Page 58 of Secrets and S'mores
Onyx moves in his sleep, his arms tugging me tighter against his chest. Heat radiates off of him.
But what if I went home and he came with me? I dismiss the thought as soon as it occurs to me. My pack would see him as the enemy. His life here is wonderful, and I can’t force him into a new pack. He would be miserable and my pack would probably try to kill him.
How could I have been so stupid?
My heart hurts, pain stabbing through me worse than a physical wound. I can’t have him. There’s no way to make this work. At least, not right now. Once I am Alpha, I can repair my pack and change the culture until we can be together safely.
This bond between us grows stronger with every touch. The longer I wait, the more it will hurt to sever it.
If we will ever have a chance, I have to go back and demand the power I am due. The emotional hurt weighs me down, making planning difficult.
Watching him sleep, I can’t bear the thought of telling him. He will insist on joining me. If I’m facing my treacherous pack, I need to know he is safe here.
Slowly, I move his arm across me until it lays between us. He barely twitches. Somehow, I know if he wakes up and asks me to be his mate again, I will accept, no matter the consequences to our packs.
As softly as I can manage I move away from him and rise. There’s no need to gather my clothes, I’ll just lose them when I shift.
Hand to my chest, pressing in as if I could reduce the pain of a broken heart, I look over Onyx one last time, memorizing the shape of his mouth and the way his lashes lay against his cheeks. His hair has lighter streaks from the time we’ve been out in the sun together this last week. His breathing stays slow and even.
There’s no doubt about it. I am in love with him.
I can’t stay here a minute longer. I’ll lose my nerve.
With one last lingering glance, I sink into my wild instincts. My anger at the injustice of the situation drops away. Black fur covers my skin and in a split-second, I am a wolf.
In this form, I am graceful, weaving through the trees as I run downhill toward the border between Bracken Creek and Granite Ridge. In the back of my mind, every step leaves me screaming to go back to him, but it’s effortless to ignore.
My animal side senses every little creature in the brush around me. The night is illuminated, making my journey easy. I’d never manage as a human, but in thisshape, I leap from rock to rock and cross this deeper section of creek without hesitation.
It’s time to go home and face this mess.
13 Reckless Rescuing
Onyx
Crickets chirp when I wake. From the warm moonlight, it’s obviously still early evening. Ember and I should head back. But her warm shape is no longer curled against me.
My entire body goes stiff, tension through every muscle.
Where is she?
There are a dozen reasonable explanations, but somehow I know it’s the worst one. She’s gone. Her clothes litter the ground, so either she left naked or she shifted.
No.
This can’t behappening.
The onslaught of violent emotions triggers my shift, and before I can think anything through, I’m in my gray wolf form leaping into the trees.
My wolf senses try to track her, following her scent northward. I lose it in the creek. Pain cuts through my panic. My paws stumble, and I throw my head back and let out a heartbroken howl.
Granite Ridge is on the other side of the creek. I cannot cross into that territory unprepared.
I don’t know how I manage to get home. My paws shift to feet as I stumble up the steps to the front door. It’s only by habit that I grab a pair of sweats and tug them on.
Cedar steps into the entry, his eyes wide with concern. I crash into him, pushing both of us against the wall. My twin grabs me, holding me up.
“She left,” is all I can choke out. He muscles me toward the sofa, and I collapse, gulping down air to control my panic.
