Page 74 of So I Fell for Bigfoot

A peaceful smile played on her lips. “I knew you would.”

I ran my hand over the top of her head. Her skin was cool and clammy, and her fur stuck to it in the places I touched. I couldn’t tell if she was in pain. If by some miracle she wasn’t, she would be soon.

Sweet moon, it was hard to think straight, to trust my own eyes, my senses. I would’ve given anything to have Tanyth back, but not like this. Never like this.

My mate could not be left suffering. It would take everything I had to get through this. But I could do it—for her and all these animals that had been brought back into a world they weren’t equipped to understand. There were so many of them, and something told me that Tanyth wasn’t the only one to suffer this fate.

“Where is Leif, my love?”

Her eyelids fluttered. Oh, this was torture, seeing her like this all over again. “In the cavern.”

“I need to speak with him. You’ll rest until I come back?” I was afraid she might not survive that long.

She nodded. “You always knew how to keep him in line.”

I growled to myself as I rose from Tanyth’s side. The disease that she had succumbed to was still in her body. For a brief moment, as I forced myself to turn away from her and follow the pathway that led inside the mountain, I convinced myself modern medicine would be able to save her. But there was nothing that could help us besides the ancient remedies that were already available to my brother. If she was still in this bad shape, and he had the Scepter, she would never become robust and healthy.

Keep him in line. More like I’d placated him, making sense of his reign of tyranny so our packs could swallow it with a spoonful of sweetness. I was the reason he thought he could step back into his old role after thousands of years. Why he would never understand that the world would not accept his terms. Now, I’d have to use all his most diabolical tricks against him if I had any hope of putting a stop to this nightmare.

I could sense him. It was a feeling I’d ignored for too long, when I thought his voice in my head was only my own fear speaking to me. The reality had been much worse. But could I have put a stop to him sooner?

No matter what, we would’ve come to the same result.

“There it is.” The entrance to the cave didn’t look like much more than a natural opening where rocks had tumbled from the top of the mountain. “Just like Tanyth said.”

“What do you want us to do?” Hannah asked.

“I don’t see any humans out here. Only beasts. We don’t know who’s inside the mountain with my brother.” I turned to her and took her tiny hands in mine. It felt traitorous after stroking Tanyth’s fur just moments before. How could I lean in and kiss this human? Because with her bright eyes and colorful skin, she’d help me help Tanyth. “I need to deal with him. Gather the humans and get them out.”

“I’ll stay with you,” Bibi said. “We should divide the rest of the team up between us and Hannah. If they’re holding humans in there, they probably won’t be willing to let them go easily.”

“Agreed.” I nodded to Hannah, and she let go of my hands. The team began to divide themselves according to who would be best for each mission. I turned to Bibi. “This fight is between Leif and me.”

“It most certainly is. The last thing I want to do is interfere.” Bibi watched our friends and coworkers follow Hannah into the mountain. “But he’s in his natural form and you’re human. And he’s operating by a set of rules and customs that you’re no longer familiar with. His most potent weapon will be the element of surprise.”

“I can’t believe he brought back Tanyth, like that…” Rage flowed through my veins.

“There comes a time that you have to do what’s right for you, even if your blood doesn’t agree. It’s not easy, but I can promise you, what’s on the other side is worth it.” Bibi put her hands on my shoulders. “The longer you put this off, the more it will torture you. And once Hannah and the others find the humans, they’ll need our help to get them to safety among those zombie beasts out there. You’re doing the right thing, Lars. I believe in you.”

I nodded, and let the vibration of my brother lead the way through the narrow passageways. I didn’t think this mountain had ever been used by our pack, but it had clearly been used by someone. Unless Leif had managed to build this since he’d come back, which was a scary thought.

A warm light glowed at the end of the pathway. Wolves prowled in front of the opening, looking up in surprise as we approached. I had Bibi and Hugo with me, as well as some of the fiercest fighters on the security team. These guys never made it on camera for any episode ofThe Mating Game, but without them, none of those episodes would’ve been possible.

My brother sat at the end of the room, on a massive throne, grinning at us as we approached.

“I assume you’ve come to thank me for saving you from making the biggest mistake of your life,” he said. “Honestly, I couldn’t believe you were making such a fool out of yourself as to go on a television show and claim a human, but it became an integral part of my plan. Without such a resource, I wouldn’t have been able to give Tanyth life.”

“No. You’re the one who made a mistake. Tanyth’s suffering because of you.” I couldn’t stop myself from going up to that ridiculous throne and grabbing him by the neck. In my human form, I could barely squeeze the front of it.

A fact which amused Leif to no end.

“And yet, you’re in here, desperate to prove your moral superiority instead of driving a stake through the heart of your little punk rock pixie bitch to save your mate.”

“Are you saying that Hannah’s blood would save Tanyth?” It was a choice I never wanted to be faced with. What would I do if he said yes?

There was no way it was possible. Blood might help Tanyth, but after seeing her in that condition, I didn’t believe that it would be enough.

But was that the reason that I’d been so attracted to Hannah? Was I complicit in my brother’s twisted plan all along?

---