Chapter Twelve
Green Sanctuary
“Look at him,” Miranda was saying. “He looks so damn adorable!”
Not for the first time since they’d resumed walking, Bryon slowed in his tracks, turning to face her.
She still had the foal cradled to her chest like a newborn, as she had for the past hour.
The creature seemed to be asleep, its ears occasionally twitching.
Miranda herself had the biggest grin on her face as she hugged the animal to her body.
“Isn’t he the cutest thing?” Her grin grew impossibly wider. “Maybe I should give him a name, like Spot or Colt. I think that one’s more fitting.”
Bryon couldn’t resist a tiny smile as he resumed his pace.
She seemed to be in rather high spirits for someone who’d been in these woods for nearly half a day.
He supposed it had something to do with their encounter with Jerry.
The man wouldn’t be bothering her again, not after Bryon had scared him off.
But that wasn’t the only reason, was it?
He bit his lip, a memory crossing his mind just then.
Barely thirty minutes ago, he and Miranda had been making love, both of them naked in the woods without a care in the world.
As badly as he’d wanted it, he hadn’t seen it coming.
And, good lord, had it been amazing. He needed only to close his eyes to remember every last detail, from the way she’d looked up through her lashes at him as she took him into her mouth, to her gasps and moans as he filled her.
He had to admit; he felt even more connected to this woman now.
He’d felt it even before they made love.
When he thought about it, it made very little sense.
Hadn’t they known each other for mere hours?
Yet somehow, he already felt so bonded to her.
Enough to risk exposure to yet another human just to protect her.
It’s a risk I’m willing to take again.
He’d meant every word of that. He would do whatever it took to keep the woman safe.
Bryon shook his head. So much had happened, so much had changed since he came into the woods this morning, that he could hardly believe it was still the same day.
He’d come in here intending to rescue an animal, but had ended up rescuing a human as well.
And since when had he been so concerned about the safety of a human? Their kind had never been as concerned for him. Quite the opposite, actually, if his friendship with Harold was any indicator.
But this woman... she wasn’t like the others, was she? No wonder he’d felt so drawn to her, so bonded to her.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Miranda’s voice broke through his musing.
Bryon blinked, glancing back to find her staring at him. “Huh?”
“I haven’t got any more pennies,” she said. “Could I at least get my money’s worth, sir?”
He couldn’t resist a chuckle. “I was just thinking about... us. Well, you, actually.”
Her eyebrows rose slowly, both with surprise and curiosity. “Already? We’re about to have that conversation now, eh?”
“What talk?” What was she talking about?
It was her turn to laugh. It was a rich sound that carried into his ears and quickened his pulse. Her blue eyes twinkled. “I’m just messing with you, wolf man. What exactly about me?”
He shrugged, staring ahead. He’d had some time to think about it, if he was being honest. Finally, they were leaving the woods. Heading home. Their little adventure in Paradise Woods—if he could call it that—was about to come to an end. But what did that mean for them?
“I guess...I’m just wondering what’s going to happen now that we’re almost out of here,” he said. “You said you’d rather not go back to Everland because of Jerry.”
There was a momentary pause on her end. Then: “I did say that.”
He pressed his lips together before going on. “And I don’t think your ex-boyfriend’s going to bother you anymore, regardless of where you choose to live, which means you don’t really have to leave your town anymore.”
“You’re right.”
Bryon exhaled softly. “And even if you did leave Everland and move elsewhere, even to Sylva, it doesn’t exactly mean...” He trailed off, feeling his insides churn slightly. “Why was this so damn difficult? “What I’m trying to say is, I guess spending time with you has given me a fresh perspective—”
“I’m moving to Sylva, Bryon.”
“—on the possibility of shifters and humans... wait, what?” He stopped dead in his tracks then. Had he heard her correctly? “What did you just say?”
“I said I’m moving to Sylva,” she repeated with another chuckle. “I already made up my mind earlier. It’s what I want, Jerry or no Jerry. I’d like to move to your town.” She shot him a smirk. “You did say it was a nice town.”
“It is.” His heart was suddenly beating so fast he thought it might pop any second now. “That... that’s great. It means I’ll get to see you more often.”
Her eyes gleamed again. “Oh, I look forward to that, wolf man.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Wolf man?” Something about the way she said it was endearing, filling him with a gentle warmth, but... “I’m not sure it’s advisable to call me that. At least, once we’re out of the woods.”
Miranda gave a nod. “I understand, Bryon. I promised to keep your secret, and I have every intention of doing so for as long as I live. That applies to the others at Green Sanctuary, too.”
“Thank you. I’ve got to admit, that’s very reassuring, though it’s a little strange. First time I’m hearing a human say...” He trailed off, frowning, and shifted his gaze to her again. “What did you just say?”
She blinked innocently at him. “I said I’d keep your secret.”
“You mentioned the others at the sanctuary. I never said they were supernaturals.”
“Just because I’m human doesn’t mean I’m an idiot, Bryon.
I already figured it out.” She rolled her eyes at him.
“You said your friends are like family to you. Said they’re animal rescuers.
You’ve got similar goals and you understand each other.
You’re a shifter who doesn’t trust humans.
And there’s a good chance that the friends who understand you so well are also supernaturals. ”
She smirked at him, and Bryon couldn’t help but feel a little foolish. “You’re right. It’s not too hard to figure out if you’re paying attention.”
“You’d be insane not to expect me to pay attention with everything that’s happened to me today.” She shook her head with a sigh, then turned her blue-eyed gaze to him. “So... how am I doing so far? For a human, that is.”
He almost let out a guffaw. “Not bad. You’re more understanding and willing to learn than most.”
“I have a feeling I’ll have to get used to your backhanded comments about my kind,” she said, and they both laughed. She looked down at the foal sleeping in her arms. “But it’s not like you’re wrong, anyway. You’re a good man, Bryon Sanders. Human or not.”
With that, she drew closer, gripping his shoulder to support herself as she tiptoed and kissed him. It wasn’t a fiery kiss, but a gentle one, and Bryon felt the tiniest of flutters in the depths of his belly. When she pulled away, smiling softly at him, his lips were tingling.
“Thank you,” he told her, “for the vote of confidence.”
They held each other’s gaze for a moment longer, the woods around them almost dead silent. Then the foal stirred against Miranda’s chest, forcing the pair of them to look at it.
“Let’s keep moving,” Bryon said, “and get this little guy to the clinic.”
***
They walked for an additional ten minutes before Bryon announced, “We’re almost out of the woods.”
Miranda breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness. I need to eat something soon or I might pass out. And my feet are killing me.” Bryon raised an eyebrow at her, and she felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment, glancing at his own bandaged foot.
“Right. Other people have it worse. But I’m hungry, anyway. ”
Still cradling the foal to her chest with one hand, she rubbed her belly. Finally. The sun was still high up in the sky, but if she had to guess, it was about 4 p.m. They’d been in the woods for about ten hours, if not more.
What a day. She glanced at Bryon as they walked, and bit her lip without meaning to, feeling a flutter in her gut.
What a day!
Things were definitely starting to look up. They were almost out of these damn woods. Jerry was gone. And she’d just had what had to be the best sex she’d ever encountered in her entire life.
What next? She’d be moving to Sylva. The thought filled her with excitement. She’d be starting a new life in a new town, and she’d get to see more of this wonderful man who’d changed her life somewhat despite them having only met hours ago.
She smiled. He’d been kind and protective of her since she met him. It was somewhat odd to think that it was a nonhuman who’d treated her right when a fellow human hadn’t. And to think she’d almost judged this book by its cover.
Not that Bryon’s cover wasn’t appealing anyway, she thought, glancing at his bicep.
“Dammit,” he muttered suddenly, coming to a halt just before a tree.
She came up beside him. “What’s wrong?”
He pointed to the base of the tree. “I stashed my clothes here before I shifted earlier, but they’re gone. Someone must’ve taken them.” He groaned. “Perfect. I just know Cal and Henry will have a laugh when they see me in nothing but a bathrobe.”
Miranda fought to resist a chuckle. “What are you talking about? You look amazing in my bathrobe. The blue color really brings out your eyes.” He shot her a look, and she burst into giggles. “Sorry.”
They soon resumed walking, and soon they reached a low fence.
Beyond it, Miranda could make out a large field stretching far beyond a line of sight.
A few animals stood grazing in the distance.
Up ahead, she spotted a couple of barns built close to each other.
Farther to the left was a large, two-story white house with a few trucks parked out in front.
She squinted. Three men stood by the porch steps, talking among themselves.
“We’re here,” Bryon said, and she detected a hint of relief in his tone. “Green Sanctuary. Home.”
He leaped over the fence, helping her over it as well. Together, they walked across the field, heading toward the buildings. Bryon’s shoulders sagged with exhaustion. He was limping more obviously now. Miranda hadn’t even realized just how much of his discomfort he’d been masking.
The three men by the porch steps suddenly seemed to notice them. They all rushed as one toward Bryon and Miranda. The man in the lead, gray-eyed and clearly older than everyone else, stopped just a few feet short of the pair of them, glancing from Bryon to Miranda in amazement.
The man ran his fingers through his mostly dark hair. His lips parted slightly, but no sound came forth.
“Hey, Theon,” Bryon said with a groan. “Sorry I missed breakfast.”
The older man simply stared for the next few seconds. When he finally spoke, Miranda detected the tiniest of quavers in his voice.
“What the hell happened to you?” he wanted to know. “You look terrible.”
“Also, you were supposed to rescue a foal,” said one of the other men. “You brought back a woman, too.”
Miranda felt three pairs of eyes shift in her direction. She raised a hand, giving an awkward little wave. “Hi.”
Theon extended a large hand, and she shook it. “I’m Theon Gardener, founder of Green Sanctuary, and you are...?”
“Miranda. McHarris. I’m from Everland.”
He looked puzzled. “Everland?”
“And what is it with that bathrobe, Bryon?” the third man commented with a snicker. “Terrible fashion statement, I tell you.”
“Now isn’t the time, Henry,” snapped Theon.
He flicked his gaze back to Bryon. “You didn’t show up at the diner, Bryon, and you weren’t here when we got back.
I figured you knew what you were doing and could handle yourself, but you’ve never taken so long before.
What happened?” He lowered his gaze, his eyes widening slightly at the sight of Bryon’s foot. “Oh.”
“Long story,” Bryon replied. “Turns out the animal rescuer needed a bit of rescuing himself.”
He shot Miranda a wink, and she couldn’t help blushing. She held the foal a little tighter to herself, looking around at her companions. So these were his friends. His family. She barely knew them, and she already suspected they were as amazing as Bryon. Miranda felt her heart swell.
“Why don’t we get the foal to the clinic and head inside so we can talk better?” Bryon said. “Miranda and I here could use some food to eat. And I might need to see a doctor about my foot.”
“Of course. Cal already prepared lunch.” Theon gently pried the foal from Miranda’s clutches, handing the animal to the man called Henry, and gestured toward the white house. “Let’s go.”
She felt Bryon’s hand brush against hers as they walked toward the house. He gave her a light squeeze.
“I kept my promise,” he told her. “You’re safe.”
Miranda smiled. She was.