by BA Tortuga
Healing Fire (Reclamation 4)
BA Tortuga
All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2019 BA Tortuga
BIN: 009100-02945
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Publisher:
Changeling Press LLC
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Martinsburg, WV 25404
www.ChangelingPress.com
Editor: Crystal Esau
Cover Artist: Bryan Keller
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Table of Contents
Healing Fire (Reclamation 4)
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Epilogue
BA Tortuga
Healing Fire (Reclamation 4)
BA Tortuga
Lee is just the transporter for the broken werewolves his team rescues from the Brotherhood. His latest pick-up goes badly when one wolf bolts, and his van is shot at, making it tough for him to keep it together. He’s got sick and badly injured wolves to care for until someone else comes to get them, though, so he heads for his cabin in the woods, knowing he has to keep his charges safe.
Drew has been in captivity a long time, helping keep his friends alive by giving of his own healing energy. Lee is like a whole new world for him, because Lee’s life force bolsters his, and Drew knows he’s found the other half of his soul. Now he has to learn he can’t save everyone if he wants to stay with Lee. Can they find a way to do what they must and still love each other?
Prologue
Something was going on. Adam wasn’t as high in the Brotherhood as his mate, and he hadn’t talked to Tanner in weeks, not since Sister Abby’s death. She’d rescued six then, and there weren’t many left, not of the victims.
Still, he wanted the children out. He wanted Tanner out. He wanted to expose these fucks.
People were packing up, tearing down fences and cages. He wasn’t sure where they were going, and he was a plebe, someone to be threatened, to cower.
But they were going somewhere.
Dammit.
He lay on his side on the pallet they’d given each of them, pretending to be weaker than he was, coughing every so often. They left you alone if they thought you were sick.
All he could do was wait and watch. Pray for Tanner.
Pray for the right time.
Chapter One
Changing trucks made Lee a little nuts.
One of the wolves bolted at the first vehicle change, and he knew he should have gone after, but the other five had a rendezvous with one of Abby’s contacts, and he had to get them to the, well, not church on time.
That idea made him laugh out loud.
They were getting worse, and he was beginning to worry he wasn’t going to be saving many more.
The last one in the first truck was so skinny, so exhausted he was barely breathing. The run had taken it out of him. Lee lifted him, needing to get him moved. “Come on, buddy. We have to keep moving, okay?”
Something made him frown, a whiff of gunpowder on the air, and he tossed the wolf in the cab of the new truck, heading off and leaving the empty truck behind. It was registered to someone else, just a piece of shit to move bodies with.
This truck was his.
He knew it backward and forward, how fast it could go, how it could take a turn.
The wolf whined gently, and Lee nodded. “I know, buddy. I’ll come back and look for him once you guys are safe. He seemed strong. They’ll be chasing us, not him. I’m sorry.”
He floored it, heading up into the mountains, pushing it. He couldn’t go home, but he could go to the cabin. It was safe, secure, warm, and well supplied.
Defensible. “We’ll get you guys safe until the other team can come. I swear it.”
Poor babies. So skinny. So tired. This shit pissed him off. There was always someone out there willing to exploit, whether it was humans or animals or shifters like them. He hated it.
What he did wasn’t much, but it was something. He could get these guys somewhere safe, somewhere they could heal or die, whichever they needed to. At least they would be free. Usually the ones he picked up were men, but more and more often they were leading out wolves. He had no idea if this meant they were weaker, stronger, just different. It didn’t matter. They were free.
The wolf next to him wiggled over enough to put a dry nose against his hand, a soft, grunting sigh sounding. Yeah, he got it. This was exhausting. “Rest, man. I’ll have food for you when we stop.” Good food, not the kibble-like crap they’d been fed at the Brotherhood.
He thought he heard the heavy tail wag, and that made him smile. “Right. Sometimes that’s what you need. I have milk. I have hamburger. I have chicken. Good stuff. There’s even an elk roast in the freezer.”
A sharp whine sounded when he said elk. Yeah. That was the reddest, gamiest meat. It would have the most nutritional value.
“We’ll start with the milk and defrost the elk, then. You hold on, buddy, and I’ll help you.”
That tail thumped again, and he would swear the mangy coat looked better, fuller. Trick of the light, he was sure.
“The cabin is remote, but it’s warm and safe. We’ll hide out there for a while, let you guys heal.”
That nose was colder now when it brushed him, and those teeth grazed his wrist when he reached out to stroke the wolf’s ears. A thank you.
“Oh, you are special, aren’t you? You wait, you’ll be okay. Soon you’ll be strong.”
Panting, the wolf closed his eyes, then the breathing evened out, and Lee felt alone again. That was okay. He was used to it.
He kept looking over, though, because he needed to see that skinny chest rising and falling.
It was important to keep them all alive, but this guy really spoke to him. Something about the way the wolf responded told him the spirit was willing.
He lost any company well before he turned into the series of switchbacks and hairpin turns on his way up the mountain.
Most folks would find it hair-raising, but he loved the challenge. By the time he got to his cabin, he was humming, his brain going through all he had to do. Pallets, food and drink, medical if any of them needed doctoring.
He started with his sweet wolf in the truck, carrying him in and starting the fire before bringing in the rest, one at a time.
Poor babies. The last one he swaddled in blankets before exposing him to the n
ight air. He was so weak, so skinny.
Once he got them in, he locked the doors and made sure the windows were covered. He needed to pull out the roast, and see if he could get some milk into these guys.
“Okay, guys, be right back. Be good.”
Not that any of them were even awake. Except that one. He wagged.
“Milk soon, buddy. I’ll even warm it up.” It was a darn cold night, so that might bring everyone some comfort.
He turned on some music and went to the kitchen, chuckling at the gallons of milk and tubes of cheap hamburger. Rock on. It was good to have a team.
His supplier came in and out when he wasn’t there. Did he have anything not raw? Some turkey lunch meat. He would take that to his live wire, get him started on the road to strength as fast as he could. Lee put the milk on to warm, the elk out to thaw in the oven on low, and took the meat to his wolf.
The pup’s eyes popped open as he came close, the soft rumble fading from warning to pleasure.
“That’s it. I brought some turkey. The milk is warming.” He fed the wolf one bite, helping him swallow with some petting.
The wolf groaned softly, taking the next bite more easily, and the third almost eagerly. Yes. Good man. Protein and rest. That helped more than anything else.
Another wolf raised his head, nose working, so Lee fed him some too. “There you go, buddy. Easy.”
Soon he had something in all of them -- meat and milk -- and he slumped down on the ratty, wonderful old sofa. It was warm, safe, and they had food. Hopefully they would all be alive in the morning.
He sent up a little prayer, in fact, to the god who watched over children and animals and silly werewolves like him. Let them all make it, Lord. I don’t have the strength to bury one of them.
He let his eyes close, and he sank into the cushions with a soft sigh. Rest. Rest and tomorrow would be tomorrow.
Chapter Two
Drew woke with a start, eyes rolling as he tried to find his feet. Where was he? Where was this? Where was the cage?
Everything hurt, and he fought his howls, his wild cries.
They just brought men with cattle prods, more pain.
He sniffed, since that was the sense working best. Roast? Elk roast. Oh, that was cruel.
Get up. Get up. You have to move. You have to -- Wait. Wait, that was a man he remembered. He thought he remembered.
“Hey, you’re awake. You want some more milk? The roast is almost done. Sorry all I had was turkey before, but man that elk was frozen…”
He bowed his head. Milk. Goddess, he loved milk.
“Cool. Let me get some for you.” The man bustled away, and he thought hard, trying to remember what had happened.
They’d run away. Sister had unhooked them and they’d run away. Now he needed to know where they were. Why they were here.
“Here you go.” A pan of milk was laid before him, the man gently lifting him so he could lap at it. Oh, he could cry. It was warm.
He drank deep, the liquid sliding into him, giving him strength and comfort. He thought there was protein powder in there, vanilla maybe, but that was okay. It would help.
“Oh good. Good. You look so much better already.” The man stroked his ears.
He leaned into the touch. Whoever this was, he wasn’t a bad man. No, he was gentle and kind, and Drew was certain this was no trick.
The scent here was home and right -- something that let him rest and sleep and breathe.
He finished the milk and then went to his brothers, touching noses with them, licking their muzzles, loving on them one at a time.
Jason opened an eye to look at him, tail thumping. Oh, good. His eyes looked better. Less dull. He thought Jason would recover. Kent, at the end of the row, worried him. He offered what energy he had, pressing his forehead against Kent’s. Brother. Brother, heal. We’re safe now.
Kent moaned, the sound almost more human than wolf, but never moved.
The man brought milk and held Kent’s head, helping him swallow a bit, encouraging him to heal. He could smell the bit of sugar mixed in this one, which would help give Kent a tiny rush of energy too.
Come now, brother. Heal. Breathe and heal.
Kent’s fur started to look less lank, more healthy, and Drew’s legs collapsed under him. Dizzy. So dizzy.
“Hey!” The man grabbed him, helping him back to his pallet. “Hey, you were doing too much, huh?”
Was he? Not enough. Not enough to save them all.
“Come on. Rest. The others are sleeping well. I promise. There’s a rescue coming to help soon. People who can get everyone to a safe place to heal.”
This was a safe place. Here.
He liked the man. He really did.
“Shhh.” Those rough hands stroked his ears again.
He nuzzled in, trusting in the touches. Yes, he thought. Shh. Stay. Stay here with me.
“That’s it. Yeah. Oh, man, it’s been a long day.”
Yes. Lord, yes. An eternity.
“If I wolfed out and took a nap, do you think it would freak anyone out?”
He snorted. Of course not. Come rest with us, he thought.
Silly wolf.
“Oh, good.” The man stripped down, then stepped back to shift. Oh, so easy. None of them shifted so well right now.
He sidled over to give the wolf room, sighing as they cuddled together. So good. The scent of this one was so right.
Moaning, the big wolf snuggled up, licking him gently. He returned the favor, grooming the huge paws, thanking the man for his care.
Those gold green eyes closed, the wolf putting a paw on him as if holding him there, making sure he was safe.
He groaned deep in his chest and let himself relax. Rest. Safe. Friend.
Sleep slid over him like a blanket.
Chapter Three
Lee couldn’t understand why his favorite wolf wasn’t waking up. He was feeding him, coddling him a little. Everyone else seemed to be improving enough to go. What the hell was going on?
The sweet boy was trying, Lee could tell. He was eating voraciously, and he’d be fine, then he’d get in with the others to rest and boom -- he was back down.
Maybe he ought to quarantine him for a bit. Keep the others away. Not that Lee had any idea what that would do.
One way or the other, he wasn’t losing this pup. He couldn’t. He was important.
He brought more milk, the pan laced with protein powder and puppy formula.
At the sight of him, the wolf -- Drew, his name was Drew -- began to wag, tail thumping on the floor.
“Hey, buddy. I brought you some more milk. I might have to go hunt today, as your transport isn’t here yet.”
The wolf snorted, tossing his head. Silly beast.
“Come on. Take your warm milk, huh? I worry about you most.”
He helped the wolf drink, the sweet pup lapping up the milk. Lee just didn’t understand. Drew would start to look better…
“What is it you need?”
Drew pushed into his belly, nuzzling him.
“Snuggles, huh? Okay.” He sat on Drew’s pallet. “Did I tell you I was Lee? I might have. I talk to myself a lot.”
Drew nodded, moving into his arms easily. Eagerly, even.
He held on, humming softly, babbling about milk and how rabbit wouldn’t help, but maybe he could get a deer.
Drew chuffed softly, watching him with bright, smart eyes.
“I bet you’re fun to hang out with, man. Like for real. Are you warmer now?”
He thought Drew was. Warmer and more energetic.
Lee yawned. Now he was a little sleepy again. Drew pushed in, nuzzling his chest, his cheeks.
Such a lover. What was Drew like as a man?
Suddenly he could imagine a lean, lanky man, eager, eyes alight. Oh, maybe it was his imagination, but how lovely. Lee knew he was lonely and he was probably projecting.
Drew nipped him. Not hard, but enough that he felt it.
“Ow!” W
ell, it hadn’t really hurt… “What was that for? I thought we were cuddling.” He loved to cuddle, and it had been a long time since Sam.
Drew bobbed his head, licking him gently where he’d bit.
“Okay. Sorry if I startled you.” He stretched out with Drew, feeling lazy, but like he’d said, they were on their own at least another day. He really did need to close his eyes a minute, conserve energy so he could go out and get more meat. They needed it.
Stay, Lee. Stay.
He frowned and opened his eyes. Then he looked around. “Hello? Is someone else here?”
Shhh. Stay with me. Drew put that heavy head on his hip, weighing him down.
“I’m losing my mind.”
Silly wolf.
“Who keeps talking to me?” Maybe the voices in his head were finally talking back to him. He had no idea. Because no one else was in human form. Yep. He was just losing it.
When he tried to get up, though, Drew held him down. Hush. Sleep with me.
“Drew? Is that you? How?”
Drew leaned up and lapped his chin. Please, Lee. Rest with me.
“I don’t understand.” His heart was racing but he settled back down. “How can I hear you?”
So tired. I will shift when we wake. I promise.
“It is you. Are you okay?”
Tired, but getting better, I swear. I can’t believe we’re free. Did everyone left get out? So many starved.
“One ran. When I stopped at the first stop. I was supposed to hear from Abby tonight, but nothing. I know they were shooting at her.” God. Starving to death. That was horrific.
Drew whimpered softly, and he felt the wave of pain, of sorrow, of loss -- just like it was his own.
“Shhh.” Lee petted him, fingers tangling in the soft fur that was growing out to cover the bare spots.
Drew’s pleasure was a real thing, the pup pushing close like he was soaking in heat. That made him hum, and he refused to feel guilty. All the others cuddled together, but Drew seemed to need his own space, and if he wanted Lee in it, so be it.