Gage

by Emilia Hartley

  Samantha shook her head, much to Connor’s frustration.

  “You look at my grandpa and see a weak old man. I look at him and see a man that would do anything to make sure his people were taken care of,” she said, turning the wheel around a corner. “That house he lives in, he built that with his mate, Annie. You know what that house represents? Loyalty. That’s not the first one he built. Most of the bears that you saw in that den, they owed not only their livelihood but also a debt they couldn’t ever possibly repay. He gave them the chance to live their lives.”

  “Your grandpa built their homes?” Connor wondered, “There was only one house there.”

  Again, Samantha shook her head.

  “You don’t get it. My grandpa not only built their homes but also their lives. They own businesses, they open property, and it’s all thanks to my grandpa. I told you that bears act independent? That’s because my grandpa invested in them. He gave them each a bit of land, he helped them build their homes, and he gave them a life and a future.” She said. “Tell me, what kind of a future do the wolves that live in your den have?”

  Connor was stunned. She was talking bad about his den. But, was she right? The most that they could look forward to was living huddled around fires during the winter, or the sow fields in the spring. It was a simple living, but was it what they really wanted?

  He thought about Crunch, the big man that didn’t belong at all. Didn’t he say that he built his own pack from the ground up? He accepted the castoffs and the exiles. They all came together under his leadership, and even though they were on the outside of society they were still capable of having a life.

  “They have a home, isn’t that enough?” Tess said.

  “I didn’t mean-”

  “Didn’t you?” Tess said, cutting off Samantha. “Wolves aren’t bears. We hunt as a pack. We know that each of us needs the other to move forward. Sure, our life might be a bit simple, but as long as we have each other we move forward.”

  Connor felt emboldened by his woman, but somehow he felt weak when she was able to speak up but he couldn’t. She was a strong woman in her convictions.

  “Listen, what the bears have for my grandpa is respect. A strong man might stand tall and order around a bunch of weaklings, but that’s not a leader. A real leader doesn’t drag the rest of the group behind him; a real leader moves and everyone follows behind him. That’s respect. That’s what I was taught from the day I was born.” Samantha went silent. There was no use discussing the matter any further.

  Connor leaned an arm out of the cabin. The broken glass caused the wind to howl past his ear as they drove. The mid-day sun beat down on him and the heat was a welcome friend, even if the biting wind still tore it all away.

  “Why did you save me?” Samantha asked from the silence.

  “What?” Connor asked.

  “You jumped in the way of the gun to save me,” she said, “Am I really that important to you?”

  “You’re the only one that knew where the bear den was,” Connor replied, with a chuckle. Connor could tell he’d struck a nerve in her as she sunk into the driver’s seat. Honestly, he knew he was lying to himself.

  “Don’t make that face,” he said.

  “What face?” she asked.

  Connor sighed.

  “I said the wrong thing, okay?” he said, “I’m just upset with everything that’s going on and you’re doing your best to make everything right. You don’t deserve that from me.” Connor wasn’t sure what words to use. Samantha had grown on him. She was willing to do things that few of his own boys in the pack would volunteer for and he was starting to consider her a friend. “Listen, Samantha. I had one thing in mind when I saved you, and that was keeping you alive. There was no special reason, no powerful emotion; it was just my need to make sure you survived.”

  “I wonder if I could have done the same,” she said. She sat up a little higher in her seat. “Seeing all those dead wolves in the den was a real eye opener for me. I know I look tough but I hate fighting.”

  “We all hate fighting like this. Anyone that prides themselves on their ability to kill doesn’t belong in my pack. It’s one thing to kill for defense but another to go out and cause trouble.” Connor said.

  Tess kissed Connor on the shoulder then rested up against him.

  “You ask me if you would have done the same thing,” Connor asked, “You’re a strong young woman. I’m glad to call you my friend, even if I did leave you in a prison cell for a few days, I’m sorry for that,” he said sheepishly. “That’s not the point, though. When you have something that you need to protect, like I do, then you won’t hesitate to protect it no matter what.”

  “Thank you,” she said. She returned to her thoughts but she didn’t seem so glum anymore. For that, Connor was thankful.

  Connor wondered where this self-sacrificing nature was coming from. His own father forced him to spend so much time away from his pack in his youth. Something his father said would ‘toughen him up’, a line that was losing all of its meaning. What did he mean by that? Was he really trying to make him not care for the rest of the pack? If so, it seemed to have the opposite effect.

  Maybe he was becoming entwined with the idea of becoming a father. Perhaps his own need to protect the young one that would be a part of his life soon was stamping a new idea in his head about what it meant to lead.

  But, then it hit him. He’d spent so much time away from the pack, pulled apart from lust, alone and frustrated. The nights he spent hungry because he was unable to find enough food gnawed at him. If he’d had others with him he could have easily taken down a deer and feasted like a king. The times when he was frozen, huddled around a tree for warmth made him beg for the heat of a group. Is that what he was supposed to learn? The pack was strength and the alpha was the one to make sure that everyone had a share.

  “This is some shit situation we got ourselves in, isn’t it?” Samantha broke the silence with a laugh. “It almost reminds me of the time my dad caught me with one of the local boys.”

  Tess cocked an eye; Connor leaned forward in his seat, surprised.

  “When you say caught, do you mean …”

  “Caught,” Samantha replied. Her smile lit up her tiny face. She didn’t even look old enough to be dating. She brushed her hair out of her face, the leather of her jacket squeaking as she did.

  Connor and Tess had such looks of surprise that Samantha decided she needed to clarify.

  “You guys know I’m 22, right?” she said.

  “You barely look 18,” Connor replied, shocked. “How long ago was this?”

  “About six months ago,” she said, she looked a little embarrassed but continued to share. “He was sweet; I’d known him for a little while. We would chat, maybe play in the lake. He was super into me, but I wasn’t really havin’ it. Still, I was super horny one day and he was the closest thing.”

  “Are you always so cavalier with your sex life?” Tess asked.

  “Are you?” she retorted.

  Tess was shocked she’d say such a thing, but had to admit she had a point. Granted, Tess had never slept with a guy she wasn’t at least dating.

  “How the hell did your dad find you two?” Connor wondered.

  Tess slapped him in the chest. Why was he so curious about where she got caught? Did she need to put a muzzle on him?

  “Well, my dad was busy around the house and I thought he wasn’t going to be working in his shop. So, we snuck into the shop. I was on the work bench and we were goin’ at it pretty hard. I guess I was being a little loud because when dad came in, he was on a warpath.” She laughed, “I swear to god I had never seen a boy run so fast with his pants around his ankles. I thought he was goin’ to die at first, but I knew I’d be in for the worst of it. Ended up stuck doing chores without a single second of free time … till lately anyway.”

  Tess just pictured Connor trying to run away from her father with his pants around his ankles. It tickled her a bit and
she laughed into her hand. Meanwhile, Connor had his hand on Tess’s leg which he massaged gently. She could tell there was only one thing on his mind. Was he really that easy to turn on?

  “What about you guys? I bet you have a ton of stories,” Samantha said. Her eyes were glued to the road which showed no end in sight.

  “Well, this one time-”

  Connor grabbed Tess’s attention and shook his head from side to side so fast she thought his head might fall off. Tess widened her eyes, wondering why she wasn’t allowed to tell their story.

  “Nevermind,” Tess continued.

  “Oh, come on. I shared an embarrassing story, the least you could do is help make me feel less awkward about it,” Samantha begged. Tess sat still, as did Connor. Eventually Samantha gave up releasing a deep sigh on the steering wheel. “Man, you guys are no fun sometimes. Geez.”

  The car was silent again for a long while. Connor stared out the open window with Tess still leaning on him. They almost didn’t notice the tears running down Samantha’s cheeks.

  “Are you okay?” Tess asked.

  “I miss him,” she said, she brushed the tears away with the sleeve of her jacket which did no good as they were only replaced with more tears.

  “Who is it that you miss? Did you want to talk about it?” Tess released Connor and gripped Samantha around the shoulders.

  “My dad,” she said, “I miss him.”

  “What happened to him?” Connor asked.

  “He died,” she said. Tess hugged her close, or as close as she could while she drove. “It was a hunter. He got wind that my dad was a shifter. Came in like a regular customer. When my dad’s back was turned, the bastard put two barrels in his back. When I saw Eli I thought he might have been the one, but I only saw it happen through the kitchen window. I didn’t get a good look at the one that killed my dad.” She sniffled. “I swore that the next hunter I saw I would tear in half. But, when I saw Eli, I was scared. I couldn’t move, couldn’t shift because of the cast on my leg, I was helpless.”

  She punched at the steering wheel with anger. The truck weaved in the lane. Tess held the wheel to steady the car.

  “I won’t let it happen again,” she said, “This time I’ll be brave. Even if Eli didn’t kill my dad, I still need revenge for my grandma.”

  Tess had no words to console her; only the warmth of her tender touch and whatever love she could provide to the ailing woman. Everyone in the car knew what it meant to lose someone important. Whether a mother, grandmother, father, or friend. Her tears were a tapestry of loss that wove itself together with their own. For a moment they’d become a real family.

  CHAPTER 6

  This wasn’t right. There were supposed to be a ton of bikers here. Mutt’s gang and the remainder of the biker gang that Crunch used to lead should be here. There was no other safe place on the mountain for them to hide. Henry and his bears were making damn sure of that.

  Connor pulled the truck to a stop on the side of the gravel road. Tire marks covered the ground. Dozens of motorcycles must have been here recently but were nowhere to be found anymore. Not a single engine noise could be heard. Just the sweet sound of birds tweeting out their early spring mating calls.

  “I don’t know what’s going on,” he said, “this is weird. I would have thought there’d be at least 50 guys here all ready to attack as soon as we got close.” He said.

  The girls stepped out of the truck, taking in the sights. The tips of the trees were still ashen from the fires that had spread from when Eli’s van was blown up. Down the road, a couple cabins stood but were nowhere near livable.

  Tess turned away. Connor knew it must have been difficult for her to return to somewhere she’d been so powerless before. Even though Connor managed to rescue her, the memories would always haunt her. He wished he could take those thoughts out of her head. Let her return to a quiet, peaceful measure of living.

  “Maybe they’re hiding,” Samantha wondered. She had an adventure here as well, but she never had a knife to her throat.

  “No,” Connor sniffed at the air, “If they were here, you would be able to smell them.” He said. “And, you wouldn’t even need to be shifted for that.”

  “Well, what’s the plan?” she asked.

  Tess gulped down the lump in her throat to join the conversation.

  “Crunch said there were caves around the cabins. I think I remember seeing a few guys walking up behind the larger cabin with some of those crates when I was being brought in as a prisoner,” Tess said.

  Connor reached out to Tess, embracing her. She was holding up well, for what it was worth.

  “That’s my girl,” he said. She struggled for a smile up at him, but the tears in her eyes betrayed her attempt at confidence. “If you want to stay here and guard the truck, it’s fine. You don’t have to go any further than this.”

  “No,” she said, adamantly, “Stop treating me like I’m helpless. I might be scared but I’m going to help. My brother might be here.” She scanned the forest and the road. “Besides, there might not be anyone here anyway.”

  Connor pulled Tess close to his chest in apology. Tess was right, and they needed all the help they could get. He shot Samantha a weary look. It was possible to hope for the best, but Connor was used to planning for the worst. Occasionally, what you plan for wouldn’t turn out to be the worst of it, either.

  “Sam,” Connor said, “Can you keep her company? I’m going to scout ahead.”

  Samantha nodded so Connor released Tess into her care. At least they would be together if someone were to show. He would have taken them with him, but going it alone would allow him opportunities he otherwise wouldn’t have.

  He tore off his shirt while the girls watched. Tess tilted her head. Samantha did the same.

  “I’m not here to give you girls a show,” he replied.

  “Then why are you giving us one?” Tess asked, biting her lip.

  Connor grunted and continued to undress. He kicked off his boots, but paused before taking off his jeans. Samantha was lifting her head up to get a better view. Feeling embarrassed, Connor turned around before removing his last article of clothing.

  Stupid girls.

  The scar on his leg stung terribly, but it was nowhere near as bad as it was. The stitches had already been pulled out so there was no way it would come apart now. He called out to his wolf and it obeyed. His vision shimmered as it took over. Cracking bones, snapping muscles, and tearing at his raw sinew. They ripped and reorganized beneath his skin. Fur sprouted from every pore, his hands shrunk and fused into paws with tough nails. His mouth jutted forward to become his muzzle.

  He stalked into the now familiar wood. He’d passed through this way just under a week ago, so the knowledge was still fresh in his memory. The thick underbrush snagged on his fur causing his progress to be slow, but he needed to be slow.

  His senses were telling him that there were strangers about, humans. The only way for a human to beat any kind of shifter was with silver. The smell of sulfur from gunpowder was overpowering. They must have been sitting on more ammunition than they knew what to do with. This could be bad.

  He paused when he heard footsteps through the wood. If it was a guard, he would have to deal with it quickly. He got low, ducking behind a bush as the leather vested biker came into view. The insignia on the vest was the exact same one on Samantha’s jacket, the jacket Alex had given her. He had a rifle slung low over his shoulder. Still, as a human he was weak, but if that rifle had silver bullets there would be no contest, Connor would lose. He couldn’t risk a head on fight.

  As the biker past, Connor leapt from the woods. His large, powerful alpha body easily knocked the man clean out. With his jaws he bent the tip of the barrel so it couldn’t be used to harm anyone else.

  That solved one question, was the base abandoned? Surely not. If there is one guard, there are bound to be more. He decided to be even more cautious than before.

  As he pushed his way throug
h the dense forest, he emerged by the lake. The water was choppy from the light wind that was nipping at Connor’s fur. The cabins that dotted the hillside before were burnt to a crisp. The large cabin that stood proud in the middle of the grassy hill was licked with cinders but still usable. Maybe they were still staying there?

  A row of motorcycles stood against the side of the single road that led into the camp. Connor counted eight in total. Considering he’d already knocked out one of the guys, if the rest were single riders then there was a chance he only had 7 more to deal with.

  He edged through the forest, around the lake and toward the outer rim of the camp. He sniffed again at the air. Two more guards were close. He could hear their voices on the wind. Their terrible body odor didn’t help either. When he found them, he almost wanted to roll his eyes at how stupid they were. They were just sitting on the sand near the lake, chatting about women.

  Connor probably would have just walked right past them if he were alone, but considering Samantha and Tess were just a way up the lane, he didn’t want to take chances. He pounced, landing a paw on each of them. Their faces smashed into the sand and they fell unconscious.

  If the rest of the guards were as tough as these two then Connor didn’t think he had much to worry about.

  “Hey!” a voice carried on the wind, “We got a wolf!”

  Shit.

  Connor searched around the camp. He’d missed one of the guards lying on the opposite side of the row of motorcycles.

  Not a time to be careless. Shit!

  There was no time for caution now. There were a couple other voices making noise across camp. They’d spotted him for sure. Just deal with the first problem; that was the only thing on his mind. Connor pounced on the nearest biker as he was reaching for his rifle. His head hit the cement, knocking him out like a lightbulb.

  The other two across camp were just shouldering their weapons. Connor ducked a shot from behind the bikes. It pinged into a nearby gas tank. The pungent odor of gasoline stifled his sense of smell. It didn’t matter though, he already had his targets.