HOTSHOT BROTHERS: Coyote Shifters

by Hunt, Sabrina

  Gaping, I pointed at the pillowcase I’d commandeered to stash it. Hazel ducked under Burr’s arm, seized it, and fled.

  “Get your stuff, darlin’,” Burr tried to say lightly. “We gotta go.”

  Outside, the wind was picking up and Wes was discussing something with Rayner in an undertone. Burr clipped a sleeping bag to the bottom of my bag and then gave me a reassuring grin.

  Wes gave me a brief glance. “You sure you’re gonna be able to haul all that?”

  “Yes,” I said defensively, even though the bag was already starting to bite into my shoulders.

  “Okay.” He shifted the bulky backpack on his own shoulders and nodded at his brothers. “See you soon.”

  Suddenly all three of them stiffened. Cree came running up, moving like lightning through the twilight. “They’re here,” he said, his eyes full of worry.

  Wes lifted his head and breathed in deeply. An image of a wolf, sniffing the air, came into my mind. “Bastards.” He went to walk away, then hesitated, looking at his brothers. “Are you sure?”

  In that moment I realized perhaps I’d been getting a little too full of myself. It seemed that it wasn’t so much traveling with me as it was leaving his brothers behind that was bothering him. Wes was clearly struggling at the thought of leaving them in the lurch.

  “Yes,” Rayner said. “Now, get out of here.”

  “Ha. Love you, too, brother. Kalin, stay close.” Wes said, striding off into the dark woods.

  For a second I stood there, a little astonished we were just plunging in, but then Cree gave me a gentle push. “He won’t let anything happen to you,” Cree whispered in my ear. “See you soon.”

  Nodding, I shot them a grateful smile over my shoulder and hurried to catch up to Wes. His long legs were hard to match and I soon found myself breathing a little hard. But he didn’t slow down, not until we were a mile or so out from the house. Then he stopped abruptly.

  Crouching down, he laid a hand on the ground and closed his eyes. I tried to quiet my sucking wind and glanced around us. The wind rustled the treetops, making it sound like there were furtive footsteps darting from shadow to shadow.

  Rising back to his full height, Wes looked down at me and said in a soft voice, “We’re not being followed, so we’ve got a jump in that regard. But I doubt it will take them long to figure out we’re not in town, and then they’ll fan out into the woods. So I’d like to get some distance between us and them.” He gave me a dubious look. “How tired are you?”

  The fresh air and scent of pine had gotten into my bones and I shrugged. “I can keep going.”

  “Alright.” He glanced at his watch. “We’ll go for a few more hours, then make camp.”

  With that, Wes and I plunged deeper into the dark woods.

  And I tried not to look back.

  Chapter 6

  It was barely an hour after sunset, but the woods around us were filled with shadows. To the west, mountains rose in the distance, hiding the after-light. And so, night seemed to rush down.

  While my sight at night was flawless, Kalin’s wasn’t. I heard every slip she made and every swear she let slip. After the eighth damn, I slowed down and glanced at her. She was walking at a diagonal, almost next to me and not quite behind me.

  “You know, if you walk right behind me, you’ll find the trail much easier,” I suggested. “Plus if you trip, you’ve got me to break your fall.”

  She rolled her eyes and muttered, “I’d bet you’d love that.”

  While I knew she was probably joking, irritation filled me. “Fine, then,” I replied shortly, “fall on your face.”

  We continued walking and after a minute, I realized she had slipped behind me. “Sorry, Wes,” she said suddenly. “That came out ruder than I meant it to.”

  “Mhmm,” I replied. “Apology accepted. But you should know that I would never hurt you or take advantage of you in any way. I take the way I was raised seriously, Kalin. As a good man.”

  She laughed lightly and it was swept up in the breeze. “I know. That’s why you’re so easy to tease. You’re so earnest and serious. It’s quite a combination. You must have quite a family.”

  Her voice became sad and my irritation faded. “I do, thank you. So where are you from?” I asked, trying to distract her.

  “San Diego,” she said. “My folks still live there.”

  “And you don’t?”

  “I’m a nomad,” Kalin said. “I freelance, so I’m here, there, everywhere.”

  “Freelance doing what?” I asked, genuinely curious now.

  “Photography. Mostly wilderness, but sometimes for a Ski Resort or something. It’s fun.”

  As someone whose job had taken me all over the country, I nodded and said, “I get that. But it can be lonely, too, right? That’s what you were gonna say.” Behind me, I heard Kalin stumble and spun to catch her as she flailed forward. “Watch it.”

  She gazed up at me and I saw her cheeks were reddening in the darkness. “How do you do that? Are you Spider-Man or something?”

  I laughed, pulling her upright. “Spider-Man’s got nothing on me.”

  “Seriously, though.” Kalin put her hands on her hips and squinted at me. “How can you even see right now? Shouldn’t we use a flashlight so we don’t plummet into a hole?”

  I shook my head. “Too close to town. And obvious. Plus, all it takes is some practice. Let your eyes adjust and trust your feet. You’ve got instincts in you that will help you through this – they just haven’t been used in a while or have been augmented by something else.” I grinned to myself. Damn it all if I didn’t sound exactly like Big Bear.

  “Whatever you say, Yoda,” Kalin sighed. “Lead on.”

  We continued to walk, talking about movies, books, and her photography. Every once in a while Kalin would try to slip in a question about the brothers, but I’d deftly parry it.

  I had to hand it to her, though. She was a tough chick. Or as Cree put it, “ballsy.” Not many people, even seasoned wilderness experts, could walk through a dark forest at night with her kind of poise. And in no time at all, she took my advice to heart and her footfalls became quieter. She stopped tripping every other step and seemed to give herself over to the woods.

  In spite of myself, I was having fun in a weird way. It was exhilarating to be out in the woods, exploring forgotten trails under a starry sky on a night where there was a new moon.

  I never knew what she was going to say next or how she was going to say it. More often than not, I found myself laughing. This girl was fierce, brave, and loyal. I liked that. Hell, I admired that.

  I bet Gram would like you, I thought after one of her quick comebacks.

  As the hours passed, a thought occurred to me, which I brushed aside at first, but then it continued to nag at me. Had I been reluctant to travel with Kalin because I didn’t want to? Or was it because I did want to?

  A yawn from behind me interrupted those thoughts and I glanced back to see Kalin blinking blearily around at the forest. But she instantly smiled when our eyes met.

  “I’m fine,” she said before another yawn interrupted her. “Fine.”

  “Yeah, well, it’s time for us to make camp anyway,” I said.

  After walking forward a ways, I found a spot sheltered from the wind on the side of a hill, scooped out like it was made for us. Tall trees lined one side and then a grassy slope ran down to a small brook on the other.

  Swinging down my pack, I rolled my shoulders, and then pulled out the bag containing the tent. Glancing underneath it, I paused and then looked again. “Dammit Cree,” I snapped, realizing what he’d done.

  “What’s wrong?” Kalin wandered over, shrugging off her own bag.

  “Nothing,” I said, cursing myself for saying anything. Cree had been my best friend for a long time, but, man, sometimes the pranks he pulled made me want to throw that kid off the side of a mountain. “Cree didn’t pack everything. Here, set up this lantern. We should be good now.”<
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  “What’s missing?” She asked as she flicked it on and filled the clearing with wavering light.

  “A second tent,” I said. “Although this one has a divider in the middle, so it’s kind of like two tents… It’s not a big deal. I’ll just kip outside.”

  “‘Kip’?” Kalin asked, her face lighting up with glee.

  “Oh, sleep. That would be Hazel at work. Her lingo has a way of rubbing off on you. For a few weeks, Burr and Cree kept talking in her accent. It was irritating, to say the least.” I said ruefully, unfurling the tent. “Aunt Sil made them stop, I won’t say how.”

  Kalin grabbed the other end and helped me unroll it. “Well, if there’s a divider, what’s the problem? Even if there wasn’t – it’s no big deal. We’re both adults.” She made a face. “Or at least I’m trying to be.”

  As we set up the tent, I nodded. “I guess I figured you’d like your own space. You don’t know me very well. Or at all, I guess.”

  “I know enough,” Kalin said emphatically, frowning as she snapped a pole together and then looped it through the material. “You’re a good guy. You care a lot. And you’ve got some serious strength and skills, like I’ve never seen before. I’m not worried. Plus, you’re out of my–” Abruptly she cut off, sitting back and looking horrified, as though she couldn’t believe what just came out of her mouth.

  “Out of your – what?” I asked, puzzled.

  “You’re…out of my non-friend list,” Kalin said hastily. “We’re friends. You saved my life. We’re hiking. We’ll know everything about each other by the time this over, right?” She was flustered now, blabbering a bit and I watched her with some amusement. This was a different side of Kalin. “What? Why are you smirking at me like that? Oh, ouch. Ow, ow, ow.”

  Her finger had slipped on the pole, slicing it, and I shook my head. “Jeez, Kalin.” Grabbing the first-aid kit, I walked over and watched her suck on her finger. Sitting down in front of her, I said, “You’re a danger to yourself, you know that? Here. I’m no Ben, but I can put a Band-Aid on.”

  “No, it’s… I can do it…” she said, even as she reluctantly gave me her hand.

  “No shame in askin’ for help sometimes, hon. Everyone needs some at some point,” I drawled, the Southern creeping into my voice.

  “More advice from your Gram?” Kalin teased as she watched me swab her finger with a medicated wipe and I nodded. “Where are you from, Wes?”

  I pulled out a bandage and wrapped it around her finger, trying to get the right amount of tautness. “Louisiana. I got a little Creole in me from Gram’s side, too. Why, my accent coming out?”

  “A little,” I could sense her watching me. “You get rid of it on purpose?”

  Looking up, I shook my head. “Nah, just kinda faded over the years. First I was shipped out, then I was all over the country.” I sighed. “At least it comes back when I go home.”

  “Army?” she asked, but her voice sounded vague, as though she were thinking about something else.

  “Navy. Firefighter. That’s where I met Cree.” I shook my head. “He was always getting into trouble. Commander put him under my charge. He drove me insane, but it’s impossible to hate him. I know, I tried.”

  Kalin laughed, a low, sultry sound. “Bet your commander saw that you two work well together. Offset each other. Even I noticed that.”

  “Ha. What? You keepin’ an eye on me?” I asked.

  Her eyes met mine and she shrugged. “Maybe.”

  I was watching her face, the way the lantern light was playing over her warm skin and making her brown eyes pools of amber liquid. She bit her lips as I looked at them and rush of heat went through my body.

  “Guess I’ll have to watch my step a bit more carefully,” I teased.

  “Guess so,” Kalin said, her eyes flicking down, then back up.

  Swallowing hard, I realized I was wading into dangerous waters. Wrenching my gaze away, I looked down and saw that I was still holding her hand. Instantly I let go and stood up. “Sorry about that. You okay?” My voice was stiff, almost military.

  “Oh, yeah.” Kalin’s voice was high in her throat. “Um, let’s finish, huh?”

  As we finished setting up the tent, I reprimanded myself the entire time. What the hell are you thinking, moron? Her sister is a damn Pale Eye, the Crooked Man is after her, and she doesn’t even know you. And you’re flirting with her while you’re alone in the woods? You said you’d keep her safe, not salivate over her. Get a hold of yourself, you’re not Cree.

  Once the tent was set up, I wanted to laugh and hit something at the same time. It barely looked big enough for me, let alone two people.

  But Kalin cut her eyes at me when she saw my face. “No, Wes. You’ve done enough. If anything, I should sleep outside, not you. You need to be comfortable.”

  I wanted to tell her that after years of sleeping on a hard cot on a tin can of a ship, sleeping on the forest floor was like a soft mattress. But the night was cold and the tent was well insulated. It even had a foam bottom layer. And I would need to be well-rested – I couldn’t argue with that.

  Plus, my female relatives had taught me never to argue with a lady.

  “Yes, ma’am,” I said. “Why don't you get in and get ready? I’m going to the creek to wash up.”

  “Okay,” she said, vanishing inside with her bag and the lantern.

  Groaning internally, I went to the creek and splashed the freezing water on my face, then let it trickle down my spine, waking me up and cooling me off. I had to get a grip on myself. No matter how attractive I found Kalin, or even how infuriating, I had to keep my distance. She was already tangled deep enough in this mess – she didn’t need to be ensnared further.

  Walking slowly back to the tent, I surveyed the landscape around us. While I knew I would awake instantly if there was an enemy nearby, I still wished my brothers were around. It was strange to be without them. Then I sniffed the air. It seemed dry and I hoped it would stay that way. The last thing we needed was an unexpected rainstorm.

  Taking a deep breath, I tapped on the outside of the tent and slipped in when bidden to do so. Inside the teal walls, there was small area that served as the “entryway,” where our shoes and bags could go, and then the sleeping area where the lantern lit up the space with a cozy, almost romantic light.

  To my surprise, Kalin had set up both sleeping bags. She was sitting up in her own, watching me with tired eyes. There was a sliver of space between us and she hadn’t zipped up the divider yet.

  “Good night,” I said, trying not to sound awkward as I peeled off my socks, tossing them into the corner and hoping they didn’t smell. “You want to close that?” I nodded at the divider.

  Kalin was rubbing her bare arms and I quickly averted my eyes. Why is she wearing a goddamn short sleeve shirt in this weather? “Do you mind if we keep it unzipped? I’d feel safer.”

  I stopped and stared at her. “You would?”

  She glanced down, color rolling up her cheeks, and nodded. “Yeah. I would. It’s been a long couple of weeks and yesterday was crazy and Trini…” Kalin broke off, hugging her knees.

  Something inside of me seemed to shatter into sharp, jagged ends. Crawling over, I wrapped my arms around Kalin and tugged her to me. At first she resisted, but then she melted into me, her dark head settling into the center of my chest.

  “You’re with me now, Kalin. And I got you,” I told her.

  One of her hands found my shirt and grabbed onto it. She said nothing, but I could feel the tension leaving her body. “Wes, I–” she began to say.

  But I interrupted her. “I got you,” I murmured. “Don’t worry about it.”

  Chapter 7

  I’d never been so close to crying in a stranger’s arms before.

  Although I suppose I was wrong in that regard – Wes wasn’t a stranger. He didn’t feel unknown to me. Not at all.

  In fact, being held in his big arms, locked against his body, seemed right in a way noth
ing had ever felt right with someone else before. It was like the stars had aligned, the fates had spoken and everything was as it should be.

  Even though I knew he was only doing this out of pity, or maybe empathy, or because he was a good person, I didn’t care. I closed my eyes, breathing in that earthy, intoxicating masculine scent and held on tightly to his flannel shirt. It was like a dream, except for the slow rise and fall of his chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat and the warmth of his skin.

  I’d tried to thank him, but I couldn’t get the words out.

  But Wes seemed to understand.

  At one point, I heard him say. “Go on ahead to sleep, Kalin. I’m here. I’m right here.”

  And so I did, falling into a dreamless sleep for the first time in weeks.

  When I woke up, I was curled in a ball, gazing at the wavering shadows of tree branches on teal cloth. The scent of bacon drifted by, stirring me further, and I sat straight up. Glancing around, I rubbed my cheeks, trying to orient the universe, when I saw a rolled up sleeping bag and froze.

  Yesterday’s events, followed by last night’s, catapulted through my mind. I buried my face in my hands and choked back a scream. What is wrong with me? It was bad enough I’d teased and flirted with Wes, but falling asleep in his arms?

  God, I’d been nothing but an obnoxious, needy brat to him. He must think I’m out of my mind. Actually, I reprimanded myself as I got up and got dressed, Wes probably feels bad, since he’s a big softie behind that mountain of muscle and gravitas.

  Taking a deep breath, I started thinking up apologies. Everything would be fine, right?

  Finally dressed (after putting my shirt on backward twice), I ducked outside and gasped when the cold hit me. “Damn!”

  “Yeah, it’s nippy out,” Wes called over. He was stretched out on a blanket, basking like a housecat with his face tipped towards the sun. Then he opened his eyes and looked at me. “Got thick socks on?” I nodded. “Yeah? Got a hat? If not, I can lend you one.” He patted the blanket next to him. “Hey, don’t just stand there, come on and eat.”