Chapter 14
CHAPTER 14
F innar’s bones cracked and reshaped as he surrendered to the change, his body morphing into his more primal form. Fur rippled across his skin, claws extended from his fingertips, and his jaw elongated as his fangs grew. The transformation sent waves of raw energy coursing through him, heightening every sensation.
The forest opened up before him in startling clarity—each leaf, each branch etched in perfect detail despite the darkness. Scarlett’s lingering scent tormented him as he ran, sweet and intoxicating. His beast howled in protest at leaving her behind, urging him to return and claim her.
He only pushed himself harder, branches whipping past as he tore through the undergrowth. But no matter how fast he ran, he couldn’t escape the pull she had on him. The taste of her lips haunted him, the memory of her soft body pressed against his making his blood burn.
Mate , his beast insisted with growing urgency. The primal call resonated through every fiber of his being, threatening to overwhelm his rational mind. He’d fought so long against forming attachments, against letting anyone close enough to matter. Yet somehow this human female had slipped past his defenses.
But she rejected me. Pushed me away.
Another howl escaped at the knowledge, along with a confused mixture of guilt and longing. She had been so warmly responsive to his kiss, matching his hunger, that he’d forgotten himself. The memory of the panic on her face twisted his stomach, leaving him cold and hollow. He would never take from her what she didn’t offer freely.
And he couldn’t offer her what she needed either. He was a monster, broken and tainted by his quest for vengeance. He could never give her the love she deserved. She was better off without him.
He skidded to a halt at the edge of a cliff, chest heaving as he struggled for control. The mountains spread out before him, bathed in moonlight. The same moonlight that was streaming through his den’s windows, illuminating her beautiful face. The image sent another wave of longing through him.
His claws dug into the earth as he fought the instinct to return to her. She was human. The enemy. He couldn’t trust her, couldn’t allow himself to feel anything for her. But his beast knew better, recognizing what his human side refused to acknowledge—she was his perfect match, the missing piece he’d been searching for.
A frustrated growl rumbled from his chest as he paced along the cliff edge, caught between his need for vengeance and the undeniable bond forming between them.
His beast clawed at him, each step away from the den feeling like a physical wound.
Mate , it snarled. Return. Protect.
“No,” he growled, his thoughts a chaotic blend of reasoning and instinct. She was too delicate, too pure for his darkness. Those small hands that had brought order to his den, that gentle smile as she’d arranged wildflowers on his table—they belonged to a world he’d lost the right to enter.
His paws pounded against the earth as he ran, as he pushed himself harder, desperate to outrun the pull of her presence. But his beast wouldn’t relent, bombarding him with images of her sleeping body, the trust in her eyes when she’d touched his shoulder, the way she’d melted into his kiss, her small perfect breast beneath his hand.
Too soft. Too vulnerable. The words became a mantra as he tried to drown out his beast’s demands. Everything about her radiated an innocence he’d lost long ago.
The memory of his nightmare flashed through his mind—her face surrounded by flames, just like his family. His chest constricted as the images overlapped—the burning of his childhood home, Scarlett’s features twisted in terror. He couldn’t protect them then. He couldn’t protect her now.
He launched himself over a fallen log, his muscles burning as he tried to push himself into exhaustion. But no matter how fast he ran, he couldn’t escape the truth his beast already knew—she’d awakened something in him he’d thought long dead. Hope. And that made her more dangerous than any enemy he’d faced before.
He wasn’t sure how far he traveled before he finally accepted that he couldn’t outrun his feelings. He gave into his beast’s urging and turned back towards his den. He still had no intention of claiming her but he shouldn’t have left her alone and unprotected. He should have assured her that he would never hurt her—human or not, captive or not, she was his to protect, and he would do whatever it took to make sure she felt safe.
His racing heartbeat finally slowed as he approached his den, though he refused to acknowledge why her scent called him home. He had returned to his normal form, the beast within settling into an uneasy quiet, no longer fighting against his control.
The moment he crossed the threshold, his nostrils flared. Something was wrong. Her sweet scent had grown lighter, no longer carrying the warmth of her presence. His eyes swept the room, taking in the empty bench where she should have been sleeping.
Gone.
The knowledge almost brought him to his knees. His beast erupted with a fury that shattered his human form. Bones cracked and reformed as fur rippled across his skin once more. He made no attempt to fight the transformation—he welcomed it. The beast’s heightened senses would help track her.
Her scent trail led to the door. How long ago had she fled? Hours? Minutes? The night held too many dangers for a human woman alone. Serpents. Cliff edges. Another Vultor who wouldn’t show her mercy.
Images of her broken body at the bottom of a ravine or torn apart by predators flooded his mind. His beast howled in anguish, the sound echoing off the stone walls. The need to find her, to protect her, overwhelmed every other thought.
All his earlier doubts about keeping her close vanished beneath the crushing weight of his fear for her safety. He’d been a selfish fool to leave her alone. To think he could resist what was growing between them.
He burst out the door, his enhanced vision cutting through the darkness as he searched for signs of her passage. There—crushed grass where she’d fled down the mountain path. His muscles bunched as he prepared to give chase.
The forest blurred past as he raced down the mountainside, his powerful muscles propelling him through the darkness. His enhanced senses filtered through the cacophony of night sounds—the rustle of leaves, small creatures scurrying away from his approach, the distant call of a night bird—searching for any sign of her.
There! A trace of her sweetness lingered in the air, drawing him forward like a hook in his chest. His claws dug into the earth as he changed direction, following that enticing scent. She’d chosen the steeper path, likely hoping the treacherous terrain would slow his pursuit.
For the first time in years, the ghosts of his past didn’t crowd his mind. No visions of flames consuming his family’s home. No echoes of screams. The desperate need to find her pushed everything else aside, leaving only the hunt.
Her scent grew stronger, fresher. She couldn’t have passed this way more than minutes ago. His beast growled in satisfaction—she was close. A branch snapped somewhere ahead and his ears swiveled toward the sound.
The wind shifted, bringing him a stronger wave of her scent mixed with fear and exhaustion. His beast whined, unhappy that their mate was afraid. He ran faster, eating up the distance between them. He had to reach her before she hurt herself on the dangerous path or attracted the attention of less friendly predators.
The path dropped away sharply ahead, forcing him to slow his headlong rush. Her scent trail wandered dangerously close to the edge, freezing his blood as he remembered all the times she’d stumbled on the climb. His heart clenched at the thought of her navigating this stretch in darkness, with only his shirt to protect her from the chill night air.
He burst out of the undergrowth into a moonlit clearing, his heart seizing at the scene before him. Scarlett stood backed against a rock face, her slender form trembling in his oversized shirt. The acrid stench of her terror filled his nostrils, but she held her ground, a rock clutched in her white-knuckled grip.
An adyani stalked toward her, its massive form casting a dark shadow across the moonlit ground. The beast’s muscled shoulders rolled as it moved, yellow eyes fixed on its prey. A deep growl rumbled from its chest as it edged closer.
Raw fury exploded through his body, his claws extending as he launched himself across the clearing. The adyani’s head whipped around at his approach, but too late. His claws sank deep into the thick fur at its neck, and he used his momentum to wrench the predator away from her.
The bitter taste of the adyani’s blood filled his mouth as his fangs found purchase. How dare this creature threaten his mate? He tightened his grip, determined to eliminate this threat to her safety.
The adyani twisted in his grip, its claws raking across his shoulder. Pain flared, but he barely registered it—his entire being focused on protecting her. The predator’s muscles bunched as it tried to break free, its teeth snapping at his face.
Blood matted his fur where the adyani’s claws had struck, but the injury only fueled his rage. His beast howled in triumph as they rolled across the forest floor, leaves and dirt flying. The adyani was strong, but his determination made him stronger. His claws dug deeper into its flesh as they grappled.
In one fluid motion, he locked his hands around the creature’s head. The crack of its neck breaking echoed through the clearing like a gunshot. The massive body went limp, and he let it drop to the ground.
Blood dripped from his claws as he turned towards her. Halfway back to her, reality crashed in—he was still transformed, his beast form on full display. He froze, suddenly aware of how terrifying he must look with his elongated fangs and blood-matted fur.
But before he could retreat, she was running toward him. Her bare feet flew across the ground and then she was there, launching herself into his arms. Her small body pressed against his chest, her arms wrapping around his neck despite his fearsome appearance. Her sweet scent enveloped him, chasing away the metallic tang of blood and violence as he gave a great shuddering sigh of relief. She was safe in his arms at last.