Chocolate Temptation (12 page)

Blood dripping from his snout, Cathen moved toward her. His gold eyes glowed.

“
Cathen, it’s me, Alexia. Your mate.
” She held out her hand for him to smell her.

His movements were steady, yet tempered. He growled deeper.

Alexia stepped away from him.

Cathen leapt into the air toward her. A shot rang out. The bullet entered his frame and he dropped to the ground. Not a sound came from him. She ran toward him. This couldn’t be happening to her.

“No, not like this. Not after everything we’ve been through.” She wouldn’t lose him. “I need you, Cathen please...”

“Get her,” a man shouted behind her in a thick German accent. “Quickly, before she can heal him.”

Two men grabbed her arms and lifted her. She pushed and thrashed against them.

“
The betas are around the corner. This is for the best, coquette. You shall be free. I love you.
” He grew still.

“Cathen.” She reached for him, she couldn’t lose him. He’d been there with her every step of the way. Images of a life without him at her side protecting her felt empty. “Please don’t do this.”

If she could get to him, she could heal him as the man had said. What if she used her abilities on them? She’d never directed her healing power on someone healthy. Everything had a negative and positive. If her ability could heal, it could also harm.

She pressed her hands to the arms of the two Gestapo dragging her, took a cleansing breath and forced the healing energy into them. They convulsed as though they were being jolted by electrical shock. Jerking back and forth, they dropped to their knees. So she thrust even more of the energy out of her to pass through their bodies. Red oozed from their eyes as they collapsed.

The man with the pistol pointed the firearm at her. “I don’t mind shooting you in the leg. You cost the life of my brother.”

She had? “Who are you?”

“Your worst nightmare.” He chuckled. “Wilhelm Deifies, head of the bio warfare division of the Gestapo. You’ve proven hard to track, Miss Pane.”

No. She was Mrs. VanLoup.

Varor, in wolf-spirit form, charged from the side and bit into the man’s arm. The Gestapo cried out and dropped the weapon. The betas swarmed the officers. Once the men were on the ground, the Shunus ended their lives swiftly. The betas turned toward her and stopped at the sight of Cathen’s motionless body.

She ran toward Cathen, but Franko intercepted her. “
We must go now. More will come.
”

“No, you have to let me try to save him.” She knelt beside Cathen’s naked human form. A hole pierced his heart where the bullet had entered.

“
We haven’t the time, and most
o
f us are too weak to fight them again,
” Franko said.

Varor pulled up next her. “
If she wants to try, we must support her
.”

She placed her hands on Cathen’s chest. His skin grew cold. He didn’t stir at her touch. Already her own energy felt weak. She wasn’t even sure she could save him. Had he been gone too long? She laid her hands on the bullet wound.

“
I won’t lose you
.” She hoped he heard her through their link. “
Cathen, come back to me
.” She closed her eyes and took in the energy around her. Her mate wasn’t dead. She refused to accept it. Warmth radiated from beneath her fingers. “Restore what another has destroyed. Guide my hands to heal him,” she prayed.

She moved within herself to draw on more of her inner wolf-spirit. Everything around her vanished.

“
Alexia,
” VanWolf called to her.

Why now, at this moment, when she was losing Cathen?

“
Alexia, my witch, you must see your feelings for Cathen as a testament to the strength of love and hope. They are the only things worth fighting and risking for. They will perhaps take those we love, but they can never take our ability to risk the pain. I learned that too late. I wasted time I could have been adoring you, afraid to love again.
”

“You left me.” Tears trailed down her cheeks. “I wasn’t ready to let you go.”

“
I’m never far and I’ll always be part of you. But I want you to love again. Don’t make my death break your spirit. Cathen will bring you renewed joy and be a doting parent to your young
.”

She knew he was right, and though she’d tried to guard her heart, Cathen had worked his way in.

“
You both deserve joy.
” VanWolf wiped her cheek.

“I do love him.” She feared he would hate her for it.

“
How could I be anything but amazed by your strength, witch? You are stronger than I ever was.
”
He kissed her forehead
.
“
Go to your mate and know you have my blessing. He needs you as much as you do him
.”

Bright light blinded her, and then she knew nothing more.

Chapter 18

Cathen opened his eyes. Alexia lay unconscious against his now human form. Were they all dead? That wasn’t possible. Somehow, as he’d hoped, she’d brought him back to life, resurrected him from the dead with her healing gift.

The betas stared at him, wide-eyed.

“
We must go before more arrive
,” Varor said, gesturing with his snout toward the location of the pack. “
Hurry up!
”

Yeah, the betas standing naked in the middle of the street with an unconscious woman draped over them would go unnoticed, wouldn’t they? He picked up the dead officer in front of him, removed his uniform jacket and pants and dressed. A naked man carrying a limp body would call a lot of attention on them. Lifting Alexia into his arms, he followed the betas into the side streets.

The ache inside him was gone. He’d freed her of him. Exhausted, her body had shut down to heal her. At least that was what he hoped.

“
We need to move the pack tonight.
” It was crucial they leave the city now. “
There is a ship off the coast waiting for us, but we must hurry
.”

“
You take her directly to the meeting point and we will see to the pack
,” Varor responded, then turned and headed back with the others.

“
Agreed
.” The pack could move around undetected in small groups. He climbed into the tiny water taxi the betas had left for him, set down his
coquette
and rowed south to the coast.

Despite the possible risk, he provided Varor the location where they’d meet the ship and ordered him to gather the others there with the help of Griselda.

* * * *

Cathen stared out into the vast black ocean before him. Alexia had barely stirred since yesterday. The full blue moon overhead glared the truth down onto him. Her heart would not change. When he was on deck of the ship Gabby or Griselda watched over Alexia with the promise to alert him the moment her condition changed. But nothing.

The British naval force had cleared their passage as they headed for the coast of Africa, Libya.

“I’m going to rest.” Cathen placed his hand on Varor’s shoulder. “You take over.”

“Really?” The shock in his eyes amused Cathen.

“Unless you don’t feel able?” he teased.

“I’m honored.” The other pack betas appreciated Varor’s willingness to take on responsibilities they didn’t much want. He would make an excellent Epsilon-Beta, but it was still too soon to ask him. The others betas needed more time to grow accustomed to Varor barking orders at them.

“Cathen, my sister and I helped you because we both believe that you will reunite all the Shunu packs,” Varor said. “It is the reason she gave her life for that of your mate.”

But Alexia was no longer his mate.

“You go rest.” Varor turned from him.

It made sense now as to why Tyra had brought up the blue moon at the dinner table. Not to insult Alexia, but rather to gauge Cathen’s belief in the prophecy. He descended the stairs into the ship.

Griselda stood against the doorframe. “Not a peep.”

“She’s going to be all right.” And so would the child. It was the only thing Cathen was sure of. VanWolf had told him when he was dead.

“I hope you are right.” She crossed her arms. “The pack has seen enough loss.”

He placed his hand on her shoulder. “That we have.” As for his heart, that was another matter and only one could rectify it. “Thank you for staying with her.”

The door to the mated pack members’ room opened.

Helena exited. “We know.”

There was no way he could find enjoyment in such displays of love when Alexia had yet to awaken. Maybe he never could again.

Then pressed to her tiptoes, Helena kissed his cheek. “And we understand.”

He smiled, backed up into his room and closed the door. Alexia’s fragrance washed over him, mixed with the scent of the sea. The ship swayed in the waves.

She lay tucked beneath the covers on the large bed.

He removed his wool coat and set it over the wooden chair next to the desk. He climbed into the hammock next to the bed where Alexia lay. He faced her. She slept with a peaceful look on her face.

“You must come back to us–to me.” He closed his eyes and drifted off.

* * * *

Warmth hovered over Cathen. Lush lips kissed his, and he opened his eyes.

Alexia stood next to the hammock, a smile brightening her face. “Wake up, Prince Charming.”

If he were dreaming, he wanted to enjoy the lie his mind had created a few moments longer, and pulled her mouth to his. A soft moan escaped her and his entire body woke.

He released her, sat up and stared into her pretty emerald eyes. “Make love to me.” So he was greedy and wanted a fully satisfactory wet dream. The wolf inside him stirred, reclaiming her in his heart. His soul needed to join with her. There could never have been another for him. This wasn’t a dream and he wasn’t sleeping.

She was awake and so was he.

The corner of her mouth quirked up. “I will, after the mated females have prepared me for you.” Her wispy curls stood straight out, creating a halo around her head. She was most beautiful…every time he gazed at her.

Even a dream come true could be cruel. Of course he wanted her to say those things, but if she did it out of guilt or fear, she wasn’t doing it for the right reasons.

A tear spilled from his eye.

She cradled his face and covered him in kisses. “Please don’t cry,” she whispered, her voice straining.

He locked his fingers with hers. Her heat penetrated him and he didn’t want to let go of her, but she’d never really been his. “You are free.” He slid from the hammock, let go of her and put his back to her. “My death, however brief, was long enough to sever the link between us. You are free.”

“You said that already.” She placed her hand on his back and rubbed. “Then mark me.”

Why would she even say such a thing after everything they had been through? He’d spent days wishing for those words, and now the reality caused them to pain his chest. If she loved him that would be one thing, but she spoke only the words out of a misplaced sense of responsibility and guilt.

“Do you not love me anymore?” Her voice quivered. “Did I push you away too long? I’m sorry. I was confused about how I feel.”

“And you aren’t anymore?” Desire could not fuel a lifetime of joy, only nights of passion, which would then turn to ash.

“No,” she said.

“How do you feel?” he asked.

“I’m terrified that I have lost you and that even my love for you cannot bring you back to me.”

“I never left you.” Hadn’t he been the one begging her to turn to him while he stood at her side every step of the way?

“Will you have me then, as your mate?” She leaned in and wrapped her arms around him.

He covered her hand. “I’m trying so hard to let you go, but you aren’t making this easy. I could only bear being your mate if I know that in your heart you love me too.”

“I do, with every fiber that is me. Mark me, and allow me to come to you reborn from the ceremony of grief.”

Was she looking for a way to delay their joining? “There is no need for such a ritual.”

“Our traditions are part of us. They bring us comfort and predictability in uncertain times. It is important for your honor as Alpha, and for the young to see that despite pain, love and hope always win over fear and hatred.”

He needed to know she truly wanted him. “Promise me you mean this? Swear to me you aren’t saying these things to relieve me of guilt, or because you believe I will perish if you do not save me.” He turned and stared into her eyes.

“I do mean what I am saying. However, I cannot swear to something that is fact. Cathen VanLoup, without me you will most certainly perish.” She smiled as brightly as a thousand full moons.

He kissed her nose. “You have a point.”

She unbuttoned the front of her blouse. Her milk chocolate skin was revealed, and the cocoa-hued buds peaked.

Want and need for her ached in him to the bone. “Ask me again?” It was going to take some reassurance on her part to make him feel certain of her feelings for him.