Page 22 of Bear With Me

Without giving myself time to think, I race toward her curled body and scoop her into my arms before she has a chance to see me coming. She surprises me by not reacting other than to curl herself closer to my warmth. She’s shaking from fear, her eyes wild and confused, but she turns to me on instinct. The beast in me fucking loves that, and I know he’ll never let her go now that she’s come to him for protection.

I’ve been through these woods enough during my tours and in my shifted form that I know every inch. There’s an empty tourist building not far from here. I know it’s strong enough to withstand the weather so I head in its direction. Her fingers are curled into my fur and her heart races against my chest. I just hope I can get us both there in one piece.

When the trees part and I spot the building in the distance I double my speed. The wind pulls, and I don’t need to turn around to know that the vortex is just behind me. In the moments before I reach the building, time seems to stop. I give one last push of speed and propel us through a large plate glass window.

Sharp pain bites through my shoulder, but I roll off of my side and get to my feet. The storm cellar beneath us is the safest place and we have seconds before that won’t even matter anymore.

Using my shoulder, I push through the cellar door, slamming it behind us just as the storm reaches the building. The cellar is pitch black and Sully shivers against me. I have the presence of mind to set her down on a chair I’m able to find in the dark. Once she’s settled, I take several steps back, putting as much distance between us as I can.

The intensity of the moment allowed me to focus on getting Sullivan safe. Now that I’m locked in a room as a tornado ravages the forest around us, I’m more worried about keeping her safe…from me.

My guttural breaths are the only sound in the small enclosed space. I drop down to my haunches in an effort to focus my racing thoughts and control the urge to completely give in to the beast inside of me. Through sheer will I manage to pull back from the edge. My claws and teeth retract. Skin replaces fur and I crumple to my knees from the strain and rush of adrenaline.She’s safe.

I nearly jump out of my skin when I feel the soft, hesitant touch of her fingers on my shoulder. My whole body shivers and tenses. I press the flats of my claw-like hands into the cement to keep from reacting. I don’t know if I want to shove her away or put them around her to hold her close again. My beast liked having her little body against me entirely too much. Even now, he’s growling to be let out completely, to make her his.

“Don’t touch me,” I whisper harshly. Her hand contracts on my shoulder before she releases and takes a few steps backwards.

“Declan?” she asks. “That’s you, isn’t it? Oh my god. How did…what did…whatareyou?”

“Not now.” I grit my teeth together. “Stay over there.”

I can sense her fear even though she moves to the other side of the small room. “Are we going to be safe here? I heard the tornado sirens.”

“You’ll be safe from the storm,” I say.

“And from you?”

“I guess we’ll find out.”

I hear her swallow. “You’re not going to hurt me,” she says, even though her voice quavers.

“As long as you stay over there you should be fine.” I don’t know how true that statement is. She was probably doomed the moment I set eyes on her.

“What about you? Are you okay?”

“Don’t worry about me.”

“I’m sick of people deciding what’s best for me. I’ll worry about you if I damn well please. I can feel the blood on my shirt and I know it’s not from me. Now tell me if you’re okay.”

“None of it will matter if this place doesn’t hold up through the storm. Be quiet so I can hear if it’s passed.”

I hear her growl a little in her throat and the muscles in my stomach clench. Even though we’re in danger and I know I should be putting as much distance between us as I can, I still want her. If my beast had his way, we would have already been tumbling on the ground.

I concentrate on my surroundings. I can hear the hum of the generator that must have kicked on after the power went down. The fact that it’s still here and intact is a good sign. Through the wall of concrete, I can hear the howl of the wind. Rolls of thunder vibrate the structure above us and I hear the crack of branches succumbing to the storm.

When I refocus back on the room the first thing I notice is that Sullivan is standing right next to me. I jerk backward against the wall, but there’s nowhere to go.

“I need you to do something for me,” I say firmly.

She takes a few steps toward me, but I back away. “Anything,” she tells me.

“Walk away. Right now.” But she doesn’t. She continues getting closer “Sully, go.”

“I can’t,” she whispers.

“Why not?”

“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be,” she says, just as I hear the tornado reach the building.