“Fuck.”
“I can talk to her.”
“No, it’s okay. I’ll let her know and make arrangements for the kids. She won’t want to leave them.”
“I know. Give me a shout if you need me to talk to her.”
“Okay, thanks.” Connor disconnected the call and stared at the cellphone. His head swam. His mountain lion was in full-on predator mode, slashing at his insides, trying its best to get to Elaine to shelter and protect her.
How would he ever explain this?
He couldn’t even absorb this.
Steeling himself, he opened the bedroom door and walked into the hallway.
Elaine stood there, silent, her eyes downcast.
She’d overheard.
“Elaine.”
She looked up, her eyes wild and red. “I’m dying, aren’t I?”
“No one said anything about dying.”
“You didn’t need to. Your face says it all.”
“Sweetheart, let’s sit down and talk.”
“I don’t want to talk.” She turned on her heel and stormed into the living room. He followed, watching her every movement in case she bumped into the edge of a table and shattered. “I don’t want to sit. I don’t want to rest. I don’t want to be in this house full of memories, and I don’t want to die.”
“I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Her crazed laughter scared him. “You can’t fix this. Don’t you understand? I’ve been waiting for the other shoe to drop. I just didn’t think it would happen so soon.”
“You arenotdying, do you hear me?”
“Oh, Connor. I’m glad one of us believes it.” She headed to the front door and pulled it open.
“What are you doing? It’s cold outside.”
She stared at the woods and began to take her clothes off.
“Elaine. Shut the door.”
She didn’t respond. Because she’d only been wearing a T-shirt and shorts for sleeping, it took no time at all for her to strip. Even though Connor wanted to reach for that door and slam it shut, he was awestruck by the beauty of her body. The curve of her shoulder, the indentation at her waist and the round wonders of her backside. She walked onto the snow-covered steps outside and glanced over her shoulder, her eyes full of tears.
“Don’t.”
“I’ve been a hostage in my own life, Connor. I’m done being a victim. I’m taking my life back, and I’m taking it now.” Without another word, she shifted into her brown bear and tore into the woods.
“Elaine! Get back here.”
The bear disappeared between the oak trees at the edge of the property.
“Fuck.” Connor undressed as quickly as he could. Surrendering to the shift, he transformed into his mountain lion. Eager to be unleashed and terrified for its female, the great cat took control of his limbs and propelled him into the woods on a raspy growl.
As he chased her, he could almost hear her irregular heartbeat.
