Chapter 6

After she climbed out of the shower and calmed herself down, Olivia towel-dried her hair and checked her reflection in the mirror. She looked like she was drowning in his clothes. His hoodie came down to her knees and even though she had tightened the drawstring on his joggers, they were still falling off of her hips.

“Are you kidding me?” She muttered to herself as she tried to pull them up again. She quickly gathered her long black hair and wrapped it up in a messy bun on top of her head and secured it with the elastic. It would have to do until she got back to her apartment.

She walked down the stairs, holding the railing as she took a good look at the layout. It was absolutely beautiful.

She hadn’t even really noticed the large rock fireplace that was built beautifully on either side of the walls. A large black leather sectional sat in the middle of the room with a beautiful, modern design rug underneath a grand wooden table.

She noticed to the right of the fireplace, a smaller table that held several framed photographs in various sizes and five more large pictures on the wall above.

She descended the last step and walked over to get a better look. Olivia grabbed one of the smaller frames on the table and looked at it. It was Isaiah and some other man wearing ski equipment on top of a mountain. They both had their arms in the air like they had completed some kind of victory.

Her eyes slowly grazed over the other frames that looked like family photos and she finally looked up at the wall that held the other large framed photos. She leaned in to take a closer look and her hand covered her mouth as her eyes grew wide.

“You have to be shitting me.” She whispered to herself. A moment later she heard him clear his throat from across the room.

“You hungry?” He asked.

Olivia stared at him and one corner of her lip turned upward into a half smile. She pointed to a picture on the wall and asked, “You're ‘The’ Isaiah Avery?” Her eyebrow raised as she watched a slow smile settled on his mouth.

“You’re looking at him in the flesh.” He winked and gave her a gorgeous grin.

“You live in Crimson Creek?” She asked putting her hands on her hips like she didn’t believe him.

He looked around like it was a trick question. “Umm. Last time I checked. Yes.” He turned to start walking away and then looked back. “Breakfast is this way if you're hungry.”

“Hey! Did you forget that I was attacked and my group is lying up in the mountain dead or did you not hear that part?” She asked following him.

Isaiah turned and gave her an annoyed look. “Take a look outside. There is nothing we can do right now. We’re snowed in.”

She watched him walk away and she walked up to the large window in the dining room. There must have been over five feet of snow everywhere. She couldn’t even see the driveway or the road. She followed him into the kitchen and watched him sit at the breakfast nook that was attached to a large black ceramic counter. He sat there, drinking his orange juice and eating his eggs like it was just another day.

“I really need to get into town. Can you drive me?” She watched him look outside and then back at her. Though Olivia knew that there was little chance of the request being fulfilled, she knew that she had to at least try and get back on her way to town.

“No. We had close to five feet of snow dumped on us last night.” Isaiah confirmed her fears.

Olivia walked to the bay window again looking around outside. It was still snowing heavily and she had no idea how long she would be stuck there. “Do you have a skidoo?”

“Nope.”

She let out a breath of disappointment and finally asked. “Did you get a hold of Frank? I have to report this.”

Isaiah got up and put his plate in the sink. “Yes. The storm won’t be passing until tomorrow. He won’t be able to get the road plowed until tomorrow morning. As I said, we’re stuck for at least another 24 hours.”

Olivia slumped down into one of the kitchen chairs and shook her head. “You have to be fucking kidding me!”

**

Isaiah leaned up against the counter and looked out the window. He knew there was no way he could get down the mountain in this amount of snow. They would have to just wait it out patiently. His eyes glanced over at Olivia as she sat there staring off into space like she was deep in thought. He couldn’t help it, but the vision of her naked body kept flashing in his thoughts. Another pull tugged at his chest as he watched her drag her delicate fingers to her neck and rub it.

He finally broke the silent in the room. “Tell me what happened.” Isaiah walked over and took a seat across from her at the table. Her head lifted and he watched her stare at him with large chocolate brown eyes. Jesus, she was beautiful. Her long black hair all piled into a messy bun on top of her head. He just wanted to rip out that elastic band and let it fall around her and run his fingers through it. He snapped out of his reverie at the sound of her voice.

“Two wolves attacked us. I killed the smaller one, but it was too late to save anyone in my group.” She said, looking at him. He studied her face and when his eyes met hers, they welled with tears and he watched as one slowly roll down her cheek.

“Jesus. I’m sorry.” She said, quickly wiping it away.

Isaiah reached out his hand and laid it on top of hers. “Hey. It’s okay.” She gave him a weak smile. Isaiah stood walking to the counter. “You need to eat something. Let me put a plate together for you.”

He filled a plate with some bacon, scrambled eggs and toast and passed it to her. “Here you go. Coffee or juice?”

“Coffee please.” She replied and then started playing with her eggs.

He made her a coffee and passed it to her and then stood watching. “I’ve never seen you in town before. Are you from around here?”

She looked up at him. “I just moved here five months ago. I’m originally from Madison.”

“I don’t want you to take this the wrong way but why would you take a crew up the mountain if you knew a storm was coming in? I’m sure you know it can get pretty bad up here.” He said, cocking an eyebrow.

Olivia’s eyebrows shot up and she stared him down with an ice cold glare, “We had plenty of time to make it down the mountain. The storm wasn’t the issue, the wolves were!” She snapped.

Isaiah cupped the back of his neck with his hand. Fuck. He should have kept his mouth shut. He began to walk out of the kitchen and then turned, giving her a somber look. “I’m sorry. I’m sure you’re an experienced hiker. I’ll let you eat your breakfast.”

“Isaiah.” He turned back to look at her again. “Thank you.” She whispered with a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

“You’re welcome.” He said, walking into the living room. Isaiah sat on the couch beside Zeus, who was fast asleep. He rested his hand on his lap as he thought about Olivia.

He couldn’t even imagine what she must be going through. Since Isaiah and Matt had opened up their business ten years ago, they had lost two people to the mountains and it wasn’t because of wolves. It was due to bad weather. It was always the weather.

Fucking Mother Nature.

He knew exactly how she felt because he had experienced it himself. You can’t help but blame yourself. You are always responsible for your group no matter what, but Olivia’s circumstances were different. It had nothing to do with the elements. It had everything to do with their species— Werewolves.

He hadn’t heard of an attack in a very long time. He was well aware of what had happened in Anchorage to the Warren pack and that Victoria Warren was still out there plotting her revenge against the Kodiaks, but he couldn’t see some wolves killing just anyone random like this. His eyes landed on her as she slowly walked into the living room and then stopped. She was drowning in his hoodie and joggers and he let out a deep laugh at the sight.

“What’s so funny.” She asked raising an eyebrow.

“I’m sorry. You just look lost in my clothes.”

She looked down at herself and grinned and then started to walk over grabbing a seat on the other side of Zeus. She turned and looked at him and smiled. “That’s because I am lost in your clothes. You're a giant compared to me.”

He watched her smile and then pet Zeus. “I’m really sorry this happened, Olivia. You know it’s not your fault right?” He asked searching her face.

“I know. But they were my responsibility.” She blinked and then tilted her head sideways to look at him. “I have to get their bodies off the mountain. You understand that right?”

“It will get done. Frank will want you to show him where it happened. It’s going to be hard though with all this snow.” He frowned and then asked. “Where exactly did it happen?”

“At peaks landing; about twenty feet below. Their bodies are just off the trail in the forest.” She replied, her body trembling.

“Jesus.” He shook his head. “So your pack is in Madison?”

She cocked an eyebrow. “You can smell my scent?”

Isaiah raked his hand through his hair and smiled. “Well, not only can I smell your scent but I personally watched your smaller wounds heal in front of me.”

Olivia laughed. “Ok. I knew I was busted as soon as I smelt you. You’re a shifter too right?” He nodded. “I don’t have a pack. My father was killed by rogues a year and a half ago.”

“I’m sorry. What about your mom or sisters or brothers?” He asked.

She hung her head and stared at her lap as she balled her hands into fists. “It’s just me, I’m an only child and my mother died giving birth to me.”

Isaiah sat there watching her tremble as she said it. He could feel her pain, her sadness and it tugged at his heart. He just wanted to grab her and wrap her up in his arms and take away her pain. She had obviously gone through so much in life. He didn’t know what to say, so he reached over and picked up the remote and switched on the flat screen. At least that worked and would help them pass the time.