Page 13

Chapter Twelve

ARIEL

I startle awake and immediately realize I’m alone. My head rests on my pillow and I’m hugging another one, not the big gator shifter. He’s gone.

Blinking, I sit up, and rub the sleep from my eyes. I feel groggy and judging by the darkness beyond my window, I haven’t been asleep for long. I’m tired, but not exhausted. It’s too early to rise for the day so I decide to lay back against the sheets and just relax.

That’s what I intend, but it doesn’t happen. For one, I wonder where Chomp went and why he left. It seemed out of character for him to scamper off after how often he finds a way to integrate himself into my life since he’s found me. Maybe I’m overthinking this and I need more rest.

The truth? I thought he’d stay with me.

I slide from the bed and make a quick detour into the bathroom before I walk back into my room and find his note, detailing the reason he left. A smile quirks the corners of my lips. He had to go because of his club, not because he wanted to rush from my side. I’m not sure when my thoughts and feelings toward Chomp began to change. They’ve gradually shifted to friendlier terms, and I’ve become comfortable around him. More than that, I can laugh and enjoy myself.

Am I ready to move back in with him? Start a relationship? Think of anything more than friends?

No to all three. And I’m okay with that. I believe Chomp is too.

We need time, and every day spent together is helping me learn more about the man, biker, and his animal side. I’m intrigued by him. Even with all I’ve been through, he’s starting to become someone I trust. I obviously feel comfortable with him, considering the fact that I curled around him.

He won’t hurt you, my brain whispers. He’s a safe place for you, Ariel. I like that thought, actually, because I lost that safety net the day my mom drew her last breath. Perry acted like he was that to me, but he quickly let his mask slip, showing me the monster beneath.

Chomp’s not like that, I think. Yes, he has an animal side, one who has the ability to eliminate any threat against those he cares about, but his actions since the day we met have been consistent. He’s kind, thoughtful, and generous with his time and attention. Plus, he’s being considerate where I’m concerned. I know he’s physically attracted to me, especially since Callie explained about mates, yet he isn’t pushing for anything more than holding my hand.

My TV is still on, and I notice the low volume, catching the app it’s stuck on. Teasers for other movies are slowly scrolling through a list I can’t begin to pinpoint. The light brightens the room and I climb underneath the covers, hoping to return to the peaceful slumber I enjoyed earlier. I don’t mind having the television on since the house is so quiet otherwise. Normally, I put it on the ID channel, but I don’t have the energy to do that right now.

I’m just drifting off, lingering in the ghostly realm where dreams and reality intertwine when I hear a sound that yanks me back into the present. I’m groggy, and it takes a few seconds to notice what’s causing my body to waken. A slight scraping sound drags across the pane of glass, causing a shudder to run through me.

I wonder if it’s a tree branch brushing the window’s surface. It has to be.

For some reason, I decide to investigate. Maybe I just want to be sure there’s no monsters outside like a little child who’s got to make sure there’s nothing hiding under the bed. It’s probably foolish. I know I’m alone in my room and there’s no one outside waiting to terrorize me.

Perry is gone. Ricky too, I remind myself. Chomp took care of them.

So why do I still want to look over my shoulder? Why does it feel like something sinister is lurking outside this very minute?

That’s when my TV shuts off. I’m plunged into darkness, and I jolt, caught by surprise. I never saw a countdown or any indication it would power off, but it makes sense. It’s been hours since the movie ended, and I fell asleep beside Chomp. Knowing him, he set my television’s sleep option.

Outside, I hear a loud crack of thunder followed by a flash of lightning in the distance. The jagged bolt frames the mountain and seems to touch down on its peak. I can close my eyes and feel the zip of energy across my skin. The air is supercharged, and it reminds me of how everything goes silent and still right before the earth shakes and the ground rumbles with an earthquake. It’s been years since I visited California, but I still remember waking up to one and how the walls shook with the force of the shifting plates on the fault line.

That’s how it is now, besides the occasional crack of thunder. Silent. Waiting. Anticipation zings across my skin as I walk to my window, hoping to catch the first few drops of rain as they fall. I’ve always enjoyed watching storms. There’s something soothing in the water falling and cleansing the ground, washing everything clean. Maybe it’s the fact that it soothes parched soil and restores life. Rain is so much more than hydrogen and oxygen. It’s a life-giving force. My mother used to say that whenever a storm hit.

I’m almost close enough to pull the curtain open wider and view the spectacle from bed, but I hear it again. A slight scraping across the window. It’s got to be the wind.

I shove the curtains wide and stare out into the night. At least, that’s what I think I’m doing until I see a figure. It’s dark out and the moon is covered by thick clouds. The stars are muted by the rain that’s already steadily falling. Heavy drops plop onto the grass, sidewalk, driveway, and road but I don’t focus on them. All I see is broad shoulders and a man’s stocky frame. His face is obscured by a black mask that I notice as soon as lightning strikes above us.

A desperate, terrified scream builds in my throat before it finally releases and populates goosebumps along my arms. Someone is outside my window!

I know it’s not Chomp. He would never scare me like this. Neither would any of his biker buddies. The man takes a step toward me, and I back up, whimpering as I see him stalking forward. Once he reaches the glass, his gloved hands slam against it, eliciting another strangled scream as I bump into my bed frame.

I have to get out of here!

My reaction isn’t logical, but I choose flight over fight. There’s no internal threat. Yet. But if that man decides to break the window, I don’t want to be standing there vulnerable. I grab a hoodie and pull it over my nightshirt, then pull on a pair of sweatpants before I slide my sneakers on my feet. I won’t worry about socks right now since my safety is paramount. With my phone in the pouch on my hoodie, I take one last look around me then leave my bedroom door.

“Should I try to call Chomp?” I wonder out loud as I silently move through Michelle’s house. “Or maybe Callie who can let Kodiak know?”

You’re safer inside the house, my mom whispers. He’s right outside, the doors are all locked. Call your friends, baby.

After finding out there are shifters and other things that go bump in the night, I no longer question the fact that my mother is talking to me right now. She’s right, though, while he might break in, I’m still safer inside the house than I am outside in the storm. I need a weapon to protect myself, so I head to the kitchen where I know Chelle has a huge knife block. I don’t know if I can use it, but I hope that if it’s my life or theirs, I can do it.

With a knife now in my hand, I pull my phone out of the pouch and hit Callie’s contact. When she answers, I say, “There’s someone outside, Callie. Chomp left a few hours ago, I think, and I’m by myself.”

“Shit, Let me text Kodiak.” She’s silent for a minute. “Okay, Kodiak’s on his way, and he’ll let the other brothers know. Can you lock yourself in a bathroom or something? I’ll call back when they’re physically there.”

“Yeah, Michelle has an ensuite in her room. I think under the circumstances, she’ll be okay if I go in her room, lock that door then hide in the bathroom. What do you think?”

“Go, Ariel. Help is on the way,” she encourages. “Chomp and Kodiak are close.”

“Don’t hang up yet,” I plead, unable to keep the fear from my voice. She may only be on the phone, but at least I’m not truly alone. It might not make sense to anyone else, but it does to me.

“I’m right here. Promise.”

I head for Chelle’s room as she stays on the line, gripping the phone like my life depends on it. I’ve got just as tight a hold on the knife. If I get attacked, at least someone will know. Kodiak and Chomp will hurry. I know my gator man will rush to my side.

I’m almost to the room when I hear a crash. It combines with a loud boom as thunder rumbles overhead. I screech as I spin, catching the front door as it splinters open. Terrified, I lift my knife and scream Callie’s name.

It’s chaos. Wood pieces fly outward as they’re crushed beneath the body of an enormous alligator. The beast charges toward me and for a split second, I forget it’s not a normal gator. All I see is a monster intent to eat me. Flashbacks of that night assail my thoughts as I crumple to the floor, tears now streaming down my face.

As the gator approaches, I see the mouth open, and a hiss escapes. I’m so traumatized that I plunge the knife into the air, indicating that I’ll use it if I need to. The gator’s body begins to shudder and then it’s changing in front of me, body parts shifting into the familiar form of Chomp. I’m shocked for multiple reasons, but the two that stick out the most are witnessing the transformation and finding it’s real while also unable to look away from the virile, muscled, attractive man in front of me. He’s naked .

I see all of him. And I mean, all of Chomp. Every long, thick inch.

Jesus. I can’t stop staring. Who knew a guy could look that girthy and endowed when he wasn’t uh, hard?

Chomp doesn’t seem to notice my perusal. He drops to my side and scoops me into his embrace. I’m lifted off the floor as he cradles me against his chest and a deep chumpf leaves his throat. He’s still a bit more beast than man, but he wants me to know he’s here.

“Chomp,” I whisper, hugging him around the neck. “There’s a man outside my window. He was watching me.” I shudder. “He banged his fists on the glass.”

“Fuck,” he curses. “I’m sorry. I should have been here.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“No, but we caught a scent that we detected when we went to that house to pick up your things.” He frowns as I lift my head.

“What do you mean?”

“We noticed several scents. Human males. Two of them smelled like the ones that,” he pauses, and I understand. “This scent is like one of them. Close, but not the same.”

He seems like he doesn’t want me to know but also needs to keep our communication open and build our trust. Chomp shakes his head.

“I don’t know if that means anything important,” I admit, still struggling with the fact that someone is watching or stalking me.

“I saw boot prints outside your window.” Chomp tucks my head under his chin and holds me so tightly that I know he’s scared for me. “I’ll figure this out. I promise, Ariel.”

“I know.”

“That means I’m staying with you at night. I need to know you’re safe if he comes back.”

I open my mouth to argue but decide against it. The truth is, I don’t want to be alone if the stranger returns. “Okay, on one condition.”

“Anything.”

“You can’t let your gator bust down another door.”

It’s almost funny. I can hear the wind and rain sweeping through the foyer. Michelle won’t be happy. She stayed with her boyfriend overnight. It’ll be a shock once she returns.

“I’ll fix it.” His lips press a kiss on my head. “And no more busted doors.”

“Unless a psycho stalker is after me,” I amend.

He snorts. “Got it.”

It’s somewhat ironic that when I first saw the gator storming through the broken door, I was terrified, but when I realized it was Chomp, my fear dissipated. While I’m not sure how it’s going to work with him being around at night, I know with him nearby, I’ll be able to rest.