Claw Mark

by Lily Harlem

  “You mean if you can pick up her scent?” I asked.

  “We’ve never picked up her scent around the cabin,” Isaac said, “but that’s not to say she doesn’t know where you are and isn’t watching you from afar. There’s a possibility we’ll catch her vile vampire aroma on the breeze, but the same goes for her, smelling you and your fancy blood.”

  I shivered at the thought of being under constant observation by Elfrida, but at the same time I was beyond fed up with the house arrest her invisible presence had inflicted upon me. I guessed a little of my fighting spirit had returned over the last week or so. Cabin fever had been the cause of that and perhaps so had the spark in my sex life that was making my body feel alive again if not my heart. “I wish she’d just give up on me, go back to London or something.”

  “No, we’d never be able to rest if she did that,” Isaac said firmly. “It’s better that she stays here long enough for us, or the pack, to find and destroy her. That’s the only way you’ll ever be truly safe again, Bea. She’s got the taste for your blood and she won’t give up. It’s a combination of her warped principles and murdering instincts that makes her so damn dangerous.”

  “But what if you, or they, never find her?”

  Isaac tugged on his bottom lip and shook his head. “We will. I know we will. She’ll slip up sooner or later, her greed will make her take a risk and we’ll be there waiting to ensure the odds don’t stack up in her favor.”

  I nodded and slipped my hands into the deep, warm pockets of the coat. “I hope she slips up soon.”

  “Me too,” Caleb said, “the sooner that bitch is beheaded and burning the better.” He moved to the door and pulled it open. “Come on then, let’s get this over with so you stop going on about it.”

  “Now?” I asked, the awful image of a decapitation stealing some of my bravery.

  “No time like the present,” Isaac said.

  I turned to him. “If you’re both really worried—” I started.

  “We are, but we should do this for many reasons, not least because you’re going stir crazy.” Isaac reached out and fastened the top button on my coat. “But just so you know when we shift,” he said, his warm breath tickling my cheek. “We won’t be able to talk to you, but we can communicate with each other. Not telepathically but our instincts are in tune. Does that make sense?” He frowned.

  “I guess.” I stared up at his eyes, studied the brown flecks that mixed with the golden color on the inner circle of his irises.

  “Our senses are amazingly sharp,” he went on, “everything, sight, sound, scent, especially scent, so don’t be surprised if we spend time collecting information with our noses.”

  “Okay.”

  “And if we pick something up that we’re worried about we’ll nudge you, with our muzzles, point you in the direction of home.”

  “The cabin?”

  “Yes, the cabin, and that means you have to get your sweet behind back here as quickly as you can. Run, don’t walk.”

  “Okay.” I paused. “Do you think that might happen?”

  “I have no idea, but if we’re to keep you safe out there, you have to listen to us and obey us if we sense danger. We’ll know it’s there before you do.”

  “Of course I’ll listen to you. I have no desire to see Elfrida today. I simply want to get out of this place, nice as it is, before I lose my marbles.”

  “I understand, just please, don’t be…shocked by anything we do.”

  “I won’t.” At least I hoped I wouldn’t be.

  “And don’t be scared of us either, it’s just us under all that fur remember.” He grinned suddenly, a rare smile that stretched his lips thin and balled his cheeks. His eyes sparkled. “A hungry wolf is a dangerous wolf, but you can be confident that we’re not hungry, not after that enormous plate of eggs you just made us.”

  “True,” I said, matching his smile. They’d eaten like they’d never seen food before, a whole loaf of bread and a dozen eggs between them. I was sure they’d have eaten double the amount had I made it.

  “Come on then,” he said. “Let’s do this.”

  I looked at the open door, at the dazzling white beyond and pulled in a deep breath. I was ready for this. I felt as defiant as I did nervous and that helped me put one foot in front of the other until I was over the threshold.

  While I was glancing at the shadows below the tree line, Isaac shut the door and moved down the steps. He began to take off his boots and jeans.

  I shielded my eyes from the glare of the sun and searched for Caleb, but it seemed he’d gone on the prowl all ready.

  So I watched Isaac, fascinated as he shoved his meager clothing into a wooden lean-to and then stood tall before me utterly naked.

  “Remember, don’t be scared of me,” he said, apparently unaware of the freezing temperatures.

  “I’m not.” I managed to keep the waver of nerves from my voice, but the truth was apprehension was gripping like a fist.

  Isaac stooped forward as though about to land on his hands and knees. As he did so his skin blurred and in its place a thick coat of fur appeared. His face stretched between one heartbeat and the next and his proud, straight nose became a muzzle, his mouth a wide jaw and his neck thick and low.

  I gasped as he seemed to grow in size, from big man shape to enormous wolf. His head was huge, the skull beneath bigger than any human’s. The angles of his colossal shoulders and broad back were twice the size of his normal body, which was pretty impressive anyway, and he stood so tall even on all fours. Not dog height, more like small horse height.

  He stared at me. His eyes seemingly the only part of him that hadn’t changed when he’d shifted. Even from where I stood at the top of the steps I could see they were the same amber and chestnut flecked color as before and they still shone with intelligence.

  My breaths were billowing in front of my face and my heart pounding. But I tried to stay calm and controlled, accept what I was witnessing and not let Isaac know it was a shock to see a man change into an animal.

  Even though it was.

  A movement to my right caught my attention and another wolf, Caleb, rounded the side of the cabin. He moved to stand next to Isaac and I could see they were the same huge dimensions. The only differences were the color of their eyes and fur. Isaac had rich, dark fur with streaks of ochre running through it, and Caleb was such a shimmering gray that he was almost silver, apart from small black marks over the tops of his eyes. He could almost melt into the snowy background he lived in he was so pale and beautiful—the perfect camouflage for winter stealth.

  Another time and place, faced with two wolves staring at me, I’d have frozen with fear. But this was different. These wolves were the two men who protected and cared for me. They’d saved me once from Elfrida and promised to do it again should the need arise.

  Gripping the handrail, I descended the steps of the cabin for the first time since my arrival on that fateful night.

  My boots were sturdy and the cold snow didn’t penetrate their outer layer. My coat was also warm and as a small breeze picked up my hair from my cheeks and shoulders, the chill didn’t seep down my neck.

  When I reached the base Caleb turned and walked eastward. I followed, staring at his dinner-plate-size footprints.

  Isaac tucked in behind me and over the squeak of the snow as my feet sank deep, I could hear his breaths rasping through his throat.

  Caleb kept up a steady pace, his ears pricked forward and his movements precise and swift. I felt cumbersome and clumsy compared to their stealthy, silent walk. The rustle of my clothes and the noise of my breathing combining with the rush of blood through my ears, taking away the silence I’d always imagined when I gazed out of the cabin windows for hours on end.

  I soon grew warm despite the arctic chill the wind was smoothing over me, and although I glanced nervously about to start with, I soon realized that Isaac had been right; they would hear, see, smell Elfrida long before I did. I began to adm
ire the velvety green of the snow-laden pine trees and the sharp points of the mountains in the distance. Feeling a little out of breath was welcome and my limbs were enjoying the stretch.

  I let my nostrils fill up on the cool air and the scent of snow and ice, an appreciated change from the woody smell of the log fire that burned in the cabin constantly. The snow was still dazzling and I found myself squinting, but although a little uncomfortable it was heavenly to be able to see everything in such acute light and with such clarity. Plus I’d never been anywhere like this before in my life.

  We reached the edge of the forest, the clearing I could just make out from my bedroom window, and Caleb turned right. Here the snow was lumpy, as if it had fallen upon a bed of jumbled rocks. I soon found out that was exactly what had happened when I turned my ankle on a viciously hard protuberance.

  “Ohh,” I called, toppling to the left.

  Isaac was there in an instant.

  I reached out and pressed my hand into his fur to right myself and prevent my foot from twisting completely. I held my breath as my fingers became lost in his deep coat and his body heat spread on to my palm.

  He was solid and hard and I was sure I could have thrown my entire weight at him and he’d hardly notice. Power oozed from his wolf-form and the solidity of his muscles was like nothing I’d ever felt before.

  He spun his head to look at me briefly, eyes flashing, mouth slightly parted, then continued to walk at my side.

  Caleb was striding ahead, his nose in the air and his attention spinning from left to right and back again.

  I tested my weight on my foot. Luckily it was okay, nothing more than a tiny stretch of the muscle.

  As we arrived at the edge of the rocky strip of snow the land began to fall away. I realized that we had reached the edge of a cliff and the horizon was opening up before me.

  Caleb reached the precipice and stopped. I walked up to his head, Isaac flanking my opposite side, and stared in wonder at the sheer size and beauty of the Rocky Mountains.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The Ridge was one of the most exquisite places on earth. I could see for miles and miles yet there was no one there. Nothing manmade, just nature in its wild, wintery glory. But its isolation was part of its beauty and from up here it could be appreciated in one sweeping movement of the eyes—acres and acres of wild, snowy terrain all captured in one perfect visual.

  “It’s stunning,” I said, resting my hand in the fur on Caleb’s neck. “Absolutely stunning.”

  He turned and nuzzled me with his nose and I stroked him, like I would a dog. He leaned into my touch and after brushing his cheek over the side of my jacket he turned to the view again.

  I guessed he liked me caressing him so I continued to pet his thick neck as I gazed in awe at the horizon.

  An eagle soared almost level with us, though it was hundreds of feet up from the icy river it was circling at the base of the cliff. I could make out its hooked talons and the finger-shaped feathers at the ends of its wings. It spiraled over and over and eventually drifted into the distance, presumably on the hunt for food.

  Isaac suddenly lifted his head and looked to the forest at his left. His ears pricked up and a low growl formed in his throat.

  I tensed and followed his gaze, but he’d already turned back to the view.

  Placing my hand on his neck, so that I was touching both of the wolves, I tried to see what had captured his attention. But there was nothing there, not that I could make out.

  He looked at me, stepped in closer so that his body was pressed to mine and lifted his head proudly, as though a royal guard.

  My heart swelled and it was a wonderful feeling to have it flood with joy as opposed to breaking. How could I not admit that Isaac and Caleb were special to me? Very special. These men, wolves, had no reason to risk themselves for little old me, no duty to, yet here they were, huge, fierce and alert and prepared to jump into action if needed, for my benefit.

  Aimery and Ryle had always made me feel safe and protected. But their vampire way was different. They could move faster, smell the air and would kill for me if necessary. But that was because they loved me, we were married, we’d made sacred vows. Isaac and Caleb weren’t obliged to use their skills to watch over me but here they were, doing just that, without question, without asking for anything in return.

  I pulled in a deep breath of chilled air and rubbed my hands on both Caleb and Isaac. Their slightly wiry fur was cool on the surface but warm the deeper my fingers sank into it. I’d been very lucky to meet them. More than lucky. They’d been a godsend and my only hope of survival.

  A sudden shrill yowl echoed upward from the valley in front of us.

  “What’s that?” I asked, knowing as I’d spoken what it was.

  Caleb and Isaac shared a quick glance and then Caleb tipped his head back, nose to the sky, and a long, loud, matching howl drew up from his chest and out of his mouth.

  The noise sang in my ears and I stared at the way Caleb’s throat had stretched and his long mouth elongated as he drew out the sound.

  When his lungs appeared empty of air he dropped his head back down and the last of his cry ricocheted into the distance. He glanced at me then turned away from the Ridge and began to retrace his steps with a purposeful stride. I followed and stared at his long tail bobbing and the tips of his shoulders lifting with each step.

  After ten paces another wolf howl sang through the mountains. It was eerie as it echoed around us and I wondered if Isaac and Caleb knew what it was saying or if it was simply a noise. I had the urge to increase my speed and closed the gap between myself and Caleb. I had a nagging feeling that Caleb had decided it was time to go because of something that had been said between him and a member of what I could only presume was the Carlton Pack.

  Again Isaac walked at my side through the rocky area, and I was glad to feel his presence, but as soon as we came to the clearing he slotted in behind me. I wondered if this gave him better access to scents and a clearer view around us.

  We were going at a quick, marching pace, and Caleb increased it again when the ground flattened. I had to intermittently jog to keep up with him. But my boots were sturdy and warm and I was surefooted on this part of our journey.

  Another eagle called overhead and a gust of wind blew with extra zest toward us, picking up a flurry of snow and skittering it about my feet. I began to crave the four walls I’d been so keen to get away from. My imagination was starting to bloom as my breaths misted and when the sun disappeared behind a cloud and the snow switched from sparkling white to matt, I couldn’t help but shiver.

  Had that wolf been warning Caleb and Isaac that Elfrida was on their territory? Had it smelled her, seen her, heard her? Was she nearby and that was the reason for Caleb’s haste?

  I bit my cold bottom lip and studied the dark trees. Everything was as it always was. No crazed vampire lurking on the edge of the shadows.

  Caleb suddenly stopped. He put his muzzle into the air and sniffed.

  I stilled, watching him, wondering what was going to happen. My heart pounded and sweat dampened my underarms.

  But nothing emerged from the trees and after several seconds he simply put his head down and carried on walking.

  I glanced up at the sky when the sun appeared. But it only shone for a brief moment and then another cloud engulfed it. It seemed the storm that had been threatening was on its way.

  Shoving my hands deeper into my pockets, I carried on behind Caleb, head down, simply planting one foot in front of the other and willing us to get home safely.

  Thankfully, the cabin soon came into view and I began to feel more confident that I’d get there without incident, but I knew I wouldn’t relax until I was safely inside. The walk to the Ridge had been wonderful but I was ready to step over the threshold that symbolized my security the way my chainmail glove had loyally protected my hands at Smithfield Meat Market.

  I stomped up the snowy steps and pushed into the cabin. The
smell and warmth emanating from the fire welcomed me the way an old friend might.

  Glancing behind, I waited for Isaac and Caleb, wondering if they’d shift back to men in front of me or if it was something they preferred to do in private.

  But they didn’t shift. Instead they paced at the base of the steps, wolf noses to the ground and spikey hackles raised.

  “What?” I asked, sensing something was amiss.

  Caleb raised his head and looked at me.

  “Has she been here?” I asked.

  He tore his gaze away and resumed his prowling, going in the opposite direction of Isaac who was sniffing toward the shed.

  I quickly shut the door and as I did so a loud rumble of thunder rolled across the sky, rattling the window and vibrating through my chest. Hurriedly I moved to look outside and caught sight of both wolves running into the distance. The snow burst up behind them as the galloped west and just before they disappeared into the trees a brilliant white shot of lightning lit up the sky.

  I beat down a feeling of dread at being alone, slipped off my coat and placed it on a hook on the wall. After removing my boots I threw another log on the fire and then lit a couple of candles. There was no telling how long Caleb and Isaac would be, but my rational self knew I was safe now—safe from Elfrida and from the storm—I just had to keep telling myself that so panic didn’t overwhelm me. My imagination was on overdrive and a good dose of adrenaline was circulating in my system.

  I wished the men had stayed with me, or at least one of them. I could use their company right now. The strengthening wind was pressing against the cabin and pulling as though trying to rip it from its foundations.

  “No, they’re out hunting for the woman who’s ruined your life, stop being selfish, Bea.” I shook my head, fed up with my own thoughts. I should be grateful Isaac and Caleb were working so tirelessly on my behalf instead of whining about being left alone.

  I stood straight and proud, set down my shoulders and pulled in a breath.

  I was okay. I could do this.