He shook his head and pulled her hand to his lips, kissing her palm gently. “I’m here, my love.”
More tears poured from her beautiful green eyes. “He said he killed you.”
Owen snarled, his fangs descending just slightly. “He lied.”
Her fingers contracted in his hand, stroking his cheek. “My parents?”
He kissed her hand again and pulled back his fangs. “They are safe.”
“M-my dad?”
“He is still with us,” Owen said, his tone sympathetic.
Relief washed across her face. All the tight muscles loosened. The strain around her eyes faded. The tightness around her mouth disappeared as well. “Will you hold me?”
Owen stood immediately, shucked off his shirt, his boots, pulled back the blanket and slipped into the large bed. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her up onto his chest, so she rested draped over him like a delicious blanket of woman. Then he pulled a heavy blanket up over her shoulders too to trap all their heat. The last thing he wanted was for her to be chilled again.
He stroked down her side. Her face contorted with pain and he froze. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m okay, just tender there,” she said, making out her flinch to be nothing.
Owen wasn’t fooled in the least. He rolled her carefully again, laying her out beneath him and then made short work of her shirt and pants. The women had insisted he stay out of the room while they bathed her.
And now he knew why.
“Owen,” she grabbed at her clothes, but he tossed them off the bed and stared down at her beautiful but battered body. Bruises mottled the smooth creamy white skin on her abdomen and legs. Dark purple welts where she’d been hit and kicked.
And then her shoulder. New bite marks layered over his. Raish had desecrated his claim. Dishonored his shuarra.
A snarl tore from his throat. His bear enraged that anyone would hurt his mate. Would hurt a woman at all. If all the wolves weren’t dead. He would personally hunt down each one and rip their entrails from their bodies while they still breathed.
“Owen, I’m okay,” she said, reaching up toward him. “I promise. As long as you still want me, I’m okay. All of this will heal. It’s just bruises.” She waved down at her body.
“How could you think I wouldn’t want you?” he bellowed, his fangs descended again. He could feel them pressing against his lips.
“B-because he bit me.”
“You’re mine. Forever and always,” he said, his voice deepening with sorrow. She thought he would abandon her because of Raish’s bite. Never. If Ava hadn’t killed the bastard already he would’ve made sure the wolf suffered worse than a quick death.
A small smile curved Tara’s mouth. Relief flooded her face, loosening the tight muscles. Tears leaked from both eyes.
The door to the bedroom burst open. Owen twisted over the top of Tara, shielding her body from view.
Tara yanked up the sheets to cover herself.
Col followed by his mate hurried through, then Kann and his mate, then the rest stood just behind them.
“Don’t you dare ruin those sheets!” Naomi held up an accusatory finger. “Put those teeth and claws away, right now.”
Owen startled at the sharp sudden rebuke and obeyed. He hadn’t even realized his claws had come out. His fangs receded too.
“Good bear,” Naomi smirked.
Col growled at her and stepped in front, blocking her from Owen’s view. “Do not yell at a bear losing his control.” Col looked back, meeting Owen’s gaze, as if waiting for him to snap.
“You keep forgetting that I am a dragon. His bear is nothing more than a mouthful of toothpicks, husband.” She peeked out from behind Col and smiled. “Not that I would eat you, Owen. That would be disgusting. I only eat non-people-animals.”
“Naomi,” Col sighed. The dragon male turned to Owen. “Why are you shouting?”
“He didn’t see her wounds earlier,” Penny said, pushing through the group to stand next to Naomi. “It’s pretty ugly.”
“They dared to hurt her,” Owen growled under his breath. “They will all die.”
“Most are dead. Only a few escaped the mountainside,” Col said. “We will find them.”
The assurance didn’t help. If any lived. It was too many.
“I just need to rest. Really. I’m okay. We’re okay.” Tara’s voice cut through the silence following Col’s acknowledgement that they would hunt down the wolves.
She touched Owen’s arm and met his gaze. Her green eyes begging him silently to let it go for now. He relented. For her.
“Later,” Owen growled. “After my mate is rested and healed.”
“It will be done,” Col’s deep voice answered from the hallway.
Naomi and Penny walked to the doorway where Col and Kann still stood waiting. The rest of the tribe had already retreated from the room. The door snicked shut and Owen was alone again with Tara.
“Are you going to stay up there staring down at me? Or come lay down with me and snuggle? I really will be okay. I promise. I’m just really tired and pretty much everything throbs and burns.” She reached an arm toward him, completely unfazed at his show of anger.
There was no fear in her eyes. His bear hadn’t scared her, even this close. She’d seen his fangs. Seen his claws. Heard his anger. Still she reached for him and wanted him close.
Thank Fate.
21
Tara woke up in the big four poster bed alone. No Owen. She rolled to her right and peered into the dimly lit room. The bed was the only furniture. No dressers or wardrobes. There was a half-filled clothes hamper in the corner of the room. And a couple pairs of boots.
The two windows had no curtains. The room smelled like freshly cut and sealed wood. This cabin was new. Really new.
She vaguely remembered Kann mentioning, during one of his many trips to the store, that they were building new cabins as soon as the snow melted, but it’d only melted down a little over a month ago. This was fast to have an entire cabin up and be living in it, but it was probably why the furnishings were so Spartan at the moment. She was actually impressed by the bed.
Tara pushed herself upright and scooted down to the end of the bed using one of the posts to steady herself as she gingerly slid to the floor. Her toes curled against the soft hides covering the bare plank floor. Different. It was a lot of hides too. A cursory glance had the count at least up to nine.
She rubbed her fingers up and down the post. Hand hewn. One of the guys had made this bed. They hadn’t bought it. Beautiful.
This whole place was amazing. The ceiling was high, at least ten feet and planked with natural boards just like floors, creating that cozy-masculine-lodge-cabin feel.
A shiver crawled up her skin like a squirrel up a tree. She was still in underwear and a bra. Her clothes were on the floor where Owen had tossed them, but she really didn’t want to put them back on. She reached for a folded blanket at the foot of the bed and noticed a set of grey fleece pajamas laid out, along with a set of wool socks.
She brushed her fingers across the fabric and grimaced. What she really needed was a shower. The sponge bath had helped, but she could still feel everything and smell everything and she needed to be clean. And there was still something off about her whole body. Like she was sunburned—which was ridiculous—or running a fever.
But it didn’t matter. If she was sick, she’d deal with it later. She couldn’t put more clothes on until she’d showered. She grabbed the blanket, wrapped it around her shoulders, then grabbed the stack of pajamas too.
There were two doors out of the room. She crept to the one opposite the bed, opened it, and found herself looking into a tiled entry. Across the opening was a rustic staircase with hand hewn rails. Voices carried softly from around the corner. She didn’t really want to talk to anyone—at least not anyone besides Owen. Mostly she just really wanted a nice full tub of super-hot water to scald off the memories of being abducted, beaten, an
d almost killed by Raish and his buddies.
Tara closed the door and crossed the room to the other, opening it to find exactly what she wished for—a large master bathroom, complete with an enormous claw-footed soaking tub. A rainwater shower head came down from the ceiling and one of those suspended rings for a curtain hung above it. To her right stretched out a nice sized vanity. A pony wall blocked off the view of the toilet. The floors were black slate and the walls were rough hewn logs, same as the bedroom. It was beautiful. Nicer than any cabin she’d been in before. Certainly nicer than the ones Douglas advertised around town for rent. Plus, a huge tank system had been installed in the corner of the bathroom, which meant plenty of on-demand hot water no matter the season. Whoever owned this place had money.
Where am I?
Not that it really mattered at the moment. She was safe. Owen was here. Other people were here. They’d said most of the wolves were dead. She remembered that much from before she fell asleep. But, was Raish dead for sure? Would he try to hurt her again?
She took a deep breath and stepped closer to the tub. She couldn’t think about that right now. Shower first. Bath next. One thing at a time.
She could do this.
Tara dropped the fresh folded clothing on the closest counter and let the blanket slip to the floor. Once the water was running and warm, she pulled the curtain around the tub, washed her hair, and let the grime and the terror of being kidnapped by angry enormous warriors that could turn into wolves circle the drain in a whirlpool and disappear.
Her tears joined the water in the bottom of the tub. Tears of fear from what had almost happened. Tears of relief. Tears of missing Owen, even though she somehow instinctively knew he wasn’t far away. And even though the shower and hot water was soothing, she was still shaking. She needed him.
Needed her mate.
Once all the soap had rinsed away, she plugged the tub drain and sat down, letting the scalding water rain over her head and rise around her like a hug. It would have to do until he came back. At least she couldn’t feel specific pain anymore. Her whole body just burned and throbbed like one big open wound.
Owen stared at his cell phone. The screen was dark. Still nothing had come through from his sister. Tor and Saul had gone out again to try and pick up her trail in town and had returned again to Col and Naomi’s cabin. No news. Except that the trail still ended at the edge of town and that the wolf had been with Ava at least until then. Well, he assumed it was the wolf that he’d seen help her during the fight.
“She’s a tough cookie,” Penny said from across the kitchen. “She’ll show up when she’s ready. You already said as much.”
“Watching that pho—” Naomi started.
A buzz on the counter stopped all conversation. It was Ava. Her name popped up on the screen. Then her message.
Ava: I’m safe. Don’t want you to worry. Will be in contact soon.
Owen snatched up his phone and tapped her name to call her. The line rang and rang and then went to voicemail. “Ava.” His growl made both women in the kitchen take a step back. He tried calling again. Nothing.
Owen: Where are you? Why won’t you talk to me?
The little blinky dots came up on the screen and then disappeared. Then again. Then gone.
The urge to throw the little device at the wall was more than tempting. He hated phones.
Ava: I promise I’m good. Take care of your mate, brother.
“Well?” Naomi prodded.
Owen looked up. He shoved the annoying piece of technology into his pocket and stood from the counter stool. “She says she fine. Says she’ll contact me soon.”
“Nothing about the wolf?” Col’s question came from behind.
Owen took a step to the side and pivoted to bring Col into his line of sight. “No. She didn’t mention him.”
Col raised an eyebrow. “And you’re sure you saw this wolf come to her aid during the fight?”
Owen’s lip curled at the thought of his sister anywhere near one of the bastards who’d taken Tara. How could she be with the enemy and be fine? “I did,” he said, his voice low. He wouldn’t lie.
The back door of the cabin swung open, bringing with it a gust of icy wind and a snow-covered lion male. Kann pulled off the fur-lined hood and smiled across the room at Penny and Naomi. “Got the road plowed. We can get the truck between cabins easy now. Road to town will take a few more hours.” He glanced at Col and the dragon male nodded.
“Good,” Naomi crossed the kitchen, passing Owen and stopped at her mate’s side. “Then we can all go and give Owen and Tara a bit of time alone.”
“I’m not leaving my home. We just moved in here last week.”
“We are leaving. She’s crying in the bathroom and needs her mate and we’re not packing her up and sending her out of here.”
Owen swallowed. This was Col’s home. “Vraka, forgive me.” Owen tipped his head respectfully and used the formal name for chief. “I didn’t realize we had imposed. I would never put you or your mate—”
Naomi’s raised hand and sparkling gold eyes snapped his lips together quickly. “The Mahadhri has said her piece and we are going. Our room back at the other cabin is still just as cozy and comfortable. Plus, not eating with everyone at every meal has been hard the past few days. It’ll be nice to be back.”
“One day,” Col said, his voice low and filled with feigned displeasure. “You complain about the place of privilege you were given, but you use it each and every time you deem it necessary.”
“It’s all about timing, my mate.” Naomi looked up, met Owen’s gaze and winked at him. “There’s food in the fridge, Owen. Help yourselves. We’ll be back to get you tomorrow, weather permitting.”
Kann picked up Penny’s coat from the stool next to where Owen had been sitting. “Should be fine. Doesn’t look like there’s any more storm behind the one that hit last night. Also, let Tara know that Saul and Tor already went by to check on her parents. Brought them some firewood and are headed back to the main cabin.” He held the coat out to his mate and she slipped her arms into the sleeves.
“How?” Owen asked. The lion had just said the road wasn’t clear.
“Oh, we have snow machines. More than enough on the ground after that storm to pull them out of the shed and make good use of them.”
Owen nodded to the lion. “Thank you. It will mean a lot that they did.”
“Yep.” He slipped his arm around Penny’s waist, stole a quick kiss and then herded her back through the back door and disappeared from view.
They were all being so kind. Well, Col was being forced into being kind, but still, he was allowing it. That said a lot about him as an alpha. And a lot about his mate.
“I’m so glad you’re part of the family now, Owen. You and Tara.”
Part of the family? He hadn’t thought of it quite that way. He’d been forgiven by the alpha. He wasn’t aonkan any longer, but part of the Tribe? He certainly never would’ve assumed that.
He met Col’s gaze, waiting for a disapproving growl or snarl because Naomi had said something he hadn’t sanctioned.
Instead, the large warrior nodded his head. “We would be pleased to have you officially join the tribe, Owen. You and Tara and your sister.”
“Thank you,” he said, his voice breaking. His sister would be ecstatic. She’d missed the camaraderie of having a Tribe. All she ever talked about was Col’s tribe. About how she wanted them to join it together. He’d hadn’t the heart to tell her that even without his aonkan mark, any Vraka would’ve been hard pressed to accept Owen—a former alpha as part of his tribe. But after what had happened on the mountainside. Saving Col’s life. What Owen owed to Col for helping save Tara. Owen would never have an issue respecting Col as his chief—as his Vraka instead of being one himself.
“I know you guys have your own place over near Leif’s shop, but there’s room at the main cabin we rent from Douglas. Col and I have already moved out and the new cabin for Penny and
Kann is nearing completion too. So it won’t be crowded for long. Eventually we’ll have cabins for everyone up and down the stream right here, but apparently three in one summer was all we could manage. Do you like this one? There were several plans to pick from, so—”
“Shuarra, leave the man in peace. His mate is upset. We should go if we are going.”
Owen remained silent.
Naomi grinned. “Sorry. I get carried away about the cabins. They are just amazing and I’m so excited and its brand new. Go take care of Tara. We’ll talk more tomorrow and get you guys situated wherever you want to be then.” She gave a little wave and followed her mate out the back door.
Owen stared at the closed door for a few seconds before he remembered Col saying Tara was upset. Damn reptiles could hear and smell everything. He whirled and rushed across the large living room toward the front entry and through the door on the right, opposite the stairway.
“Tara?” He closed the door behind him. The bed was empty. The room was empty. Her clothes were still on the floor. The door to what looked like a large washroom was open and the sound of her muffled sobs tore at his heart. He shouldn’t have left her. He should never have left the bed.
“I’m here. I’m sorry I left.”
He charged into the bathroom and knelt next to the large tub where his mate sat, submerged up to her shoulders, tears running down her pale cheeks, her fiery mane of hair was wet and dark and clinging to her face and shoulders like long claws. But her eyes were what truly drew his attention. Gold flecks in the green, sparkled and moved like a Reylean’s would if they were on the verge of shifting.
She met his gaze and he saw her fear. Her pain. Her confusion.
Something was wrong.
He slid his hand beneath her armpits and lifted her from the tub, sloshing water everywhere.
She didn’t complain about being lifted. Didn’t say a word, just moaned like his touch was painful.
He placed her on the floor and ran his fingers up and down her arms. The bruises on her sides that had been purple only an hour ago…looked lighter. He moved her wet hair from her shoulders, baring them both. His mark had already healed, but the fresh one—Raish’s—glared ugly and red on the opposite shoulder. Brighter than it had been only a short time ago. More inflamed. The scent of the alpha wolf burned Owen’s nostrils.
Bearly Hanging On: Soulmate Shifters in Mystery, Alaska Book 3 Page 18