Chapter Nineteen – Monica

The hyena leaped at her out of nowhere. As its teeth grazed her jacket, she shifted into her bear and pivoted in the air, her claws extending as she swiped at him with her paw. He dodged, and she scraped her sharp claws along the side of the boat, leaving jagged grooves in their wake.

Digging her back claws into the wooden deck, she braced herself for the next attack. A cackling laugh filled the air and she swung around, sensing the presence of the other animal. As the hyena propelled himself forward, she lashed out with her forepaw, catching his shoulder and knocking him off balance. He crashed to the floor and she opened her jaws wide and clamped them around his throat.

A sickening cry of pain rent the air, but she didn’t sink her teeth into his exposed flesh; instead, she cut off his air supply until he lay limp on the deck. With no time to hesitate, she shifted back into her human form and grabbed hold of a rope, tying it around his front legs before moving to do the same with his hind legs.

“Trussed up like a turkey.” Monica placed her hands on her hips in satisfaction. Then she ran around to the back of the boat, about to go to her mate’s aid. But the door leading down to the cabin opened and Yolanda, white-faced and sobbing came out, climbing the steps on shaky legs. “Are you okay?”

Yolanda sobbed harder as she nodded, and Monica rushed forward, grabbed hold of her and helped her onto the deck. “I thought I was going to die. I thought I’d never see Jack or Trent again.”

“It’s all right. Jack is safe, he’s with friends and Trent will be fine, too, once he knows you are safe.” Monica held Yolanda tightly as she sobbed her relief. “Where’s Wyatt?”

“He’s coming. He’s tying Jonas up.” Yolanda pulled back, looking into Monica’s eyes. “Trent thought he was dead. He mourned him. Every year, on the anniversary of his death he would visit a memorial to him.”

“It’s behind them now.” Monica broke loose from Yolanda as Wyatt appeared, dragging a man behind him. “Jonas.” She wanted to tear at his flesh and claw at him until he bled, but she calmed her bear. Revenge never did anyone any good.

A whoosh of air from above alerted them to the incoming dragon, who swooped down low and dropped a fish-like creature on the deck. It flopped around, trying to work its way back over the side and into the river, but Liam’s eagle landed next to it and stood over it with a sharp, menacing beak inches from the fish’s soft underbelly. In an instant, the fish shifted into a man, who lay curled up in a ball, his face pale and blood seeping from a wound on his belly.

“I think they’re all accounted for,” Liam said as he shifted into his human form. Pulling a phone from his pocket, he dialed the police and explained the situation, although he left out the part about dragons.

“Here.” Monica passed Yolanda’s phone to her. “Why don’t you call Trent and tell him you’re safe?”

Wiping her face, Yolanda took the phone and despite her trembling hands, she dialed her husband’s number and lifted the phone to her ear. “Trent.”

Monica moved across the deck to stand next to Wyatt. “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” he replied firmly. “I’m good. Better than I thought I would be.” He tugged on the rope and Jonas turned to face him. “This is my good friend Jonas. Jonas, this is my mate. I thought I’d introduce you since this is the only opportunity we’ll have. You are going to spend the rest of your life behind bars.”

“Is that all the sympathy you have for an old friend?” Jonas sneered.

“You have my sympathy. For Iris leaving. But not for this. You need help, Jonas. And as a friend, I intend to make sure you get it,” Wyatt told Jonas.

Monica reached for Wyatt’s hand, and his fingers curled around hers, holding onto her. He was putting on a brave face, but inside she could sense his pain. The truth had been revealed, and now he had to come to terms with the lies.

“The police will meet us at the gates.” Liam pulled the fish shifter to his feet. “Before they get here, I want you all to leave.”

“Why?” Monica asked.

“A family reunion.” Liam glanced across to Yolanda, who was telling Trent she loved him over and over again. “Take her back to Jack. The others can meet you there.”

“What about witness statements?” Wyatt asked.

“I’ll come see you tomorrow and take them. There’s no rush. This is over. But not for Jack. Until the family is back together, he’s still stuck in limbo.”

“You’re a good man, Liam.” Monica hugged him quickly. “I’ll go get the other hyena.”

She walked across the deck and climbed off the boat, while Liam brought the fish and the hyena, who had shifted back to his human form, and Wyatt pulled Jonas along behind him. It really was over. A sense of satisfaction swept over her. They’d done it. They’d worked together and now Trent’s family would be reunited.

Half an hour later, with blue flashing lights only minutes away, they left Liam with their captives and climbed onto the back of Fiona’s dragon. With a leap, she took high into the air, and flew toward home. Harlan and the others had met up with Trent and were already on their way.

“Not long,” Monica yelled at Yolanda, who sat in front of her. Wyatt’s arms tightened around her waist as the dragon banked to the right and then flew fast, climbing high in the sky.

Despite the extra weight, Fiona climbed higher and flew faster. Monica sensed the excitement coursing through the dragon. Whether it was the joy of flight, or the pull of home and her mate and children, Monica couldn’t tell.

By the time they reached the familiar sight of the mountain range, Yolanda was shaking, her human form no match for the cold air at high altitude. But she didn’t complain, and despite Monica asking her if she needed them to land, she shook her head and insisted they flew on.

Her family was calling her home, too.

Monica leaned back against Wyatt, who kissed her neck with his warm lips. He was her home, her family, and as long as they were together, that was all that mattered. This mission was done. It was time for them to get to know each other.

And for their love to deepen.

She jolted forward. Since when did she love him?

Since we first met him, her bear told her smugly. You just didn’t want to admit it.

It was true. Monica had never believed in the insta-love fate gave to shifters. But despite this, she had fallen in love with Wyatt that night on the mountainside when he took her and Jack back to his cabin and protected them through the night. No questions asked, no expectations of anything in return, not so much as a kiss from his mate.

When the small house in the mountains came into view, growing bigger with each beat of Fiona’s wings, Monica’s energy began to wane. It was over, finally over. All she wanted to do was curl up in bed with Wyatt and sleep for a week. Okay, maybe there were other things she’d like to do, too, with Wyatt. In bed.

Fiona slowed, her wings angled so they kept their height but no longer moved forward. Slowly, she descended into the clearing behind the house, where they had set off only hours before, filled with hope, but also conscious of the huge task before them.

Before her huge taloned feet touched the ground, and her wings had folded by her sides, people were rushing toward them.

“Mommy!” Jack’s voice came loud and shrill, and Yolanda tipped to the side as she turned too quickly. Monica caught her and helped her down off Fiona’s back.

“Jack, is that you?” Yolanda stumbled as her feet touched the ground, but Trent reached out for her, and didn’t let her fall. “Trent.” She flung her arms around his neck and hugged him, before kissing Jack a million times.

“We did it.” Wyatt helped Monica down, and then joined her on the ground.

“We did.” She stood close to him, watching the happy scene before them. “We did.”

The air filled with static electricity as Fiona shifted back into her human form. Her family crowded around her. “Are you okay?” Harlan asked.

“Perfectly.” Fiona hugged him, turning to watch Trent and his family. “That’s what it’s all about. Family.”

“And we have new members.” Harlan ushered Wyatt and Monica over. “Any time. You know where we are. We don’t have to be blood to be family.”

“Thank you.” Monica embraced Fiona and then Harlan. “Is it okay if Trent and Yolanda steal your spare room tonight?”

“Sure, what about you two?” Harlan asked.

“There’s this really cute cabin in the mountains. I hear it’s a great place to get away from it all.” She took Wyatt’s hand. “What do you think? Do you have enough strength to climb a mountain?”

“With you. Always.” He pulled Monica into his arms and kissed her. “Let’s speak to Trent and then leave.” Wyatt sounded relieved at Monica’s proposition.

“Thank you. Both of you.” Trent hugged them. “I don’t know what I’d have done if I lost either one of them.”

“We were never going to let that happen,” Wyatt told him, his voice filled with emotion.

“It was Jonas?” Trent asked.

“It was. Somewhere along the road he got screwed up.” Wyatt placed his hand on Trent’s shoulder and squeezed it. “You have to promise me you won’t dwell on this, you won’t let it screw up your life anymore.”

“Only if you promise the same thing.” Trent nodded at his old friend.

“I have something wonderful to look forward to.” He pulled Monica close. “I can turn this around and actually show gratitude toward Jonas. He brought us together. He was the catalyst that sent Monica into my life.”

“So you forgive him?” Trent asked, his forehead creased as he frowned.

“Forgiveness. That might take a while.”

“We’ve got all the time in the world,” Monica reminded him.

“We do.” He kissed her and then waited while she ran into the house and gathered her things. With a last goodbye, they shifted into their animals, and bear and wolf once more traveled over the mountain. Two mates, joined forever. Heading home to the place they’d first met, under the stars, with the mountain breeze ruffling their fur, and love in their hearts.