Page 14 of Sasquatch's Claiming

“I remember you,” a watery voice said, followed by two chuckles. “I just don’t think she remembers me.”

A tentacle snaked out and tried to grab her, but she knew what to expect this time and sidestepped it. This was that squid monster who manhandled her before.

“Maybe I do you big, ugly piece of calamari!” Bernadette hissed, raising her foot and stomping down on its tentacle.

The creature howled in pain and his two friends quickly dashed after. She turned around to flee and ran smack-dab into a warm, hairy wall, which was growling. Loudly.

She glanced up to see Ben standing in front of her. His eyes burning like the orangey gold hot flames of a campfire and they were focused directly on the beings that were chasing her. His lips were curled and she could see his deadly incisors. All the fur on his body was standing on end.

Ben gently moved her so she was standing behind him, but she clung to the tops of his trousers as a lifeline to keep her anchored.

“I told you before. She’s mine,” Ben growled. “Do I have to prove myself to you again?”

“No,” the wounded tentacle squid creature shouted. “She was alone…”

“And that justifies it? She’s human and off-limits.”

The squid snorted. “So, then the rule here in this realm is no different than under Tiene, eh?”

Ben snarled. “It’s different in that the humans, no matter their gender, have a choice. If I see you again or hear of you attacking a human, any human, I will have you banished back into Tiene’s realm, where I know your kind are not welcomed.”

The squid man gurgled something and he and his two friends disappeared.

Ben turned to her, his eyes still burning, but they were full of concern. “Bernadette, are you?—”

“I remember it all,” she said quickly.

Ben cocked an eyebrow. “All of it?”

She nodded. “A wispy demon guy in leather came and restored my memories.”

Ben’s lip curled over his sharp incisors. “Cillian. He’s a wraith.”

“He didn’t tell me his name, but I remember everything about that night. Every. Thing.” Her blood heated as she recalled the way his pumped into her in that garden. Just like her dreams, only this time she knew it was reality. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him close to her, burying her face into the fur of his belly. “He told me I was in danger.”

“I think you are. What else did Cillian tell you?”

“You are my mate.” Her pulse was racing as she became aroused. Just being around Ben made her want him with an unquenchable need.

“Yes,” he replied. “You are.”

“How did you find me?”

“As you said, you are my mate. I can always find you.” Then he took her hand and placed it on his chest over his beating heart. “Remember. Always.”

“Right,” she whispered breathlessly.

“I came here to bring you to where I can protect you.”

“Where?” she asked.

“In the woods. We can come back here, but until I claim you, you’re not safe here on your own.”

What did she have to lose? Everything was topsy-turvy. Nothing made sense and she didn’t have any family left. Her job was okay, but it wasn’t her dream. All her life she’d been chasedand pursed, never feeling safe. Except when she was with Ben and now she completely remembered all of that.

“Let’s go. We’ll take care of it and then I can come back and untangle myself from his life.”

Ben smiled at her and then scooped her up in his arms. “I’ll take you through the portal and I’ll keep you safe. Always.”

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