Eleven

 

Aniyah stared bleary-eyed at the clock. It was after midnight, and Gauge still hadn’t returned. Had he and the others emerged victorious, or were they lying dead somewhere in the forest? Fearing for their well-being and being unable to do a damn thing about it wracked her nerves.

Weston had been patrolling throughout the house in his human form, stopping at every window. He’d taken Gauge’s orders seriously and hadn’t allowed her to leave. But how long are we supposed to wait?

This cabin was not quite a mansion, but she loved its coziness. It had a kitchen big enough to prepare a meal for twenty people, and the living space was immaculate. There was space for training, entertainment, and rooms used as sleeping quarters. Gauge had his own private floor upstairs, complete with all the amenities, including a kitchenette. While she adored what her future home offered, she could never enjoy it without the tiger-man she loved.

Weston returned to the living area and peered out the windows again.

“They’re still not back,” Aniyah said.

He moved to another window. “They will be. We just need to—” His body tensed.

Her stomach flipped. “What?”

He growled and leaned against the front door. “Two wolves approaching. Stay clear.”

Sweat formed on her palms. Had the wolves managed to break through the Whitetide’s defense? Could Gauge’s dire fate be true? She grabbed her metal Slugger sitting beside her duffel bag. Should the rest of the pack overtake the cabin, she would be ready to crack some Dessar skulls. She would fight to her death just as Gauge had done.

A loud bang came from the front door. Then another. Aniyah turned to see Weston struggling to keep the door shut. Even the reinforced door didn’t seem to stop the persistent Dessar. Another bang and several scratches came from the other side of the door, and Weston shifted. Growling, he leaned up against the door again on his hind legs.

Aniyah gripped the bat’s handle. The door shook, and she noticed a small hole in the wood. The wolf’s scratching continued. She approached the door, and Weston roared at her. She froze, the fierceness of his voice sending a chill down her spine.

Another bang shook the door and tore it off its hinges in a splintered mess. Weston stumbled backward, and two large wolves appeared in the doorway.

Aniyah sucked in a breath. If either of the wolves got through Weston, she would hit a homerun with their heads.

The wolves attacked Weston, piling on top of him, biting and clawing at him. Weston fought back, the muscles in his solid body flexing as the combined strength of the wolves overwhelmed him. Aniyah took a step forward, poised to swing. One of the wolves noticed her and hopped off Weston. Crouching low, it slowly approached Aniyah.

Weston hurled the other wolf off himself and tackled him outside. Aniyah faced the other wolf alone. She swallowed a lump in her throat. The wolf snarled, bearing a set of razor-sharp teeth. She took a step backward, white-knuckling the bat.

“C-C’mon, you son of a bitch,” she muttered through clenched teeth. The thought of the wolf being the one responsible for Gauge’s death made her blood boil. But she was prepared to join her mate with her last fighting breath.

The wolf sank back a moment then leapt at her, its huge body barreling toward her like a boulder. She locked her gaze on the wolf’s head and swung with all her might. A sharp pain surged through her arm when the bat made contact with the wolf’s skull, and she dropped the bat. The wolf was knocked backward into the doorframe. The wolf let out a high-pitched scream as a jagged piece of wood impaled its neck. Blood spurted from the wound, then its body went limp.

Aniyah panted and stared wide-eyed at the wolf’s corpse. Numbness overtook the pain in her right arm until she could no longer feel anything. She clutched her arm, fearful that it might be broken.

Weston scrambled back inside, a bloody mess. Panting hard, he looked from Aniyah to the dead wolf impaled on the doorframe. Snarling, he tore the corpse off the door and discarded it outside. Returning to Aniyah, he assumed his human form once more.

“Are you all right?” he asked in a gruff, animalistic growl.

Aniyah glanced at him, saw his naked, chiseled human body, and turned away, blushing. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little rattled. That’s all.”

The sounds of hurried footsteps approached the front door, followed by more animal snarls. She looked at the door, and two tigers limped in, one dragging a mutilated wolf’s corpse. Her stomach turned, and she covered her mouth. The tiger dropped the corpse and shifted.

Aniyah gasped, relieved he was alive. “Gauge!”

Gauge acknowledged her then looked around the room. Seeing the broken door, he scowled. “What the hell happened in here?”

“We took care of a few stragglers,” Weston said, buttoning a pair of jeans as he emerged from another room. He stopped before them and gawked at the corpse. “Holy shit, you killed Joel?”

“Yeah.” Gauge nudged the wolf’s head with his foot. “The Dessar won’t threaten us again.”

The other tiger limped over to Gauge and dropped something shiny in his hand. Then he limped off into another room.

“What’s up with Axle?” Weston asked Gauge.

Gauge slipped the shiny object on his finger and shook his head. “He suffered a bad injury.”

“I’ll take care of him, man.” Weston gave him a mock salute.

Gauge smiled slightly. “Thanks.”

After Weston left, Gauge and Aniyah were finally alone. Aniyah looked down and rubbed her arm, her anxious, fast-beating heart beginning to slow.

“Gauge, I was worried. Thank goodness you’re all right,” Aniyah said.

Gauge sighed. “I didn’t mean to worry you. It’s been a shitty night for all of us.”

“But we won, at least, right? You killed the leader?” She glanced sidelong at the corpse and made a face.

“Yes, and I’m gonna skin him and use him as a door decoration as a reminder to anyone else who tries to fuck with us. Are you all right?”

She smiled softly, but it quickly faded as she noticed the concerned look on his face. “My arm. It hurts.”

Gauge examined her arm and hissed. “Damn it! I told you I didn’t want you hurt!”

Her smile returned, his concern warming her heart. “Thanks, but I’ll be all right. Holy shit, those wolves have thick skulls.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Yeah, they do. I told you they were strong. What did you do?”

“I was helping to defend this cabin. They overwhelmed Weston, and one of them came after me. What kind of mate am I if I don’t defend my home and my family?”

Gauge’s hard expression softened. He carefully wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “Fucking hell, Aniyah. Did I mention you were amazing?”

 

Aniyah shivered, as she was pressed against his naked body. Despite the pain in her arm, her legs quaked with need. She stared at his lips, longing to kiss them again.

He pulled her back and stared into her eyes. “I’ll take care of that arm. But first, I want to give you this.” He showed her the shiny object—a wooden ring with images of the moon phases etched around it. “This is a mate’s ring,” he said. “It is first worn by the one seeking a mate and is later given to their mate as a symbol of their bonding. It is an old tradition still practiced by some clans.” He slipped the ring onto Aniyah’s left finger.

Shock and awe overtook Aniyah as she stared at the ring. A symbol of our bond. Gauge’s words brought hope for their future, unlike before, when he seemed so doubtful of himself. Perhaps that was what Gerri had meant about Gauge needing to be tamed. He needed taming to become the rightful leader he was now. “Thank you. It’s beautiful,” Aniyah said.

 

She leaned in for a kiss. As they locked lips, Aniyah’s mind wandered. About them. All she wanted was to live a simple life as a pastry chef, not getting caught up in shifter politics, fighting for her life.

But damn, was it invigorating.