Protection at Nightfall

by E L Thorne

  I moved my right hand a bit, just a few inches toward the door, but then it went numb and I couldn’t control it again.

  I waited a moment, avoided looking at my hand so Jeff’s attention wouldn’t be drawn there and flexed my thumb. It moved. I could feel it. Not much movement, but still. It was slow, torturous, painstaking, but I could inch it along.

  “I know you feel the same way. I can see it in your eyes. You’re just shy.” His hand traveled up my arm to my shoulder. He pushed my hair away almost lovingly.

  His hand drifted down over my breast, which thankfully was still covered by my coat, but that did little to alleviate the anger raging in me at his actions.

  I tried to control the tears building in my eyes. He reached down, released my seatbelt, gave me a smile, and then put his hand back on my chest. He unbuttoned a button on my coat, glancing out the windshield, then back at me. He slipped a hand inside my coat, raised my top, pushing my bra aside. My body didn’t want to move. I tried to shake, to squirm, but my upper body was frozen.

  “God, I want you.” He pinched me, his fingers merciless.

  Tears of pain rose to my eyes. I shook my head. “N-n-no.” I moved my hand one last time, gripping the door handle, praying it was one that would be unlocked when it was pulled on. I tried to tighten my grip. I jerked on the handle as the car took a curve. My body kept traveling in one direction while the car took the curve with mechanical precision in the other.

  I flew out of the car and hit the ground. Luckily, a patch of soft earth, a little snow, and some grass slowed my progress toward a tree trunk. My forehead bounced off the trunk’s bark, my body crumpling on impact.

  Then darkness swallowed me.

  Chapter Twelve

  Grant

  I rolled over. Something had awakened me, and I was in a nasty mood at what being awakened had interrupted. I’d been having a hell of a dream. Chelsea in my dream, on my bed—

  There the interruption went again.

  I pushed myself to a sitting position. My cell. It was vibrating on the dresser. I padded to the phone.

  “Mae.” She’d better have a good reason for interrupting my dream—um, sleep. Mae never called, hardly ever, anyway, so when she did... It probably wasn’t good news. “What’s up?”

  “Chelsea’s missing.” She had a measure of panic in her voice.

  My blood did the whole turning-into-ice thing. Not Chelsea. Not when we hadn’t even had a chance yet.

  “Slow down. Catch me up.” Slow down, I told my own heartbeat. She had to be okay. I hadn’t felt this way about anyone—ever.

  No, I wouldn’t think like that. I couldn’t lose this precious, long-haired, stunning package with that pretty smile.

  Mae gave me the information, cluing me in on Jeff’s attempts to bully Chelsea into going out with him and Chelsea’s decision to stay late at the salon—alone.

  I bit back a reprimand at Mae for leaving her alone. Just because I was convinced Jeff had a shady side didn’t mean Mae had the instincts to do the same. She was human, after all, even if she’d been mated to a shifter. She had acquired some skills; the couplebond did that. But it didn’t give her everything a born shifter had.

  Mae was still talking while I sifted through the information. “And she never made it home. I called her cell. No answer. I was going to call the sheriff. But I thought...”

  “You were right. There’s no reason to bother the sheriff.” I shoved my jeans on. My protective instinct was strong. As an alpha shifter, I felt the urge to protect more fiercely. I would drive into town, check on her. “You called the salon, right?”

  “No answer. I’m coming, too. Lots of snow expected.” She was still hyperventilating.

  “Mae. Don’t. I don’t need to worry about both of you. Wait at home and stay near the phone in case I need you.”

  “I’m going to feel useless. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have let her stay late without being with her.” A half-sob escaped her, but she clamped down on the sorrowful sound before it could finish.

  “You care about Chelsea,” I noted.

  “I do. There’s something about her...”

  I couldn’t argue with that. There was something about Chelsea that pulled at me and the bear inside me. “Mae. I’m going to hang up so I can get dressed and get out of here. Don’t fret.” Easy for me to say, but not so easy for me to do. Worry ate at my gut like acid.

  I made the drive in record time—for me. The snow that had been threatening hadn’t really begun yet, though the temperature was already too low for comfort. Human comfort. I enjoyed it, though I’d rather sleep the whole winter through.

  I found Chelsea’s car, lonely in the dimly lit parking lot. One little streetlight at the other end. I would have to talk to Mae about this. And the town. This was ridiculous. There should be better lighting.

  Pulling up near Chelsea’s car, I noted in the light snow blanket that there were tracks. Hers and a man’s. I breathed deep, sniffing, absorbing, letting my bear analyze the scents.

  Jeff. Those footprints belonged to Jeff. I followed them, his and her footprints. That was definitely Chelsea’s scent. The prints led to a set of tire tracks. It was clear she’d gotten into her car, and that Jeff followed her there.

  My bear growled inside me. Jeff had probably put on a great front as a gentleman. But now there was no sign of my woman.

  God. I was already calling her my woman. She hadn’t even really agreed to anything but a date—probably a casual date, though I didn’t really think it was just that, because the looks she gave me—they said there was fire behind that smoke. A furnace, in fact.

  Anger fueled me forward as I followed the tire tracks. They led to the road and then vanished among countless other tracks. The only clue I had was that they veered to the right. I got in my truck and headed in that direction.

  When I was sufficiently out of town, I pulled into an alcove made by the forest and a long-abandoned road and parked the truck. I shoved my cell phone and keys into the glove box. After getting out, I set the lock with the number pad under the door handle, and shifted. My clothes shifted with me, like always.

  I roamed the forest for an hour at a quick lope, pausing every few moments hoping to catch her scent. Finally, I did. I increased my pace, ignoring the pain in my side from maintaining this speed for so long, going way too fast for even my powerful body to endure.

  The last time I paused to catch her scent, I knew she wasn’t far. Then I smelled it. Her blood. A grunt that was more like a groan of pain escaped my throat.

  This was the moment it hit me—my feelings for this woman were much more powerful than I’d thought, and they were completely bound to my bear’s consuming love for her.

  In the dimness, my bear eyes caught sight of her much sooner than my human eyes would have. I roared at the sight of her prone body, crumpled up against the tree, curled around the trunk as if it were a lover who would offer solace.

  I increased my pace, shifting in the last few strides, becoming a man again. I knelt next to her, panting, my chest heaving from 90 minutes of running and scouting for her. I touched her neck where her pulse would be. There it was—faint, but present. In my chest, my bear could feel her heartbeat.

  She was shivering, shaking violently from the cold, but the shaking didn’t wake her up. I took my jacket off, leaned close to her, bundled her then picked her up. I nuzzled her neck, relishing in her life. Leaning against the tree, I braced myself and pushed her hair out of her face so I could examine the source of the blood.

  A knot, seeping blood slowly at the very corner of her forehead. A gash embellished the knot, the blood beginning to clot in its outer edges.

  I shifted to my bear form, knowing I had to get her to safety. Right now the nearest and safest place was a cave a few hundred yards away. I could make it there, build a fire, and keep her warm against my bear form. My bear released another roar of anguish, this one softer so as not to disturb her.

  A set of
headlights shone brightly on me. My head snapped up. The headlights slowed. I recognized Jeff’s car.

  Returning to the scene.

  I snorted. If Jeff got out to help her...

  The car was still, then peeled out, swerving and fishtailing in the snow and light ice.

  Coward.

  He had to have seen her with a bear and was doing nothing at all to help her.

  I shifted to human, picked up Chelsea, and made my way through the thick undergrowth, the trees, and the bushes. Shortly, I was in front of the cave I’d used since I was a young boy, before this was even my own land, when it had belonged to my grandfather and the Native American woman he’d taken as his mate. I smiled at the fond memories of my grandfather and grandmother.

  This was my private getaway. I’d never told anyone about it. Not even my trusted foreman, Joe. When I wanted complete privacy, this was where I’d find it.

  Entering the deep cave, I found the setup I always left in the alcove near the entrance—fixings for a fire, a sleeping bag in an oversized plastic trash bag that was protected from the elements and wild creatures, and the hay I’d lain on.

  Gently, I placed Chelsea on the hay, fighting off the memories I had from long ago, the first time my grandfather had brought me here.

  I started a fire, unwrapped the sleeping bag, and swathed it around Chelsea. I shifted to my bear form and lay next to her to keep her warm. I’d have to get her to my truck, but right now, warmth was more important. The jagged gash had stopped bleeding, but her shaking had not abated. I inhaled her scent, angered by what I was certain was Jeff’s role in this. I’d seek retribution, but not yet. First, I had to make sure she was well.

  I paused. Sniffed. Inhaled again. That smell.

  A faint chemical smell. On her breath, coming from her pores, mixed with the scent of nervous sweat. I drew closer. Chocolate, mixed with the smell.

  Her pulse getting stronger was a good sign that her head injury wasn’t as bad as I’d originally feared. But still, that bastard Jeff had left her to die.

  I bit back a roar of fury that threatened to overtake me. I shook from anger, my bear claws flexing. In my chest, a burning rage wanted to rear its mighty head and hunt for him. To rip him apart, barehanded.

  I was torn between taking care of Chelsea and going after Jeff.

  She moaned and moved slightly. Her color was returning. Her lips were no longer blue. Her eyes fluttered, and she gasped for a breath.

  I shifted to my human form as quickly as I could, praying she hadn’t noticed, been alert enough, awake enough...

  “G—gra—” Her eyes focused on my face. Recognition obvious. Relief, even more obvious. She sputtered, as if she was trying to say my name but couldn’t.

  I couldn’t help the kiss I planted on her temple, near the bump and dried blood, but not near enough to create more pain for her.

  “Shhh. You don’t need to talk.” I tightened my arms around her. “As soon as your body gets warm, I’ll get you to a doctor.”

  “No.” The word was ripped from her lungs. She began to flail, flopping, trying to free herself from my embrace.

  “No?” I studied her face. “Calm down. Easy, now. No, what? No doctor?”

  She shook her head.

  “And if you have a concussion?” I didn’t think she did, but I wanted a doctor’s opinion.

  She shook her head again, vehemently.

  “Okay. Look. I don’t want you to get worse, but fine. Fine, okay? Call me a damned fool for agreeing. No doctor.” I hoped I could keep the promise.

  I tried to calculate how far I might be from my truck and decided one of the cabins on my property would be closer. They were old, from the time my grandfather had run the property.

  Most of them had electricity and other modern conveniences, but I wasn’t sure if the nearest one did. It didn’t matter. I could get it warmed up in no time. They were always stocked with firewood and other supplies—just in case. A habit I’d learned from my grandfather.

  I touched her cheek, my fingers dark against her fair skin. I planted another kiss on her temple, letting my lips linger, closing my eyes, absorbing the feel of her skin, the scent of her body.

  She snuggled closer, a tiny whimper of a sound escaping from her mouth.

  I fought the desire to make her mine. My bear wanted to the commit the couplebond, to claim her for life—forever. It was too early. Chelsea and I didn’t have an understanding. She had not agreed to become my mate. But that didn’t stop the bear and the man in me from wanting her. To slide my hands over her curves, to claim every inch of her. To leave my mark on her, permanently showing her as my own. A low, deep growl built in my chest, raging to come out in a roar.

  In my embrace, Chelsea squirmed. I studied her eyes, to make sure she was okay. To make sure she wasn’t under any effects from her earlier drugging, and her eyes were clear, with no sign of anything that should concern me.

  I leaned down to kiss her lips then broke away to stare into her lovely face, the firelight playing over her skin.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chelsea

  Grant made me feel adored and special. He rose up on his elbow and peered down at me. His gaze was penetrating, looking straight into my core. I turned my head, unable to hold up under the intensity of the smoldering behind his eyes.

  He kissed the tip of my nose. “You’re everything to me. And more.”

  I nuzzled against him, tucking my head against his neck.

  Safe.

  This was a new emotion for me, a very unfamiliar one, but at the same time, it felt like I had finally come home.

  Only one thought plagued my mind—Mae.

  What would I do about Mae and Grant? Was there a Mae and Grant?

  Chapter Fourteen

  Grant

  I let Chelsea rest for a while, allowing her to warm up before I packed her up, wrapped in the sleeping bag, and hiked to the cabin. I made my way easily through the darkness; even in human form my bear’s vision helped me to take the safest path to warmth and security.

  I slipped the chain off the padlock and kneed the cabin door open. The air inside was only a hair warmer than the air outside, but at least there was no wind to drop the temperature even lower.

  I eyed the firewood stock. More than enough. This cabin hadn’t been set up for electricity yet. I put that on a mental list to have my foreman handle. On all the cabins—just in case, because now I knew I could never anticipate which one I’d need.

  I couldn’t help but smile as I set Chelsea on the couch. Now that we’d been together, she was even more precious to me. The fact that she trusted me enough to let me take care of her meant the world.

  I used my bear senses and night vision to find the hurricane lamp and matches.

  As soon as there was enough light to keep her from being afraid when she awakened, I started the fire in the fireplace. The one-room cabin took very little time to heat up, and within a few minutes, it was toasty. I grabbed a bottled water, then took a washcloth and dampened it. Drawing it over Chelsea’s face, I was careful not to put too much pressure on her wound.

  Though she was asleep, she grimaced. But then her eyes opened slowly. “Grant?” She cleared her throat. “What are you doing?”

  It occurred to me she might be weirded out. “Don’t worry. Just checking on you.”

  She rubbed her forehead, wincing when she touched the bump.

  I ran the washcloth over her face again. “You need medical help. Just to be sure.”

  She shook her head vigorously then winced, raising her hand to her head again.

  “Want to tell me why I can’t take you to the hospital?”

  “No.”

  “I saved your life, and you don’t trust me?”

  “I trust you to save my life,” she began.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chelsea

  But I don’t trust you not to break my heart. Or not to bring in the police, even if it’s by accident.

&nb
sp; But I couldn’t say that.

  I felt bad about lying to Grant when I’d said I didn’t remember. I remembered being in Jeff’s car. But if I told Grant, then he might want to call the cops. I couldn’t have that.

  I glanced around. We were in a cabin of some sort. A one-room, rustic cabin with a fireplace and hurricane lamps. I studied the contents of the room. Old-looking furniture. Walls that indicated the cabin had been constructed of logs.

  “Where are we?”

  “On my land. One of the cabins. I found you crumpled against a tree.” He crossed his arms over his massive chest, drawing attention to his muscles. “Chelsea.” His tone was stern. “A hospital—”

  “No. No hospital.”

  “This is ridiculous.” His rugged, handsome face was set, his jaw clenched. “What if I have my own doctor see to you? You don’t even have to give him your name.” His eyes closed in a slight squint, as if he was appraising me for an answer.

  I reached for the water on the coffee table. He beat me to it, picking it up and bringing it to my lips, studying me while I drank.

  My stomach fluttered at the intensity in his gaze. Perhaps it was anger at my reluctance to go to the hospital. No, it was something else... If I hadn’t known better, I’d have thought it was lust. The flutter in my stomach traveled lower.

  “Yes. I’ll see your doctor.” I prayed that wouldn’t lead to disaster, but I had to trust someone, sometime.

  “I don’t want to take you out in the cold again. And my truck is relatively far. I hate leaving you alone.” He raked his fingers through his thick hair, stood, and began to pace back and forth in front of the rough-hewn, scarred coffee table that was as long as the couch I was on.

  What if he left and then, somehow, Jeff found me? “Please don’t leave me alone.”