Page 11 of Collar Me Crazy (Hollow Oak Mates #8)

SONYA

T he cabin warmed slowly, wood smoke from the stone fireplace mixing with the scent of wet clothing and nervous energy.

The four college students huddled near the flames, wrapped in emergency blankets that made them look like oversized burritos.

Their chatter filled the small space as hypothermia gave way to relief and exhaustion.

"I can't believe that wolf just appeared out of nowhere," Sarah said, flexing her injured ankle. "It was like he knew exactly what we needed."

"Wild animals are more intuitive than people give them credit for," Ryker called from the back room, his voice carefully neutral. "They can sense distress."

Sonya helped distribute hot chocolate from the emergency supplies, but her attention kept drifting toward the radio crackling in the corner where Ryker had been trying to raise the rescue teams. The storm showed no signs of letting up, and being trapped in close quarters with him was doing dangerous things to her equilibrium.

"The roads are completely impassable," one of the students was saying. "My dad's going to freak when he hears about this."

"At least we're safe," his friend replied. "Could have been a lot worse if these two hadn't found us."

Sonya caught Ryker watching her from the doorway, his green eyes unreadable in the firelight. The moment their gazes met, she saw him stiffen before deliberately turning away.

"Radio's not getting through," he announced to the room. "We'll have to wait until the storm passes."

"How long do you think that'll be?" one of the boys asked.

"Hard to say. Could be a few hours, could be all night." Ryker moved to check the wood supply, his movements careful and controlled. "Everyone should try to get some rest."

The students settled in with surprising ease, exhaustion from their ordeal winning out over the unfamiliar surroundings. Within an hour, soft snores filled the cabin, leaving Sonya and Ryker alone with the crackling fire and the howling wind outside.

Sonya pulled her jacket tighter and moved toward the small kitchenette, needing something to do with her hands. "Want some coffee? There's instant in the supplies."

"Sure." Ryker remained by the fire, but she could feel his awareness of her every movement. "Thanks."

She busied herself with the simple task, hyperaware of how small the cabin felt with just the two of them conscious. When she handed him the steaming mug, their fingers brushed, and she saw him flinch at the contact.

"We need to talk," she said quietly, settling beside him on the worn couch.

"About what?"

"You know about what." She kept her voice low to avoid waking the students. "About what happened at the lake. About what we both felt."

Ryker stared into his coffee like it held answers to life's greatest mysteries. "Nothing happened at the lake."

"Bullshit." The word came out sharp with agitation, and one of the students stirred restlessly. She lowered her voice again. "I'm a seer, Ryker. I know recognition when I feel it. And I know you felt it too."

"It doesn't matter what I felt."

"Of course it matters." She shifted closer, close enough to catch the scent of pine. "Do you have any idea how rare this is? How special?"

"Special." He laughed, but there was no humor in it. "That's one word for it."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you don't know what you are asking for." He finally looked at her, and the pain in his eyes made her breath catch. "You don't know what I am."

"You're a wolf shifter who runs an animal sanctuary and saves people in snowstorms. You're kind and protective and obviously care deeply about helping others." She set down her mug and turned to face him fully. "What else do I need to know?"

"That everyone I have ever cared about has ended up hurt. Or worse."

The raw honesty in his voice made something ache in her chest. "That's not true."

He stood abruptly, pacing to the window where snow continued to fall in thick curtains. "My pack is dead. My entire family, wiped out because of what I represent."

"What you represent?"

He was quiet so long she thought he wouldn't answer. When he spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper. "There's a prophecy. About a wolf born under a blood moon who would either unite the supernatural or destory it."

Sonya's heart stuttered. "You were born under a blood moon."

"October thirteenth, thirty-one years ago. The night of the hunter's moon eclipse." He pressed his forehead against the cold glass. "Varric calls it destiny. I call it a curse."

"Ryker—"

"Do you know what it's like to grow up knowing that your very existence is a threat?

That there are people out there who would kill you rather than risk what you might become?

" He turned to face her, and the vulnerability in his expression nearly undid her.

"My pack died protecting me from those people.

Twelve years old, and I watched them all die because they loved me enough to keep me safe. "

Sonya rose and moved toward him, her heart breaking for the scared child he'd been. "That wasn't your fault."

"The prophecy says I'll either save or destroy. What if I'm the destruction, Sonya? What if caring about you, claiming you, is the thing that tips the balance toward catastrophe?"

She reached for him, but he stepped back, shaking his head.

"I don’t want to be responsible for hurting you and everyone else. I won't watch you suffer because you got tangled up in my mess."

"So you'd rather we both suffer apart?" She followed him, refusing to let him retreat. "You'd rather live alone and miserable than take a chance on something?"

"Yes." The word came out fierce and final. "Because alone and miserable means you're safe."

"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard." She stopped directly in front of him, close enough that she had to tilt her head back to meet his eyes. "You think avoiding the bond protects me? It doesn't. It just guarantees we'll both be incomplete."

"Sonya—"

"No, let me finish." She placed her hands on his chest, feeling his heart race beneath her palms. "I've been having visions about you for weeks.

Not just random flashes, but detailed, important visions that led me halfway across the state.

Do you really think fate would go to all that trouble just to torture us both? "

His hands came up to cover hers, his touch warm and electric. "Maybe fate has a twisted sense of humor."

"Or maybe fate knows what it's doing." She stepped closer, close enough that their bodies almost touched. "Maybe the prophecy isn't about choosing between saving and destroying. Maybe it's about choosing between fear and love."

"And if I choose wrong?"

"And what if you don’t?" She rose on her toes, bringing their faces within inches of each other. "But if you don't choose at all, if you keep running from this, then you guarantee the worst outcome."

His eyes darkened, pupils dilating as his gaze dropped to her lips. "You don't understand what you're asking."

"I understand perfectly." Her voice came out breathless as his head began to lower toward hers. "I'm asking that you trust me."

"Sonya." His lips hovered just above hers.

"Trust me," she whispered again.

The sound of vehicles outside broke through the haze of desire, followed by voices calling their names. Ryker jerked away from her, his breathing ragged, eyes wild with a mixture of want and panic.

"Rescue teams," he said roughly, already moving toward the door. "They made it through."

The students began stirring, roused by the commotion outside. Sonya stood frozen by the window, her lips still pouted out in waiting, watching as Ryker transformed back into the controlled, distant man who'd fled from her at the lake.

But she'd felt the truth in that moment. He wanted her as much as she wanted him. The prophecy might complicate things, might make their path more dangerous, but it didn't change the fundamental reality between them.

They were meant to be together. She just had to convince him that some risks were worth taking.

Even if it meant rewriting destiny itself.