Chapter 6

The day wore on and the rain finally stopped, leaving Connor cold and tired. With a shake he at least managed to dry off. But, every time he slowed his pace, it reminded him of Tess and would only serve to steel his resolve.

Still, Connor was nothing if not cautious. The bears were upset about something and every odd rustle in the forest made him pause in his tracks. He would perk up his ears and try to sniff for any signs that it might be a bear.

He stopped as he heard the sound of a deep growl, which definitely belonged to a bear. The growl was accompanied by the yelp of a wolf.

The daylight was beginning to dim over the tops of the trees and a light fog was rolling in along the floor of the forest. Connor wanted to ignore the sound, but he wouldn’t have been able to forgive himself if another shifter was hurt.

He prowled his way through the brush, until he could see what was causing the noise. A single wolf pursued by an advancing bear. The fight looked one sided and the shifter was already limping from pain. Connor knew that he would regret whichever decision he would make, but he could never leave someone in need.

He dropped his clothes and leapt from the bushes in a full sprint, charging headlong at the bear, sinking his teeth into the bear’s shoulder. It reeled back from the attack and stood on its haunches taking swipes at Connor but hitting nothing but air. Again, Connor leapt and struck the bear clear in the stomach, knocking the beast to its backside.

The bear roared from the pain as its fur became more blood stained with each bite from Connor’s jaws. The smell of fresh meat was a delicious scent. If Connor could win the fight then he could finally eat. His stomach growled from hunger and he was ready to give in to his instincts.

The fight was lost and the bear knew that staying would probably mean death. It scrambled to its feet, and bolted off into the woods.

Connor growled at the bear as it jetted off for the woods. Only when he was sure that the bear wasn’t coming back did he turn to join the other wolf. After approaching the other wolf he realized she needed help, and quick.

Connor shifted and the wolf’s eyes grew large. She shifted and sat leaned against a tree, gasping for breath.

“Who are you,” she asked.

He wasn’t sure he should say, but it would have done little to lie right now.

“Connor,” he said, “we need to get you home. Are you from the Night Howler den?”

She nodded.

“I’ll lead you but I don’t think I can walk,” she said.

He looked at her leg, it wasn’t good. Bones protruded and fresh blood trickled from the wound.

Connor ran to his bundle of clothing, taking his shirt and tearing it into a makeshift tourniquet. She gasped in pain, and he tried to distract the young wolf.

“What’s your name?”

“Cynthia,” she replied.

“What are you doing so far out in the woods, Cynthia?” Connor wondered as he pulled the bandage tight.

She growled from the sudden crack of her bone being pulled straight.

“Searching for my boyfriend,” she said, “he ran away last night. I was supposed to go with him but chickened out.”

Connor finished tying the cloth tight and tugged on his jeans.

“Okay, that will hold for now, but we need to get you home. I’ll carry you, if you can point the way,” he said.

She nodded as he lifted her with ease and cradled her in his arms. As they trudged along the thick brush he could feel every fallen twig and rough stone on the forest floor. The wincing pain didn’t bother him, though. Connor didn’t want to admit it but without the roads to guide him he had lost his way in the forest, and he was glad to have a guide that could show him the rest of the way.

After a few minutes of following her direction, Connor paused in his tracks. The wind was bringing a scent with it that he recognized, and before he could react he was ambushed by two shifters, growling and circling him.

“I’ve brought one of your own, she’s injured,” he said.

The lead wolf shifted and came in close.

“Cynthia?” he said.

The man looked into Connor’s face then down at the wolf in his arms. Connor offered the woman to him to carry and he gladly accepted.

“Take him back to the boss, I’m getting her to the medic,” he said, gesturing to the other wolf still waiting nearby.

Connor watched as the woman was carried off through the forest. He was glad she’d be safe now but now he found himself dealing with another problem.

The wolf behind him barked and Connor marched forward. He followed the trail left by the two that just passed through this way and, pressing through some low branches, he recognized the outline of the farmhouse. His broken truck tucked off to the side of the road. He’d finally arrived at his destination.

Two more wolves sprinted up and joined him, eyeing him up and down, growling.

Jerks.

The trio led him down the walkway and into the den of houses, stopping in front of the largest house. He could see that he’d gathered more attention than he was expecting. Strangers stood in the road, watching the scene unfold.

Through the light of the second floor window, he saw his reason for being here. Tess was safe and unharmed, watching everything happening. He wanted to climb up to her window and hold her but the wolves at his heels wouldn’t allow such an act.

The clack of a walking stick against the wood porch pulled Connor from his distraction. Tess’s father sighed as he looked down at Connor. The porch light bathed him in an eerie halo, obscuring his face.

“Bears attacking our hunting grounds, my daughter and son injured, and the only child of my greatest rival comes marching into my territory,” he said, “Well, isn’t today lovely.”

Connor stood firm and stared the old dog down, neither of them giving so much as an inch.

“Your pack isn’t the only one to be attacked. I’m here to broker a truce,” Connor said.

“Truce?” the old dog scoffed, “Now why would I need a truce when I got the son of a rival clan as a prisoner?”

He nodded and the three guards grabbed Connor.

“Lock him up in the yard. I’ll figure out what to do with him in the morning,” he added before disappearing into the farm house.

“The bears are a bigger problem for both of our pa-” He was interrupted by the sound of the door slamming. The guards chuckled and grabbed his arms tightly.

He looked at Tess watching from the window above. She mouthed the words Wait for me.

He nodded silently.

The guards pulled him down the avenue of houses before stopping in front of a wrought iron cage. One of the guards tried pushing him in, though Connor would not be bullied. Connor didn’t budge, staring the guard straight in the face, making him avert his eyes in discomfort. It took all of his will to prevent the beast inside him from ripping the guard’s head off. After calming down, Connor accepted his fate and climbed into the tiny cell. Behind him, the guard pulled shut the door and clamped a lock around the bars.

One of the guardsmen lingered as the others walked away trash talking Connor.

Dicks.

“For what it’s worth, I trust you,” he whispered, causing Connor to focus his attention on the remaining guard, “and if you care to know, that girl you brought back is goin’ to be alright.”

Connor nodded to him in understanding and relief that someone agreed with him.

Finally, the last guard left, leaving Connor alone.

Not before long, the cold air began biting at him, causing him to shift. After gaining the comfort of his fur, the only thing that might keep him warm, he wheeled around in the cage so he could keep a close eye on the farm house, and Tess.