Destiny Unchained (13 page)

No. No, no, no. This was all wrong. She hadn’t meant
for things to go this far. She brought her hand up to hit the
pressure point behind his ear in an attempt at escape. He caught
her arm and thrust it above her head then did the same with her
other wrist. She’d underestimated his speed. And now she was good
and fucked.

“Listen to me,” he ordered sharply. “I know about
pain and loss. And I know about revenge. I had a mate too.”

She blanched and froze under his body. He eased up a
bit.

“I watched her die. Don’t you think I wanted to run
away and hide? To shut off my emotions and build a wall so I never
had to feel again?”

“I –”

He shook her a bit. “No. It’s my turn to talk.”

She rolled her eyes and resisted the urge to not so
politely remind him he’d asked her a question.

“I didn’t shut down. I didn’t abandon life to walk
around like an empty shell. I endured.” He released her wrists and
sat up on his knees, keeping her pinned with a somber gaze. “And so
will you.”

She scooted back and leaned against the headboard.
His presence made it hard to breathe and she desperately needed
space.

“And did you avenge your mate?” she asked.

He shifted and sat on the edge of the bed. “I did. Do
you want to know how? Do you want to know about the pain I
suffered?” Though he phrased the questions gruffly, like an
accusation, she could see the sadness in his eyes.

She nodded.

“It was the late sixteen hundreds. Laurel enjoyed
going to the village to visit the elderly and the sick. I warned
her to stay within the pack’s protection but she didn’t listen.” A
faint smile reached his full lips. “She was a little like you in
that way. Only she was interested in healing, not…”

“Killing?” She arched a brow.

His smile grew wider, hints of fond memories in his
eyes. “Laurel was a gentle soul. It made her all the more
vulnerable.”

“What happened?”

The smile faded in an instant as his gaze flickered
away. “Some of the clergymen grew suspicious. She walked among the
sick but was always healthy. And she showed no signs of aging once
she hit adulthood. They accused her of being a witch.”

Natalia’s brows furrowed. Late sixteen hundreds, here
in America, was the pinnacle of the Salem witch trials. “Out
west?”

“No. The pack emigrated from Europe to escape our own
persecution in Romania. We lived in New England during that
time.”

She was never happier she’d spent those years
exploring Asia. It was a hellish time for supernaturals in British
settlements. “I thought they executed by hanging during the witch
trials.”

“They did. It didn’t work. So they burned her
instead.” The coolness in which he said it reminded her of her own
voice.

“Where were you?”

“There. Watching.” His eyes grew haunted as he rested
his gaze on her. “The alpha at the time let it happen. Laurel was a
good sacrifice. It took the pressure off the rest of the pack. It
took six men to hold me back. I would’ve shifted if they hadn’t
shot me up with a crude tranquilizer before then. But I was
seething with fury. When I woke the next day, I was in a rage. I
escaped the guard and dragged the alpha into the center of the pack
camp and killed him.” He exhaled a humorless laugh. “Almost didn’t
win.”

So he did know something of revenge. Then why would
he preach not to go after it? “And that’s how you became
alpha?”

He nodded.

“Bet you didn’t even want it.”

“Nope.”

They stared at each other for a moment in silent
understanding. “What a pair we are. Broken by pain.”

“Not broken. Battle-scarred.”

She pictured him in a red-hot fury, those muscles
that had just held her against the shower wall beating the shit out
of a man instead. Oh, yes, he’d have been a formidable enemy. Then
he’d been forced into the pack hierarchy. A reluctant alpha. Not
always good for the pack. He probably hadn’t even thought of the
implications when he’d killed his wife’s murderer.

But he didn’t act like a reluctant alpha. Not now,
anyway. From what she’d seen, he was a natural leader. Hell, even
she had to resist the urge to follow him. She looked at him. His
head was down, staring at the carpet, that thick blonde hair
hanging in front of his face. Her fingers yearned to run through
it. Then she blurted, “You’re a good alpha.”

He snapped his gaze to hers with a look of surprise.
Then he grinned. “I know.”

She could’ve kicked herself. “Just when I thought you
weren’t like all the others you get all cocky and –”

She cut off when he gripped her ankles and yanked her
down the bed until she was underneath him again. He pulled her legs
apart and settled his hips between them. Her stomach fluttered and
heat rushed between her legs. How could she want him again?

Maybe it had something to do with his glorious,
golden body hovering above her. She looked down at her nipples,
firm and aching for him.

His gaze bore into her, intense with desire. “I won’t
tolerate your coldness any longer, Natalia. I know there’s more
inside you. I see past these bullshit shields you hide behind. I
see
you
.”

She stared up at him. The scary truth was, he did see
her. Better than anyone she’d ever known.

He thrust into her and she cried out. They made love,
this time a passionate explosion of carnal desire. They licked and
scratched and bit, rolling and growling, each trying to get the
upper hand. And when they finished, they collapsed into an
exhausted pile of intertwining limbs on the bed.

There was no energy left in her to process what
Cristian had said. She could only think of one thing. Sleep.
Wrapped in his embrace, one of his heavy legs thrown over hers, she
could rest without fear for her safety. For just this one night,
she was at peace.

Cristian’s scratchy face nuzzled into her neck and he
whispered, half asleep, “Mine.”

Her droopy eyelids flew open and panic gripped
her.

“Shit!” she hissed. “
Shitassmotherfucker!
” The sneaky werewolf
just claimed her.

Taking advantage of his sleepy state, she squirmed
away to the other side of the bed. She stared at the wall, full of
fear and apprehension. Just the word sent a shudder through her
body. Mine. It meant possession…power. No. She’d vowed never to
belong to anyone again.

His unyielding arm snaked around her waist and pulled
her against him, her back to his chest. It was useless to fight
him. His grip was firm around her. Sure, she could’ve done a few
fancy ninja moves to get loose, but where would she go? It was full
daylight and she desperately needed sleep. She sighed and
acquiesced. Better to gather her strength for whatever the werewolf
threw at her tomorrow.

Both of them still naked, she’d never felt so
vulnerable and insecure. She fumbled for the blanket.

He must’ve taken it as an attempt to break free
because he growled in her ear, “Stay.” Then he slapped her ass to
punctuate it.

She gasped at the bold reprimand. He must’ve lost his
furry werewolf mind! She tried to twist in his arms to deliver her
own bold reprimand – by means of bashing in his head – but he
tightened his hold then nipped her ear.

“Give up your plan of revenge, Natalia,” he
whispered.

“No.”

“Don’t make my mistake. Killing the alpha didn’t heal
me. Pain begets pain.”

“I have to do it.”

“You
want
to do it. There’s a difference and you know
it.” He pinched where he’d slapped earlier.

Seriously, the man had turned into a tyrannical
monster. “What makes you think you can pinch and slap me? I’m the
Huntress,” she said with as much dignity as a naked woman trapped
in the arms of a man could. “What’s wrong with you? Did your
Chinese food go bad?”

He chuckled in her ear and it sent shivers down her
spine. “No,
draga
Natalia. I just decided you need a little
taming.”

Taming? Curse his Romanian alpha werewolf soul!

She remembered the mysterious phrase he’d said
earlier. “What did you say in the shower?”

“Hmm?” He sounded so contentedly drowsy she almost
smiled.

“You said something in Romanian.”

“Oh.
Esti de rupere inima mea.
” His whisper tickled her
ear. “You’re breaking my heart.”

Cristian rolled over, drowsy but content while
nestled in the warmth of the covers. A sigh escaped him as he
patted the bed for Natalia. When he couldn’t feel her, his eyes
flew open. He scanned the room. She was gone.

He groaned. The woman was determined to drive him
insane. And now he had to waste time hunting her again. This time,
when he caught her, he’d tether her to his side.

The bathroom door swung open and a slender figure
stepped out, dressed in leather, her long hair pulled back in a
ponytail. Natalia looked at him, her eyes hardened with icy
cruelness. The air went out of his lungs. Partly in relief she was
here and safe. And partly because she looked damned sexy.

“Get your lazy ass up,” she said without a hint of
teasing. “We have work to do.”

So his Ice Queen was back. He growled and counted to
ten in his head, taming the frustration at her hot and cold
routine. He could see the steely look of absolution in her eyes.
One step forward, two steps back. He’d name it the Natalia
Tango.

Maybe a soft plea would work. “Come back to bed,
Talia. We have time.”

“No. What happened last night was a mistake.”

“It wasn’t a mistake. It was the connecting of two
people in pain.”

“That’s exactly where you’re wrong,” she said coolly.
“I don’t feel pain. Stop humanizing me. Those traits are long
gone.”

Of course she would pull away after the first sign of
intimacy. “They’re not gone. Hidden deep inside you, yes, but you
haven’t truly pushed your humanity away. Do you know how I
know?”

She opened her mouth, but he cut her off.

“Because you care. If you’d lost your humanity, you’d
be no better than the Slayer. But you care about the missing kids.
And you care about him being caught.”

She stared blankly then shook her head. “I’m doing my
job. That’s all.”

He smiled at her attempt at self-preservation. “You
can’t fool me, Talia. And the days of fooling yourself are
numbered.” He sat up and stretched his muscles. “Best be prepared,
sweetheart. You think I pushed you before? You haven’t seen
anything yet.”

Her eyes narrowed then she walked away and set to
work arming herself. And, yeah, it was still the hottest damn thing
he’d ever seen. Too bad she had that all-work-no-play stick up her
ass.

But they had a break-through last night. He’d seen a
glimpse of who Natalia de Castile truly was. Mysterious? Yes.
Focused and self-controlled? Most definitely. But there was a world
of passion in her. He would bet she even had a nurturing side. She
probably would have made a wonderful mother.

A long sword sliced through the air beside him as
Natalia warmed up her wrists. He laughed to himself. A protective
mother, at the very least.

He turned on the six o’clock news while he packed his
weapons and clothing, preparing for another long night of hunting.
At least sleep had been peaceful. He’d thought he’d spend all night
fighting with the urge to grope the vampire resting in his arms.
But he’d drifted to sleep easily, the whole time thinking his days
of loneliness were finally over.

His feelings went beyond curiosity now; beyond
intrigue and attraction. He liked her. And he enjoyed spending time
with her. More than that, he deeply respected her. He yearned to
understand every bit of her. To find the true woman buried beneath
the shields she’d built around her heart. He’d already pictured her
in his life. Admittedly, the picture was blurry. He wasn’t sure
where she fit. But after last night, he could care less. He was
keeping her.

He turned and watched her go through the weapons.
God, she was beautiful. Even jabbing the air with lethal pointy
objects, she looked like a dream.

She would make a great companion for an alpha. She
had leadership potential and wasn’t intimidated easily. But was she
capable of love?

“…The recent increase in animal-related deaths has
experts baffled…” Both Natalia and Cristian spun toward the TV. The
reporter prattled on about the local bear and wolf population and
the statistics regarding attacks in the last decade. But it
confirmed what they already predicted. The Silver Slayer was
heading right into the Montana Rockies.

He looked over at Natalia. “So, how do you feel about
snow?”

Snow indeed. Natalia had forgotten how quickly winter
came in the northern Rockies. It was only September but a few
inches of snow covered the ground as they headed into central
Montana. She looked at Cristian, calm and comfortable behind the
wheel. They hadn’t spoken much since the night before. To be
honest, she’d been giving him the cold shoulder. He was taking it
well. Maybe he finally got the message. A future between them was
impossible.

“We’ll stop in Helena for warm clothing,” he said
then put up a placating hand. “And before you argue, I’m not trying
to take over, but my alpha side demands I provide for us.”

How long was he going to use the “my alpha side”
excuse? It was growing tiresome. Maybe she should start biting his
neck, claiming “her vampire side demands it”. Knowing him, he’d
probably like it. She scowled and kept her gaze on the scenery
outside the window. “All right. But I pay for my own clothes.”

Until now Cristian had been quick to pay for their
provisions, finding excuses to keep her occupied while he did so.
But encouraging an alpha male to provide for a woman he was
interested in was all kinds of trouble.