Chapter Seven
“I’ve got you.” The deep murmur penetrated her misery.
Strong arms lifted her. She had no idea where he was taking her and didn’t care.
She both resented Cyrus for his brutal honesty, yet needed his strength to lean on, as she’d exhausted her own.
The weight of her knapsack vanished as he removed it.
“Why can’t we find him?” With Cyrus’s reputation, she’d expected to have caught up with Adam by now.
“Because he doesn’t want to be found.” Cyrus sat at the base of a tree with her in his arms, likely afraid if he released her, she might try to run off again. She knew better, but this time was different. This time it was her son missing.
The dark fell quickly in the deep woods. Already the nocturnal animals were stirring. And out there somewhere was her son.
“When someone is lost, they want to be found. They’ll respond if they hear searchers calling.
They generally crash though their environment, leaving an easily read trail.
This is more in line with tracking a fugitive.
Adam is being stealthy. He wants to remain hidden.
Most fugitives take the fastest path to what they hope will be freedom.
The smarter ones muddy the trail, but I can always scent them. ”
“But Adam’s not doing that.” Tired, she rested her head against his broad shoulder. “I can’t figure out what he’s thinking or hoping to accomplish.”
“He’s afraid.” His blunt assessment pierced her heart. “He senses something is wrong with him but has no idea what it is.”
“Is he hurting?” It was a parent’s worst nightmare.
Cyrus huffed out a breath. “I can’t say for certain. Knowledge about hybrids is scant. Any that exist tend to keep their heads down, not wanting to attract attention.”
When he hesitated, she tilted her head back, wishing she could read his expression. “Don’t stop now.”
“A hybrid actually shifting is almost unbelievable.”
“So you’ve said.” And if she was honest, she was praying it wouldn’t happen.
“But the behavior he’s displaying is more indicative of a wolf than a human.
If that’s the case, he senses the animal inside him, feels the wildness, the connection.
Without being forewarned, he’s likely scared out of his mind.
He’s not doing this to hurt you. He’s doing this to try to protect you. ”
Her chest ached to the point of pain. “I’m his mother. I’m the one who should be protecting him.” It was killing her that he was going through this alone.
“If it comes down to it, I’ll shift and hunt him down. I can move faster on my own. Whatever happens, I won’t let him be alone tomorrow night.”
She bit back her protest. As much as she wanted to be the one to find Adam, all that mattered was that he was found.
The moon rose like a beacon in the distance.
It was beautiful, surrounded by stars twinkling to life as the evening deepened.
It was odd to think of it as anything but a natural wonder.
She’d sat on the porch countless nights staring up at the night sky, letting it sooth her.
Now the oncoming full moon filled her with dread.
“He’s out there somewhere. Maybe not that far away.
” When she went to move off his lap, Cyrus let her go.
They both knew it was too dark for her to find her way through the rough terrain.
She was desperate, not stupid. Cyrus, however, didn’t have the same limitations.
“You have excellent night vision, don’t you? ”
“Yes.”
Taking a fortifying breath, she made one of the toughest decisions she’d ever made. “Go find him.”
“What?” He took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “There’s time.”
She shook her head, certainty settling in her gut. “You find him and bring him back.”
“I’m a stranger. What makes you think he’ll come with me?”
She scooted over to her knapsack, dug to the bottom of it, and withdrew a small, well-loved stuffed teddy bear with worn beige fur.
Vinnie clutched it to her chest. “This is Benjamin. He was Adam’s from the time he came home from the hospital.
” It had been a gift from her mother. “He slept with it for years. When he deemed himself too old for stuffed toys, he set Benjamin on a shelf in his room.” She rubbed the bear’s head against her chin.
“I found him on Adam’s bed the same day he left.
He’s mature for his age, but right now he’s a scared kid.
Whether he realizes it or not, he needs me.
He needs us. Give him this, and he’ll know I sent you.
” She held it out to Cyrus, unsure what he’d think of it.
“It’s not macho,” she began, but he cut her off.
“It’s familiar. It’s comfort.” Dark eyes stared into hers. “I may not know him, but I know who you are. You’re courageous, loyal, and tenacious. You’ll stop at nothing to protect those you love. You’ve taught him to be the same. You don’t ever need to apologize for how you’ve raised our son.”
She nodded, unable to speak past the lump in her throat when Cyrus brushed his long, rough fingers over the stuffed animal’s fur.
The contrast between the big man and the tiny object had her blinking back tears.
For as hard and dangerous as he was, he could be gentle when the occasion called for it.
She remembered that all too well from their fateful night together.
“I’ll take good care of it.” He carefully set the toy aside and cupped her face. “I don’t want to leave you.”
She pressed her forehead against his. “I don’t want you to go, but you need to. I can take care of myself.” An experienced camper and a sheriff’s deputy, she had survival skills. What she didn’t have was the ability to track her son.
“I’ve no doubt you can handle just about anything.” His breath was warm on her skin when he sighed. “It’s tougher for me to leave than it should be.” He said it as though it was some big confession.
Jitters danced in her stomach and her heart began to race.
“You’ll come back for me.” Of that, she had no doubt.
“If something happens and you can’t, I can find my way home.
” She had a compass and map, as well as her phone.
No matter what happened, she’d manage. “Finding Adam is the most important thing.”
“It is,” he agreed. Yet they remained as they were. Around them, the night grew silent. There wasn’t enough of a breeze to ruffle her hair.
She ran her fingers along the edge of his jaw, his beard soft against her skin.
He made a sound somewhere between pleasure and pain.
There was no telling what would happen once he left.
The future was uncertain. Worry about Adam’s safety was at the forefront, along with concerns over her job.
While it was standard procedure to rule out the parents for suspected foul play in cases like this, having people she’d worked with for years seriously considering her capable of foul play didn’t sit well.
She’d ignored the whispers of some of her more judgmental neighbors, but it cut her to the bone that her coworkers hadn’t cleared her, that they were still tracking her movements.
She shook off the melancholy that threatened to swallow her whole.
Bringing Adam home safe and sound wouldn’t be the end of it.
It would give rise to a whole new kind of gossip and finger-pointing.
They’d all speculate why he’d run. Had she done something to him, or was there something wrong with Adam?
If something happened to her son ... she shut that thought off before it had a chance to finish.
Cyrus would find him, and they’d deal with whatever he was going through.
“Vinnie?” His voice was rougher than usual.
Life was uncertain. It could change in a heartbeat. She knew that better than most. Before she talked herself out of it, she pressed her lips against his. They were warm and firm and welcoming.
A groan rumbled through his chest, and he cupped the back of her head, holding her steady. Memories of their time together had filled many a long night. Sometimes she’d awaken to find herself reaching for him, only to find herself alone.
But he was here now. What happened after they found Adam was up in the air.
They hadn’t discussed that, but somehow she didn’t see Cyrus walking away from his son.
He took family and responsibilities seriously.
There would have to be concessions on both their parts.
For this small window of time, it was only the two of them—a man and a woman, or rather, a werewolf and a woman.
It should freak her out more than it did.
Whatever else he was, he was still Cyrus, the man she’d spent an unforgettable evening with, the father of her son.
He could have easily sent her away, denied all obligations.
After all, it was a one-night stand a long time ago.
Instead, he’d dropped everything and come with her.
The intensity increased, their tongues tangling together in a desperate dance. She spread her hands over his chest, feeling the play of muscle beneath her fingers. They broke off their kiss, both breathing heavily.
“This isn’t over.” His promise curled her toes. He got to his feet, grabbed the stuffed bear, and vanished into the night.
Still on her knees, her entire body aching, she battled back the guilt creeping over her.
What right did she have to indulge in kissing while her son was missing?
Shamed by her momentary lapse, she yanked her flashlight out and scanned the area for the best place to spread her sleeping bag. Not that she expected to sleep.
It took her under ten minutes to have her supplies laid out. To be on the safe side, she kept Cyrus’s rifle at hand. There were bears to be wary of and the occasional poacher. Lying on the sleeping bag, she stared up at the moon and said a silent prayer that he’d find Adam.