Whispers of Darkness (The Deadwood Hunter Series)

by Rachel M Raithby

  “Hey, I’m a wolf not a cat,” he said, looking up the tree.

  “Come on, it’s easy. Just watch where I put my feet.”

  Lexia watched as Sammy climbed whilst her mind’s eye focused on the dark auras coming towards them. If Lexia had just been on her own she probably would have just gone back but meeting Sammy made her just want to forget the Hunters for the day. She could talk to a stranger and be whomever she wanted to be, he had no idea who she was and it was refreshing.

  His foot slipped as he pushed higher, he lost his grip and started to fall. A startled gasp left his mouth and Lexia reacted instantly and reached for him, her hand catching his arm. Immediately he wrapped his strong calloused hand around her, Lexia pulled him up amused at the stunned look in Sammy’s eyes. “Got yah,” she whispered, as she pulled him onto the branch with her.

  “How’d y-”

  Lexia cut him off, placing a finger to her lips, she signalled for him to be silent. The three Hunters walked by the tree but never noticed them. Sammy breathed deep as they passed, his eyes widening and going wolf as he picked up their scent.

  Lexia shook her head, pleading with her eyes for him to stay put, but he had that look she’d seen a hundred times in Lincoln’s eyes, the one that said ‘I must protect you’. God damn shifters are all the same, she thought, clasping his hand to stop him from moving on.

  Lexia didn’t want to start fighting, plus they carried the same guns used for sedating her. When they’d moved on Lexia whispered to Sammy, “They’ll get bored and cold soon and head back, we’ll just wait them out.”

  “Go back to where?” he asked.

  Lexia just shook her head.

  “So let me get this straight, you can’t tell me how you knew I was a wolf or why you’re so strong or why you are out here in the middle of nowhere with people obviously after you and you won’t tell me who they are.”

  “Nailed it in one,” Lexia smiled. “Shush, they’re coming back.”

  The Hunters walked by again, this time talking and not even looking for her. They muttered to each other about what they’d tell Lucy and as Lexia was about to breathe a sigh of relief, one Hunter turned back around, his face tilted up slightly. He wasn’t looking at them but Sammy saw the color of his eyes and, as Lexia squeezed his hand desperately not wanting him to jump down, a low growl slipped from his throat.

  “What was that?” one hunter asked.

  “Probably some animal... Come on, it’s freaking freezing out here, I didn’t sign up for this!”

  “Yeah alright,” the Hunter sighed and they disappeared from view.

  Lexia and Sammy sat in silence staring at each other. When no other sounds stirred below them, Sammy snatched his hand back and glared at Lexia.

  “They were Hunters, weren’t they?”

  “Yes,” Lexia whispered.

  “Are you in trouble Laura?”

  “Nothing I can’t handle.”

  “Really? What are you, Laura? You smell,” he took a deep breath, “you smell of them but there is more. I can smell cat, but you’re not a shifter, are you? You smell human and yet you don’t.”

  “Anyone ever told you it’s rude to smell people?”

  “All the time but I’m a shifter what you expect?”

  “Hmm you shifters are a pain in my ass,” she laughed.

  “How many shifters you know?”

  “Plenty.”

  “Come on, Laura, I’ve told you why I was here, give me something.”

  Lexia sighed, “I’m mated with a cat, that’s why you can smell cat on me.”

  “So where is he now?”

  Lexia looked around her as if any moment he may just crash through the trees. “Somewhere... Looking for me,” she whispered, looking up at the sky.

  “I don’t understand, do you not love him?” Sammy asked.

  Her eyes snapped back to Sammy. “More than anything.”

  “So then why are you here?”

  “Because staying away is the only way for him to survive.”

  “That makes no sense, Laura.”

  “No it wouldn’t to you because you’re a shifter, you’d rather die than give up those you love but have you ever thought what the person you sacrificed yourself for feels like? Sometimes we have to give up everyone we love to keep them safe.”

  “So you’re here so he can live?”

  “Yes.”

  “What’s here?” Sammy asked.

  “Sammy, I’m only going to tell you this once... Those Hunters are dangerous and being in these hills will get you killed, there are hundreds of them. You need to leave, go back home to your family, your pack, forget you ever met me.”

  “Why don’t you just leave? You can obviously survive out here, so why not just leave now. Come with me.”

  “You’ve no idea how much I’d like to do that but things are never as they seem, if I leave people will get hurt, die, innocent people that do not deserve to be hurt because of me. I have to go back.”

  “What’re you doing out here in the first place then?”

  “I just needed to breathe.”

  “How’d you get past them?”

  “I’m stronger than I look,” Lexia smiled, “Anyway enough about me and my problems... I came out here to get away from them.”

  Lexia and Sammy sat and watched the sun rise high into the sky. Sammy told her about his home, about his alpha and what he wanted to do when he left school. Time flew by and when Lexia jumped down from the tree, laughing as Sammy landed in a heap, she didn’t want him to leave.

  Sammy had brought laughter back into her life. She’d had just a few hours where she’d not thought about her problems and she’d laughed and joked with a young lad that hadn’t felt how cruel the world could be yet. She hoped he never would but Lexia knew deep down that he wouldn’t find his Alpha; if his trail ended here, then he was dead.

  Standing Sammy looked at her and a silence settled around them. “Are you sure you won’t just come with me now? I can protect you.”

  “I can protect myself, Sammy, but thank you for being concerned. Sometimes life throws things at you that you’d rather not do but right now I have to stay here, there are people that need me.”

  “Okay... Well, bye, Laura.” He turned and started to walk away.

  Lexia pulled her coat tighter around herself and watched him. “Bye, Sammy,” she whispered.

  As Lexia watched him she had an overwhelming feeling to stop him. “Wait!” she blurted out and then stood frozen. What do I want to say?

  Sammy half turned. “Yes?”

  “Can you... Can you give someone a message for me?”

  “Sure who?” he asked, still not quite looking at her.

  “My mate... Lincoln Turner,” she whispered.

  Sammy turned now, his eyes hardened as he spoke, “Your name is not Laura at all, is it?”

  “What? Why would you say that?”

  “Because there is not a single shifter that does not know about Lincoln Turner and the war path he is on. The rumor is he mated with a Hunter and now she’s been taken from him and he will kill anyone who gets in his way.”

  Lexia could feel her heart picking up speed whilst Sammy’s words echoed around her head, making the world spin. Why did you open your mouth, Lexia? Why couldn’t you just let him walk away?

  Sammy started to slowly walk towards her. His whole demeanour had changed, he no longer looked like a young lad who was quick to laugh. He looked like his Alpha’s second, he looked like a predator.

  “So Lexia... Would you like to tell me the truth?”

  Lexia frowned, the truth? She looked up into wolf eyes and felt anger swell within her. “The truth? I have told you the truth bar my name! Nothing has changed, I’m still the person you met earlier, I still cannot leave... Now will you pass on a message or not?”

  Sammy walked around her as if sizing her up. “You’re a Hunter and yet not, you don’t smell like them but I can smell them on you... But still, y
ou’re different and your eyes, they don’t look like Hunter’s eyes.”

  Lexia let her power to the surface. She laughed as Sammy jumped back. “It all depends on my mood, Sammy. Piss me off and I let the Hunter out to play. When you see these eyes, that’s your cue to run.”

  Sammy laughed, “Amazing, you really are amazing. I’ve heard so many rumors, most don’t believe them but still I can feel the strength you have... So why stay here?”

  Lexia sighed and reined in her inner Hunter. “I already told you, there are people that need me. I could have found a way to escape ages ago but it is not as simple as just escaping.”

  “What about your mate? Doesn’t he need you?”

  “I’m here so he stays safe. Now can you find him and pass on a message or not?”

  “Yeah I can do that, although the last I heard he was in the wild, living as a cat tracking you.”

  “Tell him... Tell him to stop looking for me... Tell him I know he thinks he needs to save me but he already has. Tell him I’m okay, that it’s our bond that keeps me going... Tell him I’m still fighting.”

  Sammy turned with a nod.

  Just as he was about to disappear into the trees Lexia called, “Sammy!”

  “Yes?”

  “Don’t tell him where you found me, don’t tell anyone about this place.”

  “You realize Lincoln will beat your whereabouts out of me.”

  “Please don’t tell him, he’ll only get himself killed.”

  “I’m sorry Lexia, I can’t promise that.” His last words whispered through the trees as he ran off, leaving Lexia alone in the frozen world around her wondering if she’d just made her biggest mistake yet.

  Chapter 38

  Lexia slowly made her way down the hill towards the entrance of the compound. The nearer she got, the more layers of defense she built around herself, she had to be strong. Talking to Sammy had only reminded her of the life she so desperately wanted to go back to, but she didn’t have such luxuries. This was her life now and people depended on her. So by the time she rattled on the mesh gates, she’d forced her emotions deep inside of herself. The hard look on her face warned no one to touch her and her determined stride made the Hunters step out of her way as she walked into the compound, into her prison.

  She heard her mother’s quick angry steps behind her. Damn it! So close, she thought, looking at her door.

  “Maura!” Lucy snapped.

  Lexia paused with a sigh, she forced a smile onto her face as she turned to greet her mother.

  “Mother?”

  Derrick had paused a few steps behind Lucy, a fresh bruise marking his face.

  “You are not to leave this compound again! You... You missed your group’s training session.”

  Keep calm, keep calm, Lexia told herself as she answered, “I needed space mother and it’s Christmas day, my recruits can have the day off.”

  Lexia turned quickly walking towards her door, her escape.

  “There is no such thing as Christmas day in this compound,” Lucy replied, her voice like frost.

  Lexia’s hand slipped from her door handle, the anger and hatred that always lingered close the surface these days burst its restraints. She faced her mother, and for just a split second saw fear flash into her eyes. Derrick shook his head frantically at her but it was too late, Lexia couldn’t control herself any longer.

  “And that will be your downfall.”

  “What does that mean?” Lucy snapped, gaining her composure.

  “It means keep people down long enough and they will. Rise. Up. Against. You.”

  Lexia turned and disappeared inside her room, smiling at the look of fury on her mother’s face.

  “You’re going to pay for that comment, Lex,” she muttered as threw herself onto the bed. But it was so worth it, she smiled.

  A few minutes later there was a quiet knock on her door, a quick look in her mind’s eye confirmed it was Derrick.

  “Come in, Derrick,” she called, not bothering to move.

  The door opened and clicked shut. “Have you lost your mind?” Derrick asked, flustered.

  “That one is still open for debate,” Lexia muttered into her pillow.

  “Lexia, this is serious! You cannot get away with saying those things; she’ll find a way to hurt you.”

  Lexia rolled over and leaned on her elbows. “Oh, I’m sure she will but seeing as she has lost track of Lincoln, I’m safe for now... It is about time someone stood up to her.”

  Derrick shook his head, concern in his eyes. “Lexia, she may not have Lincoln to use against you but there are so many other ways she can hurt you.”

  “Enough... Do you think I don’t know that? I was pissed okay, so fucking pissed off and I lost control.”

  “Okay... I’m sorry, Lexia.”

  Lexia flopped back over sighing into her pillow. She heard the door open and looked back up.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To supper.”

  As if to remind her she’d not eaten all day her tummy growled loudly. “Fancy grabbing me something and coming back here to eat?”

  “Sure Lex, what would you like?”

  “Surprise me,” she mumbled.

  Lincoln and Caden walked into a beaten down motel in desperate need of a shower and a warm bed for the night. They might be able to survive the harsh winter in the hills as cats but the days of running with no clues, no sign that anyone but animals had ever passed by where they travelled, was now beginning to wear the shifters down.

  Lincoln said nothing to Caden but he could feel himself slowly losing his grip on reality, and his sanity. His bond with Lexia was changing. She wasn’t being hurt anymore, he knew that, but her feelings had changed. He could still feel the constant ache that she felt for him but it was as if she’d accepted her fate. She’d given up fighting to leave, to get back to him, and that scared Lincoln more than the torture she’d received. What made her feel she had to stay there? What or who was stopping her from wanting to leave the Hunters?

  “Just one night?” Caden asked him in a weary voice as he walked to the reception counter.

  “One night, then we go back out.”

  “Okay mate, one night.”

  Lincoln stood back and let Caden handle the room, he’d given up talking to anyone else. He’d not spoken to his grandfather since rescuing Lexia the day her father was murdered. He knew Caden had filled everyone else in but he just couldn’t deal with anyone else anymore, couldn’t plaster a smile on his face. At least Caden knew how he felt; at least Caden didn’t lie and tell him everything was going to be alright.

  “Come on,” Caden murmured, walking out the reception door and to room 205.

  Lincoln walked into the room behind Caden and just stood staring at the wall, already he could feel the room closing in on him. He shouldn’t be here, he should just leave now and go look for her. What was he doing sleeping in a motel room when he should be racing across the hills searching? He shouldn’t be here, he needed to look for her.

  His feet started to walk backwards on their own accord, his heart was trying to beat out of his chest and the walls were closing in, stealing his breath. His back hit the door and the walls crumbled around his already fragile sanity. Lincoln’s composure shattered around him as his legs gave out.

  I have to find her, I have to find her! The words repeated around and around in his head but no matter how many times they repeated his body wouldn’t work, he couldn’t move off the floor.

  “Lincoln, Linc! Look at me!” Lincoln’s distraught, far-away eyes focused on Caden’s face, “We are going to find her! This is just one night, to rest, to group together what we have found. We’re not giving up Linc, we will never give up. Do you hear me, my friend? We will never give up!”

  Lincoln couldn’t talk, he could only stare at the vivid green eyes of his best friend and wonder when he’d become so strong and why did he kept following him? Caden would follow him to hell and never look back; wh
at had he ever done to deserve a friend like that?

  “Linc, go shower, I’ll find us some food that’s been cooked and preferably has had its insides removed.”

  Lincoln managed a small smile and stumbled towards the shower.

  After Caden had found food and bought them some beer he made a quick stop at the phone box. He’d not checked in with his mother in weeks and he knew she’d be frantic. As he waited for her to pick up the phone he’d given her when he forced her and his father to go into hiding his heart started to flutter and his stomach twist. Just the mere thought of the Hunters getting a hold of his beautiful, kind-hearted mother was enough to make him feel sick.

  “Caden?” she said breathlessly.

  “Yes, Mother.”

  “Oh thank god! Why haven’t you been in touch! Caleb has been trying to find you.”

  “What why? Does he have news on Lexia?”

  “No dear... It’s David... He’s had a heart attack. He had surgery three days ago but it’s not looking good... Lincoln needs to go see him now before it’s too late.”

  No! Lincoln won’t cope, what shall I do... Why now?

  “Caden? Caden dear, are you still there?” His mother’s frantic voice cut through Caden’s panicked ramblings.

  “Yes Mother, I’m here.”

  “I know this is terrible timing, honey, but I honestly don’t think David is going to survive. Lincoln has to say goodbye to his grandfather.”

  Caden stood outside the motel room ten minutes later wishing he’d never rang his mother, wishing he didn’t have to tell Lincoln what he needed to. Opening the door he saw Lincoln laid out on one of the beds, his eyes staring, lost, at the ceiling.

  “Took you long enough,” he muttered, not bothering to look at him.

  “Sorry, here eat this.” Caden tossed him the burger he’d bought and a bottle of beer, he waited until he’d finished both before he spoke.

  “Linc, I called my mother.”

  “And?” he asked.

  “Your grandfather has had a heart attack, it doesn’t look good.”

  Lincoln’s eyes shot up and focused on his.