Saving the Beast (16 page)

“Tell me about her,” Angel said.

“I met her in the Marines. She was this little bit of nothing with a heart fiercer than any I’ve ever known. She was quick and quiet, deadly when needed, and they never saw her coming most of the time. She pushed herself harder than any of us, as if she felt she had something to prove because of her size.”

“She’s so tiny,” Angel agreed and Zane had to agree. Compared to the two of them, she was.

“Don’t let her size fool you. She’s strong. I’ve seen her take men our size down before they knew her intentions.”

Angel nodded and leaned on his shovel, raising his head to the sky and taking a deep breath. “She was tied down when I walked in.”

“Already unconscious?” Zane asked.

Angel shook his head. “No. She was awake and mad as hell. I smelled her long before I reached her, but it wasn’t until she screamed that I realized exactly what she meant to me.”

“You should have left then,” Zane said.

“And what? Left only a fucked up shifter fighting fever and his mate who’s in heat to deal with a trained hunter team? Left my woman to whatever they had planned before they killed her?” He shook his head. “Never crossed my mind.”

“What you said… Your name… Are you who I think you are?” Zane finally asked.

Angel smiled sadly and nodded. “I am.”

“That explains your words, and why you won’t stay.”

“I can’t. As much as it will kill a piece of me to leave her behind. I can’t stay with her. I can’t,” Angel stated and Zane sensed both sorrow and anger in Angel’s voice.

“She won’t understand,” Zane warned.

“I know,” Angel agreed.

“You bit her anyway?” Zane finally asked. “Why would you do that knowing you couldn’t stay?”

Angel wouldn’t meet his eyes. “She didn’t give me a choice.”

“She’s going to hate you,” Zane warned.

“I hope so,” Angel said. “Better to hate me than to sit and wait for something that can never be.”

“It’s deep enough,” Zane said after they dug a few more minutes in silence. “You’ll go talk to Tah?”

“I was planning to when I headed this way,” Angel said. “It’s time for your pride to move on. They know where you are. Colorado is no longer safe for you.”

“Fuck,” Zane muttered. “Tah’s mate, Abby, is pregnant. Due any day. We won’t be able to travel until after the baby is born.”

“You’ve got some time,” Angel assured him. He took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “I know a place you can head to. You’ll all be safe there. I’ll give Tah the information.”

“Will you be okay?” Zane asked him.

The emotions rolling off Angel were polluting the air around them. Sorrow, pain, anger bordering on rage, regret tinged with shame and something deeper that Zane felt intrusive for even sensing. But Angel wore his resolve around him like a cloak. His decision was made, and there was nothing Zane could say to change his mind.

“My life is not my own,” Angel stated softly. “I am the hand of justice. The executioner.”

“I’ll take care of her,” Zane promised. “As if she were my own mate. Diane and I, we won’t let anything happen to Kenzie. She’ll be loved and protected as fiercely as we can.”

He didn’t mention that it wouldn’t be the same as having her mate with her. Zane didn’t doubt Angel was well aware of that. It was hurting the other man enough. There was no need to voice the obvious.

Angel nodded, saying nothing as they got to work burying the dead. Not because the hunters deserved it, but because they had a better chance of being discovered if they were left out for the carrion to feed on as they deserved, as they would have done to a shifter.

“I put Diane and Kenzie’s gear on the side of the cabin. Came across them as I was searching around, making sure we didn’t miss anything or anyone.”

“I’ll get it,” Zane told him.

Angel’s glance fell toward the cabin again. “I need to go,” he said but his feet appeared rooted to the ground.

Zane knew how hard it was to walk away from a mate. He’d tried it for months and had already been ready to give in before he’d been hit with the needle of virus. And he hadn’t bitten Diane then. Now, with his mark on her and the link starting between them? There was no way he could walk away without ripping his soul to shreds. He didn’t envy Angel his role in their world.

Angel dug in his pocket and pulled a scrap of paper out, handing it to Zane. “Here. If she ever needs me, you can leave a message for me there. He’ll know how to get in touch with me.”

Zane nodded and bleak eyes met his gaze before Angel once again straightened his shoulders. He scooped up the gear he’d propped against a tree and opened it.

“Here, take this,” he offered and held a T-shirt out to Zane. “Thank you. Keep her safe for me.”

“I will,” Zane vowed.

“I’ll let Tah know you’ll be heading back. I noticed Kenzie’s phone was smashed. Didn’t know if Diane had one or not.”

“Thanks,” Zane said.

“I’ll be long gone when you get there. You have a hell of a woman for a mate. She’s bright, but thinks with her heart.”

Zane nodded in agreement. “I’ll take care of her.”

“I know you will. I owe you for what you’re doing for me. If there ever comes a time when you need me, don’t hesitate to call. I’ll come.”

“I will,” Zane told him and they gripped forearms before Angel turned and walked away into the trees.

Zane stood there until the other man had disappeared from sight. What a mess. He wondered if Kenzie would believe him when he told her how much pain her mate had been in when he’d left? Would she care or take comfort in knowing he was hurting, too? Somehow, he didn’t think she would. If anything, knowing Angel was in pain would only hurt her worse.

He headed back toward the cabin and walked around the outside, looking for the gear Angel had placed there. He lifted it all easily and made his way to the porch. One sniff and his mate’s scent filled his nostrils. His cock flexed against his zipper and Zane felt another surge of need for Diane. It wasn’t as strong as it had been. Did that mean the fever was quieting? God, he hoped so.

He stopped at the door and waited, easing the gear out of his hands and listening for movement. He knew Diane had heard him on the porch, but she remained silent. Maybe his mate had learned her lesson. He grinned and lifted one hand to knock softly on the door.

Nothing. No sound or movement from the other side. Good girl.

He knocked again and this time let her know it was him. “Diane.”

The door flew open and his mate was there, barreling against his chest and holding him tight.

“Whoa,” he grunted, gaze searching the inside. “What’s wrong?”

“He bit her and left her. I saw the bite. How could he do that, Zane? And you were gone? I was worried that…”

She cut herself off as her big hazel eyes met his. There were tears there, gathering at the corners and wetting her lashes with each blink she gave.

“You were afraid I was leaving you?”

She nodded, and he wrapped her tighter against his chest.

“Never, baby. I’ll never leave you again. I promise.”

“I couldn’t handle it if you did. God, I blew up at everyone when you were gone. I yelled at the Professor, at Tah and all of them. I fell apart when you weren’t there.”

“Then I’ll be there, so much that you’ll beg me to get out from under your feet.”

“Not likely,” she said, and he felt the wet of her tears on his chest.

“Let’s get in,” he said and eased her away so he could gather the gear he’d dropped and carry it inside.

She shut and locked the door behind him. He glanced over at the bed on the other side of the cabin to check on Kenzie.

“Has she awoken yet?” Zane asked.

Diane shook her head. “Did Angel say what happened?”

“Not really.”

“I liked him. But I can’t like him for leaving her.”

“He asked if we’d watch over her and, for what it’s worth, I saw how much it tore him apart to leave her,” Zane offered softly.

“Good,” Diane said and more tears spilled over. “He doesn’t deserve for anyone to feel sorry for him. Damn him.”

“I told him we’d take care of Kenzie,” Zane said.

“Damn right we will,” Diane agreed. “She came out here for us, to help me find you and bring you back to us. I owe her everything for that.”

“We do,” Zane reminded her.

“I don’t understand,” Diane muttered. “How can he leave? Why would he need to?”

“When he introduced himself, what did he say?”

“He said his name was Gabriel but most people called him Angel or referred to him as ‘the Angel’. And he said he’d been tracking the hunters here.”

“Most people think of him as a legend, someone created to give shifters hope of justice being served.”

“He’s a liger,” Diane whispered, and her eyes were huge.

“You saw him shift?” Zane demanded and growled at her nod. “I’m starting to feel a little primal again.”

“I may not be an M.D., Zane, but I am the doctor here. I see people in all states of undress. You’re going to have to get used to that.”

He growled again, and she reached out to smooth her hands over his chest.

“I’ll never look at any of them as I do you,” she promised. “They’re friends, patients. You’re my mate, my lover, my heart and soul.”

“I might need you to remind me of that every now and then,” he told her.

“Anytime. Now, tell me more about Angel.”

“He’s a liger shifter, the only one of his kind, and his is a lone road. He is the hand of justice, lethal beyond imagination. You saw the way he took on the men here, twelve of them against him.”

“He decimated them,” Diane agreed.

“He is the hand of retribution. Justice for those killed by hunter hands. He is judge and jury, and if found guilty, he is the executioner who will deal out swift punishment.”

“He said this wasn’t meant to happen,” she said, pointing toward Kenzie.

“He’s a lone beast. Solitary and always on the road. It’s no life for a mate.”

“Shouldn’t that be her choice?” Diane asked softly.

“I don’t know,” Zane finally said. “The places he goes. The enemies he has. She would never be safe with him. If anyone finds out about her, that she’s his mate, she won’t be safe anywhere.”

“Are you saying no one can know?”

“Tah will have to know. We can’t keep this from him. I’m not sure who among our group he’ll tell, Reno and Logan for sure. Everyone will need to know how important it is to keep her safe. And yet, the less people who know, the safer she’ll be.”

“Why would he bite her if he knew he couldn’t stay with her?” Diane asked softly.

Zane sighed. “I think that’s something you’ll have to ask Kenzie. There are a lot of factors that work against a shifter and his or her ability to think clearly around their mate. Whatever happened between them…” He shrugged. “It’s between them. We might never know.”

“I’m worried for her,” Diane admitted.

“Me, too,” he said.

Diane cuddled against him, and he held her tightly. He wanted her, needed her. He glanced at Kenzie again on the bed. She was still out. He moved his gaze around the cabin, searching for a spot that might give them some privacy. Shit, he’d taken his mate on the ground too many times, then against the door. As soon as they got back home, he was taking her to bed—a nice, soft bed where he could make love to her again and again.

“What is it?” she asked.

He made eye contact and knew from her sharp inhale his eyes were glowing again. “I need you.”

She glanced at his zipper, and his cock pulsed at the heated gaze. He watched her looking around, as well, and knew she was seeing what he was—a big open square with no place to give privacy. Still, he swore he wasn’t going to take her on the ground again.

“Grab the tent with Kenzie’s gear,” she said and began clearing a spot in the corner. “Hurry,” she ordered when he stood there.

He grinned as he followed her instructions. Soon, they had the tent popped up, and he was glad the tents they had just sprung up into place. He watched her ass as she spread the sleeping bag that had been with it inside. She turned and sat down in the opening, kicking off her shoes and peeling down her socks. She smiled at him, and his breath caught in his lungs at just how beautiful she was. And his. She was all his. His chest vibrated with that knowledge.

She pulled her shirt over her head, and her lush breasts with their tight pink nipples had his mouth watering to taste her again. She leaned back and reached to undo her pants. Glancing up, she lifted one delicate brow at him.

“What are you waiting for? I thought you needed me,” she said.

He toed off his boots and threw another quick glance at Kenzie before stripping to his skin and crawling in to join her. She was on her back, legs spread wide while she rolled her nipples between her fingers. He could see the slick moisture coating the lips of her sex. She needed him, as well. He went to her, sliding into placed between her thighs and taking her mouth before surging into her slick sheath.

They both moaned quietly as he began rocking into her. Her arms and legs wrapped around him. He bent low over her so her nipples rubbed against his chest, sending his pleasure higher. He loved the feel of her against him, skin on skin. He’d keep her this way always if he could. But he would have to share his mate with the rest of his pride. She was right. She was their doctor, and they were lucky to have her.

“I love you,” she moaned as she came, her sex tightening around his cock and milking it. “Love you.”

“I love you,” he purred against the mate mark on her skin. “You’re my always and forever,” he swore and bit into her again as he came, taking her with him.

He held her long after the sweat had cooled on their skin. Tomorrow, they’d head back and if what Angel had said was true, their world would change again. He glanced down at the sleeping woman beside him. At least this time he wouldn’t be alone. Who knew? Maybe they’d run across his Uncle Orsai and Zane would be able to introduce his mate to his uncle. He didn’t doubt for a moment Orsai would love Diane. What was there not to love?

Chapter Eleven