Ancient Ties (Pale Moonlight (Wolf Shifters Romance) Book 2) Page 17

  Her keen gaze went from him to Kaitlyn and back. She kneeled and grasped Kaitlyn’s hand before solemnly nodding to him.

  Having Shilo recovered and here with her knowledge—not that there was much more she could do other than offer moral support—boosted his optimism.

  He cut Kaitlyn’s shirt open and palpated around the wound. After discerning the angle it entered, he rested the blade on her bruised flesh. She hissed in a breath.

  “Cut quick and deep.” Shilo secured Kaitlyn’s other hand. Strands of copper hair stuck to his mate’s face, the color startling against her pale skin.

  Chayton swallowed, and sliced.

  A scream ripped from Kaitlyn. She arched and stopped, tried to arch again. Her body instinctively wanted to get away from the pain, but it hurt too bad to try.

  He blocked her out, had to. Shilo was there to help her, he needed to find the bullet. Zeroing all of his senses to the opening in Kaitlyn, he searching for the bullet. Centimeter by centimeter he searched in a game of hot and cold. At some point, Kaitlyn quit moving as she blacked out, but her heart still beat—weakly.

  Finally, he got a bead on the hunk of metal. He cursed not having dainty fingers to rifle through her organs. It was lodged under her spleen. One inch higher and she’d have bled out long ago, letting the silver take over. Pulling out another blade, he used the two like tongs to gain purchase on the slimy metal and extract it.

  He tossed it behind him and cut up his shirt to use as a band to hold her flesh together.

  Shilo released Kaitlyn’s hands and waved him off. “Check her thigh. I’ll wrap her incision and check for any other wounds.”

  No one argued with Auntie. He did as she asked and probed the area. “Thank the Sweet Mother, it went through.”

  “Does she have any more salt? I can see the front of her thigh has salt scattered all over, but the exit point will need a dose.” She met his gaze. “The whole wound will, all the way through. As much blood as she lost, I’m sure the salt didn’t go deep enough.”

  He sat back on his haunches and rubbed his forehead with the back of his bloodied hand. What he wouldn’t trade for some water. The solution would be easier to spread than granules. Would the pain he inflicted on Kaitlyn never end?

  One packet remained in her pouch. He dug it out and squished the contents into the gaping hole he found on the back of her thigh. Kaitlyn didn’t twitch. It concerned him as much as relieved him because the next step would be as bad as thumbing through her insides.

  He dug into his own tactical belt. While he didn’t carry as much as his partner, he had more than enough. The incident with Tika had made him stock up.

  Shaking the salt to coat his index finger, his stomach revolted.

  Gritting his teeth at the rending of flesh, he pressed his finger into her thigh muscle, following the path the bullet took. He did that on both sides until he was confident he’d covered every millimeter. When he was done, his shoulders sagged and he allowed himself to relax.

  “She means much to you.” Shilo’s intelligent brown eyes held no contempt.

  Their mission was finally over, but the weight of his vow still ruled his world. His mother wasn’t around to talk about it with and he found himself spilling everything.

  “After Ina died, Zitkana hounded me so relentlessly, I caved. It should’ve been a major issue, but I didn’t dwell on it until…” He gestured to the redhead stretched on the ground.

  Carefully, he slid one arm under Kaitlyn’s shoulder and the other under her knees. He hefted her to his chest as he stood.

  Shilo tipped her head to the other end of the lumberyard. “If you don’t want to go through the store, you can get to the parking lot through there.”

  She steered him and he told her about the events of the last week. Her hand rested on his shoulder. With no young of her own, she’d always doted on him. He hadn’t realized how much he’d missed it since his mom died.

  “Chay,” her tone was grave, “you made a vow, which is exactly what they wanted. Think about that.”

  He frowned and adjusted his precious cargo so Kaitlyn’s head didn’t loll back and sway with each step. “Yes, it is. I think the only reason Tika wants to mate is because she senses how vulnerable she is.”

  Shilo snorted. “She should. Tika’s no leader. She reminds me more of those girls on the cable reality shows.”

  “Auntie?” Eya. Reality shows?

  “Shush. It’s entertaining.”

  They reached the SUV. He loaded Kaitlyn and himself in the back and tossed his keys to Shilo. “Head to my ahte’s.”

  She hit the gas and they squealed out of the lot. “My point is…” Her mouth pressed in a flat line. Her braid was askew and her clothes rumpled, yet she appeared unruffled about what had happened the last hour. “Your mother’s death never sat well with me. My instincts told me it wasn’t her time.”

  He cradled Kaitlyn’s head to his shoulder and reached behind the seat for a bottle of water. The girl needed to start getting nourishment or her body had nothing to recover with. “None of us felt right about her dying.”

  “Your father was deep in the forest on a run. They said she was going to surprise him with a French dessert. Come on, Chayton. When did she make fancy desserts?”

  “She was always doing stuff around our home. Preserving our traditions, trying new things.” It endeared him to his ina. She was fiercely proud of her heritage, but wasn’t afraid to branch out.

  “Yeah,” she grumbled. “Just saying, not many shifters keep a tiny blowtorch on hand to make a treat.”

  He trickled water over Kaitlyn’s mouth. Nothing. He adjusted to use a finger to pry the corner of her mouth open and dripped in a couple drops. All the way to his father’s house, he repeated the process, pondering over what Shilo said.

  Then she added another tidbit that made Chayton think long and hard. “I just wonder, how would things have been different if your human mother was shifter-born with a mental ability, like maybe yours?”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Kaitlyn wanted to put her hand to her head, but had no strength to lift it. For what seemed like days, she hadn’t been able to move, like she was at the bottom of the lake and the water pressed her body against the lake bed. Her mind was sluggish, body opposed to movement.

  Whenever she put up resistance, struggled to the surface, everything went black.

  She was sick of that feeling. Blacking out seemed more like her ability than anything else.

  This time, she refused to go under. Everything lightened around her. Her eyes were still closed, but it was daylight and it poured into wherever she lay.

  Where was she? The scent was familiar… The room she’d stayed in at Des’s house.

  She concentrated. One eyelid opened, followed by the other, then rapid blinking. Bright. It was bright.

  Someone got up and drew the shade down. She squinted at him, but she’d already registered it was Chayton.

  His hair had grown longer. It might be a full quarter inch. He was wearing what she last remembered seeing him in, but it was clean, same with his gear. How long had it been?

  His face was somber and haggard. “Your recovery isn’t done yet. You’re going to be fatigued and feel like a steamroller ran over you and then reversed.”

  The corner of her mouth twitched. How accurate.

  “How long?” She mouthed the words, her vocals cords not ready to work.

  “How long were you out, or how long before you recover?” He waved at her to try not to speak again. “I’ll answer both. You’ve been resting for four days. You probably have four more before you’re ready to go back home.”

  Are you staying here? There, that was easier. She didn’t want to know the answer, but she had to ask.

  “For a little longer.” A sad smile crossed his face. “But not to be with Tika. I swore myself to her, but I didn’t swear myself to a timeline of when I’d bond with her.”

  She swallowed. The emotional pain of go
ing back without him again, or worse, going back and limiting it to a working relationship, outdid her physical anguish.

  “I don’t want to tell them until you’re back to a hundred percent. Call me paranoid, but I don’t think Mato and Zitkana will take it well when I cancel this spring’s ceremony. I’m sure now that I’ve been parked by your bedside, and will be for a few more days, they’ll figure out why.”

  What’s going on with the colony leadership? I doubt the hardware store crew were the only ones who thought the town would be better off without them.

  Chayton sat back and kicked his legs out, his hands folded over his belly. “There’s not much we can do if someone challenges him outright. Elections have recently become an option, but Mato’s opposition would have to organize a movement against him and get the majority behind them to hold a vote. Otherwise, it’s business as usual. Mato’s still the leader and it’ll still pass to Tika when he’s gone.” He shrugged. “Maybe they’ll hold out and challenge her.”

  She’d die.

  He nodded. No remorse crossed his face, just grim acceptance. “If she plans to lead, then she needs to be worthy of the position. She should know by now that she has to train, she can’t rely on me.”

  Wouldn’t they expect you to save the day?

  “Probably. Doesn’t mean I’m going to. Her parents knew I was a Guardian when they talked me into it.” He fell quiet, his brows drawn together as he stared at the floor.

  She watched him, something she could do for hours. This was the first time she could actually be blatant about it. They each knew where the other stood, she could drink her fill, yet she felt he was worried about more than laying out his decision for Mato and Zitkana.

  Talk to me.

  His gaze sharpened and she sensed anger roiling inside of him. “I don’t know anything, yet. But Auntie alluded to Ina’s death. The fire never made sense to her. I mean, accidents happen even to us. She just feels the circumstances were absurd.”

  She thinks it was arson.

  The muscles on each side of his jaw flexed. So, he’d started to think so, too.

  How can we find out?

  His gaze jerked up to her. “If there’s a way, I’ll find out. This won’t be a situation for the Guardians to handle, but for me and Ahte.”

  Fair enough. Her eyelids drooped, exhaustion took over.

  “Sleep, Cinnamon. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

  ***

  His promise was accurate. She finally groaned herself out of bed three days later. Every time she’d opened her eyes, Chayton was sitting in the chair. He fed her bone marrow broth and they talked about his beadwork and leather-working until she succumbed to sleep. They’d repeat the routine, only their discussion topics would vary from her love of shopping to his antics as a young shifter child.

  “Sleeping Beauty finally gets her ass up.” Chayton tossed towels onto the bed. A shower had never sounded more divine. And the bathroom. Her body had finally tapped out on the broth and sent the extra to her bladder.

  She flipped him the finger and shuffled to the bathroom. Any toiletries she’d packed were lined up on the small counter. Her bathroom break was as good as a luxury spa.

  The basics were done and she stood in the tub, under the spray from the showerhead. Once she got out, she’d have to go back to work. Chayton had cleared it with the commander to stay as long as he needed. She would head back. No snowstorm this time. Most of the last stuff had melted, the land waiting until full-blown winter settled in.

  She straightened with the creaking of the door, Chayton’s aroused scent mingling with the steam. “Umm, I’m not done yet.”

  Her heart slammed against her ribs. They couldn’t do anything. Not with the way things stood between them.

  The shower curtain pulled back. Obviously, Chayton didn’t think so. He was gloriously nude, and erect.

  He stepped in and suddenly the tub seemed too small.

  “We can’t do this. Not when you’re bound to someone else.” Her body screamed that yes, yes they could, and should, do anything they wanted.

  Only this would be no frantic coupling. They were both of sound mind and body, eyes wide open.

  Could she be with him and not hate herself for succumbing?

  He cupped her face, his expression solemn. “I swear you will be my only one. I will find a way to be with you.”

  His words sounded heavenly, but she was no naïve little girl. “I’m still the shifter who was raised human, who passes out after every shift.”

  “You’re also the female who saved my ass and was at my side when we took out seven shifters. You’re magnificent and I will be the proudest damn male to be your mate. I need eternity with you to make up for how I treated you.”

  Holy. Shit. Tears welled. His sincere words unraveled her. Hot water beat down on them, shielding them from the world in a curtain of condensation.

  “I ask that, someday, you’ll forgive me.”

  She sniffled and nodded. “I won’t ask you to quit being an asshole because then you wouldn’t be Chayton.”

  He grinned as he leaned in to rest his lips on hers. He gave her a small kiss before pulling back. “I understand if you want to keep your distance until my situation is straightened out, but I need this, Kaitlyn. I need to be in you, feel you, know you’re alive and well. This last week has been hell.”

  Standing on her tiptoes, she wrapped her arms around his neck, her breasts pressed against his hot chest, her mouth smashed to his. He made a guttural moan as he turned them to push her against the wall.

  She twined her legs around his waist. The position placed his erection at her center. No more preparation was needed. After his sweet words, she was ready.

  He slid inside and broke their kiss to rest his forehead to hers as they rocked and enjoyed being together. His grip on her inner thighs probably left prints and she wished they wouldn’t heal right away. It was the only way he could claim her for now.

  Withdrawing and pumping back in, he spread her legs wider. Her breasts bounced with each thrust. She was helpless to move with him. Her body was for him to dominate. Something they both needed.

  His dark, lust-filled gaze caressed her body. A flush crept from her chest to her neck. He followed it with his tongue, not losing rhythm.

  Her orgasm was going to hit fast. It wasn’t enough. “Do we have the place to ourselves?”

  “Fuck, yes. I want to stretch you out on the bed and devour you.”

  Being back in the bed again only appealed to her if he was with her. Shudders started deep within her core. “Oh my god, Chay. You feel so good.” She couldn’t clamp her legs around him, still helpless to his strength.

  He pistoned faster, his own orgasm waiting to hit when hers did. Arching her back, she dug her nails into his shoulders. From his growl, he loved it.

  “Come for me.” He dipped his mouth to her neck and sucked as she bucked into him.

  “Yes!” she screamed.

  He let himself go, his roar echoing off the walls of the bathroom.

  They quieted, their bodies coming down from their high, but not all the way. He was still hard inside of her and her sex responded.

  He reached over to flip off the water. Droplets fell from the sharp planes of his face. She licked them away one by one.

  “Two can play at that game.” He eased her away and helped her out of the tub. He climbed out and toweled them dry. She yelped when he jerked her back to him. One arm snaked around her waist, his other hand tunneling through her folds.

  “I think I missed a spot with the towel.” He whispered in her ear, “Only my tongue can reach it.”

  He carried her back to the bedroom and she decided the rest of the world could wait until they sated themselves with each other.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chayton calmly gazed at the irate male looming over him. Des had offered to come with him, but Chayton wasn’t an angry kid. He got himself into this, he’d deal with it.

  B
ut getting to the bottom of the fire that claimed Ina’s life? Both he and Des were invested until the end. His ahte stood with him in spirit.

  Kaitlyn was fully recovered. It’d been five days since she’d woken, and she was finally through the debilitating pain that lingered after silver poisoning. He’d asked her to stay behind, in case he had to do something un-Guardianlike.

  “I mean exactly what I said, Mato. I’m not bonding Tika this spring. Zitkana coerced me into a blood oath, and you both used it as an excuse to not train her like she should have. I also don’t think it’ll be right to deprive her”—or myself—“of a mate when she finds him.”

  “Is it that redhead? I thought I smelled something between you two, but figured it was just passing lust.”

  “That part of my life is none of your business. We’re here to talk about your daughter.”

  “She’s the future of this colony. And if that part of your life affects your blood oath, then it damn well is my business.”

  “Even if we did mate, I wouldn’t be here all the time. My duty as Guardian comes first.”

  Mato shoved one beefy finger in Chayton’s face. “You swore.”

  Chayton sat back and crossed his arms, glaring at Mato. “It was assumed I’d move back here after we bonded. But if she’s in charge, I don’t need to.” The fight would go nowhere. He needed to get to the point. “How convenient for you that I wasn’t in my right mind, having lost Ina the way I did.”

  Mato drew back, his nostrils flaring, the predator gleam in his eyes. His voice dropped to a hiss. “What did you just accuse me of?”

  “How quickly you put those two things together. I wonder if most people would’ve—if they weren’t involved.”

  A shadow lingered outside of the door. Zitkana stood partially off to the side of the threshold, a hard expression on her face. Unrepentant.

  With a sinking feeling, Chayton realized Shilo had a valid reason for being suspicious. These two weren’t angry because Chayton was making false insinuations. Their rage was because he’d figured it out.