Red Wolf

  Chapter 8 – Trapped

  Boone tried his best to sneak away from the hunting group. He wanted to either trip or disable the foothold traps Pitman had set. Boone knew these types of traps maimed more animals than they killed. They had been outlawed because of the suffering animals had to endure because of them. They had been banned because of animals chewing off their own legs to escape the traps.

  But Boone could never find a chance. Hopkins kept a close watch on each of the men. Hopkins listened for clues hoping to recruit more men into the secret militia. Hopkins also listened for clues which would indicate one of them might be a government agent.

  Boone would occasionally lower his barrier and listen to Hopkins' thoughts. But he could only do it for a few minutes at a time without getting a headache. Boone knew both Hopkins and Pitman were the leaders of the local militia. But Boone needed proof to help take down the group, and mind reading was not exactly something which would hold up in a court of law. He needed photos. But so far there was no incriminating evidence to photograph, and neither of the men had verbally recruited any of the campers. Illegal trapping would not put the militia into prison. They would pay the meager fines and continue building their home-grown army.

  While running the survival course netted Hopkins and Pitman a sizeable chunk of cash, Boone knew there had to be some other way they were bankrolling their operation. He thought about gun-running, drugs, and even moonshining. Boone tried, time and time again, to listen to Hopkins’ thoughts hoping for any clue, but he heard nothing.

  Boone was becoming frustrated. He really did not want to hang out at the camp for a full two weeks. Boone wanted to finish this mission and return to Red Mountain. He wanted to return to the home he and Delilah now shared. Delilah rarely spent any time on Raven Hill. She had redecorated the bedroom the two of them shared, adding pieces of furniture which had turned the extra space in the bedroom into a comfortable sitting room. She had changed the decor completely making the room more feminine, almost romantic. Boone smiled inwardly. While the two of them still were not romantically involved, they were nearly inseparable, at least until now. And Boone was starting to miss his best friend.

  “When are the women going to start joining the hunting party?” Boone asked on the fourth morning. The men were already on the side of the mountain tracking their prey for lunch and dinner. “This is what I need Angel to learn. I do not expect her to do nothing but the gardening and housework.”

  One of the single men laughed. “You really expect that city raised wife of yours to track, kill, and haul back a deer?”

  “She is stronger than she looks,” Boone quipped. “I bet she could do just as good as you.”

  “It that a challenge, Wolfe?” Hancock sneered. Hancock did not appreciate his manhood being questioned.

  “How about a contest?” Boone suggested. “If Delilah beats you arm wrestling, and you take her place gathering roots and hauling water.” Boone knew Delilah could take down any of the men. He knew how fit and toned she was under the frumpy clothing she was wearing to minimize her build.

  “You are on, Wolfe,” Hancock replied, chest out and filled with bravado.

  “After lunch,” Boone nodded. Boone needed to get Delilah away from Pitman, and he needed her by his side if they were going to uncover the evidence they needed to arrest the militia and get the hell out of there.

  Boone walked away from the group. “Gotta take a piss,” he announced and headed towards a small hill to the west. Finishing his business, Boone raised his head to the sky hoping to detect the scent of some wild game. Sure, tracking using prints in the soil was effective, but his way was so much quicker. Suddenly the direction of the wind changed. Boone caught the scent of something not natural, something artificial, something chemical. What the hell!

  Boone looked around but saw nothing. He climbed a little higher and looked to the northeast, upwind. He thought he saw another camp. He thought he saw other vehicles. But was it on the property which belonged to Pitman and Hopkins? He would have to find out.

  Boone walked back to the group. “This is some mighty fine land here. How much do y’all have?” Boone asked.

  “As far as you can see,” Hopkins bragged. “We bought it up mighty cheap when the stock market fell a few years back. A lot of the locals were selling it for pennies on the dollar and moving south.”

  Boone nodded in appreciation. “Got my land the same way,” Boone bragged. “It seems we have a few things in common. I gotta protect myself and my family.”

  “Where did you learn to hunt?” Mosley asked.

  “From my grandfather,” Boone replied. “My mother died in childbirth and my father...well let’s just say...he skipped out.”

  “You were raised by your grandparents?” Newman asked.

  “Yep,” Boone answered. His and Delilah’s back story was as close to the truth as possible to ensure they did not slip up. “They are both dead now so it is just Angel and me. At least for now,” Boone added. Of course, it was a lie, but Boone did not want any trouble for his grandparents.

  Roy took the opportunity to ask about children. “So, no children?”

  “Nope, we have only been married for a few months. We want to get the farm up and running first. We have already got the livestock, and we will be increasing the size of the garden this year. Got a well and a river on the property and we have been stockpiling ammo. The state of the government has been a bit shaky lately.”

  Hopkins’ ears perked up at the last statement. Boone had added it intentionally. “So you have your own arsenal?” Hopkins asked curiously.

  “Just a few handguns, a rifle and a shotgun or two,” Boone replied. “Nothing big. Just enough to protect ourselves.”

  “Do you think it is going to be necessary?” Roy asked, "I have my wife and four kids to think about."

  “You never know,” Boone quipped. “But we will be prepared if the country goes to hell in a hen basket. I will protect my family no matter the cost.”

  Boone could finally hear Hopkins’ thoughts. Boone’s words were working. “Let’s get back to hunting,” Boone suggested changing the subject of the conversation. “I am getting a bit hungry. You got any ducks around here? I love roasted duck.” Boone has seen a small lake to the northeast and he wanted to get closer to the camp he had just seen.

  “There is a small lake nearby,” Hopkins replied. “There is normally a duck or two there. It is just a few miles away.”

  “Let’s do it then,” Boone said enthusiastically. “I like a bit of variety in my diet.”

  The rest of the men chuckled in agreement, and they followed Hopkins’ lead northeast. The area around the lake was perfect for hunting duck and other waterfowl. Boone positioned himself so he was closest to the mysterious camp and upwind from the smell of the gunpowder. He needed to sniff out the other scents.

  The wind was light, but Boone could definitely discern the stench of chemicals. Drugs or bootleg alcohol, he thought to himself. And was this a part of the militia’s operations?

  He would need to get closer but how. Pitman and Hopkins rarely let the rest of the campers out of their sight. Occasionally Boone and Delilah could slip away for a few minutes under the guise of having sex in the woods. It was the only time they could talk in private. Being newlyweds, the group just chuckled each time they disappeared together. It was the perfect ploy.

  But fifteen minutes would not be enough time to do any reconnaissance on Boone’s discovery. As a wolf, he could run fast, but they would have to come up with another plan. They would need at least an hour. Boone could survey the camp, but it would leave Delilah alone. Boone chuckled inwardly. He knew Delilah could care for herself. Why did he think he had to protect her?

  It did not take long for the men to bag enough ducks and a goose for lunch. They packed up and headed back to the base camp. Boone stalled for a moment to take another look a
round. “This sure is a nice place,” he commented before following the rest of the men.

  Hopkins slowed his pace allowing Boone to catch up with him. “You do not trust the government,” Hopkins stated as a question.

  “I have my doubts about how much longer this country will survive at the rate it is going,” Boone frowned.

  “Does Angel feel the same way?” Hopkins asked.

  “We have not talked about it much,” Boone replied. “Right now I am just trying to prepare her for the worst. She is a beautiful woman and she will push out some mighty fine sons to carry on my legacy.”

  “That she will,” Hopkins chuckled. “You picked yourself a good one there. She will make a mighty fine survivalist when we are done. You should talk to her and get her onboard with your ideals.”

  “In time,” Boone replied using the words Delilah had used so many times on him. “In time.”

  By the time the men entered the camp, the ladies had gathered their roots, had a fire going and hauled in the water from a nearby stream. As the men held up the goose and ducks, Delilah frowned.

  “I hate plucking,” she sneered. “It takes too much time. I hope y’all going to help out.”

  “Whoa woman,” Hancock called out. “We did the hunting, you do the cleaning.”

  “Oh hell no,” Delilah sneered again. She had done her fair share of plucking chickens as a child. The waterfowl had not even been drained of its blood yet. She detested the smell of chicken blood. It always made her gag. She did not see ducks or geese as being much better.

  “Why do not you arm wrestle for it,” Boone suggested as a way out for Delilah. Plus, he had already put out a challenge to Hancock. “If Angel wins, Hancock and Angel switch places for the rest of the trip.”

  Delilah smiled. It was her chance to show she was not some helpless female. She hated pretending she was the weaker sex. She hated pretending she was meek and subservient. “Bring it, Hancock,” Delilah sneered. “If you think you are man enough that is.”

  Boone could barely contain his laughter and contentment. This was the woman he adored; a strong, confident, fearless woman. “Any side bets men?” Boone suggested trying to keep the atmosphere light and comical.

  “I got twenty on Angel,” Anna called out immediately.

  “Me too,” Boone replied.

  The rest of the men bet on Hancock. Their machismo refused to allow them to bet on Angel.

  “Show them what you got baby,” Boone cooed. “Don’t hold back.”

  Delilah and Hancock moved to the ATV, which was parked at the edge of the base camp to use the hood as a flat surface. Delilah immediately removed her jacket and pushed up the sleeve of her cable knit sweater. Having cut her nails and talons just days before, she knew she could remove her gloves. Her fake nails were short enough to be appropriate for camping but long enough to hide her eagle-like claws.

  Hancock was not a small man. He was nearly six foot tall and stocky. In a bar fight, he could hold his own. But like most men, he underestimated women. And he definitely underestimated Delilah. Looking at Delilah, he smiled as if he had already won the competition. Delilah rolled her eyes and held out her hand to Hancock. Then she winked at Boone.

  “Do it, baby,” Boone smirked and then smiled.

  Hancock took Delilah’s hand. Anna was eager for the match to begin. “Show 'em what you got Angel,” Anna called out. And then Anna counted for the match to start.

  Hancock began pushing against Delilah’s hand and arm. He was surprised when Delilah countered, and her arm moved only slightly to the right. “I can do this all day,” Delilah whispered to Hancock to psych him out; to intimidate him. “You are going to have to do better than that.”

  Hancock flexed and started pushing harder. “Is that all you got?” Delilah smiled coyly. “Bring it, big man.”

  Hancock was beginning to get angry. Delilah could see the determination on his face and she smiled again. “I am getting hungry,” she sneered and without a change in her face or eyes, she pushed. Hancock’s arm went to his right, swiftly and forcefully. He had lost.

  “Wahoo,” Anna called out jumping up and down. But her excitement quickly deflated. “Damn, now I have to hang out with Hancock every day.”

  “I say, we stick together Anna,” Delilah rebuked. “The men need to learn how to chop wood and carry water too. Anna comes hunting with me.” Delilah was displaying her victory proudly. “It is the time we women decide for ourselves.”

  Pitman was not happy. Boone quickly read his mind. Sexual predator. He had wanted to get the women alone. “I agree,” Boone quickly added. “The couples should not be separated. If we are going to survive, we have to do it as a team. From now on, my wife is with me. What do you think, King?”

  “I agree,” Roy replied taking his wife’s hand and kissing her chastely on the lips. “We are a team.”

  Anna smiled. “Thank you, sweetie,” she whispered.

  Pitman realized he was not going to win this battle and reluctantly succumbed. He looked at Hopkins, and they both nodded in agreement. Hopkins knew he had a good chance of winning over Boone, and then Delilah would be the ultimate prize. They would have a woman of good breeding stock. Boone’s stomach turned in disgust from Hopkins’ thoughts. He would need to warn Delilah.

  “Damn woman,” Boone quickly exclaimed staring into Delilah’s eyes. “That was sexy as hell. I think I need a few minutes.” Boone grabbed Delilah’s hand and walked quickly towards the woods.

  “Newlyweds,” Anna smirked. “I remember those days.” Realizing what she had said and that she had said it aloud, Anna blushed.

  Boone pulled Delilah to get her to walk faster. “I want to trip the traps. And I need to lay my scent. The wolves are coming closer to the camp, and there is a bobcat in the area. My scent could keep the bobcat away.”

  Delilah took the lead and redirected Boone towards the foothold traps. As they got closer, Boone felt something. Something was not right. He stopped suddenly and pulled Delilah close to him. He pushed her against a tree and lowered his lips to her ear. “We are being watched,” he revealed while glancing upwards with only his eyes. “Cameras.”

  Delilah moved her foot close to Boone’s. She could feel the vibration his boot would give off, whenever they were near a surveillance camera. “Those traps are for humans, not animals,” Boone deduced.

  “Time to play hard to get,” Delilah whispered and then giggled. She pushed Boone away playfully and ran away from the cameras. Boone followed laughing along with her.

  Boone caught up seconds later and warned her about Pitman’s vulgar thoughts. “Don’t let him be alone with either you or Anna. The man is a predator; a pervert.” Then he told Delilah about his conversation with Hopkins and about the other base camp.

  “We need a way to get closer to that camp and a way to justify being away for an hour or so,” Boone stated frustratedly.

  “That is easy,” Delilah chuckled without a moment's thought. “Keep talking to Hopkins about the fall of the government. Then tell him you need some time to talk to me about it. Suggest taking me on a picnic alone, away from everyone. Tell him you need time to convince me to join the cause.”

  “Yes, that will work,” Boone smiled. “Damn you are smart.”

  “Yes I am,” Delilah smiled. “Now take off your t-shirt and turn it inside out. I will mess up my hair. And Boone, thanks for the quickie.”

  Boone and Roy spent the afternoon teaching Delilah and Anna how to shoot a rifle. The ladies would be joining the men the next day hunting, and both were excited about the opportunity. Both were excited for a change in their daily routine. Both had experienced their fill of hauling buckets of water from the stream.

  Delilah and Anna quickly showed their skills the next day while hunting. Delilah shot a white-tailed deer for lunch, and Anna took down an elk like an expert. Both ladies were thrilled. The men were
surprised and a bit awed. Boone and Roy were as proud as they could be, smacking each other on the back in jubilation.

  Each night Boone and Delilah would wait until everyone was asleep and then sneak out of their tent. Boone could feel the electrical lines buried in the ground, and he was determined to discover where they originated and ended. It was slow work trying to follow the source and destination which just seemed to go on forever. There was too much ground to cover in just a couple of hours each night.

  Deep down Boone suspected the power grid had something to do with the hidden camp he had spotted. But they would have to wait until Sunday to get close enough to find out. So once again, the two snuck back into the tent they shared, slept for a couple of hours and then prepared for another day.

  By Sunday morning, Boone had convinced Hopkins he was ready to talk to Angel about his speculation on the imminent fall of the country. Hopkins, in turn, spoke with Pitman and soon Delilah’s plan for a Sunday afternoon picnic was coming to fruition.

  “We are going up the mountain a bit,” Boone advised the two men. “Angel wants to look down over the valley. If I give her a romantic setting, I am sure she will be easier to convince.”

  “Good plan,” Pitman replied. “Use whatever you have to do to sway her. You will both be welcome assets to our cause. We have to band together to ensure our survival.”

  “Exactly man,” Boone replied arrogantly. “I think she is ready.”

  Boone put together some food and water for a picnic. “I will grab a blanket,” Delilah advised him running towards the tent. “Make it two,” Boone replied lustfully. “It is a little chilly today.”

  Delilah blushed on cue and giggled. To everyone else, it was obvious how the two would be spending the afternoon; making love between the blankets. Boone grinned like a Cheshire cat. Little did the group know, but Boone and Delilah had never seen each other totally naked, let alone had sex. But the deception was going perfectly and as planned.

  A couple miles outside of camp, Boone and Delilah stashed the blankets and continued towards the hidden compound. They ate their lunch along the way and stopped only to refill their canteens with water. Once in the valley, Boone could smell the chemicals in the camp more distinctly. “This place smells like jet fuel and kerosene,” Boone snorted.

  “I hope we can get close enough to get photos,” Delilah replied. “I would like to get what we need and get out of here.”

  “Me too,” Boone replied. “I am starting to miss our huge bathroom, and the giant shower Daddy gave us. When we get home, I am going spend at least an hour with hot, hot water running over my body. Normally I like a quick dip in a cold creek, but enough is enough.”

  “I am going to pour me a pitcher of wine and soak in the garden tub for three days,” Delilah laughed. “Washing in the stream just ain’t cutting it for this city girl. My hair looks like hell.”

  As the compound came into view, Boone became silent and listened for any sound which would indicate someone was nearby. Not hearing anything, he motioned for Delilah to continue. Delilah looked at the empty barrels around the compound. She saw the names of three chemicals she knew. “Omigod,” she called out. “They are making Jems.”

  “You mean like fake diamonds,” Boone replied totally clueless.

  “JMS. It is known on the street as Jems. It is a spinoff of LCD. It was outlawed back in the 1970’s. This stuff is worse than LCD. It is highly addictive. It has twice the buzz of LCD. Some say it lowers a person’s inhibitions. Others say it takes away a person’s free will. The government was testing it for use in foreign wars but decided against it. They were too afraid our own soldiers would use it. Today it sells for a pretty penny on the streets.”

  “How do you know this?” Boone asked suspiciously while taking photos of the barrels with the camera hidden in his belt buckle.

  “I did some work with the predecessor to the current DEA. This stuff is bad news.”

  “So you think this is how they are financing the militia group,” Boone wondered aloud.

  “If this lab belongs to them, then yes. Producing and supplying Jems to dealers would definitely bankroll their operations.”

  “Stay back and let me look around inside,” Boone suggested. “If someone is on guard inside, I do not want to take the chance of you being seen. If I am not back in five minutes, get the hell out of here. Do not go back to the camp. It is too dangerous. Head east to the nearest town and call for help.”

  “The place looks deserted,” Delilah replied looking around. “Sunday must be their day off.”

  “From your lips,” Boone grinned.

  “To Daddy’s ears,” Delilah finished. Then she reached up and kissed him on the cheek. “For luck.”

  “Be right back,” Boone smiled and moved closer to the building. He listened for a heartbeat, any sound which would let him know someone was inside. All he heard was the sound of lab equipment. So Boone moved to the nearest window and looked in. The inside of the building looked like a science lab. Still he saw no one. Feeling confident, he approached the door. Finding it unlocked, he entered.

  The odor of the chemicals was overwhelming. Boone looked around anxiously. While Delilah’s rope had not taken away his free will, he was not sure about the drugs he saw everywhere. The little purple triangle shaped pills laying everywhere made him apprehensive. The vapors from the chemicals instantly burned his eyes and throat.

  Boone heard no one in the building. He moved further into the room ever vigilant while taking more photos. But the fumes in the room were overpowering and had him gasping for air. He quickly realized he could go no further. He needed air; fresh air and soon.

  Boone turned on his heel and moved towards the door. Once outside, he closed his eyes and took a deep cleansing breath. After taking a second breath, he opened his eyes. Standing in front of him, he saw Hopkins and Pitman. Hopkins had a rifle pointed towards Boone’s head. And Pitman had his perverted arms around Delilah with a knife to her neck. Fuck.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe,” Pitman laughed moving the knife closer to Delilah’s neck. “Or should I say Huxley Boone and Delilah Wodan?”

  Boone’s eyes went wide. “We have our own moles in the government,” Hopkins revealed. “We were just waiting for you to make your move.”

  “You will never get away with it,” Boone seethed.

  “Hunting accident, accidental drowning, or animal attack?” Hopkins suggested as ways to conceal Boone and Delilah’s disappearance and death.

  “It will be another week before your government contact even begins to wonder where you are. A lot can happen in a week,” Pitman sneered, wrapping his arms tighter around Delilah. “I am going to have fun with this one.”

  Boone looked towards Delilah in fear. Being killed by Pitman and Hopkins was one thing, but the thought of Pitman touching Delilah was more than he could handle. “Animal attack?” Boone repeated more like a question to Delilah. He wanted to know if he should turn wolf and attack. Delilah moved her head slightly to the side to indicate no. She wanted a way to capture the two men and possibly more of their group.

  “Let’s get these two tied up for now. We need to get back to the survivalist camp,” Hopkins directed. “But we will be back tonight to take care of the two of you.”

  “Just five minutes,” Pitman requested, rubbing his groin against Delilah’s ass. Delilah squirmed as she tried to put distance between her body and Pitman’s. Her face did not show fear, but it did show disgust.

  “Keep it in your pants,” Hopkins admonished. “There’ll be plenty of time tonight.”

  Pitman pulled Delilah towards a smaller building, his arm still around her shoulders, his knife still at her throat. Boone followed with Hopkins behind him. Soon the duo was tied up in chairs facing each other. They waited until their captors had left before speaking.

  “I am sorry Delilah,” Boone said filled with regret. “I should
have turned. Then we would not be in this position.”

  “No,” Delilah quickly replied. “We need to get more photos. We need to bring these assholes down, for good.”

  “But what happens when they come back? They may bring others with them.”

  “Then we take them all down. You turn, and I have my rope. We can do this, Hooxei,” Delilah stated resolutely.

  “I have never turned from a sitting position before,” Boone sighed feeling helpless and apprehensive. “I am not sure if I can do it. And if I do, will my wolf get hurt? Wolves normally do not sit like this.”

  Delilah tried not to laugh. But she was nervous, and the image of a wolf tied sitting upright in a chair made her laugh. Then reality sat in. “You could break a leg,” she stated remorsefully. “Turn only as a last resort. Maybe they will untie us and then you turn. Do not hesitate - not for a moment.”

  “If Pitman touches you, I am turning. I will not hesitate. That asshole will not hurt you,” Boone seethed. “I just could not bear to see you hurt.”

  “I am stronger than you think, Hooxei,” Delilah stated stoic. Yes, she was afraid, but she would not let Boone see her fear.

  “I am sorry I could not read their minds as well as I needed to. I am not so much of a mind reader as a pusher.”

  “Maybe you can push them when they return,” Delilah suggested.

  “I have never tried two at the same time, but I will definitely try,” Boone agreed. “If not, I will keep Pitman away from you.”

  Delilah forced a smile of gratitude. “Thanks, Hooxei.”

  “We will survive this, Delilah. We will figure it out.”

  “An army of two,” Delilah mused. “Daddy normally does not help out more than once a century.”

  “Once a century?” Boone repeated as a question.

  “I guess it is a good time to tell you a bit more,” Delilah snickered. She paused for what seemed forever before continuing. She was trying to determine how much to reveal.

  “I was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I was conceived in Canada when my mother and her family moved there during the Civil War.”

  “The American Civil War?” Boone asked as his eyes narrowed. Now that he was learning more about Delilah, he wasn’t sure how much he wanted to know.

  “The same,” Delilah confirmed. “My mother’s family was antislavery, and they headed to Canada. After the war, Mommy returned to Baton Rouge. Her parents had died, and she was pregnant with me.”

  “And Daddy?”

  “Daddy was married. Is married,” Delilah corrected. “You have met my half-sisters. They are the daughters of Daddy’s wife.”

  “And you are how old?” Boone asked almost afraid of the answer.

  “I was born in 1869.”

  Boone quickly did the math in his head. “You are one hun...”

  “Don’t you dare say it out loud,” Delilah yelled. “Do I look old?”

  Boone snickered. “Not a day over twenty-five.”

  “Exactly!” Delilah smirked smugly.

  “If you are the baby sister, how old are your half sisters?” Boone asked thinking back to the pseudo-reunion in Albuquerque.

  “Twenty-six,” Delilah laughed.

  “So are you going to tell me who you father is?” Boone asked.

  “Not right now. Not until I have to. I need one last secret,” Delilah answered.

  “You still don’t trust me?” Boone asked disappointed. Not disappointed of not knowing, but disappointed Delilah still would not reveal who her father was.

  “I trust you with my life,” Delilah said in a reassuring tone. “It is just that...I have never... damn it, I have never said it out loud. I have never told anyone.”

  “I have seen him,” Boone reminded her. “I just do not know his name.”

  “Boone, sometimes you are so dense. There have been so many clues over the past six months. I would have thought you would have figured it out on your own. There is a little thing called a tablet and the internet.”

  “But you said everything about nonhumans and supernatural beings on the internet is wrong, lies.”

  “Who I am and who my father is, transcends the internet,” Delilah rebuked shaking her head in disbelief.

  “Clues? What clues?” Boone asked.

  “My rope, my medallion, the swans, Raven Hill, my ring, Daddy’s seal, the triangles,” Delilah enumerated impatiently. She was no longer afraid if Boone put all the pieces of the puzzle together and knew the truth.

  “According to the legends, your rope was made by Zeus, but you say he is not your father,” Boone reminded Delilah.

  “Yes, that legend is completely wrong,” Delilah sighed. “Hell, the comic book was wrong.”

  “So if I had a tablet, I could figure out who your father was, rather is,” Boone asked.

  “Yepper,” Delilah replied. “You did not need me to figure it out. You had all the clues. You chose to wait for me to tell you.”

  Boone remained silent for a moment. Then he looked into Delilah's eyes. “I wanted you to trust me,” Boone admitted. “I did not want to figure it out on my own. I wanted you to know I would never pry or invade your privacy.”

  “Thank you,” Delilah smiled. “It means a lot to me.”

  “So when do I meet your brother?” Boone quipped.

  “Too much of a clue there,” Delilah insisted. “If you met him, you would know instantly who Daddy is.”

  “So two secrets,” Boone stated holding out two fingers of his right hand which was tied to the arm of the chair.

  “For now,” Delilah sadly nodded.

  “Okay, time to change the subject,” Boone announced. “So until all this,” Boone started and then looking around, “How’s your week been?”

  “I would kill for a glass of wine,” Delilah mused.

  “Me too. I miss it,” Boone admitted. “Have you had any fun this week?”

  “I liked picking up a bow again. And I am not afraid of guns anymore,” Delilah confessed. “And we got to sleep together in that small tent,” Delilah grinned.

  “I found out you have one hell of an arm,” Boone laughed. “That slap you gave me hurt.”

  Delilah frowned and looked down. “Sorry. I did not mean to hit you so hard.”

  “Don’t be sorry. It was all in good fun. Like the arm wrestling contest. Damn woman, you are strong.”

  “You told me not to hold back,” Delilah laughed. “The look on Hancock’s face was priceless. Did you get a photo of it?”

  “As a matter of fact...” Boone started and then laughed, really laughed.

  “I enjoyed kissing you and holding your hand,” Delilah whispered.

  “Me too,” Boone blushed. “I always like being with you. I do not like it when we are not together.”

  “If I am going to be tied to a chair,” Delilah tried to laugh. “I am glad it is with you.”

  “Have there been others?” Boone asked.

  “Others I have been tied to a chair with?” Delilah replied facetiously.

  “You know what I mean,” Boone sneered.

  “Other men?” Delilah asked and then paused. When Boone silently nodded his head, Delilah replied. “There was one. It was a long time ago. I was in my early twenties. My real twenties.”

  “No others?”

  “No, it was too complicated. Daddy did not approve, and he let me know about it. It did not end well, and I gave up on having a relationship. I gave up on love.”

  “So you have spent most of your life alone?” Boone’s face showed pity and sympathy.

  “Don’t feel sorry for me,” Delilah snapped. “I have had a good life. I have traveled and experienced a lot of things. I speak eleven languages, three which do not exist anymore; the languages of the ancients; the languages of my father.”

  Boone did not know what to say. He understood her life was lonely. He had lived alone for nearly ten years, but it was n
othing compared to Delilah.

  “What about you? Any love interests?” Delilah asked.

  “I could not take the chance. There aren’t too many female wolves around, and I could not fathom the thought of turning a human,” Boone explained. “So I resigned myself to solitude.”

  “Any regrets?” Delilah asked.

  “Not yet but the night’s not over,” Boone tried to joke.

  Both remained silent for a while realizing the predicament they were in. Their chances of escaping were fairly good, but they wanted to ride it out and see if they still had a chance of bringing down the group. They wanted to see the assignment through to the end. Both knew, however that if pushed, they would reveal any and all secrets to escape and remain alive.

  “Have you ever seen me hunt?” Boone asked. He had wondered for nearly six months and wanted to know.

  “I would stand on the mountain during the full moon and watch you leave,” Delilah confessed. “I was always in awe of you. Your reddish-tan fur and your eyes...damn your eyes are amazing.”

  “But have you ever seen me take down an animal?” Boone asked again. He was afraid Delilah would think of him as a monster.

  “Yes,” Delilah revealed. “But I have a question. After you had killed the animal, you laid down as if bowing to it before you ate it. Why?”

  “I guess it is my Arapaho upbringing. I thank the gods and spirits for keeping me strong. I thank the animal for giving up its spirit and life for me.”

  “I do not think I have ever met a man as noble as you, Hooxei,” Delilah smiled in reverence. “You are the most gallant man I have ever known.”

  Boone did not know how to reply. He had never thought of himself as noble or gallant. Hell, he was a wolf; a wolf who killed every month to stay strong. He shook his head trying to accept Delilah’s opinion of him.

  “You do what you have to do Hooxei Bo’ooneih to stay alive. And you show respect to your kill. I would call that honorable.”

  “An honorable man would not put a lady into this position,” Boone countered.

  “I pushed you to take this mission, not the other way around,” Delilah rebutted. “I came into this with my eyes wide open.”

  “Regardless, I hate this,” Boone seethed. “I hate seeing you tied up.”

  Delilah knew she needed to change the subject of conversation. “So what is the difference between a mind reader and a pusher?” she asked even though she knew the answer.

  “I can easily push a thought or memory into someone’s mind. It is a piece of cake. But reading someone’s mind is not easy for me to do. I really have to concentrate. It gives me a horrendous headache. I cannot do it for more than a few minutes.”

  “Your sister, the Snow Wolf, can do both,” Delilah revealed. “So can her mate. He is a Snow Wolf too.”

  “You have met them?” Boone asked.

  “No, but Daddy has told me about them. And they are healers too. Not many wolves have extra powers. Those who can, descend from the original Snow Wolves. And usually, they have only one power if any. Most do not have powers. So you being both a pusher and a healer is extraordinary. You are quite special.”

  Boone frowned. At the moment, he did not feel so special. “Are you saying not all wolves can heal?”

  “No. There are very few. Normally, a wolf biting a human causes a human to turn wolf. It activates their wolf DNA. Because of your magical abilities, you cannot turn a human by biting them. Your saliva heals.”

  “But can I still turn a human into a wolf?”

  “Your blood would have to mix with theirs,” Delilah explained. “Or through sex, if your ejaculate mixes with her blood.”

  “So I could turn a human into a wolf?” Boone said more like a statement. “I am glad I have abstained. I could never do that to someone.”

  “Even if she wanted to be a wolf? Even if she loved you and wanted to spend eternity with you?” Delilah asked. It was not morbid curiosity. She needed to know.

  “I do not know, Delilah. I haven't thought about it in over a decade; since I left the pack. It is a big decision to make. I do not think I can make that surmountable of a decision until I have to.”

  Delilah knew any further discussion of the subject could lead to an argument, a fight or maybe even heartbreak. She did not push the issue. “Can you tell what time it is?” Delilah asked.

  “There is still daylight outside. It will still be quite a few hours before the boys return. Why don’t you rest for a while? Try to sleep. I want you well rested and as strong as possible when they return.”

  “As soon as I pop off my nails,” Delilah exclaimed. “When that bastard returns, I will have a surprise or two for him.”

  Now Boone was intrigued. “I know they are sharp, but are you hiding another secret from me, Delilah?”

  “Me, hide things from you? Could be,” Delilah laughed in a wicked tone. “That bastard will suffer a slow and agonizing death. I am going to tear off his dick and stomp on it.”

  “Damn woman, remind me never to piss you off,” Boone exclaimed in fear and admiration.

  “Now you know,” Delilah laughed. “I will be ready. I will find a way to trick him into untying me. Then I will get my revenge. First, for holding a knife to my neck and then for rubbing on me. No one touches me without my permission.”

  Boone could only chuckle. While he wasn't sure if he approved of Delilah's methods, he completely condoned her resolve. He would let her handle it her way.

  For the next several hours, Delilah and Boone tried to nap. They tried to rest and save their strength, but neither could succumb to sleep. After the sun had set, they heard a singular vehicle approach. Boone could tell by the sound of the engine it was the all-terrain vehicle Pitman and Hopkins traveled in.

  Pitman and Hopkins entered the building. “Time for a little fun before we kill you,” Pitman laughed. “First, I am going to beat the crap out of Boone and then I am going to have lots of fun with Delilah over here.”

  Boone knew he could take whatever Pitman could dish out. His pain threshold was quite high, and he would heal quickly being a wolf. But once Pitman moved towards Delilah he knew he would have to move quickly. Boone was still afraid turning wolf while tied up would be problematic. “You are still my angel,” Boone whispered to Delilah. “You will always be my angel.”

  “Well, ain’t that sweet,” Hopkins laughed. “The rest of the group will be here soon. After we are finished with the two of you, we are gonna have to move our operations.”

  Hopkins walked over to Boone and without hesitation punched him squarely in the jaw. Boone’s head barely moved as blood trickled from his mouth. “Is that all you got?” Boone sneered.

  “You lousy son of a bitch,” Hopkins yelled and hit Boone again.

  Boone laughed. “How’s the hand? Any cuts or scrapes yet?” Boone asked. He knew the best was yet to come.

  Hopkins looked at this hand and noticed a cut across his knuckles. “That is a wolf bite,” Boone laughed tasting Hopkins’ blood on his teeth. Boone had intentionally made sure his teeth were exposed for the second punch. “My blood and your blood have mixed. You are going to have lots of fun come the next full moon howling at the moon all hairy and craving raw meat still on the hoof. You are not only going to be a monster, but you are going to look like one too.”

  Of course, neither Hopkins nor Pitman took Boone seriously. “Let’s get on with this already,” Pitman exclaimed impatiently and moved towards Boone. Boone could see Pitman meant business, however before Boone could turn wolf, Pitman coldcocked Boone with the butt of his rifle.

  “Your turn, little lady,” Pitman sneered perversely as he turned towards her. He was already unbuckling his belt.

  Delilah smiled. “If we are going to do the horizontal tango, I would prefer to be an active participant,” Delilah cooed sweetly. “How about untying me?”

  “Only if you pretend to
fight me off,” Pitman cooed in return. But he knew he would have to untie Delilah to have his way with her.

  “Sounds like fun,” Delilah giggled. “Let’s have a go at it. I like it rough.”

  As soon as Pitman untied the first hand, Delilah reared back and slapped him across the face tearing her talons deep into his cheek. Pitman screamed in pain and backed away holding his face. Not only was he in pain from the cuts across his cheek but he felt a burning sensation as if he had been doused with chemicals. It felt as if his face was on fire.

  Hopkins stared at the gaping claw marks across Pitman's cheek. Then he glanced towards the door. “What the hell?” Hopkins called out, distracted by the commotion which had commenced outside. Hopkins quickly looked back at Pitman before running out of the building leaving Pitman to fight his own battle. Hopkins' only loyalty was to himself.

  Boone opened his eyes slowly and saw Pitman trying to stop the bleeding from the four long deep cuts across his face. For a moment, it appeared as if Pitman was attempting to tear the skin off his face. Despite the disgust, Boone smiled proudly at Delilah. Then Boone heard the noise Hopkins had heard. “Is that an orchestra I hear?”

  Delilah laughed gaily. “That would be our backup.”

  “Our backup?” Boone questioned. But before Delilah could answer, the door to the outside was yanked off its hinges, and a very large, very muscular, very red-headed man entered.

  “Heard you need some help little sister,” the man called out, almost laughing.

  “T,” Delilah called out, happy to see her brother.

  Delilah’s brother picked up Pitman by his neck. “No one fucks with my sisters, especially my baby sister,” he snarled.

  “That one is mine,” Delilah yelled. She reached into her bra with her free hand and pulled out her rope. “Tie him up and then free Boone. I will be free in just a moment.” Delilah used the talons on her free hand to quickly slice through the ropes on her other wrist and then on her ankles.

  “So this is the infamous Huxley Boone I have heard so much about,” Delilah’s brother laughed. “I see the attraction. He’s kind of pretty, even if he is a wolf.”

  “You better be nice to him, T,” Delilah warned her brother.

  “What the hell is the noise outside,” Boone demanded still trying to discern everything going on.

  “Some call it the call of ‘The Ride of the Valkyries,'” T disclosed. “Others call it a war cry.”

  “It is my sisters,” Delilah added as her brother finished tying up Pitman. She jumped up into his arms. “Thanks, bro.”

  “Hey bro,” Boone called out. “What about me?”

  “Hold your horses, dude. I will get to you in a moment.” T turned back to Delilah. “So Dee Dee, what do you want me to do with this scumbag? Toss him to Canada?”

  “Not yet,” Delilah laughed. “I have a little reprisal in mind first. No one touches me without my permission and gets away with it. When I am done, he is all yours.”

  Boone looked at Delilah confused. “Dee Dee?”

  “It is just a name,” Delilah quipped. Then she turned to Pitman. “Stand up you perverted son of a bitch,” she yelled vehemently. “You deserve to suffer and suffer you will. I am just not sure if you will bleed out before the poison takes hold. But regardless, you are going to be in a lot of excruciating pain until you die. And you will die by morning if not sooner.”

  As soon as Delilah finished her warning, she did not hesitate. She reached down with her talons fully extended. “This is for all the women you have terrorized.” Pitman looked down and saw Delilah’s hand but before he could completely process what was about to happen it was done. Pitman screamed bloody hell as Delilah dug her talons into his scrotum and effectively removed his testicles and penis in one graceful jerk.

  Boone did not know whether to be impressed or frightened by the woman standing in front of him. He had never seen this side of Delilah. With two swipes of her talons, Delilah cut the ropes releasing Boone.

  “Now?” T asked.

  “Now,” Delilah nodded as she reclaimed her rope from around Pitman.

  T picked Pitman up by the neck again and carried him outside. Delilah and Boone followed. “Canada bound,” T called out as he tossed Pitman high into the atmosphere. Boone felt like he was standing in the center of a sci-fi fantasy.

  Boone shuddered and forced himself back to reality. Looking around, he saw at least fifteen dead bodies. One of them was Hopkins. Delilah was sad when she saw Hancock and Anna and Roy King amongst the dead. She had hoped her suspicions about them had been wrong.

  Boone looked at the women standing around him. He counted about half of Delilah’s sisters. The same sisters he had seen at the reunion in the mountains of Albuquerque.

  “Okay,” Boone started. “What kind of paramnesia am I standing in the middle of?”

  Delilah looked towards her sisters and then to T. “Do you think Daddy will approve?”

  Before anyone could reply, Daddy was standing beside Delilah. “Daddy,” Delilah called out gleefully.

  “I hear I owe you a hug,” Daddy chuckled. “Sorry, I left so abruptly last time. I had another appointment I was late for.”

  Delilah jumped into her father’s open arms. “Thank you, Daddy,” she cried blissfully.

  Releasing Delilah, her father moved towards Boone and shook his hand. “I would like to introduce you to the family. Before you are about half of my lovely daughters. I would introduce them by name, but they keep changing them. They have to keep up with the times you know.”

  Then Daddy gestured to T. “And my most famous son, Thor.”

  “Thor as in Thor?” Boone called out looking around again. Everyone laughed.

  “Wait. If this is Thor then you are...” Boone could not say it aloud.

  Delilah moved next to Boone and took his hand. “Huxley Boone, may I introduce you to my father, Odin.”

  “Odin!” Boone called out. “Daddy is Odin. I mean Odin is your daddy?” Boone could not stop stuttering. “Then your sisters are the Valkyries. But I thought they did not fight. I thought they just rode the battlefield deciding who goes to Valhalla. Oh shit, Valhalla. That was another clue.”

  Thor laughed. “This one ain’t the sharpest tool in the shed, is he?”

  “You leave him alone,” Delilah seethed slapping her brother playfully in his ribs. Thor stood over seven feet tall.

  “But...” Thor started. But the austere look from Odin quickly quieted Thor.

  “I understand the two of you pretended to be husband and wife for the last week,” Odin questioned.

  “Yes, Daddy,” Delilah answered timidly.

  “I hope that was all,” Odin stated as a question.

  “Yes, Daddy.”

  “Mister...I mean Odin...hell, I do not know what to call you,” Boone started. “I would never touch your daughter. I mean I would never lay with a woman who was not my wife. I wasn’t raised that way.”

  Odin laughed listening to Boone falter over his words. “I know that son. I know who you are and what you are. I created your uber great-grandparents. You are the half-brother of one of the present day Snow Wolves. Every last one of you with an active wolf gene in the surviving bloodline is virtuous.”

  “Yes sir,” Boone confirmed while looking down.

  “We have decisions to make today,” Odin announced. “You know about us. Very few humans know we are real. Most wolves think we died long ago. We are nothing more than a legend. Fairy tales just like the ones about the Snow Wolves.”

  “I would never...” Boone began.

  “We know,” Odin replied. “We are here today to decide your future. Well, actually the future of Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe.”

  “I do not understand,” Boone stated filled with trepidation. “The mission is over.”

  “Yes, but where do you go from here?”

  Odin turned to his daughter. “Delilah
, you have waited a long time to find the right man. Have you found him?”

  “Yes Daddy. I love him.”

  “Boone, how do you feel about my baby girl?”

  Boone looked at Odin surprised by the question. Then he looked at Delilah. He looked into the pale icy blue eyes which mesmerized him. He looked at her naturally red lips. He looked at his own hand which softly held hers. He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it gently.

  Standing tall, Boone looked directly at Odin. “With your permission sir, I would like to ask your beautiful, remarkable daughter to be my wife, for real. I want us to spend the rest of our lives together.”

  Delilah squeezed Boone’s hand and looked towards her father filled with hope.

  “My daughter, are you willing to give up everything you know to be with this man? Give up your powers for this man?”

  “Daddy, I love you and my family. But I love Boone with all my heart. He is my heart. I would rather live as a human than lose his love,” Delilah stated resolutely.

  “Delilah,” Boone quickly remonstrated. “I could never ask you to give up your family for me. I know how much you love them.”

  “You are my family too. And someday I hope to have our own family,” Delilah countered.

  “Permission granted,” Odin replied in two words. Odin turned to his family and waved his hand in the air. As his daughters and Thor disappeared, Odin turned to Boone. “We will talk soon about how we are going to work out the kinks. But for now, allow me to give you a lift home.”

  Delilah took her father’s hand with her free hand. “Take a deep breath and hold on tight, Hooxei,” Delilah warned. Boone inhaled deeply and closed his eyes. When he opened his eyes, he was home in Red Mountain with Delilah at his side.

  “We have a wedding to plan,” Delilah exclaimed as she jumped into Boone’s arms.

  Boone took the Claddagh ring off Delilah’s right hand and placed in onto her left hand with the point of the heart pointing towards the end of her finger. Boone smirked his little boy smile. “Now it means you are engaged to me.”

  “Kiss me as if you love me, Hooxei Bo’ooneih,” Delilah cooed.

  “I do love you.”