Unleashed (16 page)

The run helped burn off some of the wine and cheese from yesterday, but it hadn't done much for clearing her head. Sam approached Kerry's house and slowed to a walk to cool down a bit. She wiped away the sweat as it dripped down her forehead and lifted her face to the sun. The cool breeze was a welcome relief. Once again, she heard her name in the wind.

“Sam!”

She shaded her eyes from the sun. She saw Kerry standing on her deck with a cup of coffee. Her long dark hair was blowing loosely in the wind. She waved and sashayed down the steps to meet her.

Sam shook her head. “No one should look this good at this hour of the morning. I know you just rolled out of bed.”

“What gave it away? Was it my fabulous ensemble?” Kerry motioned to the yoga pants and tank top. “God. How do you have energy to go running? I'd rather stick a hot poker in my eye.” She sipped her coffee.

“Clears the head…at least it's supposed to,” she said with a wry smile. “We still on for lunch and shopping tomorrow?”

“Absolutely.” Kerry smiled. “But more importantly, are we still on for our night out this weekend to meet your new man?”

Sam felt guilty because she'd forgotten all about that. With a pained expression, she said, “I'm sorry. I haven't had a chance to ask Malcolm yet.”

“Hey! You found your necklace!”

“Malcolm found it for me actually. He brought…gave it back to me last night.” She touched the necklace and felt her cheeks grow hot at the memory.

“You're blushing again.” Kerry wiggled her eyebrows at Sam, and they both broke into giggles. “He must be some guy.”

“Oh, he's something all right,” Sam said quietly.

Movement on the roof of Kerry's house caught Samantha's eye. Anger flared hotly through her body at the sight above her. It was a gigantic golden eagle perched on the roof, watching everything.

Malcolm.

He was sitting up there blatantly spying on her. Sam was so angry she could scream. However, she couldn't exactly explain to her friend that her boyfriend was a bird and that she herself was a wolf, or part wolf.

Samantha had tried to keep her cool while she said her good-byes to Kerry, but now she was going to let it all hang out. She was absolutely steamed. She gave Kerry a quick kiss and headed home.

She held it together as she climbed the steps to her own house. Sam's entire body was tensed into one big knot, and her fists were balled up at her side. How could he think that this was okay? After everything he knew about what had happened with Roger, why would he do something like this?

Samantha saw Malcolm swoop off the rooftop. She expected him to grab her and carry her off like some caveman, just like he had in her dream. To her relief, he flew down and landed behind her studio, out of sight. Sam reached the top of the steps, rounded the corner, and ran face first into Malcolm's chest. She stumbled backward, and he grabbed her by the arms, pulling her close.

“Let go of me.” Sam shoved at him.

He released her immediately.

Sam stumbled back and promptly landed on her butt.

Good-bye dignity
.

She stood, brushed herself off, and delivered her most withering look. “Just who the hell do you think you are?”

“I am your mate, and I have every right to make sure you are safe.” Casually, he put his hands in the pockets of his jeans and leaned one hip against the studio doors. His white linen shirt was as rumpled as his hair, and he flashed that devastating smile.

“Your mate, huh?” She stood defiantly with her hands on her hips and flashing eyes. “Well, where I come from men don't go around bonking women on the head like giant Neanderthals. What about free will? I have something to say about this whole mate thing, don't I?”

“Of course you do, Samantha. I would never force myself on you.” He reached out for her hand.

“Really.” She crossed her arms, refusing his touch. “Well, if you want me to try and wrap my brain around this whole thing, you might start by respecting my wishes. I had my fill with controlling assholes when I dated Roger.”

Malcolm's eyes softened, and his voice dropped low. “I am not trying to control you, Samantha. I would never treat you the way that he did.”

Guilt tugged at her heart as she looked into his apologetic face. Comparing him to Roger was a low blow. She knew he was nothing like that, but he still didn't have the right to spy on her.

She tilted her chin up at him and let out a sound of frustration. “Well, I asked for privacy, and you completely ignored that.”

“Well actually, you asked me to get out of your head. Which I did,” he pointed out.

“Nice. You're a smartass as well.” Her temper began to cool. This time when he reached for her hand, she let him take it. She looked down at their fingers linked together and loved the trails of fire he left behind, even with the tiniest and most tender strokes. No, he was nothing like Roger. Roger had never been caring. He'd only wanted to possess her.

She looked into Malcolm's eyes and squeezed his hand. “I need you to give me some space, Malcolm. You've laid an enormous amount of information in my lap, and it's going to take some getting used to. The last thing I need is to think I'm being watched twenty-four hours a day.”

“Of course.” He stroked her velvety soft palm with his thumb. “I'm sorry I've upset you. I will try not to let that happen again.” He pulled her to him and placed a gentle kiss on top of her head.

Samantha allowed herself to melt into him, but stopped. Why was he so worried about her safety all the time? She pulled back and looked him dead in the face. She narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “And by the way, what on earth would make you think I'm not safe? Is there something
else
I should know that you haven't told me?”

Malcolm wanted to tell Samantha about the hunter, but he didn't want to upset her more than he already had. He still needed time. They had to complete the mating rite so that they could be in full possession of their abilities. If she did end up in a battle, she'd need all of her Amoveo powers. However, he hoped that they would be able to exterminate the hunter without Samantha ever knowing about it.

“Well, after your visit from Roger you can't blame me for being concerned.” It wasn't really a lie…just an omission of the truth. Looking into those fired up eyes of hers, he felt like a shithead for being even the least bit evasive. His gaze softened, and he stroked her cheek with his thumb. “Your safety is my primary concern,
mia piccola lupa
. I will do my best to respect your wishes.”

“What is that, Italian? Because I have to admit…” She smiled. “It's pretty hot.” Again, she rested her head on his chest.

“Yes. It means
my little wolf
.” He played with her ponytail and relished the silky feel of the gold strands between his fingers.

She rolled her eyes, popped up on her toes, and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. She held him at arm's length and patted his chest. “Easy there. I still don't buy the fact that I am going to turn into a wolf.”

“You still doubt this? Even after everything you've seen, everything you've felt?” he said with a featherlight stroke down her arm.

They stood there in silence for a moment, eyes locked, hers searching his for answers.

“Come with me.” Malcolm took her hand. Reluctantly, she followed him into her studio. He flipped on the light and walked over to the canvas in the corner. He lifted the drape and revealed the portrait of him that Sam had made. “You've known the truth…you put it here. You saw who I really was before I told you. Your talent is one of your Amoveo gifts. We have many gifted artisans among our people, and I am proud to say you are one of them.” He didn't take his gaze from Samantha.

She moved slowly toward Malcolm and the image of his eagle form. It was surreal to have them there, side by side. As the sun streamed in the studio through the large picture window, it cast a golden light across Malcolm's face. His eyes, although not shifted, still gleamed yellow. Looking at both sides of him, she knew deep down that everything he'd told her was true.

It terrified her.

“So what now?” she asked quietly, not taking her gaze off the portrait.

“You need to learn how to control your gifts, for your safety, as well as the people around you.”

“Why, am I a werewolf or something? Am I going to try and eat Nonie?” She lowered herself onto the stool. Her shoulders sagged in defeat.

He walked over and knelt down in front of her, taking her hands in his. “Of course not.” He laughed softly. “You will still be yourself. You will be your truest self.”

She avoided his gaze.

Please look at me, Samantha,
he whispered in her mind.

Samantha complied, compelled by his voice. She stared at him, her gaze silently searching his. She wondered if she would ever get used to hearing him in her mind. It was the most intimate sensation she'd ever felt. Hesitantly, she touched his face. His skin was warm and smooth along his high, strong forehead. She brushed the back of her fingers down his cheek and along his jaw, which was rough with an early morning beard.

He closed his eyes and allowed her this moment to explore. It was all true. This man was most definitely an unusual man. Hell, he wasn't even entirely a man. He was so much more. She ran her thumb along his firm lower lip. Then, tentatively she reached out to his mind with hers. The instant they connected her body was swamped with an overwhelming sense of relief. His eyes flew open, shifted, and glowed brightly back at her.

She was home.

I trust you, Malcolm.

He took her face in his hands and tenderly kissed the corners of her mouth. She knew that giving him her trust was the last step before she could give him her heart. She covered his hands with hers and leaned her forehead against his.

“Just don't lie to me. Okay?” Her voice was weary. “Apparently, my very existence has been based on half-truths. I don't know how many more surprises I can take.”

“Of course.” He kept his eyes closed and prayed he'd be able to keep that promise.

Sam placed a kiss on Malcolm's forehead and stood up. His hands fell away from her with reluctance.

“Where are you going?”

She could feel his eyes on her as she moved to the doorway.

“Inside to take a shower, and then I'm going to speak with Nonie.” Sam raised a hand to silence him. “Look. I know you're part of some secret race and everything, but…”

“We,” he corrected.

“Okay, fine,” she said, exasperated. “
We're
part of some secret race, but Nonie is my family. She's my
only
family. I have to find out what she knows. And if she doesn't know, then I have to tell her.”

“I really don't think that's wise, Samantha.”

“Shit, you're bossy,” she mumbled under her breath. She turned to confront him, and the small smirk on his face let her know he'd heard that remark. He cocked one eyebrow.

“Well, Malcolm,” she said defiantly. “This really isn't up to you.” She turned and walked out the studio door without giving him a chance to respond. As she stepped outside, she was shocked to have Malcolm materialize before her out of thin air.

“What are you doing?” She quickly looked to see if anyone else was around. “What if Nonie saw you do that? Or Kerry?” She grabbed his hand and pulled him back into the studio. “You forgot to mention this little gift to me.”

“It's our preferred method of traveling. Right now, Samantha, you are my primary concern,” he said with that same irritating calm. “And I don't think that now is the time to be telling your grandmother anything.”

“Really, well I do.” She crossed her arms.

“Samantha. Are you going to fight me on everything?” He sighed. “Please. Just wait until you've gone through your first shift and learned to control it. Nonie may need some convincing, and if you can't show her and let her see with her own eyes…”

“She'll haul me off to the loony bin.” Frustrated, Sam went to the portrait of her parents on the windowsill. She picked it up and touched the images, their faces frozen in time behind the cool glass. “I have his eyes,” she said in an almost inaudible voice.

Malcolm wrapped his strong arms around her waist. He pulled her close, and she noted how hard his entire body felt. Her mind flashed back to that dream she'd had the night before she came home. There was no doubt that Malcolm had been the man who had been calling her all these years. She was home. She had never felt delicate before, but in his arms, she felt positively tiny.

Oddly enough, she also felt safe.

She placed her hand over his as he spoke softly in her ear.

“Yes you do, and he gave you so much more. Come to my home this evening, and I will show you how to enter our world. It is a world that you have only dreamed of.”

Sam placed the frame back on the windowsill and turned to him. She took his hands in hers and looked up into his incredibly handsome face. She knew deep down in her knotted up belly that she was falling in love with him. Staring into his shifted, glowing eyes, she knew she'd be linked to him and his foreign world forever.

He'd watched the Logan woman running down the beach this morning. He was able to keep her in his sights almost the entire duration of her jog. His partner had informed him late last night that it was nearly time to finish them. Tony knew why he wanted to kill them both, but he was definitely stumped by his partner's reasons. When Tony was approached a few months ago, he'd been more than a little surprised and definitely skeptical. He got over that quickly and figured whatever the reason was it worked in his favor. He shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.

He couldn't track her the whole time because the creature was flying overhead. He was watching her too. Tony knew the creature would sense him, but he'd been able to block him enough to hide his position. That damn thing flying around meant he had to stay in the shadows. He'd been spotted at the restaurant, and he couldn't risk being seen again. It would spoil everything. He wasn't afraid of it. Oh no. He couldn't wait to stand in front of it, look it in the eye, and drive a bullet through its black heart. In fact, he came up with a hundred different ways to kill it. He spent hours trying to formulate the most torturous ways to do it, but it had to be at the right time. He also had to be sure there were no other creatures around. Taking down one was hard enough, the last thing he needed was a swarm of them.

Tony sat in his room for hours, cleaning the various weapons in his arsenal. He had them all carefully laid out on his bed. He had a twelve-gauge shotgun, a long-range rifle with a sight scope, and two twelve-inch serrated daggers. His personal favorite was an enormous black crossbow with stainless steel arrows. It was perfect for puncturing the wings of the creature. He picked up the bow and carefully inspected every angle. He checked the sights to be sure the alignment was as it should be.

This was a graceful weapon. Exactly the kind of weapon one of God's chosen would wield. Tony knew that's what he was. He was a chosen one. He was sent to save the earth and save the humans from annihilation. He knew that one arrow in the wing wouldn't kill it, but would render it flightless. Best thing of all, it would make it suffer. A smile spread across his face at the very thought of it.

He rubbed the polishing cloth along the cold steel of the arrows. He loved the way that they glinted in the sunlight from his window. Satisfied with that, he moved on to the black-handled daggers. He meticulously rubbed the steel to a mirror finish. Tony worked on the blade, slowly at first. However, the more he thought about killing the creature, the more furiously he polished. Soon beads of sweat formed on his brow, which was knitted in fierce concentration. After several minutes, he admired his handiwork and saw his own reflection.

“The end is almost here.” He spit on the knife and feverishly rubbed it with the cloth, striving for perfection.