Chapter 12
“USA Airways Flight four-oh-five to JFK is now boarding.”
Cliff glanced up at the departures board from across the airport bar where he sat as the status on his flight changed from “gate open” to “boarding.” He knocked back the last inch of his overpriced beer before he stood up and began the trudge toward the gate.
His inner wolf snapped at him, clawing at him from the inside. Cliff had done his best to ignore his inner animal, but now he was just too tired.
Go ahead. Do your worst.
Because it couldn’t possibly compare to the stabbing, aching pain buried in his chest right now. It was like a hot poker that continued to bury itself deeper with each breath.
Idiot. Coward. Asshole.
Oh yeah, he was all those things and more. He deserved every insult from the dictionary for what he did to Stella.
She knew what would happen.
But that did nothing to comfort him, nor help him forget the sweetness that was Stella. Her body, her mouth, her soft skin … her sexy moans and sighs as he?—
Fuck.
Jacob arriving that morning had been a blessing—at least that’s what he told himself. He and Stella could have a clean break, and there wouldn’t be any drama. They could part with all the good memories of that one night between them.
If Jacob had been surprised that Cliff asked him to come to the hotel instead of her home, he didn’t show it. He was, however, taken aback that Cliff was leaving at that very moment.
“Dude, really? You’re not even going to say goodbye?” Jacob had admonished.
“It’s not what you think.”
“Oh yeah? Then why can I smell her on you?”
That had shut him up.
“Is it serious?”
“Nah.” He had waved a hand at him casually. “Just a bit of fun.” It wasn’t like Jacob was a prude or an innocent himself.
“Is that what you’re going to tell Charley? Or Devon?”
“I’ll deal with them, okay? Now, you got everything? I have a flight to catch.”
“Good afternoon, Mr. Forrest, welcome on board.”
The stewardess’s cheerful voice broke into his thoughts. “Thanks,” he muttered as he settled into his seat.
“Can I get you a drink? Water? Beer? Champagne?”
“No thanks.”
He looked out the window into the runway, where the gleaming black pyramid of the Luxor Casino towered over the desert. Seeing The Strip, he expected the memories of that last fight six years ago to flood his brain, to remind him of his failures and his bad decisions. That he had everything he wanted in life, everything he had dreamed and worked for, but one stupid mistake had cost it all.
But that wasn’t what came to mind.
Bitter and cold despair replaced the hot, burning pain in his chest as he recalled the softness of Stella’s body against his. How her sweet, desperate cries filled his ears as he made love to her gently and fiercely that last time this morning. Stella had already fulfilled his darkest needs the night before, but he couldn’t get the satisfaction he usually did from his frenzied encounters.
No, it was only when he took her tenderly and softly that he finally felt at peace. But it also scared the hell out of him, which was probably why he ran away with his tail between his legs.
He really was a coward. He ran away from Stella because he panicked. He had never felt this way before, never felt so vulnerable and open. The last time he’d been that close to feeling that way was with Madelyn.
“Fuck!” He pounded his fist on the armrest, causing his seatmate to glare at him. But he ignored the tired-looking businessman and instead, unbuckled his seat.
“Sir?” The stewardess shot him a bewildered look as he shot to his feet. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” Now that he finally got his head out of his ass, he was great. “I’m leaving.”
“Leaving? The flight?”
“Yeah—”
“But you can’t! We’ve already—sir!”
Rushing off the plane, Cliff’s heart burst with a mix of emotions—excitement, joy, and fear—as he stepped off the bridge and into the terminal.
Stella was nothing like Madelyn. Correction—she was not Madelyn, not even close. Stella was kind and sweet, and everything he ever wanted in this life and the next.
And it was time he stopped punishing her and himself for the past.
His heart lodged in his throat the entire time he sat in the back of a cab as it raced back to Stella’s house. He tried calling her, but it went straight to voicemail. He dialed Jacob next, but his call went unanswered.
His instincts immediately went on alert. He’d understand if Stella didn’t want to talk to him, but Jacob not picking up while he was on duty was unusual and alarming. His instinct told him something was very wrong.
Still, without any information, he didn’t know what to do. Should he go back to her house or to the casino? He’d given the cab driver Stella’s home address, figuring that if she and Jacob hadn’t checked out yet, they’d be on the way there.
But his gut told him to go back to the casino.
“Change of plans,” he said to the driver. “Panorama Hotel, please.”
Cliff practically jumped out of the cab the moment they reached their destination. After stopping at the front desk to confirm that Stella had checked out of the room, he made his way toward the garage. Jacob had rented a car from the airport and told him that he’d parked in the basement. After dashing through the casino, he burst out into the parking lot. When he saw the crumpled figure a few feet ahead, pure terror made his blood turn to ice.
“Jacob!” He rushed to his cousin, kneeling down next to him. “Are you okay? Where’s Stella? What happened?”
“Fffuuccck.” Jacob rolled onto his back and rubbed his jaw. “Got kicked in the face.”
“By who? Where is he?”
Jacob opened his mouth, but the deafening growl reverberating across the parking garage and bouncing off the walls answered his question.
“Motherfucker!”
Cliff dashed toward the sound, which was coming from somewhere by the exit gates. Fear spiked through him when he saw the red sports car with the side completely ripped out, but he swallowed it, thinking about Stella and how he was going to get her back.
“Cliff!” Jacob, who had somehow managed to catch up to him, shouted. “Over there.”
He swung his head around toward the row of cars to his left and saw two massive wolves at the far end circling each other.
Stella!
One of the wolves had to be her. His wolf ripped out of him in an instant, and the animal rushed toward the two wolves. However, it skidded to a stop, confused. Having never seen Stella shift, it didn’t know which wolf was her. Both looked similar, almost identical really.
One of them lunged, sending them both rolling across the concrete floor. Cliff’s wolf hesitated, not knowing which one to help. Eventually, one managed to gain the upper hand and swiped its paw at the other, sending it flying back, the sickening sound of its skull hitting the wall making Cliff’s stomach turn. Then the victorious wolf began to stalk toward the unconscious form.
No!
Cliff’s instinct screamed that the collapsed wolf was Stella. Gathering all its strength, his wolf leapt forward, knocking the other wolf away before it could reach her. It let out a pained bark as it flew across the air and slammed against the side of an SUV.
His wolf padded over to the she-wolf and nuzzled at its neck, the familiar scent of lavender and sage filling their senses. Cliff’s relief was short-lived as he saw the blood on the blonde wolf’s shoulder where its opponent had sunk its claws. But his wolf, perhaps having been kept inside him too long, refused to let go of their body and continued to nudge at the unconscious she-wolf.
I can help her, he pleaded to his wolf. Please.
His animal hesitated, but then relinquished control over to him. Once fully human again, Cliff cradled the wolf’s head in his lap. It let out a pained cry, but its eyes remained close.
“It’s all right,” he soothed. “You’re fine now. But please, let me have her back.” He stroked the soft fur along its uninjured shoulder. “I can take care of her.” He made that vow not just to her wolf, but to himself—from now on, he would take care of Stella. He would ensure her happiness and protect her from anyone that dared harm her.
Slowly, the wolf’s body began to shrink and fur receded back into skin. Relief broke through him, and he cradled Stella’s naked, limp body against his chest. His throat thick with emotion, he called her name like a prayer. “Stella … sweetheart …”
She let out a moan. “I …”
“Keep still, sweetheart. Or you’ll make the wound worse before it can heal.”
“I …” She choked and sputtered. “It’s not … it’s …”
“What?”
Her eyes flew open, and she sucked in a deep breath.
“Sweetheart?”
Her gaze darted around before she sat up.
“Stella, don’t move.” Reaching out, he gently pushed her back down. “Stay?—”
“No!” With surprising speed, she scrambled away from him, spun around, and got to her feet.
“Stella? Where?—?”
Without a glance back, she dashed over to the other wolf, not even aware or caring that she was stark naked. Sliding down to her knees, she wrapped her arms around the wolf and buried her face in its fur.
Cliff could only watch, dumbfounded.
What the fuck was going on?