Chapter Six
Paige practically ran to her car, jumped in, and then sped out of the parking lot.
She’d already silenced her cell-phone during the party earlier in the evening, so she didn’t worry about being disturbed by the annoying ringing of her phone. After the things she’d said to him, she didn’t think Mason would call, but she knew Becca would, and she wasn’t ready to talk to her friend, yet.
They would talk, and their friendship would survive, but she needed some time to process everything. The guilt over Mason, however, started to set in before she reached the main road, and it was nearly suffocating. God, the things she’d said to him had been horrible, and the look on his face when she’d called him a murder...
She’d destroyed him.
The stark realization took her last breath, and she radically swerved her car into the shoulder of the road. When the vehicle jerked to a stop, she shut off the engine and rapidly gasped for breath. Her chest constricted as she fought to get enough air to fill her lungs, as the sudden fear of not recovering threatened to triumph.
No!
She couldn’t give up. Not now. Not with the way she’d left things with Mason.
Paige forced herself to take a deep breath, and then another, and another. She pushed the fear away, and forced herself to relax. She closed her eyes, leaned her head back on the headrest, and allowed her lungs to fill and expel air properly. Minutes passed slowly, the seconds feeling like hours, but she forced herself to remain calm and not rush the process.
When breathing became automatic, she allowed herself to focus on Mason again.
The night they’d met he’d been marked with blood, and the result had been the same when she’d showed up at his house unannounced. Both times he’d been tired and wary...hell, the second time he’d been borderline exhausted. Yet, she hadn’t been afraid. In fact, she’d been the one to go to him for their second night together. She never chased after men, never felt like her advances would be welcome, but yet she’d gone to him.
She’d been drawn to him from the beginning, and she didn’t want to let him go.
An animal...a cold-blooded murderer.
The words she’d spat at him nearly broke her heart.
They might have only known each other a short time, but she knew Mason.
What she didn’t know was what threats he really faced.
He’d said he was a shifter, a man who could change into a bear, and though she hadn’t seen that trick yet, she’d seen a lot. He’d healed rapidly with and without a healer, and the healer had seemed to aid him with some sort of magic. If there were shifters, and healers, and the ability to heal from life-ending injuries in just a few hours, then how did she know what threats were against him? The fact was, she didn’t.
But she knew she trusted him.
If Mason was forced to kill, then he wasn’t killing for fun.
She knew it in her heart. The truth surrounding her was a tangible thing, as was the knowledge that she and Mason were meant to be together. She’d known it before he’d shared his secrets, and she knew it now.
I have to go back!
She needed to get back to him like she needed her next breath. She wouldn’t blame him if he wanted nothing to do with her anymore, but she had to apologize. She had to tell him how much she loved him. Even if he couldn’t forgive her, even if he sent her away, it was important that he know.
She turned the key, still in the ignition, but nothing happened. Silence greeted her as she turned the key back to the off position, and tried again. There were no sounds of any kind, not even a click to let her know something was happening. She took out the key, and tried again.
Still nothing.
She grabbed her cell, but even before she looked at the screen, she knew the device was dead. She was almost to the bottom of the hill, and the walk into town would be closer than the walk back to the hotel, but she didn’t care. She needed to see Mason.
Paige got out of the car, and cursed her choice in shoes. The cute slip-ons matched her dress, but her feet had been sore at the beginning of the party. Now they ached, and she was pretty sure a blister had formed on one of her pinky toes. She didn’t let that stop her, though. A couple of blisters were a small price to pay for the chance to see Mason again.
With her tiny purse in hand, and her dead cell-phone tucked inside, she locked her car, and started walking up the hill.
She’d only taken a few steps when a truck pulled into the shoulder of the road in front of her, blocking her path, and blinding her with its headlights. The road home had been completely quiet since she’d left the hotel, and a twinge of fear raced down her spine before the headlights went out, and she recognized the truck, and Mason sitting behind the wheel.
He got out of the vehicle slowly, as if not to frighten her, but his words revealed his anger.
“What are you doing?” he barked.
She wanted to apologize, wanted to bare her soul to him, but fear kept her silent. Not fear from him, she was over being afraid of what she didn’t understand, but she wasn’t sure if her apology would be welcome.
“My car won’t start—”
“I’ll take a look at it.”
He cut off her explanation, and held out his hand for the keys. She gently placed them in his palm, hoping he would understand the gentle gesture, but he took the keys, unfazed, and hurried past her toward the car.
***
Mason unlocked the car, slid into the driver’s seat, and started the engine. The car flared to life, and he wondered why it hadn’t started for her. It wasn’t his place to wonder though, so instead of looking under the hood, he left the car running and got of the car.
“It seems to be fine now,” he said, knowing she wouldn’t like his next words. It didn’t matter though, he had to make sure she got home safe. After that, whatever she did was her business. “I’ll follow you home, though, in case you have any more problems.”
His words weren’t up for discussion, and he hurried past her toward his truck. He needed to put some distance between them before he kissed her and tried to convince her to love him.
God, he was pathetic.
“Mason, I—”
He paused his steps, and turned back halfway, careful not to look directly at her. She’d wanted him to stay away, and that request was damn hard when he soaked in the sight of her. Hell, it was hard now, but his bear was easier to control when he didn’t look directly at her.
“You don’t have to be afraid…Paige.” Baby girl. “I would never hurt you, none of us would. I’m just going to follow and make sure your car lasts until you reach your apartment, or wherever you’re going, and then I’ll leave you alone.”
What if she was on her way to see someone else?
If Mason saw another man hold her, he might lose it. Maybe following her wasn’t such a good idea. Even as he thought the idea, he dismissed it. They hadn’t talked of exclusivity, but Paige wasn’t seeing anyone else. If she had been, he would have already known about it.
He started walking again, but stopped when her desperate cry filled the air.
“Wait!”
He sighed heavily, and turned back toward her, ready for an argument.
Fuck! He didn’t have time for this!
“Look—”
“I was scared…and overwhelmed…all that stuff…” she took a deep breath. “It’s a lot to take in in one night. I trust you, Mason, and I don’t believe the things I said. If you say you must kill to protect the clan, then I believe you. Hell, I don’t have a clue about any of this stuff, or the threats you face. And…I don’t care that you can shift into a bear. The only excuse I have for even mentioning it was fear, but that’s a lame excuse, and I’m sorry. I hope you can forgive me, because I lo— …I like you…a lot…and I want to be with you, too. If you can give me another chance, then I’d like to meet your bear, and learn more about…everything.”
He’d been ready for a fight, but not for an apology, and her words stunned him. And made him incredibly proud. And hard. His mate had come to him, again, and she was everything he’d always wanted, and everything he never knew he needed. Unfortunately, her declaration hung in the air between them, and he knew if he didn’t say something soon, he would lose her again.
Not an option!
“Get in the car, and follow me,” he rasped out.
He cringed at the animal-like, raw possession in his voice, but Paige just smiled and followed his command.
Once she was safe inside her vehicle, he got in his truck, did a U-turn, and waited for her in the shoulder on the opposite side of the road. A second later, she pulled up behind him, and he led the way to the surprise he’d purchased over a year ago.
The cabin was a place of solace for him, but he’d bought the property with his future mate in mind, despite the fact that he hadn’t met her yet. He’d wanted a place where they could completely escape from everything, and though he’d just worked through the week from hell, he’d still managed a trip out to the hideaway in hopes of surprising Paige.
A couple of hours ago, his efforts had seemed stupid, but now he was glad that he’d taken the time to shop for groceries, and build up a supply of firewood. Unfortunately, their relationship was still dealing with his secrets and the weather was beginning to take a turn for the worse. Paige might be willing to give him another chance, but she might not be willing to be snowed in at a semi-remote cabin with him for several days.
With only a mile or so to go, he continued to his destination, fully prepared to turn around and head back to town. If they didn’t waste time, they could make it back before the snow hit, but just barely. Paige would have to leave her car, though. There was no way he was letting her drive that little sedan home when bad weather was eminent.
He parked his truck in the little parking area he’d created, and Paige pulled her car in next to him. Two spots. There would only ever be enough parking for two cars out here. This place was him and her…and no one else. Ever.
They both got out of their vehicles at the same time, and she slowly took in her surroundings. The look on her face was pure joy, and Mason’s pride swelled once again.
“What is this place?” she asked.
“It’s mine,” he said. “I bought it a little over a year ago as a means of escape from the unpleasant parts of my job. And the pleasant parts, too, I guess, but mostly the unpleasant stuff. My home works well for that most of the time, but I wanted a place no one knew about…except for my mate…a place where we could escape every now and then.”
She turned to him, then, and smiled.
“It’s beautiful,” she beamed. “I can’t wait to see the inside.”
“I shouldn’t have brought you here.”
He forced out the strangled words, and her smile fell.
“I see,” she nodded, lowering her eyes. “I’d better get going.”
She opened the car door, but before she could slide into the seat, he raced around the car, and slid his arms around her waist. Her intake of breath let him know she wasn’t immune to him, and he nuzzled her neck and inhaled deep. God, he didn’t want to do the right thing, but he wasn’t an asshole.
“You don’t see at all,” he said, caressing her ear with his breath. “It’s going to snow. Heavily. And soon. If I had been paying attention before, I wouldn’t have brought us here, but if we don’t leave now, we’ll be snowed in. Possibly for several days. We have plenty of food, water, and firewood to be comfortable—there’s running water and electricity, too—but you won’t be able to leave, baby girl, even if you’re afraid, and I don’t want that for you.”
“I’m not afraid of you, Mason.”
He placed a chase kiss on the juncture between her neck and shoulder.
God, he wanted to mark her so bad he could feel his canines extending.
When he didn’t respond, she clarified her response.
“I want to stay,” she said, clearing her throat. Then she softly added, “If that’s what you want, too.”
“That’s definitely what I want.”
He placed another chaste kiss on her neck, and then pulled her back flush against his front, and slammed her car door closed. He spun her in his arms, lifted her over his shoulder, and started toward the cabin. Instead of protesting, Paige giggled like crazy, and his dick hardened even more at the happy sound.
“Wait!” she protested, still giggling. “My purse! I need to charge my cell-phone.”
Damnit!
Normally, he would tell her to forget it, but he knew she’d probably want to text Becca, and even though Logan told him to take a few days off, he had to let the man know where he was.
He turned around, and when he reached her car, he slowly lowered her to her feet. Once her feet were on the ground, her soft body leaned into his hard one, and she placed her hands on his shoulders as if for balance.
“Get the bag.”
He growled the words, but she only smiled and rose on her tip-toes to kiss his jaw.
“I like you all growly,” she whispered. “When do I get to see your bear?”
Oh, hell, she was going to kill him.
“Soon,” he croaked.
“After we get inside?”
He nodded, not trusting his voice.
“Good,” she said, kissing his jaw again. “I want to know every part of you.”
“Get. The. Bag.”
He growled the words again, but this time she just laughed and dove into the car for her bag. When she emerged, bag in hand, he slammed the car door, and hoisted her on his shoulder again. Her laughter followed behind him, and he vaguely registered the single horn blast, indicating she’d locked her car using the key fob.
He was animal enough to want to carry her to his bed—their bed—and deposit her there, but he was man enough to set her down just inside the door. She’d wanted a tour, and this was going to be the cabin they shared for the rest of their lives. He didn’t want her first impression tainted with his animal lust.
“Oh, Mason,” she said, looking around the large living space. “This place is gorgeous.”
The living room was large enough for two couches, a small entertainment center, and a small coffee table. A small breakfast bar divided the kitchen from the main room, and just inside the kitchen, a door hid a large pantry. Even though the cabin seemed small from the outside, the kitchen was a decent size, and a small, wooden bistro table and chairs sat under the window.
The furniture was in the same dark wood that furnished his home, but he hadn’t added the bursts of color yet. He’d saved that task for him and his mate to decide together, if he were lucky enough to ever find her.
The hallway housed a large, master bedroom, a bathroom, and a laundry room, and he motioned for her to go down the hall, to take in everything, and she accepted his invitation. He didn’t follow her, though. He couldn’t. Not when she was so close to their bed.
She moved down the hall slowly, looking in every room, and taking her time to explore. When she disappeared into the bedroom, he fought to keep his feet planted by the door. Both the bear and the man were desperate to claim her, and if he followed her into that bedroom, she wouldn’t leave until she bore his mark.
A few minutes later, she emerged and rejoined him.
“I love this place, Mason,” she smiled at him. “It’s absolutely perfect.”
“You’re perfect,” he growled.
“Can I see your bear now?”
He desperately wanted to show her his other side, but the need to claim—to mate—with her was a palpable thing. There was so much he had to explain before they took the next step, that he knew he had to get himself under control.
“I… I need to go for a run first,” he said. “There are things I need to explain, and I can’t with you so near. My bear is going crazy with the need to mark you. A run will help me get him under control, and then we can talk.”
“I don’t want to talk,” she said, wrapping her arms around him.
Fuck! Neither did he, especially when the look on her face promised sin and sex, but they had to. He had to let her know exactly what she was getting into with him.
He grabbed her hands, and removed them from his waist, and then he stepped forward, forcing her to step back. Her smile fell, but he didn’t let it deter him.
“I don’t want to talk either, baby girl, but we must. And before that happens I have to run. I won’t be gone long, and you can text Becca while you wait. I’m sure she’s wondering…about everything, and whether or not you’re okay.”
“Okay,” she nodded.
She took another step back, and he had enough room to exit the cabin.
Without another word, Mason left the tiny building, and his mate, and escaped into the dense trees that surrounded the home. Thankful for the ability to shift with his clothes intact, he called his bear to the surface, and accepted the instant change into his animal.
One second, he was a man, and the next, a large grizzly bear, covered in thick, brown fur. Though he couldn’t see the home through the trees, he looked back anyway, still desperate to be with his mate. It didn’t matter which form he chose, he would always want her.
But he didn’t want to scare her, or take away her choices, so he did what he needed to do.
He ran.