Sanctuary (A Hunted Novel Book 1) (19 page)

“If this works, Sanctuary will be safe—at least for the moment,” she replied quietly. She knew what was going through his head. He wanted to find Eden. But if they pulled this off they’d be protecting the entire community. Tess hoped Patrice followed through on her word and sent the team out for Eden and Xander. It was the least the wolf could do.

“We got a long drive, and I don’t want to spend it thinking about tonight—about what may or may not be happening to Eden and Xander,” he commented.

“What do you want to talk about?” Tess asked curiously.

He shrugged. “I don’t know. Callum, Xander, and I usually joke with each other when we’re going out on an op. It helps to take our mind off what’s happening out there.”

Tess glanced out the window. She could understand that, especially for someone in Nate’s position. He saw the worst of their world on a regular basis. It had to be hard.

“What’s your favorite movie?” she asked, remembering he liked to watch movies.

Nate was silent for a moment before a small grin slipped over his face. “Depends.”

Tess laughed. “On what?”

“Old movie or new?”

Tess thought about it for a minute. “Both.”

“Old movie is
Birds
. It reminds me of a pissed off bird shifter taking vengeance on a village.” He shrugged. “Who knows it could be a true story, and we’d never know.”

“I’ve never seen it,” Tess admitted. She’d never even heard of it.
Maybe we can watch it while we are tucked away in the bunker.

“Favorite new movie is
Spiderman
,” Nate answered before she could ask.

“Who knows, maybe there are spider shifters,” Tess mused.

Nate chuckled. “Could you imagine how big they would be? Our animal size is fairly proportionate to our human size. The only exception really is birded shifters. Even then, most of them are petite in their human forms.”

Tess shivered. “Those would be some big spiders.”

“Yeah,” he said sounding more mesmerized than grossed out.

“Makes me glad there is no such thing,” Tess whispered. Spiders creeped her out. Yes, she was a giant cat afraid of spiders. Weird. But it was the truth.

“So tell me something about you, Tess. You don’t watch TV or movies. What do you like to do during your free time?” Nate inquired.

“When I’m not with my family or in the orchards I read.”

“What type of books?” Nate asked.

Tess bit her lip as heat crawled over her cheeks.
Do I have to answer the question? He answered yours.
“I might read romance novels about people like us.”

“What? Werewolf romance?” Nate asked with a frown.

“And cat,” she defended. Why did everyone always forget about cat shifters?

“Why?”

Tess shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s fun to see what people think about us. Some authors are incredibly accurate, and others...” she trailed off and shook her head. Others got it so horribly wrong it was funny.

“What’s your favorite sweet treat? I know you have one,” he teased.

“Ice cream. Butter Pecan to be specific. You?” she asked, quirking her brow up. His blue eyes met hers and she couldn’t help but get lost in his gaze. This conversation was nice and fun, and just what she needed.

“Chocolate peanut butter no bake cookies.”

“Never had them,” she admitted.

“I’ll have to get you some first chance we get. Eden makes the best though,” he said his voice sobering.

Tess gripped his hand tightly. Butterflies fluttered in her belly at the simple touch. His warmth seeped into her, and she relaxed back into the seat. Nate sank back into his own seat too. The rigidness left his tense shoulders and his elbows bent. She let out a relieved sigh.
Looks like touching calms us both down.
“We’re going to find her,” she promised. Once she gave her word, she never went back on it. She just hoped that when they did find Eden, the human was well.

N
ate double-checked the rearview mirror for what felt like the millionth time. The path was clear. They’d allowed their pursuers to follow them up until they got close to the Ohio border. Then they had maneuvered up and down the freeway on and off ramps until they’d lost their tails.

“They probably know we’re going to Ohio,” Tess thought aloud. “The other hunters were close to finding the entrance. There’s a good chance they will show up outside the compound.”

“I know. We’re going to have to hope they don’t find a way inside. We’ll reset the alarms and make sure the garage exit is clear,” Nate explained. The underground bunker would be safe enough until they could start the hunt for Eden. Once hunters got on your tail. There was nowhere safe to stay. No matter where they went, they’d always be sleeping with one eye open.

“Do you think it’s safe to stop somewhere?” Tess questioned. She crinkled her nose up in disgust. “I’ll eat canned food if I have to, but I’d prefer some fresh food.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Nate admitted. “I think it would be all right to make a quick trip to the store. But it has to be in and out. We don’t want them finding us again, especially now that we are getting closer to the compound.” The longer they could keep them off their tail, the better. But he wanted real food too. He shuddered at the thought of having to choke down another can of spam. It wasn’t that he had anything against it, but as a carnivore, he preferred his meat fresh. Rare steak was the way to his heart.

“There’s a grocery store at this exit,” Tess observed as she pointed to a large billboard. “How much further? Is it too early to stop?”

Nate’s stomach rumbled. He was hungry now. “We’re about thirty minutes out give or take. We can stop, but lets make it quick.”

The truck cabin remained silent as they pulled off the exit and hurried down the ramp. He flipped his blinker on and turned down the road and into the parking lot. The lot was nearly empty, and they were able to park in the front. White light from the streetlamps illuminated their vehicle. Good. Hunters couldn’t sneak up on them in the dark.

He switched the ignition off and hopped out. “Meat aisle first?” he questioned.

Tess grinned. The glass sliding doors glided open, and they entered side by side. “That’s the only place I want to stop.”

“We could use some soda there too,” Nate beamed. Instead of coffee in the morning, he enjoyed a nice can of soda.

“Coke or Pepsi?” Tess asked with narrowed eyes.

“Is this a trick question?” he asked slowly.

Tess raised her brow in question. “Maybe.”

“Coke,” he guessed, hoping they had something else in common.

“Good,” she said, strutting ahead of him.

Nate licked his lips as he watched the gentle sway of her hips. That was definitely on purpose.
I want her
. Emotions roared through him at the realization. Did he dare give into temptation?

“You coming?” Tess called over her shoulder.

Nate blinked and hurried behind her. They were supposed to be in a rush. There wasn’t time to be ogling her, or thinking about their ill-fated future. Would it be doomed? Right now, the council had larger things to worry about than a relationship between he and Tess.
I know what I want. It’s the only way I’m ever going to be happy. No one else will ever make me happy. Does she want the same thing?

He hadn’t known Tess for long, but he’d seen enough to know what kind of person she was. She was a rare treasure. Unlike the wolves at Sanctuary, she connected with him on a level that no one else ever had. Sure there was the physical aspect, but it wasn’t only that. There was a mental connection. When she was with him, he thought clearer, made better decisions, and she was easy to talk to. No one at Sanctuary fit that bill. You only lived once; you should live the way you wanted. Not the way someone else thought you should.

***

T
ess let out a relieved sigh as the garage door shut tightly behind them. Nate had become silent during their trip at the store and had rarely spoken since.
Did I say something wrong?
Or has he finally realized that we are going to be locked underground together again?

A chill of anticipation shot up her spine, causing her to shiver. The idea had definitely crossed her mind. She breathed in a deep breath. Nate’s scent enveloped her, and she closed her eyes, enjoying the woodsy aroma.

She sighed, remembering Thea’s words.
“Most shifter’s never find their true soul mate. You should be grateful that you found yours. It’s a rarity, and it should be cherished. He sounds like a good guy. Don’t let prejudices get in the way of what you want. It’s your life, no one else’s.”

One step at a time. You don’t know what his thoughts are on the whole process.

“I’m famished,” Nate stated, drawing her from her thoughts. “What do you say we head to the kitchen? You want burgers or steaks tonight?”

She opened her mouth. Both sounded delicious, but she was a burger girl. Her mouth watered, and her belly rumbled loudly.
I can’t wait to sink my teeth into a thick juicy burger.

“Burgers,” she answered. “Do you cook?” she asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

He smirked. “I know how to
not
burn things if that’s what you mean.”

“I’d say that’s cooking,” she teased. Her culinary skills were about the same. As a child her mother had attempted to teach her, but Tess never had the patience to sit and look at recipes. She wanted to be outside or bury her nose in a good book.

Nate juggled the bags in his hand as he pulled out his cell phone. “Do you mind getting things prepped? I need to call my mom and check in. I want to make sure the threat to Sanctuary left with us and see if there is any word on Eden.”

Tess nodded, following him to the kitchen. He set the bags down on the counter and then exited the room. Tess sighed loudly, leaning against the fridge as she watched him disappear down the corridor.

He didn’t mind talking in front of me before. What’s changed? Stop it Tess. Don’t be insecure. I’m sure he has his reasons.

Shoving off the fridge, she went to the brown paper bags and began to rifle through the contents. She set the burgers out and put the steaks in the fridge and other nonperishables away. Tess grabbed a few cans of Coke and popped them in the freezer so they’d be chilled in time for dinner. Then she set to work on finding the pans.

Tess crouched down and peered into the cupboard. Surely there was cookware in this kitchen. What good was a safe house if you didn’t have the things you needed? She crawled across the floor and peered into another cabinet.
Found you
, she thought triumphantly.

The pans clanked together as she sifted through them to pull out the right sized pan. Nate had gotten four burgers. She assumed he meant for them to be eaten tonight. Her stomach growled loudly. Yeah, she could eat two of them easily—maybe three.

Footsteps thudded down the hallway, and she stood up, pan in hand, watching as Nate came back into view.

He ran a hand through his hair and gave her a nod as he came in.

“Everything okay?” Tess asked eyeing him. Something was wrong. But what?

“The area around Sanctuary is clear... as far as they can tell anyway. Callum’s going to take out a team. He’s suppose to call us as soon as he knows something,” Nate replied as he strolled towards her. He took the pan from her, his hand gliding over hers. She shivered, her body all too aware of their proximity. His hands were magic, and she wanted to feel them on her again and again. How long could she deny what she wanted?
I don’t want to wait. Make a move!

“How do you like your burgers?” Nate asked, letting his hand linger over hers a second too long before backing away. He went to the stove and flipped on one of the burners.

“Rare.”

“Me too,” he said, looking over his shoulder with a grin.

Tess bit her lip as she sauntered over to the oven and leaned against the counter, propping her elbows up on the cool laminate top. “Rare is the closest thing to a fresh kill,” she admitted. Not that she ate live animals as a human, but as a cat, her feline formed loved to hunt.

“There’s nothing quite like it,” Nate smiled. “I took down a boar once by myself.”

“Really?” Tess asked surprised. She grinned. He was starting to act like himself again. Whatever had kept him so quiet had passed.

“It wasn’t an easy feat. But I was out on my own, and I was starving. It was actually pretty tasty too.”

“I like deer meat,” Tess offered.

“Ever eat it cooked?” Nate asked as he reached around her into the drawer to pull out a spatula. His eyes met hers as he looked up.

Her breath hitched in her throat and she leaned forward. His lips were so close, and she wanted another taste. Once you start, it’s going to be hard to stop. Does he want the same thing?

Nate set the spatula on the counter. His hand reached up and brushed a lock of hair out of her face. Tess closed her eyes as his thumb traced tiny circles on her cheek.

“I barely know you, but I can’t imagine not seeing you every day, Tess. We have a connection. Every day it seems like it gets stronger. I don’t think I can walk away,” Nate whispered as he pressed a kiss to her lips.

Tess gasped at the contact. Heat surged through her body and she melted into him. Their lips melded together, moving in perfect sync as they reacquainted themselves.
Yes. This is right.

Nate pulled back and Tess groaned at the loss of contact. Her body hummed with desire and need. She wanted this. Right now.

“Tess,” Nate started, his thumb still grazing patterns into her cheek. “I don’t want to force your decision, and I don’t want our emotions or hormones to do it either. If we complete the bond it needs to be our choice.” He swallowed hard and met her gaze. “I know what I want now and—”

Nate’s voice got washed out by the proximity alarm. Red lights flared to life, bathing the kitchen in a swirl of crimson.

Tess’ heart skipped a beat as panic set in.

Nate grabbed her hand and hauled her to the door. “We got to go.”

“How did they find the entrance?” Tess hissed as she brought them to a stop. “What if its not hunters?” Hope swelled in her heart. What if it was her family, and they ran away?
I have to know who is at the door.