Page 22 of An Anomaly of Sunlight

The phone beeps to signal that Sage has ended the call. The familiar lights of the Burrow’s sign come into view. Thank the Goddess. That means I should only be around five minutes out. With Sage off the phone, the silence bears down on me. I left the house in such a rush that I never even put on music.

No time for that now. All I care about is making it to Amethyst. Relaxing slightly as I turn onto Highway 18, I start scanning the surroundings for her Jeep. In no time at all the red of her taillights reflects in the beams of my headlights.

Throwing it in park, I jump out without bothering to kill the engine. Breathing a sigh of relief as the familiar vanilla and honey scent envelops me, I step toward her driver’s seat. But out of the corner of my eye I catch a glimpse of her in the trunk.

In two steps I’m peering into the rear glass of her Jeep. My Sunlight is in there, but she’s shrouded in the darkness of her mind. She’s wrapped in a blanket from the waist down. Curled in on herself, her hands fisting her hair, face buried between her arms.

One might think she was just trying to stay warm. But I could see the harsh intakes of breath, the gentle rocking back and forth of her shoulders. I could see her fear, and I was here to cast it back to hell.

Gently rapping my knuckles on the glass, I call out her name. She doesn’t respond. Becoming increasingly more desperate, I call out louder, knock with more fervor. I try the latch; locked. My wolf fights to the surface. I allow it to push through just enough to help me open this fucking door.

With a snarl, I pull on the latch with enough force that the trunk pops open. Seeing Amethyst and hearing her soft cries cracks my heart. My wolf whimpers. I waste no more time. I climb in and pull her flush against my chest. I cradle her in my arms, gently swaying us.

The bond flares to life; fire licking through my veins. Melting into Amethyst, the side of me that’s just a man delights at the touch of the woman he’s falling for. My wolf cries out, desperate to protect her. To solidify the bond.

Both halves weep alongside her, praying to any deity that might listen to take her pain away. There’s no price I wouldn’t pay to take on this burden for her. To carry the weight of this pain for her.

Amethyst buries her face deeper into my chest. Reaching around my neck with both hands, she fists my shirt in her hands. In this moment, entwined in her arms, we are just two souls drawn together. Not a boss and employee, not wolves. Just two people that have fallen into the well of fate.

Tears dampen my chest, and a different fire ignites inside me.

Rage.

I can’t stand seeing her like this. I would gladly burn anything and everything to the ground that caused her pain. I think back to our earlier conversation. How she opened up to me about the vampire nearly killing her.

An entire country separates me from the bastard who harmed her, but not even a galaxy would be enough. Regardless of whether Amethyst claims me or not, I am hers. She is mine to protect; to avenge. There’s no turning back for me. I am hers, and I will claim justice for the innocence that was stolen from her.

In the meantime, I can start with reassuring her that I am here now. Forever. That she is safe.

Running a thumb across her cheek to brush her tears away, I gently pull her face upwards. She looks at me through hooded eyes full of fear, pain, and... longing? A warm feeling of certainty trickles up my left arm, settling in my chest.

I don’t know the reason behind Amethyst’s lack of acknowledgement to our bond. But seeing the look in her eyes, I know it ignites her as well. Desire burns in us both.

Fifteen

Amethyst

Skyler’s earthy scent envelops me. Strong arms reassuring me as the last of the fear ebbs away. Just after I gave him my location, my phone had died. Of course I didn’t have the charging cord for my car. It’s still in the bag sitting on my kitchen counter. Alone in the darkness, I was afraid. With only my anxious thoughts and fears as company, I broke.

Every whisper of wind, every scurrying critter, was Enzo. Tree branches morphed into arms, grabbing and pulling me down. Leaves became pointed fangs, ripping into my flesh. My tears, blood dripping down my body.

I was lost in that nightmare. Transported back to that night. Waking up covered in blood. My thoughts spiraled and I couldn’t break free from the chains of my mind. I wanted to make myself smaller. To disappear. Tears soaked my sleeve as I curled into myself.

Suddenly, the darkness fled. Cast out by the warmth blooming in my chest from Skyler’s touch. His hazel eyes study me, seeing straight through to my soul. Reaching up, I brush my fingers across his stubbled cheek. His eyes close as he breathes a sigh of relief.

I settle my head against his chest, wrapping my arms tightly around him. His grip on me tightens, pulling me closer. It’s the middle of a cold, dark night in my broken-down car. My boss — a shifter is holding me in his arms, and I am not afraid.

We should get out of here, but my heart cries out. The thought of leaving Skyler’s arms is agonizing. The reasons why we shouldn’t be more matter less and less every moment I spend with him. I want to be in his life. I want this to be our reality. Just he and I in this haven we’ve created.

“Thank you,” I whisper into his chest. Skyler’s head dips. Close enough to feel his breath against my hair. “Anytime you call, I will come.” His words hold devotion I’ve never known. There is no doubt. Somehow, I have been blessed with the gift of Skyler caring for me.

I pull back, searching his eyes. Contentment and longing stare back at me. I imagine my own eyes mirror his. I break the silence, relaying, “I tried looking under the hood. I couldn’t notice anything out of place…”

Skyler drapes the blanket over my shoulders before sliding out of the trunk. “Let’s get you to my car and I’ll try to check it.” He scratches at the stubble along his chin, “Although, I’m no mechanic.” I nod, scooping up the edges of the blanket in one hand, and taking his outstretched hand with the other.

Once my feet hit the pavement, he wraps an arm around my waist. I swear I smell Nitasha’s signature strawberry spray. I shrug. It must be on my clothes from earlier. Instead, I focus on how my body hums as he guides me to the passenger side of his car.

This feeling of being protected, cared for. I could easily get used to it. Skyler opens the door for me, taking my hand as I ease down into the seat. It’s much lower than Delilah.