by Debra Dunbar
It was breathtaking. The enormity of it all, the scale, the brutal beauty—it made me feel small and insignificant. In a world where it was easy to fall into a state of hubris, to think that we humans had conquered all, that we reigned supreme, a place like this was humbling. I was a nobody kneeling before such glory. When we finally rose to head back to the camp, I felt almost as though I’d had a religious awakening, that I’d seen the face of God.
But as awe-inspiring as the experience was, it was less than perfect because Brent wasn’t there to share it with me.
I climbed down, while Leon cleaned the anchors and rappelled down each section. After chicken and fire-roasted potatoes, we packed all we could to head out early tomorrow, then I sat by the fire, while Leon went early to bed.
I’d never been one to be afraid of the dark. The fire crackled and spit, filling our camping area with a golden glow. I could hear insect song, the call of a hoot owl, the wind stirring the trees. I was safe. I had my bear spray. Leon had a rifle. But still something sent a prickly feeling up my spine and raised the hair on the back of my neck.
There was a faint rustling sound, like something in the bush. I saw a flash, as if the moonlight reflected off a metallic surface, or silvery eyes caught the firelight. It was gone in a blink, making me wonder if in my tired, half-dreamy state I’d imagined it.
I thought about getting up to check, but it wasn’t like I could see much in the dark. Besides, what would I do, whack whatever it was with my s’more stick? I debated waking Leon, but didn’t want to seem like some wimpy city girl afraid of a fox in the woods, or the wind whistling through the trees. I was too proud to wake Leon. I was too scared to go investigate. So instead I put out the fire and scurried off to the safety of my tent and sleeping bag.
Chapter 3
Brent
The plane touched down in Kachemak Bay, water spraying as we pivoted and taxied across the water to the dock.
“Be careful out there,” Dustin warned me.
I looked over to him in surprise. I’d been running in the lower part of Alaska since I was a cub and had been up this way for some joint hunts with the Swift River Pack. It had been a long time since I’d visited Kenai, but I wasn’t likely to get lost, and there were few animals who’d attack me.
“I asked and received permission from Jake,” I told Dustin. This wasn’t my territory, and it would have been rude to trespass without first asking the Swift River Alpha’s blessing to run on his land.
“It’s not that.” Dustin turned to look at me as he pulled alongside the dock. “The grizzlies are saying one of theirs went missing in Kenai. Just flat-out vanished.”
Grizzly shifters were an independent bunch. They weren’t pack-oriented like we were and didn’t always let the others in their sloth know their whereabouts. This time of year they were out of their hibernation and eating everything in sight. And looking for a mate. We were friendly with a few of them in our territory and it wasn’t uncommon to have them vanish for months, only to appear just in time for the August barbeque.
“He’s probably in Fairbanks trying to get some sow into his bed. He’ll turn up.”
Dustin shrugged. “Maybe. His sloth doesn’t usually get this worked up over a bear on the prowl. They were worried enough to contact Jake.”
“What do they think happened?” Grizzly shifters were pretty top of the food chain. The only thing they had to fear beyond avalanche, falling off a cliff, or decapitation from being clotheslined while snowmobiling, was losing a fight with another grizzly shifter, or losing a fight with a whole pack of wolves.
Or a really pissed-off sow. Female grizzly shifters were downright scary during mating season. If I were a male grizzly, I’d seriously contemplate a life of celibacy.
“They think someone killed him.”
What? “Did Swift River have any problems with him? Was he trying to grab another bear’s woman?”
“Heck if I know. We were fine with the guy. Jake didn’t have any beef with him, and nobody in our pack takes a piss without the Alpha’s okay. Those grizzlies are all grumpy until late May. Maybe one of his sloth killed him and didn’t want to admit it.”
Well then, I wouldn’t have anything to fear. I’d just give any grumpy bear a wide berth and we’d all be happy campers. “Thanks for the lift, Dustin. I owe you one.”
The werewolf grinned. “Nah. I owed you for taking me out on that fishing trip last summer.”
I grabbed my pack and hopped out of the plane onto the dock. “Join us this year. And tell Jake he needs to get his furry butt down to the barbeque this August.”
“Will do.” Dustin waved, pivoted the plane and taxied into position for take-off. I heard the propeller engine rev, then watched the plane zip by and take flight before I headed into the woods. This wasn’t exactly a high-traffic area, but tour groups did like to use the bay and this dock for pickups and drop-offs. I’d done some sleuthing and found out which tour group Kennedy was using. They put in at any one of the glacier lakes in the area, then customized the excursion depending on what the customer wanted to do. I was betting that Kachernak Bay was their end point. I’d just need to trace back the general area of the itinerary and catch up with her. Then I’d need to find a good excuse for me showing up nine hundred miles from my home in the middle of the wilderness.
I’d figure that out later, once I managed to find her in this enormous preserve. And I’d do that better on four legs than two. I set down my pack, which was a modified type of saddlebag, and began the arduous process of shifting to my wolf form. If I rushed it, I could change in five minutes or less, but there was no need to endure that sort of pain so I took my time and fifteen minutes later was picking up the pack with my teeth and wiggling into it. Once around my chest, I stepped into the leg holds, then grabbed the strap with my teeth and tightened it. It would chafe if I ran more than a few hours with it on, but I was a werewolf, I’d heal as soon as I took it off. And I could deal with a little discomfort. Hunting for food and drinking from a stream weren’t a problem, nor was staying warm while sleeping. My main reason for the saddlebag was clothing. I couldn’t talk to Kennedy in my wolf form, and standing in front of her naked wouldn’t make conversation any easier. Find her. Shift back to my human form. Put on some pants at a minimum. Then see if the sparks we’d both felt a few days ago were still there—and if they’d burst into the sort of flame that could make a smart, bad-ass surgeon with bedroom eyes fall in love with a werewolf.
Chapter 4
Kennedy
We were up at dawn, breaking down camp and hitting the trail. I’d had to pop a couple of aspirin to combat the headache from the altitude and ease sore muscles from yesterday’s climbing. I’d assured Leon that I could keep up, and was determined to prove to him that I was up for a challenging excursion.
We weren’t climbing today, but that didn’t mean we weren’t doing hours of scrambling as we climbed over rocks and up hills. Both of us used hiking poles for additional balance on the steep slopes. By lunch time we’d hopped across two creeks, and forded a good-sized stream. My waterproof hiking shoes were starting to be less waterproof, my pants were covered in mud from sliding down a slippery trail, and I’d hacked my way through more brush than I’d ever expected. I was never so glad for leather gloves or my hands would have been shredded from the prickly Devil’s Club and stinging nettles. This last hour was less backpacking and more trailblazing, and I was thrilled to be able to sit on a somewhat dry rock and devour my sandwich.
I paused midbite when a gunshot echoed through the canyon. “There’s hunting this time of year?” I asked Leon.
“It’s mostly trapping in the spring, but yeah there’s hunting. Brown bear and muskox primarily. Could be someone with a special permit, or a ranger taking down an injured animal, though.”
There was a worried look on Leon’s face. I thought of last night by the fire, the feeling that there was something out there, that eyes had blinked from out of the darkness. Maybe a ra
nger was taking down a dangerous animal, and I’d sleep better tonight.
“Is it close? Where did the shot come from?” Hopefully we wouldn’t be shot by some idiot who mistook two hikers for moose or something.
“It’s hard to tell with the sound bouncing off the mountains. It seemed pretty far away, maybe closer to the bay?”
Kachemak Bay was our finish point, where the plane would pick us up in another seven days. If the shot came from there, the hunter should be long gone by the time we arrived. Reassured that I wasn’t going to be accidently shot, I finished my sandwich and we pressed onward.
By late afternoon, we’d started our descent to a gorgeous alpine lake that sat at the foot of a glacier, dark blue water sparkling in the sunlight. Patches of snow dotted the rocky beach and the glacier’s bright blue ice made the whole scene look like something from a fairy tale. We pitched our tents and Leon started a fire while I gnawed on a granola bar and took in the scenery. Again the feeling of magic washed over me. I could be happy here. I could be more than happy here, but where would I work? I loved my job, and I’d invested fifteen years and huge money in my career. I couldn’t toss it all away to wander around the wilderness for the rest of my life. Was there a trauma center I could apply to in Anchorage? In Fairbanks?
In Juneau?
Or maybe I should just stick to Seattle and schedule some two and three day trips up here. It wasn’t that long of a plane flight. I could afford it if I put the house purchase on hold another five years or so.
“Here. We’re going to forage for our meal.”
I looked up to see Leon, his eyes twinkling as he held out a collapsible bowl.
“I’m not eating Devil’s Club, if that’s what you have in mind.”
He grinned. “Nope, although the roots are edible and kinda like ginseng we’re not going to eat Devil’s Club. We’re gathering salmon berries.”
I took the bowl. He picked up another and I followed him out into the woods, undecided whether the appeal of fresh berries was greater than sitting down for the evening and not getting up until morning.
Berries won.
The salmon berries looked like yellow and dark orange raspberries but with a milder flavor. They were everywhere, bushes loaded with them. Before long my bowl was full and I was just eating them straight from the branch.
Leon looked over at me and laughed. “Your mouth is orange. You look like you took a marker to your lips and teeth.
I flashed my orange teeth at him, and stuck out my equally orange tongue. “These are good. I might just skip dinner and eat berries. No wonder bears like them so much.”
“Normally these bushes would have been picked clean, but our pack has a deal with the grizzlies to leave a few for us.” He shot me a quick, panicked look, realizing what he’d just said. “Ha ha, we guides like to ensure we’re on the good side of the bears.”
He was trying to play it off as a joke, and a week ago I would have totally laughed along. But after what had happened on the other side of the rift, I knew. Well, I knew about the existence of werewolves and angels, but I hadn’t known until this moment that Leon was a supernatural being.
“You’re part of the Swift River Pack? They’re the ones who have this territory, right?”
He eyed me warily. “No, Ice Mountain Adventures. And we’re not the only outfit operating in this part of Alaska.”
“It’s okay, Leon. I know Brent Phillips of the Juneau Pack.”
He blinked. “Oh. Sorry, tourists usually don’t know about us. I didn’t realize…he’s the Alpha there. Are you and he…?”
“No! No, we’re not.” I wish we were. The thought of it had me all flustered. “We wound up on the other side of a rift together. That’s how I know.”
“I heard about that. Glad you all got back alive.” Leon tilted his head, his smile reaching his eyes. “I didn’t want to have Jake chew me out for offending Brent’s mate. But since you’re not—” Leon scooped up a handful of berries and smashed them against my mouth.
“Hey,” I protested, laughing. He danced out of reach as I tried to do the same to him. “That’s unfair. Give a poor one-legged girl a chance here.”
“No way. I saw you climb that rock face yesterday. You’re better on one leg then most guys are on two.”
I feinted right then dove. Leon was quicker than I’d expected so the berries smeared across his cheek, leaving chunks of yellow and orange in his beard.
“Peace, peace!” He raised his hands.
“All right, but only because you’re adorable with food in your beard.” I reached into a nearby bush to grab another handful of berries, only to jerk my fingers back with a squeak. Darn, those thorns are sharp.
“Here.” Leon plucked a berry and shoved it into my mouth. I was too slow opening, and it squished against my lips, smearing yellow on them and dripping juice down my chin.
“Think I’ve had enough berries.” I wiped my mouth on my sleeve, amused to see a streak of berry juice. “What’s on our itinerary for tomorrow?”
“Pack rafting at dawn if the weather is good. Otherwise we’re in for another long day of hiking.”
I looked over at the tangerine sky around the setting sun. Paddling. It would give my legs a break, but I’d heard Alaska rivers and lakes were rough and rowdy, and especially challenging. “Well then, either way, I think I need to get off my feet. Or foot.”
“Wine by the lake while you watch the sunset?”
It was one of the things I was learning to like about Leon. He was a good guide. He was fun. He made a mean grilled salmon. And he knew when I wanted to be alone. He knew when to be quiet for hours at a time so I could lose myself in my thoughts, in the ache of my muscles, in the beauty of my surroundings.
“Wine by the lake sounds glorious.”
Chapter 5
Brent
I was surprised that I managed to catch up with them just after sunset. I’d run along the banks of Fox River, took miles of switchbacks up into the mountains and along the ridge—all with that brisk werewolf gallop that ate up distance while pausing every now and then so I could scent the air. Around noon I heard a gunshot echo across the valley. My ears perked, but I didn’t hear anything further. It wasn’t close. And in Alaska, guides and hunters all knew how to tell the difference between a shifter in animal form and prey.
About four hours later I finally found what I was looking for. A faint breeze brought me a hint of fruity-floral that was her body wash, and the warm aroma that was all Kennedy. Every nerve ending snapped to attention, every cell sparked. My body spun midstride, and I ran as fast as I could down slopes and through brush and briar. My heart thudded in my chest, but all I could do was run straight toward her, my nose lifted high to keep the scent.
Once I saw her I slowed and edged through the trees, trying to stay out of sight. I recognized the guide she was with as one of the Swift River Pack and felt like even more of an idiot. How embarrassing to come strolling out of the wilderness with no good excuse for my presence, and have the whole thing witnessed by another werewolf. What if she was weirded out, thought me some kind of stalker? What if the moment had passed and she’d turned her back on me, never caring if she ever saw me again? This was going to be the most humiliating moment of my life.
So instead of shifting, donning my pants, and screwing up my courage to go see her, I hid in the bush, watching as she picked berries. She’d been eating them and both her hands and mouth were stained with the juice. I wondered if her lips tasted like berries—tart and full of flavor? Was this the right time? Should I shift now? Then I heard her speak my name.
Leon asked her if we were an item. And she denied it vehemently. Well, there was my answer. She did think of me, but whatever attraction we’d had on the other side of the rift, it hadn’t lasted. I watched as she and Leon got into a berry-fight, watched as he gently fed her one.
It was just as well I hadn’t come out of the woods and laid my heart bare to be tromped on. She wasn’t attr
acted to me any longer. And it seemed Leon might have the advantage right now. Far be it from me to get in the way of another wolf, especially when the woman had made it her feelings known. I adjusted the saddlebag with my teeth and left, slowly returning to the bay where I could call Dustin for a lift back to Juneau. This time I wasn’t in any hurry, and as the sun went down, I decided I wasn’t in any mental or emotional state to be wandering around mountaintops in the dark, so I found a sheltered place out of the wind, curled my tail around my nose, and went to sleep.
Chapter 6
I stretched my four legs, yawning and shivering to get my circulation going in the cold morning air. Clouds had moved in overnight, obscuring the mountain peaks and drizzling a light rain in the lower elevations. It mirrored my mood. I wanted to just run through these woods for weeks, let my wolf take over and give me time to reset my course. Kennedy was a gorgeous, smart, capable woman. I’d met other women like that, but I’d been dating very casually the past few years. Maybe I needed to get serious and really look for a mate. Maybe if I put forth the effort, made it a priority, I’d find someone that lit me up inside like Kennedy did. Maybe even another werewolf.
But I was forty-five. It’s not like I’d been a monk. I’d had plenty of relationships as well as short flings, and nobody stirred me like this gutsy doctor. It hurt, but some people went through their lives alone. The stars didn’t align for them and they lived perfectly fulfilling lives on their own.
And yes, I was beginning to think that would be my future. Casual dating. Some booty calls. It wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted someone to wake up next to, someone who knew my quirks, someone to laugh with, to share my day with just as I shared theirs. I wanted someone I couldn’t wait to see each evening.