“We own guns.”
“Hey! Stay out of my head.”
“You need to learn to guard your thoughts. And we have guns for hunting. However, using weapons for self-defense is frowned upon.”
“Great,” Dane said dryly.
Cain chuckled. “Don’t worry. We protect ourselves in other ways.”
It had started to snow and the ground was quickly covered in a blanket of white, blotting out their footsteps and turning the earth silver under the bright moonlight. Glancing back, Dane wondered if anyone would ever know they had come this way. No one, aside from his grandmother, knew they were here. Maybe she didn’t even know.
“Do you guys have phones?”
“There’s a call box on the road, not far from here.”
It was a small but comforting relief. He would see how the day played out, but chances were, he and Cybil would be sneaking back this way later tonight.
“One month,” Cain called from several steps ahead. “You agreed you’d tough it out for one month.”
Dane scowled and focused on blocking his thoughts, clueless how one did that. The most he could do was picture Colby and thought of nothing else.
“That’ll work.”
“Shut up,” he snapped, soaked feet crunching over the snow.
Abilene stared through the frosted glass as snow sifted like sugar from the sky. Winter was upon them.
She gazed at her reflection in the glass, mouth slackened by sorrow and eyes weary. Her hair hung loosely about her shoulders.
Her fingers reached for her reflection and touched the sad eyes staring back. Her warm fingertips melted the cool frost into moisture, and twin tears slipped through the condensation, mirroring the tears on her face.
It had been days with no word from him. Her head hung as she worried if he was even still alive. Without a bond, she had no way of reaching him, no way of knowing if he’d mated or found his end.
She was alone. This winter marked the death of her marriage and all that she knew as a young female and, from here on, she would be wiser. The Bible spoke of seasons, and this was clearly a time for sorrow. She did not know if she had the strength to grow when so much of her wanted only to lie down and die.
Jonas held his head in his palms and prayed, Dear Lord, give me the grace to endure this which you have so tested my love. For love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Let my love and the love of my Abilene endure this task you have charged me with and forgive me for the wrong I’m about to do.
The door to the bathroom opened, spilling light into the dim motel room that they had checked into some time ago. His stomach cramped with the encroaching expectations, and he glanced up as his mate came into view.
A pale, pink bathrobe encased her body and her silver hair hung in thin strands around her face. Everything she was, her entire being, called to him, and he found himself rising and crossing the room, desperate to get to her.
She held up a hand. “Have you signed the papers?”
He glanced at the small table against the wall and nodded.
“Good.” She went to the table and picked up the pen. With a deep breath that ended in a fast exhale, she scribbled her name on the last page. Facing him, she folded the sheath of papers and handed it back to him. “This is everything you should need if anyone ever asks.”
He shook his head, unable to accept the paperwork. “Let’s not do this, Clara. We could be happy. I’m an honorable male and—”
“Jonas, we’ve already agreed.”
He pivoted and ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “I can’t!”
She coughed and crossed the room to where his jacket hung. Stuffing the paperwork into the sleeve, she went to her bag and selected several pills from a bottle. “It’s not your choice, it’s mine.” She swallowed back the many blue pills. “It’s already begun.”
Sucking in a harsh breath, he raced to her side and caught her wrist. “What have you done?”
“Nothing I hadn’t warned you I’d do. You’re a nice man, Jonas, but I plan to spend my eternity with my husband.” She lifted her wrist. “Should we get started?”
Everything about their contaminated bargain struck him as unholy—a loophole. Mating was a sacrament. Surely there would be a consequence for any attempt to manipulate God’s plan.
And why didn’t she want him? Infuriated that she could be so indifferent and callous, he looked away and snapped, “How is it you feel nothing for me?”
“That’s not true. I just signed away the custody of my grandchildren to you. Clearly, I feel something.”
“And what if I’m to die? What will come of your grandchildren then?”
“Cain will protect them.”
“Cain,” he sneered. “My son is too self-serving to do what you ask.”