by Terry Spear
“I’m not mentioning it to Rafe unless we all get into trouble,” Ted said.
“Right, not a word. He will never know…unless it’s like Ted said,” Mike added. They sat down to eat their hamburgers, then got ready for the run.
Aidan sure hoped they wouldn’t have trouble with the Seattle pack over this. On the other hand, he had no intention of taking any guff from Ronald and his minions—if they should run into them. He just hoped Holly wouldn’t have issues with them. And he hoped they found Nick healthy and eager to join a new pack.
Chapter 5
Holly was enthusiastic about locating Nick, and having male wolves with her for protection was important. But she hadn’t been able to ask anyone in her pack to go with her. Fearing that would get them in trouble with Ronald, she’d always gone alone in pursuit of Nick. She suspected others had hunted for him too, in the guise of taking a run on the wild side.
She just hoped she would be more successful searching with the men than she had been on her own.
Ronald had known she was looking for Nick, but he thought that was only because of her concern for the older wolf’s health and welfare due to her occupation. He knew she hadn’t had any success in finding Nick, so he didn’t care if she searched. As long as she didn’t bring him back to the pack, and as long as Ronald didn’t know she was going with Aidan and his bodyguards, they shouldn’t have a problem. They would have to watch out for other wildlife, crevasses, avalanches, and anything else that could be a danger for them though.
Holly quickly prepared tuna-fish sandwiches and chips for her parents and brother and sister, hoping no one would notice how rushed she was or that she was serving lunch earlier than they normally ate.
Her mother frowned at her. “You look like you’re in a hurry.”
“She’s going to look for Nick,” Marianne said. “You know she always does.”
“I agree with Margaret. You’ve never been in this much of a hurry,” her dad said, looking as concerned as her mother. “Are you planning to travel farther in your search for him this time?”
“Yes. I figure Nick knows when we’re here and stays somewhere farther from the cabins to avoid running into us.” She sat down and began eating her sandwich. “If I can’t find him, I’ll probably go again early in the morning. I’m getting way too late a start as it is today.”
Everyone joined her at the dining table.
Her brother grabbed a potato chip and pointed it at her. “I want to go with you this time.”
He hadn’t had any interest in going with her before, and she shook her head. “You’d slow me down.”
His jaw dropped a little. “You’d slow me down.”
“No.” She said it with such finality that everyone started watching her. She wished she’d been a little subtler in her response. “I haven’t had any luck before. I’d waste your time.”
“I’m going.” Greg looked so serious that she couldn’t believe it.
“I agree.” Her dad added a pickle to his plate. “You should have someone go with you in case you run into trouble.”
She was glad her whole family didn’t offer. Her mother and Marianne were eyeing her with suspicion.
“I’ll be fine. I’ve always been fine. I’ll be home before you know it.”
“I’m going with you, Sis,” Greg said, as stubborn as she could be.
She curbed the urge to say damn it and nodded. She didn’t know what to do. Pretend that she’d just run into Aidan and the other men? Greg might worry they were wild wolves and try to protect her. She didn’t want him to know she was running with them, not when Ronald would forbid it. And then what? Greg would have to tell him the truth. She didn’t want her brother getting into trouble over her actions.
Still, she had to tell him. Maybe when she did, he’d be a man and let her go alone but not tell Ronald what she was up to. She could only hope.
She finished her sandwich and headed for her room.
“As wolves, right?” Greg asked, finishing his lunch in a hurry.
“Yes.”
He followed her into her bedroom and shut the door. “Tell me what this is really about.”
“You can’t tell anyone.”
Greg’s eyes widened. “You know where Nick is?”
“No. But Aidan, Dr. Denali, is meeting me, and we’re searching for him together. His bodyguards will be accompanying us too.”
“Why would he want to look for Nick?”
“He wants to ask him if he can take a sample of his blood.”
Greg grunted.
“And to find him a home. Nick shouldn’t be living out there as a mountain man. The older he gets, the harder it is on him. And he’s not a lone wolf.”
“Okay, I agree. I’ll go with you. But don’t you think we should tell the rest of the family?”
“If they know, they could be in hot water if Ronald learns about it and they didn’t tell him.” Holly didn’t want them to be banished from the pack too.
“We need to tell them. And then we’ll go.”
When had her seventeen-year-old brother grown up so fast? “All right. But we have to make this quick.”
Holly walked out to speak to her family and saw Jared standing at the front door, her sister still holding on to the doorknob. Holly’s heart plummeted. She hoped his sensitive wolf hearing hadn’t allowed him to overhear what they’d been discussing in her bedroom. Then again, they’d been keeping their voices low so the rest of her family couldn’t hear what she was up to, and Greg had closed the bedroom door.
“I thought we could go on a wolf run together, Holly.” Jared didn’t look like the prospect thrilled him.
“Thanks, but—”
“We’re going to make snowmen.” Greg smiled as if he were a kid again and was thrilled to build one. “That’s where we were headed. Now.”
“Me too,” Marianne quickly said, casting a glance at Holly, looking to see if she would go along with it.
“Snowmen.” Jared sounded like he didn’t believe them.
Holly hoped he didn’t offer to make one with them, but she loved her younger brother and sister for playing the game.
“I’ll clean up the dishes so you can go play,” their mom said, sounding amused.
Holly grabbed her parka, gloves, hat, and scarf and set them on the back of the couch so she could put them on. She hated getting her sister involved in this too.
Marianne grabbed her tasseled hat and pulled it on her head. Then she seized her jacket and scarf and put them on. “You can make your own, Jared.”
No, no, no, he couldn’t.
“Thanks, but I’ll pass,” Jared said, his gaze switching from Marianne to Holly. “I’ll run with you later tonight then.”
She gave him a nod, then jerked on her parka. Greg was all ready to go and moved toward the door, showing his alpha nature by trying to force Jared out of the way. Jared smiled darkly at Greg.
“Last one to make a snowman is a rotten egg,” Greg called out, racing off.
“Best one wins, not the fastest one made,” his sister said, still tying her scarf around her neck as she tore off after him.
Now what? They’d take forever making three snowmen. And Holly would miss meeting Aidan and his men. He’d worry, and she wouldn’t be able to call him. No doubt he’d already be on his way to the meeting place in his wolf coat.
Jared stepped out of Holly’s way, and she hurried outside.
“Later,” Jared said to Holly and left.
He wasn’t even interested in dating her, so why the change of heart? The business with Aidan at the mall yesterday? Maybe he’d like a hug too? Never!
Holly raced after her sister and brother and found them about a quarter of a mile away, starting to build the bases of their snowmen.
“What is going on with you really?” Mariann
e asked, shoving another handful of snow onto the base.
“We’re on a mission that you shouldn’t know about,” Greg said, slapping a snowball against his snowman.
“A mission,” Marianne said, glancing at Holly.
“To look for Nick,” Holly said.
“Well, you said that already.” Marianne tilted her chin down. “There’s more to it than that. And I want to help.”
“No.” Greg grabbed another two handfuls of snow. “It’s too dangerous.”
“If it’s too dangerous, the two of you shouldn’t be going. You know Jared will check later to see if you built your snowmen or not,” Marianne said.
Holly saw her parents headed their way. Great.
“Looks like it’s about time to tell the family what you’re up to,” Greg said.
“So, there’s more to this business of you looking for… Ohmigod, you’re going to meet up with Aidan Denali, aren’t you! I want to go too,” Marianne said.
Holly thought her sister had a crush on Aidan, or maybe one of his bodyguards. “No. I didn’t want any of you to know about it.”
“Know about what?” their mother asked. To Holly’s surprise, her mom and dad began to build a snowman.
“I’m meeting with Aidan and his bodyguards to search for Nick.”
Her parents stopped working on the snowman and straightened.
“I didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t want you to get into any trouble with the pack.”
“I’m going with her. I have to see this guy she’s got the hots for.” Greg smiled at her and she grabbed a wad of snow, made a snowball, and threw it at him. He dodged it, but it splattered on his shoulder.
“I’m just doing what I always do, except that I’m running with them for protection,” Holly said.
“We’ll finish your snowmen. Go, take off.” Her dad smiled a little.
Her mom worked faster. “Eddie, keep adding snow.”
Holly couldn’t believe her parents would cover for her like this.
“Me too?” Marianne asked, looking hopeful.
“No, not you,” their mother quickly said. “You’re supposed to run with Joey’s family tonight. And you have to make your own snowman. No telling how long Holly’s little adventure will last.”
“Whatever.” Marianne sighed but hurried over to give Holly a hug. “Give him a kiss for me?”
“We’ll be wolves.” Holly hugged her back. Then she headed in the direction of where she would meet Aidan and the others.
“Just strip and shift, and we’ll take your things with us so no one finds your clothes,” her mother said. “We’ll use our hats and scarves for the snowmen.”
In case anyone happened to be watching them from a distance, Holly and Greg went into the woods, stripped, and shifted.
“Be careful, the both of you,” their dad said.
Holly woofed back, and then she and her brother ran off through the woods. Her twin sister and brother were both gray wolves with black saddles and blonder faces, chests, and bellies, unlike her. She was blond. All over. Which made her stand out from the rest of the pack members, but not in a good way. Some thought she was from an Arctic family up north and her parents had adopted her. Her mother and dad had always claimed she was their flesh-and-blood daughter, even though the twins mirrored their parents’ coloration while she didn’t. But that was as wolves. As humans, she and her sister were both blue-eyed blonds, the same as their brother, and they did look similar.
She trusted that she was just unique in her wolf form and not really adopted, even though others had told her she should do DNA testing to see. But she had no intention of doing so.
She hoped to hell this plan of hers worked, that they ran into Aidan all right and that Jared didn’t learn about any of it. But if he came out to see the snowmen and found her mom and dad building them while she and Greg were nowhere in sight, Holly knew they’d all be in trouble.
Chapter 6
Aidan was anxious for Holly’s arrival, and he and his men had been waiting for her for some time. He was hoping she hadn’t had trouble on the way when he spied a wolverine, light brown in color, foraging in the woods, oblivious to them. The animal looked like a small bear, larger than Aidan had ever seen before, maybe three feet long. Wolverines were omnivores, but they wouldn’t mess with a pack of wolves. Not that they wouldn’t attack an animal many times their size—a caribou even—but usually only if the caribou was weak. Three wolves would be too much for one wolverine to handle.
The wolverine glanced around, saw the wolves observing him, and quickly retreated into the woods.
Worried about Holly, Aidan started loping in the direction of her resort. Ted and Mike joined him. Then a gangly, teenage male wolf walked out of the woods from about an eighth of a mile away. He spied Aidan and his companions and suddenly stood stock-still.
Aidan expected the younger wolf to be with a pack. Was he a wild wolf or with the Seattle pack? Now they had a new dilemma. If the teen was with Holly’s pack, he might tell on her for running with them. Even so, Aidan woofed in greeting to let the teen know he was a friend, not a wild wolf.
The wolf turned his head and woofed, as if telling someone else he’d run into trouble.
Aidan sure as hell hoped it wasn’t Ronald. Then he saw a pretty blond wolf. A female, fully grown, but not as big as the males. Aidan barked at her, and then he smiled, showing off all his wicked canines. He did so to tell her they weren’t the enemy, hoping it was Holly, but Ted bumped his shoulder with his own, and Aidan lost the smile. Maybe he did look a little like a wolf hungry for female companionship. Ted and Mike lay down on the snow to show they were relaxed and not ready for a battle. Aidan thought about setting his rump down on the ground and waiting for her to join him so she and the teen wouldn’t feel threatened.
The female nudged the juvenile, then ran forward. Aidan stood in place, tail up, ears perked, eager to greet her. The wolf had to be Holly. Despite the cold, Aidan was panting, and when he saw Ted grinning at him, he pulled his tongue in.
The younger wolf raced after her, trying to keep up with her fast pace.
Unable to stay put, Aidan loped to greet her. His bodyguards rose to their feet, but they didn’t join him. He wondered why the younger male had accompanied her, and then whether he was a younger brother.
The female slowed down as Aidan drew close, but he didn’t. He was used to his friends and family being dressed in their wolf coats and easily sharing the wolf camaraderie. The two wolves had no need to be cautious once they saw Aidan and his men. With a new wolf, a she-wolf, Aidan had to mind his p’s and q’s and be a gentleman. Not to mention, he had to get close enough to smell her scent—since the chilly breeze was carrying theirs away from them—to make sure it was Holly.
As soon as they were within breathing space, she touched her nose to his. He smiled, moved in closer, and nuzzled her face, and she licked his. Hell yeah! He licked hers back, and she smiled. He liked how they seemed to have a good rapport, both as humans and as wolves.
Then she turned to the teen wolf, and Aidan inclined his head to him in greeting. He thought the younger wolf looked a little startled. Maybe he was surprised Holly was so affectionate toward Aidan when she didn’t know him that well? He hoped that didn’t get her into trouble later. He’d forgotten about everything but greeting her in a way that said he was interested in her.
She barked at Aidan, and he figured she wanted to head out to try to find Nick.
Aidan agreed and led the pack through the deep snow to make sure it was safe for the others. Ted or Mike would probably feel that should be their role, but the decision to come here had been his and he knew the area—while Ted and Mike were new to it—and felt responsible for everyone. He had a sneaking suspicion they might have even decided it was best he went first, to prove to Holly and the teen that he was real hero material.<
br />
Trekking this way was scenic, affording them a five-star view of Glacier Peak covered in pristine snow and the surrounding jagged mountains. The mountain boasted more glaciers than any other in the continental United States. The first part of the journey was across level, forested land. In the summer with the humidity high, it could feel like a jungle. Today, so close to Christmas, it was snow-covered and cold and dry.
At least Aidan only had a mild headache for now.
They raced through snow packed enough that it rose only knee high. They leaped over fallen trees, smelling for any signs of wolves, and Aidan was glad Holly was with them. Not only because he liked being with her, enjoying the wilderness together, but because she and the teen would recognize Nick’s scent. He hoped she was right when she said the wolves from her pack didn’t come in this direction. His group really didn’t need the hassle of encountering them.
They loped for about three hours, relishing the cool breeze in their fur and the smell of woodsy scents, of rabbits and birds, and of fresh mountain air. The run worked out the kinks and gave Aidan something else to think about for a while: the beauty of nature. And running with a beautiful she-wolf. Though he could have a one-track mind when he was on a mission, he realized just how much the she-wolf had caught his attention.
Every time she stopped to sniff the air or the ground, standing so regal, the breeze catching her blond fur, he had to observe her. Not only to see if she had caught Nick’s scent, but just her. He loved to watch the way she moved. The way she held her tail up and her ears perked. Her serious expression softening when she saw him studying her. And then the wolf smile she cast him that made his heart skip a beat.
Hell, he was totally smitten with the wolf.
Since the area had been declared a wilderness area and not a park, there weren’t any rangers, ranger stations, or rescue shacks. And because it was one of the more adventurous hiking areas, not as many people would come this way. Visiting the area in winter was only for the most thrill-seeking of hikers. If they’d been hiking as humans, cold weather gear, snowshoes, and ice axes would have been necessary. Rafe had that kind of gear stocked at the cabin for anyone that came to stay. But when they were in wolf form, their rough pads helped keep them from slipping on ice.
