Echoes of Fire (The Mercury Pack #4)(40)
Madisyn expected him to curse at her. Growl. Yell. He just stared at her, jaw clenched, and the tense silence began to grate on her nerves. She was about to turn and head to her car, but then he gripped her nape and pulled her flush against him.
Burying his face in her neck, Bracken breathed her in. Reassured himself that she was safe. “So fucking stubborn.”
“Pot. Kettle. Black.”
“Don’t ever again tell me to walk away. I’m here. I’m staying.” He rested his forehead on hers and swept his thumb over her cheekbone. “It’s a real good thing that you belong to me.”
“Why is that?”
“Because no one else could go toe to toe with me the way you do.” She somehow managed to be understanding while also being firm and asserting herself. “And because I’d have to kill any other male who tried to touch you.” Bracken looked off in the direction that the bears had headed. “I should have killed him while I had the chance. Knowing there’s someone out there who means you harm . . .” He ground his teeth again. “I could track him, find him, ki—”
“No.” She did not want him disappearing for six months only to come home missing yet more pieces of himself. But she didn’t say that. “It’ll be hard for us to get to know each other if you’re not around. You going hunting doesn’t tell me you’re serious about us.”
His eyes pinned hers. “I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life.”
“Then stay. Don’t turn this into a personal crusade. Just . . .” She licked her lips. “Just stay.”
He squeezed her nape. “I’ll stay.”
Tires screeched as several of his pack’s SUVs rushed into the lot.
“After we’ve relayed everything to Nick, I’m coming home with you.” Bracken needed to be with her. Around her. Not just because he’d then know she was safe, but because she fed something in him. Something that had been withering away for a while. His soul, maybe.
The sound of footsteps rushing toward them was quickly followed by Nick’s voice. “What the fuck happened?”
Taking a deep breath, Bracken turned to face him. “Well . . .”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Bracken woke with a start, heart pounding, muscles tense. For a single moment, he wasn’t sure where he was, but then Madisyn’s scent pierced the panic fogging his brain. It happened sometimes—he woke, pulse racing, disoriented, sweat dotting his forehead. If he was having nightmares, he never remembered them.
Since he’d begun sleeping beside his mate four nights ago, he hadn’t had any of the weird episodes. Just woke feeling heavy and disconnected with that all-too-familiar dull feeling in his gut. But then he’d see her, and his dark cloud would lift.
He took a centering breath and rolled over. She wasn’t there. His heart slammed in his chest, even though he knew there was no real cause for alarm. He reached out with his senses, searching for her. She wasn’t in the bathroom, and he couldn’t hear her puttering around downstairs. He put his hand on her pillow. Cold. She’d been up awhile. He was a light sleeper, so how she’d snuck out of the room without him hearing her was an absolute mystery.
He liked waking up to find her sleeping beside him. Liked that she was the first thing he saw when he woke. Liked that it had become their morning ritual for him to eat her out and then either fuck her in bed or in the shower. Finding her gone annoyed him on a number of levels.
He slipped out of bed, did his business, and then pulled on his clothes. As he headed downstairs, he again listened for sounds of movement. None. Striding down the hallway, passing the empty living area and equally empty dining area, he entered the kitchen only to find that she wasn’t in there either. A knot of irrational panic began to clog his throat, and his heart began to pound like a drum.
Stepping out into the backyard, he saw no sign of her. But her scent, more feral than usual, was heavy in the air. He relaxed. She’d shifted into her animal form, and her cat was out there somewhere. He swept his gaze over the yard, skimming over the peony bushes, birdbath, cluster of rocks, tall oak tree casting shade—
Movement.
His eyes darted back to the rockery in the corner. He’d seen it the past few times he’d been out here but never paid any real attention to it. Thought it was just decorative. But as he got closer, he realized the rocky crevice was a very cleverly crafted shelter big enough for a small animal to comfortably burrow in.
Slowly, Bracken squatted in front of the rocky haven and inhaled deeply. Yeah, she was in there. His wolf pushed against his skin, wanting out, wanting time with the cat. Bracken ignored him and waited patiently for her to make an appearance. He didn’t have to wait long.
A silvery-gray head popped halfway out of the crevice, amber eyes locking on him, pupils strangely round rather than vertical. And the little cat didn’t look all that impressed about being disturbed.
Still, Bracken couldn’t help but smile. “Hey there,” he said softly. He’d been looking forward to meeting the feline, but Madisyn had kept him waiting, and he sensed it was because she wasn’t used to sharing her cat with others.
The feline made an odd gurgling sound. Sort of barked.
“I’m hoping that’s not a ‘Fuck off.’” But he got the feeling he was being reprimanded for disturbing her. Still, he didn’t move. Like Madisyn, she needed to get used to him sharing her space. That wouldn’t happen unless he made her see that he could fit into it just fine.