turned the handle and cracked the door open enough to see inside.

Instead of the overwhelmed doctor Helena and I had been worrying about, I found a peaceful brunette lying on her side under the covers. Several strands of her hair lay across her face, blocking most it from view. I could just make out a tiny portion of her mouth and the tip of her nose.

Dirty thoughts flashed in my mind. Would it be so bad if I took my clothes off and crawled under the covers? Judging by her behavior in the woods, she wouldn't reject my advance. My cock stirred with desire, but I couldn't act on that urge. This had been a long enough night for both of us and I was still trying to come to grips with the prophecy.

Monica might not have freaked out, but she was bound to be mentally and probably physically exhausted. It wasn't every day that someone found out that a witch from hundreds of years before had predicted your future with such accuracy. Suppressing my baser desires, I decided to leave a note on her nightstand.

"Monica,

Please ask Helena to bring you to Lake Paxton tomorrow night. 8 o'clock.

Love,

Raul"

A lake was by no means an ideal place for a date in the middle of March. The mountain hadn't escaped the clutches of winter yet. The mountainsides and surrounding hills were still covered with snow. But at least it wasn't as cold as January. It wasn't what people would call nice and warm, though. We would definitely feel the night's chill out there. Despite that, Lake Paxton offered something that the forest around Dawson did not.

Privacy.

The one time I had taken Monica to the woods, the ride had almost ended in disaster. If not for Helena's intervention, she would have witnessed the gruesome sight of three wolves tearing each other apart and in a fight of two on one, there was no guarantee that I would be the victor. I wouldn't risk another trip near the border of my town. Besides, even if I could win, she had been terrified by the prospect of a fight. I wasn't going to risk another encounter with my leader or one of his lieutenants.

I had Helena use her magic to take me back to my bike. She stayed long enough to see me riding away, which I wouldn't have said out loud, but I had appreciated. I was too distracted to worry about fighting right then.

My bike roared to life and the wheel spun as I opened the throttle, throwing loose gravel behind, until the rubber caught traction and I tore off into the dusk. I raced through the night air with the wind blowing my hair back. Riding made me feel free, it was the only thing I could do in human form that came close to running through the woods with my wolf.

It gave me time to think. Or more accurately, to not think. The rumble of the bike's engine between my legs. The sound of the exhaust. The feel as I navigated the winding roads, dodging loose gravel and other dangers. I let my mind empty and became one with the road. Feeling every note of the bike, every bump of the road. I rode and set my worries aside.

When I arrived at the lake, I parked the bike, instantly missing the sound of its roar. Stepping off of it, I walked over to the edge of the water and took in my surroundings. This was why I had chosen this place.

It was in the middle of Rowan Forest, which separated the forests in two, lush patches of greenery. Bigger and smaller rocks were scattered along its banks. It gave me the illusion of having something much like a beach in the mountains. Most of all, Lake Paxton offered an uninhibited view of the night sky. We could go almost anywhere around Dawson, and we wouldn't find that.

Hands in my pockets, I strolled down the eastern shore. A brilliant flash of light to my left announced Helena and Monica's arrival. I had to hand it to the witch, she was willing to help. Out of the blue, my family and I had found an invaluable ally. Monica emerged from the trees, in a pair of tight jeans and a light-blue coat, a smile gracing her face.

"Hey there, stranger," she said, steady footsteps leading her right up to me. "I'm not late, am I?"

"No. You're right on time," I told her, returning her smile. "I hope you like the place."

She looked around and her smile widened. She took in a deep breath of the fresh, clean air then nodded.

"I do," she said, letting her gaze roam across the surface of the lake. Wan moonlight from the quarter moon overhead was mirrored on the calm surface, causing it to sparkle in the dark like a precious jewel. "It's beautiful out here. Though Helena gave me an earful about how far the lake was from Dawson. How far is it?"

"Five miles," I said her, taking her by the hand. "I guess she's right. I should have told her about my plan for tonight when she took me back to my bike last night."

"She's quite a character," Monica said. Her steady gaze was on me, looking up and down, and I thought I saw admiration flashing in her eyes. "We spent most of the day together. I love listening to stories and she's got literally hundreds of them. I also found out her exact age. She's one hundred-and-eight years old."

"She's alright," I said. I felt relaxed and happy to be there with her. I looked around and chose a medium-sized rock to lead us towards. "I can't say the same about my forefathers."

"What do you mean?" she asked as I wiped dust off my chosen rock's moist surface.

"My brothers and I were raised to believe that witches were evil," I said, sitting down. "That their human nature would always make them prone to betrayal. It wasn't Helena who betrayed my grandpa. It was the other way around."

"I don't know, Raul," she said. Her voice was soft, but her scent's strength grew in my nostrils. "It was a different world back in 1939, back when the two of them met."

"Betrayal's been the same since the dawn of time." My conviction put steel in my voice as I curled my arm around her shoulders. I loved the way she fit into the crook of my arm. Her warmth and her smell filling me with a sense of peace. "Anyway, I'm done talking about it. Right now, I'm glad you're here, with me, tonight."

"Me, too," she said in her sweet tone, then she rested her head on my shoulder. We stared across the lake in silence for a few moments when she spoke again. "Can I be honest with you?"

"Of course."

"I spent the last five days, hoping you'd knock on my door," she said, turning her head to look up. Her brown eyes were even darker in the moonlight. "And I can't lie, I was really happy when you showed up on your motorcycle."

Looking into the warm pools of her eyes, I chuckle. She frowns at my humor but then I give her my own confession.

"Sorry, you need to know that I spent the past five days watching the main road from Dawson," I said, reaching up to her cheek. "From there I've got a clear view of your house. When I saw those two cars pull up outside your place, I was worried. That's why I decided to pay you a visit."

"Kiss me," she whispered.

I pushed strands of her hair away from her face and leaned in sideways. The feel of her smooth skin on my palm warmed my heart. Her lips were cold from the chilled air when they met mine and she snaked her arm around my neck. Her fingers were every bit as cold, but nothing was going to discourage or stop me.

I had been longing for that kiss. The last time we'd kissed, we'd been in the middle of it, when our moment had been ruined. Here, far away from the lair of my rivals, I was free to enjoy the kiss and her. I slipped the tip of my tongue through the seam of her lips, Monica's sigh drove me on, not allowing me to slow down. She planted her fingers into the back of my neck, holding, gripping tight like she was afraid I was going to vanish.

"You're so warm," She whispered as my hand traveled down her chest.

I traced the curve of her breast, its size and feel making my inner beast purr with anticipation. A deeper exhale and a light bite on my lower lip only intensified my pleasure.

"It's the wolf," I said. "You know you're not helping me here," I teased, planting a kiss on her chin.

"Oh, and I suppose you think you are?" She giggled, caressing the back of my head. "Because believe me, you're not. You bring out someone different in me. Someone who doesn't care where she is. A woman that just wants to have fun with you."

"Do you like that woman?" I asked in a softer voice, gazing deeply into her eyes.

"Yeah," she admitted with a chuckle. "She's a lot more fun than regular Monica. You'll see that in time."

"I hope so," I whispered. I hesitated before voicing my next thought though, wondering how she would take it, but it's the only thing that made sense. More, it's the one thing I wanted, more than anything else in the world. "I've got a suggestion. Living in my grandpa's sanctuary may be safe, but you'll get tired of it. It's like a dungeon in there. Let me drive you up to your place tomorrow morning. Pack a few things and you come live with me." Her eyes widened and her lips pursed into a tight line. Fearing I'd pushed too far I give her an out. "It would only be for a few days. Just until I'm done with my Alpha."

"I thought my scent would give me away to your people," she said, the pitch of her voice higher.

"It can, but there are ways to cover it up," I assured her. "Trust me, with my brothers and sister living next door, it won't be so hard. A shifter's scent is a lot stronger than a human's."

"I'd consider it," she said thoughtfully, "but I have work tomorrow. I'd have to drive to Shandaken and back in broad daylight. I won't argue with you about scents; you know that far better than anything I know, but your people will see me driving around. Won't they get curious about the new face in their town?"

"Damn…" I banged my head in a spasm of frustration. "You're right. It will be too dangerous." I thought quickly, then another came to me. "I've got another idea."

I stood and offered her my hand.

"And what idea is that?" she asked, a touch of surprise in her tone.

"We can't stay here all night," I said, hopping off the rock. "Believe me, it's not going to get any warmer and I don't want you to freeze to death. I need you to do me a favor, though." She arched a silent, questioning eyebrow that made me want to kiss her all the more. "When we reach Dawson, try to keep your voice down. They may not be able to smell you, but wolves have got excellent hearing, too."

I glanced around at the pebbles and rocks on the moist ground, my thoughts putting a smile on my face. She was in for something she had never done before. It was wild. It was crazy. Monica was terrified of motorcycles, and what I had in mind was bound to scare her as well. Then again, it was by far the best thing I could do, in order to get intimate with her, without requiring the witch's help.