The following Saturday, Liam gave Tore the grand tour. The main building was a massive fourteen thousand square feet. It was built of stone and housed a cozy bar, restaurant, games room, and five star guest rooms. “We have twenty studio style log cabins with kitchenettes and luxury bathrooms,” Liam said.
Walking along the back terrace, Tore was surprised how huge the place was. “Impressive!”
A picturesque lake set against manicured lawns provided an idyllic view from the Lodge. They walked along its shore, Liam pointed towards the other side. “Over there, we have a small camping ground, tents and RV standing. There are two shower blocks, and another games room. There’s a state of the art, do-it-yourself meat prep and storage area so guests can prepare and store their kills. You should see the refrigeration units, they’re bigger than Dad’s cave!”
Liam pointed towards the Lodge restaurant.
“Guests often ask us to cook what they catch. It’s a nice little money maker. Costs me nothing. They pay the chef directly to prepare the food, and the leftovers feed my staff.
“That’s what I call win-win.” Tore said.
“Too right!” Liam took the left fork down a small track and led Tore into dense woods that surrounded the property. After five hundred feet, they stopped by a small lock box. On top of the box was a notebook and pencil, slipped inside a plastic bag. “There’s one of these at the head of each trail. I give a different route to each guide, spreading the parties as much as possible to avoid any accidents. Only one group is allowed on each trail. No exceptions, ever. Each goes in a different direction from the Lodge. Once you are a mile out, the trail ends and you’re safe to hunt in the marked area.”
Tore confirmed he understood.
“Once you get to the trail head, you have to follow standard procedures. Fill in this book so we can locate guests, if necessary, or in case of emergencies.”
Liam unlocked the box.
“Before heading off from here, you need to mark the trail as occupied and then radio in.”
He reached in the box and took out a small flag, which he attached to a long flexible pole that stretched out from the top of the box.
“You see a flag on your allotted trail, don’t go in. Radio in the discrepancy, we’ll find you another trail while we clarify its status. Last thing I want is anyone getting shot because they crept up behind another group. We have an excellent safety record here and want to keep it, and my license.”
“Mark trail, record in book, confirm by radio. Got it.”
“When you come back, you radio in again, remove the flag. Right, that’s the business side done, how about we explore my grounds au naturel?”
“Okay, but what’s that?” Tore pointed to a spray bottle in the lock box.
“That?” He pulled it out and passed it over for Tore to look at.
“Scent Killer?”
“Yup. We spray the clients and then even the white tailed deer can’t smell them. If you cover yourself in this, I couldn’t smell you standing next to me. It’s dynamite stuff.”
“Damn. Wish I’d known about this when we ran from the clan.”
“You mean you didn’t use it? How the hell did you make it out of there? Jeez, their trackers could find you here. You must have left a trail halfway across America.”
“We’re good, Liam. It was touch and go for a while but I’m positive we lost them in Nebraska. Hopped aboard a train and didn’t get off until Tulsa.”
“That was smart thinking. You ready to take that run now?”
They stripped and put their clothes into the lock box before shifting.
They fell into an easy lope down the trail. After a mile, the marked trail disappeared and the woods opened into fields. Liam showed Tore where he’d killed a huge stag one autumn. Just through those trees, a bull elk charged a group of guests when they got too close.
A couple of hours later, they turned back towards the trail. Liam looked over his shoulder at Tore.
Race you back! Before he could reply, Liam was gone.
Tore struggled to gain ground over the first five hundred feet. Liam was a sprinter. Erik used to say he was good in the rush because he set off like a rocket launcher, but if he was lead tracker, he exhausted everyone else before they got to their prey.
Tore was no slouch but he wasn’t a sprinter. Endurance was more his thing. As Liam tired and slowed, Tore still had gas in the tank to kick it up a gear. Within another hundred yards, he’d caught up with his brother. So long Liam.
By the time Liam made it back to the drop box, Tore was pulling on his pants. Grumpy, Liam shifted. “Humph! We’ll call that beginners luck,” he said as he dressed.
Tore stifled a laugh and punched Liam on the shoulder.
“Beginners luck? Erik always said you had no idea how to pace yourself. You still don’t.”
Liam glared at him for a second, and then shrugged his shoulders. He knew Tore won fair and square. They walked back to the Lodge across the parking lot, and Liam threw Tore a set of keys.
“Your jeep is the one on the end. Don’t ding it and keep it topped off with gas. We have an account at Larry’s two miles out of town. You’re responsible for maintenance so look after it.”
Tore grinned and reached out his hand to thank him.
“I appreciate this, bro.”
Liam nodded. “Listen, Tore, there’s a cottage set away from the property if you want it. I have three of them for my workers. There’s plenty of room for the five of you there.”
“Nah, we’re okay. You’ve done too much for me already. Anyway I made an agreement with my landlord to fix his place up instead of paying rent for a couple of months. I want to honor that. Max Albright helped us out, I don’t want to throw it back in his face.”
Liam nodded again. “I respect that, but think it over, it makes more sense to move in here. I know Albright, he’ll understand. Fix his place up then move in with me. I want you close, Tore. Now we’ve found each other again, I want you by my side. Right, you ready to find the girls and eat? Jessie thought we’d grill. Well, she thought I’d grill! After saying that, she makes terrific sides and her desserts are to die for.”
9
Three Years Later, Gray Wolf Hunting Lodge, AK, May 1983.
“Nea is that you?” Annike called as she walked from the boys’ room. The cabin at Gray Wolf Lodge was bigger than those at the commune and the one they’d rented from the Albrights.
There were four separate bedrooms, two on either side of the main living area. The lounge and kitchen took up the central space. Tore, Annike and the boys occupied the east side, leaving Nea some privacy on the west. For the time being, the other bedroom remained spare. Annike hoped one day soon, she and Tore would increase their family and put the room to good use.
“Yeah it’s me.” Nea appeared at the kitchen door, slipping off her shoes. “My feet are killing me!” She’d been on them since before six that morning.
Nea spent most days helping Jessie with housekeeping in the mornings, over at the Lodge. During the afternoons, she worked in the kitchen prepping for the evening meals. Annike took charge of their three-year-old boys and Jessie’s almost-five-year-old, Kai. Annike was great with the kids. She preferred to be with them instead of working around the Lodge. However, she often felt guilty that she spent all her time with the boys leaving Nea to do all the work. Nea didn’t mind, in fact, she found it a relief.
Recently, Nea had begun to find as many reasons as she could to spend time away from the house. She found herself coming home later and later. Tonight it was almost eight. She was glad that Rune would be in bed. Her heart filled with sadness as the thought popped into her head. She saw her child less and less these days. But in truth, she was relieved. Nea found it too painful to be around him. Instead, Nea paid Annike to babysit. Annike, of course, refused to take any money but Nea opened an account for her and deposited part of her paycheck each week. Her friend had yet to touch it, but it made Nea feel better.
Nea’s weak smile was less than convincing. She knew it didn’t fool Annike, but she hadn’t been able to smile genuinely in weeks.
“Let me just go and see Rune.” Nea slipped out of the kitchen, sensing Annike was about to lecture her about taking time off.
Rune was asleep in his bed. He was such a sweet little boy, so beautiful with his dark blonde hair and deep blue eyes. His mouth curled at the corners as he burped wind. He was beginning to lose his baby appearance. Already, he was bigger than Kjell. The size of his hands and feet suggested he was going to be a large male, like his dad.
A lump caught in Nea’s throat and her stomach plummeted. Why did he look so much like that man? Being able to keep his father secret from everyone else grew more difficult every day.
Nea wished she could rewind clocks. But would she do things differently? One stupid night cost her Felix and exiled her from the clan, but it also gave her Rune.
Sometimes Nea convinced herself that her son was worth everything, but then she remembered what it felt like to be in Felix’s arms. That was when she looked at her son and hated what she’d done.
A tear dropped on Rune’s face as she bent to kiss him. She wiped it with her thumb. He stirred, opening sleepy eyes. “Mommy.”
“Hush now, just let me kiss you.”
Chubby arms wrapped around her. They hugged and kissed before he rolled to his stomach and fell back to sleep.
Nea returned to the kitchen. A steaming cup of chamomile tea and a sandwich waited on the table. Annike sat on Tore’s lap. They were laughing and whispering to each other. Tore ran his fingers through her hair. The look on his face was one of complete adoration.
Felix used to look at her like that, Nea thought.
Annike blushed and leaned forward to kiss Tore.
Unable to bear their display of affection, Nea grabbed her food, muttered her thanks and slunk into the other room. Jealousy welled up inside her. They always sneaked off for time alone. It was beginning to irritate and disgust her. Each time they kissed or held hands she felt resentment wash over her. All she needed was Annike to fall pregnant again.
Shame engulfed her. When had this antagonism towards her friends begun? They were so in love. Why did she hate them for that?
Because she could never have it.
Nea ignored her plate and flicked on the TV. She was no longer hungry. These days her appetite disappeared as soon as food appeared in front of her. Nea’s weight was down. Annike pointed it out, even Tore noticed. She considered going to a doctor. Perhaps he’d solve all her problems with a little pill.
Or, she could solve them with a whole bottle of pills!
Guilt pushed the thought from her head. Exhaustion sunk into her limbs. Everything was too much effort. Nea was stuck in a vicious circle; she worked too many hours so she could avoid looking at Rune just because he looked so much like his father. She hated how mundane her life had become. Each night she fell into bed exhausted by her long day, full of regret that she hadn’t spent any time with her son. Then she tossed and turned until morning. Felix, Rune, his father — they filled her head, keeping her awake night after night. In the mornings, it was all Nea could do to throw on the crumpled clothes she picked up off her bedroom floor.
“There you are, Nea. You can sit with us in the kitchen, honey. Don’t be by yourself.”
Annike stood at the door, her hand threaded through Tore’s. She leaned against her handsome mate, his arm around her shoulder, his face pressed into her hair.
Nea wished someone would hold her like that. She wished Felix looked at her like that.
Annike cleared her throat, “Tore told me… Ricky, you know that cute Mexican tracker who started a few months back? Well, he doesn’t have a girlfriend and we noticed he’s always looking at you. I think he likes you. Maybe we could invite him for dinner and see if you hit it off? What do you say?” Annike looked pleased with her scheming.
Nea cringed. They’d been at this for months. First the chef, then the mailman, Annike had even tried to set her up with the gardener.
“Human men don’t interest me.” There was only Felix. “I’m tired, I’m going to bed.”
***
As Nea sat in her room, there was a knock. “Please, Annike, I don’t want to discuss this now.” Opening the door a crack, she prepared to give her friend a reassuring smile. But it wasn’t Annike it was Tore.
Nea pulled the door wider, allowing him to come in and she went back to her bed. He sat beside her and put his arm around her shoulders. “You okay?” Genuine concern filled his eyes.
Tears spilled from Nea, they wouldn’t stop. Four years of regret, four years of hating herself, four years of loving a man who would never love her back. Four years of shame, four years knowing how disappointed her mother must be. Four years of her miserable life rolled down her cheeks.
Tore pulled Nea to him. He rubbed her back and stroked her hair while she spewed out her misery.
Nea told him everything, how much she missed the commune, how she lay awake at night dreaming about Felix, how she felt about Rune. Finally, she told Tore how jealous she was of what he had with Annike.
Tore’s arm stayed wrapped around her. He dried her tears and his eyes grew sad. He felt Nea’s pain.
Once she’d calmed down, he stood up to leave. Pausing at the door, he said, “We’ll make it right with Felix, Nea. I’ll try anything. Do anything. Whatever it takes, I’ll get you back to him.” Then he left.
Nea had no idea what Tore meant or how he could change anything. They were in exile. For all they knew, the clan was still hunting for them. Reuniting with Felix was impossible. Yet Tore’s promise sounded hopeful. Would his status as Isak’s son count for anything? Could they return without endangering themselves?
Despite Nea’s anxious thoughts, it was the first time in four years that she slept well. In her dreams and in her heart a tiny seed of hope germinated.
10
A Few Days Later.
Nea wants to go back! Tore didn’t mean to broadcast his thoughts, but they’d been filling his waking hours for days. A sudden resignation for what he had to do sent the words tumbling into Liam’s head.
Liam spluttered, inhaling his beer. “What? It’d be suicide. Why the hell would she want to go back there? She has a good life here.”
“I know, but she’s miserable. She’s homesick and misses Felix.”
“Tore, it’s too dangerous,” Liam said.
“What can I do? She sees Annike and me together and she wants the same. Nea’s never forgotten him. She has to know if there is the slightest chance he’d have her back.”
“Jeez!” Liam sighed, “You know him, I don’t. Is there anyway he’d take her back?”
“Who knows? Felix is a good guy, but it’s a long shot. Four years is a long time. He might have found someone else.”
“Okay, let’s use some logic here. Let’s say Felix isn’t mated and he still loves Nea. Even if he can find it in his heart to forgive her; what about Rune? Not everyone can do what you did. Not everyone is secure in themselves to take on another man’s son.”
Tore’s mouth opened, but Liam raised his hand and silenced him. “Well, let’s say none of that is a problem. What about Erik? Dad? Or the guy who fathered her child; is he still at the commune? There are too many hurdles, too many what-ifs. She’ll be putting herself in needless danger. You have to talk her out of it.”
“I’ve tried, Annike’s tried. She’s been like this for months. Years even. She’s gonna go any day now and she’ll take my son with her. I’ll lose him forever, Liam.”
He frowned. “Look, I know how you feel about Rune, but… damn. This is a mess… what will you do?”
Tore rubbed his hand across his face, “I’ve been thinking. We haven’t heard from the clan once in all these years
. I don’t even know, for sure, that anyone bothered to try and find us. Perhaps things weren’t as final as I thought. You said so yourself, I was Dad’s favorite. There’s a chance he thought I was being hot headed. If I’d hung around the next day, this might have turned out differently. What if Dad was just reacting in the heat of the moment? What if he didn’t mean it?”
“Tore…”
“I think he’d listen to me. It’s been four years. They can’t still be mad at me, can they?”
Liam sighed. He ran his fingers through his hair. Isak always did have a sweet spot for his youngest. If any of them could go back to the commune, it would be Tore. “When will you go?”
Tore looked over at his boys, He hoped this wouldn’t be one of the last times they’d be playing together.
“Soon.”
Liam nodded. “Look, make contact with Felix, Georg, or Henrik first. Feel out what’s going on. Don’t just go walking in there. You need to know what you’re facing.”
Tore nodded. He shared Liam’s concerns, but he had to try something. He’d taken on Nea’s well being when she left with them. He couldn’t watch her shutting down like this.
***
Stepping out of Yellowstone Regional Airport, Tore’s stomach was uneasy. Annike agreed that Nea needed to do this. She was as worried as Tore about her friend. However, there was no way she’d let Tore return to the commune without her. So the five of them now gathered their belongings from the carousel. The flight had taken just a few hours. A stark contrast to the eight months they’d spent zigzagging their way across the country when they fled south, four years ago.
After picking up a rental car, Tore settled everyone in a secluded holiday cabin. It was five miles south of Cody, and the commune was another ten northwest of the town. Apart from when they’d stepped off the plane, Annike and the others hadn’t set foot outside. Tore didn’t want to risk anyone picking up their scent. Once they were comfortable, he gave them strict instructions to stay indoors and keep the windows shut. Then, he set out to a bar the clan used to frequent.
The Wolf You Feed Arc Page 7