Page 25 of Connected

“Yeah, me too…” Zak nods. “I need some payback on that son-of-a-bitch. Whatever pain you want him to feel, I’m ready to do it. That’s the pledge I’m makin’ you right now.”

Kat nods. She smiles and wraps her arms tightly around Digby. “All I really want is to get those other wolves out—that one who’s pup they took—we need to do something.”

“And we will. Zak filled me in on everythin’ and I swear, we will get them out—all of them.” He grips her tight and placing his lips to hers, they kiss.

Patting Digby’s shoulder Zak smiles, “So how about I give you two sometime together and let you get reacquainted.”

“Thanks, Zak,” Digby smiles. Brushing the stray curl from Kat’s face he kisses her cheek and his lips trace a pattern over her forehead, down her nose, and back to her lips. “Kat…” he gasps looking her in the eyes. “I love you. I really don’t know what I’d have done if anythin’ worse had happened to you.”

Kat beams: a smile fills her face and stroking her hand against his cheek, she returns his kisses. “I know. But I’m all good. Digby… we should talk. When we get home—when this is over, we really need to talk.”

“I don’t need to talk. There’s nothin’ you could say that I need to hear. Like you said, I should go. Kat, everythin’s gonna be okay—I promise. Now, you rest up but stay close to Zak—he’ll keep you safe. I wouldn’t trust anyone more with your safety.”

“I know; I know he will,” she takes a breath. “Now go. The sooner you go, the sooner you return,” she smiles.

Leaning forward she hugs her knees against her chest as she and Zak watch the large black wolf vanish into the jungle undergrowth.

Kat sighs, looking up its getting light quickly. She leans against Zak and the pair sit silently watching as the rain now starts to fall. She shivers—wondering how long it will take for the team’s help to come.

***

Kat wakes and her head crinkles with concern as her pain feels worse than it did earlier. Stretching her stiff aching body she opens her eyes wide and yawns. She can’t remember settling down to sleep and has absolutely no idea of how long she’s been there, but it must have been a while because the sun is higher in the sky now.

Hearing a snuffling noise followed by a groaning sound she notices Zak’s gone from her side. Gripped by a feeling of panic she hesitantly ventures from the safety of their secluded hideout, into the open green space of the jungle glade.

“Zak?” She calls out. Hearing what sounds like his muffled groan and smelling the aroma of his familiar scent she looks around but still can’t see him. Turning around she looks behind her as she hears another whimpering groan. Taking a deep breath, she tightens her fingers around the grip of the gun and quietly begins to search the area. “Zak? Zak, where are you?”

Sniffing the air—everything smells ten times stronger—and she realizes just how much her implant had suppressed her sense of smell. “Zak…” she frowns as she spots him—his back turned, he’s standing slightly hidden by the green of the foliage. He has his head back and his body is shaking and she watches with concern all his shuddering moves. “Zak… what the hell are you doing?”

“Oh shit! Wait… Kat, Kat, don’t come over here. Just wait there. I don’t want you to—”

It’s too late and she’s standing behind him. “Hey, what the hell are you doing? Are you taking a piss?” she frowns.

“Um… no. No, not exactly… I had a little… alarge,I had an issue I needed to take care of but… well, I’m nearly done. Could I just get a minute to myself?”

“Oh… Ohhhh! Oh my God,” she laughs, “seriously? Zak, are you jerking off again?”

“Will you just go away,” he frowns and turns around growling at her. “It’s… it’s because I… well I haven’t shifted like that in a while and I kinda forgot how it makes me feel. And after what we did, you know I was… was thinkin’ about it. And it—it kinda turned me on. Sorry. I’m almost done—just give me a minute.”

“Zak, about what happened, well it was just a moment. We just all needed to be with each other.”

“Sure… look could you just give me the room, please?”

“Oh… oh yeah sure. I’ll go wait over there,” she smirks. “You know… only a wolf would be doin’ that in circumstances like these.” She laughs loudly—it’s the first time in quite a few days. “Hey, Zak… So, how long do you think before Digby and the others will return?”

“What?” Zak frown’s he’s not listening—his mind occupied by his dick in his hand.

“I said how long, before—” she stops mid-sentence silenced by the sudden and rapid sound of gunfire. Turning, Zak’s already behind her and they both listen to the distant noise. “What the fuck was that?”

Again, they hear the sound of more shots—now a rapid and continuous exchange of fire.

“Oh fuck… Kat, come here. " Zak grabs her by the hand and leads her back to their sheltered cover in the rocks. “Now, you stay there. Alvarez must have come back and the team must’ve been waiting for him. I’m gonna go check it out. But Kat, you need to stay put. Do you understand me?”

“Yeah sure. But don’t you want me to come with you? Maybe as a backup?”

“No. No, if things go wrong then Alvarez mustn’t find you.”

“If they go wrong? Zak what the—”

---