CHAPTER 19
G aetan ran, faster than he ever dreamed possible. Muscles in his leg stretched and flexed, propelling him forward. He leapt over a tree snag. The roots protruded into the air like fingers trying to stop him, but the beast ruled, elated to be free.
Landing on the soft ferns, one whipped against his arm, spraying droplets of water across his cheek. He crouched for a moment to listen, assess, learn. The forest was eerily silent. No creature dared make a sound in his presence. A low growl burned at the back of his throat.
The breeze picked up, rippling the fur on his arms. He flared his nostrils and sniffed the air. The scents of the forest filled his senses—pine, damp foliage, the droppings of a nearby fox. No scent of his enemy or his kind. He’d evaded his pursuers, and tension in his shoulders eased.
Small feet scurried over the bark. He turned his head toward the sound. In the moon’s soft glow, a mouse quivered on an adjacent branch. It stared at Gaetan, fear reflected in the tiny creature’s dark round eyes.
Gaetan chuffed. The creature had nothing to fear from him. A desire to touch the small rodent flitted over his mind. He extended his index finger toward the animal.
The mouse fled, its feet scuttling over the fallen log’s deteriorating bark.
A sadness he didn’t understand built inside. Low and forlorn, a moan eased from his mouth. He shoved away from the snag and continued on. Something tickled the back of his mind, his destination or his goal perhaps.
Anl… Nico… but he couldn’t quite grasp the images. His goal faded from his consciousness. Grief. Anguish. Guilt so heavy, each step was an act of stubborn will.
The moon slid across the sky and, still, he wandered. Exhaustion took hold of his muscles long before his mind. The beast needed to sleep.
He placed his hand against a cedar. The bark’s sweet scent filled his lungs. Not far away, rushing water echoed between the trees. His pulse sped, but he knew not why.
With an urgency he didn’t understand, he bolted toward the sound. Tree branches snapped in his wake. Moist from the recent rain, soft loam squished beneath his feet.
He came to a small bluff. In the chasm below, a great waterfall roared into the most magnificent blue pool he’d ever seen. A wistful tightness formed around his chest.
Blue Pool…
He didn’t know what the words meant, but they continued to echo in his head.
Blue Pool…
Blue Pool…
Blue Pool…
I found it.
He growled. In the back of his mind, something pushed against his subconscious, as if trying to take control. He lashed out, his large hands fighting an invisible enemy. His fingers snagged on a large tree branch. A loud crack rent the air.
The bough careened over the cliff and landed in the pool below. The sheer force from the waterfall smashed the limb against the rocks. Bits and pieces floated downstream.
“Gaetan.” A soft, feminine voice slid by on the breeze.
He stilled. He flared his nostrils and inhaled. The scent of sweet, ripe melons trickled into his senses, familiar and enticing. With a quick turn, he searched the forest.
There was nothing, no one.
A low moan, filled with frustration, ripped from him.
“Gaetan, I’m here to help you.” The female’s voice came again, this time from his right. He turned in time to see her supple, curvy figure emerge from behind a tree. She held a long staff.
A mixture of desire, fear, and longing warred within, confusing him. He took a step back, toward the cliff’s edge.
She approached him, this beautiful, thoughtful female with her light hair and compassionate eyes. He had the sudden desire to touch her, but the memory of the fleeing mouse whipped through his mind. A low, keening wail filled the air and it took him a moment to understand the ragged cry came from him.
She placed the cane against a cedar, held out her palms, and edged toward him. “Gaetan. It’s Nikki…er…Nicole.”
Nicole… A loud ping resounded in his ears. His legs shook.
“I know you won’t hurt me. I’m your mate. Let me help you.” Close enough to touch him, she reached forward and placed her hand on his forearm.
Her electric touch sent a shockwave of desire through him. Operating under pure instinct, the beast wrapped his arm around her waist and tugged her close.
“Mmmmmine,” he snarled, unable to soften his tone.
Wrapped in Gaetan’s arms, Nikki’s cheek pressed against his chest. Smothered by all his fur, she struggled to breathe. He rubbed his palm over her backside, and despite the utter strength he emitted, his touch was gentle.
She squirmed against him. He growled, the sound low, predatory, and filled with sexual need. Her nipples peaked in response, hardening against his chest.
His erection grew hard and firm, pressing along her abdomen and between her breasts. She inhaled at his sheer size. Holy hell, in his beast form he was more than she could handle. “Gaetan, let me go.”
“Mmmmmine.”
With as much force as she could manage, she pushed against his chest, putting enough distance between them to look at him.
His aquamarine eyes focused on her from behind a low brow ridge. Tusks protruded from under his bottom lip, pointy sharp and glinting in the moonlight. Labored and rough, his breaths wheezed from his lungs.
“Yes, I’m yours, and you need to come back to me.” This strong, proud male, seemed to have endured so much, but he didn’t deserve to be hunted down and killed by his own kind. Thank goodness she’d tracked him through their blood connection. The portal had opened not far away, and between the blood bond they shared and his howls, he was easy to find.
He blinked, and weariness formed in the creases around his eyes. A grunt eased from him.
Wishing she could take away his pain, she stroked a finger down the side of his face. “Relax, Gaetan, relax.”
She didn’t know what to do to help him change back, and a tendril of doubt crept inside. On impulse, she bit her lip.
His attention riveted there. The muscles in his arms tensed.
“C’mon. Let’s step away from the ledge, okay?” She drew back, but he wouldn’t let her go. “It’s all right. I won’t leave you.”
He chuffed, and his eyes flicked back and forth as he studied her.
“You saved me. Now, it’s my turn to save you. We can tackle your problems together, but you must return to human form.” She tugged on him again.
Slowly, he followed her. She stopped a few feet away, underneath the large cedar where she’d left his cane resting against the trunk. The boughs whispered in the wind, as if encouraging her.
Instinctually, she understood he needed to trust her, believe in her, believe in them.
She turned to face him and took one of his large, calloused hands in hers. With purpose, she drew his hand to her chest, right over her heart. “I believe in you, Gaetan. You are a good, caring soul, and I…I need you.”
His grip tightened around her fingers, and he lowered himself to his knees. At eye level, he studied her with his stunning aquamarine eyes. A flicker of something, recognition perhaps, flashed across his beastly features.
Encouraged, Nikki brought his hand to her face, and she rubbed her cheek against his knuckles. “I believe in you, Gaetan. I. Believe. In. You.”
A low moan escaped his lips. He swayed, his body rocking from side to side.
She held on, rubbing her thumb over his knuckles, encouraging him with soft murmurs.
He remained that way for several long moments. The hair on his arms started to recede, slow at first then faster. Before she could stop him, he crumpled to the ground at her feet. Clothing reformed on his human-like body.
His right hand lay exposed across his chest. A single black mark darkened the back of his hand across his second metacarpal. She remembered this one represented benevolence.
Her heart swelled. They had a chance.
She knelt beside him and shook his shoulder. “Gaetan. Gaetan.”
His eyes fluttered.
“Wake up, medicine man.” An uncontrollable giggle, born of relief, reverberated in her chest.
His eyelids popped open, and he focused on her. “Nicole…”
The deep timbre of his voice slid over her nerves, warming her, making her feel wanted, needed. She could get used to that sound all too easily, but sooner or later, if he didn’t get over his addiction, she’d have to leave him. Besides, he had other priorities, like his sister, his job, Anlon.
Anlon…
She’d forgotten about the babe. As far as she knew, he was still lost out here. Her face heated at her selfishness.
“Nicole, you helped me return from my beast. We’re at Blue Pool, the sacred site. I couldn’t have found this place if I’d tried.” He placed his palm against the cedar’s trunk and stood. His gaze drew to the back of his hand. Creases formed around his eyes. “Why did you come after me? I could’ve killed you.”
…because I care. Her mouth went dry, and the words wouldn’t come.
He took a step toward her, his limp pronounced once again. With rapt attention, he tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear. “You shouldn’t have taken the chance on me. I’m not worth it.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “How can you say that? You’re kind, gentle, and so many care for you.”
A sarcastic snigger eased from him. “It’s my fault Anlon is missing, my fault the king and queen are dead.”
She inhaled. How could he think himself responsible? “That’s terrible.”
He flinched, as if she’d slapped him. Remorse reflected in his eyes. “Even you blame me.”
“No! That’s not what I meant—”
“Enough!” He slammed his fingers against his thigh. His eyes widened, and he shoved his hand into his pocket. As he withdrew his fist, a blue glow emanated from the stone in his hand.
“This, this thing. As much as I blame myself, I blame the sacred blue sunstone for starting it all.” He drew back his arm and before she could stop him, he launched the stone over the cliff’s edge. “Go back from where you came.”
“No!” Nikki screamed, and it was Ginnia’s words that echoed in her ears.
“Don’t let Gaetan lose the blue sunstone…”