They had tried to trick her, but the ruse faded over the rougher land. The scent didn’t cling to rock as it did to grass. Yes, her mate had come this way, but much earlier than the shadow wolf she’d trailed. Testing her suspicions, she’d found a cool patch of shade beneath an overhang and settled in. The shadow wolf doubled back twice to where she lay, but the closer it ventured, the more certain she became.
Whatever creature she’d tracked lacked the substance of her mate. Though similar in shape and size, the male was not hers. When it darted toward her, ears forward and tail up, she lunged. Catching the male under the throat, she tested the strength of her jaw, carrying the animal over onto his back.
Not her mate at all.
Satisfied, she ripped the interloper’s throat out and the animal shivered, collapsed, and then vanished. Yelping, she backpedaled and glared at the spot where the wolf had been. Not even a trace of his scent or the blood remained. Panting, she ran her tongue over her mouth and muzzle.
No blood.
Frustrated, she growled and slunk back toward the shadow beneath the rock. Her mate ordered her to wait until after he left to follow. Obeying had hurt, but she had done so. Then the shadow wolf fooled her. Disgruntled by her failure, she glared at the sun-heated rocks. Without the shadow beast to distract her, she heard the distinct clip-clop of hoofbeats. Ears angled forward, she lifted her head and studied the direction the sound came from.
The breeze carried a familiar scent. The boy. She knew the scent because the boy was familiar. Not a boy now, but he had been one. Her mate ordered her never to hurt him.
Withdrawing deeper into the shadows, she watched through half-closed eyes as the boy—now a man—appeared above. A female rode with him, their scents twined together. Mates.
“She’s not all the way to the canyon,” the woman said. The words didn’t mean much, but some part of her brain roused at the statement.
“No, and she’s not feeling friendly. This is close, though, so we’re going to leave her—”
“How can you say that? She’s all alone.”
The man turned the horse. The woman rode with him, so she had no choice but to hold on as he turned away. “She’s a wolf. She’ll be fine.”
Turning the words over in her mind, she understood that they should have a deeper meaning. The canyon sounded familiar, but she needed a scent or a direction. Waiting until she could no longer hear the horse or the voices, she then crept out from beneath the rock.
All around her the land was quiet save for the occasional rustle of scales on rock. Snakes sunning themselves, small lizards—easy prey, but she wanted her mate, not food. She ignored them. None were close enough to give her any issue. Birds flew overhead, but they were flying away…and ground rodents stayed safely in their nests, huddled into the crevices made by stone. Padding over the warm rocks, she tried to avoid the hotter spots while angling on a path away from the direction the boy had traveled. The damp odor of water reached her and she tried to pinpoint the source of the scent. Tired, annoyed, and thirsty, she trotted toward the water.
A spring splashed between two rocks and trickled down to a small creek. Smelling only freshness, she lapped at the cool water. Tasting nothing off, she drank several gulps. Thirst satisfied, she considered the running water, the rocks, and the local scents. Something about the terrain was familiar. A fly buzzed close to her and she flicked her ear to send it away. Tracking the path of the water, she followed it until it spilled down the cliff side into a canyon.
An elusive scent tickled her nose. Pausing, she raised her face to the breeze. The shift carried another trace of the scent…her mate. He’d been through here. Moving slowly and deliberately, she began searching for him.
Day One
A rock dug into her side. The pinch intruded on her sleep. A bird screamed overhead and she jerked awake. It took her several seconds to process where she was—the middle of nowhere—that she was human again, naked and under a blanket she could not possibly have carried with her. Her last rational memory had been in the house she shared with Cody in Haven.
Dirt crusted her nails and clung to the damp sweat on her arms, chest and sides. So, she’d gone wolf and her wolf had gone…where? Lifting the blanket, she sniffed the fabric. Rough hewn, but warm and durable. Cody’s scent lingered. He must’ve found her and covered her with a blanket and gone. Twisting, she glanced around. Gone where?
The sun had barely crested the eastern sky and, despite the heat of the previous day, the temperatures were cool. Cool enough, she shivered. Dragging the blanket around her shoulders and doing her best to make it into a poncho, she stood. The sun promised a warmer day and the season hadn’t quite committed to the autumn.
Currently, however, she was chilled, sore, and filthy. Not to mention lost. Edging out from the rock she’d taken shelter under for the night, she scanned the area. Rock Canyon. Red stone walls, yellow stone and sandy shale ground. Boulders. Caves. And fresh water. It trickled beneath the rocks, bubbling up into springs. A violently unpleasant place in high summer, when the stone held onto the heat and could flood swiftly during a storm.
Located in the far eastern reaches of the property, she was still safely on the Flying K and behind the barrier. The barrier protected them from invasion by Fevered not welcomed by the Kanes. Since Kid’s arrival home, however, they’d learned the barrier could be much more.
She didn’t understand it all, but Jason and Kid had been working together to explore the possibilities. Strange…they are working together. And not all that long ago they were enemies…
“You don’t like her.” Kid hadn’t liked Jason. He’d had his reasons, but then, apparently so had Jason. Cody said she didn’t like her wolf. She loathed the loss of control, but did that transfer to the animal, too?
Adjusting the blanket, she paused to listen, then visually scanned the area before testing the scent of the air. Some of her senses were always heightened. Scent. Sound. She’d undergone physical changes like strength, too. A rock dug into the soft arch of her foot. Biting back an oath, she checked for blood.
Shoes would have been nice. So would clothes. At least her husband had brought her a blanket. So where was he? She doubted he’d gone far, he never did. Other than the trace of his scent on the blanket, she didn’t see or smell him anywhere. Stop worrying about him. He’ll show up when he wants to show up. He’d said something about her hunting him, but she needed clothes, food—and water.
First things first. She followed the faint scent of water till she caught the rushing sound. Her feet were killing her, however, by the time she climbed over the rocks hiding the stream from her. After slaking her thirst, she slid her feet into the cool water. Sweat dampened her brow. The air was cool, but the sun continued its steady ascent.
Loosening the blanket, she set it aside and washed up as best she could with the water, then finger combed the tangles of her hair away from her face. She had nothing out here. Thank you, wolf. Aggravated that the animal had set off without letting her bring the pack she’d been preparing, leaving her with nothing to hunt with, wear, or even prepare any food, should she be fortunate enough to bring down an animal.
Damp, but at least clean, she redraped the blanket and tugged it to cover most of her vital parts. Her legs and arms were bare. Hopefully the army men would keep well away and no other strangers wandered onto the ranch. If she headed east and deeper into the canyon, she could find shelter. A cave would do.
Caves.
Excitement threaded through her blood. The Kanes stocked the caves in case anyone needed shelter when checking the herds this far out. Food. Clothes.
And boots. Emboldened by that hope, she turned east and headed into the canyon.
Crouched high above and downwind, he tracked his mate’s progress. The wolf had finally given up her hunt, frustrated and depressed. He’d damn near gone to her then, but she’d shifted and his woman was exhausted. She’d curled up and simply gone to sleep. When she made no sign of rousing, he’d jogged down into the canyon and covered her. He needed the nearness to know she was safe, healthy—alive. Walking away had been the second hardest act of his life.
She limped. The uneven ground hurt her feet. Had she remembered the caves? The Kanes kept dry foods, clothing, blankets, and more in caches all over the farthest reaches of the ranch. Micah visited them regularly, made sure they were maintained. If anyone was trapped too far from the house or the stables, they could find one of the caches or caves and have enough to survive. Dry firewood was added throughout the year, but always checked before winter. A cool night could be survived in summer, but a long night of winter exposure could kill.
But Mariska could go wolf. She had her own fur. Of course, she had to be willing. Waiting until she was out of sight, he rose and paralleled her path. He’d stay high for as long as he could. When she decided to look for him, he’d be ready. Half the night had been spent scattering his scent everywhere.
Wolf and woman would need all their senses to find him. Mouth open in a wolfish grin, he hoped she’d start seeking him, soon. Until then, he’d satisfy his need to watch after her from a distance.
Day Two
It took her the better part of the first day to even locate the right cave. Her feet were bleeding by the time she limped inside. As soon as she’d cleaned, wrapped, and put borrowed boots onto her feet, she went back out to wash away the blood. She didn’t need to attract other predators to her. Surprisingly, her wolf didn’t scrabble or claw at her—she was as quiet as if Cody were around.
Too tired to examine it closely, she curled up on her makeshift bed and gazed at the flames until she fell asleep. Dawn hid behind dark clouds and the air carried the promise of rain. If nothing else, a fresh downpour would wash away what blood she hadn’t been able to cover. The dampness also carried a chill. After adding logs to the fire, she circled the fire pit and walked to the mouth of the cave. Still no sign of Cody. Not even a hint of his scent on the breeze.
Either he’d genuinely let her take the time or…he’s downwind. Turning, she scanned the basin below then the opposite cliff. Torn between curiosity and frustration, she angled her head to look at the sky. In the distance flashes of lightning promised autumn’s first big storm. Fortunately, she had the shelter of the cave, but what did Cody have?
Cody was more than capable of taking care of himself. Still… she squinted and checked the cliff tops again. Trusting him to take care of himself and wanting to know he was safe were two different things. Inside, her wolf remained quiet. Unusual enough to warrant questioning and disturbing on another level, Mariska retreated to the fireside and began warming water she pulled up in a pail.
Are you there?
Nothing.
Are you there? How did one talk to the wolf? The animal typically responded to her actions or her thoughts. Sometimes it clawed out her. Sometimes it fought to be free. Still, the wolf did nothing, said nothing, and didn’t seem to be there at all. Uncertainty mingled with fear. How could she learn to control her beast if she couldn’t communicate with her? Cody used to tell her what his wolf thought. Her question however was how.
Maybe I should have asked him before. Using a long stick, she stirred the flames and considered the sparks rising up from the smoldering wood. She had many questions she should have asked before. So, why hadn’t she asked them?
Growing up, Babchi used to counsel against rushing. Always in a hurry, she’d said, and always likely to miss something. If that were true, then what had she missed this time? Outside, the wind picked up and rain began to spatter against the rock. The crackle of the flames, the strong smell of wood smoke, and the water falling from the sky all combined to relax her.
When she met Cody, she had been so certain of a great many things. She had been certain she would live in her wagon for the rest of her life. Even if she were to take a husband, the wagon would be their home. She would lead her clan. They have been traveling west to the mountains and the gold promised in the California Territory. Her father hoped to make some kind of an alliance, his plan to bargain her in marriage.
That went in the face of everything she had been raised to believe. Among the travelers, the women led. Her clan, like so many, was a matriarchy. Had her mother survived, she would have been the leader. Her grandmother, as strong as she might have been, had been devastated by the loss of her daughter. Too much so, perhaps. Not to say that her father wasn’t a good leader. No, he had been a good one. He thought of his people and he thought of her, except on the matter of marriage.
Still, when she had broken the guesting laws by lacing the food with herbs to make Cody and Kid sleep, her father had quickly and willingly left her behind to whatever fate the two strangers might have meted out.
Luck—and Cody —found her instead. She tried to remember the exact moment Cody turned into the wolf in front of her eyes. Lashed to the wagon wheel, she had been helpless and at his mercy.
His wolf hated her and didn’t trust her. She had injured them. Unintentionally, but the choice to lace their food with a sleeping drought had left Kid gravely ill and Cody exceptionally angry.
But still, even when she had be at her most vulnerable, the wolf had not attacked. Now, as she had them, she questioned why. Neither could deny their attraction and they had become lovers swiftly…
Had he bitten her the first time? Or the second? She thought back. Why did she not remember it clearly? Fear should’ve been her constant companion, yet even uncertain and, yes, a little bit afraid, she had also been exhilarated and intrigued. In the days that followed, they had argued, made love, played and gotten to know each other.
When he had sent her off with the wounded Kid and went in search of the wicked wolf, she had tasted real fear. Beyond the cave entrance, the rain poured and she stared at the curtain of water. When the wicked wolf found her and Kid, that hadn’t scared her. No, it had made her angry. She would not die that way. She would not allow Kid to die in that manner, either. Instead, her fear had been for Cody.
Even when she learned she had been changed by Cody’s bite, curiosity and—dare she say, excitement?—had filled her. So when had that changed?
She knew the answer. She didn’t like it, but she knew the answer. The day her first change happened. Pain could be survived. The wrench of her wolf bursting free from her… it was a schism she felt all the way to her soul. It’s like dying. Every time I change, I die. Is it the same for you?
But her silent inquiry went unanswered. Whatever her wolf was doing, she wasn’t listening to Mariska.
Scrubbing her hands against her face, she blew out a breath. Maybe she needed to change… Maybe then… The pain hit and then all she could do was scream.
At the sound of her cry, he shot to his feet. He’d settled in a cave down the canyon from hers. Close enough to monitor her progress and, as long as the wind didn’t change, she would remain unaware of his presence. Shifting gave him a solid coat to keep out the chill of the rain. Below, Mariska streaked past, racing out of the canyon—in her wolf form.
Where was she going? The rain came down steadily. Left with no choice, and unwilling to let her wander the ranch alone, he raced after her in pursuit. She ran at full speed, not slowing once she cleared the canyon, and headed into the high pastures. In the summer, the Kanes ran cattle there, but this early into autumn, the animals had already been moved.
The lack of herding animals and ranch hands were the primary reason he’d chosen the location. Water soaked his outer coat, but protected his undercoat. The same couldn’t be said for his legs. Ignoring the discomfort, he pushed his speed to close the distance between himself and Mariska. What triggered her wolf, he still didn’t know. They ran for the better part of a mile and, so intent was his focus on Mariska, he didn’t hear the squeal of laughter until they were nearly on top of it.
The weather had muddied all scents, but the feminine laughter he recognized. Olivia. She let out a shout and then a squeal, then more laughter. Mariska skidded to a halt and Cody cut to the left and up the gentle rise. From his vantage point, he was able to see what had so captured Mariska’s attention. Near a copse of trees, Olivia danced in the rain, arms spread wide and face turned up to the storm. Under the shelter of the trees stood a horse and the tall, lean figure of Olivia’s husband, Jason.
Jason’s expression was one of indulgence and, though soaked to the skin, Olivia continued to dance, laugh, and play. Mariska continued to stare, but she didn’t approach. Cody knew the moment Jason became aware of her. His relaxed posture vanished and a frown gathered his brows.
Olivia seemed to recognize his distraction as well because she turned. Instead of looking afraid, her smile grew wider. “Mariska,” she shouted. “I didn’t know you were out here.”
His mate took a couple of hesitant steps forward, then paused. Olivia’s smile didn’t waver.
“You’re a beautiful wolf.”
Surprise struck Cody at the compliment. Yet, the genuine truth in her statement rang clear. Olivia had never seen Mariska’s wolf. The woman, yes. The wolf, no. When Mariska didn’t move closer or away, Olivia took a couple of steps in her direction.
“Olivia,” Jason said, his cool tone ringing with authority.
“Hush, she’s my friend.” Olivia waved off her husband’s concern. Mariska’s ears perked forward, but she showed no aggression as Olivia took another three steps toward her. Both the wolf and the woman ignored the rain. A half-dozen steps away from Mariska, Olivia sat down and made a face. “I love the rain.”
Rooted to the spot, Cody tried to relax his tense muscles. Everything in him coiled, ready to spring. As long as Mariska and Olivia stayed that far apart, he could get to Mariska before she struck Olivia. His mate would never forgive herself if she hurt the woman she’d begun to think of as a little sister. Olivia remained the only person Cody considered changing—willfully—since learning he could.
Instead of approaching the chatting young woman, Mariska lowered herself to sit and then she laid down, her ears perked towards the conversation. Olivia told Mariska everything—about what she’d seen, learning to climb a tree, and how Jason was giving her riding lessons…
“I’m terrible.” Olivia laughed. “I get so distracted that I forget to lock my legs or keep the reins up or stay seated. I’ve fallen off, I think, four times? But he keeps letting me try...how are you?” The last question came out on an exhale.
Mariska made a low whining noise and then edged forward still on her belly. Olivia rose to her knees and said, “Can I pet you? You have to be soaking wet. I know I am. And I don’t care. I love the way the rain looks and how it feels…but you have a lot of fur.” Her nose wrinkled. “That can’t be comfortable.”
With a whump of noise that sounded like a cross between a bark and a laugh, Mariska leapt up and brushed against Olivia. Grinning, Olivia scratched her neck. Then Mariska shook and sprayed water all over her.
The young woman gaped, then burst out laughing. With a playful wag of her tail, Mariska darted away and then back, invitation in every step. Cody blew out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. One minute, the two were on the ground. The next, Olivia was on her feet and racing after the wolf. They ran and splashed and…played.
Relaxing for the first time since he’d begun this insane plan, he spared a look toward the telepath. Like him, Jason’s attention was on the women playing, but he spared a glance in Cody’s direction.
Normally expressionless and cold, the man didn’t bother to disguise his rueful relief. He’d been worried for Olivia as well. It had taken time, but Cody understood the Kane brother better now. Neither wanted harm to come to either woman, but Mariska’s wolf continued to play with Olivia, careful of the smaller woman’s fragile frame.
Hope surged through him and he settled onto the rise and let the rain drench him. He wouldn’t miss this sight for the world.
Tired from playing, she leaned against the legs of the girl who smelled like pack and friend. Olivia… the woman inside her whispered, her memories and feelings for the girl having woken when she came across the girl laughing and dancing in the rain. The cloud of confusion parted and she dared to move closer. When the girl had touched her, she’d sensed no threat and her cheerful voice and words had washed over her.
Friend. The whisper came from the dark place, deep inside where the woman fled when the wolf was free. Yes. Olivia was a friend. Despite the rain, the chill, and the fact that her coat was soaked, she played with Olivia.
Even better, Olivia played with her. Careful… The urgency to keep her claws sheathed, to not jump on her and to avoid hitting her too hard, these rolled through her, too. She didn’t have to listen, but the woman’s worry unnerved her, so she did. When Olivia continued to laugh and the woman inside of her relaxed a fraction, the sense of urgency passed.
By the time Olivia said she had to go and retreated to join the man who carried her scent, the wolf didn’t want to say goodbye. But she dared not follow them either. Watching until the pair faded from sight, she turned toward the canyon she’d left. A flicker of movement drew her attention. Stilling, she scented the air. The rain made the scents confusing, but she’d seen something.
Stalking, slow and silent, she climbed a rise and found nothing.
Just the faint scent of her mate.
He’d been here. Throwing her head back, she howled then waited.
No answer.
Annoyed, she howled for a second time.
Still nothing.
Padding forward three paces, she studied the land around her. His scent was still here, which meant it had to be fresh. Testing us… Came the woman’s voice and it was annoyed. The wolf agreed with the annoyance. Her third howl carried the repudiation onto the wind.
This time, he answered.
From far off, but there, moving toward the canyon.
Satisfied, she padded through the rain and followed the sound. He didn’t answer her again, but once was enough. Find him?
No, the woman said, answering her question. Fire. Warmth. Dry. Rest.
She didn’t agree. She wanted to find him. He had warmth. Safety. She could rest with him.
I know. I want to see him, too. But we need to talk…
Maybe they did.
A flash of gold ahead. Soon. The woman told her. We’ll find him soon. Will you talk to me?
Why should she? Resenting the woman’s disagreement, she wanted to ignore her. But since she had the other half of her soul, maybe she shouldn’t.
Please?
Growling once, the wolf ignored the flash of gold and headed for the cave she’d woken in.
Thank you. The woman said.
Silent for several moments, the wolf wrestled with her response. Who are you?
I’m Mariska.