by Cali MacKay
As they drove back to Wild Creek, Greyson had plenty of time to run through the night’s events, especially since Juno had barely spoken a word, clearly still in shock from the attack. And what interested him the most was what happened when Juno exited the car and touched the bear.
It was hard to tell in the chaos of the fight, but Greyson remembered the bear roaring in response to something she’d done. Did she have some sort of concealed weapon? A knife maybe? Or was it something altogether different?
By the time Greyson pulled up in front of his place, the sun was just starting to come up, the dark of night shifting toward navy off on the horizon. “I don’t want to linger. We need to get deeper into wolf territory if we have any hope of keeping you safe. Just grab your things. If we need anything else, we can send Ryder to pick it up.”
Juno shifted in her seat to face him, looking far more vulnerable than he’d ever seen her before, almost as if the reality of her life had finally come crashing down on her. “You must think I’m some sort of ungrateful, stupid bitch for not believing you and taking such an idiotic risk.”
“Juno…if you think I don’t realize how hard this must be on you, then you’re mistaken.” Greyson let out a weary sigh, shouldering his own lifetime of hurt and regret. “I know what it’s like to be faced with an event that changes life as you know it, and to want things to just go back to the way they were before that one event took away everything. I get that this is a hard reality to have to face, but you don’t have to face this alone. I’ll be here to protect you.”
“Ask me again, Greyson…” Yet, upset as she was, she couldn’t even look at him for more than a split second.
“I will, June bug—just not when you’re still so shaken up. Because this time, when you agree to marry me, you will go through with it.” Even if he had to hog-tie and kidnap her to get the job done. This would be a shifter wedding, not some church wedding, or JP. And her acceptance and willingness to get married might be appreciated, but they sure as hell weren’t necessary, especially not when she was his mate.
Ryder pulled up next to them, and wandered over as they exited the car. “You guys heading north then?”
“Yeah…though if you can do me a favor and stay behind to let my dad know what happened, I’d appreciate it. I’m sure there’ll be some blowback, and since you were there to witness it all, you’ll be able to offer a firsthand account of the situation in case they try to turn it into something it wasn’t.” He’d stay if he didn’t have Juno to worry about, but his first priority was getting her someplace safe.
Ryder nodded, his mood serious and completely unlike his normal easygoing self. “I can do that. I’ll head over to see Cullen as soon as you guys head out.”
“Thanks for everything, Ryder.” Juno gave him a quick hug. “I’m sorry I dragged you guys into this.”
“No worries. Happy to help, and fighting’s in our DNA, so don’t go letting it bother you any.” He tilted his head to Greyson. “If you have a minute.”
Greyson nodded. “Why don’t you grab your things, Juno? I’ll be in in just a minute.”
Ryder waited until Juno was inside and then pulled Greyson over. “Can you please tell me what the hell happened back there at the rest stop? You did see it, right?”
“To be honest, I don’t know what I saw.” He trusted Ryder completely to have his back—and that meant he’d also have Juno’s. But it still didn’t mean he had a clear idea of what happened with Juno and that bear. “It was no more than a split second, and I’d just gotten hit. My head was still spinning from the hard landing, and I didn’t have a clear view of anything but that bear’s furry backside.”
“Well, I did have a decent view—and I swear, it looked like she juiced that bear with a thousand volts.”
Chapter Three
Juno knew she was taking a chance when she’d touched that bear—and it was the first time she’d ever consciously used her curse. The energy had already been surging through her body because of the bear’s attack, and when she saw Greyson get hurt, she knew she had to do something before that bear took another swipe at him.
Yet now, she was worried that she might have to tell Greyson about her curse…about killing Atticus and those other men. And then what? Why would he want anything to do with her? And why the hell would he defend her?
Tonight made her realize that Greyson was right—the bears would hunt her down. But if he found out what she was, what she was capable of, there was no way he’d want anything to do with her. And marrying her? That would definitely be out of the question, especially when there was a good chance he’d eventually become alpha of his pack. Being married to her would cause nothing but problems.
But she’d also realized something else tonight. She may have just met Greyson…but he was incredibly important to her. And it was all the more reason why she couldn’t let him get dragged into her mess of a life.
Greyson was practically at her side by the time she realized he was there, making her heart jump. “Damn…you’re quiet. I didn’t hear you come in.”
“Sorry, love…didn’t mean to scare you, especially after all you’ve been through.” He tilted his head toward her bag. “Are you packed?”
“Yeah. For the most part.” She watched as he went to his closet, grabbed a half-packed bag, and tossed a few more things into it. “I’m really sorry about all this, Greyson. Your wound… You should have it looked at—or at the very least let me clean it out so it doesn’t get infected.”
“It’ll heal soon enough—though it’s sweet that you’re worried.” He zipped his bag shut, and tossed it over his shoulder as she packed the last of her things. “Are you ready?”
“I am, though…” Once more, she debated telling him her secret—and yet the words stuck in her throat. “Are you sure it’s okay that we head up to your parents’ place before speaking to your dad?”
“Ryder’s already on his way there, and I’ll call him once we’re settled.” He stood there, his gaze taking her in. “Juno…what’s going on, love?”
“What’s going on is that I’m beyond rattled. And watching you get hurt—knowing that you could have died to protect me… It’s scary, Greyson.” She hated the tears that stung her eyes and the lump that stuck in her throat.
Yet, he didn’t pull her into his arms, nor did he kiss away her worries. Instead, he shook his head before pinning her with a stern stare. “After everything we’ve been through, I was hoping that, at the very least, you’d trust me by now.”
“I do trust you.” Except that he was right to an extent. She trusted him to protect her, to keep her safe—yet telling him about her secret was different. Especially when it could change everything between them. “But…there are some things that I can’t even bear to face myself, let alone tell you.”
“Ignoring things doesn’t mean they’ll simply go away, Juno. If anything, things just get worse.” Cupping the back of her neck, he pulled her to him, and back into the safety of his embrace and touch.
Relief washed over her as she nestled against him, some of the tension in her heart easing. He’d felt a bit distant since the attack—not that she could blame him after she’d first left him, and then put him in enough danger to result in injury.
It could have been so much worse, and it was that, along with the distance she’d felt between them during the car ride back, that made her realize she didn’t want to lose him. Whatever was between them was real—and that made her current situation all the more scary.
“I will tell you, Greyson. I’ll tell you everything. But I just need a little more time to wrap my head around everything.” She then kissed the hollow of his neck, before trailing kisses up to his lips, the ache in her heart easing just a little when he kissed her back, sweetly and yet with an underlying passion that felt barely restrained.
Greyson ended their kiss, though he didn’t pull away, his forehead pressed to hers as he held her close, his body tense against hers. “You’re fucking killing
me, Juno. Normally I’d be patient enough to let you come around in your own time—but the shit’s hitting the fan, and I don’t know that we have the luxury to wait.”
“I know.” And she did. There’d be some sort of fallout after this recent attack, and denying her curse might still be the only option to keep her alive.
“Come on, then. Let’s get out of here. Though, just so I’m making myself clear—this discussion is far from over.”
They got on the road without incident, and within the hour, they were pulling up to a quaint stone and cedar-shingled cottage nestled among the trees of the forest. Despite no one living there, it looked well-maintained. It was, however, in a far more secluded area, higher up in the mountains and deeper into the forest. She swore that you’d have to know this place existed in order to find it, since it seemed to almost blend into its wooded surroundings. “Do you stay here often?”
“I suppose I do. Though I still think of this place as my parents’, this is my home just as much as my other cabin is. Usually I divide my time between the two, depending on where the pack needs me when I’m home.” He let out a weary sigh, and then pushed his car door open, leaving her to follow, things between them still strained.
Juno stepped out of the car and took a deep breath of the brisk fresh air, and was immediately hit with the presence of the place, as if the woods, the space around her, had a magical energy all its own. “Greyson…do you feel it too? Or am I losing my mind?”
Greyson gave her a curious look, as if analyzing her. “It’s not just the woods, but the earth itself. Several ley lines run through the area. However, I’m surprised you picked up on it—and that brings us back to the secrets you’re keeping. What are you, Juno?”
“Let me see here… Human. Female. Sometimes funny—usually sarcastic. Artist. Half-decent cook. Daughter. Sister. Lover?” She hated that it was now a question rather than a statement—but things between them were still far from good, and heading down one hell of a rocky road, like she was trying to go-cart down a mountainside.
“Except that you’re not simply a human, Juno. There’s more to it, and I’m pretty sure you’re fully aware of that little fact—even if you insist on denying it.” With a shake of his head and a look of displeasure aimed fully in her direction, Greyson grabbed his bag and headed for the cottage, leaving her to follow—or not. At this point, she wasn’t sure he cared either way—and it killed her.
She trailed behind him as a hopelessness seeped into her soul and darkened her heart. It was then that she realized that Greyson had been shoring her up through her most recent troubles. Now that he was backing away from her, she was crumbling under the weight of it all—not that she could blame him for putting some distance between them.
Upset as she was, she didn’t even take the time to notice the home, focusing instead on Greyson, knowing she had to make things right between them. She owed him that much, at the very least. And if he decided that she wasn’t worth the trouble, then she’d just do her best to tackle her problems on her own.
She’d try to get off the mountain once more—and deal with the bears on her own if they came after her again. But at this point, not telling Greyson the truth just wasn’t an option. Not when it meant he didn’t trust her and she was driving a wedge between them.
Taking a deep breath to steel her nerves, she tried to find the courage to admit her mistakes, even if she’d never spoken to anyone about it before now. “You’re right… I’ve never thought of myself as anything but human, but…there’s something else going on, though I’m honestly clueless as to what exactly it is—or how to control it.”
Greyson put down his bag, added hers to the pile and then, taking her hand, he led her to the sofa, sitting them down so she was forced to face him. “What do you know, Juno?”
“Only that I’m cursed.” She swiped at her tears as they rolled down her cheeks. “I’ve never meant to hurt anyone. You have to believe me. It’s why I moved up here—so I could get away from people. So it wouldn’t happen again.”
“You killed Atticus. Didn’t you?” His voice was so blank, so void of any emotion, she didn’t know what he was thinking—and it only made her feel all the more alone.
“I did.” She choked back a sob, trying to pull it together. She was an emotional wreck after everything that had happened, especially when it felt like the only person who had been on her side was suddenly pulling away. “But I swear, it was self-defense. He was attacking me, and I begged him to stop. I tried to warn him, because I could feel the energy building and knew I wouldn’t be able to control it.”
“How did you know, Juno?” Greyson shook his head. “Unless he wasn’t the first. Those other men you had mentioned…the ones who’d tried to hurt you… They’re dead, aren’t they?”
She wrapped her arms around herself, feeling helpless. This was turning into her worst nightmare, and it was leaving her paralyzed with fear. But at this point, there was no turning back from the truth, even if Greyson turned her in to the authorities. “There were two others before Atticus. But I swear, I was only trying to defend myself. I begged them to stop, pleaded with them to leave me alone…but they wouldn’t listen. I tried to warn them as the energy started to build, but they didn’t care…they just wanted to hurt me.”
“And those deaths were also written off as heart attacks?” When she nodded, he let out a weary sigh. “Fucking hell, Juno… You should have told me.”
“Oh, yeah…that would have gone over well. Hi, my name is Juno, and I’m an accidental serial killer.” Her frustration and annoyance with the whole situation finally put a stop to her tears. “You seem to forget the little fact that I only just met you days ago.”
He tossed his hands up in the air, no doubt to keep from strangling her. “But you’re my fucking mate, Juno.”
“Hello?!? Human here. I don’t do fated mates. Or at least, I didn’t up until a few days ago.” She hated this. Hated that he was pissed off at her when she felt like she’d done the only thing she could do to stay alive and out of jail. “I’m sorry, Greyson. I truly am. I just didn’t feel like I had many options.”
“And what about the bear who was attacking you just a few hours ago?” His intelligent gold eyes locked on hers, so there’d be no escaping his scrutiny. “Walk me through what happened with that one, because you can’t tell me you were pinned down or cornered, and your…energy…lashed out. It was a conscious decision, and you fucking well know it.”
She knew it all hinged on this very answer—and she’d be doomed if she did anything but tell him the truth. “I thought he was going to kill you, Greyson. The energy had already started to build from the attack, and when I saw you were hurt and he was going to swipe at you again, I took a chance and lowered my guard, which set the energy free. But you have to believe me…it was the first time I’d ever used the energy like that. I swear, each and every other time, it was truly in my own defense.”
“I suppose I have no real option but to take your word on that.”
Chapter Four
Greyson didn’t know what the fuck to do with Juno. And he hated that he was annoyed and frustrated with her. She should have told him, should have trusted him. But she hadn’t. She had let him put a whole lot on the line, not just with him but with his pack, knowing he was making decisions even though he didn’t have all the facts.
“I just don’t know what to say, Juno.” He cursed under his breath and resisted the urge to pace. “I get that you were defending yourself. I don’t doubt that—and I know that Atticus was attacking you. But given that I was doing everything possible to protect and defend you, you’d think you would tell me what really happened.”
“Oh, sure…because you and I go way back.” Her eyes shimmered with threatening tears once more, even if there was also a fire behind those blue eyes of hers. “Why do you think I kept trying to leave? Why do you think I kept panicking about us getting married? I knew it wasn’t fair to put you in this situation, when you di
dn’t know what was going on. But you can’t lay all the blame on me when I did my best to put some distance between us, and you wouldn’t let me go.”
This time when her tears spilled over, he let out a sigh and pulled her into his arms, leaning back against the sofa as he held her to him. The truth of the matter was that she had tried to leave and not involve him, but he couldn’t see past the fact that she was his mate. “Hush, love…it’ll be okay. We’ll get through this—but we have to be completely honest with each other.”
“You’re better off without me.” When she looked up at him, he saw such a vulnerability in her, it was as if she had finally let her guard down for the first time—and he swore, it felt like everything changed in that moment.
“I’d be nothing but miserable without you in my life, Juno. But from here on out, we’re a team. We’re in this together, and that means no lies, and no fucking secrets.” He brushed her cheek, needing to touch her, needing some sort of physical connection between them.
“You have my word. I swear, there’s nothing else.” She let out a weary sigh, as if she still had the weight of the world on her shoulders. “I didn’t want to have to lie to you, but…I also didn’t want to drag you into my mess. And at the start, I wasn’t sure how you’d react to the truth.”
“I know, love.” And he truly did. It’s not as though he hadn’t spent a lifetime trying to keep the fact that he was a shifter from even his closest duine friends. “You may not want to hear this, but now more than ever, we’ll need to get married or there will be little hope of keeping you safe. I have no doubt the bear you jolted with your energy will report back to his clan, and they’ll piece together what really happened to Atticus.”
He got ready for her to protest getting married, even though it was their only option. And he swore, if she didn’t agree to go willingly, he could guarantee she’d be a hell of a lot less happy with the alternative. Because their wedding was happening whether she liked it or not.