“Open your eyes, my Isa, and look at me,” he rasped.
She obeyed, taking in his strong, sure features.
“You’re safe.”
She nodded, trying hard to believe it.
“You’re safe,” he said again.
She flung herself at him and he caught her with arms that were both strong and tender. He was exactly what she needed. His hand stroked along her back and she let out a shaky breath, waiting for the anxiety to fade.
Besh stayed locked in Cael’s protective embrace. And he didn’t try to rush her either. The sun peeked through the living room window to tell her morning had come.
“I should take you to bed,” Cael murmured. Besh’s heart thumped faster at the implications. “You need as much sleep as possible.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to go back to sleep right now.”
Cael nodded, carefully brushing the hair from her eyes. “I have another idea then. Go get your boots on.”
Besh frowned. “Uh, okay.”
“Jacket too.”
In the bedroom, she found the boots and laced them up, and grabbed the parka on her way out. When she got back to the living room, Cael sat on the couch carefully organizing a small arsenal of guns. There were small ones that would fit in Besh’s hand, and large ones she’d have to heft over her shoulder.
“What is this?”
He glanced up at her before spinning the barrel of a handgun and checking the sites. “I’m going to make you feel safer.” He set the gun on the table and walked over to her. In a gesture that left her shivering, he tenderly cradled her cheek. “I can’t do anything about your nightmares, but I can give you the power to feel safe when you’re awake. I’m going to teach you how to shoot.”
Besh frowned. “But I have my animal. I can always turn and let her fight if I’m in trouble.”
Cael shook his head. “It’s not enough. If it was, you wouldn’t feel the way you do. You’re wolf is a natural submissive, and that’s fine, but you won’t always have the power to stand up to what you fear.” His eyes dropped. “Last night, I backed down. But what would’ve happened if I hadn’t? Would you have held your ground?”
“I… don’t know. I think I would have fought.”
He nodded. “I think so too, but this way, you’ll feel like you can win. You won’t doubt yourself.”
Besh’s heart swelled. This was the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for her. He didn’t just want to make her feel safer; he wanted to give her the tools to do it herself. Before she could think better of it, she leaned forward and kissed him, only stopping when his lips stayed perfectly still.
Pulling back, she ducked her head. “Sorry. I wasn’t thinking. Just… thank you. This is a great idea.”
“You’re welcome.” His voice was strained, but Besh couldn’t look at him. “Let’s go.”
She stepped away and pulled on her jacket while Cael gathered the weapons and ammo. In the sunlight of morning, for the first time in a very long time, Besh felt like everything was going to be alright.
***
Fucking hell. That’s where Cael was. In fucking hell. Her lips on his…
She’d stunned him. He hadn’t expected her kiss, and the feel of her soft lips had seemed like a blow instead of a caress. He would let her beat the hell out of him, as long as it felt like that. Damn.
He led Isabesh into the field behind the cabin where he’d set up a few cans to use as a target. Cael spent the early morning hours running as a wolf, working off steam, in an attempt to clear his mind.
As angry as he’d been over Isabesh’s mistakes, it was becoming harder and harder to blame her for making them. They’d both been put in impossible situations and both had failed. It would take time for him to understand what she’d done and come to grips with the why of it. But one thing was for certain: she needed to feel safe before she could ever heal. And Cael wanted her well. Wanted her to feel whole. Needed it, or he’d go crazy.
She was his now, and he took care of what was his. Or he died trying.
He had noticed Magic’s stock of guns when checking out the cabin that first day. The idea to teach Isabesh to shoot felt like the right move, and he’d rushed back to the cabin to tell her.
Finding her in the throes of a horrible nightmare just reaffirmed his decision.
Besides…
He glanced at her hips as she walked, imagining the ways her body would change soon.
…giving her another way to defend their young was just smart thinking.
He’d hardly let himself think about it. How he was going to be a father soon. The responsibility was tremendous, but he’d never shied away from it before. In fact, the idea of having a cub with her gave him so much pride his chest felt like it could burst. He never imagined he’d feel this way.