Page 10 of Gentle Giant

Chapter 6

BRUTUS

HoldingHailey while she slept brought me a peace I’d never known. We’d reached the cavern a while ago, but I hadn’t wanted to wake her, so I’d brought her to my rooms and sat on the bed as I cradled her in my arms.

The soft sighs and little whimpers she made in her sleep were fascinating. Though I was tired myself and ought to get some rest, I couldn’t stop watching her facial expressions or listening to her breathe.

A mate. I finally had a mate.

I used to worry about why I’d never felt called to court a particular female from among our tribe. But now I understood. Because it was Hailey who was meant for me. The small human woman who fit perfectly in my arms. My heart softened as I gazed at her.

I smiled as I recalled the shocked looks from my brethren as I’d carried her into the cavern. I’d told my tribe about my vision, though I doubted any of them had believed we would have ahuman living among us so soon. Many of my people had looked at me with skepticism when I’d shared my father’s words.

The female stirred in my arms, and I hugged her tighter, a growl of pleasure escaping my throat. The glowing yellow sun-moss that covered the cavern walls reflected off the golden strands in her otherwise brown hair. I stroked a hand through her soft locks but glanced up when I heard a noise.

Five small faces had appeared at the entryway. Axxon’s son was among the curious children who’d come to gawk at my human female. As I gave them a stern look that sent them scurrying away in a fit of giggles, I resolved that I would build a locking door at the entrance of my rooms.

My heart swelled with affection when I returned my attention to Hailey. Such a pretty but unusual name, a sound combination I’d never heard, but it rolled off my tongue and filled me with warmth when I said it.

“Hailey,” I whispered into her hair. “My Hailey. I will protect you always, and I will do everything in my power to make you feel at home.”

I glanced around the cavern. As the chief of the Starblessed, a network of five rooms in the depths of the cavern belonged to me. The living area was smaller than the cabin I’d found Hailey in, but I hoped she approved of it.

I’d gathered supplies from an abandoned cabin nearby to help add human touches to my rooms. First, I’d replaced my sleeping mat constructed of soft grass with a bed I’d dragged up the mountainside. I’d also added decorations from the cabin—vases, paintings, and tiny statues that Axxon had called knick knacks. Since he spent more time observing humans than anyone in our tribe, I would take his word for it.

In addition to the decorations, I’d brought clothing and shoes from the cabin, which I’d shoved into a stolen piece of furniture that contained drawers. A dresser, Axxon had called it. Thoughas I considered the clothing items I’d taken, I wondered if they would fit the tiny creature in my arms. Hailey was smaller than most humans I’d encountered.

Would she prefer the items from the cabin I’d taken her from? I resolved that if she wanted for anything, I would find it and bring it back to the cavern. Even if it meant I must enter the human town that bordered our territory.

Her eyes fluttered open, and my heart swelled again when she blinked up at me. She was so lovely and perfect, this human who was meant to be mine. I placed a hand on her stomach, wondering how long it would be until she carried our first child.

“Welcome to my home, Hailey,” I said, tucking errant strands of her hair behind her ears, keeping my touch slow and gentle, as I didn’t wish to frighten her. “Welcome toyournew home. It is my hope that you will be happy here.”

HAILEY

I’d been dreamingabout the man-beast again. The same dream as always, where I was walking in a dark misty forest, trekking through a large area of ferns on a hillside, when the pale blue eyes appeared before me. But this time when I’d awoken, I’d found myself in the arms of the very man-beast I’d been dreaming of, and the memories returned with a shocking clarity that made me gasp and struggle in his huge muscular arms.

He set me down on a mattress but positioned himself near the end of it, close to a narrow exit, blocking my only escape. I swallowed hard and looked around the cave. The walls of it were covered in a glowing moss that bathed the space in golden raysvery much like the sun. It was warm here, though I knew at this time of night it was probably freezing in the forest.

Was it still night? How long had I been sleeping?

Though I’d never been claustrophobic before, I had the sudden urge to get outside immediately, just because I needed to know the time of day. I felt around in the clothing I was wearing—the pajamas and the bathrobe—and found my cell phone tucked into a pocket. I pulled it out and glanced at the time on the screen. Nine in the morning.

I gave the Sasquatch—Brutus—a wary glance, only for him to offer me a warm smile.

“Are you hungry, sweet human?” He retrieved a woven basket from the floor, placed it in front of me, then returned to block the exit.

I glanced into the basket to find it brimming with massive berries that glowed just as the moss covering the cavern walls did. While I wasn’t an expert on vegetation native to the Pacific Northwest, I wondered if these berries were native to this area. Brutus had claimed his people had inhabited the Cascades for thousands of years, but where had they come from before that? And had they brought the otherworldly glowing moss and berries with them? Yep, still going with the alien theory.

“Would you like a fish instead?” he asked. “I thought about catching one for you as you slept, but I was hesitant to leave you alone in my rooms. I didn’t want you waking up by yourself. I don’t want you to be frightened, sweet human.”

Despite myself, the gentleness in his voice brought me comfort. He unnerved me, but I wasn’t truly scared of him. Not at the moment, anyway. If I tried to escape, would it anger him? I thought of Nick’s temper and his propensity for breaking things when he got into a fury, and I wrapped my arms around myself as a fearful shiver descended.

Maybe I ought to be compliant and bide my time until the Sasquatch let his guard down. Then I could escape when the opportunity presented itself, return to my rental cabin, call for help, or even trek back into town on foot.

There was no question about it. I had to escape.

I couldn’t live in a cave with a Sasquatch and be his mate. What a preposterous idea. I had a life to get back to.

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