Chapter Three
His poor mate stumbled to the ground three more times before they reached his cave. James stood patiently by her side as she’d pulled herself up, each time taking longer as she grew weaker and more tired. The cold was stealing the energy from her body and he ushered her inside the cave. She wasn’t like him and James was confused why fate had given him a human mate. He remembered being taught humans were off limits to his kind. Unless they had it all wrong? James shook his head. It didn’t matter what his former pack believed, she was his. He didn’t care if she was human or not. He was going to have a family again.
She leaned against the cave wall before sliding down to the ground. Her eyes drooped and her head lolled to the side. Oh my god. James panicked and whimpered before nudging and licking her face, she was so pale.
“Tired.” She mumbled and blinked at him but he was alarmed by how glassy her eyes were.
James backed away and paced his cave glancing around. There was nothing for her here other than a roof over her head. There was nothing to keep her warm. Nothing to eat. What in the hell was he thinking? This was completely inadequate for her. She was going to freeze to death right in front of him. She needed a fire, dry clothes. She needed him. James reached down inside himself, to a place he’d almost forgotten. He grabbed hold and his wolf stepped aside as he pulled himself out piece by agonizing piece. James gritted his teeth as the air shifted and warped around him until he stood on two feet. He glanced down at his body and hoped neither his scars nor his nudity scared her. Stepping towards her James abruptly fell to the ground.
“Oh, shit!” James cried out.
It had been ten years since he’d walked on two legs. James shook his head and stood back up. His preternatural healing and strength quickly catching his human body back up. James kneeled down beside her and her scent overwhelmed him. He should just claim her now. No! He wouldn’t take that choice from her. James glanced down at her shivering body. He needed to get her out of her wet clothes but then what? She couldn’t lie on the cave floor. She needed blankets and heat. The old ranger station! He railed at himself for not taking her there in the first place, though there was no way she could have walked that far. She’d barely made it to the cave. He’d been so set on having her in his home he hadn’t taken in consideration how he was going to take care of her.
“You’re a wolf.” She slurred.
James nodded, “Yes.”
She shook her head as if that was too much right now and he couldn’t blame her.
“I thought you would be safe here but you’re not.” He explained. “There’s someplace better I want to take you.” She stared at him blankly and James afraid she wasn’t fully with him right now. “What’s your name?” He asked, not sure she could answer him.
“Emily Todd.” She mumbled after a moment.
“I’m James Monroe. I’m going to take care of you.” He promised.
He was reluctant to take her back out into the rain but it couldn’t be helped. James cradled Emily in his arms and ran as fast as he could through the storm.
****
Emily had gone mad. She was tired and cold, and consciousness came and went but she was pretty sure her wolf had turned had into a man. He was hulking and even under his full beard she could tell he was the most handsome man she’d ever seen. He was naked and he’d been fully erect, there was no missing that. But he didn’t scare her like the other man had. When her kidnapper giggled, terror had speared through her soul. James may be some sort of shape shifter person but he gazed at her with concern, even when he’d been a wolf.
She was wet and freezing cold. James cradled her in his arms as he ran unnaturally fast through the woods and she huddled closer to his body heat trying to mold herself against him. Her clothes were soaked through and she was shivering so hard it hurt.
“We’re almost there Emily. I’m so sorry.” He told her and pressed his check against her head.
His touch was gentle and caring but Emily was confused. None of this was his fault. He’d saved her life. Why was he sorry? She wanted to thank him, but she was so tired.
“Emily!”
Emily blinked open her eyes and gazed into the most beautiful blue eyes she’d ever seen. “Yes?” She asked him lazily before closing them again, she just wanted to go back to sleep. Something tugged at her clothes before she was rolled onto her side. She opened them to find James frantically pulling off her coat but her lids were heavy so she closed them again.
“Fuck! Emily come on baby, wake up.”
She opened her eyes when he jerked and pulled her underwear and jeans down and off. She would normally be embarrassed by her nudity but he wasn’t looking at her like that. He moved her into the sitting position. “Can you put your arms up?” He asked and she tried but her arms flopped uselessly by her sides. Shaking her head she sobbed weakly. “It’s okay, I’ve got you.” Holding her up James pulled her sweater and shirt up and over her head, before unsnapping her bra and pulling it off.
Emily blinked as she took in her new surroundings. They were in a small cabin; James had called it a ranger station.
“Radio?” She asked, they could call for help but James shook his head.
“I tried to get the generator going before undressing you but it looked like squirrels chewed through everything. Luckily there’s still water in the storage tanks. I was hoping for hot water but we’re lucky to have some running water at all. I tried to get the generator going before undressing you. This station is pretty remote. It doesn’t get used very often but it’s better than my cave.”
Further affirmation he was the wolf. It was so hard to believe yet it was true. He’d transformed right in front of her. James picked her up, leaving her wet clothes on the floor and set her down on a small bed before covering her with all the blankets he could find. They helped but they were as cold as the room and she shivered violently. Every part of her was ice cold. He put his warm palm on her forehead and her lids grew heavy. She fought to stay awake afraid this was all a dream and he might disappear.
“I’m going to try and start a fire. Hopefully there’s some dry wood that isn’t rotted.” He opened one of the wood boxes. “Thank you ranger whoever you are.” James exclaimed as he pulled out several rolls of wrapped fire wood; he opened one and set it into the fireplace along with a piece of newspaper he’d found. There was a canister of matches on the mantel and he lit the newspaper. The flame burning brighter as it grew. Emily wanted to be warm so badly.
“The damper.” She croaked and his eyes widened before he pushed on a lever opening the vent.
“Sorry. Thanks.” He smiled sheepishly. “It’s been a really long time since I’ve started a fire.” He frowned before stalking towards her his eyes flashing yellow. “You’re still cold.” He stopped suddenly and glanced down at his mud covered body. Emily swallowed and her heart raced when his erection grew longer and thicker. “I’ll be right back.” He rushed into the bathroom and closed the door behind him.
A second later the shower turned on. She distinctly remembered him mentioning the generator wasn’t working and a moment later he yelped out. She chuckled and closed her eyes wishing she had a tenth of his body heat. He’d been so warm.