Chapter 9
Ella
The scream left my lips before I could stop it. I couldn’t control the visceral fear that had my heart slamming against my ribs either, even though I’d known the second I saw those eyes that it was Axel.
He scanned the room with a predator’s focus, searching for the threat that had startled me.
His yeti—or was that sasquatch, I didn’t know the proper term—form was massive, easily filling the doorway with his broad shoulders and thick, snow-dusted fur. His coat shimmered a pale silver and white. And I saw now that it wasn’t polar bear-like at all; there was a blue shift to it.
And it was much longer than a bear’s, and denser too, clearly built for winter storms and deep forest cold. The fur ended before his biceps, leaving the generous muscles on display, but started up again to cover his forearms. The fur covered his chest too, fading to just a sprinkling over his abs.
The pelt resumed around his hips, almost like a natural loincloth.
Oh! No wonder the hair there had felt like fur.
His feet really were big. Huge, in fact. The tops of claws showed through the fur.
Actually, all of him was big. Bigger than he was when he was a man. The oversized furniture and eating utensils made sense now.
His face was still his though; he had those same piercing eyes and that strong masculine jaw. But it was all framed in a generous mane that made him look wild and untamed.
Now that the initial shock had worn off and I knew that I was safe, I found him to be beautiful in his own way. Terrifying, yes, not because I thought he’d hurt me, but because he was quite literally awe-inspiring. I hadn’t known creatures like him even existed.
He reached his hand out. “Don’t be frightened. It’s just me.”
“I know,” I said, finally able to form words. “I realized it the second I saw your face.”
He closed his eyes for a moment and the fur receded. He shrank, his feet grew smaller, and he soon stood naked just inside the door, looking very much human, albeit an extremely tall and buff one. The door closed behind him.
“I won’t hurt you, I promise.”
“I know,” I said again. Then I stood and closed the distance between us. “I didn’t mean to scream.”
He looked almost scared to touch me, like I was some fine china he might break. But I wasn’t, not at all. And I wasn’t frightened of him. I put a hand on his arm. Despite being fully human again, he still felt furry, but I wasn’t sure if it was my imagination because of what I’d just seen.
“Actually, I think you look very regal,” I said, hoping he could hear my honesty. “I didn’t know your kind... I’m not sure what you prefer to be called... shifted.”
He relaxed. “We don’t. It’s magic. We all call it camouflage because it often helps us blend into the trees. Or it makes us look human.”
“Oh, the massive furniture and utensils all make sense now. How tall are you?” I asked, curious.
“About seven feet naturally, but my illusion brings me down closer to six foot six. But mostly, it reduces the fur and the feet and the bulk. And in the winter, it removes the blue from my skin.”
“Why only in the winter?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “My particular family line changes fur color when it gets cold.”
I gawked at him. “You mean like a fox?” I asked, surprised.
He chuckled. “Yes. In the summer, my fur is brown so I blend into the trees better. And as for what to call me, yeti is fine. Or sasquatch. We’re technically the same thing, just from different parts of the world.
And most ’squatches don’t have the white fur in winter, but it depends on the family. ”
“Oh, so like humans. We’re all humans, no matter what our skin tone or our features. But some tan in the summer, and some of us turn into lobsters.”
“You got it. I don’t even mind Bigfoot.” He stuck out his foot and raised a brow.
“Yeah, they are pretty big. And now I know what they say about men with big feet is true.” I couldn’t help but giggle as I ran my hand down his forearm again. “So that means I should trust what I feel and not what I see.”
“I’m not sure. I know the illusion extends to touch when it has to. What do you feel right now?”
“Fur.” I ruffled it, enjoying the feel of it between my fingers.
“And what do you see?”
“Skin.” I made a face. “It’s kind of weird, actually. Feeling and seeing different things.”
“Did I feel human to you before?” he asked, a quizzical look on his face.
“You did. Feel human, I mean. And I touched you everywhere. Except…”
“What?”
“Well, when you were going down on me this morning, I could have sworn your shoulder felt furry against my leg. But I didn’t know what you were then, and I thought maybe you were a bear shifter or something and… Yeah.”
“Interesting.” He pulled me into his embrace. “And how about now? Does my chest feel furry?”
I nestled my face into his chest. And he was definitely furry. And I loved the way he felt. I inhaled deeply. I loved the way he smelled too. My face warmed when I realized I was being a total weirdo and sniffing the guy.
“You’re definitely furry. But you’re asking like you can’t control it. Isn’t it your magic?”
“The only control I have is off or on,” he said. “Sometimes it makes me blend into the trees. But most of the time, it turns me human. It does what it thinks is best, but it can’t add clothes. And I’ve never really explored the extent of the illusion before.”
“Do you think maybe it stopped giving me the physical touch illusion because it knew I didn’t mind?”
“You don’t?”
“Nope. Not at all. You’re really soft.” I rubbed my cheek against him.
Mmm. He smelled so freaking good. I buried my face in his chest again and inhaled. Then froze, realizing what I was doing.
Ugh! Why was I so embarrassing?
“Sorry. I’m being weird. But you smell so good.”
He grinned. “That’s not weird at all. You smell amazing to me, and if I could, I’d sniff you all day long.” He bent and pressed his nose to my head, sniffing. “Smell me anytime you like. It’s only natural that we enjoy each other’s scents because we’re—” He suddenly stiffened.
“What?” I looked around, suddenly worried. And now that I thought of it, he did come in here ready to fight.
“It’s nothing.”
I didn’t buy it. “It’s not nothing. You came in here ready to duke it out. What’s wrong?”
He blinked. “Oh. I went back to the road to check up on your car. And I caught the scent of a strange wolf shifter in the area.”
I tensed, the chill from outside suddenly crawling down my spine. My fingers crawled tighter into fur on his shoulder and chest, and I felt the heat drain from my face.
His arms tightened around me. “I didn’t see any tracks or any other physical signs. But just to be sure, I already sent a message to the local pack. They’ll be alert for any signs of trouble.”
“But what if—” I couldn’t say the words, in case that made the danger more real.
“Even if it is your ex, he wouldn’t dare do anything with me around. I’ll protect you, Ella.”
I shook my head.
“You don’t believe me?”
“No! I mean, yes, I believe you. In fact, I’m sure you would protect me, but…”
“You don’t think I can?” He frowned. “My beast outweighs his by far; he’ll be stupid to try.”
“Intelligence was never his strong suit. But that wasn’t what I meant either.” I sighed. “You came to my aid out of the goodness of your heart. And I don’t want to add trouble to your life. This is my problem, and I don’t want it to become yours too.”
He sat on the couch and pulled me down with him. “It’s no trouble. I’m happy to warn him off. He has no claim to you.”
The seriousness in his voice had me tilting my head to watch him.
“You’re right about that. But you barely know me. I’m just the girl you picked up before a storm. And we just happen to get along really, really well.”
“I’d say I know you enough.” He frowned. “Tell me you honestly don’t feel anything between us.” He looked like he ached at the thought.
But I couldn’t say it. And it wasn’t because of his pained look, either. It was because I did feel something. It was something I had never felt before. And if I had to be honest with myself, I was freaking terrified.
I wasn’t ready for a relationship. I didn’t think I’d ever be ready. Hell, just accepting a real date was already more than I’d expected from myself. And that was before the connection I’d felt this morning. And now this?
Was it possible to fall for someone in a day? Everything was moving so fast.
“I can’t tell you I don’t feel anything,” I finally said, “because I do. I’m just… This isn’t what I expected this trip. It’s new and exciting, but a little scary. But not because of what you are. I’m just chicken shit when it comes to relationships.”
There. I said it. It felt silly talking about feelings and relationships with a man I’d just met, but somehow it worked, especially when the tension in his shoulders eased and a hopeful look crossed his face. He leaned in, my position in his lap making it perfect for his forehead to brush mine.
“That’s enough for me for now. And trust that I’ll protect you, no matter what. From the storm, from this wolf, from anything that tries to touch you.”
I closed my eyes and leaned into him, feeling truly safe for the first time in a long time. “Thank you. I believe you.”
After a long moment holding me, he pulled back just enough to meet my gaze. “Did you talk to Grind and Shine?”
I blinked before realizing he meant the garage. “Yeah. They said they’ll come once the roads are cleared. But they need the location, and I only have the last GPS ping and the road name.”
“I’ll send it to them. It’s the only car out there. They’ll find it. It’ll take a little time, though, because they always clear the city roads in Darlington first.”
“How long?” I asked, knowing that I’d probably need to send Mom a text to stop her from sending my two annoying brothers out to find me.
“Probably by tonight. But possibly tomorrow morning.” He grinned. “Which means we’ve still got plenty of time together. I was thinking maybe we can dig up those Christmas decorations after all.”
I brightened, excited at the prospect of decking the halls. I looked around the cabin, which already had that super cozy rustic vibe. “But we don’t have a tree.”
“We can go get one. I know a copse of juvenile pines that needs thinning.”
Excitement had me swallowing a laugh. I’d always wanted a real tree for Christmas.
“Let’s do it!”