Page 55 of Into the Dawn

John curses, and I hear rustling in the background as he stands and starts to move. “On it. She’s with me now. We’ll bring her back there and keep watch till you get back.”

I growl out a thanks, barely able to focus on anything other than getting back to Vanessa and hiding her away.

Maisy appears on her porch with a bright smile, her apron dusty, and her hair messy from working all day in the kitchen.

I must look odd when her face immediately falls.

“What is it?” she demands nervously. “I can’t take any more drama.”

Bending double, I stretch out a hand. “The old cabin. Kali’s. I need the keys.”

Maisy narrows her eyes. “Why yes, it is still vacant. And maybe we would consider renting it to you, why don’t you come in like a normal person and discuss it with me? Or even ask before you start issuing orders, Ben King.”

Shaking my head, I force myself to stand still long enough to look her in the eye.

“No time. My mate. Heat.”

Maisy’s eyes go comically round before she hurries back inside to snatch a key off a hook.

“Go. Go. We’ll sort out of the details later.”

I turn to leave, but at the last minute, spin back around and pull Maisy in a tight hug. “Thank you.”

Then in the blink of an eye, I’m gone, vaulting off the porch and taking off at speed through the woods, back to where I left my truck at the Devil’s Claw.

29

BEN

An hour later, after a hurried visit to the cabin to make sure everything was in order there, I return to find Nessie on the porch swing with Holly, both of them laughing easily over something.

Vanessa looks flushed. A softened ice pack sits to the side next to a large pitcher of iced water. She’s in a tiny pair of shorts and a vest, despite the chill in the air. And her hair is wild, tied up off her neck, with damp tendrils hanging down, brushing her bare shoulders.

The sight stops me in my tracks. My mate looks lighter, more like the carefree girl I fell in love with years ago, but also, good enough to eat. The haunted look in her eyes is gone, replaced by one of raw hunger that makes my beast puff up his chest with satisfaction.

This is going to be fun.

She spots me, and her whole expression changes to a mix of admiration and relief. “Ben!”

My chest swells with pride as she bounds across the driveway to greet me, no hesitation in her movements now. Her scent isnoticeably more intense as she throws herself into my arms and jumps, wrapping her legs around my waist.

“You smell so good.”

She buries her face in my neck and hums. Her lips brush my skin, causing my beast to stir with recognition. He rumbles loudly in response, and I hold her to me.

"How did it go with Jack?" she asks, giving me a quick peck on the lips to soothe my burst of jealousy at hearing another man’s name on her lips right now.

“Fine. I’ll tell you later.” Leaning back, I look from her to Holly and back again. My need to get away from anyone and everyone is clawing at my insides. I need to be inside her, now. I have no idea how she’s staying so calm when I can scent her arousal thick in the air. If John and Holly weren’t human, I’d be furious that they were anywhere near her and breathing it in.

“Did you pack a bag? We need to go.”

Her heat burns into me where our bodies are pressed together. I’m not sure she realises just how crazy things are going to get if we don’t get moving right now. Or how close I am to the limits of my control.

Sweat beads on my brow and every muscle is tense, ready to fight anyone who even looks in my mate’s direction.

Vanessa nods. “I don’t think I’ll need much to wear.”

I murmur my approval, unable to resist tasting my mating mark before remembering we have company,

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