Page 23 of The Alpha’s Seer (The Shifters of Stormhollow #1)

Chapter Twenty-Three

BLAIR

Fire. It surrounds the lake, and screams of agony pierce the air, the stench of flesh and fur violating my senses. I can't breathe.

“Calix!” I scream, taking the hit on my throat as the smoke assaults me. But I need Calix. Where is he?

“Blair!”

I hear him! I can't see through the thick smoke, but I blindly move toward the sound of his voice, tears burning as they stream down my cheeks.

I can't yell again. I bury my nose in the sleeve of my jacket and try to breathe, but it hurts.

I stumble on something, my hands plunging into wet fur as someone moans beneath me.

Oh God, it's an injured wolf!

I try to apologize, but suddenly bony fingers grip my arms, dragging me to my feet before I'm pulled away.

Someone is saving me! Is it Calix?

No.

Calix wouldn't hurt me like this. I try to fight, but a hand grips my neck, squeezing what air I have, choking me.

The air clears slightly, and I'm thrown to the ground, cutting my hands when I sprawl awkwardly over the stones and twigs.

Black boots come to a stop in front of me as I gasp and choke, wheezing as I roll onto my back.

A man stares down at me with a wolfish grin, and he pats his crotch.

“My men are going to impregnate the Seer.”

“No!” I scream...

“Blair! Blair, it's me,” Calix soothes, his muscular arms sliding around me as I thrash like crazy. “You're in bed. You're safe; you're with me.”

My nightmare drifts away, but it leaves behind frayed edges, so my vision is still blurred.

“I can see him,” I sob, desperately trying to see the man's face before it fades away.

He's incredibly tall and wide, and he's got a scar over his left lip, but—

He's gone.

I suck in a gasp of air, certain my lungs are burning from the fire.

Calix seems to understand and lifts me into his arms, striding to the windows overlooking the lake. He pushes on one, and to my surprise, it opens, and we're greeted with ice-cold air. I inhale it like it's running out, tears still streaming down my cheeks as I cling to Calix.

His heart thuds against my chest, and I sink into him, desperate to know he's alive.

“I'm alive,” Calix whispers, falling to his knees with me in his arms. “I'm alive, Blair. I'm here. Look at me.”

It takes everything I have to lift my head, my eyes still stinging from my nightmare.

Calix stares down at me, his furrowed brow easing when we make eye contact. He exhales his relief and strokes my face, his lips grazing my forehead.

“You're safe.” He kisses me again and holds me close, and I never want him to let go.

Never.

“Fire...” I whisper and scrunch my eyes shut, trying to force the nightmare away. “Death. So much death.”

Calix strokes my hair and waits for me to calm down, but I know he's itching to know what I saw.

“I'm okay,” I tell him shakily, lifting my head to gaze at him. “I'll tell you before I forget.”

Calix looks pained, but he nods, still holding me. I want to kiss him, inhale him, and forget all of this. But I can't.

“The land was on fire; I couldn't see.” I chew on my lip until Calix slowly drags it away from my teeth with his thumb. “You were there, but I couldn't see you.” I choke as my throat expands with emotion, and a sob escapes my lips. “I tried to find you...”

Calix tightens his grip as his eyes narrow. His fear and anger radiate from him as I continue.

“Then someone dragged me away.”

Calix stiffens.

“At first I thought it was you, but their fingers hurt too much.” Nausea rolls in my stomach, and I close my eyes, pressing my palms against Calix’s chest. When his presence calms me once more, I continue. “He wore black boots.”

Calix doesn't blink as he stares down at me, his lips parting to let out a rasp. “Go on.”

“He said—”

I sob, but Calix holds me patiently, stroking my hair and kissing my tears until I can breathe. I've never seen him so caring, so kind. Loving, almost. I'm grateful for it, yet giddy from its all-consuming reality all at once.

“He said his men were going to impregnate the Seer, and I know he meant me. He was staring down at me.”

Calix lets out a growl so deep I scurry back, but he reaches out for me and pulls me back into his arms. He buries his nose into my neck and inhales, the low rumble from his throat preventing him from talking.

He holds me so tight I feel like my lungs might combust, but then he kisses me, and my body relaxes.

His tongue caresses mine as he holds my face, possessively owning my mouth.

He breaks away but rests his forehead on mine, his breath fanning my cheeks.

“No one is going to do that to you,” he says, his voice so deep it sends shivers down my spine. He gazes at me and nods. “Do you understand?”

“No one,” I repeat, my fingers curling into his hair. “No one.”

“Well,” he adds with a chuckle, his fingers gripping the back of my neck as he pulls me closer. “Maybe me.”

My core explodes at his words, and he smirks when I climb onto his lap.

“My beautiful mate,” he whispers, stroking my hair as we kiss. “I'm so sorry your visions are so disturbing.”

I lose myself in his kiss and feel the tension leaving my body as his fingers soothe me. He strokes my back and my arms, and I sigh. His touch is heavenly.

“They’re terrifying...” I admit, biting my lip. “I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to them.”

I never thought for one second I’d be able to see the future, and if someone had told me so, I may have found the thought exciting.

Now though?

Not so much. Sometimes it’s hard to know what is reality and what is a vision, and that’s what scares me.

“I know. But I need to inform the Council. The pack is in danger, and I'm not risking anything. If your vision is right,” he explains as he looks into my eyes. “Which I don't doubt for a second, then there's a reason they're taking our women.” He swallows, and his eyes mist.

He's thinking of his mother, I realize with a jolt.

Oh, poor Calix. My poor, poor Calix.

“Maybe I'm wrong,” I remark hoarsely as he lifts me into his arms with ease. I've never been carried until Calix, and it's the most beautiful way to travel. I snuggle into him as we make it back to the bedroom, the door clicking shut behind us, an innocent window once more.

How many women has he had in this bed?

I force the thought away as he lays me down, still stroking my skin like he can't get enough.

“I don't doubt you,” Calix states roughly. “But I'm not leaving you from now on. I need you by my side at all times.”

I meet his eyes, and we gaze at one another. Something shifts between us, and he watches as I reach for him, my eyes wide.

I know what I have to do.

“Tell me more about being your mate.”