Hex (Winter - Shifter Seasons Book 1)

by Harmony Raines

  “No, I’m hoping we’ve turned a corner and Mom’s health will improve. Once the spring is here, I plan to take her out in the fresh air as much as possible.” Martha looked up at Hex as she pulled her jeans off and draped them over a chair. As she pulled off her shirt, she noticed a paper booklet on the floor. Grabbing hold of it, she picked it up. “How to Revive and Resuscitate!”

  “Shawn gave it to me. He was taking part in a talk about rescue and resuscitation in cold weather, or something like that.” Hex walked around the bed, his jeans slung around his hips and his belt undone. “I read it while I was waiting for you and Hilda.”

  “You read it all?” She flicked through the booklet, which showed the recovery position along with tips for reviving people who had been under the water. There was a separate section for resuscitation in freezing conditions.

  “I did.” He laughed nervously. “I know it’s not exactly light reading, but I had nothing else to do.”

  “And it would come in very useful if your mate nearly drowned.” Her heart ached for Hex. His dream would haunt him for all of their lives. The only way for it to possibly go away was if it came true. And if it came true, then who was to say if she might perish in the deep cold water of the creek?

  “It would.” He nodded and then shook his head before running a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. I wish I could just let it go. I wish that the dream wasn’t real to me.”

  “Hey, it is what it is, and we have to deal with it.” She held up the booklet. “I guess this will make some good bedtime reading.”

  “You’re going to read it?” Hex asked in surprise. “It’s my dream.”

  “And what if it’s your fate?” Martha asked. “You’re assuming that your mate, me, is the one who goes under the water.”

  “Because my mom had a dream about my dad,” Hex explained.

  “But did your mom’s parents have a dream about their mate’s death? Or their parents before them?” Martha looked up at Hex, trying to make him see. “These dreams aren’t infallible, they are not set in stone. What if it’s actually you who goes into the water and I am totally unprepared?” A tear rolled down her cheek at the thought of losing the man she’d only just found. “Or what if it’s one of our children?”

  Hex gave a short, humorless laugh. “Is this your way of making me feel better?”

  “No, it’s my way of making sure we are both prepared.” Martha went to the bed and climbed in. As she opened the booklet on her lap, she patted the bed. “Are you coming to join me? I can see some of these examples of resuscitation might be easier to understand if we practiced on each other.”

  “Like the kiss of life?” Hex let his jeans fall to the floor and went to his mate. He slid under the blankets and snuggled close to her.

  “You can kiss me to life any time,” she said silkily as she nestled against him and began to read.

  Chapter Nineteen – Hex

  “Take care of each other.” Hilda hugged Martha tightly as if she didn’t want to let her go. “Please, be careful.”

  “I will,” Martha assured her mom as she held her close. “We’ll be back before you know it.”

  “Once we get to Cougar Ridge, we’ll rest for an hour or two and then attempt the journey back,” Hex told Mac. “We need to get the meds back to Hilda today, and I don’t want to risk being out after dark.”

  “Keep safe, brother.” Mac hugged Hex, which was an unusual move. Normally the brothers weren’t so tactile with each other. And that scared Hex.

  “We’ll be fine.” Hex pulled back and looked into Mac’s face. “What is it?”

  Mac shook his head and glanced at Martha. “I know how much she means to you.”

  “And you’re scared my dream will come true.” Hex ground his back teeth together. “If I thought she’d stay...”

  “You can’t run from fate and I don’t think you can hide from it either.” Mac patted his brother on the back. “See you before dark. If you can send a message or call, then do. If your cell phone doesn’t work, the landline in Cougar Ridge might. I just hope we took down all the trees that posed a risk.”

  “I’ll do what I can,” Hex promised as Shawn edged toward the door, keen to be off on their journey through the frozen snowscape. “And we need to be back before dark, the next band of snow is heading our way.” He raised his head and sniffed the air. “I can smell it.”

  “The forecast said it’ll get here by nightfall,” Mac agreed. “Let’s hope they have it right this time and you don’t get stranded out there if it comes early.”

  Hex nodded. “I don’t think even sharing body heat will help us much if we get stuck in that much snow.”

  “Maybe find a den in the mountains,” Mac suggested. “Your bear can make a den.”

  Hex chuckled. “He’d like to. Me, I’d rather get home for some home cooking.”

  “I’ll have something ready for you both,” Sue promised as she hugged Hex. “Take care of both of you.”

  “I will,” Hex promised.

  “Okay. We have food and water and a Thermos filled with coffee.” Martha patted her backpack, her voice a little high, betraying her nerves. She’d spent a couple of hours last night reading and then rereading the booklet Shawn had given Hex. Then they’d discussed techniques at length. Martha was taking this seriously. Which scared the hell out of him. Somehow, she’d become convinced that it was Hex who was in danger.

  Perhaps it’s easier to cope with the knowledge your dream might come true if she thinks the dream is about you. It means she can do something to help rather than being a bystander in the events that might unfold, his bear observed.

  I suppose you might be right, Hex agreed. I am focused on saving Martha. I care more for her than my own safety.

  Which is a dangerous attitude to have, his bear observed. Martha might as well drown with us if we are the ones who go into the water.

  Don’t say that, Hex replied.

  It’s true. Whichever one of us drowns...if one of us drowns, then the other will never recover.

  So we make sure no one ever drowns, and I’ll just have to learn to live with these damn dreams.

  Even last night with his mate lying next to him, safe in bed, the dream had still come to him. He’d woken in a cold sweat, but luckily, he hadn’t woken Martha.

  “Thanks for letting me stay overnight.” Shawn adjusted the straps on the backpack Joey had loaned him. “I’ll drop this back to you when the snow thaws.”

  “It was good to meet you, Shawn. Maybe come by with Jane after the thaw, we’d love to meet her.” Sue stepped forward and surprised Shawn with a hug. “Take care of each other.”

  “We will,” Shawn promised. But then Shawn wouldn’t be there with them on the return journey. Hex’s stomach tied itself in knots as he tensed. Was this it? Was this the day?

  As Shawn opened the door and stepped out into the cold winter wonderland, it was hard to believe anything bad could happen on such a pristinely beautiful day. The sun was still low, but its watery rays reflected off the carpet of millions of tiny snowflakes piled four feet deep, leaving them half-blind. Shawn shielded his eyes and adjusted his snowshoes before he set off, a determined expression on his face.

  Hex and Martha followed, although their progress was slow at first. “I have never worn these stupid things before.” Martha flapped the snowshoes in the air as she untangled her feet from each other and tried once more.

  “Just relax, one foot in front of the other, but try to keep your feet a little further apart.” Hex watched as she solemnly followed his advice. “Better.”

  “I suppose they beat being up to my waist in the snow,” she grumbled as she trudged along after Shawn. “I think Shawn will reach Cougar Ridge before I’m even halfway.”

  “That’s okay, it’s not a race. Keep your pace slow and steady. Follow Shawn’s trail in the snow and if he gets into trouble, we’ll find him sooner or later.” Hex understood Shawn’s need to get home, but the idea of them ma
king the journey together meant they stayed together.

  “I think I’m getting the hang of it.” Martha put her head down and walked in silence as she followed Shawn’s trail and kept her snowshoes from tripping her up.

  Hex switched his gaze from watching Martha to checking the area around them, to watching Shawn, who seemed to have slowed up.

  “Am I going faster, or is Shawn waiting for us?” Martha asked as they reached a belt of tall trees.

  “He’s waiting,” Hex replied. “Things are going to get a lot harder from here on out.”

  “Bring it on,” Martha said with a laugh as she marched onward.

  She’s so determined, his bear said as they followed in her tracks.

  She has to get the antibiotics for her mom. It’s important to Martha that she makes sure her mom stays well. Hex pushed down his worry for Martha, it would do no good now. They had to focus on getting to Cougar Ridge and fetching Hilda’s meds.

  We just have to make sure she doesn’t push herself too hard. His bear’s concern was obvious.

  We’ll be there every step of the way, Hex reminded him. Our place is by her side and that will never change.

  “How are you coping with the snowshoes?” Shawn asked as he watched Martha and Hex approach.

  “I’m getting the hang of them,” Martha replied, sounding confident as she didn’t stop but strode on past him.

  “Don’t you want to stop for a drink and something to eat?” Hex called after her. “We need to keep our strength up.”

  “I plan to stop just above the tree line.” Martha pointed into the distance and she tackled the first part of the trail that led along the lower slope. The first section was easy, but the incline grew gradually steeper as it headed toward the pass. “Then I plan to shift.”

  Hex raised an eyebrow at Shawn. “I guess we stop at the tree line.”

  “I’m not going to argue with her, that’s for sure.” Shawn fell into step with Hex, their strides matched as he followed Martha. “Will your bear cope with the snow?”

  “You mean will I sink?” Hex asked.

  “Something like that. Cougars are light on their feet, but bears are built completely differently.” He gave a crooked smile. “As if you don’t know that already.”

  “I’ll be fine when we get higher. The snow will have drifted down the steep mountainsides. I’ll cope just fine.” He gave a small chuckle and the breath escaped his mouth in a cloud of vapor. “I can’t have a pretty kitty showing me up.”

  “Are you talking about me or your mate?” Shawn laughed and then coughed as he breathed in the freezing air.

  “What do you think?” Hex asked as he pulled his jacket up around his face and walked on. He wanted to catch up with his mate and make sure she was safe.

  “I think we’re gonna be glad when we reach Cougar Ridge.” Shawn half-turned and looked at the clear blue sky behind them. “I’m just glad there’s a break in the weather.”

  Hex looked over his shoulder before inhaling deeply. “I can smell snow on the air.”

  “Me, too.” Shawn glanced sideways at Hex. “Let’s push on. I only need to get to Cougar Ridge, but you and Martha need to get back to the sawmill before the next blizzard hits.”

  “They sure didn’t get the last forecast right, did they?” Hex asked as he lengthened his stride.

  “The mountains have a way of influencing the weather in ways technical analysis can’t capture.” Shawn grinned and his eyes flashed amber, his cougar was lurking, waiting to come out and play. “It’s a good thing that everything in this world isn’t exposed to science.”

  The two men caught up with Martha just before she reached the tree line. She’d slowed, her pace shortening as the effort to climb the mountain took its toll. “I sure am ready to continue on four paws.”

  “Me, too,” Shawn said. “Although Hex here thinks he might sink in the snow with all that bear weight.”

  “Don’t tease,” Martha told the doctor. “I’m pretty sure Hex’s bear will cope just fine.” She looked into the distance at the steep ridge they had to reach. “I was thinking of taking the trail that winds through the trees. Less snow on the ground.”

  “That’s the way I’d go,” Hex agreed quickly.

  “I’m ready when you are,” Shawn replied as Hex took out the Thermos his mom had packed for them.

  “Drink first. And have an energy bar.” He directed his comments toward Martha who plunged her hand into her pocket and took out three energy bars. “Here.” She gave one to Shawn and traded another with Hex in return for a small cup of coffee. “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome. Give your human side a chance to regain some energy before you shift,” Hex advised.

  “Hey, who is the doctor around here?” Shawn asked good-naturedly as he bit into the energy bar.

  “Look at that view.” Martha grabbed their attention as she looked out over the world below. Pristine snow covered the side of the mountain. The faint trail they’d left was the only sign of life as they looked down the mountainside. Gazing further into the distance, they could just make out the town of Bear Creek, where snow-covered roofs blended in with the rest of the white landscape. Tendrils of smoke rose lazily from chimneys as people tried to keep the worst of the cold out of their homes, and Hex couldn’t wait to get to Hilda’s house and warm his mate by the fire while they rested before making the return journey.

  “It’s beautiful,” Hex agreed.

  “It’s like a magical world where everyone and everything has been put to sleep,” Shawn said and then gave a short laugh. “I have an eight-year-old daughter. We like princesses and unicorns.”

  “I remember those days,” Martha replied. “They were fun times when anything was possible.”

  “I love playing with Jane. I love seeing the world through her eyes. It makes everything seem new again.” Shawn turned away from the view and looked at the trail before them. “Are we ready?”

  “We are.” Martha handed the coffee cup back to Hex, who screwed the lid back on the Thermos and put it back into his pack.

  “I’m ready.” Hex winked at Martha before the air around him shimmered and he faded away to be replaced by his bear only seconds later. Before the two cougars had shifted, he leaped forward along the trail and set out at a run. At least, that’s what he attempted to do but his short legs sank into the snow and he floundered around for a couple of strides as he fought to find a track through shallower snow.

  The cougars were gaining on him although they seemed to be having the same trouble. They must have hit a deep pocket of snow. Great. Hex plunged deeper before he finally felt solid rock beneath his paws. Digging his claws into the ground, he forced himself forward, his muscle straining as he finally got some forward momentum. The going was tough and he almost stopped and suggested snowshoes worked better, but his bear was adamant he could cope. To prove himself to his mate, he had to lead them up the side of the mountain and through the pass that cut through the mountains. From there they would drop down into Cougar Ridge. Hex let his bear do his thing, trusting him implicitly.

  Slowly, but surely, they climbed higher and higher and the air grew colder and thinner, but his bear coped well. Although he focused on keeping himself safe and keeping himself moving, he kept his senses partly focused on Shawn and Martha, who stayed behind him. He suspected they were keeping a close watch on him, too, making sure his bear didn’t sink in the snow or slide off the side of the icy cliffs. This was no place to be alone, and although he feared for Martha, he was glad they had agreed to accompany Shawn.

  We’re far away from the creek, his bear reminded him.

  The creek, which would probably be frozen solid. Although, the temperature in town was likely to be warmer than it was up here in the frozen mountains.

  There’s the pass, his bear suddenly said as they crested a ridge and paused to catch their breath. His bear swung his massive head around to check on the cougars. They looked at ease in the snowy terrain and they c
ertainly weren’t breathing as heavily as his bear.

  Martha leaped forward and came to join him, rubbing her head against his in affection before they set off together, their destination in sight.

  Hex’s thoughts turned once more to the promise of a warm fire and hot coffee. But once they had warmed up and rested, they would have to turn around and go back down the mountain. Before the snow came and they got stranded together, cougar and bear, in a blizzard that could take their lives as surely as a deep, cold creek.

  Chapter Twenty – Martha

  Martha had never been so relieved to get home. As they descended down the trail leading to town, her cougar practically purred with happiness.

  Despite coping well with the snow-covered ground, her paws were cold and the thrill of being out in the mountains had worn off. She wanted a warm fire and something warm and filling to eat.

  Hex stopped as the first houses came into view and he shifted, the air shimmering around him as his bear disappeared to be replaced by the man. Martha did the same and only Shawn hesitated before he too shifted into a man.

  “We could have gone right into town,” Shawn told them.

  “I still can’t get used to the idea of walking down the street in broad daylight as a bear,” Hex admitted.

  “Me neither,” Martha agreed, although as she tried to get the hang of using her snowshoes once more, she decided she might just change her mind about that. “I’ll be glad to get these off.”

  Hex grinned at her as they set off down the last section of the trail. “Just think, in a couple of hours you get to do the whole journey in reverse.”

  “Well, I plan to shift early and then stay as a cougar all the way back to the sawmill,” she told him. “If anyone asks, you can tell them you have a pet cougar. One you are going to carve into a statue.”

  “You are?” Shawn asked. “I didn’t know that was a talent of yours, Hex.”

  “I’m a bit rusty,” Hex admitted. “But I would love to give it a go.”

  “I’ll be immortalized in wood forever,” Martha said happily as her boots slid on packed ice and she had to hold her arms out to keep her balance.