Moonlit Rescue

by Leigh Erikson

  “What?” Vale held her out by her shoulders.

  She shook her head. “You risked everything for me.”

  “And?”

  She turned away and went with her gut. “How can you be sure it’s worth it?” She needed for this to make sense.

  “Because I know. You give me purpose.”

  He spoke his truth. She couldn’t ask for anything more and maybe that was all she needed.

  “I want to show you the lake.” He stood and helped her up.

  She always had control, never took risks. After her heartbreaks, she had systematically managed her life. She became a corporate geologist and didn’t go exploring. She stayed in an apartment and didn’t risk buying a house. She remained alone and never exposed her heart.

  The last week of being with him and fighting him at every fork in the road was exhausting. She wondered if she could go with her heart, accept what he wanted and give herself the power to let go. For the first time, she pictured a future with him.

  “Let’s clean up out here.” He stripped his clothes off and reached for her.

  “Wait.” She backed up, needing time to process everything. “The water will be freezing.”

  “Learn to trust me.” He caught up to her, helped rid her of her clothing and picked her up bridal style. With a slight chuckle, he walked into the water.

  She stiffened in anticipation of her body hitting the frigid liquid, wishing she possessed the ability to do what he asked. When she found herself submerged in warm water, her muscles relaxed. “Is this water from an underground spring?”

  He let go of her.

  The water became icy torture. She yelped, jumping back in his arms and the water heated again. “How do you do that?”

  “Believe in me.” He held her close.

  Try to enjoy this, she begged herself. Her breath hitched as she watched him. He treated her as a priceless artifact he didn’t want to break. She filled her palm with water, rubbing her hand across his silver skin.

  A growl echoed from Vale’s throat when his hands grazed across her breasts.

  Her body had been trained to react to his growl. She found herself leaning forward in search of his mouth and wrapping her legs around his waist, noticing his erection already at its peak.

  He moved her hair aside and pressed his palm against her cheek. No words were needed as he gazed into her eyes, his thumb tracing her jaw line.

  She watched him. Every one of Vale’s actions was done with her in mind, from picking her favorite berry to ensuring her satisfaction when they made love.

  No matter the circumstances, she wanted to be with him. She loved him.

  Her chest tightened as if trying to shield her heart, and even in the warm water she shivered.

  She loved him, and her mind reminded her he would never return her love the way she wanted.

  She shut her eyes, trying to turn off her thoughts and kissed him.

  “Kira.” He tightened his hold on her and went to kiss her again.

  She pulled back and noticed their position. For the first time, she had control. Forcing herself to act on impulse, she slid her hand down his stomach. Staring into his eyes, she began to stroke him. A slow, light motion that wouldn’t be enough for him.

  He threw his head back. “Let’s go to the shore. I need you now.”

  “No.” She had to do this her way.

  “No?” His tone, a tinge of annoyance laced with desire and amusement.

  “I want you right here.” Without giving him time to protest, she encompassed him with her body.

  His eyes rolled back. “More.”

  She ground against him, holding onto his neck and making sure she took care of him.

  “Faster.” He arched his back.

  “Vale.” She tried to keep up, but found herself collapsing against him as her end approached.

  He held her hips. “Finish me.”

  She wanted to satisfy him and sped up, pummeling her body to his while he guided her. He growled, signaling he was close, and her body obeyed, succumbing to the pleasure she only achieved with Vale.

  He filled her. “Kira,” he panted. “You question if this is worth it?”

  Maybe he was right. She bit her lip, mindlessly gliding her finger across his shoulder, enjoying the moment.

  He turned up to the sky. “The moon will be full soon, and we will be able to begin our lives together.”

  His comment caught her attention because he never addressed where they would go next, only saying she would be treated like a queen. She didn’t prod because, in her head, this was always temporary, but not now. Not now that she recognized her feelings for him.

  If this were to work between them, they needed to be a couple. She needed answers. “What’s next?”

  “Don’t worry, you’ll be treated like a queen.” He brushed her hair back with his fingers.

  This time she shook her head. “That isn’t enough, tell me more.”

  He looked beyond her, pausing, his voice lowering as if he didn’t want her to hear. “There’s a colony that needs a leader.”

  “You’re going to be a leader?” She straightened up.

  “No, I’ll help, that’s all I can do.”

  “You can be more.” She saw her purpose, her path and gave him her strength.

  He didn’t move.

  “You can.” They could do this together. “What’s it like there? What will I do? I need to know.”

  “We will be joining a colony of other werewolves, half-humans and humans where we will be accepted, and where you will always be protected,” he told her. “They need a geologist. You’re perfect for the job. You’ll finally get to work on your passion.”

  He floated with her while he described in great detail a land of magical creatures and humans coexisting, and where she would indeed not only be treated like a queen, but be working on something she loved. While thrilled to get an answer, the thought of vanishing to an unfamiliar place with only Vale made it hard for her to catch her breath. “Vale, you can’t just take me away. Why can’t we stay here?”

  “Kira,”—he shook his head—”we can’t stay hidden here forever.”

  “Why?” She leaned in closer.

  “I can’t stay in this world full-time. For us to be together, I need to bring you into mine.” He cleared his throat. “This is what is best for us.”

  Her stomach sank. He couldn’t stay in this world, her world. She would have to vanish forever to be with the man she loved who couldn’t love her in return. “This is my future.” Faced with reality, her mind screamed no.

  “Our future.” He stood up and glared at her. “Trust me.”

  “How can you be so certain about everything?” He planned their life without even asking her and assumed she would accept it. How could he go with his instinct and trust that everything would fall into place? She tried to push him away, but he didn’t budge. This wasn’t some fairytale where she disappeared with her prince charming. “You can’t simply make things happen because you want to.”

  “We are meant to be together.” He held her to him. “You are my mate.”

  Since the day they made love for the first time, he had branded her with that title, but now she had to face it. “You never even asked me.”

  “Right.” He discarded her concerns and took what he wanted, exactly like he took her.

  His one word said everything. She struggled out of his arms. The water turned frigid, but she didn’t care. This was too critical. She may love him, but that did not mean she would let him take her again without loving her in return. “I’m not your mate.” Her teeth chattered, and she wrapped her arms around herself.

  “I beg to differ.” Vale reached for her.

  “You don’t love me.” Her body quaked with uncontrollable shaking as she backed away.

  Vale moved forward. “Love doesn’t exist. I…”

  She waited, but his voice trailed off. “I want to go home.” He wouldn’t say the words becau
se he didn’t mean them. While she admired his honesty, she couldn’t accept it.

  “Your home is where I am.” He came closer.

  “No.” She held her hand out, stopping him.

  “What do I need to do?” He trudged after her, arms raised. “Would you have preferred I did my job and kill you like they wanted?”

  “I am not your reward for saving me.” She hung her head down and squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt to force the fantasy Vale had created out of her mind. “Maybe it would have been better if you would have left me alone.” With the truth out, she put her hand over her mouth and ran to shore. She struggled to get her clothes on her soaked and frozen body. Once she managed, she turned expecting to find Vale.

  He wasn’t there.

  For the one who said he would always be there, he was gone. She didn’t know why she was so shocked. She always got left in the end.

  The lake stood empty and silent, the way she wanted her life. Over the last few days, she started allowing herself to believe she had found her place with Vale. She didn’t even admit it to herself until this moment. With the lake in front of her, both her heart and her mind knew the dream had shattered, leaving her in the same place she started.

  Alone.

  The sensation of being out in the open by herself took her by surprise and she spun around. Once more, she looked back at the water and found nothing. No Vale.

  She ran. Ran fast, away from the lake, away from the cabin, away from her troubles. Tears blurred her vision to the point where she collided with a tree. She fell onto the soft, leaf-covered ground, curling her knees up to her chest, too spent to cry, move or care.

  An unexpected searing pain radiating from her scalp made her realize something was pulling her up by her hair. She kicked her feet, trying to regain her footing. “Vale!” At her outburst, her mouth was covered and she was dragged until her back met with something hard and unmoving. For once, her instinct spoke volumes. With wild, uncoordinated movements, she tried to free herself until her wrists were trapped behind her back and she was forced to her knees.

  “So you’re the woman he wants.” The voice was coarse, scraping against her ears. “Did he really think I wouldn’t find you? I could smell you a hundred miles away.”

  Her abductor turned her and she froze. She was captured by a silver creature, more human than the scout, but more animal than Vale. “Xander.”

  “You are a smart one.” Xander pressed his paw to her face. “Or incredibly stupid.”

  “Let me go.” She’d stepped right into his trap the second she let her guard down.

  He jabbed his claw into the crook of her neck. “I’ll wait to kill you.”

  Her world disappeared into nothing.

  ****

  Vale dove under the water. After everything, the ring, his pledge, she still doubted him. Her wall remained in perfect condition, leaving him on the other side. He needed to prove his point, and using a reed as a makeshift snorkel, he waited under the water.

  In no hurry, he stayed submerged making sure not to move and create any ripples. He was at a loss as to how to make her believe in him. He wouldn’t say he loved her when he didn’t even believe in love. He wouldn’t be the one to lie to her or disappoint her. What they felt was instinct, a primal need to be together.

  His foot grazed a rock, and he contemplated picking it up for her. Before he bent down, he stopped. Something was off, but the water dampened his senses. He sprung to the surface, turning toward the vacant shore. Right now she should be splashing about and calling for him. “Kira!”

  Silence and his own innate intuition answered him. He swam to shore, hoping he was wrong, but the second he made it to land, he knew, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood at attention. “Kira?” He smelled her terror, causing his knees to buckle. “No!” Xander had taken her. His stench was everywhere. His half-brother found them because he let his guard down. No wonder he wasn’t a leader. He couldn’t even protect his own mate.

  With no time for pity, he forced himself to act. Heart pumping and muscles tensing, he readied himself for what was sure to take place. He sprinted toward the cabin, reliving how he’d failed his mate, just like his father failed his mother. He wanted to share the world with her, see her smile, work with her and never be apart. Without her by his side to make a life, he had no life.

  “I love her.” At last the word took on meaning. It wasn’t only instinct, but a deeper connection. Just like kissing, love came from a different side of him, but it was real.

  Vengeance and panic merged throughout his body, and he rushed to the cabin to get his weapons. “I swear I will find you and tell you.” He glanced up at the nearly full moon, praying he got the chance.

  ****

  A smooth rolling motion woke Kira, but she stayed still, peeking out through her eyelashes.

  An ethereal silver-blue light flooded the car. Inside the vehicle, she counted four wolf-creatures and outside she was met with a strange off-balance city. Buildings of both ultra-modern and old-fashioned architecture lined the street. She guessed she was down below in the pack’s underground city, completely surrounded by the same element that sealed her fate with Vale.

  Love, regret and longing filled her chest, strangling her heart at the thought of him. Her love for him happened fast, but it existed, as real as if it had taken years to mature.

  She bit the side of her mouth, holding back a scream when the light dimmed and they drove into a tunnel. She didn’t know where they were taking her or if Vale would come for her. Her heart tried to wipe away any doubts her mind had regarding whether he would rescue her. “How long do you think it will it take for him to show up?” one of the males asked.

  “About as long as it will take him to realize she was gone. Fool thought I wouldn’t find him in his little hideaway. One threat to my father’s old aide told me everything. His human side makes him stupid.”

  “You killed your father’s aide,” the male said.

  “I’m going to do the same to him, but first, I’m going to make him search.” Xander’s cold, soulless laugh filled the vehicle. “He thinks she’s his mate, and they were going to live happily ever after.”

  Everyone chuckled and she squeezed her eyes shut, trapping her tears. Vale would find her, she had no doubt. Only her belief in him came too late.

  Once again, Vale would risk his life to save her. It wasn’t instinct that drove him to her, it was love, a deliberate move made because he wanted her. Maybe he couldn’t say he loved her, but for once, she needed to listen to her inner voice. Vale’s actions said more than his words.

  The car came to a stop. Xander drug her out and slung her over his shoulder. They went through a series of corridors, bringing her into a large, empty room with rough, jagged walls making the space feel as if it were carved right into the stone. If there were chains or cages, or possibly a fire-breathing dragon, she would have thought she was in a dungeon.

  Xander dropped her in the corner, and with no point in pretending she was unconscious, she stared at him. There was an array of werewolves around her, ranging from the more wolf-like scouts who personified what she imagined when she thought of werewolves, to the beastly upright and speaking ruling class and a few of the middle class varieties in between. Vale, her elegant male with the sculpted, angular face and silver skin, didn’t seem as if he could be related to these creatures.

  “Ah, so she joins us.” Xander paced in front of her, the pound of his heavy strides echoing off the stone walls.

  She primed herself to act, waiting for Xander to make his move. No way would she sit motionless, a damsel in distress in the dungeon waiting for her silver knight. She would fight for herself and for Vale. When Xander stopped and bent down on his haunches in front of her, she kicked, hitting nothing but a solid mass.

  Xander caught her foot, pulling her toward him. “We have a feisty one.”

  “Ah!” Her head hit the ground, but she forced herself to keep her eyes open and s
tay alert.

  He moved over her, sticking his face into hers. “I didn’t know my brother liked it that way.”

  She thought she would vomit when she caught a whiff of his foul breath. Rotten meat mixed with something she didn’t dare describe filled her nose. She moved her knee up between them. “Oh, God.”

  “Not down here. Try again.” His fangs shined in dim light. “Watch your movements, little human, one slip and you won’t own that leg anymore.”

  “Vale.” His name naturally left her lips. She knew he had to be here or close, and though she couldn’t smell him or sense him as he did her, she wished she could.

  “Not yet,” he said. “But soon, this place absolutely stinks of him.”

  Three of the wolves surrounded her and even more scouts. They used her as bait to get Vale here, and she had to believe he could overcome them all to save her. She had to believe. “He will kill all of you.”

  He moved closer and sniffed her. “How long did it take for him to have you?”

  Chills coursed through her.

  “My guess is less than a day.” He took her hand, held it up and touched her ring.

  Her ring turned to liquid, falling to droplets and disappearing into the rock. The only item she had from Vale vanished like it never existed.

  “No!” She managed to turn and rubbed her hands along the floor only to find nothing but the splash of her own tears. She swallowed, refusing to cry or break down in front of this monster. These creatures knew everything down to the fact that Vale was near. She had to do something to throw them off their guard.

  “Humans are so gullible.” He stood and turned to the rest. “Even my half-wit, half-brother could convince her to conspire against us!”

  “I didn’t know you were here. I only wanted to learn about the element.” She pushed herself up. Maybe she could reason with him.

  “I only wanted to learn about the element,” Xander mimicked her voice.

  She got up on her knees and looked at the floor once more in search of her ring. “That’s the truth. I want nothing from you.”