So I trudged. And I bitched. And I dreamed of a cozy bed, hot food and Travis Tesler's head on a pike... not necessarily in that order.
I was following that seemingly endless road when I heard the faint squeak of snow under a boot. I stopped. Everything around me was still. Then a figure stepped onto the road. I tensed, but he only lifted a hand in greeting and started toward me. He was tall and slender, dressed in one of those parkas with the long, tubelike hoods, his face lost within its shadows. As he approached, though, his smell hit me. And I didn't believe it. I inhaled more icy air so fast my brain reeled from the shock. The scent stayed the same. But it couldn't be. Couldn't possibly be.
The man pulled down his hood and I saw his wavy dark hair, big brown eyes, olive-skinned face, swoon-worthy grin... and still I couldn't believe it.
"See," he said. "Clay was worried we'd never find you out here, but all I had to do was follow the bitching and moaning, and here you are."
"Nick..." I said.
"You can't be too cold, then, if you remember my name. I swear, another hour out here and I'd have forgotten it. Love the clothes. Seems we shop at the same designer." He looked down at his parka with such disgust that, at any other time, I would have laughed.
"Wh-what are you doing here?" I stammered.
"Good to see you, too."
When he stepped toward me, I fell back.
He paused, frowning, then nodded. "Blaming snow blindness? Some funky mojo from these weird woods? Don't worry, I'm real. And just to prove it..."
He leapt forward before I could back away, snatched me up and kissed me. As usual, it wasn't the kind of kiss you should give your best friend's wife. As I gasped for air, I said, "Nick," and he grinned.
"I knew that'd work."
My eyes prickled, throat tightening. I'd been holding up so well, but now, seeing Nick, knowing I was safe, it was like popping the cushioning bubble that had kept me going.
He put his arms around me and pulled me against him, grip only strengthening when I murmured that I was okay and to put me down. After a moment, I gave up and let him hug me. A tear or two might have stained his parka, but we both pretended not to see it. When his arms loosened, I stepped away.
"How did you get here?" I asked.
"Hold on, let me try Clay again while I explain." He fumbled in his pocket. "Last night, when Joey drugged Clay--I can't believe he--" He shook his head. "Anyway, Jeremy knew something was wrong. You know Jeremy."
He stopped fumbling, yanked off a glove and pulled his cell phone from his pocket, checking it as he talked. "Jeremy called. No one answered in your room or on your phones. So he talked the hotel staff into opening the door and checking. Having a stranger walk into his room woke Clay up better than any phone call." He shook his phone, cursing. "Still no reception. I bet the radio isn't working either."
He exchanged the cell phone for a walkie-talkie, still talking. "We knew you guys might need emergency help, so by the time Clay woke up, Antonio already had a buddy's company jet on standby. We were on the plane with Reese."
He tried the radio. Swore. Shoved it back into his pocket and kept talking. "Jeremy is on his way, but he didn't want us to wait for him. He's taking a regular flight and leaving the kids with Jaime. Karl's supposed to be coming, but I'll believe it when I see him. They'll be a while, though. We just got here ourselves. We managed to get in touch with Clay, who was already up here searching. We found him and split up--me with Clay, Antonio with Reese."
"So where's Clay?"
"Took off. I wasn't keeping up. Next thing I know, he's gone and I'm trudging through snow up to my knees, searching for a path, a road, anything. Then I heard you."
"In other words, you got lost in the woods. Again."
He shot me a mock scowl. "No, Clay lost me in the woods. Again. And he's probably lost himself by now, the way he was going. Do you want to hunt for him? Or keep going and hope for cell service?"
I wanted to find Clay. Even the thought that he was out here was enough to make my eyes prickle again. Nick was a decent substitute, but I needed Clay--to see him, know he was safe, show him I was safe, tell him everything, then get to work.
And I wanted a hug. A long one, inhaling his scent, proving to myself that everything really was okay. There was a time I wouldn't have admitted that, much less planned to act on the impulse. Today I would.
What I had to do, though, was option two: trust that Clay was okay and keep going until we could make radio contact. If both Clay and Antonio were out of range, then I'd contact Jeremy or Karl--maybe even Hope--and have someone keep trying Antonio and Clay for me while we headed back into the forest to search for them. That was the sensible plan, so that's the one I told Nick. He didn't argue; he never did.
So we walked. I took the radio and he kept the cell phone, and we continued checking for service as I explained everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours.
Nick accepted the existence of Shifters with little comment. It interested him no more than any minutiae of the greater supernatural world. What did get his attention was the tremor in my voice each time I mentioned Travis Tesler.
"What did this Tesler guy--?" Nick stopped himself. "No, I think I know what he did. Or tried to do, because if he'd succeeded..."
"I'd be an emotional wreck?"
"No, I was thinking more 'covered in blood and bits of the bastard.' But, yeah, after that settled, you'd be in rough shape. You'd get through it, but I'm glad you don't have to."
He tucked his glove into his pocket, and slid his bare hand into the massive mitt over mine, taking my hand inside it, that last bit of chill vanishing as my fingers entwined with his warm ones. We walked in silence, hand-in-hand. I've always liked this about Nick, a physical closeness I don't allow myself with anyone except Clay. It's a safe intimacy that some part of me craves.
It's not asexual--nothing is asexual with Nick--but it's completely nonthreatening. I'm his friend and his best friend's wife, and while that doesn't stop him from kissing me or slipping into our bed and getting friendlier than a friend should, he means nothing by it, would never push the boundaries. If Clay isn't threatened, then I know I don't need to be, because it's nothing more than it appears to be--another level of the physical play and intimacy that cement Pack bonds.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he said after a few minutes. "I know you'll talk to Clay but... maybe there are things you'd rather discuss with me?"
I nodded. "I might. And I probably will. Later. For now, I'm holding up. It just... It made me so..."
"Angry."
"Sure. It pissed me off. That's part of being a woman, I guess. If some son of a bitch wants to hurt us, he knows how to do it, and there's really nothing we can do in return, nothing on that scale."
"I don't mean you're mad at him. Of course you are, but you're more angry with yourself for letting it get to you. For not being perfect."
I didn't answer. I didn't need to. The Pack might tease Nick for not being the quickest on his mental feet, but there's more than one kind of intelligence, and when it comes to seeing through people, no one was better than Nick. It just wasn't an ability I liked him practicing on me...
"I'll be fine," I said.
"I know you will."
We checked our devices, then kept walking, the dark sky ahead now streaked with gray.
"Everyone has a button, Elena. This guy found yours."
"And, apparently, he's not the only one who sees it, meaning I'm doing a shitty job of hiding it."
He gave me a look. "I've known you for twenty years. If I hadn't figured it out, there'd be something wrong with me, especially considering I've brushed that button a few times myself."
"It's not the same."
His hand tightened around mine. "I know."
We walked some more. Checked again. Still nothing.
"You're allowed to have a soft spot, Elena."
"I'd rather not."
"I know."
More quiet
walking. More futile checking.
"How far did you get before you lost the signal?" I asked.
"No idea. Clay had driven in as far as his rental truck would go, and we met him there. At that point, we had radio but no cell. After we split up, there wasn't any reason to call each other, so we didn't think to check."
"Any idea whether we're heading in the right direction?" I caught his look. "Okay, dumb question. But I know the highway is west, and the sun is coming up behind us, so we're at least heading into a cell phone area. I hope. Now let's just hope they--"
The howl of a wolf brought me up short. I followed the sound, then shook my head. It wasn't Clay or Antonio.
"Could be Reese," Nick said. "Maybe I'm not the only werewolf who gets lost in the woods."
A chorus of howls answered the question.
"Wild wolves?" he said.
I nodded. "But I'm sure even they get lost now and then... when they've taken a hard blow to the head."
He jostled me, threatening to send one of those hard blows my way. We goofed for a few steps, trading shoves and trying to trip each other, then we slowed to listen as the wolves broke out in full song.
"Something's got them going," I said.
"Those Shifter things?"
"Could be. I--"
The radio in my hand chirped, the sound so loud and unexpected I almost dropped it.
"Goddamn it, Nick," Clay's voice hissed. "Where the hell are you? I don't have time to be chasing you all over the fucking Alaskan wilderness. If you freeze to death--"
I pressed the button. "Nick's with me. We're okay."
Silence, then, "Who--? Is someone there?"
"It's a two-way radio," Nick said. "If you interrupt him, he can't hear you."
"Nick's with me," I repeated. "And we're fine."
More silence and I thought I'd screwed up the transmission again, then, faintly, "Elena?"
"Yes, unless Nick found a woman in the forest, which I suppose wouldn't be too surprising."
"Where are you? Stay right there. You said you're fine? How fine? Are you hurt? What're you wearing? Tell Nick to give you his--"
"I'm battered, but fine," I said. "And if I needed a coat, Nick would have already given me his."
"What?"
"You can't interrupt him," Nick murmured. "As tempting as it might be. Tell him we're at..."
I glanced over to see him operating another handheld device.
"At least this has a signal," he said. "Too bad the screen isn't made for a hundred below. Give me a sec to clear the condensation and I'll have our coordinates."
"You got lost... with a GPS?"
"Elena?" Clay's voice crackled through the radio. "Are you there? What's going on? Talk to--"
I hit the call button, hoping that would cut him off, then said, "I'm still here. Nick's getting you our coordinates. He's having trouble reading--Oh, wait."
Nick passed over the unit. I squinted at the foggy display, then read off the numbers.
"How close is that to you?" I asked.
Silence.
I asked again. Still nothing. We tried the call button, but there was no answer.
"Lost him," I muttered. "And the question is: Did it happen before or after he got the coordinates?"
The wolves howled again. They were closer now, on the move. A distant one answered.
"Now that's foolproof communication," Nick said. "Maybe if we Change and howl..."
"Possible. Though we might also alert the Teslers. But that does give me an idea."
I whistled. Then whistled again.
"I'm not sure Clay will be close enough to hear that," Nick said.
"No, but I'm hoping the wolves will. I want to talk to one."
"Um, okay." Nick studied my face for signs of hypothermic dementia. "I don't think wolves come when you whistle."
"This one might."
We stepped off the path to wait, getting behind a windbreak and hunkering down. Sure enough, the dark red mutt showed up. He didn't exactly come bounding over the snow. He drew close, then circled, as if making sure it was me before he answered... or maybe trying to decide whether he wanted to bother.
When I caught a whiff of him on the breeze, I slipped into his path.
"I need your help," I said.
He sighed, as if this was what he'd feared, and his gaze slid to the side, gauging the escape routes.
"Yes, I know, helping us probably isn't at the top of your priority list, but if you answered my whistle, you're at least curious to hear what I want. And don't worry, there's something in it for you... including getting us out of these woods and off your territory."
That made him look my way. Nick edged closer, sizing him up. The werewolf did the same.
"We're not the only trespassers you and your pack would like gone," I said. "In fact, I suspect we're the least of your worries right now. Heading the list is a group of thugs who think this 'unclaimed wilderness' is the perfect spot to set up illegal operations, while killing locals."
His green eyes shifted to the side again, just enough to tell me something.
"Ah, so you do know they aren't the ones who killed those men."
A growling grunt.
"Except the first, yes. I guess you know that. And you know who was responsible for the rest--the Shifters, who I'm going to assume haven't given you or the wolves much trouble until recently. That's another problem I can fix for you."
Another grunt, this one saying, "Yes, yes, now get on with it." I did. I told him that we planned to kill the Teslers, and that would quiet down the Shifters and end the killings. I'd also let the Shifter Alpha know that Eli had been playing "roust the wolves" with him and the pack.
"That'll put an end to his antics," I said. "But before I go after the Teslers, I'll need backup. And don't worry, I don't mean you. My mate is out here, along with two other werewolves from my Pack looking for me. But I suspect you already know that, which is what has your pack nervous and what made you come running when I whistled."
A soft chuff of agreement.
"Find them and lead them to us. We'll be here for a bit, but then we're moving on. If you get them as far as our trail, they can take it from there. Deal?"
Another chuff and he loped off.
"That was interesting," Nick said.
"Out here, that's only the start of 'interesting.'"
WE'D BEEN WAITING five minutes when the buzz of an engine made my head jerk up.
"Snowmobiles," I said.
"Think Clay liberated one from a cottage?"
I shook my head. "Between the noise and the smell, it would be useless for tracking." The whine was getting louder. "And if it's not them..."
"We'd better get farther from the road."
We ducked behind a thick stand of bushes. As the first snowmobile approached, I peeked out. I saw only a figure and a shadowy face, but it was enough to start my heart pounding.
"That's him, isn't it?" Nick whispered. "Tesler Senior."
I nodded and pulled back as it passed. Then a second headlight crested a dip in the road.
"And Tesler Junior, I presume."
I nodded.
"Should we wait until that mutt finds Clay and my dad?"
I shook my head.
"That's what I thought."
REINFORCEMENTS
YES, WE SHOULD wait. But we couldn't, because if we did, we'd be combing these woods for days trying to find the Teslers' cabin again. And it would only be a few hours until they realized I must have made it to safety, and took off before I came back for vengeance... with my Pack in tow.
I needed to find that cabin, hide someplace safe, then hope the mutt brought Clay to me. The Shifters had told me where to find the cabin. I'd taken mental notes, but even at the time, I'd known it wouldn't help. Their idea of directions went something like this: take the road that crosses the river, then turn onto the one that heads toward sunrise, follow it past the fallen oak, turn toward the city, cut over the hill with the aba
ndoned shack...
I'd figured I'd be able to find the place on my own, but it was like when someone offers directions to a house you've visited before. You think you'll remember your way there. But now I realized that hoping to find a specific cabin in all these miles of wilderness was like hoping to find a single house in a neighborhood of hundreds.
The best chance to fulfill my promise and get Noah back was to follow the Teslers now. We'd barely set out when they turned off the road and had to slow down. A brisk jog kept us close enough to track them.
We followed the sleds back to the cottage, which wasn't as far away as I'd thought, proving how screwed we would have been.
Once we neared the cabin, I remembered the territory down to the last tree. The snowmobile shed was on the other side of the cottage. We cut through the forest, staying downwind and coming out there, hidden in the bushes, too far for them to pick up our scent.
As soon as the engines died, the brothers started talking. We could only pick up snatches of the conversation, just enough to know they'd been looking for me, which I could have guessed. Tesler had gone back to the stakeout point to find broken ropes, paw prints and bloodied snow.
"Oh, come on," Eddie said as they came out of the shed. "You've got to admit, it is kind of funny. You stake her out, trying to scare her with stories of that beast thing... and it really does carry her off. What do you think it's doing with her?"
Tesler snarled something.
"Hey, don't give me that look," Eddie said. "If you'd kept your cool, you wouldn't have lost her. I told you to bring her back inside. But you had to push it. Time to focus on the consolation prize, which you gotta admit is a helluva score. Six months from now, you won't remember what Elena Michaels looked like. All that'll matter is that you get the credit for killing her... and for killing Clayton Danvers."
I didn't hear what Tesler said next. The next thing I knew I was facedown in the snow, rage and panic pumping through me, Nick's knee digging in my back, his voice at my ear telling me it was okay, Clay was okay, they hadn't found him, just lie still and listen.