Chapter Ten
~ Ajag ~
I was rubbing my hands up and down Sy's arms to keep him warm when I heard someone call out my name. I stiffened, glancing toward where the voice was coming from.
When Rad appeared at the bottom of the small cement incline we were sitting on, I breathed a sigh of relief and pushed Sy to his feet. "Come on, little man."
I carefully helped him down, but Rad met us halfway up.
"Are you two okay?"
I nodded.
"Come on." Rad held out his hand. "We need to get the two of you out of here."
"What is going on, Rad?" I asked.
"I think those guys are looking for you."
"How?" Tears sprouted to my eyes. "I've been so careful."
"I'm not sure yet, but you need to get rid of that cell phone I gave you. They might be using it to track you. I'll get you a new one tomorrow."
When we reached the Jeep, Rad opened the back door, lifted Sy up, and buckled him into the car seat. After he shut the door, he turned to look at me, grabbing both my arms.
"I know you're scared, but I'm not going to let anything happen to you or Sy. I will protect you both."
My brow furrowed as I looked at the earnestness in his golden eyes. "Why do you care?"
"You know why."
Yeah, I supposed I did.
"Everything I have ever been taught says dire wolves aren't supposed to have mates, but I know that is wrong. You are my mate, Ajag. I feel it in my soul."
I felt something, but I wasn't sure what it was beyond an undeniable attraction to the handsome man. I'd been avoiding thinking about it because my life was so chaotic right now, I didn't have time to worry about having a mate.
"Rad—"
"I know now is not the time." Rad pulled me closer until our chests were pressed together and I could feel his warm breath blowing across my skin. "There will be time for us once you and Sy are safe."
"I'm not sure that is possible." Just saying that created a deep ache deep in my heart. "I've been running for so long, Rad. I'm not sure that will ever stop unless I'm dead."
A low threatening growl rumbled through Rad. "I will never let that happen."
I wasn't sure he could stop it.
"There's a small town just across the Colorado and New Mexico border called Raton. There are a couple of campgrounds there. Go straight there and rent a space at one of them."
My eyebrows snapped together as I frowned. "What about you? Aren't you going with us?"
Rad shook his head. "I have to go back and get my bike. I also have to meet someone in town to get more information on who is after you."
I knew who was after me.
"It's the council, Rad. They are the ones chasing me and Sy."
Rad's head cocked to one side. "The shifter council is chasing you?"
I winced and nodded. "Maybe?"
Rad's eyes narrowed.
"Look, it's a really long story, but I swear I did not break any shifter laws. And it's not the entire council after us, just Elder Payne." I swallowed tightly, my eyes darting to the toddler in the backseat. "He's Sy's biological father."
Rad's eyes rounded.
"I'll explain everything later. I swear." Desperation was starting to lace my voice. "I have to get Sy out of here first."
Rad's lips thinned, but he nodded. "Okay, we'll discuss this later, and we will discuss it, Ajag, but right now you and Sy need to get on the road. I won't be able to contact you until I see you later tonight so stay safe. Okay?"
I nodded.
"Go, and don't stop for anything or anyone. You will probably need to hit the main highway at some point, but try to avoid it as much as possible. Stick to the back roads. Less chance of someone catching you on video."
"What are you going to do?" I asked.
"Like I said, I have to meet someone later tonight."
Rad led me around to the driver's side door and pulled it open. Before I could climb in, Rad yanked me into his arms. He pressed his cheek to the side of my head.
"I'm not going to kiss you right now because when I do, I'm going to claim you as mine. I'll need more than a couple of seconds for that. I may even need days."
My heart skipped a beat and it was suddenly hard to breath. I shivered when I felt warm lips brush my temple. My body suddenly heated and began to ache.
"Rad."
His hand curved around the nape of my neck even as he pressed a kiss to the shell of my ear. "You are mine, Ajag. You know it and I know it. Soon, everyone else will know it, too, but until then you need to keep yourself and Sy safe. I will come for you."
I licked my lips before whispering, "This is all happening really fast, Rad."
"I know, baby." Rad leaned back far enough for our eyes to meet. Golden eyes filled with determination and mine filled with uncertainty and just a spark of hope. "What you need to understand is that you are no longer alone, Ajag. Whatever battle you are going through right now, I will be right there at your side to fight it with you."
My breath hitched as a sob threatened to break free. "I've been fighting alone for so long. I don't..." I wasn't sure what I was trying to say except that I had no experience with fighting with someone at my side.
Rad's hand slid up through my hair to the back of my head, which he pressed down to his shoulder. "You're not alone anymore, mate." Rad had said that before, but it felt more profound this time. "I'm here now."
I shuddered and then sank into Rad's embrace, letting him hold my weight. It had been so long since I'd had anyone to rely on. Maybe not since my mother was killed. I didn't realize until this moment how much I missed it or how much I needed it.
Being alone sucked.
Rad gave me one good squeeze before letting go of me and stepping back. "It's time for you to go, Ajag."
I didn't want to, but I knew he was right. "You're going to come find us, right?"
I had to be sure.
"I will," Rad replied. "It probably won't be until late tonight, but I will be there."
I was tugged down by sadness as I opened the door and climbed into the driver's seat. Rad grabbed the top of the doorframe and leaned toward me.
"You remember where to go?"
"Campground in Raton, New Mexico."
Rad held out his hand. "Give me your cell phone."
I hated to hand it over since it was the only lifeline to Rad that I had, but if he was right and the phone was being tracked, getting rid of it was the only thing I could do.
As soon as I handed it over, Rad stepped back. "Go and don't stop until you get to Raton." He slammed the door closed and moved around the Jeep to the side of the road.
I stared at Rad as I started the Jeep and then forced myself to look away and drive back onto the road. I did glance in the rearview mirror for a moment as I drove away.
Rad stood there watching us go until he was a tiny spec in the distance. I almost cried when we turned a wide corner and he disappeared from sight. I continued to glance at the rearview mirror every few minutes just to make sure we weren't being followed.
By the time I ran out of side road and had to hit the highway, I was pretty sure that no one was following us. I'd been watching closely and no cars had followed us more than a few minutes. Unless those hunting us had access to a hundred cars, we were in the clear.
For now anyway.
I still couldn't figure out how they had found us, but I'd been wondering that for years. No matter what I did, they always seemed to find us. If I didn't know better, I'd think they had put a tracker in my ass.
Rad seemed to think it was the cell phones, which made sense. It would be easier to track a cell phone. What I didn't understand was how. Until Rad gave me the disposable cell phone, I hadn't had one in ages and yet they still found me.
There had to be some connection I wasn't seeing, some single point that made it easier for them to find me. It would be great if I could figure out what that point was and eliminate it.
My luck didn't run that way.
It seemed to take forever to reach the Colorado and New Mexico border, but it reality it had only taken a few hours. Darkness had fallen by the time we reached the small town Rad had sent us to. I stopped at the first campground we came to and rented a spot to camp for the night.
I wasn't sure how long we were going to be here, but I hoped it wasn't long. It wasn't that I didn't want to camp, but rather I didn't want to stay in one place for too long.
I didn't even set up the tent. I just unpacked a sleeping bag for Sy and had him stretch out on the backseat after feeding him something from the cooler.
It was better than hot dogs.
I pulled my jacket up over me, leaned my head back in my seat, and closed my eyes, but only for a few minutes. I doubted I would be able to sleep until Rad arrived. I was too keyed up.
The waiting was excruciating.