by Leilani Love
Liam cleared his throat as he fed her the next bite, glad she couldn’t pick up on his desire. “What’s your name?”
Her eyes widened a bit before she spoke, her voice clearer and louder than before. “Emily.”
“Emily,” he repeated, testing it out on his tongue. She took another sip of soup, and he smiled at her. “My name is Liam.”
“Thank you, Liam, for taking me in,” Emily said as she touched his hand.
Liam nodded, swallowing as he fed her another bite. Was he supposed to say you’re welcome? “I know you’re hungry.” He placed the spoon back in the bowl. “But I don’t think you should eat much more. Do you mind if I ask what happened and how you ended up in the woods?”
She turned away, closing her eyes. Several different emotions crossed her face. “It’s a long, complicated story.”
Liam shifted forward in his chair. He wanted to press. He needed to know. He opened the water bottle and gave it to her, giving her time to drink it. When she finished, he asked the question that had been buzzing in his head. “Emily, I’ve been trying to find my son. Was there anyone else with you?”
She bit her lower lip and took another sip. The way she avoided meeting his gaze, he could tell she knew something—something important. He wanted to be patient, give her time, but this was his son, the baby of the family. Seconds felt like hours. When he felt like he was going to explode, she finally spoke. “Your son was the one chasing me.”
The growl that he emitted was purely primal. Emily shuddered, and her shoulders curled in, making her even smaller in the bed.
His heart sank, and he felt instant regret that he had scared her.
Shifting, she turned to look at him, her eyes meeting his. “I’m sorry. The witches who held me captive put a spell on your son. He doesn’t know what he’s doing.”
Chapter 3
Liam’s entire body tensed, and he shifted forward, his honey-colored eyes glowing as they locked onto hers.
When she’d mentioned the witches, he’d almost doubled in size, and his teeth lengthened. She worried the beast in him would come out and shrunk away from him. She understood his anger, but when shifters lost control, the results could be deadly.
“You couldn’t possibly know it was my son.” The words were firm and quiet. His jaw clenched so hard, a vein pulsed through his day-old scruff. She was glad he’d put down the bowl of soup. His hands fisted at his sides.
She chose her next words carefully. “Your son is slightly taller than you. Maybe six-foot-four. He’s not as broad, but he has your strong jaw, and when he’s close to shifting, his eyes turn that same golden-brown. I also doubt there are many bear shifters in the area.”
Liam shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He ran his fingers through his shoulder-length brown hair, making the silver on the sides of his head stand out more. “How do you know?”
How was she to tell him she had been dreaming about him for years? As a seer, Emily was always told she couldn’t see her future or the future of those close to her, but that wasn’t completely true. She couldn’t see the day to day, but she could see certain things. She had known her mate was going to die in a fire. She’d also been able to plan how to save her children and knew she would see them one day—and that Liam was going to be the reason. “I just know.”
“You’re a human mated to a wolf shifter,” Liam stated.
She nodded. That was true. Seers were very much human. Her family line, however, was also gifted with a long lifespan—this was extended longer when she mated and became part of the pack. Despite her mate passing, her children kept her tied to the pack.
When she thought of Marcus, tears filled her eyes. He had been the love of her life. Even after fifty years, she still missed him dearly.
“Yes, I am a human, and my mate was a wolf shifter,” she replied, trying not squirm under his watchful gaze. His eyes narrowed, and he stared at her like he would be able to read all her deepest secrets in her eyes.
She wiped the tears away, and he frowned, opening his mouth then closing it. Seconds ticked by before he finally sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Get some rest. In the morning, you are going to help me get my son back.”
Emily nodded and she barely managed to cover her a mouth before letting out a big yawn. She took another drink before putting the bottle on the floor next to her and curling up under the blankets. It had been so long since she’d been able to lie down on a bed with a blanket and pillow. For years, she had slept standing up, hanging by her arms.
With her eyes half closed, she kept a wary eye on Liam as he paced in the limited space of the seating area. There was no doubt in her mind she was safe and that this man, this bear shifter, would take her to her children. She didn’t know what role he would play, but he was important. Her eyes got heavier until she drifted off.
Even knowing something was a dream didn’t stop a person from reacting. Emily found herself in the woods, running from the heavy steps of the bear behind her. This was her chance. If she didn’t get out now, she would never be able to keep her promise to see her grandchildren.
Each step got harder and the bear’s steps closer. The sound of laughter surrounded her. Familiar, feminine. “Do you really think you can run, Emily? I will find you. Even now, he is tracking your scent. He will drag you back to us.”
“I would rather die,” Emily shouted as she ran, knowing Aura could hear her.
“That could be arranged,” Aura’s voice whispered in her ear before the burning pain of a deep slash across Emily’s back. The bear’s thick claw sliced into her flesh, and she screamed as she fell forward. Rolling down the hill, she felt every stick, every rock until she came to a complete stop.
A moan escaped her. She opened her eyes to a bear hovering above her, his teeth bared, saliva dripping from his mouth as he growled. Before she could roll away, the bear lunged for her, his mouth wide.
Emily’s eyes flew open. She panted. Her throat hurt from screaming in her sleep. She was covered in a light sweat, and she brushed the hair from her face.
Liam stood over her, and she quickly glanced away. His finger came up to touch her cheek, and she winced and shrunk away from him. He stepped back, trying not to scare her. “You’re safe, Emily. It was just a dream.”
Emily looked around, holding the blanket tight to her chest. “Your son. He is still out there, trying to find me.”
“How do you know that? Why have they been keeping you?” Liam asked, moving toward her.
“I don’t know.”
His eyebrow arched at her quick answer, and she forced herself not to look away. He didn’t believe her. He clenched his fists as his eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared. She hated a shifter’s ability to detect when someone was lying and knew he was fighting to stay in control and not demand she tell him more.
“Well, if my son is searching for you, we will just stay here until he finds you, and I will take you both back into town. There is something you’re not telling me. The sooner you do, the sooner I can rescue my son.”
Emily shook her head. “With the spell, your son is much stronger than normal. The best thing would be to get your other sons to help you and let me go. My family needs me too.”
Liam sank down onto the chair near the bed, holding his head in his hand. His shoulders slumped, and he let out a sigh. When she glanced at the foot of the bed, Emily noticed a shirt laid out nicely. She slipped it on. It was silly for her to be modest after all he had already done for her, but she couldn’t help herself.
When she slid from the bed, the shirt hung just past her knees, fitting like an oversized dress. Tentatively, she placed a hand on his shoulder. As a parent, she understood what it meant to worry about your kids and want to protect them. When she reached out to her kids in their dreams, she left herself vulnerable in her weakened state. Both her children were now mated, happy, and expecting children of their own, making her sacrifice worth it.
Liam didn’t move at firs
t, but she swore she heard his bear make a noise that sounded like it appreciated the comfort. She stood with him for a few minutes in silence until he stiffened and glanced over his shoulder at her.
“How did you know I have other sons?”
The question was barely a whisper, but she heard it. “Your son must have mentioned it.”
Liam frowned, shaking his head. “I know you’re lying, Emily. What are you hiding?”
Emily stood there in silence, and Liam stood up so fast, he knocked over the chair. She managed to jump back just enough to avoid it hitting her. The sound of the chair crashing onto the floor was loud in the small room, but it didn’t scare her as much as the man towering over. “No more lies. I am not going to hurt you. I need you to tell me everything. Why were they holding you? How do you know so much about my son? About me?”
The plea in his voice pulled at her heart. “I am a seer. The witches made a deal with the wolf shifter who killed my husband and tried to kill my children. In order to keep me hidden, they move me every few months. They find men in the area and place a spell on them to protect them and guard me.”
“What happens to the men they use to protect them?”
Emily looked down. She didn’t want to tell him. After several seconds, his fingers wrapped around her arms, gripping tightly. “Tell me what happens to them. Do they kill them?”
She shook her head before raising it, her eyes meeting his. “If we don’t break the spell, eventually, he will go crazy. But the closer he is to them, the harder it will be to break the hold they have on him.”
Liam’s grip held strong, his gaze never leaving her. Fine lines surrounded his eyes and lips. She fought the urge to lean into him. To surround herself in his warm embrace. It had been so long since she had been around a man who was not under a witch’s spell or who had not helped plot to kill her family.
Before she could give in, his brow furrowed, and he released his hold on her. “Get some rest. Tomorrow, we go back to town and meet up with my sons. You are going to help us free him.”
Emily nodded. She would tell him what to do, and then she would find a way to go to her children. Damien and Hope. Her babies. Seeing them again was what she held onto. She would get back to them. It had been just over fifty years since she had seen them. She had arranged their rescue, and her dreams of them told her they were both about to have their own little ones. She had told them she would be there before the births, and she was determined to keep that promise.
She went back to the bed and curled up under the covers, falling into a dead sleep. She didn’t wake up again until the sun started to warm her face and the smell of fresh coffee tempted her. It had been so long since she’d smelled coffee, she thought she must be dreaming. Her eyes popped open, and she realized this was not a dream. She was lying comfortably in a bed, and the events of yesterday came back to her.
A big yawn escaped as Emily stretched, and her stomach grumbled in need. She reached down to grab her water bottle and looked around the room. Liam was gone, but there was a pot of coffee and a mug next to it. As she got out of bed, she winced. Her body protested the movement.
Emily hadn’t moved much over the years, and her body was complaining about the amount of energy it expelled yesterday. As she approached the cup, she saw a small note telling her Liam would be back shortly and there was some more soup for her to heat up if she was hungry. The note ended saying he would be close and hear her if she yelled for him.
That last line made her smile. Shifters had fantastic hearing. The idea that he was staying close and she only had to yell for him made her feel safe. It had been so long since anyone had cared for her safety.
While she sipped on coffee, she couldn’t help but grin when she noticed he left a few packets of sugar out for her. That first sip of coffee was almost orgasmic. It had been so long since she’d had it, she let out a sigh and closed her eyes in bliss.
She wondered where Liam’s mate was. She didn’t know much about bear shifters except they tended to live on their own and keep their mate close—even closer than wolves, which said a lot. Marcus had rarely left her side.
Coffee in one hand and a bowl of soup in the other, Emily made her way to the small table. The cabin was cute, with bunkbeds built into the wall, the bed she had slept in last night, a big fireplace, small kitchen with dining table, two couches, and a comfortable chair—everything you could need in one open space. And the craftsmanship was lovely. She smiled, thinking of all the happy memories that must have been shared here.
Eating the entire bowl of soup caused her stomach to protest a bit, and she winced. It was silly she’d been able to overdo it on soup. The door flew open, causing her to jump in surprise and a moment of a fear before she saw Liam standing in the doorway.
“Good. You’re awake.” He walked in, glanced at the bowl on the table, and smiled. “And you ate.”
Emily nodded, blushing softly. He was dressed in only a pair of blue jeans, holding a shirt in his hand. He was older, like her, the hair on his chest dark but with strands of silver peppered in. Where most men his age would probably start to get a small bulge, she couldn’t help but admire his very flat and toned stomach. She could trace the muscles and wash her clothes on his abs.
Liam grabbed the sweatpants laying across the foot of the bed she’d slept in and walked over to her. “These will probably be too big on you. When we get into town, we can pick some clothes up for you.”
“Thank you,” Emily said as she eagerly took the pants from his hands. She got up, walked to the restroom, and cleaned herself up before putting the sweatpants on. They were so big, even after tying the strings, they wouldn’t stay up. Rolling them twice, she grinned to herself before stepping out of the room.
Liam had his back to her, and when he turned around, he grinned. “You look like a little girl wearing your daddy’s clothes.”
Laughing, Emily twirled in a circle. “This is actually the nicest thing I’ve worn in a very, very long time.”
“How long did they hold you?” Liam asked, frowning.
“Way too long.” Emily was surprised by the way he scowled in response.
There was a moment when she thought he was going to push the subject, but he surprised her by taking a step toward her and grabbing her hand. “I’m sorry for what you’ve been through. Please help me free my son, and I’ll make sure you get to your kids. I will keep you safe and deliver you to them myself. I promise.”
“I will help you the best I can,” Emily said, fighting the urge to lean into his warmth.
Liam paused and took one last glance around the cabin before giving her a reassuring smile. “Let’s go. My sons will probably be waking up by the time we get back to my house.”
Emily nodded and followed him to the door. After she stepped outside, Liam locked the cabin while she made her way toward the truck. Over the years, when the witches transported her, it was always in older vans. It was easier for them to keep her tied up on the floor and out of sight of anyone who might be driving next to them. Liam owned a big shiny truck, and she was fascinated by the way the design had changed in the last fifty years. Taking a step forward, she winced when she stepped on a large rock.
“I forgot we don’t have any shoes for you.” Liam stepped up behind her. Before she could figure out what he was doing, he’d swept her up and carried her easily in his arms. She squeaked in surprise but wrapped an arm around his neck to hold on.
“I’m fine,” she whispered, cheeks heating up at being so close to and aware of this man.
Liam chuckled, and with his long legs, had them to the truck in a few steps. Opening the door, he placed her on the passenger seat, which was soft leather. She touched everything, amazed at how much things had changed. She wasn’t totally in the dark about all that. She had seen the witches use computers and smart phones, even heard how music had changed over the years, but this was the first time she’d been able to touch things with her own hands.
The driv
er’s side door gave a low creak as it opened. Liam got in, giving her a questioning look as she pulled her hands back from the knobs on the dashboard. “It’s a bit chilly outside. Would you like me to warm up your seat?”
Emily’s eyes widened, and she smiled. “You can do that?”
Liam smiled back and nodded. “See this button right here? If you get too warm, you hit this end, and if you would like it a bit warmer, you press this end.”
She watched, mesmerized, as he made the adjustment before turning on the radio and driving them down the road. Emily’s eyes scanned the dashboard. A screen popped up with a map and a big triangle on the screen, and she let out a soft ‘oh.’ She reached out, feeling like a little kid. When she felt her bottom warm up, she laughed. “This is amazing. So much has changed.”
When she touched the screen, the music turned on loudly, causing her to spring back in her seat. Her fingers frantically tapped at what she thought was the same spot on the screen as she exclaimed, “Oh my! I am so sorry!”
Liam chuckled, and the radio volume magically started to lower. He grinned and dramatically flicked his thumb, drawing her attention to the buttons on his steering wheel. A big grin on his face, he winked at her. “I promise to show you all the bells and whistles when we get back in town and I’m not driving.”
Chapter 4
Liam laughed as Emily fidgeted. She would sit still for a moment and then a button or light would catch her attention and she would touch it, reminding him of a toddler who found a remote control and needed to play with it. When her fingers found the button that lowered the window, she let out a giggle and tested it.
“I know it’s not my business, but how long have the witches held you?” Liam asked again.