Chapter 26
CHAPTER 26
F innar drifted back to consciousness, drawn by a soft melodic humming. His beast stirred at the familiar sound. Scarlett. He turned his head, fighting an unusual weakness, but instead of his mate’s fiery hair, he saw her grandmother’s silver head bent over a steaming pot.
She looked up and gave him a bright smile. “Ah, you’re finally awake. You look much better.”
His muscles tensed despite the pain that shot through his shoulder. What was she doing in his den? And where was his mate? He tried to push himself up but fell back against the pillows.
“Don’t try to move yet.” Her tone was oddly commanding for such a small woman. “That arrow was poisoned. You’re lucky Scarlett knew enough to send for me.”
“Where is she?” His voice came out as a rough growl.
“Getting fresh herbs from the stream.” The old woman stirred whatever was in the pot. “Fortunately the ones I need grow wild around here.”
He shifted uncomfortably under her sharp gaze. Something about the way she looked at him… “You know about the Vultor.”
“More than most.” She ladled the contents of the pot into a cup. “Here, drink this. It will help with the healing.”
The liquid had an odd, bitter taste that sparked a memory. He’d tasted something similar once before, when his mother… His eyes narrowed.
“Where did you learn about Vultor healing?”
Her eyes sparkled.
“That’s a story for another time.” She patted his hand. “For now, just know that Scarlett comes by her attraction to the Vultor naturally.”
His beast prowled restlessly, anxious about Scarlett’s absence but somehow not viewing her grandmother as a threat.
“Scarlett asked Seren to bring me,” she explained, returning to the stove. “She knew I could help.”
His eyes narrowed. The alpha had brought this human?
“Why would Seren do that?”
She gave him an amused look. “He and I are… old acquaintances.”
The casual way she mentioned the alpha set off warning bells in his mind. No human should speak of a Vultor leader with such familiarity. But before he could question her further, she frowned.
“The poison on that arrow was a nasty blend—meant to kill slowly,” she said. “You’re fortunate Scarlett knew to send for me.”
Not just a hunter then, but one who knew how to kill Vultor. Who had planned to kill Vultor. His muscles tensed as anger flooded through him, but the movement sent fresh pain shooting through his shoulder.
“Easy now.” Her voice was surprisingly gentle. “The poison’s mostly neutralized, but you need to rest.”
He forced himself to relax against the pillows, his mind racing. How many hunters were out there with poisoned weapons? How many of his kind had already fallen to such treachery? But beneath his anger lay a deeper concern—what if the hunter returned while he was weakened? What if Scarlett…
“Stop fretting,” the old woman chided, somehow reading his thoughts. “Seren has warriors watching the area. No one will harm either of you.”
He tried to sit up again but his muscles refused to cooperate. The sheet slipped down his chest in the process and he realized he was completely naked. Not that nudity bothered him, but combined with his weakness, it left him feeling oddly vulnerable.
His arms trembled with the effort of trying to rise and frustration coursed through him. He’d survived worse injuries—why was this one affecting him so severely? His beast stirred restlessly, equally unsettled by their weakness.
“Stop that.” Her grandmother’s voice carried the same authority he’d heard in Seren’s. “The poison needs time to clear your system.”
He growled, fighting against the heaviness in his limbs. “I need to?—”
“You need to stay put.” She pressed him back against the pillows with surprising strength. “The healing process can’t be rushed, no matter how badly you want to see her.”
The old woman’s knowing look made him want to argue, but exhaustion crashed over him in a wave. Even his beast seemed drained, their usual strength sapped by whatever toxin the hunter had used.
He sank back into the bed, hating how easily she’d subdued him. His mate was out there somewhere and he couldn’t even sit up to go find her. The thought burned worse than the wound in his shoulder.
The door opened and Scarlett hurried in, her face lighting up when she saw him. She threw herself into his arms, and he caught her despite his weakness, his beast purring at her presence. Her lips found his and he kissed her hungrily, his body responding despite his exhaustion.
The kiss deepened as she pressed against him, but his arms trembled from the effort of holding her. She finally pulled back, her cheeks flushed, and glanced around the room. The empty chair beside the bed confirmed that her grandmother had left.
She started to move away, but he tightened his grip.
“Stay,” he said. “I might be too weak to do anything else, but I can still hold you.”
She smiled and settled against him, careful to avoid his injured shoulder. Her sweet scent wrapped around him, more potent than any medicine. His beast relaxed, content now that their mate was where she belonged.
He stroked her hair as she nestled against him, her body fitting perfectly against his. She told him how terrified she’d been when the poison took hold, his temperature soaring as he thrashed in delirium.
“Seren brought Grandmother straight away,” she said. “He’s been checking on you every day.”
That didn’t really surprise him. Seren cared for everyone in his pack.
“I think he likes you,” she added, smiling. “He said he wants you to be happy.”
He grunted noncommittally, but warmth spread through his chest that had nothing to do with lingering fever. He’d spent so long isolating himself, consumed by anger and grief. Now he had a mate, and maybe even a pack again.
Her fingers traced patterns on his chest, but she didn’t look at him.
“You talked about them while you were feverish,” she said softly. “Your family.”
His body tensed. The memories that had haunted him for so long crashed over him—the way they’d died, trapped in their burning home while humans laughed.
But her presence anchored him, keeping the rage at bay. Her gentle touch soothed the old wounds that had festered for so long.
“You called out for your sister,” she whispered. “Said you were sorry you couldn’t save her.”
Pain lanced through his chest, sharper than the arrow wound. He’d never told anyone about that night, about how he’d tried to reach them through the flames but failed.
He pulled her closer, drawing strength from her presence. The words he’d kept locked inside for so long spilled out.
“I was there when they burned the house.” His voice came out rough. “I’d gone hunting in the high peaks. When I saw the smoke I came back, but it was too late.” He swallowed hard. “My father was dead, my brother almost so. They… hurt my mother, my sister, then threw them into the den and set it on fire. They’d barred the doors from the outside. The humans stood there watching, laughing as my family burned.”
Her arms tightened around him but she remained silent, letting him continue.
“They shot me when I tried to get through the flames…” He closed his eyes, remembering the searing heat, the screams. “They must have thought I was dead, but I survived.”
No matter how much he’d wished he hadn’t.
“After that, I lost myself. Ran deep into the mountains. Stayed in beast form for years—two, maybe three. Time meant nothing. I was little more than an animal.”
He stroked her hair, anchoring himself in the present. “Eventually the need for revenge pulled me back. Gave me purpose again. But it was a hollow thing that ate at my soul.”
Tears filled her eyes as she looked up at him. He brushed them away with his thumb.
“The loss will always be there,” he said softly. “But you’ve helped me find peace with it. Given me something to live for besides vengeance.”
Her smile lit up her face, chasing away the last of the darkness that had lingered in his heart. He captured her lips again, needing to feel her, to taste her. She was his light, his hope.
When he finally broke the kiss, he rested his forehead against hers.
“I love you, little red,” he murmured, stroking her cheek.
“I love you too.” Her eyes sparkled with happiness. “My big bad alien.”
He laughed, the sound unfamiliar but welcome. For the first time since he’d lost everything, the future held promise.
“I’m not so sure about the big part,” he said ruefully, glancing at his still too-weak body.
“You will be,” she promised. “Grandmother knows what she’s doing.”
“I think she knows a lot more than she lets on.”
She laughed, the sound like sunlight breaking through clouds. “That wouldn’t surprise me at all.”
He tugged her closer, relishing the feel of her soft curves against him.
“And when I’m healed,” he murmured in her ear, his voice dropping into a growl. “I’ll show you exactly how big and bad I can be.”