Page 47 of Into the Night

“Pfft. You beasts think you’re so quiet. Maybe in the forest, but there’s no way of hiding the sound of your breathing in the dead of night. It must have been four o’clock when you got in. I could hear you in the corridor.”

Going deathly still, I shake my head. “I didn’t go out last night. No point. Kali’s back.” Getting irritated by this conversation, I decide to change the topic rather than keep going round in circles. I don’t doubt she heard someone moving around, it just wasn’t me. “But you’ll be rid of me soon, anyway. I’ll come back and grab my stuff at lunch time if the cabin’s liveable.”

“No rush, Dear. I’m not expecting anyone else to check in until next weekend.” She gives me a fond grin as she catches me gazing longingly at my sandwich. With an exasperated sigh, she waves her hand before disappearing into the pantry. “Oh, just eat it now if you’re that hungry.”

So, I do. I rip the paper bag apart and devour it right there.

Marching outside, I start my truck, and head toward town and the winding road that leads to the ranger cabin. It’s hard to accept John is never coming back, but this also signifies a new life for me, one which I can hopefully convince Kali to be a part of.

When I arrive, I squeeze the key chain tightly before climbing out and standing in the middle of the driveway, soaking it all in. The sky is bright, the storm is gone, and along with it, the gloom that’s been hanging over this town for so long.

“Let’s get to work,” I say, rubbing my hands together. Let’s make this place fit for a queen.

28

KALI

Waking from a delicious nap, I let out a contented sigh and snuggle further into the warm blankets, keeping my hand entwined with his. I should get up and make us some breakfast, but I don’t want to leave my bed just yet.

Maybe a few more minutes before I slip out and put on the coffee.

As I stare down at our joined hands, something tickles the back of my brain. My nails are dirty. There’s a bandage around my arm. The air inside my house is cold. Is there a window open?

Confused, I lift my head and look around, my blood turning to ice, as realisation hits once more.

This isn’t my house. I’m at the hunting cabin.

The scratches on my hands and arms come into focus as someone strokes featherlight touches down my spine, caressing my side and hip before slipping from me, his copious seed spilling onto the sheets and down my thighs.

Memories of him filling me, taking me from behind, assault my mind. I slept with him inside me, his cock nestled deep inside me like it belongs there. But there’s only one person who I should be cuddled up to at night.

Oh no. What have I done? Tears immediately spring to my eyes and fall across my face onto the thick arm I’m using as a pillow. Feeling dirty and ashamed, because I’m well aware how much I enjoyed that, I turn around to face him. Slowly, unable to face the man I’ve let take me when I should have scratched his eyes out for even looking at me that way.

Eyes squeezed shut, I grab a blanket and tug it up to hide my breasts. My mate will never forgive me. Even if I was delirious with pain or fever, I should never have allowed it to happen.

I came so many times.

“I… you need to leave…” I’m stumbling over my words, big sobs wracking my body as I struggle to believe I’ve committed the ultimate act of betrayal. But then… as I suck in a hiccuping breath, I catch a scent I recognise. Then more.

“Griffin? Griffin?!” I cup his face and wrap my arms around him. Except, something is off. Leaning back, I stare into his smirking face and frown. It’s Griffin, but… not Griffin.

I haven’t seen Griffin since he left me at the bar, hurt in his eyes, as Jack forced him to leave.

The amber eyes staring back at me and the stern look on his face, tell me this is the man who kidnapped me. His beast.

He may have finally shifted back to his human form, but from the strange tilt to his head and the lack of any emotion other than lust and satisfaction, I can tell it’s not the Griffin I met and gave myself to.

This version of my mate is fine with keeping me trapped in the mountains, instead of returning me to my worried family.

Looking at him now, I realise I made a dangerous assumption. I presumed that when he eventually shifted, he’d retake his human form again easily. But as I stare at the powerful beast who has seized control of Griffin’s entire being, I can appreciate the error of my ways. I was naive.

This animal has been locked away for a long time, and he’s not giving up his freedom that easily.

I shouldn’t have acted so rashly, knowing Griffin didn’t even know what was going on inside him. My confidence that he would never hurt me was solely based around the notion that his beast wouldn’t attack me. But this situation is much more complicated.

Tugging more of the blanket free, I slide further away and slip my fingers from his.

Griffin’s beast stares back at me, growling quietly, as I cover more of myself from his view. His glowing eyes try to burn a hole in the blanket, like its existence personally offends him.

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