“Thanks,” Vlad said. “Thanks for everything.”
The Tracker glanced at Zoe and grinned. “No problem at all.” He started to shift back to tiger as Vlad directed Rose and Zoe toward the cabin.
Rose carried Zoe the entire way, despite the fact that she was still in tiger form and weighed more as a cub than she did as a little girl.
Vlad didn’t argue with her. If Zoe got too heavy for her, he’d take over carrying her. He completely understood Rose not wanting to let her go. They’d come so close to losing her, the reality of that was only just starting to sink in. He hadn’t allowed himself time to even consider the worst-case scenario. But hearing Jameson admit they’d intended to leave Zoe in the wild to die… He saw red just thinking about it and panic made his gut clench, despite the fact she was safe.
When they reached the cabin, Vlad started a fire in the fireplace while Rose settled Zoe and waited for her to shift back to human. After she finished, Rose wrapped her up in the spare clothes they’d brought as well as a blanket from the huge bed which dominated the cabin’s single room. Once Zoe was warm, Rose pulled her close and hugged her, murmuring quietly into her hair, soft words of reassurance. Zoe snuggled against her without speaking, staring at the fire as the flames flickered higher.
“Are you warm enough now, sweetie?” Vlad asked.
Zoe nodded. Her little face was set in serious lines, and she didn’t look away from the fire.
Vlad frowned at Rose. She looked at him over Zoe’s head and shrugged. “You tired, baby? It’s been a scary night, huh?”
Zoe nodded again and buried her face against Rose’s shoulder. “I scared, Mommy.”
“Oh, baby, I’m so sorry. We’ve got you now. You’re safe. I won’t let anyone hurt you. I swear it. We won’t let any other bad men get to you.”
“Yes.” Zoe waved a little hand in Vlad’s direction. “Hug,” she ordered.
He couldn’t have resisted even if he’d wanted to. He dropped down onto the rug and wrapped his arms around them both, holding them tightly. His family. All the fear and worry of the last few hours drained away slowly and left him with a rush of overwhelming relief and love. He kissed Zoe’s head, then kissed Rose on the lips.
They stayed that way, watching the fire, until Zoe drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Seventeen
After they’d settled Zoe on the bed, Rose went back to the fire and sat on the thick rug. Vlad followed.
She stared at the flames for a moment. Then she started to cry. Not a loud, sobbing cry, just the quiet drip of tears down her cheeks and a few gasping breaths.
“Rose.” He pulled her into his arms.
She clung to him as her tears dampened his neck. For a long time, he just held her and let her cry, rubbing her back.
After a while, she took a stuttering breath. “Thanks, for this and for helping me tonight.”
He lifted her chin. “She’s my daughter, too, and I couldn’t have done anything else. I’ve never been so terrified, or angry, in my life.”
“It’s tough, isn’t it? The worry and fear. You love them so much, you know it’ll cost you your soul if you lose them.” She glanced at the bed and their sleeping daughter before facing him again.
“Worth it, though,” he said, brushing her hair back from her face. “Worth every minute.”
She stretched up and kissed him, a warm, comforting gesture that turned needy in an instant. All the anxiety and adrenaline of the night had left him both exhausted and desperate to assure himself those he loved were whole and well.
He hugged her closer, kissed her deeper, and poured all the love and relief he didn’t know how to put into words into his kiss.
They kissed, and held each other close, and murmured soft reassurances, and for a time, Vlad’s world was perfect.
“The Tracker called this the ‘Mate Run cabin,’” Rose said, settling her head on his shoulder. “What does that mean?”
“We keep this place for couples to use once a female has been caught during her Run. Some couples never bother with it—they like being outside. But it’s useful in the winter. And I’d guess a bed is a nice change of pace from the wilds of the forest.”
“When was it last used?”
He chuckled. “Don’t worry. The sheets are changed out regularly. The last Run was a few weeks ago.”
“How do you know that?”
“We all know when Runs happen, which female is running, who she lets catch her. If she gets pregnant or not. Females are so rare, their every move is watched closely.”
“That’s a little creepy. Do any of them…I don’t know, rebel against all that hovering and attention?”