Page 55 of Stolen By The Beast
And within my churning, inner turmoil, I glimpsed a glimmer of light.
With great effort, I nodded, my voice a hoarse whisper. “You’re right, my mate.” I turned to the male. “Go, human, and never come back. I promise she will never be harmed by my hand.”
The surviving man shook like a leaf. "Thank you for sparing me. I tried to help her… I didn’t want any harm to come to her with all the guns firing."
He was right, and I was angry anew at myself for endangering my mate.
What if she had been shot?
“Go, and never think of my existence again—or hers—let alone speak of it.”
The male gave his verbal agreement, his voice barely above a whisper. Juniper’s shoulders sagged, her relief palpable as the frightened man turned and ran.
I was sure he wouldn’t tell other humans for fear that I would hunt him down and kill him like the others, but I was certain I would haunt his dreams for the rest of his life.
Silence had returned to the clearing, and all I could do was stare at the scarlet coating my fur. “I need to wash, and then we need to leave.”
My mate’s hand on my arm stopped me. “Wait, talk to me, Karvik. What are you thinking?”
“That… I don’t deserve you. That we’re too different to make this work, and I was a selfish fool to try.”
The tiny female gasped, her eyes narrowed in anger. “You take that back right now! How dare you decide our fate. A relationship is two people, Karvik, meaning both get a say. Every couple faces challenges, no matter who they are or what their background is. Did you think we would be any different because we lived in nearly complete isolation?”
“Yes… no—I don’t know!”
She chuckled, rubbing at her eyes. “Two people—especially two such as ourselves with such diverse backgrounds—are bound to encounter bumps in the road. But real couples overcome the trials and tribulations, and it just makes their love stronger.”
I snorted, amused she’d labeled my massacre as a ‘trial and tribulation,’ but I wasn’t going to snub her forgiveness.
“Earlier, when the men showed up, you looked like you were seeing something else… you remember what happened that night, don’t you?”
Juniper fidgeted. “Yes… it was horrible, but you saved me. All along, I knew I could trust you. You’re my knight in shining antler.”
“You’re not making any sense.”
“It’s a human thing.”
“I think it’s a Juniper thing.”
“Maybe,” she said, shrugging.
“Are you alright?”
“No, not really, but I’m going to be because I have you.”
Something inside of me twinged. “You don’t want to leave me?”
“No. You are not bad, Karvik. You made a mistake. That’s what makes you… well, not human, but makes you not a monster. What kind of mate would I be if I left you when you needed me most? I didn’t agree to be your Chosen because you’re perfect. I agreed because I love you.”
This woman humbled me.
“I don’t deserve your love.”
“It’s not for you to decide who I give it to.”
“You are so stubborn, my mate.”
Juniper snorted. “It’s what you love about me.”
