Soul Bonded

chapter EIGHTEEN



Katie sighed. She really didn’t want to think about what lie ahead. Unfortunately, ignoring the fact that there were vicious creatures coming to kill them wouldn’t delay their inevitable appearance. “What time will you transform?”

“After dark. Around eight o’clock, most likely.” Rafe pushed away from the table and turned his chair to face her. “I’ll go outside as soon as the sun goes down. I don’t want you anywhere near me when I turn.”

“What if the others are out there?”

“I assume they will be.” He shrugged. “They’ll listen to Jack. If he told them not to retaliate while they’re in control of their actions, they won’t. But once we all transform, it’s going to be a bloodbath.” Gathering both their plates, Rafe stood, but not before planting a gentle kiss on top of her head. “The important thing is that you stay locked inside the cabin, no matter what happens. And that you shoot anyone who comes in after you.”

Katie shuddered. It all sounded so much like a bad dream that she could hardly believe it was really going to happen. If not for the memory of being trapped beneath the heavy weight of a werewolf whose mouth dripped with her blood, she probably wouldn’t. “I understand.” She watched Rafe rinse off their plates, overwhelmed by the myriad of emotions washing over her. Despite the ominous cloud hanging over them, there was a part of her that was happier than she’d been in a long time. Stupidly, improbably happier. If only they were a normal pair of new lovers, she’d suggest they head back to bed. Instead she had to face the very real possibility that one or both of them wouldn’t make it through the night. “Do you think any of your pack-mates will come help?”

Rafe’s expression hardened. “I don’t know. Even if they wanted to risk angering Alpha by involving themselves, they won’t have conscious control over their actions. Some may show up. It’s likely nobody will.” Rafe dried his hands on a dish towel, affecting a casual air that Katie didn’t believe. “I’ll protect you with or without them.”

“How? You’ll be outnumbered.”

“But I’ll have the strength that our bond gives me.” He walked back to the table and dropped into his chair. If not for the trace of uncertainty she sensed in his voice, she’d think he was all confidence. “I’ll be fine.”

Katie glanced toward the curtained window. Muted light filtered through the material, evidence that the sun had risen. “What if we try to make a break for it? Maybe the roads are clear.“

“Unfortunately, I’m not able to radio Cooper and ask about the roads. I may have to leave you for a few minutes to scout ahead and see if they’re open. I don’t want to take you away from the cabin unless it’s a one-way trip into town.”

It was her idiotic escape attempt had led to the loss of Rafe’s radio. She wanted to kick herself for not remembering to grab it after Rafe stopped her assault. The idea of being separated for even a few minutes panicked her. “I don’t want you to go.”

“I shouldn’t have to run very far to see whether the route is passable. Unless the roads are safe to drive on before three o’clock at the very latest, I think trying to leave will be more dangerous than staying. If we got stranded out there, we’d have to try and fend them off in the open woods. I’d also have to transform in your presence, which is not something I’m keen to do.” Rafe shook his head as though shrugging off a bad memory. “That said, if by some miracle the road is open, I do think that getting you to town is the best possible option. Even if they can’t evacuate you tonight, the others aren’t likely to follow you into civilization.”

Katie’s heart sank as she interpreted Rafe’s meaning. “You sound like you’re not planning to go with me.”

“Because I can’t.” Shame radiated from his every pore. “Tonight I’ll become a murderous, bloodthirsty wolf. I have no business being around human beings when I’m like that.”

“Then I’m staying with you.” She folded her arms over her chest and put on her most defiant expression. He could try to talk her out of it, but she wasn’t going to be swayed. Insane as it sounded even to her, Rafe’s life had somehow become as precious to her as her own. She couldn’t flee to safety knowing that he was going to spend the night fighting a war on her behalf. “I won’t leave you here.”

“I’ll be fine. If we can get you out, that’s what we need to do.”

Katie rejected his bravado with a dismissive wave. “They’re going to come for you whether I’m here or not. And if I’m not, you won’t have that protective instinct working in your favor. Considering that the best-case scenario in the event of your death is that a part of me will die along with you, and the worst-case scenario is that all of me will die, abandoning you doesn’t really work for me. So you don’t need to bother checking on the roads. I’m staying.”

Rafe leaned back in his chair. “You’re strong-willed, aren’t you?”

Her ex-boyfriend Dylan had made a similar observation—albeit in cruder terms—right before ending their relationship. In the months since he’d left, she’d tried to embrace her willful nature but secretly worried that she would never find a man who could love that about her. She sincerely hoped that Rafe wasn’t put off by spirited women—that would spell disaster for any relationship they might have. “So I’ve been told.”

“Good.” He raked his eyes over her body, yet again visibly aroused. His desire was palpable, hanging heavily between them. “It’ll help.”

When his nostrils flared and he looked away to take a deep, steadying breath, Katie said, “Is this why your pack stays away from humans? Because it’s too difficult to control your primal urges?”

“Among other reasons.” Rafe licked his lips and met her gaze with effort. “Threat of discovery is also a concern. My pack operates on the assumption that if humans realize we’re out here, sooner or later they’ll try to hunt us down. And that would get ugly, fast.”

“So then why are the others so cavalier about revealing themselves? Don’t they stand to lose just as much?”

The grim expression on Rafe’s face raised the hairs on the back of Katie’s neck. “They consider themselves more evolved than humans. Werewolves have superior speed and strength, plus the ability to heal ourselves at an accelerated rate. So they don’t see humans as equals—they see you as easy and honorable prey for their animalistic urges. As toys to beat and violate and devour after they’re all used up. They don’t worry about discovery because they don’t leave witnesses alive.” He curled his lip in disgust. “And they don’t much care about getting ugly, anyway.”

All the warmth in her body drained away. “Do you think I’m the first human to escape one of their hunts?”

“It’s possible.” Her worry seemed to take the edge off his unrelenting desire, because he softened and took her hands between his. “No one in my pack has ever claimed a human before. The idea of allowing one inside our society is absolutely unheard of—for the others and for my own pack. I’m not sure whether anyone could ever accept it. Or us. Make no mistake…we’re breaking new ground here.”

Katie managed a smile she didn’t really feel. “Guess it’s a good thing you were already a lone wolf.”

Snorting, Rafe murmured, “Guess so.”

Hoping he wouldn’t take the gesture as a tease, Katie put her hand on his arm. “But you know you’re not alone anymore. Right?”

Rafe shifted his gaze to the tabletop. “Like I said, let’s just make it through tonight. Then we’ll talk about the future.”

Tonight. Katie curled her hands into fists and pressed down hard on her thighs. Like it or not, it was time to start getting serious about survival. She wanted the chance to talk about a future with Rafe more than she could logically explain. “On that note, last night I told you I knew how to use a gun. And I do. My dad taught me to shoot as a kid…but I haven’t actually fired a round in years. So I’d be lying if I said I felt totally confident about taking out an angry, snarling, moving wolf.”

Rafe failed to hide his mild alarm at her disclosure. “Then it sounds like it’s time for a little target practice.”