Chapter 22
Chapter
Twenty-Two
Hunter woke slowly, aware first of warmth against his chest, then the weight of Brie’s body curved into his. She lay on her side facing away from him, her back pressed to his front, her ass nestled perfectly against his hips. The quilts cocooned them in heat despite the cold cabin air.
Gray morning light filtered through frosted windows. His fingertips traced the curve of her hip. Her skin was silky and soft from sleep. She stirred slightly but didn’t wake, pressing back against him with an unconscious seeking that made his cock harder.
He explored the dip of her waist, the subtle ridges of her ribs, his touch light.
His wolf purred with satisfaction at having her here, safe and warm in his arms. When his palm skimmed the underside of her breast, she made a sound, something between a sigh and a moan.
Her nipple was already tight when his thumb found it.
She was waking now. Her ass pushed back against his erection, a slow grind that had him biting back a groan. The friction was maddening, and he knew she could feel exactly how hard he was for her.
His hand moved lower, across the soft curve of her stomach. He took his time, savoring the way her breathing hitched when he got close to where she wanted him.
When he finally slipped his hand between her thighs, she was soaking wet. Her leg lifted slightly, giving him access. His fingers found her clit, and she gasped, her whole body tensing then melting back against him.
“Hunter,” she breathed.
His fingers slid through her wetness. She was drenched, swollen and ready for him despite just waking. The knowledge that she wanted him this badly made his cock throb.
She turned her head, seeking his mouth. The kiss was messy, desperate, her tongue sliding against his as his fingers worked her clit in slow circles.
She rocked her hips in time with his movements, chasing the pleasure he was giving her.
Her hand reached back, gripping his thigh for leverage as she ground against his fingers.
She whimpered, her pussy clenching as he circled her entrance teasingly.
When he finally pushed two fingers inside her, she cried out, her back arching.
She was close already, he could feel it in the way her thighs trembled, the little broken sounds she made into his mouth, the way her pussy was fluttering around his fingers.
He changed the angle slightly, grinding the heel of his palm against her clit while his fingers curled inside her.
“Come for me,” he growled against her ear, and she shattered.
Her orgasm rolled through her in waves, her pussy clenching rhythmically around his fingers as she shook in his arms. He worked her through it, drawing out every aftershock until she was gasping.
He pulled back reluctantly, reaching for the nightstand. She whimpered at the loss of contact, turning her head to watch him through heavy-lidded eyes as he grabbed a condom. His hands were steady despite the urgency thrumming through his veins as he rolled the latex on.
The first push inside made them both freeze. She was so tight he had to grit his teeth against the urge to just drive into her. Instead, he forced himself to move slowly, giving her body time to adjust.
“Fuck,” he groaned against her neck, his hand returning to her clit.
She rocked back against him, taking him deeper.
The drag of his cock against her sensitive walls made her gasp, and when he was finally seated fully inside her, they both stilled.
His fingers worked her clit, building her up again.
When he began to move, she was so responsive, her body was already climbing toward another peak.
She came fast and hard, her pussy clenching around him in waves that nearly ended him right there. He held still, buried deep inside her, letting her ride it out while he kissed her neck and shoulder, tasting the salt of her skin.
While she was still trembling, he pulled out and rolled her onto her stomach. She went willingly, face turned to the side on the pillow, hands gripping the sheets. Her ass was a perfect curve in the morning light, and he couldn’t resist running his hands over it, squeezing and kneading.
He positioned himself behind her, pushing her thighs apart. When he pushed back inside her, they both groaned at the sensation. The new position let him go even deeper, and she was so wet he slid in easily.
His hands gripped her hips, controlling the pace. She pushed back against him, eagerly meeting each thrust. The sound of skin slapping against skin filled the room, mixing with their harsh breathing and her broken moans.
“You take it so good, baby,” he growled, watching himself disappear inside her over and over.
“Yes,” she gasped. “Take me, Hunter.”
She buried her face in the pillow to muffle her scream when another orgasm hit, her whole body locking tight, her pussy clamping down on him like a vise.
The rhythmic squeeze of her coming around him shattered his control. Three more hard thrusts and he followed her over, grinding deep as his release pulsed through him. Light exploded behind his eyes as he emptied himself, his hips stuttering with the force of it.
They collapsed together, him half on top of her, both gasping for air. His weight pressed her into the mattress, and she made a satisfied sound, like she loved the feeling of being pinned beneath him.
He managed to pull out carefully, dealing with the condom without fully leaving the bed, then pulled her back against him. She curled into his chest with a contented sigh.
Neither spoke for long minutes. Words would have been redundant, anyway. Outside, the world remained frozen and white, keeping them suspended in this moment where nothing existed but skin and heat and the satisfaction of being exactly where they belonged.
“We should probably actually get out of bed at some point,” she finally murmured, though she made no move to leave his arms.
“Why?” His hand traced lazy patterns on her shoulder.
“Because we need food. And coffee.”
He couldn’t argue with that logic. Eventually they dragged themselves from the warm cocoon of blankets, both moving slowly. Brie pulled on his discarded henley, the fabric falling to mid-thigh on her, and he decided that was his new favorite look on her.
They made their way downstairs, the main room significantly colder than the bedroom. While he rebuilt the fire, she started coffee, and soon the cabin filled with warmth and rich aroma.
Through the windows, Crystal Lake stretched in the distance, a thin blanket of snow on the ground.
They cooked breakfast together, scrambled eggs and bacon, toast slathered with butter.
Simple food that tasted perfect in the quiet morning.
They ate at the small table, playing footsie underneath like teenagers, and Hunter realized he’d never felt this content in his entire life.
After breakfast, they bundled up for a walk around the lake as humans. The morning had warmed slightly, sun breaking through the clouds to sparkle off the fresh snow.
“Ready?” He held her coat while she slipped into it, his hands lingering on her shoulders.
“Lead the way.”
The trail circled Crystal Lake. Pine trees pressed close on both sides.
They walked in comfortable silence, the only sounds their boots crunching and the distant call of a crow.
Sunlight filtered through the trees in golden shafts, illuminating the melting snow.
The lake stretched beside them, dark water lapping gently at the shore.
Hunter found his mind drifting to futures he’d never let himself imagine before.
More mornings like this. Maybe their own place on a lake, somewhere they could escape when the world got too heavy.
Kids someday, teaching them to track and hunt, watching Brie teach them to bake.
Growing old together like her parents, still laughing after decades.
“What are you thinking about?” Brie asked, catching his expression.
“Nothing important.” But he pulled her closer, pressing a kiss to her temple. Everything important, actually.
They’d made it halfway around the lake when movement across the water caught his attention. A figure stumbled onto the muddy shoreline on the far side, maybe three hundred yards away. Hunter’s enhanced vision sharpened immediately, wolf rising to assess the threat.
Male. Six foot two. Lanky build. Dark jacket.
The man was moving erratically, lurching forward a few steps then stopping, turning in circles. His arms gestured wildly at nothing, like he was arguing with invisible opponents.
Hunter’s blood went cold. The figure on the far shore continued his bizarre behavior, shouting something they couldn’t hear across the water. His movements became more frantic, jerking and uncoordinated.
Then Hunter recognized him.
“That’s Brennan.”
“What?” Brie grabbed his arm. “But they found his car. The blood…”
“I know what they found.” Hunter’s jaw clenched as he watched the chemist’s erratic movements. “But that’s him.”
“Something’s wrong with him,” she whispered.
Brennan suddenly froze, his whole body going rigid. For three heartbeats, he stood perfectly still.
Then he convulsed.
The shift was violent, uncontrolled. Bones cracked audibly in the still air as Brennan’s body exploded outward. A massive grizzly bear erupted from the man, easily eight hundred pounds of muscle and fury.
But something was catastrophically wrong.
The bear’s movements were spastic, uncoordinated. It reared up, roaring at the sky, then collapsed forward onto all fours. The roar cut off mid-sound, replaced by a desperate, keening whine that raised every hair on Hunter’s body. He drew his gun.
“Oh god,” Brie breathed.
The grizzly tried to move forward but its legs weren’t working properly. It stumbled, fell, tried to rise again. Then, without warning, the shift reversed.
Bones cracked again, fur receding. Within seconds, Brennan was human again, naked and convulsing in the muddy snow. Even from across the lake, they could see him thrashing, his screams now human and piercing.
“He’s tested it on himself.” The realization hit Hunter hard. “The shifter drug. He’s been using himself as a test subject.”
Brennan’s body jerked again. Another forced shift, faster this time. Bear. Then human. Then bear. His transformation ability was completely destroyed, his body unable to maintain either form, trapped in an agonizing loop.
The final shift left him human, collapsed face-down in the snow. He wasn’t moving anymore.
“Is he...” Brie’s voice shook.
“I don’t know.” Hunter pulled out his phone clicked a photo for Dom. He was about to send it when he remembered there was no signal. “We need to get back to the cabin. Radio this in. I’m getting you out of here.”
They turned back toward the cabin, moving faster now. The peaceful morning had shattered, replaced by the stark reminder that their enemy wasn’t just dangerous. He was desperately, catastrophically unstable.