The night she’d left, Julian saw the look in her eyes and knew what Kat was doing, even before Cara had come to tell him the girl was running. Why she would think she had to run without coming to him was beyond him, but from the way things turned out, he did understand too. He may not have liked it, but he was thankful he found her before Cameron did.
Julian had to hand it to her and give her credit, it had taken some time and effort. Once he knew where she was located, he held back and waited, watching over her while she patrolled some nights. He knew she needed some time on her own. She had proven she did, and she was all right being alone.
Cameron didn’t know where to find her, or how to find her, and Julian realized Kat paid a lot more attention than anyone knew. The girl had tricks up her sleeve nobody knew about.
Julian smiled. He possessed an ability nobody else had though. He could sense her. From the beginning, there was a special bond between them that was unquestionable. He could feel her presence whenever she was near, more than any other Awakened. He had done it from the beginning, he just hadn’t known. What was interesting was the way he felt her presence nearby even before her Awakening, which wasn’t normal.
Every time her soul cried out for him, he could feel it and he knew Kat could do the same, but she didn’t know it yet. Kober had been right. They were connected. He’d fought it from the beginning because he wanted her to have a regular human life, without the complications he endured, or any of the other Awakened.
Kober told him there was a reason she came into his life. She needed him. She had since the beginning and he hadn’t been there. His knuckles turned white against the wheel, gripping it so hard he almost broke it. When it began to crack, he let up. He’d been so damned arrogant. He made a mistake and thought Cameron received the point, but no, and now here she was, Raaka! He glanced over at her when she stirred when they turned down the country road, as though sensing his anger. They were headed to a cabin only he knew about.
Julian was furious at Cameron, but more at himself. He wished he’d done what he’d wanted to, which was to protect Kat. He watched her for a moment, hating himself.
Never again.
Never again would he not be there for her. He would die to protect her. She was his. She was his from the first glance. He was an idiot not to take her while he could and make her his, but he wouldn’t do it again.
Kat was sweet. It surprised him there was someone so pure like her, even after the change. She was innocent, and because he’d failed her while she was human, that was destroyed. He wouldn’t fail her again.
It wasn’t just her sweetness that grabbed him. She was incredibly beautiful and intelligent as well. He noticed the way men gawked at her, even when she dressed down as much as she could. Every man wanted to make her his, but she wasn’t like that. She barely looked at them.
Julian realized why at the gathering that night when they connected again. She was self-conscious of her own beauty. She was so self-conscious of it she’d retreat into her shell so as not to draw attention. He smiled and glanced over at her.
That was okay. Every time a man looked at her, he wanted to rip their throats out and planned on making sure they knew he would if they pushed it too far. From now on, he would protect her from it so she could relax and feel safe.
Any man would be lucky to have her turn those beautiful eyes on him. Why had he not seen it in the beginning? That was why Vincent, and then Cameron, wanted her so much. Because of who she was. Being Awakened hadn’t changed her soul and may never do so.
Kober made it a point to mention it every time he spoke of her. He couldn’t understand how anyone could see past their monster nature and still think them so good.
Yet that was what she did. She saw past the entire exterior, and into everyone’s heart. She made everyone feel as though they were the most important person in her life and filled them with a confidence to achieve anything with her by their side. She was such a positive and sparkling energy to have around.
Even here, as she slept beside him—feeling safe no doubt—he could feel it. He felt stronger than he ever had before, more alive and aware of his surroundings. She was radiant. He swore again to never fail her. She was his and he would make sure she stayed that way.
Kat stirred again, but this time she opened those wonderful eyes while they approached the cabin. She stretched beside him, smiled, and glanced out the window, then back to him. “Where are we?”
Julian smiled at her reddened cheeks from sleep. “A safe place.”
Kat took in the quaint little cabin they approached. She got out of the car and stretched again. Trees surrounded the property and for as far as the eye could see, making her feel like they’d entered another world. One that was cut off from civilization.
“It’s so beautiful,” she told him. The smell of the crisp fall winds enveloped her.
“That it is,” Julian murmured causing her to look over at him. She waved the compliment away. “You certainly slept enough, didn’t you?”
Kat giggled. “Always been that way. Get me in a car and you can believe I will sleep. But I haven’t been sleeping well. I’ll probably fall asleep again as soon as I lay down.”
“You want to sleep already?” Julian asked, sounding a little disappointed as he made his way toward the cabin.
Kat followed, laughing. “Here I would think you were tired after driving all that way. Maybe I should ignore that implication.”
Julian reached the door and as Kat walked up behind him, he grabbed her, spun her, and pressed her body back into the door. He kissed her like he wanted to the entire drive. When he pulled away, he said, “You’d be surprised at how little I want to sleep. I don’t plan on making the same mistakes. I have you all to myself. What else would I want?”
Kat smiled and forced herself to hold back from ripping his clothes off and touching the muscles beneath his shirt. Her fingers itched with the need to grab him, to touch him, to give in to him. “Presumptuous man, aren’t you? As if a girl like me would be so easy to take to bed? Hrmph!” She turned away and tried not to smile at his annoyance.
Julian turned her face to his and lightly kissed her mouth, moving to trail his kisses down along her neck. His hand trailed a path down her chest to her stomach. Kat trembled when his hand slipped under her shirt and caressed her stomach.
His mouth slid back up along her neck, to her mouth, pressing a final soft kiss to the forehead before pulling away. He could see the hunger burning, begging him to continue. He struggled to maintain control. “I don’t plan on forcing myself on you, Kat.”
Kat forced her thoughts to focus. Julian’s hand still caressing her stomach made her do anything but. Her stomach tingled and she found it hard to control the desire screaming within. “That’s a bummer. And how do you plan on getting me to give in to you then?” Her teeth clamped down on her bottom lip when his hand slipped further down her stomach.
Julian’s eyes sparkled in triumph. His gaze trailed down her face to her lips, before his hand made its way further up her stomach, to cover more area and his mouth took over hers. His hand wrapped around her back, pulling her body further against him. His free hand wrapped around her neck and crushed her against him. He devoured her until he heard her purr then pulled away. “I plan on seducing you.”
Once more, his mouth claimed hers, eliciting a whimper from her, making his hunger grow to uncontrollable heights. The arousal between his legs became unbearable. He pulled away so he could get them inside. Taking her on the porch wasn’t what he’d planned.
The cold wrapped around Kat’s body when Julian released her. Her legs felt numb as she moved out of his way so he could open the door. Her body still screamed at the separation while Julian led her inside with his hand on the small of her back. The one gesture she’d never tire of.
The cabin was furnished with simple cozy furniture, making Kat feel as though she’d walked into a different dimension. She watched Julian walk over to the fireplace to s
tart a fire, like a man who’d done it a million times before, and she wondered if he was the one who decorated the place. In some odd way, she had a feeling he had, but the warm and inviting atmosphere was the opposite of everything she’d seen in the castle.
She smiled, watching him start the fire. He’d removed his jacket, rolled up his sleeves and unbuttoned his shirt at the top. She enjoyed the view quite a lot and wondered if he knew he seduced her better by taking care of her and protecting her, than anything he could’ve done otherwise. Although she had to admit, she could get used to him kissing her the way he had.
Never had a man treated her sweeter, or more gentle, and that this strong man—the strongest she knew—was being so gentle and sweet, was beyond a doubt, the sexiest thing in the world.
Kat watched him, amazed at the difference in the way he moved, the way he acted while alone with her out in the middle of nowhere. He seemed at ease. She could sense that he was still well aware of everything going on, but everything about him emitted serenity. He stood up once he got the fire started and turned to find her watching him. She grinned at him as he walked over, taking in his long strides, strength in each move.
“How do you feel?” he asked, caressing her face.
She smiled. “Safe. Happy.”
Julian smiled. “As you should feel. Why don’t you get some sleep? Unless you’re not tired?”
Kat raised an eyebrow. “Sleep? Here I thought you had other things on your mind.”
Julian’s gaze roamed her face. “You’re much more important to me than that Kat.” He stroked her lips with his thumb. “There is no rush. I want much more from you than just getting you in my bed.”
Kat grew weak as Julian’s hand dropped away and he stood so close to her. She was unable to move and her head spun. “What are you doing to me, Julian?” she whispered.
Julian fought all instincts to kiss her. He watched her mouth while she spoke. “I’m not doing anything,” he whispered.
Desperate for him to touch her, Kat said, “Yes, you are.”
Julian’s mouth was so close to her lips when he whispered, “What are you doing?”
Kat looked up and told him, “Falling in love all over again.”
He stroked her face and wrapped his hand around the back of her head. She closed her eyes, and he pulled her mouth to his as he whispered, “So am I.”
Kat whimpered as he wrapped his arm around her waist and crushed her body against his. He no longer felt any need to hold back what he’d wanted from her since the first moment they met. He lifted her into his arms and brought her over to the bed, lowering her down on top of the covers.
Pulling away, he said, “No rush, Kat.”
She smiled up at him as she caressed his face, reaching to unbutton his shirt, “Yes there is, Julian.”
Fifty Seven
Cameron stood in front of Jake, Sean, and Max, in his office. He wanted a full report from them. They’d found out where Kat set up shop, but she’d disappeared again. Nobody had seen her, and nobody knew where she was or where she would go. Cameron struggled to rein in his rage. Nobody knew where the fuck she was at still.
It had taken him a few weeks to find her . . . and now she’d disappeared again?
Cameron grabbed his phone off the desk and hurled it across the room, breaking it into a million pieces as it hit. Another one of his men walked into the room. “Sir?”
Cameron turned, ready to throw him across the room if he didn’t have something good to report.
“We’ve found her. And . . . she’s not alone.”
Cameron’s rage grew, and his men backed away. They knew who he was, and none of the men liked the look in Cameron’s eyes. He’d kill any one of them to get his anger out of his system.
Julian.
Julian found her, and now he was with Kat. Cameron stared at the men standing in front of him. One of them wouldn’t be making it out of his office.
****
Kat awoke with a start and her gaze darted around the room. Julian was nowhere around the cabin, and something about that bothered her. Another stabbing sensation hit her deep within.
Something felt wrong.
She got out of bed and got dressed, looked around the cabin, but that feeling stayed with her and she couldn’t shake the idea that something was wrong.
She froze in the middle of the kitchen, close to the back door.
Fear trickled along every inch of her body. Her blood ran cold. The hair on her arms stood up, and her heart raced. A scent drifted slowly her way.
She turned and fled through the back door, sensing movement on the front porch.
As soon as she was out, fleeing as fast as her legs would carry her, she knew someone pursued her. She turned into her wolf form to gain speed and ran as if her life depended on it, which she knew, it did. She knew the men pursuing her—she could smell them.
If Julian wasn’t there, he was hurt, or he was dying. She didn’t know if that was what woke her or not, but what she did know was that without Julian there, her life was in her own hands. If they found her, she’d be dead.
It seemed like hours and hours Kat ran until the feeling of being pursued dissipated. She’d run down a creek to mask her scent as best as she could, but kept on until she felt like there was not an ounce of strength left.
Lowering against a tree, she didn’t know where she was. She sat there listening to the quiet around her, trying to feel a presence, but there was none. If she went back to the cabin, she would encounter Cameron’s men, so she needed to wait. Finding a place to hide from the sun, she waited until nightfall came once more.
Fifty Eight
When Kat made her way back to the cabin, almost two days had passed. A feeling deep within called to her, urging her to come back, but she didn’t know what. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Julian was in trouble.
As Kat walked up the back steps, she could smell the scent of Cameron’s men. The scent didn’t go but a few feet. They must not have followed. Someone must have kept them from pursuing her, unless they were oblivious to her. Surely, her scent was masked by Julian’s because they’d spent the night together? She warmed at the memory of Julian, but a sharp stabbing sensation struck her in the side when she entered the cabin and didn’t let up.
Julian.
Julian’s voice wrapped around her, but yet it wasn’t his voice. It was him. Something was wrong with him. Pain tugged at her, and she was overwhelmed with the feeling that he was dying. Horrendous grief filled her to the brink and her eyes welled up. Bursting through the front door, she ran down the steps, heading toward the feeling that pulled her in the direction of Julian.
Fearing the worst, she prayed Julian found a place to hide.
The feeling that he was okay diminished when a few miles from the cabin, Kat came across a streak of blood on the ground that was dry, but she knew who it belonged to. Julian’s scent was all over. She followed the blood until it stopped at a door to a small dilapidated shed. Kat found it hard to bring herself to open the door, but when she did, her heart fell.
Julian lay in the middle of the room, severely burned. He was covered in blood, gunshot wounds, and he didn’t look to be alive. She squeezed inside the small room, crying his name. His eyelids fluttered, but he didn’t say a word. Hope surged, but seeing the state he was in, he needed blood and a lot of it, were he to survive.
Kat struggled to lift Julian and get him back to the cabin. It took a while, but she did it. Cameron and his men must have ambushed him. They thought they’d killed him so they left him for dead, but somehow he crawled to that shack. Kat didn’t understand how he could’ve dragged himself a foot, let alone farther, but was grateful he did.
It took a while to get him inside and to the bed. Once she did, she made sure the blackout curtains were in place, before running to the kitchen to look for blood. When she couldn’t find any, she ran to the bathroom to quickly locate the first aid kit. She knew if he didn’t get the bullets out, he cou
ldn’t heal himself, even if he got the blood he needed. The bullets were first, figuring out blood was second.
She ran back to his side and once more thought he was dead, but when she started to work on the bullets, his hand came up to grab hers and he muttered, “Too . . . late . . . Kat. . . .”
Tears flowed down her face as she shook his hand free. “No it’s not, Julian. Don’t you dare die on me.” She began working on his wounds again.
“No. . . .” He tried lifting his hand and opening his eyes, but couldn’t manage either.
“Julian,” she choked out her words among tears, “you made it to that shed because you wanted to live. Don’t you dare give up on me. Not now.” Frustrated, she swiped the tears away that blocked her from seeing what she did. Hold yourself together, Kat. Otherwise you can’t get the bullets out. For Julian. Do it for him. Many bullets were still lodged inside his body, and she didn’t know how he’d made it.
Julian’s eyelids fluttered open again to look into her eyes. A tear made its way down Kat’s cheek when she looked at him. His hand reached up and touched the tear before dropping back down to the bed.
“You told me once not to give up for you. To live. For you. For you, Julian. Only for you.” Kat choked back more tears. “You have to do the same. Don’t you die on me. Do you hear me? You live for me. Promise me, Julian. Promise me you’ll live.” She leaned down as she dug another bullet from his chest and kissed him.
Julian’s hand reached up to touch her on the chin and he choked out. “Promise, Kat.” He coughed as he tried to swallow. “Love you. . . .”
Kat sobbed and whispered, “I love you, Julian. You promised. You can’t die on me. Please.” She dug another bullet out and Julian’s head fell to the side. “No.”
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