Chapter 116 Chapter 116
Calum looked over his shoulder for the hundredth time, making sure no one was following them. He knew Jake had said he’d keep an eye out, without invading their privacy, but he trusted nothing on this mountain until the sick bastard running the village was taken down.
“No one will follow us,” Shaelan whispered, her arm brushing against his as they walked. “Aunt Marilyn gave her word and I believe her.”
He grinned, “Yeah, I don’t think I’d want to be on her bad side.” He wanted to hug her against his side, but knew if he touched her right now he’d be laying her down in the long grass… Shaking his head, he focused on calming his cat down. If he pranced around any more inside him, Calum’s ass was going to be wiggling as he walked. Like he was sure Brock’s did when no one was looking. Hello?! Get your head together! Glaring at the ground, he sighed. He was a mess. Going to be with his mate and thinking about a gay jaguar… He was going to be with his mate for the first time, he didn’t count being chained to the wall, neither of them knew then. He was nervous, which was honestly the first time in his life he’d had this feeling.
Shaelan stopped walking and stood still. Calum was immediately turning to see if she sensed something he didn’t.
“Sorry,” she whispered. “I’m just…” She gave a loud sigh. “So much to process today.” Her cheeks turned pink, “and I’m a little nervous too.”
Heaving out a heavy sigh, he offered her a smile. “To be honest, I’m a mess too, if that makes you feel any better.”
She looked him up and down. “You don’t show it.”
He snorted, “Good to know.” Reaching over, he pulled the blanket she’d been hugging out of her arms and tucked it under his arm. “How much further is this ‘retreat’ of your aunt’s?” He wasn’t sure what to expect, knowing what he did about the woman. An hour ‘that way’ hadn’t been the detailed directions he would have preferred either.
Shaelan turned and looked around. “Shouldn’t be much further. It’s right at the edge of our territory’s boundary in this direction, she said we couldn’t miss seeing it.”
“I’m almost afraid to find out.”
Shae laughed, “me too. She keeps things interesting though.”
“That she does.” He agreed and walked as close as he dared to get without touching her.
“I can’t believe everything that’s going to happen in the next day or so. I hope it all goes the way we’ve planned.” She blew out a loud breath. “Do you think Aunt Marilyn and Brock will be able to do it? I always thought the darts were for injured wildlife… like, real wild animals.”
Calum ran a hand through his hair. “If they can replace the ammo with blanks and empty darts, we’ll stand a better chance.” If they managed to do that inside the village, the only unknown factor would be the ammo that was carried on the supply run. This Jerome that ran the escort—was the same Jerome that was the only clan member that went into the forbidden area. Calum and he were going to be having a serious discussion about Gene’s death. The chances of Jerome being alive at the end of it were slim.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but my insides are rolling around from the vibes coming off you.” She said quietly.
Snapping out of it he glanced down at her. “Sorry. That would be your cat feeling the anger I do.” He realized again that the things he took for granted, she wasn’t aware of. “That night you came to me, your fear and anxiety almost smothered me.”
Her eyes went wide, “is that what it is? It’s so weird, these feelings I keep getting, that I’ve never felt in my life. At times, it feels like my skin is crawling, but nothing is there.”
Careful to keep his distance, he reached out and ran his hand lightly down her back. “Your change isn’t far off if you’re getting that feeling. Get used to it, your cat will do it often. Especially when they want your attention. After a while it will feel strange if you can’t feel their presence inside you.”
She huffed out a breath, “I’m scared, but excited at the same time. I don’t even have a clue what to expect. There’s been no time for questions or answers since all of this started.”
Stopping, he swore under his breath. He should have left her with Rayne and Kelsey tonight, so they could help her understand more. It angered him that his mate was being pelted with so many things she couldn’t grasp. “We can go back and you can talk to the girls…”
She grabbed his arm. “No. I didn’t mean that. I want to be here. I just have a lot of questions.”
Searching her face, he saw she meant it. She did want to be here, but he could also see the under- lying confusion in her sexy eyes. “I can try to answer them… as long as they’re not female questions, we’re good.” She smiled up and him and he his heart stutter.
“Thank you.” Pursing her lips together her eyes moved down over him for a moment then stopped at his neck, her brows furrowed.
“What?”
“I just realized…” her eyes flew back to his, “Rayne and Kelsey…”
Her hand moved to cover her one breast, he tried not to let his eyes follow the movement, but failed.
“They were explaining the mating bites?” She asked.
That got his attention back on her face. “Marks. What about it?”
She gave a slight nod. “Mating marks. I can’t mark you.”
His heart, he was sure, stopped beating all together. Swallowing, he found his voice. “You can’t?”
She shook her head, looking puzzled, then opened her mouth baring her teeth at him. “I don’t have fangs… sharp cat’s teeth, like you.”
He heaved out a breath so loud, he felt his shoulders drop a few inches in relief. “You will soon enough, your change isn’t far off.” False alarm. His cat settled back down inside him.
Stepping closer, she looked up into his eyes and he felt his whole world still. “You don’t understand.” She whispered, causing his eyes to flick to her lips then back to her eyes. “You said I would be bearing your mark in a visible location…”
He nodded, completely distracted by her scent, her eyes softly holding his, her lips moving…