Skin Walkers: Monroe

by Bliler, Susan

  Eden knew the type of trap well, she’d discovered a few in her time and had even released a few animals from their confines; however, unlike the trap she was currently caught in, those animals had been afforded the charity of padded jaws lining the serrated edges of the devices that had trapped them.

  She used both hands to compress the release blades, but the jaws didn’t move, and compounding matters was the fact that the pads of her cold wet fingers instantly adhered to the frozen metal trap burning as they stuck to the frigid device.

  She eased the release blades back to their resting position before slowly peeling her fingers from the metal. She was trapped, and if the loss of her fingerprints stung, she didn’t feel it. Waves of nausea were crashing over her as she slowly reclined back in the snow. She couldn’t control the bone jarring convulsions that rattled her slight frame. She shouldn’t be shaking this much, not from the cold. Shit! She knew she was going into shock.

  “Well, well, John look what we got here.”

  Eden’s eyes slid up to find a camo clad man sneering down at her.

  “Ronnie,” the other man began tentatively, “don’t.”

  The man, Ronnie, stepped to within feet of Eden and squatted down smiling at her derisively. “You looking for us?”

  Eden’s eyes darted to her rifle that was buried in the snow just out of her reach. Eden forced her eyes back to Ronnie’s. She’d have to play his game. “Can you guys help me out? I was trailing a wolf, but…” She didn’t finish.

  “Get a loada her.” Ronnie stood and frowned at his partner. “You sure it was a wolf you were chasing? Not a couple of respectable hunters, who were just trying to do their part to keep the wolf population under control?”

  Eden balled her freezing fingers into fists. She’d been trying to give the poachers an out. Fucking morons were too dumb to take it. Her teeth chattered uncontrollably as she spoke, “W-w-what are you t-talking about?” If she played dumb she might just survive.

  “Hey man, let’s go.” The quieter man, John, grabbed his friend’s arm.

  Ronnie jerked free of his friend’s grasp. “We can’t just leave her here. She’s seen our faces.”

  John’s expression turned imploring. “Come on man, look at her. She can’t do anything. Let’s just go. We’ll make an anonymous call from the highway; let them know where to find her.”

  Ronnie’s expression darkened as he squatted at Eden’s feet, using a gloved finger to flick the chain that was looped around the nearest tree. His cold stare met Eden’s. “I’ve got a better idea…”

  ***

  Monroe had left Eden for only a moment. He’d been flying overhead, watching her stalk too far into the woods, when he spotted the injured wolf. He’d left her for only a moment when he heard her scream. Diving to the ground he shifted mid-drop opting for the form of a grizzly, that way he’d be able to defend Eden and still take out the wolf if it came to attack.

  His wet nose flared as he scented the air and raced toward the area where Eden’s fear was the strongest. When he was closer he scented blood…her blood. Enraged he let loose a ferocious roar hoping to stop whatever attack was happening.

  ***

  Whatever the ‘better’ idea was, Eden didn’t find out. There was a deafening roar as a large grizzly crashed through the brush and charged the men.

  Ignoring the screams of the men and the snarling bear, Eden forced herself into a sitting position and made a grab for her rifle. She heard a loud pop and ducked, knowing that one of the men was firing on the bear. A second loud pop rang out as she scrambled to the end of the chain and stretched out, her rifle resting just beyond her reach. Fuck! Come on! COME ON! Without her rifle she was dead. If the bear didn’t kill her, Ronnie surely would.

  She looked back, hoping the length of chain was snagged on something that would allow just a few more inches; instead, she froze at the gruesome sight that met her. Crimson stained the snow-covered area she’d vacated only seconds before. Ronnie lay lifeless. His unblinking eyes were focused skyward, and Eden instantly knew he was dead.

  Long deep gouges scoured the ground, leaving gashes of black earth against the stark white of the snow where the giant grizzly had used the ground for leverage.

  She moved slowly, searching for the bear. She listened, but could only make out faint gasps. Her eyes followed the sound and locked on John, some ten feet from where he’d been standing. His hands were clamped tightly around his throat and his eyes were wide with horror.

  Eden watched the stream of blood that seeped through his tightly clenched fingers; blood pulsed out of him more rapidly with each contraction of his heart. He wasn’t going to make it.

  Still sprawled on her belly, Eden inched her head slowly in the other direction. She had to find the bear. The adrenaline that had coursed through her seconds earlier had eased her shivering, but it slowly began to ebb. She fought to keep her teeth from chattering even as her vision blurred. The pain was getting worse. She eyed her leg and the pool of blood that was forming under her.

  Monroe! Eden silently prayed that he’d heard the gunshots and would come to investigate. Because if the bear didn’t kill her, she was still trapped in a mechanism that she couldn’t escape and she was slowly bleeding out.

  Scanning the area, she found no sight of the bear. Carefully, she slid her hands under her and was just about to push up from the ground when she heard the trees rustle. She stiffened instantly. Seconds later she expelled her breath in a whimper as she heard Monroe’s voice.

  “Eden!”

  Without even looking up, Eden’s muscles went lax as she flattened on the frozen earth. She pointed to her weapon. “G-get the rifle, there’s a grizzly n-n-nearby.”

  Monroe ignored her, grabbing her shoulders and rolling her gently to face him. His eyes scanned her features, “Don’t worry! You’re safe!”

  Eden pointed to the two sprawled men, “Check John.”

  Monroe’s eyes didn’t leave her face. “He’s dead.”

  Eden frowned and jabbed her finger in the direction of the men again, “The far one. He’s still breathing.”

  Monroe eased her back to the ground and Eden thought he’d rush off to check on John. Instead he pulled his gloves off with his teeth and went to the trap. “On the count of three take a deep breath and hold it.”

  “Check John!” Eden demanded angrily.

  “He’s dead Eden.” Monroe’s tone was impatient. “They’re both dead. Now, take a deep breath on the count of three. One, two, three.”

  Eden sucked in a sharp breath and meant to hold it, but when the teeth of the trap were pulled from her flesh she instantly rolled to her side and began dry heaving. When Monroe lifted her shattered leg, her mouth instantly dried and she blinked back the stars that exploded in her sight. Seconds later her, leg was moved again and she couldn’t recover. The bright white snow darkened before her until there was only a slight pinpoint of light left in her vision. It too soon faded as overwhelming warmth enveloped her.

  Chapter 9

  Eden woke several times during the journey down the mountain. The first time she recognized the interior of her truck and wondered where Monroe had parked his vehicle. If he’d come up the road she had, he’d have been blocking her truck from being able to descend down the mountain. The second time she woke she struggled to stay awake. She moaned trying to sit-up from the back bench-seat of the dual-cab truck, but the truck hit a bump and the jarring motion lifted her broken leg and dropped it heavily. She gasped and swore she was going to be sick; instead she went back out.

  When Eden finally came to, she was in a hospital room. The interior of the room was dimly lit. She licked parched lips before turning to eye the window. It was night and snow was falling. The lone chair in the room was empty, and her door was closed.

  She fumbled for the nurse-call button and pressed it.

  A few moments later, a short blonde haired woman wearing a beaming smile entered the room. “Oh good! You’re awake. How you
feeling?”

  Eden licked her lips again, her tongue too dry to offer any moisture. She cleared her throat. “Fine. Is this Great Falls?”

  The nurse smiled at her. “Yep. And I’m Robbie. Do you remember what happened?” Robbie pulled a clip board from a nearby table and pretended to inspect it, but Eden could tell she was under the nurse’s scrutiny.

  “There was a bear. Grizzly. And two poachers.” Eden’s brows shot up. “Did the one survive?”

  Robbie shook her head her lips forming a moue, “No, sadly both men died at the scene.”

  “What about the bear?”

  “Well, no word on the bear.”

  “Jesus!” Eden moaned, “The bear was hit. It’s probably suffering as we speak.”

  “Well, so are you.”

  For the first time, Eden looked down the length of her body to assess the damage. Her leg was bound in white padding from her knee down to her ankle and it was held in place by some weird metal contraption. “Broken leg?”

  Robbie snorted, “It’s a little more than a broken leg. Your femur was shattered. You’re scheduled for surgery tomorrow. In the mean time,” Robbie turned to eye the door over her shoulder, “You’ve got some visitors that have been itching to get in here. You up for a short visit?”

  Eden eyed the door and sighed reluctantly, “Yeah, let ‘em in.” She expected Micah, Cole, Ransum, and Peyton to enter. Instead, Robert and Kevin both walked slowly into the room. Eden’s eyes flashed behind them. “Where are the kids?”

  “They’re fine, Edie.” Robert supplied, “How you feeling?”

  Eden let her head fall back, “Like shit!”

  “What happened?” Kevin demanded.

  She licked her lips again wishing for a drink of water. “They got the jump on me. I didn’t find the wolf, I didn’t save the grizzly, and I got myself snared by two men who were going to kill me.” She shook her head as self-loathing washed over her.

  “Fuck the wolf and the bear, Edie!”

  She looked up with rounded eyes at Kevin’s outburst.

  “You could have died out there, and all you care about are those damn animals. You’re so…you’re so… You’re so nearsighted!”

  She laughed at Kevin’s rare show of emotion.

  “He’s right,” Robert admonished. “I shouldn’t have let you go up there. It was dumb.”

  Hearing Robert’s own self-recrimination, Eden felt bad. She respected Rob and didn’t want to ever put him in a position where he’d felt pressured into doing anything he wasn’t comfortable with.

  “I’m sorry, Rob,” she apologized. “You were right. I should have waited until tomorrow to go up.” Her eyes flicked to Kevin as he crossed his arms over his chest. “And you’re right too, Kevin. Sometimes I get so caught up with protecting these animals that I forget to protect myself.” She shrugged, “Which wouldn’t be too bad if I didn’t have four kids at home that relied on me to make it back every night.” Her eyes darted to the hall. “Are the kids coming in?”

  When Robert shot a glance at Kevin and both men fidgeted nervously she knew something was up.

  “Where are my kids?”

  Robert spoke first. “They’re with Monroe StoneCrow.”

  “What?” She tried to sit up but her leg hanging in the contraption prevented the act. “Why are my kids with him?”

  “He brought you into the E.R.,” Kevin explained. “Once the doc came out Rob and I were discussing what to do with the kids and Mr. StoneCrow overheard us. He said he knew you and offered to send his hired help to retrieve them and take them to his place.”

  “My kids are at Hunter’s cabin?”

  Robert inched closer, “No. They’re at StoneCrow estates!”

  She wanted to roll her eyes at the sound of awe in his voice.

  “Monroe’s offered to keep them there with him and his staff until you recover.”

  “No!” Eden glared at Robert. “You go get my kids and bring them to me!”

  “They’re fine where they are, Edie,” Kevin was back to crossing his arms again in a show of disapproval. “You’ll be in here for days, hell maybe even weeks. I can’t take your kids. You’ve seen my place; I just don’t have the room.”

  “I offered to take them,” Robert added hurriedly. “Janelle and the kids wouldn’t have minded having them but Monroe refused.”

  “Since when is he Monroe?” She wasn’t beneath taking cheap shots when she felt so betrayed.

  “Well, Mr. StoneCrow,” Robert continued. “He’s got that great estate with plenty of room and he’s rich and has servants. The kids’ll love it there.”

  “Christ!” she groaned inwardly as her eyes flooded with tears. She was trussed up in a hospital while her children were left with a total stranger.

  “It’ll be alright, Edie.” Robert’s voice was sad, “Don’t cry ‘kay?”

  “Gentlemen.”

  Eden looked up at the deep voice she’d recognize anywhere. Her eyes locked on Monroe’s as he stood just inside the door.

  “If you wouldn’t mind leaving us.”

  As if they were mindless drones, both Robert and Kevin smiled weakly at Eden before turning and exiting the room.

  Monroe closed the door behind them and Eden tore into him before he even turned to face her. “I want my kids here now!”

  “No.”

  She ground her teeth together. “It wasn’t a request!”

  “They’re at my estate Eden. They are warm, fed, safe, and together. It’s the best option you’ve got right now.”

  Tears threatened again but she couldn’t check them. “Peyton is sick. She needs me.”

  “Micah told me,” he crossed and pulled a chair from where it rested against the wall. He must have changed since the rescue because he was back in his typical tailored suit. He looked intimidating. No wonder he had Robert and Kevin jumping through hoops.

  “I have medical personnel on staff and there are mothers and other children that reside there.” As a matter of fact, his onsite infirmary had been his first choice for Eden, but when he’d contacted King through the Walker’s telepathic means of communication known at the mystic, the Sentry had quickly talked him out of taking Eden to StoneCrow. Monroe had wanted the bodies disposed of and surgery prepped, but King had explained that her co-workers would be waiting for word. He made clear that there would be no way to explain Eden’s injuries and dispose of the bodies, especially if she came to with a different story. King was right. Monroe was forced to play by the book on this one and it nearly killed him. The drive to town had been fucking torture. Scenting Eden’s agony even in her unconscious state had him partially shifting forms all the way to Great Falls. He couldn’t control his anger, his temper, or his fierce need to protect her and to ease her pain.

  The door clicked open and Eden recognized the large man that entered as King, Monroe’s body guard. King didn’t look at her. He simply took a place at Monroe’s side and nodded once at the CEO.

  Monroe’s eyes left his Sentry and found Eden’s. “We’re going to transfer you to the estate in two days. I’d hoped to get you there tomorrow but the surgeon insists on monitoring you here post-op.”

  “I can’t go to StoneCrow. I just need to get my kids and…and go home.” The argument sounded weak even to her own ears.

  “Think of the children,. Eden. What’s in their best interest?”

  He was right, of course, and that made her all the more angry. The heart monitor attached to her picked up its pace as her anger grew. She looked down at her leg, “I want this thing off!”

  Monroe simply smiled that I-don’t-fucking-think-so smile but it was quickly wiped away when Eden tried to get up.

  “I’m not staying here. Peyton’s sick…”

  Monroe was on his feet and pressing her back into the bed. It didn’t take much effort and was a testament to just how weak she was. “Calm down.” He looked over his shoulder and nodded once.

  “She doesn’t like strangers,” Eden cried.<
br />
  Moments later Nurse Robbie was back and was injecting a syringe of something into one of the tubes that was attached to her arm.

  “Don’t,” she didn’t even get to reach for the Nurse before Monroe wrapped strong hands around hers and ordered Robbie and King from the room. When they were finally alone Monroe lifted a hand to wipe the tears from Eden’s cheek and was relieved when her breathing slowed and her eyes grew droopy. “I’ll take care of the children, Eden. I swear on my life, I’ll care for them as if they were my own. Sleep.”

  She struggled to stay awake, hating that everyone followed his commands and now her own damn body was following suit. Her eyes drifted shut on the thought that she was going to castrate him once she was back on her feet.

  Chapter 10

  Whether it was her injuries or the fact that between her job and taking care of four children she’d worked herself to the brink of exhaustion Eden didn’t know. What she did know was that she couldn’t manage to stay awake for more than a few fleeting moments at a time. When she was finally able to keep her eyes open for longer than mere seconds, it was to discover Monroe sitting in the chair at her bedside but it wasn’t the same chair or the same room.

  “How you feeling?” he asked leaning closer.

  “Where am I?”

  “StoneCrow Manor. How are you feeling?” he questioned again.

  “Hungry.” Her voice was hoarse from lack of use and need for water.

  Standing in a gracefully fluid movement, Monroe turned to the bedside table and poured a glass of water from a pitcher. Then he eased a strong hand behind her head, lifting her to help her drink. “Food is on its way.”

  Drinking her fill Eden pulled back and Monroe returned the nearly empty glass to the table.

  “My children?”