CHAPTER 7

So freaking cold.

The heater in the truck didn’t want to work as they climbed higher and higher through the mountain pass. Snow piled along the sides of the road and the slick terrain made progress slow but steady.

Day light was already starting to wane over the top of the mountain. As the dark started to settle in, they arrived at their destination, an old, half snow-covered mile marker sign.

“Hurray.” Alex said in a monotone voice hopping from the driver’s seat. “Where the hell is the den?”

Before his father could answer, a wolf peeked out from behind a snow covered tree. It growled at the two of them defensively only to be joined by another, and another. Half a dozen wolf shifters advanced on them, Alex’s father was the first to speak.

“We’re here to meet with your alpha,” Alex’s father said, confidently.

The wolves continued to growl and barked at the bed of the truck. Alex reached in, pulling his bag from the truck bed. It was much heavier than normal.

What the hell is in here?

He tossed the bag into the snow, and fresh powder puffed into the night breeze.

“Ow!”

No way.

If this was what he thought it was then he wasn’t sure whether to be excited or angry. His fingers worked the zipper and as the bag opened, Cynthia poured out. The wolves stood at bay and barked at the new stranger.

“Cynthia!” Alex said, choosing excitement. “Why did you stow away in my bag? Aren’t you freezing?” She wasn’t wearing much more than a pair of leggings and a tight blouse that hugged her body. Her nipples poked through her shirt from the cold and Alex threw his arms around her to warm her up.

“I wanted to surprise you,” she said, “surprise!” Her teeth chattered in the wind. Alex tore off his winter coat and wrapped it around her shoulders.

“I swear we didn’t mean to hide her. Hell, I’m just as surprised as you are.” Alex said, turning back to the wolves. As happy as he was to see her, hiding in the back of the truck was dangerous, and it didn’t necessarily help their situation. He’ll talk to her about this later, for now he was just happy she was safe.

From around a snow bank, a figured clad in a large jacket and thick snow boots crunched his way through the snow toward them.

“Ah, you must be from the Night Runner pack,” he started, “don’t mind them, they always gets antsy when new people show up. Follow me back to the cottage.”

Alex let out a sigh. He and Cynthia followed along closely with his father trudging along, leaning heavily on his walking stick.

How far is this place? They walked for fifteen minutes through high snow and biting cold, through a sparse thicket and across rocky tundra. When the guide stopped, Alex was frozen to the bone and couldn’t fully grasp what he saw at first.

“That is the Cliff Walker den,” the guide said.

Thank god.

It was the same cottage from Miss Bannon’s picture. The structure was massive in person. The stacked log walls reached almost thirty feet tall at the zenith. The large double doors that greeted them were engraved with images of wolves on the hunt, and appeared to be decades old. The entire cottage appeared to be just as old, for that matter. The cottage itself overlooked a rolling plain dotted with sparse trees. A few small cabins surrounded the space but were clearly empty.

As the doors tore open, a wave of heat blasted from inside. Alex was glad for the chance to warm up, he wouldn’t have lasted another minute in the freezing cold. Cynthia shuddered inside his jacket leading the way in.

The space was superbly maintained. A single roaring fire occupied the fireplace in the center of the house. The floor was covered in handmaid knit rugs that were strewn this way and that. Hung on the walls were a series of tapestries with all manner of wolf patterns, describing old hunts and leaders. A pair of stairways hugged each of the walls and led to a loft upstairs. The back of the cottage housed an old wood-burning, cast iron stove. The smell of fresh stew wafted toward his nostrils. Young wolves surrounded the fire, while warriors played games and told stories in cross-legged circles around the space.

“You all live under one large roof?” Alex asked, “How can anyone have their privacy?”

“It’s easier to heat one space than many. We have a few cabins for privacy in the area but most are deserted during winter,” the guide said. “I know why you’re here, but now isn’t the time to talk. It’s late. Rest and we’ll talk in the morning.”

“Are you the alpha?” Alex wondered.

“I wouldn’t be much of a host if I weren’t,” he replied.

He was of native decent, the lines on his face and the gray in his hair betrayed his age. His skin was course and could have passed for shoe leather, but, his smile was bright and inviting.

Alex offered a hand in greeting and the alpha returned with a firm handshake.

Cynthia was already warming her feet by the fire. Some of the young wolves took a curious interest in her as she sat beside them. Marcus stamped his way into the space, shaking off the snow that accumulated on his jacket.

“Is that your woman?” the alpha asked.

Damn right she is.

Alex nodded.

“There’s a cabin just down the hill. Plenty of wood for the stove, nice little place if you don’t mind the cold,” he said with a wink.

Face palm. Did the entire world know how desperate Alex was?

“Thanks?” Alex replied.

“Don’t mention it,” he said, shuffling away.

Okay, Alex needed answers and he needed them right now. Cynthia was by the fire, rubbing her calves as Alex sat beside her.

“What the hell,” Alex asked, in a loud whisper.

“What?” she asked, “you can run all over talking to other packs and I can’t join you at all?”

“You might have put this entire mission in danger by coming,” Alex chided, “what if they decided you were a threat and just attacked?”

“Well, they didn’t,” she replied.

“But, what if they did?” Alex continued, “I don’t know what I would have done if I lost you.” Cynthia sat still for a moment. The firelight danced shadows across her face. Dammit if she wasn’t the most gorgeous thing on two legs. His demeanor softened. He couldn’t stay mad at her no matter how hard he tried. “Listen, I’m glad that you came, and at this point I can’t send you home. But, please don’t do this again.”

“I promise I won’t do anything to-”

She paused and her eyes searched around the room. Alex knew what she was looking at, nearly all the people there were staring at them. They were strangers in a strange land. “Perhaps we should go somewhere more private?”

“The alpha told me there’s a cabin nearby. If we can get there then we can talk alone,” he said.

And maybe I’ll finally get to see what’s under those tights.

Cynthia’s eyes widened, a confirmation that she was thinking the same thing. Alex stood and offered a hand to his mate as he helped her to her feet. When he pushed open the front door, cold air blasted at them. Through the billowy wind he saw the tiny snowy topped cabin waiting and together they trudged over. Once inside and out of the elements Alex took in their room for the night. There was just enough space for a bed on one side and a camp stove on the other. Alex set to work getting a fire started in the stove as Cynthia locked the door behind.