Page 13 of Finding my Shifter Soulmate

When I reach the foot of the mountain, my options for escape narrow. I don't dare fight him, especially not when Sabrina's life is on the line. Rama has friends on this island, too. I can't keep her safe and take him on at the same time. Weaving along the winding paths worn through the thick foliage, I search desperately for somewhere, anywhere, safe.

A hornbill with a silver sheen to his feathers drops out of the sky and flies beside me, calling out as he circles around. I recognize it in his eyes at once. It's Kibon, one of the many shifters who lives in the wilds of Bali, and he's come to help. With him comes a flock of birds, most of them hornbills and all of them supporters of my reign. Two smaller hornbills dive toward Rama, pecking at his face and blindsiding him just long enough to slow him down.

Another hornbill—Pamanu, a female and longtime friend of mine—rushes to my aid, and without a word, flies down and nips at my burden, adjusting Sabrina's body so that she no longer rests heavily on the ridges between my shoulders. Pamanu takes more than half the load, flying alongside me and holding Sabrina by the forearm while the other birds keep Rama occupied. Knowing that he's chasing us and right on my tail, I focus everything on running.

I can't take her back to the resort. Rama will just find her there and kidnap her again, or worse. There's a hidden cave not far from here in a sacred part of the jungle. My allies live in the areas surrounding it, and we'll be safe there long enough for Sabrina to recover at least.

Pacing my breathing, I twist through the jungle, dirt flying in all directions as I redirect myself. Up ahead, there's an opening in the trees, and the cave I seek is just around that corner. I pass it, pushing myself harder to get to the entrance. Ibarrel past more bushes, and Pamanu falls back when the tree line opens. I slip around the trunk of a palm tree and rush down the narrow valley toward the mouth of the cave.

In the distance, the hornbills strive to keep Rama busy, calling out a warning that he's nearly free. I reach the entrance of the cave, and waste no time slipping into its darkness. Walking a few feet in, I lay Sabrina down as gently as I can and turn around, standing between her and the open door to the cavern.

Kibon swoops in and sits next to me. "A group of us are on guard just outside," the Hornbill says in his shrill voice. "We've called on the macaques and the javan, too. That rhinoceros' size will be enough to deter Rama for now."

"Thank you," I tell him, and mean it. Without my friends, we never could have gotten away.

Kibon bows his long neck. "Shall I fetch Zaket?"

Pamanu lands beside him, standing poised like a messenger ready to do my bidding.

"No," I tell them both. "The Komodo dragon won't want to be disturbed unless we've run out of options."

Pamanu inclines her head and darts from the cave's mouth, her silvery feathers glistening in the midmorning sun. Kibon takes off after her, and I turn to face my mate. Sabrina looks pale and small laid on her side on the hard floor. I find a pile of soft moss and leaves, and construct a nest, scooping her up gently and settling her into the makeshift bed.

Now, all I can do is wait.

My human form itches to break free again, and I'm too tired to fight against it. I get comfortable and close my eyes,breathing in the thick, heady scent of the greenery all around us as I focus on shifting. Seconds pass, and the heavy fur of my Barong falls away, replaced by soft, tan skin. The smell of the jungle is fresh and calming, and already I feel better with this change.

Until I hear Sabrina stir. She moans, and she sounds disoriented, lost. She gasps and shouts, and when I look down, she's staring up at me with her eyes blown wide. Immediately, I can smell her fear, see it in the way she shies back, her entire body tensing up.

"Stay still and listen to me," I tell her as I keep my voice as calm as possible. "Please, let me explain."

Chapter Nine – Sabrina

At first, I don't remember the incident at the lake, but as I fight to regain consciousness, it all comes rushing back to me. The tiger. The tiger who spoke like a human. Being held down and told not to struggle. Feeling like it wanted to... eat me.

Everything went dark, and I was out for who knows how long. Then I awoke to find myself lying on a bed made of dried palm leaves, surrounded by the smell of damp greenery. The smell brings me to my senses, and when I open my eyes, I spot another massive feline, this one a strange blend of gold and reds that shine in the partial sunlight.

The animal's expression looks annoyed, and almost sad. Huge muscles ripple under its fur as it stares outside the cave we're in. I blink a few times, and as soon as my vision clears, I wish it hadn't. The creature, whatever it is, it changes right in front of me.

Fur rips away from its muscles, exposing the red tissue underneath for just a moment before skin takes its place. Bones snap and crack, and I watch in horror as the creature shortens and reforms. Fangs retract into gums and stubby, white teeth, and sharp black claws vanish. In seconds, the beastly feline creature is no more. What remains is a naked man—Gede.

I can't stop myself from screaming. I'm losing my mind and I know it. I refuse to accept this. My body turns cold as I scoot backward in the dirt. This is not happening. No, no. A deep tremble starts in my bones and spreads through my body, turning my hands to stone as I ball them into fists.

My mind is reeling, and my emotions are spiraling so badly that my sense of reality shifts along with them. I'm stuck between horror and denial, staring at him in the open doorway of the cave. This has to be a dream. The only explanation is that I'm hallucinating. A snake got to me, or maybe I swallowed a mushroom that had somehow found its way into the lake I swam in. I've read that those things can cause some crazy hallucinations. Right now, there's no way I could be sane, because the alternative is unbearable.

He takes a hesitant step toward me and stops as I stand, bracing one hand against the wall.

I stammer at him, "You-you're... you can't be..."

Gede doesn't move. He just watches me, no doubt waiting to see what I'll do. I wrap my arms around my middle as I try to hold on to the ground beneath me, feeling like it could fall out from under my feet at any moment.

"No," I say, certain that the world's gone completely crazy. "This isn't real."

"It is." He takes another step toward me, raising his hands palms out. "I swear it is."

A wave of dizziness washes over me, and I have to close my eyes to keep from fainting again. "I'm just having a crazy nightmare. That's it."

Gede sounds tired as he replies, "It isn't."

---