Hidden Worlds

by Kristie Cook

  Red snorted into his feed bag and tossed his head, as if agreeing with Jonathan.

  Jonathan patted Red’s neck. “Smart horse.”

  Red nodded again. He was done eating and wanted the feed bag off. Jonathan removed it and hung it on the iron hook over the barrel of oats. Red pushed Jonathan’s shoulder with his forehead as if to say ‘thank you.’

  “How would you like a new home with a heated stable, plenty of feed and fresh hay? I’ll need a calm horse to get me and River out of here.”

  Red didn’t like carrying two riders, but he’d gotten used to it. How long would it take for him to get used to a screaming, kicking girl on his back? Jonathan would probably have to knock her out. He couldn’t believe he was contemplating kidnapping River. But it was more of a rescue. Cults like New Eden were illegal. This was the freakin’ United States of America. You couldn’t go around chopping people’s fingers off or executing them for someone else’s crime. He’d take River straight to the police station in Red Cliff and let them decide how to handle it. Even if they arrested him, once they found out what was going on in New Eden, there’s no way anyone would convict him of kidnapping. Right?

  “Jonathan?”

  River’s voice startled him. He whirled around then froze when he saw the tears streaming down her face. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” River ducked her chin and swiped at her eyes with the back of her hand.

  “That doesn’t look like nothing to me. Why are you crying? Did Eli hurt you?”

  “No. He just made me mad.” She swiped at her face again as if the tears were the source of her anger.

  “What did he do?”

  “He’s insisting that I mate with him.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Jonathan threw the scrap of buffalo hide on the ground and stomped out of Red’s stall. “In exchange for not killing me?”

  River grabbed his arms, keeping him from leaving the barn. “You can’t confront him.”

  “The hell I can’t.” Jonathan could not abide violence against women or children. He didn’t care about the consequences. Eli wasn’t going to get away with this. He hugged River and pressed the side of her head against his chest. “I’ll tear his arms off and beat him with his own hands.”

  River pushed away from Jonathan and backed up two steps. “If you pick another fight with Eli, I can’t protect you. We’ll both be punished.”

  Jonathan clenched his fist and swore. Loudly.

  Red laid his ears back and jerked his head.

  “Easy, boy.” River slipped into Red’s stall, picked up the scrap of buffalo hide and rubbed his shoulder, even though it was already dry.

  “I’m not going to let Eli force you to have sex with him.”

  “Force me?” River blinked. “It’s not like that. Eli wouldn’t force me … he’s just … I don’t know … trying to talk me into it.”

  “No means ‘no’ where I come from. Don’t even consider giving in to that pervert’s demands. I think I’ve proven that I can protect myself.”

  “Don’t antagonize Eli any more than you already have. In fact, the best way to handle this whole situation is to pretend it never happened. Don’t even apologize. It will only add to Eli’s humiliation.”

  “What about him trying to pressure you to have sex with him?

  “Reuben will handle it. Eli will wish he’d never been born.”

  “Who’s Reuben?” Jonathan recognized the name. It was carved into one of the trunks.

  “My guardian.”

  Jonathan had been so worried about his own parents he hadn’t given any thought to River’s family. “He must be worried sick about you.”

  “He was, especially when my horse showed up in the middle of a blizzard without me.”

  “Was? As in past tense?”

  “Reuben and his son, Gabriel, were the patrol I ran into this morning. He knows I’m safe.”

  “Why didn’t you go home with them?”

  “We’re still under quarantine.” River lowered her lashes then turned her back, but not before Jonathan saw the corners of her mouth tilt up in a shy smile. “Besides, I still have a recruit that needs lots of training.”

  River

  River had a hard time falling asleep. Bringing Jonathan back into the cabin with Eli had gone even better than she’d hoped. She’d been right about Eli’s ego. He was already in denial mode when Jonathan walked in. He was a little more sarcastic and his snide remarks were a little more caustic, but Jonathan never took the bait.

  It wasn’t the situation with Eli keeping her awake. It was the situation she’d created by lying to Jonathan.

  She hadn’t told Reuben about him when he found her. He was an enforcer, but he wasn’t out on patrol. He was out looking for her.

  Reuben was obviously happy when he found her, he’d even hugged her, but he wasn’t happy about how she’d “let” Sugar throw her and run away. He wasn’t happy about how she’d failed to kill the cougar tracking the goat herd, or that she’d failed to find the goats in time to bring them home before the blizzard. There was no way River was going to tell Reuben about Jonathan when he was already under so much stress.

  She’d panicked when she found Jonathan, attempting to escape. The fool had no qualms about risking his own life, but he wouldn’t leave if he believed doing so would endanger River. That’s why she’d lied.

  She’d done it protect him, but he wouldn’t see it that way. Jonathan would think she’d lied to manipulate him.

  Jonathan was her recruit. She shouldn’t care what he thought as long as he was obedient. Which he wasn’t. He wasn’t a good recruit at all. But he was a good man. And River did care what he thought, especially of her. She didn’t want him to despise her.

  If she could get to Reuben and tell him she’d recruited Jonathan before they met, Jonathan would never know that she’d lied.

  She sighed as the tension left her body. She closed her eyes and let the sound of Jonathan’s breath lull her to sleep.

  A few hours later, a sharp tug behind River’s navel woke her with a jolt. What was that? She rubbed her stomach and the sensation went away. It was probably just a hunger pain. She had a couple rations of jerky in her pocket, but she was saving it in case no one showed up to restock the quarantine cabin. That’s why she’d gone hunting. But thanks to Jonathan’s escape attempt, she hadn’t bagged so much as a rabbit.

  “Oh.” River grabbed her stomach and doubled over. “That hurts.”

  She got out of bed with the intention of brewing herself a cup of mint tea. But something pulled her in the opposite direction … away from the stove … toward the door. Maybe she needed to walk it off. She dressed as quietly as possible so she wouldn’t wake Jonathan or Eli. Fasting made them all cranky, the longer they slept, the better.

  The pain eased as River stepped off the porch and followed the pull. It led her all the way to Lost Creek. As the sun rose above the eastern peaks, a white wolf trotted out of the forest.

  River always enjoyed any encounter with the wild pack, but there was something special about this particular wolf. It wasn’t just its pure white coat, or the intelligence behind its ice-blue eyes. It crept closer then sat down right in front of River and cocked its head to the side, examining her.

  A quick glance confirmed River’s impression that the wolf was female.

  River wanted to touch her. She wanted to feel her soft, thick fur between her fingers. The tugging sensation pulled her closer.

  This was it. It was finally happening. But she needed to tell someone. You weren’t supposed to merge without someone there to help you remember you were human.

  The wolf dropped to her belly and whined as she inched closer. River remained outwardly calm but her heart pounded in her chest. This is my spirit guide. My wolf. She wants to touch me as much as I want to touch her.

  According to legend, this was the way it was supposed to happen—a mutual decision to merge. But over the years, more emphasis was placed on th
e animal’s prowess. The bigger, stronger and more dominant the wolf—the more prestige a shifter gained by merging with it. Soon, everyone began choosing and trapping the wolves they wanted to merge with, hoping to advance their status within the tribe.

  The wolf’s nose twitched as she sniffed the air. She’s memorizing my scent. River didn’t know how she knew, but there was no doubt in her mind.

  The yearning in River’s belly burned and spread to every cell of her body—an endless, aching need to become one with the wolf. Without breaking eye contact, River knelt in the snow and extended her hand.

  Seconds ticked by and turned to minutes.

  The wolf stretched its neck towards River’s hand then licked the tip of her middle finger.

  A tingling sensation shot up her arm.

  The wolf took another step closer and pressed the side of its head against River’s palm. The tingling sensation intensified. Her whole body hummed with energy. This is it.

  The wolf licked River’s cheek, then turned and bolted back into the forest.

  “Wait!” River tried to follow, even though she knew it was in vain. She plowed through the snow, stumbling and falling as despair washed over her.

  River had a hard time falling asleep. Bringing Jonathan back into the cabin with Eli had gone even better than she’d hoped. She’d been right about Eli’s ego. He was already in denial mode when Jonathan walked in. He was a little more sarcastic and his snide remarks were a little more caustic, but Jonathan never took the bait.

  It wasn’t the situation with Eli keeping her awake. It was the situation she’d created by lying to Jonathan.

  She hadn’t told Reuben about him when he found her. He was an enforcer, but he wasn’t out on patrol. He was out looking for her.

  Reuben was obviously happy when he found her, he’d even hugged her, but he wasn’t happy about how she’d “let” Sugar throw her and run away. He wasn’t happy about how she’d failed to kill the cougar tracking the goat herd, or that she’d failed to find the goats in time to bring them home before the blizzard. There was no way River was going to tell Reuben about Jonathan when he was already under so much stress. But even if she had, he wouldn’t turn her in for sponsoring a runaway recruit. He’d punish her, but he’d do it privately at the ranch, and he wouldn’t kill her.

  He would, however, hunt down Jonathan. There would be no mercy for him. The thought of going through another trial and execution of someone she cared about terrified River. She’d latched onto the first excuse she thought of without considering the consequences.

  Jonathan had already proven that he was the sort of man that would risk his own life to protect another when he fought the cougar to protect River. He wouldn’t let the threat of death keep him from leaving but he wouldn’t leave if he believed doing so would endanger River. That’s why she’d lied.

  She’d done it protect him, but he wouldn’t see it that way. Jonathan would think she’d lied to manipulate him.

  Jonathan was her recruit. She shouldn’t care what he thought as long as he was obedient. Which he wasn’t. He wasn’t a good recruit at all. But he was a good man. And River did care what he thought, especially of her. She didn’t want him to despise her.

  If she could get to Reuben and tell him she’d recruited Jonathan before they meet, Jonathan would never know that she’d lied.

  She sighed as the tension left her body. She closed her eyes and let the sound of Jonathan’s breath lull her to sleep.

  A few hours later, a sharp tug behind River’s navel woke her with a jolt. What was that? She rubbed her stomach and the sensation went away. It was probably just a hunger pain. She had a couple rations of jerky in her pocket, but she was saving it in case no one showed up to restock the quarantine cabin. That’s why she’d gone hunting. But thanks to Jonathan’s escape attempt, she hadn’t bagged so much as a rabbit.

  “Oh.” River grabbed her stomach and doubled over. “That hurts.”

  She got out of bed with the intention of brewing herself a cup of mint tea. But something pulled her in the opposite direction … away from the stove … toward the door. Maybe she needed to walk it off. She dressed as quietly as possible so she wouldn’t wake Jonathan or Eli. Fasting made them all cranky, the longer they slept, the better.

  The pain eased as River stepped off the porch and followed the pull. It led her all the way to Lost Creek. As the sun rose above the eastern peaks, a white wolf trotted out of the forest.

  River always enjoyed any encounter with the wild pack, but there was something special about this particular wolf. It wasn’t just its pure white coat, or the intelligence behind its ice-blue eyes. It crept closer then sat down right in front of River and cocked its head to the side, examining her.

  A quick glance confirmed River’s impression that the wolf was female.

  River wanted to touch her. She wanted to feel her soft, thick fur between her fingers. The tugging sensation pulled her closer.

  This was it. It was finally happening. But she needed to tell someone. You weren’t supposed to merge without someone there to help you remember you were human.

  The wolf dropped to her belly and whined as she inched closer. River remained outwardly calm but her heart pounded in her chest. This is my spirit guide. My wolf. She wants to touch me as much as I want to touch her.

  According to legend, this was the way it was supposed to happen—a mutual decision to merge. But over the years, more emphasis was placed on the animal’s prowess. The bigger, stronger and more dominant the wolf—the more prestige a shifter gained by merging with it. Soon, everyone began choosing and trapping the wolves they wanted to merge with, hoping to advance their status within the tribe.

  The wolf’s nose twitched as she sniffed the air. She’s memorizing my scent. River didn’t know how she knew, but there was no doubt in her mind.

  The yearning in River’s belly burned and spread to every cell of her body—an endless, aching need to become one with the wolf. Without breaking eye contact, River knelt in the snow and extended her hand.

  Seconds ticked by and turned to minutes.

  The wolf stretched its neck towards River’s hand then licked the tip of her middle finger.

  A tingling sensation shot up her arm.

  The wolf took another step closer and pressed the side of its head against River’s palm. The tingling sensation intensified. Her whole body hummed with energy. This is it.

  The wolf licked River’s cheek, then turned and bolted back into the forest.

  “Wait!” River tried to follow, even though she knew it was in vain. She plowed through the snow, stumbling and falling as despair washed over her.

  ***

  “River? Are you alright?”

  River jumped to her feet and spun around. The world tilted sideways as she slammed back to the ground. This time she stayed there. She didn’t even try to sit up. “Shula? What are you doing here?”

  “My job.” Shula slid from her horse and knelt in the snow. She removed her gloves then held River’s chin with one hand and pried her left eye open with the other. “I could ask you the same question.”

  Of course. Reuben would have alerted her as soon as he got home. Shula was a healer. She’d want to check on her son.

  “Did you see her? Did you see my wolf?”

  “I saw.” Shula examined River’s other eye then swept a strand of hair off her face and tucked it behind her ear.

  The gesture reminded River of Mother. Would she never stop missing her? She swallowed around the lump in her throat. The stinging sensation behind her eyes infuriated her. Why were her emotions so volatile? This was worse than puberty. “Why did my wolf leave? You saw her choose me, right? Why did she run away before we merged?”

  “I probably scared her off. I’m sorry.” Shula didn’t look sorry at all. “Do you know what this means?”

  River nodded. “It’s mutual.”

  “It’s a miracle.” Shula’s eyes sparkled.

  River took a d
eep breath. “Will you testify for me? No one on the council is going to believe an eighteen-year-old girl. Not about this.”

  Shula shook her head as she stroked River’s hair. “That would not be wise.”

  River jerked away from Shula’s caress and sat up. “Of course not. Why would an heir of Sanctuary want to elevate the status of a lowly surface dweller, even if she is the first mutual merge in two centuries?”

  Shula’s eyes flashed, but that was her only reaction to River’s insolence. She stood up and brushed the snow from her knees. “Do you want to be turned into a puppy mill?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Every male on the high-council as well as Zebulon himself will want to sire a son on you.”

  River backed up, shaking her head. “No.”

  “Not only is your merge mutual, it’s with a white wolf. That alone would be enough to make men fight for the right to claim you.”

  “No one believes those old legends.”

  “No one on the surface believes them. How many men do you think will court you if a member of the council desires you?”

  Shula had a point. A girl wanted to be attractive, but not too attractive. “What should I do?”

  “Stay close to Eli at all times so you’ll be ready to mate with him after you merge. And don’t tell anyone your spirit guide is a white wolf.”

  Shula’s urgency concerned River. The woman’s ambitions for Eli were no secret. The idea of mating with him sickened River. “I need to talk to Reuben.”

  Shula gripped River’s chin and tilted her head up. “He’ll kill your white wolf and force you to merge with a common grey to protect you from the zealots inside Sanctuary.”

  River jerked her chin out of Shula’s grasp and struggled to her feet. “Reuben would never harm a wolf!”

  “Reuben would do anything to protect you.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  Shula arched an eyebrow. “Are you willing to risk the fate of your spirit guide?”

  River swayed on her feet. “I think I’m getting sick.”

  “It’s pre-merge fever.” Shula grabbed River’s elbows and steadied her. “Let’s get you back to the quarantine cabin. I’ll discuss strategy with Eli while you recover.”