Territory (25 page)

Kya sucked in a deep breath and sat back on her heels, shoving a trembling hand into her long brown hair. “I appreciate all that you and your family have done for me. Please thank them for me and tell them…well, that I love them.” Kya turned her face from his expressionless scrutiny. Her fingers curled into her hands until they were balled into tight little fists.

Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry!

She began again, and her face flushed at the telling catch in her voice. “I-I…” she cleared her throat and tried again more quietly. “I refuse to be your family’s charity case. I know that the only reason you claimed me was so you’d have a chance at finding us…I mean Isaac.”

Kya rocked gently back and forth on her knees, letting her fists relax as she brought her arms up and wrapped them around her now shivering frame.

“Neither of us knows if our bond can be broken. But you never wanted a mate, and I…well it doesn’t matter what I want.”

She stood and unwrapped the blanket from her body. “We’ll try time and space. It’s the least
I
can do for
you
, after all that you’ve done for me.”

Kya covered his frame with the fuzzy blanket then knelt down and leaned over him, tucking her free flowing hair behind her ears as it fell forward.

Briggs’ hand clamped around Kya’s wrist and he blinked twice, but he didn’t have the strength or ability to hold her.

Kya leaned down and brushed a kiss across his lips as he lay helpless staring up at her as his eyes transitioned from their typical honey color to black then back. She could feel him trying to force his recuperation, but there was simply no energy left within him.

“I wish…” Kya ran a slender thumb over Briggs’ cheek, swiping off her tear that dropped onto his face. “I wish you
were
mine. I wish you had claimed me by choice and not out of obligation. Mostly, I wish you’d change your mind and decide that you
want
a mate. That you want me. I love you Briggs.”

Kya pressed her mouth to his soft, warm lips for a long moment before pulling back.

“I’ll think of you often my mate.” Then she rose, pulling her hand free from his too weak grasp. Without looking back, Kya left the cabin, Montana, and Briggs behind.

“I’ll have a skinny chai tea latte.”

Kya scribbled the drink order absentmindedly on her pad and turned from the umbrella-covered table to shuffle back into the restaurant to retrieve the petite blonde’s coffee.

She slid the ticket onto the counter and whipped together the latte before pouring it into a white coffee mug.

I’m coming.

Kya nearly dropped the hot coffee as Briggs’ voice echoed through her brain. Straightening her shoulders, Kya regained her composure and instantly threw up the mental barrier that had become second nature to her. For the past two months, she’d learned how to control her thoughts and how to keep Briggs from entering her mind at will. It had been hard at first, but she’d gotten plenty of practice. However, there were those moments when she was lost in thought or concentrating too hard on work and she’d forget that Briggs was always out there trying to get in.

After she’d left Montana, the first time Briggs issued the threat, she tucked tail and ran. She’d jumped from city to city, state to state, thinking that he actually knew where she was. Kya had no idea if he did in fact actually know, but she wasn’t taking any chances. Like a fool, she’d fallen in love with him, and he hadn’t returned her sentiment, so for the sake of her heart she ran. All the while, fighting every day to push Briggs further and further from her thoughts, but he made the feat nearly impossible with his frequent intrusions. It was always the same message over and over. ‘I’m coming.’ He’d repeat the threat weekly, letting her know that he was still determined to find her no matter how fast or far she ran.

The knowledge that he was on her heels excited and confused her. If he didn’t want a mate then why bother? She’d deduced that either he’d changed his mind and wanted her, or wanted revenge for how she’d left him.

Many sleepless nights spent contemplating the options had convinced Kya that the latter was the reason for his pursuit, because if he had changed his mind and decided that he truly wanted her all he had to do was tell her. Surely, he must know that she’d stop running from him and run back to him if he’d just tell her that he wanted her, loved her. But that wasn’t the message he sent, the simple ‘I’m coming’ was the threat and it inspired enough fear to keep Kya on the move.

She always cringed at the memory of how she’d left him the morning after they’d made love. Poor Briggs lying defenseless on the floor, unable to even utter a protest. She’d realized now that it was completely unfair, but what was done was done. He’d get over it in time, just as she hoped to get over him.

Kya often found herself wishing that Briggs would find her, so that her constant running could finally come to an end. Truth be told, she longed to see him again. The memory of his bronze Greek-god like features marred only by his incessant scowl kept her up nearly every night. She smiled at the memory of how she’d finally learned to turn his scowl to a smile. God she missed his smile.

“That coffee’s getting cold.” Angie, one of Kya’s co-workers at the Hickory Coffee Shop, held out a napkin, her lips pursed as she shook her head at Kya. “Daggumit girl. Yer head’s always in the clouds.”

Kya finished off her shift without any more intrusions from Briggs. She cashed out her till, handed the cook ten dollars as a tip and waved goodnight to Angie. “See ya in the morning.”

“G’night ya’ll,” Angie threw at Kya’s retreating back. “Sleep tight. I hope ‘ol Romeo don’t keep ya up too late.”

Walking down the dark deserted street, Kya pulled her jacket tighter against the nip of the North Carolina night. She smiled to herself, shaking her head at Angie’s assumptions. The beautiful black haired waitress was confident that Kya had a secret lover, which, Angie liked to explain, accounted for Kya’s secretive nature and frequent bouts of daydreaming.

If only she knew the truth. I’m being hunted by my mate who happens to be part wolf. Oh, by the way, I’m a wolf too.
Kya laughed aloud.
Christ, sometimes even I can’t believe it.

It was nearly December and although much warmer than Colorado, the temperature hovering in the mid-fifties, the climate of the Carolinas was sadly a constant reminder that Kya was a long way from home.

At first, she’d traveled from Montana to Calgary on a bus, with money stolen from Briggs’ wallet. It didn’t take her long to realize that Calgary wasn’t far enough from Montana.

She’d been terrified the first time Briggs threatened her with the promise that he was “coming”. She hadn’t slept a wink in the following four days. With Briggs hot on her heels, she purchased a train ticket to Ottawa, and just as her train was pulling from the Calgary station, she saw Briggs’ race into the station, scouring faces. She’d ducked low and prayed the train wouldn’t stop. It didn’t, and she’d narrowly escaped.

Once in Ottawa, she traveled south. She’d stayed a few weeks in New York, a few more in West Virginia, and ended up in Hickory, North Carolina when her money—Briggs’ money—finally ran out.

She’d had just enough money for one last meal, so she’d ducked into a small clean looking diner for a B.L.T. with fries and a cold soda. As she counted out the last of her change to pay for the meal the waitress, Angie, had politely informed her that the owner was looking to hire a new waitress to start right away. Kya filled out an application then and there.

Angie took the application to the back along with Kya’s empty soda glass, and when Angie returned with the re-filled glass, she handed Kya a white apron. “Zedrick says you can start in the mornin’ if it works for you.”

Kya had been so relieved. Angie’s kindness endeared Kya to her instantly. That night, Kya shifted and slept in the nearby mountains, as she’d done every night since she’d been hired. All of her money was being tucked away for the time when Briggs found her—and she didn’t doubt that he would—and she’d have to run again.

Chapter
32

The next day’s shift at the café was as tedious as usual. She was halfway through her shift when she felt Briggs sneak into her mind. She knew the message was coming. Whenever he intruded on her thoughts, she cringed at the coming threat, but her belly always betrayed her by fluttering with excitement and giddy anticipation at the mere joy of getting to hear his voice. The feel of him inside her head was like stepping from a cold shadow into bright sunlight. The warmth of him enveloped her and always left her with a hitch in her breathing.

As the warmth infused her, she reflexively threw up her mental block, knowing she wouldn’t be quick enough to keep his message from getting in. Then it began as it always did, with his deep commanding tone, rich and sultry as she remembered.

I’m…

Kya finished the sentence in her mind.
Coming. Yeah, I know.
She smirked and shook her head, not missing a beat as she stirred the latte, tapping the teaspoon off the side of the cup before picking up the cup and an extra napkin for her waiting customer.

…
here.

Kya stopped dead in her tracks, the latte sloshing over the rim of the coffee cup and splashing onto the floor.

What did he say? Did he say ‘I’m here’? I must have heard that wrong. ‘I’m COMING. He said ‘I’m coming’. Didn’t he?

Kya’s eyes darted around the restaurant then dropped to the cup of coffee in her hands. Her heart accelerated and she concentrated too hard on the pool of warm coffee swirling around the cup. She dropped the mental barrier she’d thrown up and strained to listen hoping Briggs would sense that her defenses were down and repeat his threat.

You’re as beautiful as I remember.

Kya dropped the latte. Shards of white glass and creamy brown coffee flew in all directions, and the handful of restaurant patrons all turned to stare. Kya scanned their faces one by one until her eyes locked on the familiar steely black eyes that she knew meant one thing. Briggs was here and he was very, very angry.

He was seated out on the patio, frowning at her through the pane of glass that separated them.

Kya stood transfixed, her adrenaline suddenly pushed through the roof, but even it couldn’t disguise the warm pool of desire that welled in her belly.

Missed me too?

It wasn’t meant to be a question. Briggs wanted her to know that the pact they’d once had that he’d try to keep from reading her thoughts and emotions was now null and void.

Finally, Kya blinked, realizing the restaurant patrons were still staring at her.

“Uh, ya’ll need some help?” Angie dropped to her knees with a towel and began collecting the larger pieces of glass.

“Th-thanks.” Kya whispered to Angie, her eyes still locked on Briggs. His scowl deepened as he lowered his head and stood very slowly. He really wasn’t happy.

Run.

Kya’s heart picked up-tempo. Was he challenging her or reading her thoughts? She didn’t know and she didn’t care. There was only one course of action to take.

“I’ll uh, get the…uh…mop.” Kya backed through the swinging doors that led to the kitchen. Leaving Angie on her knees cleaning the mess she’d made. Inside the kitchen, Kya ripped off her apron and dashed out the back door without a word to anyone.

I’m coming.

Kya ducked behind the row of tall dumpsters that sat in smelly formation behind the restaurant and instantly shifted before racing from the alley.

You’ll have to run faster than that.

Briggs’ threat did in fact encourage Kya to run faster.
How did he get out here so fast?

I’m much, much faster than you think.

With this threat, Kya picked up her pace, sprinting across the busy street, she narrowly dodged speeding vehicles. Kya had planned her escape route the day after she’d decided to stay in Hickory, knowing all too well the strength and power of Briggs’ massive frame. If she expected to get away from him, she’d have to be smarter not faster.

Kya didn’t stop or even slow to see if he were in pursuit, she knew he was. She dashed through a slight hole in a chain link fence that she’d discovered at a local basketball court. The only way into the court was through a gate on the completely opposite side, over the top, or—for those who could fit—the tight squeeze through the hole in the fence. She’d chosen this path intentionally knowing that if Briggs were pursuing her he’d be too large in his wolf form to fit through the hole and would lose time by shifting to scale the fence.

Once through the fence Kya sped across the court and exited through the far gate.

Nicely played.

Kya pushed to run faster, she hadn’t expected Briggs to be that close on her heels, but she knew she’d bought some time with his having to deal with the fence.

She crisscrossed the city, ducking through her carefully selected alleyways, abandoned houses, and lots packed with long forgotten rusting vehicles. After a series of tight squeezes and crossing several dilapidated roofs that she knew were barely able to sustain her slight weight, Kya smiled to herself in satisfaction.
Leave me alone Briggs!

We have unfinished business.

Kya’s heart caught in her throat. So, he was looking for revenge. Dejection stung at the back of her eyes pushing her to run harder. She knew Briggs wouldn’t stop hunting her until he got what he sought. Unless…
I’m sorry.
She kept running, hoping her apology might buy her a reprieve.

Yes. I imagine you will be.