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Nodding his understanding, he tried to control his anger. With shaky breath, Dane tried to face the truth. “This is going to destroy her.”

“She is immortal. We aren’t destroyed easily. With time on her side, she’ll eventually adapt to their culture.”

“And what of her offspring? If two supernatural genes create a wild gene, her children won’t be like either of them, so will it really do anything to save them from extinction?”

“Perhaps that’s why she was chosen. Evolution works without the interference of man.”

She was more than a womb. More than a vessel to save their fucking bloodline.

“I can smell your outrage, son. You mustn’t do anything foolish. He’s a purebred shadow-wolf. His brethren will defend him and his mate to the death.”

“I’m not an idiot. I know I can’t interfere. But I don’t have to like it, and I’ll never accept that her fate comes down to being a breeder for a pack of dogs.” He shoved past him and headed for the door.

“Dane.”

“What?” He couldn’t face any more truth tonight.

“I’m truly sorry for your pain.”

“So am I.”

CHAPTER 39

Warmth.

Heat.

Gracie’s mind stirred, and she frowned.

“I’ve got you…”

The gentle voice rumbled like low, non-threatening thunder rolling in. Calloused fingers traced down her cheek, delicately awakening her conscious mind. Gracie turned her face into the soft touch and moaned. Then, her senses came alive, and she bolted upright, body tense, eyes wide, instincts on full alert.

“Easy.”

Her back pressed into a wall, and her palms flattened to the wooden headboard as her eyes skipped about the unfamiliar room. “Where are we?”

Amber light sparred with dark shadows as a small, open fire burned in the hearth at his back.

Him.

Her heart raced.

She knew him from the cave but also recognized him as her mate. The sentiment that word carried her entire life evaded her now. She did not know this creature and while part of her subconscious accepted him, her mind did not. She’d always assumed the heart would be the first to sway, but all of those sentiments abandoned her in the face of the unknown.

“You fainted.” He held up his palms in a gesture of peace.

The pads of his fingertips and hands showed roughened prints, the kind her father used to get from working in the field that quickly healed thanks to their immortal blood.

More evidence that he was different.

A stranger.

He studied her in the dim lighting, shadowed by the flickering flames that danced from the hearth. He likely sensed she was scared and she suspected he didn’t want to further startle her.

Her gaze never left him for more than a split second as she noted the windows and doors of the primitive cabin. She could leave if she wanted. Immortals were the fastest species on earth and said to be the strongest.

Or where they? She knew nothing of his breed or the fact that such creatures even existed.