welcome, princess.” His only defense against the wound of losing her was to annoy her to the point she avoided him. Nor did she talk to him. Though he knew his hurtful words dug into her, he found himself helpless from lashing out with venom at her, if only to protect himself against the effect she had on him.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful.” Her famous sultry pout surfaced.
Tougher and more hardened men than he had melted at her loveliness. She tugged the dangling strings of his heart. Despite the fact that he wanted her to have no influence on him, she did.
“Don’t worry. I’m just the hired help following orders,” he snapped. He lifted her and himself upright. This wasn’t the time for him to have an argument with her, but he couldn’t help it. “Stay low and follow close behind me.”
She slipped her hand into his.
Such a simple gesture, but it woke desire. Even with all his hurtful words, she trusted him with her life. He inhaled her fresh scent in the bitter cold air. An ache shot to his groin, filling him with lust. Wind blew snow squalls around them. Visibility was minimal. He took cautious steps forward.
Alexia glanced back at the stopped train. Men with flashlights searched under the railcars one by one.
Cathen dragged her to the densely wooded area.
“Wait.” She pulled away. “I can’t connect with VanWolf.”
“He must have his reasons.” He should have suspected the Alpha’s move. Now his duty was to keep Alexia out of Nazi hands. “There are at least four werewolves among them.”
“What does that mean?” She dug her heels into the snow.
“They are probably Gestapo and searching for us–you, to be specific.” He grabbed her arm and hauled her deeper into the thick bushy area. “If VanWolf handed himself over to buy you time to get away, we’d better honor his sacrifice.”
“No.” Color drained from her face. “I must go back for him.” She shoved his chest.
He stood unmoved by her aggression. “That’s out of the question. VanWolf asked me to get you safely to the rendezvous point. That is what I will do.”
She twisted, turned and pulled. He would not budge. When she contorted her arm, his hold slipped, then she yanked free and ran back toward the train.
“Alexia,” Cathen lashed out her name and sprinted after her.
“He promised me we’d have a long life together–that he’d be with me for eternity.” She sobbed, still running.
It seemed he wasn’t the only one VanWolf had fed lines to. Caught up to her, Cathen clutched her and lifted her onto his shoulder. “Sorry, princess, I can’t let you do something that could get you captured.”
“Put me down.” She kicked her feet and struck him with her fists.
Cathen lowered her against him, sending awareness through every part of him. Tears slid from the corners of her eyes down her flushed cheeks. “Stop and be silent, or I will put you to sleep.” Didn’t she get the danger they were in?
“VanWolf isn’t going to make it out of there. Don’t you see, there are too many? We must go back.” She hammered her palm into him.
Cathen grabbed her forearm and dragged her along. “We can’t risk them getting hold of you or your blood.”
“But he is going to die because of me.” The terror in her eyes wrenched through him. However, he could not change the facts. If the Nazis got hold of her, the war would become even more deadly.
“When he marked you, he accepted his duty to keep you safe, above even his own life.” This was the responsibility of all males to their “Treiama”, the link between the soul and the heart. Even the Alpha had to see to his mate first.
“How am I, are we…to live a life without him.” Tears welled in her emerald eyes.
If he could offer her comfort, he needed to try. “Look, we don’t know that he won’t find a way out.” Cathen tossed her over his shoulder and picked up his pace to a jog, going deeper into the woods. “But we don’t have time to argue about this.” If VanWolf was buying Cathen time to get Alexia far enough away that the Nazis could not catch her then he needed to ensure he did his best to make that reality.
Werewolves howled as they gave chase. Carrying her in his human form slowed their escape.
“We can move faster if you put me down,” Alexia said.
He met her stare, unsure that he trusted her reason for making the offer. “Do you promise to do as told?”
“Yes.” Alexia nodded, her bright green eyes beaming at him.
“Good, I need to shift and you can ride.” He lowered her into the impressions his feet had made to ensure the weres didn’t follow her tracks. “Hold this.” He handed her the leather bag, then he turned from her.
As he leaned forward, he undid his jacket, then released the buttons of his shirt.
She set down the sack and stepped away from him.
“You’d better not be doing what I think you are.” If she deceived him, he’d be angry. “If you break your word, it will be impossible to regain my trust.” He unfastened his trousers.
“I’m sorry.” She spun and picked up her pace, shifting from human to wolf ghostly- matter midstride. Her Shunu form pulsated.
“Alexia.” Cathen pursued. Light burst from his cells. As his limbs morphed into paws and he went from two legged sprint to four in solid wolf form, hair covered his flesh.
Two large male werewolves approached at lightning speed. Alexia stopped. The larger of them lunged at her. Cathen leapt in front, forcing the attacking snout downward with his paw. He took up a post, shielding her with his body.
“Give us the girl.” The beast’s mind spoke to them both.
“Or what, fellows?” Cathen paced, mirroring Alexia’s movements.
“Keep them busy so I can get by.” She barked to him.
The woman was insane, and seemed to have forgotten she was more prone to being a damsel than a hero. “That is the last thing on earth I’d do.” He growled. “You should be heading west.”
The thinner of the werewolves swung his claws at her. Using his body, Cathen nudged Alexia away and whacked the attacker’s limb.
The werewolf whimpered and licked his wound.
“If you give us the girl, we’ll stop hunting your pack,” the bigger one said.
As if Cathen believed a word that came out of one of those filthy animals’ mouths. All they wanted was to get all the Shunus out of the way, so they could win the war and cleanse the world of those like Alexia, and many others. Not while he still had an ounce of strength in him.
A
