B*E*A*S*T* of Burden

by Rebecca Goings

  "What about my job?"

  "Sean found your home. I think it's a safe bet to say he also knows where you work. Marlie, he tried to kill you. He'll try again and again until he succeeds. He's not going to stop."

  "But why? Why does he want me dead? What have I ever done to him?"

  "You're my wife. That's all the justification he needs."

  "My God. The man must be insane!"

  "Pretty damn close,” Wade said from the driver's seat. “Sometimes I wonder if any of us are sane."

  When Marlie's eyes touched Rogan's once more, she held her breath. Was Rogan unstable? Whatever those assholes at the agency had done to him, they'd mutated his genetic code. It was entirely possible that he didn't have all the lights on upstairs.

  "Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked, breaking her out of her own morbid thoughts.

  "Like what?” she asked, unsure about revealing her doubts to him.

  "Like I just grew a third eye,” he said sarcastically, lifting his mouth in a half-grin. “I might be able to change my shape at will, but as far as I know, wolves only have two eyes just like people."

  Marlie blushed and looked away. “I was just wondering if you two were ... a little nutty yourselves."

  "Isn't it obvious?” Wade said with a grin, glancing at them in the rear-view mirror. Marlie couldn't help but chuckle.

  "We're not crazy, if that's what you mean,” Rogan said, finally shifting his weight to get a better seat on the floor. “Wade might get a few hair-brained ideas, but I wouldn't say he's ready for his own padded cell. Yet."

  Wade scoffed. “I've been in enough cells to last me a lifetime, thank you very much."

  Marlie gasped. “You were put into cells?"

  "Oh, yeah.” Rogan nodded. “There were hundreds of us, all kept in cages. They tested us in groups, which is how I became such good friends with Noah and Wade."

  "Don't forget Justin.” Wade's voice drifted through the cab, and an oppressive silence followed his words.

  "I have not forgotten Justin,” Rogan whispered, his voice deep and gritty.

  "Who's Justin?” Marlie asked, stroking his cheek. Rogan was somewhere else just then, as if remembering something from the past.

  "He was a good friend of mine. A good friend to all of us."

  "What happened to him?"

  Rogan swallowed hard and glanced out the rear window of the truck. “He was killed. By Sean."

  "Dear God! Does that man kill everyone in his path?"

  "You don't know the half of it,” Rogan said, gently tucking a stray lock of her hair behind her ear. “That bastard has another thing coming if he thinks he can get the best of Rogan Wolfe."

  Marlie sucked in her breath as his eyes flashed, sending a bolt of fear straight up her spine and goose bumps down her arms and legs. “Please don't get yourself killed,” she whispered to him. “I wouldn't be able to survive if I lost you again."

  "Don't you worry, sweetheart,” he said, framing her face in his hands. “I don't intend to be killed. I intend to be the one doing the killing."

  Marlie didn't know which would be harder to bear—losing her husband a second time to death, or losing him to revenge. With that thought, she wrapped her arms around his waist and held on tightly, hoping for the best, yet fearing the worst.

  * * * *

  Once they'd reached the junction to Glenn Highway, they turned south. Wade drove until they came to a small gas station where they filled up the tank and stocked up on food from the small convenience store.

  "I'm starving,” Marlie said as she accepted a package of powered donuts and a bottle of Diet Coke.

  "Me too,” Rogan said, practically drooling as he unwrapped a small tuna sandwich. He ate half the sandwich in two bites.

  "I could eat an entire moose,” Wade said as he climbed into the passenger seat since it was Rogan's turn to drive. “I could probably take one down if we get desperate."

  "That's not funny,” Rogan said, cocking a brow at his friend.

  Wade gave him a wounded look. “Well, Marlie's smiling."

  Marlie had to bite her lip to keep from giggling at their banter.

  "She's only smiling because she's eating yummy pastries."

  "Oh, is that so?"

  "It is,” Rogan said, his mouth full of the rest of his sandwich.

  Wade turned to her and winked, moaning as he bit into his apple turnover. “Thiff iff the beft appol turmovuh I've eva hab."

  "Good Lord, Wade,” Rogan said with a scoff. “Don't talk with your mouth full. It's disgusting.” He turned the key and pulled the truck back onto the highway.

  "You just did it,” Wade protested, peeling back the wrapping and taking another large bite.

  Rogan rolled his eyes. “Do you even remember ever eating another apple turnover you can compare this one with?"

  Wade swallowed hard. “No. Which is why this is the best one I've ever had!"

  Marlie couldn't help but chuckle. After the terrifying morning they'd had, a little levity was exactly what she needed. It was already getting late in the afternoon, and they still had a long way to go. They wouldn't make it to Anchorage before nightfall. “Tired?"

  Marlie looked up and saw Rogan glancing at her in the rearview mirror.

  She nodded with a yawn. “Yeah. How'd you know?"

  "I can smell it."

  She blinked, still not used to his new abilities.

  "Why don't you pull out some pillows and a blanket?” Rogan said. “Get some rest."

  "I'm not sure I can,” she replied truthfully, running her fingers through her hair.

  "Why don't you try? You're safe now."

  He was right. And the thought of lying back and escaping into sleep did sound inviting. Rummaging through the storage containers along the walls of the truck, Marlie found what she needed amidst the clothes, first aid supplies, and water bottles. With a deep sigh, she curled up on the floor, and before she knew it, she was sound asleep.

  Thirteen

  "Shit!"

  Rogan's heart was in his throat as he felt the Hummer suddenly shudder, losing power despite his foot on the gas pedal. Wisps of white smoke wafted from underneath the hood, and Rogan glanced at Wade.

  "This can't be good,” Wade said, chewing the inside of his lip.

  Rogan growled. “Don't do this now, damn it!” He pulled the truck over to the side of the road. It rolled to a stop and stalled.

  "Definitely not good,” Wade muttered.

  Marlie sat up in the back and asked sleepily, “What's going on?"

  Rogan gripped the steering wheel tightly before slamming open the driver's side door. “The damn truck just broke down!"

  He pulled on the lever under the dash that popped open the hood. Without waiting to hear if she had anything more to say, Rogan jumped out of the Hummer and yanked the hood up over his head.

  "Know anything about cars?” Wade asked, rounding the vehicle next to him and glancing at the steaming engine.

  Rogan gave him a sour look. “What do you think?"

  Wade shrugged. “It was worth asking."

  "Damn it.” Rogan watched as the smoke drifted up. He could feel the heat coming off the transmission. “I think we forgot to put anti-freeze in it."

  "We just filled it with water back in Canada,” Wade said, pointing over his shoulder with his thumb.

  "I said anti-freeze.” Rogan sighed. “It's damn cold here in Alaska."

  Wade's eyes widened. “You think the water froze in there and the engine overheated?"

  "Probably."

  "Can you fix it?” Marlie's voice floated in the air, and her scent suddenly hit Rogan full force. She was concerned but a little frightened as well. It was all he could do to keep from pulling her into his arms.

  "I don't think so,” he said, casting her a glance.

  "Then what are we going to do?"

  Rogan looked at Wade, then back at Marlie. “We'll have to hoof it, I guess."

  "You mean w
alk?” she exclaimed.

  "We can't just sit here, Marlie,” Rogan said, closing the hood.

  "But I don't even have a jacket, and it's freezing out here."

  Wade shrugged out of the coat he was wearing and handed it to her. “I'm sorry,” he said sheepishly. “I don't know where my manners have gone."

  "What about you?” she asked.

  "I'll be fine. I think we're all a little immune to the cold."

  Rogan watched as his wife donned the jacket, lamenting that Wade's scent would now be on her skin. He knew his friend didn't have any inclination of getting closer to Marlie, but he still didn't like the thought of another man's scent on his mate.

  "How far is it to Anchorage?” Rogan asked, just to keep his mind occupied.

  "I don't know,” Marlie replied. “Maybe another thirty miles."

  "Damn."

  "We could flag down some motorist,” Wade suggested. “Hitch a ride into town."

  Rogan shook his head. “No."

  "But—"

  "No! Remember what Tam did to the poor man Noah and Lanie hitched a ride with? If Sean catches anyone who helped us, he'll kill them too. I'm not going to risk anyone's life like that."

  An uncomfortable silence descended upon them. Rogan could see Marlie shivering even underneath the warm jacket.

  "Come on,” he said as he draped his arm around her shoulders. “Let's see what we can salvage from the truck and be on our way."

  He grabbed a couple packages of beef jerky, a few bottles of water, and the syringes of serum. Holding the stuff made him bite his lip to keep from growling. If he had his way, he'd dump it all right here on the side of the road, but they were being pursued by Sean—it would be stupid not to take it. He stuffed the syringes into his back pocket. Glancing down at Marlie's shotgun on the floor of the cab, he grabbed that too.

  Wade clutched a few blankets and changes of clothing while Marlie took the shopping bag of the food they'd purchased from the convenience store.

  "Can't forget this,” Rogan said, opening the glove box. Inside was a stack of twenty dollar bills that he quickly stuffed into his pockets as well.

  "Where did you get that?” Marlie asked with a gasp, peering over his shoulder.

  "We stole more than this Hummer from B*E*A*S*T*,” Rogan said. Underneath the money were two cell phones. Rogan pocketed one while handing the other to Wade. “All right then. Do we have everything we need?"

  "I think so,” Wade said. “You really think we can walk all the way to Anchorage in this weather?"

  "We're gonna have to.” Rogan pulled out his phone and sighed. “Can't get good cell coverage up here. If we're going to call Noah, we'll have to get closer to the city."

  At that moment, a car could be heard approaching them from the way they came.

  "Get off the road,” Rogan said, grabbing the collar of Marlie's jacket. “We don't want them to see us and stop to offer a ride."

  All three of them slinked into the tree line on the side of the highway. As the car approached, they could tell it was another Hummer, black and pristine.

  "Oh my God,” Wade whispered, watching in shock as the second Hummer pulled up behind their yellow one. “That's Sean!"

  "We gotta run. Now!” Rogan grabbed Marlie's arm and pulled her through the trees with Wade following close behind.

  * * * *

  The instant Sean opened his car door, a wall of stench assaulted his nostrils. He grimaced, yet he still had to smile to himself. Those bastards hadn't gotten far. Not only had he tagged Rogan's Hummer with a GPS locator beacon, he'd also drained the radiator. If he hadn't been in so much pain, Sean would have chuckled with delight.

  He heard a crash in the bushes to his right and caught a glimpse of the traitors fleeing through the woods as fast as their feet could carry them. Limping to the back of his truck, Sean opened one of the rear doors. He knew he wouldn't be able to catch them, not wounded as he was. Fortunately, he had a tranquilizer gun in the back full of darts tipped with B*E*A*S*T*'s serum. Those bastards had another thing coming if they thought they could get away so easily.

  Hissing through his teeth, Sean trudged back to the hood of his car, loading the weapon as he walked. Leaning on the hood, he took careful aim—and fired.

  * * * *

  Son of a bitch! How did Sean find us?

  Rogan's thoughts raced, but he didn't dare take the time to stop and wonder about that now. They needed to get away, and fast.

  Suddenly the sound of a gun blast filled the air, then Wade hit the ground hard.

  "Wade!” Rogan stopped running and fell to his knees beside his friend. “Are you all right?” He saw the tranquilizer dart sticking out of Wade's back. “Shit!"

  "Rogan, get out of here,” Wade panted. “Get your wife to safety."

  "But you're shot!"

  "Don't worry about me. Just go."

  "That bastard killed Justin. He'll kill you too, Wade! I'm not leaving you!"

  "If he wanted me dead, he would have shot me with a bullet, not a tranquilizer. Christ...” Wade's voice was getting softer. “I think he shot me with the serum too. Can't ... shift..."

  "Wade? Wade!” Rogan was frantic. He dropped the gun and grabbed both of Wade's hands, trying to pull him to his feet although he knew it would be hopeless to outrun Sean if he had to drag Wade.

  "Get ... out of here,” Wade said, closing his eyes. “I'll be ... all right. Go."

  With tears in his eyes, Rogan let go of Wade and grabbed Marlie instead, scooping up the shotgun once more. “I'm sorry, old buddy,” he said, sniffling. “I'm so sorry!"

  "Wait. Rogan, wait!” Marlie protested.

  "Don't look back,” Rogan said, once again sprinting through the trees with her in tow. “Whatever you do, sweetheart. Don't look back!"

  * * * *

  Tears ran down Marlie's face as they ran. She could hear two more gunshots behind them but they must have gone wide. Rogan pulled her along by her left hand, and she lamented that she had dropped the bag of food in their haste to get away. But the thought of that horrid man chasing them again spurned her on, even after her lungs caught fire.

  Memories of the bear charging them near her house that morning ripped through her head, and it was all she could do to keep up with Rogan. Hot tears blurred her vision, making it nearly impossible to see. But after a few minutes of running at full bore, Rogan stopped and smiled.

  "Perfect."

  In front of them was a large creek rushing over rocks and stones. The other side was at least ten yards away. She didn't understand why Rogan was smiling and didn't have the breath to ask him. Before she could gulp enough air to form the words, he'd dragged her into the frigid waters.

  Fourteen

  Sean flipped open his phone as he walked toward the still form of the man lying face down in the snow. He grimaced when he saw only one bar on the LCD screen. He'd be lucky if the call even connected. Punching a few buttons, he glanced up at the sky before hunkering down next to Wade, whose eyes were now glassed over. As the phone rang in his ear, it crackled in and out.

  "Damn, the reception is shitty up here,” Sean said aloud.

  "Covington,” came the distant voice on the other end.

  "I've got one of them,” Sean said, pushing on Wade's shoulder just to make sure he was indeed tranquilized.

  "Rogan?"

  "No. The other one."

  Covington was silent for a moment. “Wade?"

  "That's the one."

  "Don't harm him,” Covington said, clearing his throat. “I want him alive."

  "What the hell am I supposed to do with him?” Sean tossed his hands up in exasperation.

  "Oh, I don't know. Let's see...” Clive retorted. “Why don't you reminisce about old times?"

  Sean growled.

  "Do I have to spell it out for you, Sean? Go to Anchorage. Find Brett. He'll bring the cougar back to Texas."

  "By the time I get back to hunting Rogan, the trail will be cold!"

&
nbsp; "What about the GPS beacon you planted?"

  "Worked like a charm. Unfortunately, when I found their truck, I also found the traitors fleeing into the woods."

  "Jesus Chr ... can't you do anything right?"

  "You want this cougar, old man?” Sean snapped, pissed at Covington's attitude. “You send Brett to me. There's a locator beacon on my truck too. He can find me just as easily. Right now, I've got a wolf to hunt."

  With that, Sean snapped the phone shut and stuffed it into the pocket of his jeans.

  "Here kitty, kitty,” he said under his breath as he hoisted Wade up and over his shoulders. Christ, the bastard was heavy.

  Sean puffed with exertion as he trudged through the snow back to the road. There was no way in hell he was going to let Rogan's trail grow cold. Not when he was so close to killing the prick.

  * * * *

  Marlie gasped, almost unable to breathe the moment the icy waters came in contact with the skin of her legs. This water was one hundred percent melted snow—so cold, in fact, that Marlie really had no idea why it wasn't frozen over.

  "Ruh-Ro ... guh-gan!” she said, gasping between syllables. “Wuh-wait!"

  He ran a few more steps before stopping abruptly to spin around and look at her. “Shit!” he exclaimed, right before he lifted her in his arms. “Christ, Marlie. I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking!"

  Rogan walked upstream a bit before crossing to the far side of the creek. Once there, he bounded into the trees as if he hadn't just been submerged thigh-deep into ice-cold water. After a few more minutes of running, he slowed then turned around to stop and listen.

  "Shh,” he whispered to her as he glanced behind them, taking deep breaths of air. “There are wolves nearby,” he said, grinning to himself.

  "Huh-how cuh-cuh-close?"

  Rogan looked sharply at her and grimaced. “Are you all right?"

  Marlie shook her head violently, unable to stop her body's fierce trembling. “Suh-so cuh-cold...” she managed to say through chattering teeth.

  "Damn. Your lips are turning blue! I should have known better than to drag you into that water."

  "Why?” she asked, clutching onto him with a vengeance. “Why duh-duh-did yuh-you?"