ruefully, waving between Manon and the humans.
"Manon?"
Chris's disbelieving squeak caught Manon's attention, and he
trotted forward. This was not the way he'd wanted to reveal his
wolf to his mate. He hadn't said anything to the man due to his
maman's warning. That had evidently been a mistake.
Stopping next to Cliff and Declan, Manon initiated his shift. A
low howl of disbelief rent from Chris's throat, and when Manon
opened his eyes, he met his mate's anguished look. "Chris," he
murmured. It was a long shot, but he had to try. Holding out his
hand, he urged, "Please come to me, cher. Let me help you." His mate took one step toward him, but was pulled to a stop by
a hand on his arm. Chris turned to look at his holder, and the darkhaired, gangly teen shook his head violently. Manon should have
recognized the teen right off, especially now that he could focus on
the teen's big, fear-filled brown eyes.
Manon returned his focus to his mate, since he was the one he
had a connection with. "Chris, love, you're safe. None of us will
hurt you. You have my word."
Unfortunately, the teen once morebroke in. "Like you didn't
hurt my brother? You attacked him! I have proof! I recorded the
whole thing!" he yelled, clearly angry.
Declan's brows shot up. "Ye attacked his brother?"
Manon grimaced. "They drugged and crated Demetri. We had
to stop them."
"Aye, right," Declan muttered. He turned back to the boy.
"What's yer name, boy?"
"Baxter," the youngster answered belligerently.
"Roman's brother," Manon interjected. "He's fine, by the way,"
he added.
"You attacked him!" Baxter repeated. "He hasn't answered any
of my calls for almost a week. He hasn't been home. If he's fine,
then why can't I find him?"
Roman had said he'd send his brother a message that he'd been
called out of the country by the environmentalist group he worked
for. Why hadn't he done it? Maybe to make certain someone was
looking for him? Manon really wished the guy had come clean. It
looked like the humans didn't trust them after all.
Manon could understand that. He hadn't told Chris about his
wolf, and that could be seen as distrust of his mate's reaction.
Manon really should have known Fate wouldn't let him carry on
like this for long.
"Roman is fine," Manon reiterated. "He's in hiding at our
request." Manon looked at Declan, wondering just how much he
should share with the human. There's that trust issue again, he
realized.
Declan blew out a breath. "Would ye be more willin' to believe
us if it came from yer brother, Baxter?"
Baxter frowned. "Well, duh!"
Manon frowned, fighting his urge to leap the twenty-foot
distance and yank his mate away from the annoying human. Declan dropped his gaze to Cliff and muttered, "There's a
service road a hundred yards west of here. Go back to the lodge,
and have Shane bring the humans to the opening. Have Carson
bring the quads. We'll find a way to meet ye there."
Cliff dropped his nose in acknowledgement. He leaped to his
feet, causing gasps from the humans. Manon saw the wolf do a
great job of rolling his eyes, then he took off through the trees. "If ye'll be good enough to follow us, we'll take you to yer
brother," Declan stated.
"I don't think so," Baxter snapped. "You bring Roman here." Manon saw Declan's jaw clench. He knew exactly how his
alpha felt. His own patience was wearing incredibly thin. His
fingers twitched with the need to grab his mate away from the
petulant child. Struggling to maintain his composure, Manon once
more tried to reason with Chris.
"Chris," he murmured, trying to keep his tone soothing. "Have I
ever done anythin' to harm you?"
Chris shook his head slowly.
Encouraged, he asked, "Haven't I always tried to please you?" Licking his lips, Chris nodded.
"Just because I can change into a wolf doesn't mean I care
about you any less, cher," he crooned. "You mean everything to
me. Let me hold you? I want to make certain you'rewell." What he said was true. He desperately wanted to check Chris
for damage. With all their resiliency, humans were still fragile
compared to shifters. He hadn't heard what kind of scuffle had to
happen to get to this point, and the idea of his sweet man climbing
down the trellis with his broken arm just scared him to death. "Please, come here," he begged, holding out one hand. Chris's shoulders seemed to sag, and a tremulous smile curved
his lips. "Y-you'll explain how-how this is possible?" Chris
asked softly, waving his arm vacantly as if to encompass the entire
situation.
Manon smiled, hope flooding him. "Oui, cher. I'll tell you
anything you want to know."
He opened his arms and held his breath, praying to reconnect
with his mate. Manon watched Chris's Adam's apple bob as his
gaze strayed over Manon's naked body. He fought against a smile
when he saw the flush working across Chris's cheeks. Chris started
toward him slowly, and relief rolled through Manon.
It was short-lived.
Baxter snapped, "No! Don't believe him! He's a monster!" as
he grabbed Chris's arm and yanked him backward.
Chris stumbled toward Baxter, near the cliff's edge. Tripping
over a rock, Chris's arms pin-wheeled, but even with one arm still
in Baxter's grip, he couldn't catch his balance. Daren lunged
toward him, but it was too late. Chris's momentum sent him
tumbling over the edge, his weight finally wrenching free of the
teen's hold.
Manon let out a howl as his mate disappeared over the edge of
the cliff. He leaped forward and peered over the edge just in time
to see Chris's body splash into the icy river below.
"Chris!" Manon screamed, desperately searching for his mate. Chris surfaced ten feet downstream. His arms flailed
ineffectually at the water and his garbled plea for help nearly
rippedManon's heart from his chest.
Without another thought, Manon crouched, then leaped, diving
into the river twenty feet below.
Chapter Eleven
Chris struggled to the surface. He wasn't a strong swimmer at the best of times, and his cast weighed heavy on his arm, the wet plaster dragging him down. The chill of the water made Chris's movements lethargic, and fear sliced through him. Finally, his lungs burning, he managed to breach the surface. Chris flailed, trying to maneuver on his back.
"Help!" His vo ice sounded weak, even to his own ears. He tried to look around, but a rapid spun him around. The current started to suck him down again and a wave crested over his head.
The sound of a splash nearby caught his attention, and Chris blinked wildly, trying to clear his eyes. It didn't help. All it really did was disorient him more. His casted arm slammed into a rock jutting from the bottom of the river, sending stabs of pain up his limb. He cried out and managed to swallow a mouthful of water.
His body shudde red, and Chris didn't know if it was from hypothermia or pain from his damaged limb. It was then he realized he might not make it out of this alive. If he'd only trusted his lover instead of a foolish, paranoid boy. Chris sadly figured it'd be the last mistake he'd ever make.
Another shudder passed through Chris, and he realized he could no longer feel his hands or feet. Not a good sign.
He whimpered when he felt something rub against his chest. Firm flesh pressed against his back and a strong arm held him close. "Easy, cher. I got you."
Manon's distinctive voice whispered in his ear, and for a second, Chris thought he was dreaming. Chris felt tugging on his body and realized there really was someone holding him. His bad arm was maneuvered to his chest. "Hold that there, Chris," Manon ordered. "Move with me now. Don't fight me."
Chris obeyed his lover. "Thank you," he croaked.
"For what?" Manon replied.
His body began to move through the water, and Chris struggled to follow Manon's movements. "For coming after me. I should have trusted you."
To his surprise, Chris felt cool lips press against his temple. "We'll discuss our mutual trust issues later, cher. Let's get out of this water fir-Oh, shit."
"What?" Chris squeaked, not liking Manon's tone.
"Waterfall." Manon had to shout over the roaring noise that Chris hadn't even noticed.
Suddenly, that was all he could hear. Or maybe that was the sound of blood rushing in his ears as he struggled not to panic.
"I got ya!" Manon yelled.
All at once, Chris felt weightless, then gravity kicked in and he was flying through the air. The grip of Manon's arm around his torso registered right before the hard smack of his body hitting water sent stinging needles of pain through his legs. Manon's arm around him grounded him, reminding Chris that he wasn't alone, that he had something worth fighting for.