The wolf looked closely at him for a few long moments and then with a rapid shimmer, she transformed. A young woman, thin with dark hair, lay naked in the brush. She panted in pain, her left leg bending in one too many places. He saw bones protruding from her calf, an agonizing wound. Blood covered her chest and dripped down her arm from a gash across her right shoulder blade.
“You’re not Wolf,” she said fearfully. She’d known the hunter was Human before she shifted into her human form. She’d taken an enormous risk, but somehow he knew what she was.
“Nope. But it runs in the family. Are you local?” The hunter removed his bright vest and long jacket then put the vest back on.
Agony carried through her voice to him as she replied. “No. I’m from Montana. I was driving through and my car went off the road.”
“My grandma’s one of the local Pack. Let’s get you somewhere safe, and I’ll call her.” He helped her into the coat while she cringed with every movement of her leg. “I can’t take you home. My wife doesn’t know about Wolves. But we’ll figure it out. My name’s Leroy.”
“I’m Sierra. I’m glad you found me.” She looked out of place with the coat around her and bare legs sticking out, one of them broken. She looked less out of place than without it.
“Me too. You came close to being a trophy on someone’s wall.” Leroy said gravely. If killed in wolf form, she would remain in wolf form. Whenever he saw a wolf pelt, he wondered sickeningly if the animal was a relative or friend.
“I didn’t have much choice,” she replied with thin lips. “My car was down a ravine, and I couldn’t see the road. I didn’t think anyone would find me. I couldn’t walk on one leg, but I made it this far on three.”
Leroy nodded at her leg. “That looks bad.”
She bit her lip. “It hurts.”
“I’ve never set a broken bone before. I can try if you want, or we can get you out of here and call for help.”
She thought for a moment. “Let’s get out of here.”
He nodded and retrieved his gun, hanging it off his back. She flinched as he picked it up before remembering he wouldn’t hurt her. He returned and wrapped his arm around her waist. She draped hers around his shoulder and gripped his vest tightly. “Ready?” She nodded and closed her eyes. Together they heaved her up onto one good foot. She whined slightly but didn’t call out. Leroy admired her fortitude.
“How far is your vehicle?” she asked, pale and trembling but standing solid on her one good leg. They walked along the trail slowly, looking like a strange adaptation of a three-legged race.
“It’s about a mile away,” he apologized.
“I can make it.” She gritted her teeth. “Thank you for not shooting me.”
“Keep your nose up,” he suggested. “It’s deer season, and hunters are out. I’ll never hear the end of it if people find out I found a naked woman in the woods.” He grinned at her.
Her lips twitched in a near smile. “It would make a great story. You’d be a hero.” She had a sense of humor. “But I’d rather not explain to the police why I’m naked.”
“I’d rather not explain any of this to my wife. She’s got more teeth than some Wolves I know,” Leroy agreed.
The conversation distracted her from the pain. “Why haven’t you told your wife about us?”
Others had asked him the same question, and Leroy usually only gave the simple answer. “I love my grandma, but it’s not the life I want.”
“It’s not for everyone.” Sierra could understand that.
For some reason he decided to elaborate with this woman. “My grandma who’s Wolf is really my Great-Great-Great Grandma. My Grandma Sara was her Great Granddaughter. Grandma Sara used to tell me stories about Wolves. She lived in Pack as a child, and her dad moved her away from all of that when she was young, but when she grew up she wanted a little of it back. She never became Wolf, but she was part of the pack. She loved it, and I loved the stories she told me. But it’s a crazy world and a crazy life. It’s not what I want. I don’t have any kids, so there’s no one to pass it on to anyway. There’s no reason to drag my wife into it.”
“I can’t imagine not being Wolf,” she said through gritted teeth as her foot hit against a root.
“I can’t imagine being anything but a silversmith,” Leroy replied.
She tried to laugh but it hurt too much. “Silversmith. That’s funny.”
“Yeah,” he replied. “I’m glad that myth isn’t true. Grandma would never visit.”
“What’s your grandma like?”
“She’s a fine woman. The best. As soon as we get somewhere with cell service, I’ll call her.”
Sierra said, “Wait.” And Leroy froze. “I smell a wolf.”
“A Wolf like you?” Leroy got his hopes up.
“He doesn’t smell like a grey wolf, so he must be like me.” she said, knowing only grey wolves lived in these mountains. She stiffened slightly, nervous. They looked for the Wolf through the trees, and Sierra spotted him first. “There. That’s an Ethiopian Wolf.” Leroy couldn’t see what her sharper eyes saw, but Ethiopian Wolves were rare, and only one lived in the area.
“It must be Kato,” he told her. “Don’t worry. He’s a friend.” Now in view, he saw a reddish wolf with white markings leaping at top speed towards them. “Hello, Uncle.” He greeted the Wolf who skidded to a stop in front of them and shifted into his human form. An ancient black man with long tangled grey hair and beard appeared, fully naked. Sierra gasped, realizing she looked upon a legend.
“Greetings, Nephew. We must hurry. Hunters are near.” Kato took the woman gently in his arms and carried her as carefully as possible while rushing through the woods. Leroy trotted beside them. They reached the pickup much sooner than anticipated, Sierra’s face white with pain. Leroy opened the truck door and Kato placed the bewildered woman inside.
“Thank you. Aren’t you coming with us?” She asked the old Wolf as he shifted back into his wolf form.
Leroy answered for the one without vocal cords. “Kato won’t ride in cars. Thank you, Uncle. I’ll get her safely to your packmates. Be safe out there.”
Kato blinked and lowered his head affectionately before turning and bounding into the trees. Leroy ran around the truck, grabbing a cooler from the back before jumping in. He placed the cooler between himself and the woman and retrieved keys from beneath the seat. Sierra sat stunned from the encounter. Still she thought to button the coat higher around her neck so no one could see she wore nothing under it.
“There’s food and water in here,” he nodded at the cooler. “Help yourself.”
She opened the cooler and pulled out two sandwiches, offering one to Leroy. He waved it off. “You eat it all.”
“Thank you.” She breathed an enormous sigh of relief and ate ravenously. “Oh my God. I didn’t know how I was going to get out of that mess.” she said between bites.
“You’re welcome. I’m glad I found you and not some other hunter.” He relaxed too now that he had her safely in the truck. Next he had to deliver her to his grandma’s pack.
“That was Kato,” she said out of nowhere.
“Yep. You’ve heard of him?” Leroy asked curiously.
“Everyone’s heard of Kato. He’s your uncle?”
Leroy nodded and maneuvered at a normal pace along the forest service road. “His brother and my grandma were mates. Kato comes to see me sometimes. What do you mean everyone’s heard of Kato?”
Sierra looked at Leroy with a stunned expression. “Kato’s a legend among Wolves.”
“Huh. I didn’t know.” Before long they reached the paved road. “There’s a cell phone in the glove compartment. Would you pull it out?” She did as he asked and set it in his hands. “I’ll bet you’re tired. Why don’t you sleep. I’ll call for help as soon as we have cell service.”
Now that she could relax, exhaustion had begun to set in. She nodded and leaned her head against the window, asleep in moments. Leroy relaxed as wel
l.
They reached a stretch where cell reception came through sometimes, and he pulled off the road. His cell showed two bars. Sierra woke and looked around. “Where are we?”
“Above Idaho City. I can call from here.”
Sierra heard both sides of the conversation, as Leroy knew she could. “Hi, Grandma.”
“Hello, Leroy. How are you?” She sounded distracted.
“I’m just fine, but someone needs your help. She’s from another pack, and she’s injured.”
“Thank the Gods you found her,” Kathryn replied with a sigh. “Kato contacted us this morning. Billie and Amy are already headed your way. Where are you?” He described the location and heard her relay the information to someone else. He only had to wait a moment before she responded. “Stay where you are. They’ll be with you soon. How is she?”
Leroy looked at the pale woman beside him. “Lucky. Her leg is badly broken, and she’s exhausted and hungry.”
“I’m very glad my grandson found you, my dear.” Kathryn spoke to Sierra. “Our Beta and Medic will be there in a few minutes. They’ll take good care of you.”
“Thank you, Ma’am.” Sierra replied politely. “How did you know I was in trouble?”
“Kato contacted us. Billie and Amy were able to head out immediately.”
Sierra couldn’t piece together how that was possible, but she didn’t know this area or these Wolves well enough to know. “Your grandson is a good man. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all of this. I didn’t think I was going to make it out of this one.”
“He’s a very good man. And you are very welcome,” Kathryn replied warmly.
“That might be Billie.” Leroy saw a black Jeep driving towards them. It slowed. “Yep. They’re here. I’ll talk to you later, Grandma.”
“I’ll come visit you soon, my dear.” Kathryn said goodbye.
Sierra strained her eyes for her first sight of the approaching Wolves. The Jeep stopped and two women exited. A tall, sinewy redhead jumped over the side while a shorter brown-haired woman carrying a bag opened the door. Both appeared to be in their thirties, but Wolves aged slowly. They made a beeline for the truck. She felt very vulnerable in someone else’s territory and shrank into the seat.
They approached her side of the pickup, and the shorter woman opened the door. The redhead smelled her fear and stood back several feet to give her room. “Hi. I’m Amy, Pack Medic.” Amy’s bubbly personality eased her a little.
“I’m Sierra.”
“I’m Billie, Beta of the Boise Pack. Hi, Leroy.” The redhead standing behind the Medic appraised her curiously. Sierra shrank even more under her dominant gaze. “Relax, Sierra. We’re not going to hurt you. We’re here to help.”
“Yep.” Amy’s quick hands and acute senses checked the woman over. “I need to set your leg. It’s already starting to heal wrong, and I don’t want to wait. Ever had a broken leg before?”
Adrienne shook her head. “Not like this.”
“I have to re-break it a little, so it’s going to hurt a lot. I need you to trust us. Leroy, would you let Billie take your spot and move her Jeep over here to block the view?” Billie tossed him her keys and circled the truck to trade places with him. Sierra cowered beside the intimidating Wolf.
Billie spoke, firm and gentle, beside her. “Sierra, look at me. You don’t know me, and you don’t know Amy. But you can trust us. You need to trust us. I’m going to hold you down so you don’t accidentally hurt anyone. Understand?” Sierra met her eyes, still afraid. Leroy pulled the Jeep around and came to stand with the strange Wolf who looked pleadingly at him. “Leroy, stay back at least ten feet.”
Leroy looked at the woman he’d pulled out of the woods with concern and backed up. “Is she going to be okay?”
Billie nodded and spoke to both of them. “She’s going to be fine.” Billie guided the woman onto her back so that Amy held the injured leg at the open door. Amy nodded and Billie held Sierra by her arms. Without warning, Amy popped the leg expertly, the bone re-breaking and lining up properly once again. Sierra howled in pain, her eyes wild. She fought Billie, panicking, but the Beta held her easily. “Stop!” Billie growled and the woman stilled, allowing Amy to slip a splint over the broken leg. A tear rolled down her cheek.
“Done!” Amy announced and stepped backwards to join Leroy.
“I’m going to let you go now,” Billie told the traumatized woman, and she nodded. Billie released her, and she lay still for a few moments before sitting up gently. She looked warily between the two Wolves and the Human, took a deep breath and rested her head on the seat behind her.
“That hurt,” she said. Leroy took a step forward hesitantly and looked at Billie. She nodded, telling him he could safely approach. He did and took her by the hand. She squeezed it gratefully. “I wouldn’t have hurt you,” she promised him.
“I know,” he replied, smiling at her certainty. “I’m glad it’s over, though.”
Billie circled around to stand beside Amy. She looked relieved and explained herself to the man and his charge. “An injured Wolf without her packmates in a stranger’s territory is a dangerous creature. I wasn’t taking any chances. Kathryn would skin me alive if I let anything happen to Leroy.”
Amy looked quizzically at Billie. “How does Kathryn know Leroy?”
“Leroy’s her grandson.”
“Oh! Nice to meet ya, Leroy. No wonder you weren’t freaked out by all of this.”
“Nice to meet you too.”
“But you’re not Richard’s grandson, so you must be from her first mate.” Leroy nodded. “You are one lucky girl, Sierra!”
“Tell me about it. When he saw me in the bushes, I thought I was dead. Instead he saved me.”
“Not many Humans around here know about us,” Amy replied gravely. “You’re very lucky. Are you ready for food?”
“Oh, yes.” Amy skipped to the Jeep to retrieve a meal and a bundle of clothes. With Amy’s help, Sierra changed into a wrap-around skirt and T-shirt, handing Leroy his coat.
Billie nodded and turned to embrace Leroy. “Thank you so much. You saved her life. I didn’t know until recently that you’re Kathryn’s descendent.”
“I stay out of your world,” Leroy replied. “But I’m glad I found her instead of another hunter. How did you know to come? Grandma said Kato contacted you.”
“Do you remember the woman I brought into your shop? That’s Sadie, my mate. She and Kato can communicate mentally. He told her, she told me, and we came.”
“But he only found us an hour before you got here. You had to have known before.”
“Kato knows things,” Amy helped. “He probably went to find you after he told Sadie to send help.”
He nodded, thinking. “My Grandpa Isingoma did things like that, according to Grandma Sara’s stories.” He shrugged. “I’ll keep my simple life. You guys can have all this craziness.”
“Isingoma was your grandfather?” Sierra said through bites. “Kato is your uncle, and Kathryn is your grandmother. That makes Kathryn Isingoma’s former mate?” He nodded uncomfortably, not understanding the fuss. “Wow.”
Billie, still serious, responded. “Let’s get Sierra back to Boise. Leroy, we owe you one. Is there anything I can do for you?”
He shook his head and pointed at the Wolf in his front seat. “Take care of her. That’s enough.”
Billie smiled. “Of course. And I’ll bring you something for your freezer next time I go hunting,” she promised.
Sierra thanked Leroy profusely and accepted help walking to the Jeep. She stretched out in the back seat.
We have her. She’s okay, and we’re headed home. Billie sent a message to her mate.
Good! I’ll tell Kathryn.
See you soon, love.
“Your mate is a Sensitive?” Sierra sensed the mental exchange and jumped to the most logical assumption.
“Not exactly,” Billie replied.
Amy helped in her unique way. “Sadie’
s a Mage, but don’t freak out. She’s not like the Mages we’ve all dealt with before. She’s awesome!”
Sierra freaked out. “What? You’re taking me to a Mage?”
Billie glared red-hot daggers at Amy. “We’re not taking you to a Mage. We’re taking you to Boise to recuperate. Sadie is my mate, and she won’t do anything to you.” Sierra looked out the window and started planning her escape. Billie continued. “Look, I know how this sounds. None of us are collared. She’s not like that.”
Sierra couldn’t smell a lie from either Wolf in the front seat, which calmed her only a little. As soon as possible, she’d contact her Alpha and get away from this insane pack and their Mage. Until then, she’d discover everything she could. “How did you end up with a Mage as a mate?”
# # #
Keep your nose up for Psyche Shield, coming sometime in 2014! If you leave a review for Psyche Honor and send me an email referencing the review, I'll send you a free copy of Psyche Shield when it's available.
Psyche Honor (Psyche Moon) Page 26