Chapter Thirty Seven
The light hurt.
She had been trapped for so long, her pain keeping her in darkness, binding her deep within herself. Until now, when she saw light and beauty again. The pregnant moon, life-bringer, a symbol of wholeness and fortune. The white light burned her eyes, stung her nose with its sweet scent. Oh, Luna! Why did you leave me? Why did you stop calling to me?
She sensed others around her and her gaze tore from the painful light. Harsher, colder lights greeted her, causing everything to blur in streaks of orange. Screams of fear pierced her ears. A growl rumbled up her throat.
They feared her and would try to kill her. They would hurt her again, put her back in that damned hell of darkness where Luna could not, would not be able to reach her.
"Mary."
Her gaze focused on the figure closest to her. It was familiar. Her heart song welled in her chest but she growled a warning as it–he–stepped forward. The black eyes in his tanned face were soft, his movements slow. Unafraid. His fingers brushed the fur against her sternum, warming the chill in her heart.
She cocked her head. She knew him. He had been with her when she had gone into the darkness. His voice had been in her ears and made the pain a little less.
No. He had not been with her. She had kept him closer, her memories of him protecting her light from drowning in the dark. Her body leaned towards him. He would protect her. He would stop them from putting her back in the darkness.
"Mary," he whispered again. She stepped towards him, trusting him.
A loud, harsh noise broke her concentration. A human. Anger on his face, in his voice. He would kill her!
Not if I kill him first.
***
Andre's arms shot out as Mary lunged forward, bloodlust in her eyes. A scream that sounded half-animal, half-human tore from her throat. As he wrapped his arms around her chest, she thrashed this way and that, kicking and scratching as she fought to get at the wide-eyed man that stood near the door to the Denny's restaurant.
"Mary!" he shouted. "Calm down! Calm down!"
Her Wolf was drawn out by the full moon after being purged, he thought desperately. She's gone mad.
He knew she would attack and kill until she was killed–unless he got her away from here. Mary's head swung around and clamped down on his shoulder, teeth slicing into his flesh. Andre cried out but used her break in focus to twist her to the ground, keeping her locked in place with his body and strength. He briefly caught a glimpse of a waitress on a phone as he went down.
"A wolf! It's attacking a man!"
A curse burst from Andre's mouth. He groped on the bench where Mary had been sitting, searching for the strips of cloth that had torn when her Wolf took her. Damn humans! The more noise they made, the louder Mary's snarls grew and the more she fought. He found what was left of her pants and tied the Wolf's chomping mouth shut, flinching when he heard her whimper.
"I'm sorry, Mary," he said, desperately hoping she would remember none of this in the morning. "I'm so sorry."
He forced his own shirt over her head, pinning her front legs against her chest, before binding her hind legs. Scooping her into his arms, he bolted for the door.
"Wait, you can't leave!" Somebody blocked his path.
Andre's Bear rumbled a threat, the growl coming deep from his chest causing the human's eyes to widen. They scrambled backward, clearing the way. Andre wasted no more time. He pushed through the doors, holding the writhing, incensed Wolf that was his love and life, tightly to his heart. He kept her on his lap as he got into the truck, stroking her ragged fur.
"Hold on," he gasped, the pain from her bites on his neck starting to wind up his neck to his head.
He ignored traffic lights and speed limits as he swerved through the streets. If they got far enough from the city, he could release Mary and let her Wolf run free. He could run with her. Maybe that would help.
Maybe she would remember the times that they ran through the woods together, playing in the snow and chasing small animals until the full moon's call passed and she could retake her human form. Then they would lie in front of the fire, making love. She was always tireless the day after the full moon.
"It's going to be okay, Mary," he said as she went limp, steering with one hand. "It's going to be okay."
***
Why was he doing this to her? She fought the bindings that clamped her mouth shut. Why was he imprisoning her, hurting her like this? He was supposed to be the one she could trust! The one who cared for her, protected her from the others.
Was he going to put her back into the darkness?
The harsh, artificial lights slowly died away, leaving only the call of Luna, the pure white light that told her to run and rejoice. But how was she meant to do that when he had betrayed her? She could not rejoice when the one she rejoiced with had bound her so tightly it hurt.
His voice was in her ears though she couldn't understand what he said. She fought against the song that rang through her blood at the sound of his voice, but slowly, despite herself, she relaxed against his body. He was so warm and she had been so cold for so long. All she wanted was to run with him once more, to feel the warmth of his love and to play their nighttime games.
By the time the movement about her stopped, she was laying still, trembling, no longer fighting against his bonds. He held her face, gently sliding his fingers over her ears.
A breath of cool air wafted over her face. Her nose twitched. Pines, spruces, firs. The scent of the forest. Berries, leaves, rain. The scent of summer.
He cradled her in his arms, whispering soothing words to her as he carried her away from the black human road that wound its way through the trees. The wind moved about them, combing its fingers through her dense black fur. Luna sent dancing shadows all about them.
Her man set her down on the ground and a hand stroked her head over and over. The pressure keeping her legs bound to her sides eased, the muzzle was removed. She stumbled to her feet, shaking herself. Her paws were numb and her joints stiff. She flattened her ears against her skull as she looked at him. He was shedding his clothes and she backed up warily. What would he do now?
In a blink, he was gone. A Bear stood where he had been.
A howl of grief ripped out of her throat as the rage burned through her. No! She would not lose him like this. No matter what he did, he was hers and she would not let go! Her howl turned to a snarl and she lunged forward, teeth bared and slashing at the Bear's throat. She would make it give him back!
The grizzly bear grunted and jerked away. She hung on and was dragged backward. Her teeth lost their grip and she tumbled down, rolling over and over. She found her feet and sprang again. The Bear made a pained, mournful sound. It pulled away again but did not bite or attack. Why? Why wasn't it defending itself? It had devoured him quick enough, why hesitate with her? She sunk her teeth into it again.
Andre. The name rang in her mind and she released her hold on the Bear. Andre. That was his name.
The Bear had not devoured him–he was the Bear! Blood filled her mouth, tasting foul, as she jerked away, eyes widening. He was the Bear.
Her heart seized within her. What have I done? She turned and ran before she could think another thought.
***
Blood oozed from Andre's wounds, trickling through his thick brown fur. He shook off the pain. He'd had worse. Her bites did not go too deep. What hurt most was that Mary had attacked him, Mary not knowing who he was.
He limped as he followed after her. His shoulder and neck ached, even as he moved as quickly as he could, but he soon lost her in the maze of bushes and tree. His heart jumped to his throat and he swung his head back and forth, sniffing the air for her. If he lost her now, after everything they had been through, he would never forgive himself.
It was a stupid mistake to go into a restaurant at midnight. Even though her Wolf had been purged and she had no memories of their past, he should not have assumed that her Wolf would stay dormant.
Oh, god! If anything happens…
It would be his fault. Panic tore at his throat.
A faint scent caught his attention and he swung his head towards it. It was Mary. He followed the scent, forcing himself to go slow, keeping her smell in his nostrils at all times.
He found her under a wild blackberry bush. Her green eyes gleamed in the moonlight, but not with that desire for blood that had been there moments ago. Now it was only the reflection of the moon. When she saw him, she whimpered and scooted further under the bushes.
Andre clicked his tongue to reassure her, laying down. He didn't dare repress his Bear–if she was taken by that madness again, he might not have the chance to embrace it again. He wouldn't put Mary through the guilt of whatever injuries she inflicted if that happened.
So instead, he lay as close to her as he could while continuing to make the soft, reassuring noises, and waited for morning to come.