Page 12

EMME

W e were working on limited time before the dragon tracked our steps—he had a direct link to me after all, and I could feel him out there, circling above the woods.

He was probably hoping I’d be forced out, with thirst and hunger already a factor. First, though, I had to figure out how to get Finley out of his furry suit and back into the lumbersnack version.

The natural light was gone now, and I sank against the closest wall, with Finley remaining on my right side.

There was electricity in the air when he was this close…

a prickling awareness over my skin and seeping deep into my essence.

It existed with all of my pack, but it always felt more intense with Finley.

I could never tell if it was due to the anger and pain reverberating around inside him, or something more.

Right now, his energy pulsed strongly, and I could only assume his inability to shift back was linked to an overload of emotions. “Has this happened to you in the past?”

We didn’t know much about each other, through his choice, which was highly inconvenient now that I had to have this conversation with a bear.

One nudge.

“Did you manage to shift back on your own?”

Two nudges.

Fuck, that meant it wasn’t going to be as easy as I’d hoped.

“Okay, that’s fine,” I said, forcing positivity into my voice. “We can figure this out. Whatever triggered you into your bear form might be what we need to reverse it.”

A wash of his musky-sweet scent was my response as he shuffled closer. Instinct had me reaching out to run my hand over where I thought his shoulders would be, only I misjudged in the darkness, and collided with his hard chest.

When Finley grunted, I winced, remembering that he’d lost a chunk of hair and skin during the fight. It should have healed by now, though, and that hadn’t really sounded like pain… more surprised.

Gentling my touch, I stroked his fur. “You just need to relax, Finley,” I whispered, attempting to keep my voice soothing. “We’re safe for the minute. I’m safe . Was it my disappearance that had your bear so agitated?”

A gust of air surrounded me as he exhaled, and then one nudge .

“Understandable,” I continued in the same tone.

“You probably thought I ran. I left a note saying goodbye, but I promise I was forced to write it. It was shitty timing right after I told you I would let you know if I ever had to run. You no doubt assumed that stupid note was my way of letting you know , and you thought the worst of me.”

His two nudges were a little rougher than the last ones.

“No?” I said, blinking through my shock. No? “You mean to tell me that Finley Thornton didn’t immediately assume the worst of me?”

There wasn’t any yes or no response to this question, which told me that there’d been a moment he’d thought the worst of me. But it clearly hadn’t lasted. He’d been tracking me for days, which meant he couldn’t have believed the note. That was huge progress for us.

“I understand, big guy,” I continued, forcing myself to focus on what was happening right here in this cave.

“Your bear is protecting you, and I’m here to tell you both that it’s going to be okay.

You’re strong enough to deal with what’s happening.

You’ve been through way worse than this and that didn’t break you.

You hear me. That didn’t fucking break you, and neither will this. Now shift back.”

My hand lifted as his huge chest expanded with a rumble, but that was as far as it went.

Well, fuck . “It was worth a try,” I said with a sad chuckle. “Maybe we should get some rest. What do you think? It’s been a long few days and sleep would help. I’ll take the first watch.”

Another snort and grunt, and I knew he was going to fight me.

He nudged me twice, and then when I said nothing, he did it again.

“I get it,” I huffed, pushing his snout away from my arm.

“Fine, I’ll let you take the first shift if you promise to let me watch after, so you can rest. You’re the strongest one here, so it’s safer for both of us if you’re rested too.

” There was a pause and then he nudged me once to approve my plan.

With a sigh, I leaned back against the rough, rocky surface, exhaustion crushing me. Finley moved even closer, his fur keeping me warm from the damp, icy air of the cave.

As hard as I tried not to, I couldn’t help but slump into Finley’s side, his muscled bulk slightly softer than the wall.

The beat of his heart and scent were soothing, and my eyes closed against my will.

Not even the tugging ache of Talon in my chest could keep me awake, and I drifted off surrounded by cherry and vanilla, with the very real sense that this might be my one and only time to ever sleep next to this alpha.

I had no idea what woke me, but it was likely the sweltering heat of being surrounded by a bear, his soft fur cradling my head. I’d slept so heavily that I was disoriented for the first few seconds of consciousness, before reality crashed in once more.

Pushing myself up, I wiped a hand over my face, taking note that the cave was still pitch black, with no tendrils of light making it through the fracture points.

The sun hadn’t risen yet.

Finley stirred at my side, as if he hadn’t moved a muscle since I’d crashed on him and needed to stretch his limbs out.

“Sorry,” I murmured, voice husky. “I didn’t mean to use you as a pillow.”

The gentlest of rumble was his response, and I wiggled a few inches to also move my body, lifting my ass to get the blood flowing.

“I’m glad there were no issues,” I continued, just as softly.

Finley nudged me once, and I took that to mean he agreed with my statement and not yes there were issues.

“Okay, well big guy, it’s your turn for some sleep. I’ve got it.”

The rumble this time was much stronger, but he didn’t nudge me.

He slumped down to the floor, and I knew it was stupid, but I found myself stroking his back. One slow glide, followed by another, and to my surprise his breathing deepened until he had to be asleep. Slade had told me that Finley didn’t sleep well, which meant he was absolutely exhausted.

As I sat there, fighting my own fatigue, I couldn’t stop touching him. My frustration was with the other version of Finley, not his bear, who had stepped up to protect us both.

After about an hour, I shifted to get blood into my butt once more, and the bear stirred.

A few hurried strokes got him right back into sleep though, and I spent the next hour trying to draw on my wolf.

It was as if she also slept so deeply that she couldn’t be roused, and while I felt her essence, it was muted.

The thought that Finley’s bear was protecting him had me wondering if my wolf might not be doing the same for me.

Was her hidden essence keeping me from fracturing under the separation from Hunter and Kellan?

I had no experience with mate separation pain in new bonds, but the fact that I was functioning at all surprised me.

I did expect that the mate still out there, circling above , was unfortunately helping. The tug tug tug in my chest wouldn’t abate, no matter how hard I shoved it aside.

Around the time the sun started to rise, tendrils of light filtering through the cave, Finley stirred.

Knowing this might be the last moments of peace with him, I slid my hands into his fur and breathed him in.

“I’m sorry, mate,” I whispered, my voice breaking.

“I know we’ll most likely never be more than antagonistic pack mates, and I accept that, but I wish I could take away your pain.

You didn’t deserve what happened to you. ”

Neither of us did.

A tingle of magic caressed my skin, and I jerked back as the change washed over him. It was a smooth transition, and I was left staring at a big body no longer covered in fur.

Finley was all smooth, light-brown skin, long limbs, and heavy muscles.

I swallowed roughly as I noticed his beard and hair were longer and more disheveled than usual, which only added to his visual appeal. Stupidly sexy asshole.

His head snapped up as if he’d finally remembered that I was here, and I was locked in his gaze, the heat of his blazing eyes turning them burnt gold. They were accompanied by a furious expression, and as I’d expected, the peace between us was about to end.

Violently.