34. Chapter 34
Chapter thirty-four
~Kitari~
T he humans approached, but they had not yet seen us.
So this was it, the end of our journey together.
For a moment, I closed my eyes and enjoyed the last moments of his body pressed alongside mine, breathing in his scent.
I had told him I would not lose control of myself again, that he belonged with his people. I did not want that, but I needed to soften the blow to myself, because the thought of losing Bryce and never seeing him again was as wrenching as a spear to the chest. I needed to say those things for the sake of both of us, to make it easier for him to leave me. It could not work. Bryce did not belong here.
I wanted nothing more than to reach out and grab him, to flee and keep him with me. The humans were not aware of us, there was still time. But how could I do that to him? I would not let my instincts control me, and I certainly would not let them control him , no matter how much I wanted to just give in to them.
No matter how much I yearned to claim him as my omega.
His path was his own choice, and it was clear that he needed to be back with his own people. He had called them his family. How could I come between them?
No, this was the way it had to be. He would go and rejoin them, and I would remain hidden and melt back into the jungle. I would continue to watch over him until his people left. And then I would never see him again.
He shifted next to me, and I opened my eyes, expecting him to step forward and make himself known to the other humans. But, instead, he was hovering at my side and staring into my face. He did not move.
What was he doing? Why wasn’t he going back to his people?
I frowned and motioned towards them with my head. The humans were only a short distance from us now, unaware of their surroundings and us crouched close by. He gave a slight shake of his head, his eyes desperate, and started to carefully back away.
“Bryce,” I said, keeping low.
All he had to do was step forward, or call out, and he would be reunited with his people.
But he looked grief-stricken.
“I can’t,” he breathed.
Then he turned and headed back the way we had come, keeping low and silent. The humans continued on, entirely oblivious. I abandoned my hiding spot and pursued him, and he broke into a full run. What was he doing? He ran as if there was another a hk-bkèlearino on his heels, leaping logs, swiping aside vines, heedless of any dangers around him.
Finally, he came to a stop beneath a wide tree, its branches fanning out and down to create an enclosed space around its trunk. He was breathing heavily, leaning against the tree. He had a wild look about him, like the first time I had seen him.
I crouched next to him. “What is wrong?”
“I don’t want to do it. I can’t.”
“What do you mean? Do what?”
His face was desperate, pleading. “I know we’ve only just met, and I know I sound insane, but I don’t want to go back. I want to stay here, with you.”
“With me?” I asked.
All of the reassurances and comforting lies I had given myself vanished like morning dew under the bright sun. To hell with all the logical reasons. Bryce wanted this just as much as I did.
Why could he not stay? Why could I not keep him? Hope was a raging fire inside me. I would have what I wanted for once.
“I’m sorry, I tried not to get too attached to you, I tried to do the right thing. But I can’t, and if I have to go now, I know I’ll always regret it—“
I captured his lips with mine and he made a hot noise against them.
We kissed deeply, him gripping me as if he were afraid he would be dragged away. Although he was smaller than me, he felt strong, sturdy, and real. His hands left flames roaring in their wake, igniting my flesh so that the fire raging inside was now all over me.
Bryce broke away from my mouth and gasped against my cheek. “I don’t want to go, I don’t want to leave you.”
“Then do not. Stay with me, Bryce. You could belong here . Belong with me .”
He broke away entirely, his face both hopeful and wretched.
“How?”
I did not want to think about an impossible future. I did not want logic to prevent me from having what I wanted. I had done that my entire life. Right here, right now, nothing could stop me. “How is not important.”
“But I can’t live with you, your people wouldn’t be very happy about that.”
I pressed my hand to his jaw, and felt the hairs there scrape against my fingers. I would turn the world upside down if I had to. “My people will have to accept you as my mate. They will have no choice.”
“What if they don’t like it?”
“Then they can throw themselves into the falls for all I care.”
His spreading smile was contagious, full of wonder.
“Ok,” he said.
“You will stay?”
“Yes. If you’ll have me.”
“Oh, I will have you, Bryce. I will have you.”