Chapter 8
My feet almost tangled underneath me, but when I turned, familiar crystal-blue eyes reflected back at me.
That strange presence in my chest inched forward, and my eyes burned as tears fell down my cheeks.
Raffe.
He raced from his spot in the center of the group, heading toward me, his dark fur ruffling with each stroke of his muscles.
“Sky, come on,” Slade said urgently, tugging me away from my mate.
“No.” I yanked away, enough energy coming back that my feet tangled, and I fell forward.
I tensed, bracing for impact, but Raffe reached me and broke my fall. My chest landed on his back, and electricity sparked between us. The presence in my chest churned harder. Between the spark of our connection, his warmth, and his sandalwood-and-amber scent, my body became uncomfortably warm, but there was no way I’d give up touching him. I’d been without him for so long.
He whimpered and lowered himself to the ground, then gently rolled so that my back hit the ground.
No. I needed to touch him. The presence in my chest tightened, making me more desperate to be with him. The strange emotions that didn’t seem like my own surged with relief and happiness, contrasting with my devastation as Raffe moved away.
I reached out a hand, wanting him to come back to me. I wasn’t above begging, but I still couldn’t move well.
Four wolves emerged from between two thick firs, but I could see only him.
“Sky,” Slade warned, the tension in his voice palpable.
I looked at the four coming toward us. Between their fur and eye color, I recognized them immediately. Adam and Keith stood in the center, with Lucy beside Adam and Josie at the other end. “These are our friends,” I rasped as I shuddered. The warm buzz from touching Raffe had made me feel cold again.
Lowering her caramel-brown-furred head, Lucy kept her haunting gray eyes on me. I could see warmth and concern in them, but then Raffe pawed at my leg.
I turned to find him hunkered down again. He jerked his head sideways, and I understood.
He wanted me to climb onto his back.
Everything inside me urged me to do that. I needed to be next to him, as close as I could get, but I didn’t want to burden him. “You don’t need to carry me.”
His large wolfy head turned toward me, and he scoffed. He inched back into me harder, essentially telling me to shush and get on.
I didn’t fight because I wasn’t sure how well I could walk.
“Just let him carry you.” Slade shivered and moaned. “We need to get back and warm up.”
He was right, and I didn’t want Warin and the others to find us and attack. There were only five shifters with us. It wasn’t like Slade and I could fight much.
My connection with Raffe snapped, yanking me toward my mate. Even if I’d wanted to fight longer, I was at their mercy. I still couldn’t feel my hands and feet, but I managed to crawl haphazardly onto Raffe’s back.
Keith rolled his milk-chocolate eyes at me, his look devoid of warmth.
Even my being kidnapped hadn’t thawed his dislike for me. Lovely.
Once I was settled on Raffe’s back, he chuffed, a sound I hadn’t heard a wolf make but had read about in textbooks. The warm spot in my chest morphed into happiness, but it had an edge to it that screamed worry.
It was amazing how large Raffe was in animal form, even bigger than I’d remembered. Fitting perfectly on his back, I wrapped my arms around his neck. The warmth spread through me, making the mud even itchier, and the wounds on my neck and wrist burned again.
Raffe trotted off at a quick pace, his muscles rolling underneath me. I buried my face in his neck, not wanting to see the trees as we raced by. I wanted to get lost in his touch and the way our connection soared between us. The strange presence within me settled as well, and I’d have felt normal if it hadn’t been for the discomfort of my wounds and the cold.
Little by little, my core temperature rose despite the freezing air brushing past me. My feet were still frozen because my socks were wet and dirty, but I was no longer on the brink of hyperthermia.
Part of me was thankful. I hadn’t realized how close to death I’d gotten. I started sweating everywhere Raffe and I were touching, but I shivered anyway. He’d soon regret having me ride on his back—I could feel the mud flaking off me and coating his fur.
Raffe’s gait slowed, and I raised my head. The fir trees were thinning, but I didn’t see any vehicles.
Ten wolves ran past us in the direction we’d come from.
I glanced over my shoulder, watching them go. Josie and Lucy were the only ones still with us. Adam, Keith, and Slade were gone.
My throat tightened. “Are the others okay?” I’d been so out of it that I hadn’t considered that we’d been moving too fast for Slade to keep up. I was an awful friend.
Raffe nodded.
Not being able to talk to him frustrated me. I wanted to ask more questions, but when I faced forward, I noticed that Raffe was leaving the path. The ground was less level, and I had to hang on tighter to keep from falling off.
After a few minutes, he came to a stop and lowered himself like he wanted me to get off. I climbed down and stood, my feet frozen like ice.
He backed away, and I saw how much mud clung to his fur. No wonder he didn’t want to be close to me. I hadn’t showered in the bunker, afraid that someone would walk in on me, and I must stink on top of everything else.
I flinched, thinking how uncomfortable he must have been. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
Bones cracked, and I inhaled sharply, realizing something was wrong. My blood jolted as I took a shaky step toward him. “Raffe—” I rasped.
His top half suddenly stood upright, his hind legs holding him up. More cracks sounded, and he stood taller—and realization settled over me.
He was shifting back into human form.
The strange presence inside me inched forward as if it were just as fascinated with watching my mate change as I was. His dark fur retracted inside his skin, revealing his smooth olive complexion and muscular arms. My eyes focused on the wolf tattoo on his upper arm as it came back into view. Within a minute, human Raffe stood before me, every inch of him on display for my viewing pleasure, with no traces of mud on him. Something inside me expanded, and the yanking had me stumbling toward him again.
“Thank gods.” He closed the distance between us. He wrapped me in his arms, feeling warmer in human form. “I was afraid I’d never find you, and I’m never letting you out of my sight again.”
“I’m okay with that,” I responded with a half laugh. The past three-ish days had been hell.
“Good. I still can’t believe you’re here, and I never want to experience this again. I can’t handle it,” he murmured and tilted my head up to kiss me.
I flinched back, not wanting him to kiss mud, but he shook his head. “Your face is mostly clean from when you were riding on me.”
My hesitation vanished, and our tongues collided. His minty taste washed through me and made me feel like I’d finally come home. The only thing different was the beard that rubbed my face.
When I threw my arms around his neck, my wounds throbbed, and I remembered I was covered in mud. I stilled, ending our moment together.
He pulled back, his eyes full of concern with dark circles under them like he hadn’t slept. “What’s wrong?” His deep voice sounded like music to my ears. His gaze went to one side of my neck, and he went still. “I’m going to enjoy killing them.”
I had no doubt he meant it. Raffe was a killer. I shivered, but his words thrilled a part of me. “It’s nothing. And I’m making you filthy.” I raised my injured wrist to cover the other side of my neck.
“I’ve been searching for you for three days nonstop. Do you think that fucking matters to me? I’m all about you getting me dirty.” He homed in on the other bite before I could cover it, and he caught my wrist. I gasped and tried to jerk my hand away, but he turned it over.
His irises glowed, his wolf surging forward. “Why did the vampire bite you so many times? Is this why he took you?”
I shook my head. “It was different vampires.”
If I’d thought that would comfort him, I’d been so wrong.
His entire body tensed, which was a huge distraction, given how his muscles became more pronounced. He growled, “How many fucking vampires drank from you?”
I quivered. “Three, but Raffe, you’re fighting dirty, questioning me without any clothes on. How am I supposed to concentrate on anything you’re saying?”
“Dammit, Sky.” He sighed and placed an arm around my waist, gently pulling me to him. “You’re freezing. Tell me everything while we get you home.”
Home, away from the horrible past few days. Maybe I could forget everything and go back to my life like nothing had changed.
“Stay right here,” he said and walked to some bushes. He pulled out a pair of jeans and a shirt.
I wanted to pout, but the thought of joining Josie and Lucy while he was naked had pressure forming deep within my chest. Though I wasn’t thrilled about either woman seeing him like that, Josie was the only real threat. She’d been his fake girlfriend for years, and I wondered if it had all been pretending on her end. If she tried—
“Babe,” Raffe said by the bush, pulling his jeans on. “Did you hear that noise?”
Blinking, I forced my murderous thoughts away. I surveyed our surroundings. “No. What?”
“I could’ve sworn I heard a faint growl.” He quickly pulled on his black shirt and slipped his shoes on then came back to me. “But I don’t sense anyone but the two of us here.”
My face heated. Had that been me? I’d never growled before. “Let’s get back to the others. I want to make sure Slade’s okay.”
His shoulders sagged. “We’re officially back to that, even after—”
“If it weren’t for him, I’d still be locked in there.” I took his hand. “He’s the only reason I got out. I think that earns him some forgiveness. Don’t you?”
He scowled. “Maybe a little, but I still don’t like him.”
My cheeks tensed as I tried to smile, but the dried mud made it uncomfortable. “Just don’t hate him.”
A strong breeze rushed through the trees, and my teeth chattered.
“Keith and Adam stayed with Slade.” His eyes glowed for a moment. “They’re almost here. Thirty wolves are standing guard close by, so I promise you they’re fine. You know I would never put my people in danger … Slade either.” The corners of his mouth dipped downward almost comically.
This right here was the amazing man I knew. Even when he didn’t like someone, if they proved their worth, he’d protect them. It was such a contrast to what the pictures had depicted. There had to be more to the story.
Though I didn’t want to leave, he was right. I was soaked, cold, and dealing with blood loss. The longer I stayed out here, the closer I’d be to hypothermia again.
“Here, I’ll carry you—” he started.
“But the wolves.” I bit my lip, but when I tried to walk, I almost crumpled.
Raffe bent down and lifted me to his strong, muscular chest—a place I’d feared I’d never be again. I snuggled into him, listening to his heartbeat. Somehow, mine synced up with his as he strolled back to the path.
“We were getting worried,” Josie said from a few feet behind us.
Lucy snorted. “Let’s be clear. You were worried, not me. I knew it would take those two a while to come back here.”
My heart stopped. The last time I’d seen Raffe, he and I had partially completed our fated-mate bond, and he’d left, intending to tell Adam, Keith, and Josie that we were together. Had he not told them after all? Otherwise, Josie would have realized we needed a moment alone. Right?
The doubt about our relationship seeped back into my bones, making me question everything again. What if this fated-mate connection prevented me from seeing the real him, and I had fallen in love with an illusion? My heart ached at the thought, but it was short-lived.
“She’s muddy and cold.” Josie scoffed. “That should’ve hurried him up.”
Raffe tightened one hand around me and reached into his pocket with the other. He tossed something at the girls. I tried to lift my head, but the bite wounds in my neck stretched. I whimpered, and Raffe kissed my forehead.
“Tell Adam to drive my bike back to campus. She can’t handle it in this condition, so I’m taking the BMW. There’s plenty of room in the other vehicles for the rest of you,” he stated.
Lucy’s rosy scent hit me as she replied, “Yeah, okay. Here.”
“I could ride back with you two,” Josie offered as the sound of footsteps drew closer.
“No,” Raffe snarled. “You stay with them.”
My pulse quickened at his rough dismissal, and I hid my face in his chest. In fairness, Josie had always been nice to me, but I was cold, uncomfortable, and needed Raffe.
“Uh. Yeah.” She sounded disappointed.
Raffe didn’t pause. He took sure, hurried steps, and before long, I heard the beep of a vehicle unlocking, followed by an engine starting.
He stopped. “I need to put you down for a second.”
“Okay.”
Slowly, he set me down, and I found myself standing at the passenger door of a black BMW sedan. He opened the door and helped me sit on the dark-orange leather seat.
“Raffe, wait.” I’d never sat in a car this nice before. “I’m dirty.”
He chuckled. “You’re cute. I don’t give a fuck if you get our car dirty. I’ll get it cleaned later. You’re going to get warm, and I’m taking you home.”
My head spun, and in my shock, he got me buckled in.
The word kept spinning in my head. “Our?” I must have misunderstood him. All the things I’d gone through were messing with my head.
He shut the door, and my butt started getting toasty.
What the hell?
I glanced at the sleek buttons on the center dashboard to see that the car had seat warmers. Right. I’d heard about those, though I’d never experienced them. This was what they felt like.
Raffe got into the driver’s seat and put the car in reverse. The car drove so smoothly that I couldn’t be sure we were moving.
“Yes, ours,” he replied, answering my question. “You’re my mate, so everything that’s mine is yours.”
I snorted. “No, that’s marriage.”
He put the car in drive and pulled away from the few cars parked nearby.
Adjusting the controls, he turned the heat on, and the shivers shook me harder. I’d never been this cold before.
“Marriage is nothing compared to what we have.” He reached over the center console and took my hand. “That’s why I told you we didn’t have to rush into anything. When I bit you, that made you it for me … for my entire life. Our bond is unbreakable.”
My heart hammered in my chest, and the warmth in its center exploded with love as the strange presence inside me jostled. Between that and the fullness in my chest, I’d never felt so happy and secure. His proclamation should’ve petrified me, but instead, it gave me peace.
No one would come between us.
Not only that, but his admission also felt right. This was how things should’ve always been between us. “I love you,” I said, the words bursting from my throat.
“I love you, too.” He squeezed my hand and smiled at me tenderly. Then his expression became stern. “I need you to tell me what happened.”
So I did, leaving out the pictures. Once I started, the words spilled from my mouth. When I mentioned Dave drugging me, a murderous glint entered Raffe’s eyes, but it turned to concern when I informed him about the Veiled Circle and the members I knew of. I added what Slade had told me and explained why we’d been scared when the five of them had found us.
When I was done talking, the moon was descending, and we were twenty minutes from campus, which was saying something since I’d been taken to Silver Falls State Park, over an hour away.
“I’m going to hunt them down and teach every one of them a lesson.” Raffe’s knuckles blanched, and a growl laced every word. “I’ll force them to give me the names of every member.” His chest heaved and his nostrils flared. “They will pay tenfold for every twinge of pain they caused you.”
Doubt crowded my mind. Though I didn’t want the Veiled Circle to succeed, maybe not all the members believed in that same view and only the extremists had captured me. I wanted to calm him down. I hated seeing him this upset.
I turned to him. “Look, what they did was wrong, and the people who took me should pay.” They’d drugged me, kidnapped me, and locked me up. No one deserved that treatment. “But the others … they might not have known. You can’t punish people who only want their freedom and the knowledge of their past and their heritage back at their fingertips. Besides, every group has extremists, and you shouldn’t persecute them all based on a few.”
His forehead creased. “I can see how it looks like we aren’t being fair, but it’s up to us to make sure humans never learn of our existence and keep the species in line.” He glanced at me. “I would never do something to hurt someone just because I could.”
My stomach tensed. He’d given me the perfect opportunity to ask him the question I’d been dreading. “Are you sure?” I murmured.
He glanced in my direction. “Yeah. Why would you ask that?”
“Because Glinda and Warin showed me pictures of you leading the slaughter of a group of vampires in an abandoned warehouse.” I bit my lip. “And the picture didn’t show any humans.”
His expression became strained, and the color drained from his face.
Suddenly, I didn’t want to hear the answer.