His Hunter

XIX | The Puppeteer

Lionel felt heavy. His muscles didn't want to listen to him. But he wasn't in pain any longer. He would have cried out of relief, but he couldn't. He didn't have human tear ducts any longer. Even if he did, he didn't think there would be anything left to cry. 

Lionel could feel Cole beside him. He could hear Cole's heart beating like rhythmic cracks of thunder. It was simultaneously deafening and comforting. 

"Sorry. I didn't mean...to be loud," Cole mumbled. 

Lionel weakly opened his eyes, surprised. Had he...heard that? His vision was blurry at first. He blinked a couple times to clear it. He looked up at Cole, whose eyes were closed. Cole's beautiful lips were slightly parted. His jaw moved slightly in his sleep. He was dreaming. 

Lionel felt guilty. Cole looked exhausted. He looked worried in his sleep. Lionel decided to nudge him slightly. 

Cole's eyes immediately opened, a dazed expression on his face. Lionel couldn't smile, but he felt the lightness in his chest that told him that he would be smiling if it was physically possible. Cole's chocolate eyes finally zeroed in on Lionel. Lionel's tail involuntarily moved slightly as happiness lifted his soul up. 

He'd survived. He made it through and Cole was still by his side. Cole laughed a little bit, breathy and soft. "This is a bit weird, isn't it?" he said. 

Lionel nodded, slightly amused himself. This was a strange situation. All Lionel wanted to do was kiss Cole until he couldn't breathe any longer. But he had a muzzle. Cole's eyes softened. "I want to kiss you." 

Lionel eased forward, touching his nose to Cole's. He met Cole's eyes and barely licked Cole's chin. Cole smiled widely. "That's not what I meant." He reached up and touched Lionel's fur. A deep pleasure spread through Lionel's body. It was somehow different from when Cole usually touched him. Everything was more vivid, but Cole also felt farther away. Lionel couldn't speak. He couldn't run his fingers through Cole's hair. He couldn't kiss Cole. 

A whine escaped him. Cole's lips tightened and he touched Lionel's face. "It's ok. This isn't forever, Lion. The hard part is over, right?" 

Lionel blinked, watching Cole. His mate's face was gentle, soft. Going back was easier, he'd heard. But he didn't necessarily trust that. He was different from other lycanthrope. His mate was human. He didn't know what to expect. 

Lionel's nose twitched. A metallic smell invaded his nostrils. Lionel sat up slightly, following the scent to Cole's arm. Pain erupted within Lionel as he found its source. He whined again. "It's ok, Lion!" Cole said immediately, sitting up. "It doesn't hurt, ok? It's fine. Stop feeling guilty." 

My fault. My fault. My fault. It echoed in Lionel's mind. He'd hurt Cole. "You were hurting yourself, so I tried to stop you. You scratched me, that's all. It's just a scratch." There were three angry red gashes in Cole's skin. Looking at them made Lionel feel nauseous. 

Lionel hated being a lycanthrope. Maybe he always had, to some extent. But it hadn't become obvious how much of a curse it was until he'd met Cole. If what was inside of Lionel would hurt the only person he'd ever loved like this...of course, he hated it. He hated it. 

"I was..." Cole looked like he was going to cry. "I was scared. I didn't want to be, but I was. I wanted to run away at first, but I didn't. It's weird because the reason I wanted to run away is the same reason I stayed." 

Lionel moved his body closer to Cole's. Cole naturally wrapped his arms around Lionel. "It's because I love you," Cole said. "I didn't want to see you in pain, but I didn't want to leave you."