He caught it neatly. “Thanks.”
Sat silent while he flipped the switch on, turned the dial and punched in some numbers.
He shot her a glance while he waited for whoever to answer, but she stuck her chin out.
“I don’t care. I’m not moving. I want to hear what you have to say.”
“Fine.” He kept his tone clipped. Finally, someone answered. “Caldwell reporting in. I got the alert signal. Yes, all is clear.”
The dispatcher then put him through to Ross. Simon told his boss about his injury, though he omitted the crucial fact that a wild wolf had bitten him. Without actually lying, he made it sound as though he’d had some sort of skiing mishap.
Ross voiced professional concern. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m better now.” Simon knew he sounded confident and authoritative. “Ready to make my second report.”
Unable to resist a glance at Raven, he saw she was grinning. He knew she thought he would now tell them she wasn’t a menace to society so they’d leave her alone. She didn’t understand. The Society didn’t work that way. Until Simon made a complete report, they would consider her a dangerous Feral.
He’d been given two weeks. He’d need to use all of it.
“Yes, I’ve made contact.” He swallowed. “She’s much less Feral than I expected.” He went on to tell them she was more or less “camping” in the cave, about her cleanliness and civility. All good things.
“Good, great, fantastic.” Ross’s falsely pleasant tone alerted him. “But I’m afraid it’s too late.”
Alarm bells went off. “What do you mean?”
“We know what happened. The transmitter picked up the attack and we’re aware you’re injured and need help. Don’t worry, you don’t have to say anything. We know the situation.”
“There is no situation.” Simon scratched his head. “Seriously. I’ve already healed and the wolf that attacked me was wild, not the Feral woman.”
“Right.” Total sarcasm. “Just sit tight. We’ll get you out.”
Stunned, Simon could barely keep his tone civil. “Listen to me. I’m not in any danger. You don’t need to send anyone. Let me finish here and—”
“Too late. A chopper is already en route with your replacement. We’ll bring you home in that.”
“No need,” Simon repeated, his heart beginning to pound. “Call them back.”
“He’ll be there shortly. And don’t worry,” Ross continued on as if Simon hadn’t spoken. “Once we get you patched up, we’re sending you on vacation. None of this little aberration will go on your record.”
On his record? Aberration? What the hell?
“What’s going on, Ross? This is not like you.”
“End of conversation.” Then, while Simon was still sputtering, Ross hung up.
Stunned, Simon stared at the transmitter, unsure what to think.
“Thank you.” Raven grinned at him. “That should have done it. Now they’ll leave me alone, right?”
“No.” Heart heavy, he grimaced. “They’ve already sent someone else.” His mind whirled. In his entire career, he’d never left a job unfinished. Nor would he now. It was a matter of personal pride with him.
This Protector would kill Raven on sight. No questions asked. None were necessary, because Ross believed she’d attacked Simon.
“Why?” Raven came closer. “You made your report.”
“They don’t believe me.” He knew he sounded bleak. “The transmitter picked up your wolf attacking me. The locater beacon is so precise, they knew I was immobile here, in your cave. They think you’re keeping me prisoner.”
She watched him, arms crossed. “This is bad,” she said slowly. “Really, really, really bad, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.” He took a deep breath, wondering if she could sense his inner thoughts like he sometimes sensed hers.
Raven nodded. She didn’t gasp or wail or rail. Instead, she lowered her head and took a deep breath. “How long do I have before he arrives?”
Done with pretending illness, he pushed to his feet. “I don’t know. He’s already en route. We’ve got to get out of here now.”
“We?” Her direct stare challenged him. “I don’t recall inviting you to join my pack.”
“I know how they think. I can help you.”
“Why would you want to do that?”
He took another deep breath. “Because this is my fault. This new guy has been given immediate orders to kill you.”
She stared at him with those impossibly blue eyes.
“Do you understand? He’s being sent here to kill you.”
“They’re crazy,” Raven sputtered. “Murderers. How can you condone something like that?” Before she’d even finished speaking, she began gathering her meager belongings, tossing them into a bright red backpack she pulled out of somewhere.
Words caught in his throat. A kill order, because of his mistake. Worse, Ross had refused to listen to reason.
Granted, headquarters was only following standard procedure. Knowing that didn’t make things better. Raven’s life was in danger because of him.
He felt betrayed. He’d been given orders to sit tight and relax. Help was on the way.
Direct orders. Someone else would now take over this case. Even that phrase bothered him. Raven was not merely a case. No way would he let her die. Not in this lifetime. Though Simon had no idea when this replacement Protector had left, what his ETA might be or what kind of firepower he’d be packing, he damn sure didn’t plan on sticking around to find out.
He was going to save this Feral’s—Raven’s—life. She didn’t deserve to die. And, hellhounds be damned, he’d make his report and finish up with this job.
Raven made a sound of frustration, drawing his attention. “What do I need to do?” Though her voice sounded steady, panic shone in her eyes.
Once again, the words stuck in Simon’s throat. His new plan, necessary as it might be, went against everything he believed in.
But everything he’d believed in had changed. Though a kill order had been given, in all fairness, Ross had believed it was justified. The Society didn’t operate like that. They all took the same oath, to be fair and impartial, to assess and report.
Until now.
So he’d do what he had to do. Go on the run with his case. His rehabilitation-ready Feral. And continue to do his job until headquarters could be made to pay attention. He’d observe, watch and make notes, file his reports and, after a two-week time period, make his assessment. He wouldn’t harm her or her pack unless one of them made a move to hurt him.
Like her she-wolf had done when she’d attacked Simon.
Not Raven’s fault.
Simon shook his head. Now knowing her name, he didn’t like that he thought of her with such familiarity. His job was to remain objective, dispassionate. To observe and assess, not fraternize or sympathize.
His job. His entire life. He always put everything into his assignments. His dedication was unparalleled.
“Simon?” Raven repeated. “Help me out here. What do I need to do? Give me some thoughts, or even a direction. Obviously, I have to leave my home. I’m not ready to die.”
“I’ll help you,” he heard himself say. “Come on,” he grabbed her arm. “We’ve got to get out of here.”
Behind them, one of the wild wolves growled. Jerking her arm free, Raven quieted the beast with a look.
“Don’t touch me.” Turning from him, she continued to cram her things into her pack. She didn’t comment on his miraculous recovery. Maybe she’d already suspected he was exaggerating his symptoms.
Though if so, why wasn’t she furious instead of…What? He studied her. Compassionate? Nonchalant? Or simply desperate?
A mystery. Another puzzle piece to try to fit into place. He filed this info away for further speculation.
“We don’t have time for this.” Maybe finally the urgency in his voice got to her. Or quite possibly she had finished. Either w
ay, she yanked the zipper closed and slipped her arms in the frayed shoulder straps. The backpack appeared to be ancient, on the verge of tearing at the seams, ripping wide open and spilling its contents on the ground.
She raised a brow. “Time for what?”
“You know.” He gestured toward the cave entrance, meaning the unseen threat on its way. “You asked for my help, for direction. I’ll give it now. If you want to live, you’ll need to do as I say.”
Her amazing eyes narrowed. “I don’t think—”
“Then don’t.” Rudely interrupting her, Simon crossed his arms. “Where’d you put the rest of my stuff?”
She made no move to retrieve it. “I still feel I should go alone. These are your people, not mine. You stay and intercept them. I know these mountains. My wolves and I will be fine. I don’t need your help.”
Barely suppressing a snarl, he shrugged. “This isn’t up for discussion. You might be Alpha to them,” he indicated the waiting wolves, “but not to me. I’m going with you. Would you please point me in the direction of my things?”
A second or two passed while they stared at each other. He couldn’t help but wonder if she meant to fight him, the way the wild wolves did, to prove she was his Alpha. If so, they both knew she’d lose.
Finally, she crossed the cave and reached into one of the wall crevices. Pulling out his backpack, she handed it to him, her face expressionless.
“Are you ready?” he asked again.
“I am.” She sounded surly, but Simon didn’t care. His entire focus was getting as far away from this place as possible before his replacement arrived.
“Let’s move out.” He started for the cave entrance.
“Wait.”
“What?” Trying to keep the impatience from his voice, he stopped and turned.
“I know you want to go, but I’m sorry. I travel alone with my pack. It’s been nice to meet you.” She sounded awkward, as if the polite human phrase felt foreign to her. “Good luck with your job and everything. And thanks for warning me about the other that’s coming. Take care.”
He nearly gaped at her as he realized she was saying farewell. “I’ve already told you that we don’t have time for this crap.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You’re not going with me. I don’t trust you.”
Ah, now her actions made more sense. In the world of wolves, if another wolf could be beneficial to the pack, he was never turned away.
“Watch.” Simon removed the transmitter from his bag and slammed it to the rock floor. Then, to make sure it shattered, he stomped his heavy hiking boot over the broken shards of plastic, grinding it into the stone. He’d use his cell phone to check in. The last thing he needed was a homing beacon tracking his every move. “Better?”
Slowly, she nodded. “Fine. You can go.”
Even as she spoke, she moved toward him. He didn’t flatter himself, but he suspected she didn’t want to lose contact with the only other person like herself that she’d ever met.
“We’ll go as far as we can before dark, then we’ll stash the packs and our clothing. After that, we’ll travel as wolves. It’s more difficult for their infrared heat sensors to track us when we’re animals. The instruments can’t tell natural wolves from shifters.”
She stared at him, hard and considering. “You know I can only keep my wolf shape for three days. Is that going to be long enough?”
“I hope so.” He answered honestly.
“If not, I’ll try to hold my shape longer.” She frowned. He could see her thinking, could almost read her mind. When she spoke again, she confirmed it.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked. “We barely know each other.”
“It’s my job,” he said simply.
“Not if you go against them.”
She was right, in a way. But things were a thousand times more complicated. How to explain the tug of connection he felt with her? He couldn’t and therefore, wouldn’t.
“Look, Raven. This is my fault. I can’t walk away and let him hunt you down. I know how these people operate. You stand a better chance with me. I owe you that.”
For the space of several heartbeats she stood utterly still, staring. He couldn’t read her thoughts this time, nor did her clear, blue eyes give him any hint.
Finally, she dipped her chin. “You owe me nothing. Let’s go.”
Simon didn’t see whatever signal she gave her pack, but the wolves circled them, moving with them. Two ranged ahead and several stayed behind. The rest flanked both sides, near enough to see, but not to touch.
Nostalgia came out of nowhere, blindsiding him. In his early training for the Society, the trainers had often taken several children into the woods to change and hunt as a group. There, they’d learned pack rules, both human and lupine. The experience had been one of the bright spots of an otherwise bleak childhood.
They traveled past the place where he’d pitched his tent, down the side of her mountain and up another. As they crossed the next ravine, keeping to the path that Raven claimed to have traveled many times, they heard the sound of an approaching chopper.
“Hellhounds,” Simon cursed. “They really wanted him here fast. We’ve got to hide.”
Simultaneously, they dove for the nearest copse of evergreens to take cover. The pack of wolves melted into the shadows of the forest.
Raven blew air from her nose.
Side by side, crouched low to the snow, even in his human form, Simon swore he could catch a hint of her tantalizing scent.
His body stirred, even in the midst of danger. Adrenaline had always felt like an aphrodisiac to him. To distract himself, he eyed the copter. “They didn’t even bother to have him approach with stealth.”
Raven shook her head. “Why should they? They already told you he was coming.”
“True.” Mood growing blacker by the second, he watched the chopper approach and considered. “I guess they never guessed their star Protector would rebel.”
“Is that what you’re doing, rebelling?” She made it sound like a ten-year-old boy running away from home.
“I don’t know.” Because he’d already lied enough, all he wanted to give her now was honesty. “Yes. When the Society gives an order, we’re supposed to follow it.”
“Are you really the star Protector?”
He gave a terse nod. “Was. Won’t be after this.”
The roar of the chopper grew louder. It hovered over the valley below her cave.
“Do you think they’ll try to land?”
He shrugged. “Maybe. More likely they’ll get low enough for my replacement to jump out.” He pulled a pair of binoculars from his pack. “I want to see who it is.”
“Be careful he doesn’t see you. That bright blue parka of yours isn’t exactly camouflage.”
He acknowledged her comment with a wry grin. “Which is another reason we’ll soon be changing to wolves.”
As the helicopter lowered itself, they both squinted into the sun, trying to see. From the distance, all they could see was the chopper, blades whirring, kicking up snow.
“There.” Raven pointed. “Someone jumped. He’s wearing red. It’s almost as loud as your blue parka. Boy, you guys sure favor brightly colored snow wear.”
Putting the binoculars to his eyes, he adjusted them, grunting as the red shape came into sharp focus. Bundled up the way he was, Simon couldn’t make out any details about his replacement other than the face, and that he didn’t recognize. The man—boy, really—looked young and eager. He must be new to actual fieldwork. Those were often the most hard-assed—they hadn’t had time to become jaded or to question.
“I don’t know him.” He put the binoculars away. “Let’s keep moving until we find a safe spot to change.”
With a shiver, she nodded. “I’ll be glad to become wolf. It’ll be much warmer.”
Again, they moved out. Her wild wolf pack materialized and ran with them again, several running crisscross over their tracks. Simon wondered if
she’d somehow communicated an order to them, asking them to help cover the escape.
As soon as the thought occurred, he scoffed. Wild wolves didn’t talk, nor could humans speak to them. Any actions by them that were beneficial were merely the result of coincidence, nothing more.
Moving carefully in the deep snow, they trudged over two more hills, through a snow-filled valley, then started up another mountain. Though the clear sky and bright sun made for a picturesque day, the icy wind whipped around them, sending snow to sting their faces. As they climbed, the bitter chill in the air hurt their lungs when they breathed. Ahead, they could see the end of the tree line as the snow crunched under their feet.
“We’d better change soon,” she pointed out. “If not, we’ll be running out of options until we go over this pass.”
She was right.
“There.” He pointed. “That last group of aspens. I know it’s not much as cover goes, but it’ll be easy to find again later. We’ll pack our belongings under those rocks and change there.”
“Okay.” Quickening her stride, she headed for the grove of tall, narrow, white trees.
Way behind them, they heard the roar of the chopper. They both turned to watch as it gained altitude before disappearing into the bright blue sky.
Simon’s replacement was on the ground. He wondered if the new Protector had started to climb the slope to her old cave. Once there, realizing it was deserted, it wouldn’t take him long to find their tracks. Even though the pack of wolves did a good job obliterating them, they were animals and couldn’t completely hide the shape of human boot prints. Plus, Raven was well-known to travel with a pack of wolves. Either way, they would be easy to track.
They didn’t have much time.
As soon as they reached the aspens, Raven began shedding her clothes. Moving more slowly, trying not to watch her, he began doing the same.
With one final glance at him, her lips moved as she muttered to herself and then she changed.
Human, he couldn’t help but watch, once again fascinated by the swiftness of her transformation. When she stood before him completely wolf, her thick pelt was the inky color of a moonless night, shining with health.
Wild Wolf Page 7