Mated

Twenty-Two

"Remove her chains."

Cort obliged, producing a key and took confident steps over to me despite being outnumbered, holding on to his side. He stooped down and in one swift turn of the key, I felt the chains loosen around me before they clattered against each other as they fell to the ground. I heard James giving orders to Hugh and Brent and one of them walked over to him swinging a backpack at James.

James motioned for me to sit down on a dry patch of dirt, but I didn't move. I stood numbly, waiting while he set up a tent. When he finished, he took me inside. He pulled out a sheet and a blanket from his backpack and I took them from him, jumping into action at having a hands-on task to do. I spread the sheet out on the ground, rolling the blanket into a pillow-like shape.

"The others shouldn't be too far, they stayed behind me to scope the area," he said.

"They all came?" He glanced toward the tent's flap as if to make sure no one was around but it sealed us in from the outside world.

"I don't trust the Hunter," he said, keeping his voice low, redirecting the topic. His face was hard to read, but I hoped it meant he was working up a plan. "If one Hunter knows where to find us, they all will. We can't go back to Stratton, not yet." I nodded. "He was right about one thing...Eva went to the house after we left and barely escaped a pair of Rogues."

"Is she okay?" We still aren't exactly friends, but I found myself worrying for her safety. He gave a nod and I sat there with a racing mind.

"What now?" I finally said. The question was weighing heavily in my mind like an anchor.

"We have to keep moving."

"Where? Are we going to run until they find me?"

"If that's what we have to do for now."

"They'll just keep looking for me. They think it's Lycaon James, didn't you hear him?" Although there weren't many, some wolves still worship Lycaon, the first wolf ever born. He was a ruler and King in his time, a God to many.

"What if there isn't a way to stop them?"

"We'll find one—"

"What if there isn't? Our pack is too small to compete against an army of Rogues." A loud rumble of thunder cackled loudly overhead.

He cursed audibly and lifted the flap and stepped back outside. I followed. Dark clouds covered the sky and the wind was beginning to pick up.

"We can't leave tonight with the weather in this condition!" Cort yelled over the wind. He too had come out of his tent. He was wrapping a thin cloth over his hand, keeping his sharp eyes on us. I noticed a similar cloth through the cut in his clothing. He'd patched himself up. James nodded and turned in the direction I last saw the twins and they appeared in front of us, emerging from the trees, Turned back to their human phase.

"Hey Luna," they said in unison. Although I was happy to see them, I knew the smile I gave lacked in its greeting.

"You two stay with the Hunter," said James.

"We'll get rid of his weapons," said Hugh.

"Leave the weapons." The three of us looked at James. "I'd like to see him try and lay a finger on Malia." His eyes fell on me and I felt my cheeks flare up. The twins walked up to Cort and looked at him expectantly. After staring each other down he finally grunted and returned to his tent with them in tow.

"I don't think he's as much of a threat as you think," I said to James.

"You trust the Hunter yet think saving your life against the Rogues is ridiculous," he scoffed and clenched his jaw.

Another round of thunder roared and then rain hammered onto the ground. I ran to our tent and James lifted the flap for me, having reached it in only a few long strides. He sealed us in. I watched as he removed a small lantern and matches from his pack. The lantern's light was enough to illuminate the small space.

My clothes had been soaked through and my hair dripped rain onto my shoulders. I found a towel in his things and handed it to him. He shook his head.

"I'm fine."

I dried my arms, watching him kick off his shoes and set them to the side, careful not to get the blankets that covered the ground muddy. He was silent and composed. It was too much to bear at a time like this.

I sighed.

"James, I..." I trailed off, unable to find the words. I wanted him to know I was scared, but I didn't want to tell him because I shouldn't be as Luna. I was taught never to show my own fear.

I wanted to apologize for having doubts that there was any way to stop the Rogues. And it felt like somehow I'd upset him. He looked up at me.

"I don't care what we're up against," he grunted. I'd never had so many surprises as I had today. A piece of his shield has fallen.

He pulled off his wet shirt and clenched it in his hand. After a moment, I went over to him, stopping until I stood directly in front of him.

"I'll lay it out to dry," I said, placing my hands over his. He looked down at it then unballed his fist and let it fall into my palms. He grabbed my hand and pulled me close before I turned away.

"Malia," he breathed. My eyes fluttered up to meet his.

"I have to know..." He clenched his jaw then unclenched it. I held his wet tee to my chest. The only thing between me and his glistening torso.

"Did you dream?" He inhaled sharply, cutting his sentence short. But I knew it ended with, of me. How did he know about the dreams? Was it a part of the bond? He's been mated before after all.

I couldn't answer. My eyes dipped toward full lips. I so badly wanted to taste his mouth–a thought that wasn't helping my weak state. I felt his other hand take the shirt from my grasp. It hit the ground with a wet slap.

He drew in a shaky breath then his hand was in my hair, tucking it behind my ears, holding my face.

"Your scent is everywhere," he said. His eyes were dark orbs of green, his slowing breaths were changing my own breathing pattern. "It won't leave me."

"Is it that bad?" I managed to return before he dropped his hands and squared his jaw.

He shook his head, his face hard and impassive. "Worse than bad."