by Cheree Alsop
A sob escaped my chest and I ran. I didn't notice where I was going and didn't slow until I found myself at the mouth of our cave. I phased inside, pulled on my clothes, and was fumbling to turn on the cell phone when Rafe stepped in already in his shorts. Tears streaked his face and he stared at me as though he couldn't fathom what had happened.
“It was them, Rafe. It was the same people after us, after Mom and Dad, and now after your pack.” Tears streamed down my cheeks. “Why won't they leave us alone?”
I dropped the phone and he picked it up before I could. “Who are you calling?”
“Kaynan. They know we're here, so we need to leave. We need help.”
Rafe shook his head. “No more people. Look what they've done.” His gaze darkened and he stared at the cave wall where drawings of a doe and a fawn at the edge of a river merged into a charcoal sketch of campers silhouetted against a campfire. “People destroy everything.” He gestured toward the cooler where his wind-up radio sat. “I've listened to the news. It's filled with violence, hatred, and every bad thing one person can do to another. I was a fool to believe that wouldn't find me here.”
I stared at him, unsure what to say and so filled with grief I could barely think. “We can't stay,” I managed to get out.
“And where do you want to go?” His eyes flashed. “Back to where your parents have to fear for their lives because of what you are? Where people kill each other for a dollar and money can buy murder? Is that where you feel safe?”
I opened my mouth, but no argument came to me except, “I'm afraid, Rafe.” I whispered the words and looked at the ground at my feet. I couldn't meet his eyes and let him see how truly scared I was that they had tracked us here, how much I worried about my brother and Grace, and the fear I felt that they would find my parents despite the precautions we had taken.
A tear leaked from the corner of my eye and I moved to wipe it away, but Rafe caught my hand in his and ran soft fingers over my cheek. “I'm sorry,” he said. He pulled me close, covered my mouth with his own for the briefest second, then held me against his chest and whispered in my hair, “I'll take you back.”
We climbed the mountain to the peak where the cougar had attacked Rafe. Neither of us looked in the direction of the boulders as we waited for the cell phone’s reception to improve. When I dialed the number, the connection buzzed with static.
“Colleen? Oh, thank goodness,” Kaynan said, his voice tight.
“Kaynan, it's terrible, the wolves, they-”
“They've taken Mouse,” Kaynan's voice crackled. “We're in danger.”
“Mouse? They took Mouse?” Trepidation shot through me at what they would put him through, especially if they were the same people responsible for the wolves. My heart raced at what he knew, and what they would do to get it out of him.
Kaynan spoke quickly, “Jaze is out with a search party, so I’ll pick you up myself. How soon can you be at the road?”
“Early morning. We've already started out. We’ll meet you at the gas station.”
“Good. I'll see you there.” He paused, then, “What were you saying about the wolves?”
I blinked back tears. “They killed the alpha and took the rest of the pack.”
Kaynan swore and the frustrated anger in his voice sent a shiver through my skin. “Tell Rafe we'll find them. We won't give up until they're home safe.”
“I'll tell him,” I replied, touched. I hung up the phone and turned to tell Rafe what Kaynan said, but he cut me off.
“Werewolf, remember?” He gave a sad half-smile and pointed to his ear.
We walked in silence through the trees until neither of us could stand the swarm of thoughts that wouldn't leave us alone; we then phased and ran in the mile-eating lope of the wolf.
We didn't stop until we reached the trees that edged the gas station parking lot, then we phased back to human form and I talked Rafe into eating something with me while we waited. He was so pale and the red angry lines across his stomach had stopped healing because he had pushed himself so hard.
I was surprised to see the same attendant behind the register when we stepped into the gas station. He looked up from his graphic novel at me, then stared, recognition clear in his eyes. I was glad I was a bit more decently dressed than just a tee-shirt this time, but it was obvious he wished it were otherwise.
I put a few bottles of water, some jerky, and a candy bar on the counter and handed him the cash Kaynan had forced me to take with my phone.
The cashier stared. “I thought you were a dream,” he said in a voice just above a whisper. He made no move to take the money. “I thought, well,” he blushed and held up his book. “I thought I'd read too many comics.”
I fought back a smile. “I'm definitely real.”
His eyes widened. “Are you sure?”
“Pretty sure.” I glanced behind me to find Rafe watching us both with a bemused expression on his face. I rolled my eyes and turned back to the cashier. “Can we buy these?”
He shook his head and pushed them toward me. “They're on the house.”
I gave him a doubtful look. “Why?”
He smiled shyly. “For letting me know that the girl of my dreams really does exist.” He put the items in a bag and handed it to me.
“Uh, thanks.” I took the bag with mixed feelings, but wasn't in the mood to argue against generosity. I hesitated, then said, “I took your cell phone last time I was here. I’ll replace it.”
He shook his head and grinned, pushing his glasses up further on his nose. “I knew it was you. I didn’t cancel the service in the hopes that maybe I could find you again.” He ears turned red at the admission.
Flustered, my throat tightened with the memory of how the phone had saved Rafe’s life. “Thank you,” I said sincerely. “That means more than you know.”
Rafe and I went back outside and it wasn't until we reached the trees again that he shot me a probing look.
“What?” I asked defensively.
His golden eyes lightened a bit. “Looks like you have a friend down there.”
I lifted the bag. “Handy.”
“You had the money to pay,” he pointed out.
I fought back the urge to argue, reminding myself that he had just gone through something tragic. “I was trying to be nice.”
“It was cute to see you perplexed; you're usually so calm and collected.” He gave me a teasing look that made me smile.
I rolled my eyes. “Thanks.”
We settled under the trees and ate sparingly of our snacks. Neither of us had much of an appetite, but phasing burned a lot of calories and by the time Kaynan drove up, we had finished most of the food.
Kaynan and Jet both climbed out and the expressions on their faces made the pit in my stomach deepen.
I asked the obvious. “No word from Mouse?”
Kaynan shook his head. “Nothing.”
“So what do we do? How do we find him?” My heart clenched at the thought of the scrawny werewolf with the shy, sweet smile being hurt by the government men.
“Wait,” came Jet's simple reply. He climbed back into the gray SUV, his jaw set and gaze on the trees.
Rafe helped me into the vehicle, then climbed in and sat by the window, his eyes also on the trees. His expression was one of deep loss as though someone had taken his soul and stomped on it, leaving boot impressions that could never be erased.
When we reached Jaze's house, our friends hurried out as though they had been watching for us despite the late hour. Mrs. Carso met us by the porch and gave Rafe a hug that surprised him. “I'm so sorry about your pack,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “Jaze has already put out word with the Hunters and they're doing what they can to help find them.”
Jaze walked through the door with a cell phone in his hand. “We're working on narrowing down the location of their complex.” His eyes tightened. “But they're good at hiding their tracks. I'm worried that we'll be forced to wait for them to contact us
.”
“What if they don't?” I asked.
Kaynan's lips pressed into a tight line, his arm around Grace's shoulders. “They will. It's us they want.” He looked from Mrs. Carso to Jaze. “We put you in danger just by being here. It's our fault Mouse is gone.”
“You don't know that,” Brock pointed out. It was strange to see him without food and I realized he was so worried about his friend's disappearance that he had even forgotten about eating.
Kaynan gave a tight, humorless smile. “They really haven't left us any doubt. If we hadn't reached my parents' house in time, they'd be missing, too.” He sighed and looked at me. “We endanger everyone around us.”
The thought that the wolves' capture and the alpha's death were my fault hit me so hard I felt sick. Tears filled my eyes and I looked at Rafe. “He's right. We should go.”
Rafe's golden eyes hardened; he put his strong hands on both of my shoulders and looked me straight in the eyes. “You are never leaving my side again. We're in this together, and if the wolves and Mouse's disappearance are anyone's fault, it's the fault of the people who made you werewolves.” His gaze softened and he spoke as though he and I were the only people in the world, not surrounded by a group of humans and werewolves on a porch in the middle of the night. “And I am so grateful for them that anything they do pales in comparison, because without them, I wouldn't have you.”
The tears fell down my cheeks and I hugged him tight. “But it's still our fault,” I said.
He tipped his face down into my hair. “Then we'll do what we can to make it right.”
Mrs. Carso led us all back into the living room and served fresh rolls and hot cocoa. Nobody ate, but it was comforting to hold the warm mugs.
***
Everyone sat numb with exhaustion and the chaos of thoughts that wouldn't slow. It was the early hours of the morning. The Hunters hadn't been able to track anyone down and every plan had been gone over and dismissed at least a dozen times. Jaze answered phone calls every few minutes, but no good news followed.
The girls nursed cold cups of hot cocoa around the table and the boys sat and stood in various places around the kitchen when a squeal of tires in the driveway made everyone jump. Jet was the first to reach the front door. He flung it open and jumped down the porch, his knives out and teeth bared. The rest of us followed and saw a large canvas bag thrown out of a car before tires squealed again and the car sped away.
Jet ran to the bag. He tore it open, the fear on his face at what he would find so stark that the rest of us couldn't move from the porch. He touched what was in the bag, said something softly, then looked up. “He's alive,” he said with relief so thick his eyes shone with tears.
The rest of us ran down to him. The sight of Mouse beaten so severely that his face was nearly unrecognizable made me want to cry. Jet, Jaze, and Kaynan helped him gently from the bag and carried him straight to Meg and Roger's. Meg opened the door without a word and led them to the operating room. They set Mouse on the table, the pained expression on his bloody face filled with sorrow.
“Got. . . to tell you,” he forced out, holding his ribs.
“Shhh,” Jaze quieted him. “Let Meg and Roger take care of you. We'll talk when you've had a chance to heal.”
Mouse shook his head and met Kaynan's eyes. His own filled with tears. “I'm so sorry.”
Kaynan took his hand. I clutched Rafe's arm so hard his skin was white around my fingers. “For what?” Kaynan asked softly.
“Your parents.” My heart slowed. Mouse coughed and blood colored his lips. He grimaced and closed his eyes. “They made me tell them. . . where your parents. . . .” He was taken by another coughing fit so severe he could barely breathe.
Meg escorted us all from the room. My mind reeled at what he had said and I could only stare at Kaynan. He echoed my thoughts. “We've got to go.” Determination and fear was thick in his voice.
Jaze glanced at Brock. “Get us a flight.”
Brock left at a run through the open front door.
Jaze turned back to us. “I'm so sorry for whatever happens. Mouse wouldn't have said anything if-”
I shook my head. “It's our fault he was hurt in the first place. If anything happens to our parents, it's on our heads, not Mouse's. Let's just get there.”
Jaze's eyebrows rose, but he nodded. “We've got some work to do.”
We left Mouse to Meg and Roger's ministrations and returned to Jaze's. I packed the few belongings I had and the thought kept racing through my mind that we wouldn't get there in time. My muscles shook, but I forced the urge to phase down until my hands trembled so much I couldn't pack. I wrapped my shaking arms around myself and started to cry.
Strong arms closed around me. I turned into Rafe's chest and a sob escaped my lips. “What if we're too late?”
He smoothed my hair from my face. “They're going to be alright. Believe it with all of your heart.”
Chapter 13
Jaze, Jet, Kaynan, Rafe and I were on a private jet a half hour later. My heart raced at the unknown that lay before us, and it was harder and harder to keep from phasing. Rafe put an arm around my shoulder and I shook as the ground faded into clouds below us. I fought the phase so hard my muscles ached, and I caught the worried glances the boys exchanged, but I couldn't keep it in any longer.
“I can't control it,” I whispered frantically, holding my shoulders to keep in my human form.
“The restroom,” Jaze said. He stood and helped me past the two stewardesses to the tiny bathroom. Rafe followed close behind and when I slammed the door and locked it, I heard him lean against it from the outside.
I fought back a growl of frustration and pulled off my clothes before they tore to pieces. The bathroom was so small I could barely turn around, but before I could question how it was going to work, I was in my wolf form panting on the floor.
“Colleen, you okay?” Rafe whispered from the other side of the door.
I leaned my head against the wall, miserable and trapped in a wolf body on a jet. I could only imagine what would happen if I came out that way.
“Colleen?”
I gave a short whine, the whirl of the impending danger to my parents compounded by the trouble we would all be in if I couldn't phase back by the time we reached the airport. I tried to clear my head and picture what it was like to be human, but the scents of airline food and the stuffy air of a crowded room wafted under the door. Salty pretzels and sugary soda pop made my mouth water and I wondered when I had eaten last.
I forced the wolfish thoughts aside and concentrated on the sound of the voices on the other side of the door. The hum of the guys talking came surprisingly loud in the noisy rush of the tiny bathroom. The hiss of air hurt my ears and when I tried to find a more comfortable position besides being wedged between the blue-watered toilet and the door, I hit my head on the tiny purse tray and bumped my nose painfully against the miniature sink. I let out another small whine and leaned against the wall again.
The sound of Rafe's fingers just on the other side of the door from my head caught my attention. It sounded as though he was crouched at my level, his hand on the door while he leaned against it. “Colleen, you're going to be okay,” he whispered.
I let out a soft snort of disbelief and wondered why they had even brought me along. I was a danger to saving our parents and half of the reason we were here in the first place. I blinked back tears and reminded myself that wolves don't cry.
“Colleen, remember the forest? Remember walking hand in hand beneath the trees, the breeze blowing through your hair, whispering of pine cones and babbling brooks? Remember the sunflowers and how their soft petals glisten like little suns in the meadows?”
I closed my eyes and let out my breath in a small whoosh. The sound of his voice lulled me and I let go of the what-ifs that would happen if I couldn't figure out how to phase back. I listened and absorbed his voice the way one might a beautiful symphony. My heart slowed.
“Rem
ember the foxes that lived in the den by our cave? The kits used to scurry back out of sight whenever we passed by.” The smile in his voice made me wish I could smile back. My arms tingled and tried to remember their human form. “Colleen?” When I couldn't answer, I heard him shift around to his knees, a hand still softly touching the door. He took a small breath, then began to quietly sing the song about the fox that he sang to me our first night in the cave.
I closed my eyes and remembered holding his shivering body against the chill of the darkness, the bullet wound in his side that he had gotten protecting me healing as we lay there on the cold stone floor. I remembered the feeling of his skin under my fingers, the rise and fall of his chest and the beat of his heart, his human heart. My limbs began to shake, then stretch and change. The memory of his golden eyes, light with freedom and the thrill of being alive, burned into my mind when my body stopped phasing and I stood slowly back in my human form.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“Anytime,” he said quietly from outside the door, the sound of a smile in his voice.
I pulled on my clothes, splashed some water on my face, then opened the door. One of the stewardesses stood next to Rafe, but she didn't seem upset by the long waiting time. Instead, she looked from Rafe to me with a smile on her lips and contentment in her eyes as if we reminded her of a dear memory.
“Excuse me,” I said, embarrassed at the trouble I had caused.
“It's no problem,” she said with a warm smile. She nodded toward Rafe who had gone back up the aisle to our seats. “He's a good guy.”
“Far better than I deserve,” I said with an answering smile. She stepped into the bathroom and I followed Rafe back to where Kaynan, Jaze, and Jet waited.
