Through the pitch black, I could see two glowing pink eyes in the distance, and I felt my heart soar at the sight. “The shadows, Rudy, watch the shadows.”
A roar reverberated off the walls in the small space, and I could hear a slash through the air. And another. I tried to track the glowing eyes, but he was too fast. I caught the sharp inhale of the minotaur, but kept my focus on my werewolf. Ribbons of light began toappear through the dark as Rudy continued to tear through the shadows with his claws.
The lantern that had shone behind the figure now cast a glow around my beast. He fought the dark in a frenzy until his hand gripped around a solid figure who had been hiding in the shadows they created. Rudy snarled low and deep in a sound that should be terrifying, especially in a dark, underground tunnel, but it made my heart race with the thrill of it.
A nasally scream was cut off, and the shadows around the room dispersed, leaving only the ones that were cast from the single lantern. At the same moment my hands were free of their binding, the werewolf quickly knelt before me, huffing loudly, and staring straight into me with those incredible pink eyes.
Reaching out, I stroked the side of his snout and smiled. My eyes burned at the sight of him, gratitude and love pouring out of me. “You found me.”
The voice I heard was Rudy’s in my mind as the wolf licked my cheek. “I will always find you.”
I threw my arms around the werewolf’s large neck and nuzzled against his head. “Thank you.”
Large arms lifted me and pulled me to the furry black chest, my feet hanging above the ground. The relief I felt at being in his arms again was overwhelming, and the tears burning in my eyes began falling.
He must have smelled them, because he quickly set me down and his eyes darted over me. “Bowen hurt?”
I shook my head and pushed my glasses up to wipe my eyes. “No, I’m not hurt. I’m just really fucking happy you’re here.”
A rustling sound came, and we both looked to the corner as the minotaur tried to stand. He staggered and braced himself on the wall next to him.
“Help him!” I commanded.
Rudy rushed over and put his large arm around the minotaur. The beast flinched at first but looked between Rudy and me, then gave a reluctant nod. Hooking an arm over the werewolf’s shoulders, he leaned on him for support. The minotaur was nearly as tall as my wolf, but he had a broader form. Blocky and dense.
I started to move toward them when my foot hit something. Looking down, I saw my messenger bag, and weirdly, my eyes began to burn again. It was foolish to be so attached to an object, but it was the only thing I owned, and it meant a lot to me. After throwing the strap across my chest, I walked up to the large pair.
Looking up at the minotaur, I offered an apologetic smile. “I know we didn’t get to meet properly, but I’m Bowen, and this is my mate, Rudy. I know you have a million reasons not to trust me, but I promise I don’t want to hurt you, and he won’t, either, unless he feels the need to protect me. I would suggest not giving him a reason to think that. Now, if it’s okay, I’d really like to get out of this tunnel.”
The minotaur slid a glance toward the werewolf holding him up. Rudy’s teeth pulled back into a fierce snarl, revealing those sharp fangs I loved. The creature returned his attention to me and gave a slight nod.
We followed the metal mine car tracks until the moon’s light shone through an opening ahead of us. When we made it outside, I was hit by the fresh air, the open space, and the knowledge that it was over. My knees buckled, and I fell to the soft grass, reveling in all of it. The minotaur did the same beside me. No longer needing to support the large beast, Rudy shifted back, and suddenly there was the man I loved with every fiber of my being. His black, shaggy hair, short beard, and the clothes that had loosened as his form shrank.
“Rudy!” I breathed out in a sob.
“Bowen!” He sank to his knees before me, and his arms wrapped around my waist. I fell against him, catching his mouth in a searing kiss. All the fear, dread, and anguish we both felt gave way to love, need, and desperation. There had been a moment in the dark when I wasn’t sure if I would get to see him again, let alone hold him, and kiss him. My chest ached with a million emotions, both his and mine, all fighting to come to the front.
When the kiss broke, Rudy’s head fell to my shoulder, and his body trembled against mine. “I thought I’d lost you.”
This was all my fault. I was the one who brought this deep chasm of ache I felt in him. “I’m so sorry. I was foolish. Being at Creature Comforts, and with you, I let my guard down. I thought I would be safe with the group, but…” But I’d also separated from them briefly and then fell behind when I felt dizzy.
Rudy clasped my cheeks in his hands and met my gaze. “No. You don’t need to be sorry. You shouldn’t have been put in that position in the first place.I’mthe one who is sorry for not being there.”
I shook my head slightly and gave him a half-smile. “You couldn’t have known, but it doesn’t matter now. You found me. I’m here. We’re here together.”
Rudy’s forehead rested against mine, and I felt him breathe out slowly. “We’re together. Together, now and always, Bowen.”
“Now and always.”
Rudy
As the boat approached the dock, I kept my arm around Bowen’s waist, clutching him to me. I hadn’t been able to let him go since we escaped the mine. When I saw him through the dark, bound and unable to move, the rage I felt couldn’t be contained. I didn’t even try to hold the wolf back as he made quick work of slashing and clawing at the shadows.
The memory of it had me pulling Bowen even tighter to me. I felt that gentle caress of his in my mind. “I’m okay.”
Pressing my nose to the top of his head, I breathed him in, letting his sweet scent soothe me. “You might have to keep reminding me,” I whispered back, too spent to try to focus on speaking to him through our connection.
Bowen turned to face me and pressed his cheek against my chest, his arms going around my back. “I will.”
