My Captive Valentine

by Elyce de Reefe

  She shook her head and laughed at the thought. It had only been a week, but already this was starting to seem normal. It was hard to think of the guys as anything other than men, although maybe they were more like men-plus? Not superheroes or anything but—

  She rolled her eyes and continued across the bridge. Getting a little off track there, Bridget. Still, she kept thinking about what Nina had said about DNA. She’d love to get a look at the results of those tests. See exactly where the changes were. What the differences were. Not that she’d be able to make heads or tails of the results herself, but with Nina to tell her which genes were altered, or maybe even different altogether—

  But she only seen Nina once since her first night, and that had been at dinner two nights ago. She hadn’t gotten the chance to talk to her alone.

  She was halfway up the far side of the river to the front porch when Gage re-emerged around the side of the house— in human form. Fully dressed.

  So that’s where he went. I wonder if three barks means ‘be-right-back,’ or ‘excuse-me-while-I-change?’

  She was still laughing when Gage met her by the porch steps.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “You.”

  Gage raised his eyebrows suggestively. “I am also sexy and devilishly handsome, while we are listing my attributes.”

  “And humble too. Can’t forget that.”

  “Never, ma crevette. I forget nothing.” He took her arm and tucked it companionably under his, leading her past the porch.

  “Where are we going?” She wanted to ask what a crevette was— but she didn’t want to egg him on. She hid a smile. Was he really calling her his little shrimp?

  “I thought you might like to see the lab,” he said in his normal voice. “Dean has a pretty nice setup and as a scientist yourself— well, I thought you might find it interesting.”

  “Sounds great.” She had to admit he had turned out to be an excellent tour guide, taking her with him everywhere he went. Of course he also used every opportunity to flirt outrageously, but it was harmless.

  He led her through the back yard to a tree-lined path, just north of the woodshed. It wasn’t a long path, maybe about thirty yards. It opened into a little clearing containing a small white house that looked like it had started life as a trailer but had been added on to. It was cute, with black painted shutters and an attractive slate patio in front.

  Gage led her up the steps and knocked on the door. A moment later, Dean opened it.

  “Ah, Gage. You have brought Bridget to see the lab?”

  “That’s right. She’s a scientist, you know.”

  “Yes, of course. Come in.” He stepped back and revealed a very well-appointed lab, all pristine white cabinetry topped by blue stone lab counters and what looked like some pretty fancy equipment. But what caught Bridget’s eye was the whiteboard on the opposite wall.

  “Oh. Who’s studying wolf populations?” She stepped inside and moved closer for a better look.

  When nobody answered, she glanced back. Both men were staring at her. She pointed at the whiteboard. “Wolf populations,” she reiterated, but really, how could there be any question?

  Dean cleared his throat. “Those are not wolf populations.”

  “Yes, they are. I should know. I’ve been trying to get funding to study them for two years.”

  Gage looked puzzled, but Dean had a funny expression on his face.

  “Okay, if they’re not wolf populations, what are they then?” She couldn’t help the slight challenge in her voice. Did they think she was an idiot?

  Dean’s face was undergoing a rapid shift of expressions. From denial to surprise to shocked realization. It was fascinating.

  “Maiden’s own,” he said, exactly as one might say, ‘I’ll be damned.’

  He sat down abruptly on a wheeled office chair, staring off into space.

  She glanced at Gage to see what he was making of this odd behavior. If anything, Gage had a grim expression on his face.

  “Tour’s over,” he said, reaching for her hand.

  “Not so fast, hot stuff. Just what’s going on here?”

  “Pack business,” he said, reaching for her hand again. She pulled it back.

  “Maybe so, but I just helped solve a major part of the puzzle, it sounds like. I have a right to know what it’s about.”

  “No you don’t,” Gage said, and succeeded in grabbing her hand. He wasted no time pulling out the door and down the steps. Bridget glanced back to see Dean still sitting there, staring off at nothing.

  Curiouser and curiouser.

  Chapter 14

  It was late that same night when Lucas came to find him. Gage pushed up on one elbow as his brother appeared in the hallway.

  “Gage.” Lucas stood, regarding his little nest on the floor in front of his room but didn’t comment. “Come. Dean has something he needs to tell me, and he wants you there too.

  Gage rose and followed. He had a feeling he knew what this was about. Bridget’s questions this afternoon about wolf populations had triggered something in Dean. An idea or a sudden realization, and Gage only hoped it was good. The pack could use some good news for a change.

  He thrust his bare feet into his boots and shrugged on his coat. The fabric was chilly against his skin, but it would warm up soon. He wasn’t going to risk waking Bridget just to get socks or a shirt. He didn’t like leaving her, with only unmated males around, but at least she was safely inside his room for the night. He hoped.

  Crunching through the snow on the way to the trailer, he wondered what Dean had discovered. He’d been working on his Sickness research, that much Gage knew. But what was that about the wolf packs? Well, you’ll find out soon enough. Worrying about now it won’t help.

  Lucas reached the trailer and knocked once before entering. Dean sat at his desk, his oversized screen lit up with several different windows, each containing a map.

  “Lucas. Good. Gage, I thought you should be here too, since it was Bridget who brought this to my attention.” He brushed at his hair absently, pushing it out of his eyes. “I can’t believe I never saw this. It was right in front of our noses the whole time. No wonder the archives never thought to mention it. The ancients must have thought it went without saying.”

  “What’s this about?” Lucas looked tense. He’d been moody, almost curt, since accepting Mikey at the hospital. That had been something. Seeing the glow surrounding his charge—actually feeling him join the pack—that was amazing. Like something precious had come home. Safe. And the look on Mikey’s face had been priceless too. They’d had to wait until the guard was distracted before going in, because Lucas didn’t want to leave a record by signing in, but Gage had been able to get one of the nurses to help him out with that.

  “I think I found the cure for the Sickness,” Dean said, snapping Gage right out of his thoughts.

  “Or at least,” the young Lore Master continued, “the cause.”

  Lucas blinked, speechless, and Gage couldn’t blame him. The Sickness had been plaguing the People since time immemorial and no one had a clue what caused it, except it was associated with living too close to humans. Something his new Pack couldn’t really avoid.

  “Look at this,” Dean said, drawing their attention to the computer. “This is a map of the territories of all the Northwest Packs. And here is the map of all the known outbreaks of the Sickness.”

  Lucas nodded. Clearly, he had seen this before, but Gage peered closely. They were fairly well removed from pack territories, which was expected. Some were even quite far removed. Then Dean clicked on the screen, bringing up another image. “Here is a progression of the attacks over the last thirty years. As you can see, they are scattered, without any real pattern. Except they are all at least twenty miles from any pack territory. Most are close to fifty miles away.”

  Dean clicked on another screen and brought up a fourth map. “Now look at this. This is a map of known wolf pack locations over that same time per
iod.”

  They stared at the map in silence, taking it in. Not only were the attacks outside of the territories of the People, all the attacks happened at least fifty or sixty miles away from any wild wolf pack.

  “Our little brothers are the answer,” Dean said. “They are the cure.”

  It made sense; Gage had to admit. It explained why new packs rarely thrived. It wasn’t enough for a pack and claim a new territory. New packs almost always became vulnerable the Sickness over time. Unless they were in very remote places, away from humans— where wolves tended to live. Gage felt excitement course through his body. This could be it! It explained why traditional territories were always safe. They had been set up near wolf populations to begin with.

  It even explained the mystery behind the success of the Oregon Pack. They were a splinter pack that lived very closely with humans, and no one had been able to figure out why they never succumbed. But wolves had repopulated that part of Oregon some years ago.

  Lucas said nothing for a long minute, studying the intricately overlapping patterns on the map. “This is conclusive to you?”

  “Not conclusive. No. But worth testing.” The Lore Master looked up, his green eyes serious. “And Lucas, I don’t have to tell you— the nearest wild pack to our territory is almost a hundred miles away.”

  Lucas blew out a breath and turned away. “That’s a problem.” He began pacing the small confines of the trailer, absently rubbing at the back of his neck.

  Sometimes Gage was heartily glad that he wasn’t saddled with the burdens and responsibilities his brother faced. No—make that all the time. He was having enough trouble just dealing with Mikey.

  Lucas turned back. “We need a pack. A wild pack. Cray is a speaker, isn’t he?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. He should be back sometime tomorrow. Do you think he will have trouble?”

  Dean shrugged. “Who knows what motivates the little ones. Their minds are a mystery.”

  “Cray will do it.” Lucas looked confident. Gage hoped he was right.

  “I hate to send him away again so soon, but it can’t be helped. How many do you think we will need?”

  “Four? Maybe six?” Dean nodded to himself. “Two pairs or six individuals, three male, three female would be ideal.”

  “Right. Okay.” Lucas let out a big breath, looking more relaxed then Gage had seen him in a long time. “Cray can leave the day after tomorrow. How long do you think before we know for certain if you’re right?”

  Dean shrugged. “To be certain? That will take years. To be fairly certain? I’m fairly certain already.” He paused. “There are certain references, seemingly enigmatic remarks, in the oldest of the archives that suddenly make more sense.”

  Lucas nodded and blew out another long, slow breath, tipping back his head to stare blankly at the ceiling. “Right. Okay then.” He shifted his gaze. “Good work, Dean.”

  “Don’t thank me.” Dean eyed Gage consideringly. “Thank Bridget. She’s the one who saw a map of the territories and recognized known wolf habitats.”

  Lucas regarded Gage silently for a long moment. “I see,” was all he said.

  Gage glanced down at his phone shortly after breakfast the next day. Mikey.

  He stepped outside to take the call. “What’s up?”

  “Bad news. That detective was back this morning, and he’s asking about you. Must have seen that you’ve been visiting. He wanted to know who you were.”

  “What did you tell him?”

  “I said you were my foster brother.”

  “Good thinking.” Gage smiled. Foster brother. That was actually kind of close to the truth.

  “Anyway, I thought you should know. You might not want to come around for a while unless you want to answer some questions. He’s getting pretty insistent. Raked me over the coals but good today.

  “You sit tight, Mikey. Don’t let him get to you. He can’t make you say anything you don’t want to say. The more you insist you can’t remember, the easier it will get.”

  “Yeah.” He could hear Mikey exhale on the other side of the line. “I guess. It’s just…. I wish I could tell him. I wouldn’t mind seeing those guys get what they deserve. Most of them are not good people.”

  “Well, we might get there. But for now, just keep quiet. You’re in no condition to take those guys on right now. I’d like to see you a lot stronger before we think about something like that. And Mikey, don’t forget, the other two guys involved in the kidnapping? They’re already in prison.”

  “They are? Anderson didn’t say and I can’t really ask any questions, what with my bad memory and all.”

  “Right. Well, just know we left the two of them trussed up like turkeys and called the police. That’s how you got to the hospital too. Police must have called an ambulance.”

  “Oh. Well… that’s good, I guess.”

  “Yeah. Listen, thanks for the heads up. Best you avoid texting me in case that phone is ever confiscated.”

  “Right. That’s what I was thinking.”

  “Okay, Mikey. I might not be around for a while. But I’ll call you. And we are watching the parking lot. Never fear. No one is getting through us.”

  Mike blew out a big breath. “Thanks.”

  Gage disconnected the call and tapped his hand against his leg, thinking. He’d have to tell Lucas. Maiden’s own. His brother had just started to calm down. But he couldn’t keep secrets anymore. That had been a mistake. If he had come clean to begin with, about Mikey, and about Bridget, Lucas wouldn’t have been caught off guard, and maybe things wouldn’t be so strained between them.

  Gage glanced up at the house. The white structure was so familiar to him now, although he’d only lived here for just over a year. Hard to believe. He remembered standing on the porch and knocking on the door all those months ago, waiting for his brother to open it and let him in. And now, here he was. A new pack, a new territory, and a new life.

  The house looked soft in the misty grey day. It was a good house. He’d been happy here these past months. Although, worry had clouded that. Now that the truth was out, he realized suddenly how much more at ease he felt. More comfortable in his skin.

  He and Lucas would work things out. Come to an understanding. Gage had responsibilities now, too. He’d have to be more careful about the decisions he made, especially when they affected other people.

  He tucked his phone in his pocket and went back into the house. Time to find his brother. He found Lucas in the great room, helping Mari with the breakfast dishes, and they went out on the porch to talk.

  Lucas regarded him steadily after he’d related Mikey’s warning. “Any other little bombs you’d like to drop on me while you’re at it?”

  Gage felt himself grin. “Is this where I say, ‘I told you so?’ Bridget is my mate. Or, she will be. I can feel it.”

  Lucas grimaced. And then his expression softened into a smile. A real smile. “You just might be right, Gage.” He shook his head. “A cure for the Sickness. I never thought I’d see the day. And it’s so simple.” He blew out a breath. “She is an asset to the pack. I was wrong to punish you for that. It was the other—” He made a face. “Mikey. I knew you were hiding something. I knew there was something you weren’t being honest or upfront about. And when you brought Bridget like that— Well, I’m sorry I didn’t listen.”

  He turned to Gage and pinned him with his gaze. “I should have confronted you. You are my brother, and I didn’t want to use my position to force you to tell me things you weren’t ready to reveal. But I am also your Alpha. And I should have. That won’t happen again.”

  Lucas gazed out at the frozen river, a white-grey ribbon under steel grey clouds. “But you will have to stay away from the hospital. In fact, I think I will send you with Cray to bring back the wolves. It might be best for you to disappear for a time.”

  Gage felt his insides contract. He couldn’t explain it, but the idea of leaving Mikey now, while he was still so weak
and vulnerable. Not even on pack territory—

  “I will see to your son, Gage.”

  After that, there was nothing much to say. He nodded instead, swallowing past the sudden lump in his throat. “Have you spoken to Cray?”

  “I told him last night. The two of you should get together and discuss the trip.”

  “Good enough.” Gage pasted an easy smile on his face, but he had a feeling his brother wasn’t fooled.

  Lucas squeezed his shoulder. “I will watch over him, Gage. It will be okay.”

  Gage nodded, unable to speak. Lucas went back into the house, leaving Gage alone on the porch.

  Ten minutes later he was still standing there, gazing out on the grey clouds hanging low over the meadow. He’d talk to Cray after training. Time enough to do it then. But he wondered just what he was going to say to Bridget. And the idea that he would be leaving Mikey felt like an insistent pebble stuck inside his shoe. Small enough that it escaped all his attempts to dislodge it, but large enough to rub uncomfortably with every step.

  Chapter 15

  Bridget glanced back toward the garage as Gage approached with a cold bottle of water. She was really starting to enjoy this training stuff. Already she felt stronger and fitter, and the things she’d learned—

  I should get the girls into this. Maybe they should have their own training session. Learning self-defense couldn’t hurt, especially since the pack seemed to have enemies. Judging by their defenses, anyway.

  She took the bottle Gage offered her with a nod of thanks and unscrewed the cap. Gage stood beside her and opened his.

  “Cray, do you have a moment?” Gage called as the other man strode by.

  Cray paused and turned, facing them silently. His face was hard and closed off, but he came over.

  “What’s up?”