by Amira Rain
Disheartened to hear that Chase, Grayson, and their pack might have to go ahead with the raid while being outnumbered, I sighed, setting my mug on the little table between our chairs. Though almost as soon as I'd begun sighing, my sigh turned into a gasp when I realized something terrible. Something that I knew might cause Richard to come racing up from the south right away.
CHAPTER NINE
I looked at Rose with my stomach twisting into knots. "The whole reason Richard is down near Ashcrest is to find a fertile woman to drag back up here to mate with, right? Well, his pack has already managed to kidnap one for him while he's been away. So, what's to stop them from just calling him and telling him that, if they haven't already?
“What's to stop them from just calling him and telling him to come back up here, because his mission down south has been made pointless? I know the Bloodfurs have to have cellphones. Even the poorest packs and communities have them now, at least a couple. We even had cellphones back in Greenleaf, and sure, they were all old and beat up, but they still worked, at least when reception wasn't terrible."
Rose broke off a bit of cookie and set it on her shoulder for Jack before looking at me with her dark brown eyes twinkling. "You're forgetting how good with technology the folks in Ashcrest are. I'm sure the scenario you described would have happened almost as soon as Skye was kidnapped...if the folks in Ashcrest hadn't done something to render Richard's and his scenter's phones unusable almost as soon as they arrived down there.
“I'm not even sure exactly what...some kind of a signal-jamming system or something. So, no. Richard won't be learning from a cellphone that his pack has Skye. Though I know your men have had some concerns about Richard becoming suspicious about his and his scenter's phones not working.
“I know they've been worried about this, making him realize the folks in Ashcrest are aware of his presence in the area and his plan.
“Which, of course, might make him eventually decide to call it off and head back here. I know your men have also been concerned about one of Richard's pack members possibly heading down there to tell him about your sister's kidnapping and tell him to come back up here.
“I know Stone will be doing some surveillance on the Bloodfurs this evening, checking to make sure your sister is still all right, but also checking to see if any of the Bloodfurs seem to be missing, indicating that one of them has headed down south to find Richard."
Nothing Rose had said had helped to untangle the knots in my stomach. In fact, the knots were now tighter.
I sat back in my chair, sighing. "I just want Skye back, safe and sound. And it's seeming more and more like it might take a miracle to make that happen."
Rose lifted her bony shoulders in a shrug. "Well, do you believe in miracles?”
I studied her face, incredulous. "You know...you're the second person in as many days who's asked me that question."
"Well, what's your answer?"
I sighed, pulling my long brown hair over one shoulder. "I don't know. For other people, yes. I believe in them for Flora. And I guess I have to believe that a miracle will happen for Skye's rescue."
"But how about for you, personally? Do you hold out any hope for a miracle for yourself? Maybe in an area of your life where you feel like there isn't any hope?"
Certain I was frowning, I peered at Rose, wondering just what she was getting at. Wondering if she'd been into her wine that day.
But before I could ask her any questions, she set her mug on the table and rose from her rocker. "I've said too much. Sometimes I'm tempted to tell you what the funny joke is, the joke having to do with your little secret, but I've decided I probably never will. I think you need to work things out and learn things on your own. I think you'll be better for it."
I rose from my rocker as well, fighting a rising feeling of irritation. "Rose, just what exactly is so funny to you about my infertility? Obviously, you know that I switched my test results with Skye's, and I'm now in a bit of a pickle because of that.
“I'm probably going to lose Chase and Grayson, who I've both grown to care about very much. I'll probably have to go back to Greenleaf with my head hung in shame. Just what could possibly be funny about all that? I don't mean to be rude, but have you had anything to drink today? Is that why something about my situation still seems funny to you?"
If my possibly rude question about her drinking had offended her, Rose didn't show it. She just smiled, making her way over to the porch steps. "Valid question, but no. I haven't had anything to drink today. I've been trying to lay off it a bit lately. With all the trouble from the enemy wolves lately, I guess I've felt a need to keep my druthers about me, just in case I'm needed in any way. Not that anyone thinks I'm anything other than a harmless old woman, and not that anyone would believe I have powers even if I told them."
Now I felt bad. Terrible, actually. I'd basically accused Rose of midday drunkenness when she was actually sober because she wanted to help in the village if needed. She'd already made her way down the porch steps with Jack on her shoulder, and I called out for her to wait.
"Please, Rose. Just wait a second. Sorry I asked if you'd been drinking. I think it's great that you haven't been. And for what it's worth, I believe you have powers. I've definitely become convinced of your psychic abilities, too."
She turned, smiling, and dipped her head in a single nod. "Thank you. And thank you for the tea as well. I'll come by to visit again soon."
With that, she took off down the lane with her wooden walking stick tapping the dirt.
Later that afternoon, Flora and Lily came by to visit, and Flora reported with a grin that she was still feeling sick and still hadn't gotten her period yet.
"I'm officially late now. I think I'm going to wait until tomorrow to take a test, though. I'm going to force myself to wait until at least tomorrow morning. Something about taking a test the very first day I'm late, just feels like it might be a jinx. It just feels like I'd be somehow forcing it to turn negative because of my over-eagerness or something, even though I know that doesn't exactly make sense."
I was kind of dying to tell her that there was nothing at this point, except maybe a faulty test, that could give her a negative result, but I knew I had to wait and keep what Rose had told me a secret. Flora would find out soon enough.
When Chase and Grayson got home late that evening, I could tell right away that something was up. They were both frowning, their eyes as troubled as I'd ever seen them.
Not a few seconds after they'd come through the door, I took one of each of their hands, glancing between their faces. "What's wrong? Did Stone find something out tonight? Is Skye still okay?"
After glancing at Grayson, Chase frowned even harder. "She's still fine. But Stone overheard some bad news tonight. One of the Bloodfur pack left a few days ago to go tell Richard that the pack already stole a fertile woman for him. We're estimating that Richard will be arriving back in the area by tomorrow morning, at the latest. But we also have another problem."
"What is it?"
Chase heaved a sigh, still frowning. "Stone was caught spying and barely escaped the Bloodfur's camp with his life. They're onto us now. They know we're going to try to get Skye back, and now they know that we know that Richard will be returning soon.
“We think they're going to try to attack us here, in the village, once he's back, but we're going to head them off at the pass. We're going to attack them at their own camp, tonight, and try to rescue Skye, despite the fact that we'll be outnumbered because our friends from the north have been delayed.
“But it doesn't matter. We'll still get Skye back for you, Rowan. And in the meantime, while we're doing that...you, Flora, and Lily will still be protected here in the village. We're going to leave at least five men behind, the absolute most we can spare, to keep the three of you safe."
Just then, there was a knock at the door, and Chase went to open it. "Probably Hunter wanting to know who we've decided to leave behind to serve as guards."
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It did turn out to be Hunter, and while he and Chase talked out on the porch, Grayson pulled me close and held my face to his hard chest.
"Please believe me, Rowan, that we're going to get Skye back and everything will be just fine. Our pack might be outnumbered, and the fight will be much more of a challenge now that we won't have our friends from the north to help us, but the Bloodfurs don't have their alpha, and our pack is strong, and we will take them out. I promise you that.
“And then after...after will begin a happily-ever-after for either you and me, or you and Chase, because I have a feeling that you're going to become pregnant very soon. Just a gut feeling I've been having. I just pray that it's me who's the father of your baby.
“I just hope your happily-ever-after is with me. Because, Rowan...." Pausing, Grayson gently lifted my chin to make me look at him. "Sometimes lately I can't imagine my life without you in it. I want us to be forever, and I want us to be a family. I want to have a child with you. I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy."
While I looked deeply into his coal-gray eyes, my own eyes suddenly began filling with tears. I could never give him the child he wanted. I was going to break his heart.
A tear began rolling down my cheek, and Grayson wiped it away with his thumb, frowning, opening his mouth presumably to ask me what was wrong. But before he could, there was some sort of a commotion out on the porch. The sounds were muffled, but I heard scuffling feet and shouting.
Grayson immediately released me and headed for the door, but before he even made it there, Chase came charging through it, eyes wide.
"They're here. The Bloodfurs are here. They beat us to the attack. Grayson, let's go. Rowan, you stay in this cabin, door locked, no matter what. Shut the lights off, too. Understand?"
I nodded, trembling. They both pressed lightning-fast kisses to my forehead, and then they were gone.
While the shouting outside the cabin turned to snarling and howling, I locked the door and shut off all the lights, making the cabin pitch-black. Then, knees weak, and not knowing what else to do, I had a seat on the couch and put my head in my hands. I was worried for Chase, Grayson, and their pack; I was worried for Flora and Lily, who I knew must be just as terrified as I was; but most of all, I was worried for Skye.
I knew she was likely still back at the Bloodfur's camp, probably tied up, and I knew Richard could be coming back at any time.
I also knew it wouldn't take him any time at all to discover the little gift his pack had kidnapped for him, and it likely wouldn't take him any time at all to violate her. Just the thought made me shudder.
Listening to what sounded like a fierce battle raging in the lane outside, I continued sitting on the couch in the dark, with my face in my hands, thinking. Someone had to get to Skye before Richard could. Someone had to bring her back to Shadowfen.
But from what it sounded like, Chase, Grayson, and all the wolves in their pack were going to be very busy for quite some time. Maybe even all night and into the morning.
So, eventually, after a few minutes, I realized what I had to do. I stood up from the couch, taking a deep, steadying breath in an effort to stop my trembling. I knew I couldn't tremble my way to the Bloodfur's camp, weak-kneed. If I was going to rescue Skye, which I was now determined to do, I needed to be strong.
*
It sounded like most of the fighting was happening out in the lane in front of the cabins. However, a quick peek out the window showed me that the fighting had now moved way down the lane, far enough down that I knew I could probably leave the cabin and start heading west to the Bloodfur's camp without being seen.
It only took me a minute to stuff a backpack with a few flashlights and bottles of water. I also rummaged through the kitchen drawers, found a pocketknife I'd come across before, and jammed it into my jeans pocket. I knew it wasn't much of a knife, and it wasn't even very sharp, but I knew there might be need for me to defend myself, or Skye, and the pocketknife was the best weapon I could come up with.
After throwing a black sweatshirt on over my light pink t-shirt, I very quietly crept out of the cabin and quickly moved around to the side, away from the glow of the porch light.
From there, I tiptoed over to a copse of evergreen trees bordering the lane and hid behind it. I looked down the lane to the fight in the distance, though I was unable to see much more than dark, blurry shapes and a few glints of silver from moonlight reflecting on the wolves' fur. While the howling and snarling intensified, I said a silent prayer that Chase, Grayson, and the rest of the pack would be okay. Then, with one last look over my shoulder, I set off down the lane, keeping to the side, by the trees.
I knew Chase and Grayson were going to be mad at me for leaving the cabin. However, I figured they were soon going to be pretty mad at me, anyway when I revealed my fertility deception. Though, even if that weren't the case, I still would have left the cabin.
Skye was in danger, and I couldn't just sit back without at least trying to save her, even if it cost me my life, as I knew there was a possibility it might. I realized the Bloodfurs may very well have left a guard or two back at their camp to watch her.
Even if I were attacked and killed by a wolf, though, I would not be sorry. I wouldn't be sorry, either, if I lived and Chase and Grayson were mad at me. I'd tell them the truth. I would not have been able to live with myself knowing that I hadn't even made an attempt to save Skye.
Striding from tree to tree in the dark, I couldn't help but make a little amused snort, realizing that it seemed that I was never not in protective big sister mode. Me trying to protect Skye was, of course, the whole reason I'd ended up in the fertility predicament I was currently in with Chase and Grayson, in the first place.
The Bloodfur's camp wasn't terribly far away, though it wasn't exactly close, either. I'd heard talk of it being about two miles away, and dead west. I'd always had an excellent, near-infallible sense of direction, even in the dark; and even being somewhat slow and cautious, staying off the road and walking between the trees, I knew I could make it to the camp within a half-hour or forty-five minutes probably.
The sounds of the fight soon faded into the distance, replaced by the quiet sounds of the forest. Crickets chirped, and an owl somewhere nearby hooted a couple of times, the first time loudly, startling me. A warm, light spring breeze periodically rustled the leaves of the many trees in the forest bordering the lane.
After maybe fifteen or twenty minutes of uneventful walking, I thought I heard footsteps coming up behind me, or maybe I just sensed them. I immediately froze and remained frozen for at least ten seconds, straining my ears, but I heard only the chirp of a nearby cricket and nothing more.
I continued on, a bit warier, trying to be a bit quieter, even though I'd already been making next to no sound at all, my tennis shoes padding near-noiselessly over the tall grass bordering the road. I didn't hear, or thought I could hear, any more footsteps behind me.
After maybe another half-hour of walking through the dark, deciding not to use a flashlight for fear of drawing attention to myself, the scent of a campfire was my first sign that I was nearing the encampment. I saw its flickering light through the trees on the other side of the dirt lane. I quickly crossed the lane, tiptoeing, knowing that I was going to have to creep up on the encampment in absolute silence.
Though, once in the woods, this proved to be a challenge. The campfire I'd spotted wasn't quite as close as I'd thought. It was in the middle of what appeared to be a clearing maybe a hundred yards or so deeper into the forest, and the forest floor was covered in noisy, crunchy fallen branches and dead leaves from the previous year. I could definitely understand how Stone had been caught spying earlier that evening.
Despite this, I continued on, as slowly and as quietly as I could, one tentative footstep at a time; and eventually, I reached the clearing. On one of several large, flat stones around the campfire, Skye sat staring in to it, her back to me. As I'd thought she might be, she was tie
d up, with rope binding her hands behind her.
She also seemed to be tied down to the stone itself with multiple ropes as well. I didn’t see any guards around her. I waited for a few minutes, just to see if any guards would emerge from a cluster of tents adjacent to the fire, but none did, and I decided to make my move.
I tiptoed into the clearing, whispering Skye's name, hoping I wasn't going to scare her half to death. "It's me. Rowan."
She whipped around, her brown eyes wide as saucers, and I saw that her mouth was gagged.
I dashed over, weak with relief that she was okay, and began undoing the knot at the back of the bandana gag in her mouth. "Just one second, and I'll have this off you."
She nodded, and I quickly undid the gag and tossed it on the ground.
"Are you all right? Are there any guards nearby? And has their alpha, Richard, returned?"