Wild Wolf

by Karen Whiddon

  Simon stopped, causing her to nearly collide with him. He nudged her, using his snout to indicate below. She looked, trying to see through the snow, and once she saw the twinkling of artificial lights she realized he’d led them toward a human town.

  Why? Did he honestly think they could take shelter there? She looked at him, considering.

  After another nudge, this time with his shoulder, Simon began moving forward, down, closer to town.

  Thoroughly chilled, Raven finally followed.

  Halfway up the mountain, they came to a ski lift. Near the lift were several buildings—one marked Equipment Rental, a restaurant/bar, a small storage facility and a ski shop. All were closed for the night. With this kind of powder, they’d all open at first light, ready to accommodate the hoards of skiers.

  Like two wolves coming this close to civilization wouldn’t be noticed. Or, if they changed, two naked humans freezing in the snow.

  Still, trusting Simon’s instincts, she followed.

  At the ski shop, Simon paused. Then, shaking the snow off his fur, he rose on his two hind paws and peered in the window.

  Though the swirling snow made seeing difficult, below them the lights winked out. The entire town lay dark, without power. The storm must have knocked it out. If the ski shop was alarmed, the alarm wouldn’t work now.

  Simon trotted away from the ski shop. Then, running, he hurled himself at the wooden door. The door shuddered, but the frame still held.

  He went back for a second attempt. Raven joined him. Together, both wolves rammed the door. With a crash, the wood splintered, creating an opening wide enough for them to get in.

  Getting up, Simon shook himself, then nudged Raven to precede him. She did, moving gingerly. When she’d slammed into the door, she had felt like she’d bruised her shoulder.

  Once inside, where the solid wood walls kept out the frigid wind and snow, Raven realized they’d entered a treasure trove. There were ski parkas and ski pants, insulated shirts and slacks, boots and socks and shoes. In short, everything a human would need to keep warm in the snow. Dressing in these clothes would be as warm or warmer than her wolf fur. Plus, changing to human would give her a respite from being wolf.

  Slipping her head from the trash-bag collar, she worked it with her paws until she was free. Then, she changed. A moment later, Simon did the same.

  Human again, naked and cold, she couldn’t stop shivering. Her teeth chattering, she looked around, trying to decide which clothing to take.

  As she grabbed a soft, turtleneck shirt, Simon came to her. Pulling her into his arms, he gathered her close.

  At first, his cold, clammy skin did nothing to warm hers. They shivered together. And she found herself gripping him as hard as he gripped her, holding the forgotten shirt loosely in her hand.

  Finally, finally, she began to feel heat as the blood flow returned to her limbs. Teeth still chattering, she attempted to speak. “Why here, in town, I mean? Why human?”

  “The other guy will be looking for us up there.” He jerked his head toward the mountain. “They’re also sending reinforcements, a search party. I don’t know how many more will come. The last place they’ll look for us will be here in town.”

  She could feel his heartbeat, steady and strong, against her chest. Her nipples, already hard from the cold, burned and she had to suppress the urge to rub her breasts against his chest.

  Warmth spread to other parts of her body, as well. She felt her lower body grow heavy and wet. Her breath caught, her heartbeat accelerated. To distract herself, she swallowed and asked the first question that came to mind.

  “Where are we?”

  From the slight hitch in his breathing, she knew he’d noticed her arousal. “I’m not sure.”

  “Grab some clothes and get dressed. If we’re going to stay human a while, we’ve got to get out of here before the resort opens in the morning.”

  They dressed hurriedly, choosing clothing for warmth. Both selected light-colored parkas, knowing that for now, they didn’t want to stand out in the snow.

  “I’ve never stolen anything like this,” Raven said, feeling absurdly guilty as she zipped up her jacket and placed a pale blue ski cap on her head.

  “What about all those campers?” he reminded her. “You stole from them.”

  “Used stuff.” To her, there was a big difference. “From clotheslines and trash bins and garage sales. I never broke into a store and took new clothes.”

  “Me, either. But it’s a matter of survival right now. Later, when I’m able, I’ll come back up here and leave them money for all this.”

  “You know the police will be looking for us now, too.”

  “I know.” He sounded grim. “And we’d better hope the power doesn’t come back on while we’re in here. I’m not sure what kind of alarm this place has, but I think it will notify them. That’s why we’d better get moving.”

  “Where are we going to go?”

  He laughed, the short bark of sound almost as chilling as the snow. “I don’t know. There are lots of vacation homes in the foothills before town. I’m guessing we should be able to find at least one empty. We’ll stay there for now.”

  “Breaking and entering again?”

  His hard stare softened as he looked at her. “I don’t see that we have a choice. Unless you have an alternative plan?”

  She shook her head. “No.” She sighed. “I don’t.” Bracing herself to go back out into the storm, this time as human, she zipped up her jacket, adjusted her cap and pulled on a set of ski gloves. She thought about asking him about his plans after—did he plan to continue living day-to-day, always on the run—but decided not to. Part of her thought she really didn’t want to know.

  “Are you ready?” he asked. She saw he, too, had closed his coat and pulled on his gloves.

  “I guess.” Starting toward the hole in the door, she turned to face him. “You know what? I just want my life to return to normal. Is that too much to ask?”

  He shook his head, his eyes dark and completely unreadable. Moving jerkily, as though against his will, he reached for her, placing a single, firm kiss on her lips before letting her go. “I’m sorry, Raven. But you may as well resign yourself. I don’t think your life will ever be normal again.”

  He left her staring after him as he went out the door.

  Trudging through the snow as human was ten times more difficult than as wolf. Weighed down with all the subzero clothing, as she slogged through the snow behind Simon, Raven had ample time to think. And worry.

  Once again, Simon had shaken her to the very core. She worried about the way he was able to do that to her with merely a touch, whether of his hand or his lips, or even a look out of those devastating dark eyes. She feared letting him, letting anyone, have that much power over her. Her life had been just fine until he came along.

  Then why couldn’t she shake the sense that she was lying to herself?

  Simon. Always back to Simon. She found him far too beautiful. Even as wolf his form was welcome to her lupine eyes. She dreamt of him, obsessed about him, and in general felt like a young girl with her very first crush, which in a way, she was.

  Everything she wanted now revolved around him.

  Adjusting her woolen ski mask over her face, she sighed. She felt a great fear that she had become too accustomed to having Simon around. Part of her wanted to test that theory, to order him away, while the other part, the aching, forlorn, lonely part that she so despised for its weakness, wanted to clutch at his arm and beg him never to leave.

  This she would never ever do. She hoped. She didn’t know if she worried more than she should have, or if she didn’t worry enough.

  Simon stopped and she ran into him, making him stumble a step forward. He didn’t comment, no doubt aware she wouldn’t hear him over the ferocity of the storm.

  Instead he pointed.

  Squinting, she looked in the direction he indicated, seeing nothing but snow. Finally, she saw the barely
discernable outline of a house.

  At her nod, Simon moved forward again, bent into the wind. Putting her head down, Raven followed.

  Though the storm was fierce, Simon felt as though the fates had smiled on him yet again. They were safe for now. No one could travel in the mountains in such a blizzard, and the snow would hide his and Raven’s tracks.

  Though Raven appeared unconcerned, she really didn’t understand how the Protectors were. Ross’s threat really worried him. Alone, Protectors were excellent trackers. When they worked together in a group, nothing and no one could hide from them. It was only a matter of time before they were found.

  The sole advantage he and Raven had right now was the weather. That, and the fact that he was banking on their searchers assuming their prey would remain in the mountains. Their descent into town should buy them a bit more time.

  He turned, checking as he did every few minutes to make sure Raven was still right behind him. If he’d thought of it earlier, he would have roped them together. If she were to wander out his sight, it would be hell finding her with the visibility near zero.

  But she kept pace with him, though her shorter stride made trudging through the deep snow more difficult.

  The day wore on and the icy wind continued to gust, sending swirls of white to blind them, and the temperature continued to plunge. When darkness fell, anyone foolish enough to be caught outdoors would risk their lives. The sooner he found shelter, the better.

  The first house they found was occupied. They gave it a wide berth, continuing down the road. They bypassed several other houses, even though they were empty. He wanted something not too accessible, yet with a view, enabling them to see anyone approaching, yet hidden enough that it would be easily overlooked by searches.

  Finally, tucked around a curve, down a long driveway and perched on the edge of a cliff, they located a small, A-frame cabin that appeared to be deserted.

  This time, he didn’t have to break down the door. The homeowner had left it unlocked. As the door swung open he and Raven exchanged a glance. He wondered if she’d had the same fleeting thought he’d had, worried this might be some sort of a trap.

  But how could it be? Their pursuers had no idea where they’d gone.

  Stepping inside, Simon flicked on a switch.

  “No wonder the door was unlocked,” Raven said dryly. From the looks of things, the A-frame hadn’t been occupied in quite some time. A film of dust lay over everything, from the chipped and discolored kitchen counters to the torn and dingy furniture. There were two plastic lawn chairs in the living room, along with a torn and faded sofa that sagged in the middle. The place smelled musty and dirty.

  “Yeah. There’s nothing in here to steal.” Simon couldn’t keep his gaze from returning to Raven. Her nose twitched adorably while her expression mirrored her disgust.

  “I’d rather live in my cave than a place like this.”

  She made him chuckle. “Chin up. At least it’s shelter from the storm. We won’t have to stay long.”

  Making a quick tour around the room, she shook her head. “What kind of person would live here?”

  Watching her, he marveled at her graceful walk. Even half-frozen, the woman still embodied femininity. To his disbelief, his still-chilled body stirred.

  Ruthlessly, he tamped his desire down. This had been happening way too often lately. It had to stop. Despite what Ross might think, Simon would never ever break the Code of Ethics. Not even for a Feral as beautiful as Raven.

  If only he wasn’t having so much trouble thinking of her as Feral.

  “What a dump,” Raven said again.

  Glad of the distraction, he agreed. “Must be a guy’s place.”

  “I pity his wife, though looking at this place, I doubt he has one. Or if he does, I don’t think she’s ever been here.”

  Tending to agree with her, he grinned. “Yeah. Lucky for us, the owner doesn’t appear to live here.”

  “I should hope not.” She sounded horrified. “This has got to be a vacation house, though he must not use it for skiing.”

  “Maybe he stays here in the summer or fall. It has the look of a hunting cabin.”

  “It has the look of a pigsty.”

  “At least we don’t have to worry about anyone walking in on us.” Laughing, he felt obliged to point out the positive. He liked the way Raven could make him smile, even in a situation like this.

  She didn’t appear to know what to make of his amusement. “Walking in on us? Like anyone could travel in this storm.”

  Smile fading, he took a deep breath. “Protectors can.”

  She gave him a hard look, opening her mouth as if she meant to say something scathing. Instead, abruptly, she closed it and nodded. “Then we’d better keep moving. Once the storm passes, I mean.”

  “Yeah. Though the snow is to our benefit.”

  “Whatever. I’m sick and tired of winter,” she said.

  “Me, too. Next time they send me on assignment, I’m going to make sure they send me some place tropical.”

  “If they send you on assignment.” She shook her head. “After all that with your boss, I’m thinking you’ve got to start trying to decide on another career.”

  He didn’t comment. They were both cold and exhausted.

  Instead, he watched while Raven prowled around the kitchen, still battling his inexplicable arousal. Amazing that he could be this cold, this exhausted and starving, and still want her.

  Opening one kitchen cabinet after another, finally she shook her head. “All empty. I think you might be right about the time of year they use it.”

  “I’m right?” he teased, unable to resist. “Must be a red-letter day.”

  The joke earned him a quick smile.

  “Do you need to eat? If we need to, we can always change and go hunting.” Though he really didn’t want to go back into the cold, changing might actually help dispel his growing arousal. At least until he changed back.

  Still unaware of his discomfort, she glanced at the window, dark save for the white of the storm swirling outside. “I’d rather go hungry than go back out into that.”

  He nodded in agreement.

  A set of stairs led to a loft, no doubt where they’d find the bed. Assuming there was a bed. He could only imagine what kind of mattress would be in a place like this. Absurdly, even thinking the word bed made him harder.

  Raven returned from making another circle of the room, hugging herself. “I don’t see a thermostat, so I’m guessing there’s no heat.”

  Glad of the distraction, he walked the perimeter of the room. “You’re right. I’m thinking we’ll have to use that woodstove to heat the place.”

  “At least he has a pile of wood stacked under that tarp.” She pointed.

  He got busy collecting wood. The physical activity helped him get his mind, and body, from the gutter. Still oblivious, she puttered around the place, searching out cupboards and closets.

  Once he had a nice fire going, which was enough to make a dent in the cold, they unzipped their coats and pulled off their hats and gloves. He tried not to look at her, uncomfortably aware of their solitude.

  With a sigh of pleasure, she went and sat cross-legged in front of the fire. He joined her, careful not to sit too close.

  “What now?” she asked. “I did what you wanted and got rid of my pack. So what are your plans? Where do we go from here?”

  He pulled Whearly’s cell phone from his pocket. “First, I want to call someone else, a friend of mine. He’s another Protector, though he’s on vacation right now. I’m trying to remember his number.” He thought he had most of it, except for the last couple of numbers. In that case, he’d try different combinations until he hit the right one.

  With a shrug, she returned her attention to the fire.

  The phone screen was blank. Frowning, he held it up. “No signal. Maybe it’s the storm.”

  “Or the battery is dead.”

  Surprised, he checked the screen.
“No, right now it’s got plenty of charge. Though I’d better conserve it.” He touched the power button and the phone went off. “I didn’t take the phone’s charger. I wish I’d thought of it, but I considered myself lucky to even get the phone.” Snapping the cell closed, he stuffed it back into his pocket.

  “Yeah.” Unsmiling, she watched him. “So, what now?”

  What now? For the first time in his life, he’d acted impulsively. He hadn’t thought far enough ahead. Normally, he planned everything. Now, because they were on the run, living day-to-day, he could plan nothing.

  Raven shifted her weight restlessly, startling him out of his thoughts.

  “What’s it like, being able to stay wolf for so long?” She didn’t bother to try and keep the envy from her voice.

  He glanced at her sideways, then shrugged. “Normal. Second nature.”

  “Better than being human.”

  Silently, he digested that. Her last statement was at the core of what made her Feral.

  Evidently his silence prompted her to ask another question. “You really like living among humans?”

  He raised his head. Now this comment was classic textbook in the Society. His training held that if a Feral ever made a remark showing interest in an assimilated life, they were definitely able to be rehabilitated.

  Never before had he met a Feral so contradictory.

  “Yeah. At least, better than this.” He glanced around the tiny cabin. “I have a soft bed, hot showers, all the food I want.” He shook his head. “But you know this. You said you occasionally stay in Boulder.”

  Her gaze skittered away. “I spent all my time frightened.”

  Now she’d startled him. “I don’t understand.”

  When she swallowed, he saw the movement in her slender throat. “People have hurt me in the past.”

  In that simple statement, she gave yet another hint to her past. Yet it was something, better than nothing, and he made sure to be careful to ask his question in a soft voice.