by C. D. Gorri
“I’d like nothing more.” I kissed her temple, pulled her closer against me and felt her heart racing against my chest.
*.*.*.*
Once dressed, I didn’t see the need to blindfold Ava. She had expressed her desires to continue seeing me, meaning she’d need to know everything about me and the rest of the sabers. And to do that, she needed to see us.
I needed to speak to Ash about this. I didn’t need the clan’s blessing for the partner I chose but I needed to inform Ash; Ava was human, and she’d be sticking around for much longer. I’d have to make Ash accept this somehow. I wanted her to feel comfortable around the other sabers and not have to blindfold her. I wanted to show her my world, and she needed to see it all.
“Oh, my!” Ava said as we neared the huts. She opted to walk on her own, using me as a walking aid, and we traversed at a slow pace. “There are so many. No wonder I couldn’t find any when I looked. You camouflage your huts well. Which one is yours?”
“You’re sleeping in mine. I’m bunking with Miles at the moment.”
“Well, you can always bunk with me,” she said, batting her eyelashes.
“I just might.” An uneasiness settled between my shoulder blades, and I stopped us walking any farther. The hairs on my forearms rose. I didn’t like it. “Hey, listen, can I blindfold you and carry you to your hut. I need to speak with Ash before I bring you out of the closet as my girlfriend… so to speak.”
“Sure,” she giggled as I tied the material around her head, covering her eyes.
Once Ava was safely in the hut, I locked the door, pocketing the key. I called Miles over, who had healed from his head wound. I didn’t like how he and Ava had lied to me—I’d seen Darla slink back to the clan and I’d known she was up to something. Her and Claw. Then when I saw Mile’s cut on his head, I knew Darla had done it. And I knew Darla wanted to hurt Ava.
“Where’s Claw and Darla?”
Miles nervously scanned the area. “I don’t know. Your dad is looking for them too.”
“Where is Ash?”
“He’s gone back to his hut. He’s sent five males to look for them and is waiting for her at his hut. He’s pissed.”
I hated speaking with Ash when he was in a mood, but this couldn’t wait. I needed him to know about Ava, and the sooner the better.
“Stay here. I don’t want either of those two coming near Ava. I’m telling Dad I’m claiming her.”
A broad smile stretched across Mile’s face. “You, dog you. Go!”
*.*.*.*
A storm of emotions swirled around Ash; he paced in front of his hut, deep in thought.
“Father, can we speak?”
“Not now, Tyler, can’t you see I’m busy.”
“Yeah, I noticed,” I said with sarcasm laced in my words. “It’s important.” I didn’t bother waiting for his reply. I stood in his way so he didn’t have an excuse to ignore me. Before the words escaped me, he pushed me out of the way. My beast roared, forcing a growl from my lips, and I pushed him back. Ash punched me in the face, and I elbowed him. That day had finally arrived, forcing my hand. I would kill him if he pushed me too far.
“Stop, I’m trying to talk with you.”
He didn’t stop. He launched in the air; I backed away from him, the moment he landed I kicked his hip and he fell to the ground with a grunt.
“Stop,” I pleaded. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You can’t hurt me.”
Ash was taking his frustrations out on me, instead of Darla. I wondered what he’d found out about her.
Ash ran to me, raised his fists and swung. I side stepped, punching him in the jaw. His head knocked sideways, something crunched, and he collapsed to the ground. He moaned, unmoving.
“Christ, I didn’t want to fight you.” I gripped him under his arms and pulled him near his hut. “What I wanted to tell you before this pissing contest is, I’m claiming Ava. The right thing to do was inform you before you heard it from someone else.”
Ash narrowed his dark green eyes, and I expected a flurry of cuss words, but he said nothing. He exhaled deeply and wiped blood from his mouth. He nodded, his eyes misted and swallowed. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down.
My shoulders dropped, and I relaxed my fists. I expected him to fight again, but he said and did nothing.
He hung his head, then finally glanced up with tears in his eyes. “Your mother said you would fall for a human. I didn’t want to believe you were as weak as me,” — he nervously glanced around whether anyone else heard, — “she said you would be like me.”
My brows furrowed.
Ash nodded. “Your mother was human, Tyler.” He raised his arms, and I pulled him to his feet. He kept hold of my upper arms. “She died giving birth to you—”
“Oh shame, is daddy-dearest telling the sad, sad story.”
I ignored Darla’s remark. She was trying to provoke me.
“Where have you been?” Ash asked Darla. His tone sent a chill to my bones.
“I told you I was going for a walk.”
“She’s lying. She attacked Miles and Ava earlier.”
Darla turned her vicious glare my way, but it did nothing. I closed the distance between us and glowered down at her.
“I’ve never liked you, Darla. Stay away from my mate and my friend.”
“Your mate?” she said through a sarcastic laugh while glancing at Ash, confirming whether it was true.
Ash nodded.
“Well, well, well. It seems the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” She glared daggers at Ash, then snaked her arm around his waist. “Let’s go inside—”
“Did you attack them?” Ash gently unhooked her fingers from his body and kept her at arm’s length.
“I was hungry and went hunting. It’s not my fault she’s in the wrong place at the right time. It must be her human stench.” Her eyes flitted in my direction.
“We don’t attack our own, Darla. You know this.”
“She isn’t like us. And besides, it was an accident.” She walked past Ash and entered the hut. “I’m lying down. Call me if there’s any excitement.”
I didn’t appreciate her attitude, and from my father’s expression, neither did he.
“Where is your son?” I called after her. I had to tell Ash about Claw. When Darla didn’t answer, I said in a low voice Darla couldn’t hear. “Claw is killing animals again, and I’m concerned he might go for Ava.”
Soul piercing screams filled the air, and I knew it was too late.
Chapter Nineteen
Tyler
Running toward Ava’s hut, I found Miles lying unconscious on the ground with his head bleeding. I blasted through the door, ripping it off its hinges, but the hut was empty. There’s blood on the floor, her camera smashed, and a piece of her clothing soaking in blood.
Panic settled in and for the first time in my life, I was scared. My chest ached at the thought of losing her. I needed her by my side, and wouldn’t stop until I found her, and when I did, I’d kiss every inch of her body. My saber wanted her, but I wanted her more. We had to find her. And we’d kill to get her back.
My saber rippled through my body; he was furious. Claw had taken our mate. I didn’t have time to stop him. He smashed through me and roared loudly, ensuring Claw heard. I stretched my saber body as I readied to hunt Claw. My sense of smell was better in my beast, and I would ensure Claw got what he deserved.
Ash dashed into the hut with wide eyes upon hearing my call and shook his head. “We’ll find her, son.”
The others were out of their huts, seeing the commotion and crowded near the hut. I told Ash I was going to look for her.
Ash helped Miles to his feet.
I couldn’t wait for Ash to coordinate the search with the others, I needed to leave now.
As if knowing what I wanted, Ash nodded his understanding, and I was off.
I knew her smell, but Claws stench was stronger. I followed the trail leading me down
the mountain toward the river, only to go back up again. I stopped when I no longer smelled Ava, yet Claw’s scent was overwhelming. I didn’t know whether to continue on or search for her here. It was a wild goose chase, and I wanted to make Claw bleed. I ran toward his scent.
In the distance I heard the others; some had changed into their sabers and I heard their calls.
I followed Claw’s scent to the forgotten cemetery, but I’d lost her scent completely. I didn’t know if she was here or if Claw had done something to her along the way. Yet I hadn’t seen her body.
I approached the first headstone quietly and heard Claw crying up ahead. He moaned and mumbled to himself. My chest ached as I neared. Unsure what I’d find, whether Claw had ripped Ava apart as he had done to his previous girl, and if he did, would there be anything for me to save?
Claw sat against a headstone, his mouth bloody and partially shifted; his claws rested in his lap with flesh sticking between his sharp nails.
I swallowed the lump and closed the distance.
Claw glanced up when he heard me. “I’m sorry,” he cried, sounding defeated. He’d given up.
My throat closed. My head ached. Had he destroyed her?
“What have you done?” My voice broke toward the end.
“I couldn’t help myself,” he whimpered. His dark brown eyes pleading with me. “She didn’t want me. Nobody wanted me.” He wiped his nose. “I just wanted to taste, one little bite. Help me,” he whimpered desperately.
“What did you do with her?” I roared, my chest tightening and my vision blurring with rage.
“I… I couldn’t stop…,” he mumbled, blood dripping out his mouth and down his chin. His face shifted into his beast then back. He was fighting over control.
I didn’t want the rage to consume me, but it did. Anger flooded my senses, and I pounced on the boy. He blocked me and pushed me off. I leaped into the air, pounding his chest with my fists. He stumbled to the ground, his back hitting the headstone, and with all my strength, I hit him in the head. His head hit the gravestone, and I grabbed him, biting down as hard as I could. His blood poured down my throat, but he didn’t push me away. He didn’t fight me. He had given up.
Footsteps surrounded us.
Darla shrieked in the background while Ash consoled her.
I bit harder on Claw’s neck, his body going limp in my jaws.
Everybody understood we couldn’t allow Claw to continue. He was losing his grip on reality, twisted beyond help, and had brought enough shame to our clan.
Darla shrieked and growled. Ash asked others to help contain her.
I opened my jaws and Claw’s body fell to the floor. His claws shifted back to his hands, the gaping wound pulsed blood and his eyes clouded. I lifted my head and sniffed. Ava wasn’t here.
I searched the grounds and came across three dead deers, all disemboweled, with a trail of blood leading to Claw’s corpse. He had been crying about the deers; confirming it was him hunting them.
Where was Ava?
Chapter Twenty
Tyler
Following Claw’s scent back down toward the river, I stopped at the place where I’d lost her scent.
Miles had shifted into his saber to heal the nasty wound on his head and stood beside me. He breathed in the air across his teeth and shook his head.
Ava was not here.
I glanced around, sniffed the air, and I caught the faint smell of her floral perfume. I dashed in the direction and neared the water's edge. She had somehow gotten free of Claw and swam.
Miles understood and stepped beside me.
We had never gone across the river before. The hikers on the trails would see us and everything we’d done to keep our clan hidden would be for nothing. But I had to find her. She was worth the risk.
We shifted into our human form and jumped into the water and swam across. The rapids were calm enough, and we reached the other side easily.
Scenting her while in human form wasn’t ideal, but I’d rather have the humans laugh at us because we were naked than having them scream because there were saber-tooth tigers in the mountains. It would cause confusion and the WAA would be on our asses for not disclosing ourselves to them before entering near their territory.
“I smell her,” Miles said beside me.
“Yeah, but he hurt her.” I found dried blood she had left on a leaf as she trampled through the rough terrain and doubted she got very far with a swollen ankle. Yet she surprised me and had come this far already.
I pointed toward the path I thought she may have used, and we headed in that direction.
Chapter Twenty-One
Ava
Fighting erupted outside my hut, I yelped and jumped on the bed. A man with crazed dark eyes burst through the door, salivating.
I noticed Miles unmoving outside on the ground, and the man before me had his claws out.
“You smell better up close, pretty one,” he breathed deeply, not taking his eyes off me. “Make this easy for me or hard,” — he shrugged, — “either way I’m going to hurt you. Just if you come with me willingly, I won’t make you bleed as much,” he said menacingly, sending a nervous jolt through my body.
When that knucklehead burst through the hut door, threatening me, all I could do was obey. And I hated him for it.
“I’ll not only hurt you, I’ll hurt Tyler if you don’t do what I ask.”
In that moment I froze; sending me back to a time when my ex had spoken to me in that similar cold tone. His threats of harm and destruction. I’d come a long way since those days. And even though I didn’t want to get hurt, I didn’t want him to hurt Tyler.
So I did as he asked and followed. He crushed my camera beneath his enormous foot and I whimpered, he’d just killed my dreams. But I had to think of Tyler, I couldn’t lose him too.
He told me his name was Claw, which suited him. His jet-black hair stuck up in all directions, he was short and skinny with big brown eyes; I didn’t know where his pupils began or ended. He had a twitch on his left side, either his eyelid would flutter, or his shoulder jerked. It was unnerving. It didn’t take long to figure out why his name was Claw. Whenever he twitched, his hands shifted into large claws; with one of them gripping my upper arm to keep me in place. He needed to steady his breathing before they morphed back into hands.
He frightened me; he was unstable. I wondered how they allowed him to stay in the village.
Finally, my kidnapper got distracted by a deer. His shoulder twitched, then his left eye. He made a low whining sound that made my arms pebble. His attention was on the deer. I used the opportunity and pushed away from him; with every ounce of strength, I hobbled toward the river's edge and jumped in without thinking if this was a good idea. My thoughts crashed one on top of the other, and all I wanted to do was get away from Claw. Even though he’d threatened to hurt Tyler, I realized it was Claw who should be afraid—Tyler was much larger and powerful. I doubted Claw would see Tyler coming. I thought I needed to remove myself from Claw’s plan and headed toward the river. That way, Claw couldn’t threaten Tyler, because I’d be out of the equation. Leaving Tyler to sort Claw out.
My captor didn’t seem to enjoy water and went after the deer instead. I wanted to cry when I heard him attack the animals—guilt ripped through me for allowing him to do this, but I needed to get to safety. I said a silent prayer for the animals and hoped Tyler was okay. Although he was better equipped to fighting than I could ever be.
The swim across the river was a breeze, and my ankle hardly hurt. But the moment I tried to walk on the other side, I couldn’t. Instead, I crawled up the mountain as fast as I could and found a safe place to rest.
Now that I was on this side, I wasn’t sure Tyler would find me, but I couldn’t risk crossing the river again. Not until I knew that psycho wouldn’t hurt either of us.
I heard hikers a short distance away and continued in that direction. My thinking was to ask if I could borrow a phone to call the ranger for me
dical assistance. I noticed my captor had swiped at my back as I ran away from him; I was bleeding and needed stitches.
I finally reached the hiking trail and sat there until someone walked by.
After what felt like an hour, a couple almost had a heart attack thinking I was dead, until I reached for them. All I heard were their ear-piercing screams. Finally, after a fit of laughter, we settled down, and I asked to use their phone. They said we were a mile away from the ranger’s cabin and offered to get me there. They tried their cellphones first but were out of range.
After every few steps I glanced over my shoulder, but no-one was following me.
I walked between the two hikers as they helped me to the ranger’s cabin.
An hour had passed when we finally arrived. I thanked them for their help and sank into the ranger’s soft couch.
“A man has been calling for you,” the ranger said as she assessed the deep gash on my shoulder. “These butterfly stitches should do the trick. You can be lucky it wasn’t too deep. What did you say did this again?”
Nice try, I didn’t say.
“It was a tree branch as I fell into the river. I know, I’m such a clumsy person.”
“Riiight,” she mumbled, but didn’t push the subject.
“Did the man say who he was?”
“A Derek something—”
“He’s my boss. I take photographs for his newspaper. Did he say what he wanted?”
“No, but you’re welcome to use my phone.” She handed me her phone and tended to my shoulder.
I knew Derek’s number by heart and waited for him to pick up.
“Hello?”
“Derek, it’s Ava—”
“Are you okay? I’ve been trying to reach you—”
“I told you where I was, remember? I went hiking.”