by Terry Spear
He yelped. “Damn it, Lelandi, you’re asking for trouble.”
Rocks tumbled together from up above, but the cave was so narrow at this point, she couldn’t look back to see what had happened. The sound of falling rock sent chills racing across her skin. Buried alive in a rock tomb came to mind.
“I have a little surprise waiting for them.”
What was this maniac planning? As she reached the opening into a large cave. the mountain shook and rumbled.
“What have you done?” Her heart nearly stopped. Darien? His men? What if... what if anyone was badly hurt or killed in the rock slide?
She scrambled into the cave and Joe followed her out of the tunnel, her boot’s imprint on his forehead.
“I made some assurances that if anyone tried to come in here when Larissa and I were having our special time, they couldn’t tell anyone, and if they did manage to survive, they wouldn’t be able to locate us.”
He was crazier than she suspected. “But you’ve locked us in a tomb.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Two more tunnels lead out of here that are never used.”
Another rumble of rocks shook her. She looked back at the tunnel they’d come from. Joe seized her arm, but she jerked free, her teeth clenched, tears filling her eyes. She’d found her soul mate only to lose him? “If you killed Darien, you might as well shoot me and get It over with.”
“And if I haven’t? Would be a shame if he found you dead, too.”
He was right, the bastard. If Darien found her dead, he might not get over the grief. A clear plastic bag drew her attention, a pile of furs folded inside.
“I brought them here for Larissa and me, except she died before we had the chance to use them. I tried to convince her to come away with me, but she was afraid Darien would come after us. He still thought the triplets were his. He would have killed me and taken her back if he’d had to tear the world apart looking for her.”
He grabbed Lelandi’s arm again and yanked her toward another tunnel. “This one’s shorter, not as narrow. After we make it down the mountain, we’ll backtrack to town, pick up my truck, and be on our way.”
“You don’t need me. Darien won’t care what happens to you if you leave me behind.”
“Darien took Larissa from me. Now you’ll be her. Just like everyone thought in the beginning anyway.”
“But he’ll look for me, just like he would have searched for Larissa. He’ll never quit coming after us.
“If I’d risked it last time, maybe Larissa would still be alive.”
As much as she didn’t like the idea, Joe might be right. If Larissa had left with this man, whoever wanted her dead might not have bothered to kill her.
“You said you were taking me to Ural. That he knew where my parents were. Were you telling the truth?”
Chapter 19
BLOCKED FROM HIS BROTHERS AND THIRTY OF HIS MEN. MORE stones rained down from the initial explosion that rocked the mountain. Darien choked on the dust and rubbed his eyes so he could see the mess he was in. The rocks barricaded the tunnel entrance and no one had made it inside but him.
“Everyone all right out there?” he yelled, hoping to hell no one had been caught in the slide.
Jake hollered, “We’re fine. You?”
Highly pissed. “Fine here.”
He listened, trying to hear any sounds indicating where Joe Kelly and Lelandi were. Nothing. At least Darien could still go after them.
Sam shouted from the other side of the blockage. “We could move the rocks, but it will take hours, boss. Mason and I used to come in another way. Less hard on the knees.”
“Show the men.” Darien growled. He’d kill that son of a bitch as soon as he got his hands on him. If he’d done anything to Lelandi...
Jake hollered. “We’ll meet you around the other side, but damn it, Darien, don’t get yourself shot in the meantime. Those bullets are silver.”
Darien had no intention of waiting for his men to reach him while Lelandi was in Joe’s clutches. “How long will it take?”
“When I was younger, about half an hour. Maybe longer now.” Sam said. “The way’s easier once you’re inside, no low crawling, but to reach the cave, the climbing’s much harder.”
“See you in half an hour.”
“Wait for us, Darien, damn it,” Jake said again.
Darien was sure everyone knew he wouldn’t. He raced through the sections of the tunnel that he could, but soon came to an area where he had to crawl. The slight scent of Larissa and Lelandi remained in the tunnel. He ground his teeth when he smelled Lelandi’s fear. Joe was letting off a panicky scent also. Good. Darien hoped he was sweating fear. Damned cowardly male lupus garou who had to use a weapon to fortify himself. The notion Larissa had been here with Joe curdled Darien’s stomach though.
Down on hands and knees, he traversed the narrow, low ceiling tunnel, and he envisioned Lelandi’s skin being torn up by the rough-edged rocks. Damn that Joe. How could Larissa have managed? He would have seen any injuries she’d incurred. Unless they’d usually come in another way. Sure. Sam said the other tunnel was easier to maneuver. But this time since Joe was trying to outrun Darien and his men, he had used the cave closest to town.
When Darien finally reached the cave, he climbed out, but saw no sign of them. Except for fur blankets packed in a plastic case. His stomach and fists tightened. Two more tunnels opened out of the cave, and he hurried to one, walked in a couple of feet, but could find none of Lelandi’s or Joe’s scent. He raced across the cave to the other tunnel. But the sound of footfalls from two individuals approached him, making him stop dead. What the hell was Joe up to?
“How would I know the damned cave-in would trigger one over here? Or maybe someone set off the cave-in a couple of weeks ago.” Joe growled.
“What about the other tunnel? What if we’re trapped?” Lelandi sounded desperate, her voice shaking.
Darien wanted to dive into the tunnel, snap Joe’s worthless neck, and hug Lelandi in his secure embrace to prove she was safe and loved and the likes of Joe would never harm her again.
“Shut up! Don’t get hysterical on me. The other tunnel’s fine. It’s a little trickier getting out through that one, but we’ll manage. You have to watch for the pits. Drop something in them, and you never hear it hit bottom. Lost my hardhat down the first one once. Must have stood there twenty minutes or more waiting for it to hit rock bottom, or water, or something. Nothing. Just went on forever.”
Don ‘t worry, Lelandi. You won‘t be traversing any damned pits with this maniac. Darien stripped off his jacket, then shirt and ditched his boots, careful not to make a sound.
Lelandi and Joe’s footsteps echoed off the tunnel wall as they drew closer. “He’ll... he’ll come after you. You know he will. If you just leave me behind—”
“Shut up! I told you you’re going to replace my Larissa.”
“I can’t be like her.”
“You look just like her. That’ll be enough for now. You’ll grow on me.”
You’ll never have the opportunity, Joe. Darien peeled out of his Jeans and stretched his arms above his head, physically and mentally preparing for the change. His face elongated into a sliver snout, his teeth growing into killing weapons. His body became furred in a silver pelt and his claws extended, readied for a fight. Dropping to his pads, he waited, preparing himself for the leap that would separate Joe from his mate, his teeth itching to sink Into his blood, to kill the man who would endanger his mate’s life.
“Damn it to hell! This one’s blocked, too” Jake said on the outside of the cave at the tunnel entrance. “Is there another way, Sam?”
“One other tunnel. But that way’s too treacherous without climbing ropes.”
“I’ll get some.” Mason said.
“I’ll go with you,” Deputy Peter added.
“How long will it take to get to that tunnel, Sam?” Jake asked.
“About forty minutes straight up. When I was younger.”
“Let’s get going.”
Joe gave a sickly laugh, the sound echoing off the walls. “We’ll get through the tunnel way before they do.”
“But they said we needed climbing ropes,” Lelandi warned.
“I’ve got some. You wouldn’t think I’d be unprepared, would you? Now come on, quit dawdling. Wouldn’t want them to reach the tunnel entrance before we’ve made our getaway.”
You‘II never even reach the tunnel entrance, Joe. Rest assured.
Joe shoved Lelandi out of the tunnel into the main cave. At once her eyes lighted on Darien, and for a minute, she looked like she was trying to figure out which wolf he might be. He bowed his head in greeting. She took a deep breath and her eyes widened. Yes, Lelandi, your silver knight in wolf pelt.
As soon as Joe stepped into the cavern, Darien leapt. No waiting for the miner’s recognition that he was face- to-face with the pack leader. No long-winded staring down scenes to show who was the boss. The gun loaded with silver bullets precluded that. He couldn’t risk Joe getting a shot off and possibly hitting either Lelandi or himself and leaving her in even more danger.
Joe’s gun hand went up and he fired at the ceiling, a smattering of pebbles and dust raining down. He fell back with Darien’s pounce, hitting his back and head against the unforgiving rock with an oaf Darien’s teeth sank into Joe’s jugular. The man never had a chance to utter more than a gurgled cry, his amber eyes wide.
Lelandi collapsed to her knees, and Darien released his grip on Joe, then swung around and nuzzled Lelandi’s arm. She wrapped her arms around his neck and sobbed. Hell, he needed to be in his human form to comfort her best. He quickly shapeshifted and pulled her up. Her clothes were damp, and she was trembling hard from the cold.
“I... I was so afraid he’d killed you, your brothers, or some of the rest of your people in the rockslide.”
Darien crushed her to him, warming her body, rubbing her arms, kissing her cheeks and her lips. “We’re all right. Everyone’s all right.” The left side of her temple was swollen and red and a gash cut through to her eyebrow, the blood dried now along its seam. “That son of a bitch,” Darien said, smoothing away her hair from the injuries.
She didn’t say a word, maybe in shock. He held her close to his body and tried to warm her, although the chilly cave was beginning to get to him. Then he noticed the glass in her hair. “Hell,, Lelandi, did Joe hit you with a glass?”
She looked like she was going to be sick. “With his pistol.” She paused, her eyes focusing down. “I... I had an accident before that.”
“You wrecked the SUV?”
She nodded, her eyes glassy with fresh tears. He let out his breath and hugged her tight again. “All I care about is what happens to you. We didn’t see the vehicle anywhere in town and we’d trekked through the woods to locate the teens that you’d found. I never thought you might have been in a wreck. Why didn’t you stay at Doc Mitchell’s place?” He threw up his hands in resignation. “Forget it. You were too busy trying to get yourself killed.”
“I’m sorry about the SUV. It’s probably buried in snow off the road somewhere.
“Odin’s teeth, Lelandi, I don’t care about the damned vehicle. You... your safety, that’s all that matters to me.” He pulled her close and she sighed against his bare chest. “It’ll be a while before my men can get us out,”
“But Joe said there were climbing ropes for us to use.”
“I wouldn’t trust anything he said. Will you wait here?”
She wiped the tears from her cheeks and looked so forlorn, he gave her another hard embrace. “I want to get rid of his body.”
“In one of the bottomless pits?”
“Yeah, he can join his hardhat.”
“I’ll... I’ll go with you. I don’t want to be left behind.”
He squeezed her hard, then released her. “Let’s get this over with.” He yanked Joe’s lifeless body off the floor and tossed him over his shoulder, then took Lelandi’s hand. “Are you all right?”
“Now that you’re here, yes. How are Doc and Ritka?”
Leiandi didn’t look all right. She was pale and shivering uncontrollably. Darien tightened his hold on her hand. He didn’t want to tell her the news, not while they were still stuck in the cave, and after all that had happened to her.
“They’re dead,” she said under her breath, her voice tearful.
So much for not telling her. “Even if Joe hadn’t taken you hostage, he’d signed his death warrant for killing Doc and Ritka.”
“Carol couldn’t get the bullets out in time?” Lelandi asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Doc was old. He couldn’t withstand the silver in his heart. By the time Carol had put on gloves, found the proper tools, and removed the bullet from Doc, then dug the two bullets from Ritka, she didn’t stand a chance either.”
Lelandi’s body sagged and Darien released her hand and wrapped his arm around her waist. “Lelandi, honey, we’ll be all right.”
“He died because of me,” she sobbed.
“No, he died because Joe killed him. Because Joe had mated with Larissa. Because the babies were his and not mine. And because Doc knew it. Ritka was just a bystander. None of this has to do with you.” He kissed her cheek. “Do you want to wait for me here while I get rid of Joe’s carcass?” The sooner he could get rid of the bastard, the quicker he could take care of Lelandi.
She shook her head and stood straighter. :Doc was like an uncle I dearly loved.”
He moved her farther into the tunnel. “Doc was a good man. His mate preceded him in death a decade ago, and he had no offspring, but he treated us all like his sons and daughters.”
Lelandi looked up at Darien, tears clouding her eyes. Darien smiled at her. “Even me. Didn’t matter that I was no longer just another pup but now pack leader. He was like a revered advisor when it came to anyone who was injured or sick in the pack.”
“I’ll miss him,” she said quietly.
“We all will.” Darien pulled her to an abrupt stop. “The first of the pits, wonder if this is the bottomless one Joe mentioned. I’d hate for it not to be.”
“Only one way to find out,” she said, with a bitter edge to her voice.
Darien lifted Joe off his shoulder. “This is as much of a burial as you deserve, Joe, you bastard.” He tossed him into the pit, then he took Lelandi’s hand and walked her back to the cave.
She sniffled and wiped away another cascade of tears. “Don’t you want to see if he hits bottom?”
“No. I want to warm you up.”
She glanced at his hard, nude body, and he smiled back at her. Her eyes met his. “Your people will be here soon.”
He shook his head slowly back and forth. “Not as long as it takes to return to town and back again with the ropes. By the time they reach us, we’ll even have time for a quick nap.”
She clung to him and nuzzled her cheek against his shoulder. “I... I am cold.”
“I love you, Lelandi.” He swept her up in his arms and held her hard against his chest; the heat of her body mixed with his, helping to warm them both.
When they reached the encased furs, he set her down, then ripped open the plastic covering and spread the faux polar bear skins out. No scent of Larissa or Joe on the skins, thank god. Lelandi took a deep breath and started to pull off her pullover sweater. Darien quickly worked on her belt. She looked so contrite, he was certain she felt sorry for having supped away from him at the house, endangering herself and upsetting everyone. But she had rescued the kids from the cliff and the word of her good deeds was already spreading throughout the pack.
“I’m sorry for what my sister did to you, Darien.”
“Don’t be. It’s all in the past.” His mouth tasted her cold lips. “Just be glad we found each other.”
He finished helping her undress, her body trembling from the frigid air. Then he quickly sandwiched her in between the soft furs and himself.
The furs
felt comforting, dry, and warm against Lelandi’s back, the contrast of Darien’s lean hardness resting on top of her. He rubbed her arms, then her shoulders, and with a devilish smirk plastered on his face, his hands shifted to her breasts, heating her up. She still envisioned him in his wolf form, self-assured, feral, beautiful, her protector. She should have known he’d be the one to come for her.
She dragged her fingers through his satiny hair and his teeth grazed her neck, sending a thrill through her. She swept her hands down his back, the muscles tensed with need. “I love you, Darien,” she mouthed against his ear.
His eyes glazed over, he growled low. “Never ever leave me like that again.”
She stiffened, her hands stilled on his waist. “I won’t quit trying to find out who killed my sister.”
“Lelandi...” He groaned and circled a nipple with his tongue, then kissed the tip. He lifted his gaze to her eyes. “I can’t ever lose you. Promise you’ll let me handle this.”
She pressed her lips tightly together. It didn’t matter that she was the female alpha leader in the pack now, as much as it mattered that she took part in avenging her sister’s death. And she would, one way or another.
“Damn it. Lelandi, I won’t have you getting yourself into dangerous situations like this while you’re searching for your sister’s killer.”
She raked her nails down his back and caressed his buttocks, squeezing and releasing. He gave out a husky moan and instantly capitulated. “All right. Ask me when you want to investigate something or someone, and I’ll make sure you’re properly guarded.”
Smiling inwardly, she loved him all the more.
The wet tip of his erection poked against her mound, and he gave her a lusty grin.
At first she rubbed against him, his eyes darkening, and he reached up to caress her breasts. “Hmm, Darien, you could hire out as a masseuse.”
“Only one body I’d be interested in massaging.” he said, his voice ragged. “Are you going to torture me much longer?”
