Wolves, Witches and Bears...Oh My!

by Nicky Charles

  Not daring to leave the children alone in order to investigate the noise, she set Caleb in the bed beside Grace, and called Mel. It could be that the house always creaked and made noises like that. It wasn’t likely, but she held on to faint hope.

  “Mel?” She spoke in a hushed tone crouched in the corner, hoping not to be overheard.

  “Hi Lucy! Is everything okay? You sound weird.”

  “I’m trying to be quiet. Everyone is gone right?”

  “Yep. We’re all here and accounted for.”

  “Oh.” That wasn’t the answer she’d been hoping for. Someone having stayed behind would have been much more comforting. “The reason I’m asking is that I keep hearing sounds, like footsteps coming from upstairs.”

  “Upstairs? Over the guest room? That’s Daniel’s space. No one should be up there.”

  “Well, maybe they shouldn’t be, but it sounds like they are. I’m sort of worried.” Worried was an understatement. She had a death grip on the phone and her heart was almost pounding out of her chest.

  “Let me check the alarm app on my phone and see… Oh no!”

  “What?” She held her breath, scared to know what had upset Mel and needing to know at the same time.

  “I had the alarm on silent but I’m getting a notice that there’s a security breach.”

  “Mel, I have a bad feeling about this.” She stared up at the ceiling, still hearing faint creaks as whoever was up there moved about.

  “Me, too. I’m going to go find Ryne. Where are you?”

  “In Grace’s room with Caleb. I’m going to see if I can move the dresser in front of the door if it doesn’t make too much noise.”

  “Good idea. We’ll be home as soon as possible.”

  The call ended and she set about moving the dresser, which thankfully slid silently across the polished wooden floors. There wasn’t much else in the room that could be added to the barricade and nothing that looked remotely like a defensive weapon.

  Swallowing hard, she hunkered down near the children.

  Ryne watched the activity at the Broken Antler with vague amusement. Melody, Olivia and Cassie had dragged Tessa on to the dance floor and they were now lost in the crowd that was gyrating to the music. Daniel’s songs seemed to be a success if the number of people surrounding the stage was any indication. His gaze drifted to Becky and Emily, the pack’s two teenage girls. They were also enjoying the music and fangirling over the band members if one looked their way. Technically they were too young to be in the Broken Antler, but he was keeping a close eye on them as was their father, Levi. Near the back of the room, Marco was talking on his phone, no doubt checking on his son, Angelo, who was having a sleepover with a friend from pre-school. Bryan was behind the bar, serving drinks. Yep, everyone was accounted for.

  He took another drink and checked the time, then headed towards the door. Armand should be arriving in town soon. The man was probably driving like a maniac to get back here. He’d meet him in the parking lot before he barged into the bar and made a spectacle of himself searching for Lucy. Well, Armand probably wouldn’t do that in reality, but the mental image it created had him chuckling.

  Sure enough, as soon as he stepped outside, Armand’s truck pulled into the parking lot and smoothly slid into a space near the rear of the building. Armand hopped out almost before the engine had quit running.

  “You made good time.” He approached the truck, the light from the street lamp barely reaching that distant corner of the lot yet still bright enough to allow him to see his friend. Armand looked tired, his hair sticking out in what he referred to as his ‘wild man’ look.

  “I drove as quickly as I dared. The front-end alignment of the truck has probably suffered for it though. I think I hit every pothole on the road.”

  “Call Ben on Monday; he’ll schedule in your truck and we’ll see what needs to be fixed.”

  Armand grunted, his attention on more important matters. “Où est Lucy? Upstairs in my rooms?” Not waiting for an answer, he began to walk towards the door, but Ryne held out a hand to stop him.

  “Nope. I wasn’t sure how long it would take you to get back and figured she could hide out at my place until you got here.”

  “Bonne idée. People here will be shocked to see her again.”

  “Shocked is putting it mildly. The rumour mill will be in overdrive.”

  Armand groaned, no doubt thinking of all the questions they would have to fend off.

  “Don’t worry, we’ll have a day or two to come up with a plausible story…if we’re lucky.” Ryne pulled his keys from his pocket. “Follow me back to the house. I’ll disarm the front gate so you can get in.”

  His hand had just touched the door, when an alarm sounded on his phone. “What the…?”

  Armand turned, his attention also caught by the sound. “What’s that?”

  “My home alarm signal. It must have a malfunction.” He quickly opened the app and began to check the settings and video feed from the surveillance cameras just as Melody came running outside.

  “Ryne?” She looked around, spotted him and ran to his side. “Lucy just called me. She’s sure someone’s in the house. She can hear footsteps overhead as if someone is walking around in Daniel’s rooms!”

  “Damn!” He shoved his phone in his pocket and yanked open the door of his truck. “Come on, everyone in!”

  Armand and Melody climbed into the vehicle and he sped out of the parking lot, gravel spewing. Thankfully, there was no traffic because he wasn’t in the mood to follow speed limits. The thought of an intruder in the house with his child had him breaking out in a cold sweat.

  “Lucy’s barricaded herself and the children in Grace’s bedroom.” Melody spoke, one arm braced against the dashboard from her position squeezed in between him and Armand.

  “You should have installed a panic room,” Armand muttered. His features were tight in the dim light of the truck cab.

  “Wouldn’t have done much good in a case like this,” Ryne shook his head, forcing himself to think calmly, logically. Panicking wouldn’t help anyone. “As a guest, Lucy wouldn’t have known how to access it.” He turned the wheel as they took a corner, tires squealing. Only a few more miles to go but the trip seemed to be taking forever. His imagination was creating scenarios he didn’t want to deal with. “Send Lucy a text. Ask her if she can hear anything.”

  “Okay.” Melody tapped away at her phone and a minute later read back the reply. “She said she can still hear someone walking around upstairs.”

  “Tell her we are almost there.” Armand leaned forward as if it would help the vehicle to go faster.

  “Whoever broke in must think no one is home. It’s not often we’re all gone. I should have left more lights on, made the place look lived in.” Melody worried her lip, blaming herself.

  “If Lucy and the children stay quiet, they should be okay.” Armand nodded as he spoke, perhaps trying to convince himself.

  “And the fact the intruder went to Daniel’s room must mean he’s looking for something specific. A thief would have searched the lower rooms first, looking for things to pawn.” Ryne slowed and turned into the driveway. “The gate’s still closed. How the hell did an intruder get in?”

  He opened the entrance using the remote in the truck, then gunned the engine as soon as there was a big enough gap to get through. The length of the twisting driveway was travelled in record time and, just short of the clearing the house was situated on, he slammed on the breaks. “I’ll go in the front.”

  “I’ll take the back.” Armand nodded already shoving open the door and jumping from the truck.

  Melody scooted over to exit as well but Ryne caught her by the arm. “No. You stay here and let Lucy know we’re going in. Then get on the phone and tell the rest of the pack what’s happening in case anyone heads home early. Tell them no matter what, no one goes in until I give the all clear.”

  “Okay. Be careful.” She nodded, her face pale. “Make sure o
ur baby is safe.”

  He gave her a hard, reassuring kiss then melted into the darkness of the night.

  Chapter 36

  Armand and Ryne crept along the tree line until they were near the house. Using hand signals, they formed their plan and separated. Armand headed to the back, moving silently, ducking under the windows in case the intruder had moved downstairs since Lucy’s last report.

  At the rear entrance, he dared a look inside. Nothing appeared amiss. It could be they were dealing with a lone perpetrator. If there had been more, surely one would have been stationed as a look out.

  He entered the security code Ryne had given him and eased the door open. It led to the mudroom that was off the kitchen. For a moment he stood still, testing the air, filtering through the scents, identifying each one. Ryne, Grace, Melody, Lucy… Her scent caused his breathing to hitch as did one other, the unique baby smell that must belong to his son.

  Our cub! His bear growled, its protective instincts surging to the foreground. We need to find him, protect him and our mate!

  “When the intruder is caught there will be time for reunions.” He muttered.

  Once again, he examined the scents that filled the house. Oddly enough there were none he did not recognize. Could the invader be using the scent mask he’d encountered in Chicago? But where was the scent of lilacs? Unless… Hadn’t Roxi said there was a top-secret version of the mask available only through Lycan Link? But that would mean whoever had broken in worked for the organization. Why would they be breaking into Ryne’s house?

  He made his way through the house, checking each room and finally meeting Ryne, as planned, at the foot of the stairs. Ryne jerked his chin upwards and together they mounted the stairs, pausing on the second floor, both looking towards the room at the far end where Lucy and their children were. It was difficult to keep walking, the need to check on them and offer reassurance strong but the delay could mean the difference between catching the intruder or letting him slip through their hands.

  As one, they continued upward, pausing outside the door that led to Daniel’s space. Heads cocked, they listened, picking up the sound of tapping keys. The computer? Not an average thief then.

  Ryne shrugged then held up three fingers. On the count of three.

  Armand nodded, raised his foot and then kicked the door open, Ryne following close behind.

  There was a popping sound and a blinding flash of light that momentarily blinded him and, from the cursing, apparently Ryne too. As he blinked trying to regain his vision, he sensed movement and saw a blurred form rush up the ladder that led to the widow’s walk.

  “Shit!” Ryne rubbed his eyes, squinting. “The door must have been booby-trapped.”

  Armand didn’t care what it was. The individual who had scared Lucy and could potentially have harmed his cub was getting away. He began to climb the ladder, intent on catching his prey. “Warn Melody he could be heading her way!”

  He reached the widow’s walk just as the person climbed over the railing and began to slide down the roof towards the edge where an old TV antenna tower was still attached to the side of the house. With a growl, he followed suit, pieces of the slate roofing coming loose and skittering out from under him. Ryne would have some repairs to do but that was the least of his worries. Whoever he was pursuing was already descending the tower.

  It was a good thing bears were good climbers for he had no difficulty following except…the tower was old and definitely not designed for a man of his size. A crossbeam broke under his foot and he lurched to the side, his body swinging outward. He managed to catch a foothold, but the momentum of his body was too much for the rusted metal.

  A screeching sound filled the air as the metal structure began to pull away from the building. He felt himself falling backward and reached out, his fingers scrambling to catch hold of something, anything that would prevent him from plummeting to the ground. There was a window shutter, he could almost touch it, his hands grazed the wood but before he could grab hold, the stomach curdling sensation of falling through space took over.

  The air rushed him, he could sense the ground’s rapid approach. He tried to twist around, to brace for the fall, to kick himself away from the tower so it wouldn’t land on him but there wasn’t enough time.

  He hit the ground hard, his breath whooshing from his lungs, pain searing through his body as the weight of twisted metal landed on him. Stunned, he lay there, the hot wetness of blood dripping down his side, the searing pain of broken or fractured ribs wracking his body with each breath. A groan nearby drew his attention yet even as he turned his head he realized it was the intruder already getting to his feet and running.

  Broken ribs be damned, that bastard wasn’t escaping him! Gritting his teeth, he gripped the metal frame that pinned him down and heaved it to the side, then rolled onto all fours, calling on his inner animal, knowing its speed was much faster than his own.

  With a deep growl his bear came to life, his hands morphing into paws, razor sharp claws extending where fingernails had been. His mass increased as muscles expanded and bones thickened, his thick black hair becoming a protective pelt.

  A bear now stood where the man had been. It shook its fur, gave a huff and then took off after the running figure.

  Lucy listened to the sounds above her, relaying the information to Mel and trying to decide what was occurring. She jumped when there was a loud bang and shouts, then the sound of running feet pounding down the stairs. Who was it? Armand? Ryne? The intruder?

  Her eyes were fixed on the door. The dresser wasn’t much of a barricade, but she had a blanket in her hand to throw over the person and Grace’s bedside lamp. As far as defence went, it was pretty pathetic, however it might create confusion and buy her some time, improving her chances of overpowering him. She’d been mentally reviewing her self-defence course so she’d be prepared to act. There’d be no repeat of the mugging debacle!

  So intent was she on the door, that when there was a sound outside the window, she screamed, pivoting around just in time to see a dark shape falling past. Armand? She rushed to look outside, peering into the darkness below.

  For a moment, she couldn’t see anything as her eyes adjusted to the dark, then she began to make out a form on the ground. Armand was lying on his back, not moving, twisted metal beams entangled with his limbs. She clapped her hand to her mouth, a sick feeling washing over her.

  Oh no! How badly hurt was he? She wanted to rush to him, to help him, was even struggling to open the window when suddenly someone ran by and Armand sprang to life.

  He pushed the metal away as if it were bits of straw, rolled over onto all fours and then…then the air around him shimmered and…and…a giant bear stood where Armand had just been!

  The creature took off running at a speed she could barely comprehend. How could something so massive move so fast? And then a wolf raced past as well!

  What was going on?

  And where was Armand?

  He’d been there and then he hadn’t…but there was a bear instead… It made no sense. No sense at all!

  Caleb gave a soft whimper and she forced herself to step away from the window. She rubbed his back and then realised she needed to warn Mel. What if those animals came near the truck where she was waiting? Giving Caleb a final pat, she grabbed her phone to send a message but it rang before she could start the text. It was Mel.

  “Lucy, it’s okay. Ryne and Armand have everything under control.”

  “They do?”

  “Yep, Ryne just sent me a…um…message.”

  “Oh thank heavens!” She leaned against the wall, a feeling of relief washing over her. “Did he mention the bear and the wolf?”

  “The what?”

  “There was a bear and then a wolf. I heard a noise and looked out the window and I was sure I saw Armand on the ground then…” She wasn’t sure how to explain it. “I don’t know what happened but suddenly he was gone and there was this bear. It took off running an
d then a wolf ran by.”

  “Oh.” There was a long pause and then Melody cleared her throat. “Lucy, I think you must be more tired than you realize. I didn’t see any animals and I’m sure Ryne would have mentioned them to me if he’d seen them.”

  She hadn’t imagined that bear, had she?

  “Lucy? Are you still there?”

  “Yes. Sorry. I’m just…” Her voice trailed off. She wasn’t sure what she was. Was she losing her mind? Had this evening’s excitement been the proverbial straw and she was now slipping into madness? It wouldn’t surprise her. No one could go through all the experiences she’d had in the past few years and come out unscathed.

  “Listen, I’m heading into the house so if you hear a noise it’s just me, okay?”

  “Sure. That sounds good.” She pushed her hair back from her face and looked around the room trying to focus, images of bears and wolves seeming to fill her mind. “I’ll move the dresser away from the door.”

  “Great. See you in a minute.”

  The fleeing figure in front of him was fast but rage spurred Armand onward, the distance between them rapidly decreasing. As they were approaching the edge of the forest, one of the laser beam triggers registered the movement and caused the spotlights outside the house to flash on. Some part of his mind wondered how the hell the person had breached Ryne’s security system but that was a question for another time. Right now…

  With a roar, he launched himself forward. His body slammed into the intruder and they both hit the ground. He grunted at the impact, rolled and raised a paw ready to strike except…the person staring up at him was Jenna!

  Her face was pale, her eyes wide, but she wasn’t screaming and crying for help as a human normally would when faced with a raging bear.