by Terry Spear
She started preparing ham sandwiches for lunch and was glad that Rourke had helped foot the bill. When Ashton and Michael ate her out of house and home, it was bad enough, but at least Michael always brought in an income, too.
Hunter's shoulder seemed okay, but he appeared disquieted about something else. He and Rourke had shared a look between them after checking out the house, although it was fleeting enough it had been barely noticeable, but she suspected something was wrong. Had the intruder been here again? She suspected so.
Ashton was oblivious, happy to be one of the "gang." She guessed maybe one of his problems was he had never fit in with most anyone, and for whatever reason, he had latched onto her brother. Hunter was more of a leader figure, and Ashton seemed to need his kind of guidance.
"Tessa," Hunter called out.
She set the bread on the kitchen counter and hurried into the living room. "Are you feeling badly?"
Still looking weary, Hunter was sitting up on the couch.
"Why don't you lie back down?" she asked, touching his good shoulder.
His expression uncomfortably serious, he motioned to the couch. "We need to talk."
She didn't like those words. They were the same the sheriff spoke when he informed her he had arrested her brother for murder. She stood rigid.
Hunter took her hand and eased her onto the couch next to him. He draped his arm around her shoulders and his free hand held one of hers in her lap. "I've been so wrapped up in this business with the stalker, I haven't talked to you about some things I need to."
She barely breathed. Did he remember who he was?
"When I went after the wolf--"
"The Rottweiler?" she asked, her voice and brows arched.
"The wolf. I discovered the place where I was pushed off the cliffs. I need to return there, to discover clues of why I was thrown from there."
Her heart raced. "Do you know who did it?"
"I remember there were three men, but I didn't know them, and I don't know why they did it. I might have deserved it. I don't have any clue. I just wanted you to be aware of the fact I need to return there. Maybe seeing the place will help the rest of my memories return. I'll take Rourke with me, but I want you and Ashton to stay here."
"Not right now. You can't leave until you're perfectly healed." She hated how desperate she sounded. "You haven't seen these men again, have you? Is that why you need Rourke? Why don't you call the sheriff? Even if these men were mad at you, they had no right pushing you off a cliff. That's attempted murder."
"I'll deal with it, Tessa."
"You're not invincible, Hunter. When will you get that through your thick head?"
He smiled and melted some of the icy worry collected in the pit of her stomach, but she still couldn't shake loose of all her concerns.
"Listen, there's another matter Rourke and I were anxious about," Tessa said.
Ashton opened the front door and he and Rourke walked inside.
"Window's done," Rourke announced. "We're not interrupting anything, are we?" He almost looked like he hoped they had.
"I was just about to tell Hunter another of our concerns. About the guy who disappeared after he rang the doorbell. We opened the door and the wolf jumped on you. Had he killed the man first and dragged his body off?"
"The guy got away," Hunter said. "When I was fighting with the wolf, I saw the man looking scared to death in the cab of his truck. Then he drove off."
"And he didn't offer to help you?" Tessa asked, frowning, not believing someone could be that horrible.
"Some people are afraid of dogs," Hunter said.
Especially when it was a wolf. But still, couldn't he have done something to help Hunter? "So what did his truck look like? Who was he?"
Hunter shrugged his good shoulder. "I didn't get much of a chance to look. Phone lines were down or I'm sure he would have called for help."
"I saw another wolf on the back patio last night when I was getting a glass of water for your fever. He wasn't the one I'd hit with the fireplace tongs though."
Hunter frowned. "Can you describe him?"
"Darker gray and beige, white mask, no blood on nose. He was sitting, watching me as I looked out the window. That's it. I didn't see any wounds on him, but he might have had some somewhere. Where he was sitting was dark. Oh, and he was a little smaller than the one who bit you. Was that what the wolf looked like that fought the other?"
Hunter nodded. "Yeah."
But she could tell by the way he seemed to puzzle over the matter that he didn't think so.
"Lunch ready soon?" Ashton asked. "We're going to install the new doorknobs next."
"As soon as you're finished, the sandwiches will be ready," Tessa said.
"I'll help you in a minute, Ashton. Be right back." Rourke went out back and Ashton hurried to join him.
Hunter ran his fingers over Tessa's hand with a reassuring touch. "So where and how did Bethany die?"
"Oh, I guess you wouldn't know. Like you, she was pushed off a cliff. Right beside a burned-up pine tree, about six or seven miles north of here. But of course, she didn't survive the fall."
Hell. The same place the grays had thrown Hunter off the cliff?
They would probably come in a pack the next time. He didn't want Tessa out of the house, ever, until he took care of the menace. Now with this newest revelation about Bethany, he again wondered if the stalker, Yoloff, had something to do with her death to get Michael out of the way so he could go after Tessa.
"You look pale. Are you all right?" Tessa touched Hunter's forehead. "No fever, thank goodness."
"That's the same place where I was shoved from the cliff."
Her eyes grew big and her lower lip quivered. "No," she whispered. "Do... do you think the same guys who pushed you could have killed Bethany? We've got to tell the sheriff."
"No, we can't."
"But we have to so we can free Michael."
"They may not have been the ones who'd thrown her from there. Besides what would I tell the sheriff? That everything I've said is a lie?" Hunter ran his thumb over her hand, trying to pacify her, wishing he could reassure her. "Then what would he believe? Maybe I did it."
"But Bethany's murder happened months ago."
"Yes, and then here I was at the same crime scene months later. Who's to say I wasn't the one who did it, and then like murderers will often do, I came back to investigate the area where I'd committed the crime?"
"You couldn't have done it. You didn't." Her eyes filled with tears and his stomach clenched.
"You're right, I didn't. Three men pushed me off that same cliff. But I don't know who they were, where I'm really from, or what my last name is even. How will the sheriff believe any of it?"
She stiffened her back and folded her arms. "Why did you and Rourke lie about the wolf?"
Hell, what was he to say now?
"I'm an advocate for wolf rights. They cull out the weak and old, unlike human hunters who target the biggest and healthiest elk or deer. Humans kill the prime stock that would provide for more offspring. Wolves go after the easier prey."
"Like me? You?"
"That's different."
"But this one's so dangerous."
"Tessa, hunters won't discriminate. Believe me in this. They'd come here in droves, killing anything that moved, hoping to get a chance to take down the devil wolf. I'll take care of it."
"A Rottweiler." Tessa shook her head. "Dumbest story Rourke could have made up. He should have at least thought of a dog that looked more like a wolf--that had fur even! Let me finish making lunch, but we've got to figure out what we're going to do about clearing Michael so we can get him released from prison."
"Did Bethany have a cabin near that burned-up pine tree?"
"About a mile north of there."
"Rourke and I'll check it out. But I mean it, Tessa. You and Ashton have to stay here in the house at all times when we go."
"All right." As long as the two of them wer
e together, Tessa figured they would be okay once Hunter had healed up.
She returned to the kitchen and finished the sandwiches. Looking out the window, she saw Rourke and Ashton talking and examining the ground. So much for replacing the back doorknob.
"After we eat, I'll look at your injury and see if the bandages need changing yet," she called out to Hunter.
He didn't answer. She peeked into the living room. The front door was wide open, letting in the frigid air. He was gone. Her heart in her throat, she rushed to the door and looked outside. Hunter was examining the work Ashton and Rourke had done on Michael's window.
"Jeez, Hunter, you about gave me a heart attack."
He smiled. "They did a super job."
"Come in here before you get sick again."
He saluted her.
"Wrong hand," she grumbled.
"Can't use the other. Shoulder's too stiff."
"Oh. I was afraid you'd forgotten how a Navy SEAL salutes."
"Navy SEALs don't salute. Not while they're on a mission and undercover."
"Ha! Like you'd know. So what are you, really?"
* * *
When Rourke and Ashton came back inside to eat lunch, Hunter could tell Rourke had some news for him. Somehow he had to slip away to speak to him in private without Tessa fussing about his injury. But after a nap. He was feeling weary again. Another nap with Tessa would definitely help.
"Find anything?" Tessa asked as she set out the sandwiches.
"Gray fur," Ashton said. "Rourke's got great eyesight. He ought to go into the Navy SEALs."
"Where had they been?" She sat down and everyone followed her lead.
"Everywhere. He found fur down on the beach clinging to driftwood, on the back porch, front porch, by the shed. Just everywhere," Ashton said.
Hunter finished off his food in record time and scooted his plate toward Tessa. "Got any more?"
"Why don't you let her at least eat her food first?" Rourke asked.
She smiled. "While Hunter's incapacitated, I don't mind babying him. But after that..."
Hunter gave Rourke a satisfied smirk.
Tessa glanced at Rourke's hand. "Your bite. It's all healed up."
"Guess it wasn't as bad as it appeared. The antibiotics helped, too."
She stared at his hand and then got up from the chair. "It looked terrible before." Taking Hunter's plate, she made him another sandwich and returned to the table.
Hunter gave Rourke an irritated look. Keeping a new lupus garou in line was a chore. He would have to tell him everything he could and couldn't do. Like remove a bandage only after a sufficient amount of time had passed to give the illusion the injury was still healing when around humans. Of course, the bandage scenario was sure to come up with Tessa again where Hunter's shoulder was concerned, but he would handle it with a lot more finesse.
Rourke looked a little sheepish and continued to eat in silence.
Ashton said, "We went to the cliff where you pushed the wolf off, but didn't see any sign of it."
"Tide had to have washed it out," Hunter said. "We'll take a look north of here and see what we can find."
"You're not thinking of exploring with Rourke this afternoon, are you?"
"Another storm's coming in," Rourke warned. "We've got to look around before that happens."
"When did you watch the weather report? I haven't heard a thing about it." Tessa finished her sandwich and sat back against the chair.
"At my place. Anyway, you can feel the air growing colder again and smell the wintry moisture in the air."
Hunter gave Rourke a warning look, but he wasn't paying any attention to him.
"I'd say we were going to get sleet and snow before nightfall."
"Now you're guessing?" Tessa began clearing away the dirty dishes. "I thought you got this from the weather report."
Hunter finished his lunch. "Why don't you show me what you found, Rourke? Ashton can stay with Tessa and change the door locks."
"I want to go, too." She shoved the plates in the dishwasher.
"Later, Tessa." Hunter left the table and grabbed Michael's field jacket. But when he couldn't put it on by himself, Rourke helped.
Tessa watched, her arms folded, her mouth a thin grim line. "You shouldn't be going out there."
"Come on, Tessa. You can help me with the doorknobs." Ashton grabbed a paper sack and headed for the front door.
"You got one for both the front door and back? He only seems to have a key to the back door."
"Just to be safe. And we bought security glass for the window in Michael's room. The guy won't be able to break it again. We can replace all of them with that glass if Hunter thinks it's a good idea, and you want to foot the bill."
Hunter figured once he got rid of the stalker menace, she wouldn't have any more trouble. He went outside with Rourke while Ashton occupied Tessa.
"What did you find?"
"Hell if I know. You're the expert lupus garou. I discovered dozens of wolves' scents, tons of wolves' prints, thousands of wolf fur fibers, and a smattering of wolves' urine in various places. So you tell me what it all means."
Hunter hadn't realized the smells would probably overload Rourke's new abilities. From birth, lupus garou filtered out the smells and sounds, but he guessed the sudden onslaught would confuse someone who had just been turned and at the same time, the enhanced abilities could be a distraction.
Hunter led Rourke down to the beach. "If you get injured, from now on, hide the fact you are, or keep the injury bandaged for longer than necessary. And don't show off your abilities to humans."
He thought that went without saying, but apparently not.
Rourke scowled. "I can't help it. I kept seeing fur everywhere. I forgot Ashton couldn't, and I didn't even realize how it might sound to him."
"You always have to remember what we are. When we're in a wolf pack, no problem. But around humans, watch yourself, always."
"I was just turned, remember? I haven't had much time to get used to this." Rourke looked up at the clouds. "I can't see it for the gray skies, but I can feel the moon's strong pull. I keep wanting to strip off my clothes and run naked through the woods. It's driving me crazy."
Hunter bent down to check out a piece of fur caught on driftwood. "Later tonight. You and I will take a run, and I'll show you what it's all about. That should break you of the urge for a while."
"What about your shoulder?"
"It won't be properly healed for a couple of more days, but the exercise will do it good, give it a stretch. Getting out of Tessa's sight for a couple of hours is the problem. I'll take a nap when we get back. We'll have supper, and then after she's gone to bed, we'll take a run."
Rourke motioned to the area. "So what do you make of all this?"
"I've counted six different gray wolves that have left their mark. The three I fought and three others who seem familiar, but I can't recall why."
"Great. Can we fight them all off?"
Two shots rang out from the front porch of the house.
"Tessa!" Hunter's heart pounded against his ribs as he bolted up the rocky path with Rourke hot on his heels.
Three more shots were fired and a wolf yelped twice before Hunter barreled through the living room, concerned Ashton might shoot them if they came around the side of the house.
Tessa was holding the rifle, getting ready to fire again, the weapon propped against her shoulder, when Hunter saw Ashton sprawled out on the front porch, his hand bloodied, his face pallid.
"Hell," Hunter said under his breath. If the damned wolf had turned Ashton... Hunter took the rifle from Tessa.
She was shaking so hard, he thought she might collapse, her own face flushed, but tears filled her eyes. She dropped to her knees and held Ashton's uninjured hand. "Ashton, can you hear me?"
Rourke took the rifle inside, and Hunter crouched beside Tessa. "He'll be all right."
She started to cry and her tears undid him. He wrapped his arms arou
nd her, her body still trembling.
"I... I think I hit the wolf twice. At least he yelped twice. But... oh, Hunter, he's got to be rabid."
"What are we going to do?" Rourke asked.
"Let's get Ashton inside."
"We have to take him to the clinic in town, or to the hospital in the city. He's got to be treated for rabies," Tessa insisted.
Hunter crouched to lift Ashton, but Rourke grabbed his arm and stopped him. "You can't reinjure that shoulder. I'll lift him."
"I'll help," Tessa said.
"You get the door, Tessa. I'll just use my good shoulder." Hunter hated playing the part of a damned invalid even if Rourke was right. He needed to heal so he could be prepared to fight again, as bold and rash as the lupus garous were getting.
Rourke lifted Ashton's torso, his gaze shooting up to meet Hunter's while Hunter carried Ashton's feet. Yeah, another ability. More strength. Rourke smiled. At least he seemed pleased with the change. Now Hunter had to deal with Ashton, damn it. What the hell was wrong with the lupus garou? Every time they changed a human who had family, it could cause problems. Although there was a slight chance the wolf hadn't turned Ashton.
"We've got to take him to the clinic at least." Tessa locked the front door after them.
"We've got the rabies vaccine and antibiotics with us." Hunter helped carry Ashton into Michael's room. "Rourke will give him a shot. If you'll get some soap and water for the bite, we'll take care of it."
Tessa hurried out of the room and down the hall.
Hunter rushed to wrap Ashton's hand in a towel to hide the bite from Tessa, although he was sure she had seen enough of the damage. When she returned, Hunter took the washcloth and water from her, then handed it to Rourke.
Ashton was scowling and alert. "Bloody damn wolf. Didn't even see him coming as I finished changing out the doorknob. Thank god he didn't get Tessa."
But most likely he was trying to. Hunter was sure they had frustrated the bastard because they had left the house the night before and were gone for so long, and now had another "guard" to keep Tessa safe.
"Come on." Hunter took hold of Tessa's hand. "You can't have slept well last night, and I'm feeling dog tired again. What about you?"
She looked back at Ashton as Hunter led her out of the room. "We've had this discussion before." Her gaze shifted to Hunter. "You're right, I didn't sleep well in that hard chair at the hospital, and when I rested with you, I kept feeling like the nurses would catch us. I must have dropped off right before Ashton walked in on us though. Wouldn't you know."