Blood Moon (Entangled Select Otherworld) (13 page)

Chapter Twenty

Gareth

Although we’d planned to head up to Virginia City after the appointment with Jason, by the time we rolled into Nadya’s condo, she was already lethargic. I helped her inside, doing my best to keep a lid on the panic brewing in my gut.

“I’ll be fine,” she mumbled. “Let me grab some clean clothes and my toothbrush for the trip.”

I shook my head, lowering her to the bed. “You gotta sleep when you can. If you’re tired now, just rest. We can ride up the mountain in the morning.”

She stared up at me. “Will you stay with me?”

I ran the back of my fingers down her cheek. Even exhausted she was so beautiful I could hardly breathe. “No place I’d rather be.”

“Good.” A relieved smile curved her lips as her eyes drifted closed.

I sat on the other side of the bed and unlaced my boots. Pulling them off, I watched her chest slowly rise and fall. Moments like this, when the world was quiet, that goddamned clock ticked so loud I couldn’t drown it out. The damned thing marked her every breath, the beat of her heart, until there was no escaping, no forgetting she was slipping through my fingers. I got up and pulled my hair back from my face. The urge to run pulsed inside me like a drug, tempting me to walk away, to escape the pain to come. If I didn’t see her die, she could live forever as a bright memory.

Instead of being haunted by her final breath, I’d remember making love to her on the Harley.

At the door to her bedroom, I glanced back. She looked peaceful, sleeping. Maybe the doctor was right and the serum was working. Maybe she’d be able to withstand the mutated DNA with the help of drugs.

Damn it.
I couldn’t sit here counting each breath or I’d drive myself batshit crazy.

I needed to talk to someone.

Now that was something I never thought I’d say. If I wasn’t so fucking terrified I might’ve found it funny.

I pulled out my cell phone and stared at the touchscreen. Who would I call? Not Adam. I couldn’t risk letting it slip that a scientist from Nero was helping Nadya. Aren was on his honeymoon with Sasha. I sure as hell wasn’t going to call Jason.

Flipping around my contacts, I stopped on Chloe. It’d be some kind of miracle if I called her while her cell phone was actually on. I glanced through the door at Nadya and back at my phone. At this point, it was worth a try.

I pressed call. The phone rang. Unbelievable.

“Little Osa?”

I closed my eyes. “You had your phone on.”

“You needed me.”

“How could you possibly know that?” I leaned back against the couch.

“Do you forget my stories, or just refuse to believe them?”

I let out a half-hearted chuckle. “I remember them.”

“Then you know our spirits are connected. Your mother asked me to watch over you and I will until I follow her up to the stars.” She paused. “What’s bothering you?”

“I’m trying to take your advice, to open up and let her in…” My voice cracked with emotion, surprising me for a second. “I’m not strong enough. She deserves so much better than me.”

“You are with her.” As impossible as it seemed, I could hear her smiling.

“I am.” I nodded. “And I promised her I’d stay until the end.” Clearing my throat, I clutched the phone tighter. “She’s amazing, everything I’m not. She makes me smile, laugh. I didn’t think I’d ever feel this way. When I’m with her…” I struggled for words, my fingers tight on the bridge of my nose like I could pinch off the emotions. “I’m so damned scared. And I could love her, I know I could, and to lose her… I thought being without her was worse, but now I’m here and…”

I couldn’t finish.

She took a deep breath on the other end of the line. “I wish I had a story to give you the answers you seek, but I don’t.”

“Then make me stronger.” The honesty in my words shocked me. There was no way she could give me what I asked for, but it was exactly what I wanted.

“You have a deep well of courage and strength, Osa. Stop running and drink from it. Your life has prepared you for this path.”

“I never asked for this path. What in the hell did I ever do to deserve this? What did she do? You call the creator wise; I call him a heartless bastard.”

Chloe hissed at my outburst. “We cannot understand the reasons, but that does not mean they do not exist. Stop thinking about yourself, and think about her. Put her needs first in your heart. You want to be stronger? Then stop worrying about how much pain you will face when she
dies
, and start thinking about her and how you can make her
life
better. This isn’t an easy task, but you must embrace the time you have.”

“I’m trying.” I punched my frustration into the sofa cushion. “She should have a partner as fearless as she is.”

“Pshhhh.” In my mind, I saw her dismissive wave in my direction. “You are a strong man. A good man. Stubborn as a mule, but worthy, Osa. Worthy. Fear makes you human.” Her voice softened. “I love you. I will send up prayers for your woman.”

“I love you, too. Thanks.”

I slid my phone back in my pocket, mulling over the conversation. Stop thinking about the future. Focus on the present. Sounded great on paper, but sitting here, alone, watching Nadya breathe made it tough to avoid hearing the clock ticking her life away.

After checking the locks on the doors, I went back into the bedroom and lay down beside her. She rolled over, snuggling in close to my chest. I kissed her hair, breathing her scent into my lungs. Put her first. She wanted to ride up to Virginia City in the morning. I needed to rest so I could get us there in one piece.

I closed my eyes, holding her close. Live in the present. Don’t think about the future.

…

Nadya flinched, her body tight against me. Holding her close, I realized we were beside the Stone Mother. I scanned the area for my Harley, but the bike wasn’t around. The rising sun tipped me off. This was a dream. Her dream.

“It’s happening,” she gasped.

Her jaw clenched, her features tight with pain. I reached for her hand but she recoiled from my touch.

“No. I’m a monster.”

I shook my head. “You’re no monster.”

“Look again.” She raised her hand, her fingers lengthening, her joints popping as the flesh darkened with fine hair. “I can’t stop it.”

“You can.” The wolf chant started soft and grew from my lips as I opened my arms to her. She allowed me to embrace her. My song called to her wolf. Its spirit was strong, and confused to find itself stirring without the moon overhead. Had the rest of the wolves Nero “enhanced” experienced the same sensation?

I stared up at the Stone Mother, praying for a miracle to save my mate, praying I might be able to comfort her. I wasn’t even sure the Stone Mother could help, but I was willing to try. My chant continued until my throat ached. Gradually, Nadya’s body relaxed, her weight pressing against me.

“You did it.”

I glanced down at her. “Did what?”

She lifted her hands. “The change stopped.”

“Good.” I kissed the back of each hand and tipped my head toward Pyramid Lake. “Why here?”

She looked around. “This is a dream, isn’t it?”

“I think so.”

“I remember wanting to be closer to you when I drifted off. This is where I ended up.”

I tipped her chin up. The dreamlike morning sun shone in her dark green eyes. “I want to be closer to you, too. I want to know everything. Did you have a place like this? Someplace you could escape to when you needed a break?”

She paused, worrying her lower lip with her teeth. “After I moved with Sasha, I found an old pepper tree. The branches reached all the way to the ground like walls. I pretended it was a cabin. I’d find rocks and crystals and build castles. I imagined my parents were inside.”

“I was raised believing that our loved ones leave their bodies and become spirit. They walk to the stars and watch over us.”

She rose up on her toes, and I swore her soft lips caressed mine. I held her tighter, sliding my hand down her back. She hummed, and I opened my eyes.

Nadya smiled, resting her forehead against mine. “Good morning.”

A quick glance at the clock grounded me back into the present. My throat still ached a little and my voice sounded strained. “Until the sun comes up, it’s still night in my book.”

“Five a.m. is definitely morning.” She grinned, no trace of the exhaustion that had weighed her down a few hours ago. “Can we still run up to Virginia City? I’d love to see it.”

“Think you’re up for a ride already?”

She rolled her eyes. “I slept almost eight hours. That hasn’t happened in weeks. The serum is working.”

I still wasn’t convinced. I kissed the dimple on her cheek and nuzzled close to her ear. “Do you remember your dream?”

She held me a little tighter. “You were with me. We were at Pyramid Lake.”

I pulled her back so I could see her face. “You started shifting.”

“But I stopped.”

“I chanted until I almost lost my voice.” I caressed her cheek. “We should call Jason before we go.”

Nadya sighed. “We both know he can’t do anything for me and I can’t get another shot for two more days.” Her gaze searched mine. “Please, Gareth. Let’s go have an adventure. Sitting around thinking and worrying is going to make me crazy.”

Chloe’s words echoed in my head.
I
would feel better having a doctor close by. But this was about
Nadya
. She wanted to ride and put the future out of her head. Who was I to deny her that?

“Okay.” I nodded. “Let’s get out of here.”

…

From the Journal of Dr. M. Granger – Journal Entry 535

I administered the serum to Ms. Dalca at three p.m. The dosage of both the sedative and the adrenal enhancement were increased. I encouraged the subject to cease fighting the change. If she can shift her form without the help of the moon, we can move forward with phase two of the testing.

If she survives and reaches the second phase, her value to the project increases exponentially. I believe it would warrant Nero’s intervention to bring the subject to our labs for further testing. I have reported my findings directly to Mr. Severino, hoping he will support my decision to relocate the subject even if it requires bringing in a team from Nero to assist in relocating her to headquarters.

My time is running short in Reno. Ms. Dalca brought another werewolf Pack member to her last appointment, insisting he be present. If the Pack Alpha discovers me, I will need to return before my research is completed. I am prepared for this, but remain hopeful that I will see this project to its finish.

Chapter Twenty-One

Nadya

I closed my eyes and pulled in a deep breath as the Harley roared up the mountain toward Virginia City. We had made a quick stop at Gareth’s garage on our way so he could grab some clothes, and for a second, I worried he’d try to convince me to see Jason again, but he didn’t.

He did leave a message for his realtor about delaying the sale of Takoda Motorcycle Restoration. I wanted to believe the serum was working and that between the injections and Gareth’s dream walking, I’d escape the death sentence hanging over my head. But even if things didn’t go my way, I hoped Gareth would keep his garage. The more I got to know him, the more I understood this business, the bikes—all of it was a part of him. He’d already lost so much of himself when his parents were killed, and then his twin brother.

This was his refuge, whether he knew it or not. If he gave it up, he’d be losing a piece of himself, too.

We crested the mountain and followed the windy road down the other side. Big pine trees dotted the landscape. It wasn’t a dense forest like Mt. Rose and Lake Tahoe had been. This was sparse, more desert climate, but equally beautiful in its own right.

Finally the town came into view and Gareth slowed, calling to me over his shoulder. “I’ll roll you through town, then you can tell me where you want to go first.”

“Okay!” I shouted into the wind.

He downshifted the Harley, slowing us as we approached Virginia City. Just before the city limits we passed the Silver Terrace Cemeteries. I caught a glimpse of a hillside covered in lives remembered. Headstones, obelisks, and iron lace fences embellished the landscape. Usually I enjoyed visiting old cemeteries, but at the moment, seeing those headstones hit a little too close to home. I tightened my grip around Gareth’s waist.

One hand came down to cover mine. He didn’t consider himself psychic at all, but he sure seemed to sense when I needed him.

We rode down C Street in the center of town and I gawked at all the old buildings lining both sides of the road. The parked cars were the only proof we hadn’t traveled back in time nearly two hundred years. Each new block we passed afforded us peeks at the ornate churches and even Piper’s Opera House. Where would I start?

My head swam with choices, but a jolt of concern coming from Gareth yanked the world back into focus. He pulled into a tiny parking area behind a saloon and turned off the Harley.

I lifted my helmet. “What is it?”

Gareth’s was already off. He stuffed his gloves inside, without ceasing his visual scan of our surroundings. “Do you smell it?”

“It?” I took a slow breath. I was still new to my enhanced werewolf senses, but if he noticed something, I should’ve been able to catch it, too.

“Yeah.” He patted my leg, signaling me off the bike. After I slid off, he swung his leg over, still keeping watch. “The wind is swirling up here. I can’t figure out which direction it’s coming from, but we’ve got company.”

“Someone from the Pack?” Dumb question. I would’ve noticed the scent of anyone from our Pack. But I wasn’t sure… Then I smelled it. “A jaguar.”

Identifying scents reminded me of recognizing voices. You usually noticed an accent first, then if you listened further, you could figure out if you recognized the tone of the voice. This “accent” was a similar scent to my sister Sasha, Lana, and little Madeleine. But when I studied it more, I realized it wasn’t any of the three jaguars I knew.

Gareth took my hand, tension coming off of him in waves. For once, he wasn’t bottling his emotions. His focus was elsewhere.

“Do we need to go back to Reno?” I was pretty sure I knew what his answer would be, and I didn’t want to hear it. We just got here and there was so much to see. For the moment, I was even feeling good. The last thing I wanted was to go home and wait to see if I’d survive the night.

He stopped scanning, his gaze meeting mine. “We should.”

My heart sank.

“But there’s only one scent here. So far. And I recognize it.” A muscle in his cheek jumped and suddenly his emotions pulled back. Controlled.

“This is a jaguar you know?”

“I don’t
know
him, but he helped Aren after you were bitten. I have no idea why he showed up that night, but I’d like to find out.”

My pulse thrummed in anticipation. “You want to lure him closer?”

“No. Your safety comes first.” He pulled his attention from the street to meet my eyes. “I should take you back.”

“So you can come up here alone?” I shook my head, crossing my arms. “No way.”

“I can take a jaguar.”

That was probably exactly what his twin brother thought, but I kept it to myself and went for another angle.

“You can still take him, and I’ll be your backup. No reason we need to go to Reno. Besides, you wouldn’t leave me home alone, so you’d either lose this jaguar, or you’d have to drop me off at Jason’s while you came back up here to find him.”

He frowned and shook his head, staring up at the sky. “This could be the one who killed Gabe.”

“Why would the jaguar who murdered your brother have helped Aren?”

His dark eyes met mine. “Did your sister tell you she worked for Nero?”

I nodded.

“This guy might be a friend of hers on the inside.” He shrugged and took my hand. “He’s been here more than once and no one in the Pack is talking. I want to know why.”

He deserved that much. “Why is he following us?”

“He works for Nero just like Dr. Granger. I don’t think that’s a coincidence.”

“Maybe they sent him to watch over their scientist, to be sure the Pack didn’t keep his research?”

“Could be.” He stroked the back of my hand with his thumb. “If we don’t go back to Reno, I need you to stay close, and no second-guessing my instructions. I can’t focus on him if I’m worried about you.”

I bristled, tightening my grip on him. “Sasha sent me to plenty of self-defense classes when I started college. I’m not a princess in a tower for you to protect.”

The corner of his mouth twitched, but he didn’t smile. Not quite. “I’m not saying you’re weak. Hell, you’re a werewolf now. But this guy is a trained assassin, and if he followed us up here, then you are probably his target. Nero wouldn’t kill you, but I wouldn’t put abduction out of the picture. They could take you and study you.” His shoulders tensed. “No way I’m going to let that happen.”

The strong set of his jaw said more than words could. They’d have to kill him to take me. My pulse pounded. “I won’t put myself in jeopardy.”

“You’ll run if I tell you to, and you won’t look back.”

I couldn’t agree to that, especially not if he was in danger. But his expression made it clear if I didn’t give him my word, we’d be riding back down that mountain to Reno.

“I’ll stay safe.”

“That wasn’t what I said.”

My hip jutted out, my hand resting on it. “I won’t agree to blindly following orders like you’re my lord and master. I still get a say, and you have my word I won’t take any risks with my safety.”

He tried to stare me down, but I stared right back. The heat of his frustration singed my empathic senses. But I wasn’t giving in on this one, and I wasn’t going to lie to him, either.

Life was too short for lies. Especially now.

He growled, and in two paces he had me in his arms. His lips claimed mine. Passion, fear, and frustration flavored his kiss with a gruff dominance that heated my body against his. When he pulled back, we were both breathless.

He demanded my attention as his gaze wandered over my face, searching—for what, I couldn’t be sure. “I need to tell you something.”

I hoped my rubbery legs would hold me up. I’d never been kissed so ferociously. I liked it. A lot. “Okay.”

He hung his helmet on the handlebars and jammed his gloves in the saddlebag. I waited for him to speak, but I didn’t need to be empathic to see his agitation. Finally he put his fists on the black leather seat of the Harley, leaning into it. His biceps pulled at the sleeves of his T-shirt, and the muscles in his forearms tensed. Every line of his body called to me. I wanted to be closer, tracing every inch of him with my fingers, my lips.

“I want you, too, but I need to get this out first.”

I almost blushed when I realized he knew exactly what I was thinking.
Was I that obvious?
“All right.”

I resisted apologizing for finding my mate sexy.
Go me.

“I need you to understand where I’m coming from. It’s my fault Gabe is dead. And if anything happens to you on my watch…” He ground his teeth. “I can’t fail you, too.”

I frowned. “You didn’t kill Gabe. It wasn’t your fault.”

His pain made my temples ache. “Gabe and I patrolled for jaguars together. Always. It’s safer with someone else watching your back. But that new moon night…” He shook his head and cleared his throat. “That night Gabe talked me into meeting a woman from his construction office.”

Jealousy spiked through me as suddenly as a bolt of lightning. I prayed it didn’t show on my face quite as plainly as my lust had. I didn’t want to think about Gareth touching another woman. Ever.

He sighed and pushed off the Harley. “We hadn’t seen a jaguar for the past few new moons. We were starting to think word had gotten around to stay out of our territory. I told him I could meet her the next week, but he had a feeling about her. He thought she was the one. He just wanted me to be happy again.”

“That doesn’t make you responsible for his death.”

“While my brother was fighting for his life, I was with a woman who meant nothing to me.” He looked my way. “If I had skipped the date, he would be alive.”

“Or maybe you’d both be gone.” The thought made my chest tight.

He let out a humorless chuckle and danger colored his voice. “No jaguar could take me and my brother together. No way.”

I went to him, sliding my hand up his broad chest to cover his heart. “This guilt you carry isn’t fair. You and Gabe couldn’t have known what would happen. You didn’t abandon him. He wanted you to go.”

“I wish I could believe you, sweetheart.” He reached up, covering my hand with his. “But every night when I can’t talk to him, it reminds me that he would still be here if I had been with him that night.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because you should know when the chips were down I wasn’t there for my brother.”

I rose up on my toes to brush my lips against his. “Since my parents were murdered, I thought I’d never feel safe again. But I do when I’m with you.”

He wrapped me in his arms and I breathed him in, closing my eyes. The stubble along his jaw mussed my hair as he nuzzled close.

“I’d give up everything to keep you safe.”

I pressed a kiss over his heart. “I’d settle for feeding me.”

“I can do that.” An unguarded laugh escaped him. Such a great sound. I wanted a lifetime to enjoy it.

Some days it was tougher to fight the bitterness than others.