Wolves, Witches and Bears...Oh My! Read online

  Leaves and branches slapped against the side of the jeep as they drove down the narrow road, clouds of insects stirring as their resting place was disturbed. The vehicle bounced and rattled as it made its way over the rough, dirt track, the noise likely scaring away any animals or birds that had been in the vicinity. She hoped it scared spiders and snakes as well.

  The thickness of the vegetation blocked out the refreshing breeze she’d felt at the beach. Instead, humid, cloying air seemed to encircle her, making her clothing stick to her body. She brushed a few loose strands of her hair from her sweaty face. At least it felt a bit cooler, the overhead canopy filtering the sun so that only dappled bits of light showed on the road.

  Neither spoke, both wrapped in their own thoughts. Eventually the five-mile mark approached and Tina indicated this to Stone. He nodded and slowed down.

  “We turn here and then it’s straight to the border with Cantala.”

  “Is there a chance of a border patrol catching us?”

  “Not much. Cantala’s forces are poorly organized and most are probably on the drug cartels’ payrolls. Those that aren’t are likely guarding the government buildings, or concentrating their efforts on the airport and coast hoping to intercept drug shipments out of the country.”

  “Good. I’d hate to think we’d have to explain what we’re doing here.”

  “Getting to the border will be a bigger problem than crossing it. The road will get progressively worse from here.”

  “Worse?” She rubbed her hip which was already sore from frequent contact with the side of the vehicle.

  “Yep.” He pressed on the accelerator and steered the jeep down the path.

  It actually was in rougher condition than the previous road.

  “I’ll never complain about the potholes in Chicago again.” Christina shouted the words so as to be heard over the noise of the vehicle. She had herself braced with one hand on the dash and the other on the door.

  “It does make you appreciate home.” Stone grimaced as he wrestled with the steering wheel. Tina took a moment to admire the corded muscles showing on his arms as he tried to keep the jeep under control. The vehicle kept skidding to the side whenever they encountered a muddy bog.

  “How long do you think—” The rest of her statement was cut off by a curse from Stone.

  “Hell and damnation!” His foot slammed onto the brake pedal and the jeep fishtailed wildly in the mud before coming to a stop. A fallen tree was blocking the way.

  Stone rested his arms on the steering wheel. “It likely came down in the storm that went through a few days ago.” He climbed out of the jeep and moved closer to inspect the obstacle.

  Tina followed him, picking her way through the mud. The closer they got to the tree, the bigger it seemed.

  “We can’t go around it.” She surveyed the area on either side of the road. A tangle of dense vegetation made the way impassable.

  Stone tested the trunk for weight, straining to move it. “No use. It’s too big to lift and it would take too long to cut through.”

  “So do we turn back or try to walk to the mission?” Tina bit her lip as she stared at the road on the other side of the tree. It disappeared around a curve, large fronds and vines making it impossible to see what lay ahead.

  Stone checked his watch then glanced at the sky. “Not much daylight left, such as it is under this canopy. We could try to turn around, but travelling at night on these roads is hazardous. If we start walking, there’s not much chance of us reaching the mission before dark. Our best bet is to spend the night in the jeep and start hiking at first light.”

  “Will that put us very far behind schedule?”

  “Enough but it can’t be helped.” He returned to the vehicle, rummaged around in the back seat and pulled out a machete and one of the woven bags she’d bought as a souvenir. “I’ll find some food and we’ll top up with the rations. Wait here.”

  “Can’t I go too?” She wasn’t keen on being left alone for too long. There was something ominous about the jungle, something that brought out primitive fears she couldn’t begin to understand.

  “I’ll be in sight the whole time. When the tree fell, it took some of the smaller ones with it. Bad luck for the trees, but I won’t have to do any climbing to reach the fruit.”

  She leaned against the hood of the jeep, swatting at bugs as she watched Stone wield his machete, deftly hacking through the tangle of underbrush to reach the fruit on the felled trees. In a matter of minutes he returned, the bag full of food.

  “The bananas are green—there might not be much to eat there—but I found these.” He pulled out a strange, yellowish-green fruit covered in prickles.

  She peered at it dubiously. “I’ve never seen anything like that before. Do you know what it is? It might be poisonous.”

  “Yes, I know what it is. Do you really think I’d give you something poisonous to eat?”

  “Sorry. Dumb question. What’s it called?”

  “Guanabana”

  “Guano? Like in bird poop?”

  “Not quite. It’s also called soursop.”

  “Sounds like sour slop.” She made a face. “That’s not much better. You’re sure it’s safe to eat?”

  “If you need proof, look up in that tree. Do you see that squirrel monkey?”

  She peered in the direction he indicated, finally locating the small furry creature. “Oh, there it is. Cute little guy.”

  “He’s eating the fruit. A general rule of thumb is that if it’s safe for a monkey to eat, it’s safe for humans.”

  “Good to know.”

  Reassured, she began to eat. It was a simple meal of fruit and some kind of dried meat Stone had taken from the rations in his backpack. Water from young coconuts he’d found helped wash the food down. It wasn’t the most exciting meal she’d ever had, but the ambiance helped make up for it. The jungle wasn’t nearly as foreboding when you had someone with you.

  “Are we going to set up a tent?” She wiped her sticky hands on her capris, sadly realizing that no amount of stain remover would ever make the pants a pristine white again.

  “No. We have the jeep right here. It’ll provide good protection.” Stone rose to his feet and tossed the remains of the fruit into the bushes. “It might not be the most comfortable place to sleep, but we won’t have to worry about snakes and scorpions visiting us during the night.”

  She shivered, not liking the idea of nocturnal visitors. “Do they come out when it’s dark? The sun’s starting to set.” Between the leaves overhead, streaks of pink could be seen staining the sky.

  “Snakes and scorpions? They’re around day and night.”

  “Gee, thanks for trying to make me feel better, Stone.”

  “Any time. Climb in the jeep and roll up the windows.”

  She complied reluctantly. “Won’t it get stuffy?”

  “Preferable to the bugs. We have to keep them out. For the most part, it’s not the wild animals or snakes that will get you in the jungle. It’s the bugs and the diseases they carry.”

  She subsided into her seat, resigning herself to an uncomfortable night. “You know, it is awfully early to be going to bed.”

  “Here.” Stone pulled out a small flashlight and suspended it from the rearview mirror.

  “Thanks, but don’t we have to worry about the battery?”

  “Crank generator.” He demonstrated how to charge the battery before handing her a book. “You can read this if you can’t sleep.”

  “The Ultimate Survival Guide?” She was surprised he would need a book. He seemed extremely confident and capable to her.

  “I know a lot, but I don’t know everything. It never hurts to have a source of extra information.”

  “I suppose.” She took the book and flipped through the pages. “The plot doesn’t look too gripping.” A glance towards Stone revealed he had his phone out.

  “Cell phones work in the jungle?” She thought of her own tucked away in the backpack S
tone had given her.

  “No. This is a sat-phone. It uses a LEO satellite – low earth orbiting. Good for remote places like jungles or deserts, as long as there’s no storm to screw up the satellite’s signals.”

  She nodded in understanding and settled back to read the survival guide he’d given her, idly listening in to his conversation with Reno.

  “Hey, Reno why didn’t you answer your damned phone earlier … Yeah, well Jenkins never showed.” He flicked a glance at Tina. “I found someone … Who? Christina.” He held the phone away as a blast of angry words spewed from the device. “It was just a weird coincidence that she was here … Yeah, I’m not too thrilled, but she’s better than nothing. Look, the reason I called is because we’re behind schedule. The road is blocked so we’ll have to hike the rest of the way. You’ll need to adjust our emergency rendezvous time. I’ll contact you tomorrow with an update … Yeah. I will. Talk to you then.”

  Stone signed off and put the phone away.

  In the dim light from the flashlight, he could see Christina was pressed against the door, her nose buried in the book. “Glad you’re reading that. You never know when the information might come in handy.”

  She flicked a look his way and then resumed reading.

  He frowned. “What’s up?”

  “Nothing.”

  She’s lying, his wolf declared. She is definitely not pleased.

  He sighed. “I’ve been told that in woman-speak ‘nothing’ always means something. Spill it.”

  She turned her back to him as best as the limited space of the vehicle would allow.

  “Christina.” He spoke her name, the hint of a growl edging his voice.

  She didn’t look at him, but at least she replied. “I’m just trying to stay out of your way since you aren’t ‘too thrilled’ that I’m here.”

  “What?”

  “That’s what you told Reno. That you’re not too thrilled, but I’m ‘better than nothing’.”

  He rolled his eyes. “I didn’t mean it the way it sounded.”

  She closed the book firmly and turned to face him. “Then what did you mean?”

  “I meant…” He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling that no matter what he said, he’d just dig himself in deeper. “I meant that I’d have preferred an experienced operative, of course.”

  She pressed her lips tightly together and started to turn away, but he reached over and stilled her movement.

  “I’m being honest. A trained operative would have been preferable. This is a dangerous situation and I don’t like the idea of your life, or that of any civilian, being put at risk. Having said that, two innocent children are in danger and I’m grateful that you offered to help out.”

  She was silent for a moment, then sighed. “Okay. I get it.”

  “Good. We need to work as a team and if there are misunderstandings between us, it will negatively impact on our efficiency. If you have a problem with anything, how you’re feeling, your equipment, you don’t understand my instructions, anything at all, tell me.”

  “All right.” She stifled a yawn.

  “Ready to turn in?”

  “I guess.” She set the book on the dash.

  Stone reclined his seat and folded his arms. Beside him, Christina did the same. After a moment she shifted on to her side.

  “I don’t suppose you packed a pillow?”

  He rolled his head towards her. She was staring at him. “No.”

  “I didn’t think you would have but figured it couldn’t hurt to ask.” In the dim light, he could just make out her smile. It was nice to know she didn’t hold a grudge.

  “Come here.”

  “Why?”

  “You can lean against me.”

  There was a pause and then a shuffling sound as she moved closer followed by a soft curse. “The gear shift is in the way.”

  “Climb over it.”

  More shuffling ensued and then she landed in his lap.

  “Oomph.” They grunted in unison.

  “Sorry,” she apologized. “It’s hard to do this in the dark.”

  “It’s okay.” He grabbed her by the waist and tucked her against his body. “Better?”

  “A bit.” He felt her hand drift over his chest. “You’re not as soft as my pillow.”

  He lightly squeezed her arm. “You are.”

  “Is that a nice way of saying I’m flabby?”

  “No. I like the way you feel. Soft. Like a woman.” He ducked his head and brushed a kiss over her forehead.

  She reached up, trailing her fingers over his face, his neck, urging him closer. When their lips met, he groaned, the taste of her sweet and familiar.

  He eased her over so she was straddling him and their kiss became hotter, more urgent. His hands slid down her back, finding the edge of her shirt and then tugging it upwards. Her own hands were busily working their way under his shirt and when she finally touched his bare skin a shiver raced through him. She carefully raked her nails over his chest while nuzzling his neck and nipping at his collar bone. “I wish you were completely naked.”

  “Same here but no room.”

  “Next time rent a van.”

  He chuckled. “Right. Like it would survive these roads.”

  “Good thing we’re in the jungle, though,” she breathed the words into his ear.

  “Why?” His voice sounded strained to his own ears.

  “We don’t have to worry about a cop coming by wondering why the windows are steamed up and the car is rocking.”

  He gave a bark of laughter. “True. And you don’t have to be quiet in case the neighbours hear either.”

  “Yeah.” She stilled and eased away from him. “That was an amazing night.”

  “It was.” He paused, sensing something had changed.

  She seemed focused on his chest, watching her fingers draw idle patterns.

  He cleared his throat. “Look, I’m sorry I didn’t say goodbye that morning. It’s just…I don’t like the word. It’s too…final.”

  She peeked up at him through her lashes. “I guess I can understand that. But not all goodbyes are final, you know.”

  He made a noncommittal sound, gently eased from under her and opened the door of the vehicle. “I’ll be right back.”

  Once he was outside of the vehicle, he rolled his shoulders to release some tension. The direction their conversation had taken had made him uncomfortable. In the eyes of most, he hadn’t revealed much about himself but even that one fact, about not liking goodbye, had been hard for him to say. Too many years of keeping his cards close to his chest, he supposed. He took a deep breath and began to walk towards the bushes to relieve himself when a scent drifting on the heavy night air stilled his actions.

  There is another shifter in the area. His wolf growled low in its throat, instantly alert.

  The urgings of his bladder were immediately forgotten. He strained his senses, listening to the night sounds, trying to pierce the darkness with his gaze. The scent was faint, having drifted some distance and not recent. It was, however, vaguely familiar, niggling at the back of his mind but refusing to reveal the identity of the Lycan.

  What other wolf could be in the area? His inner animal asked. This is the jungle. Wolves do not live here.

  A member of the Duffy family? Perhaps, but he’d never met them before so why would the scent stir a memory?

  His wolf urged him to investigate, to follow the scent and track down the other wolf. He even took half a step, but his duty to Christina held him back. Leaving her alone, unguarded, wasn’t wise. No, he shook his head. He’d stay here and stand guard hoping the elusive memory of the scent would return.

  Chapter 6

  Demonic screams pierced her dreams, jolting Tina awake. Was someone being murdered or were the hounds from Hell attacking? She sat frozen in her seat, hardly daring to move, not wanting to attract the attention of whatever dangerous creature was lurking outside. Instead, she slid her hand slowly across the seat, re
aching for Stone but encountering nothing.

  “Stone?” She whispered his name and cautiously turned her head so she could see the driver’s seat. No one was there.

  Gathering her courage, she turned, quickly scanning the jeep’s interior. She was alone, the man she’d been dreaming about just moments before was nowhere in sight.

  “Stone!” She called his name, heart pounding as she peered through the windows. Where was he?

  Dawn was breaking, streaks of pink spreading over the bits of sky that could be seen through the tree canopy. Day was pushing away the darkness of night but the area around her was still mostly bathed in shadows offering a multitude of hiding places for whoever or whatever it was that was making those chilling sounds.

  Had Stone left the car and fallen victim to some jungle creature? She put her hand on the door handle, not sure if she was brave enough to face whatever was out there but knowing she had to go looking for him.

  A weapon. She should take one with her. Leaning over the back seat, she began to rustle through the supplies Stone had stashed there. The big gun—an AK-47 he’d informed her—was nowhere in sight, but he’d used a machete last night so it must be in there somewhere.

  She stretched farther, trying to reach his backpack, muttering curses to herself about not having longer arms. If she hitched herself up just a bit more…

  The door behind her suddenly opened and something touched her leg. She let out a scream, lost her balance and tipped head first over the seat into the back.

  A loud guffaw filled the vehicle, the sound foreign yet the source was undeniable. Stone was laughing!

  Tina righted herself and peered over the seats to see Stone actually grinning at her. “Glad to see you’re awake.”

  “Awake? Of course, I’m awake. It sounds like someone is being disembowelled out there.” She brushed her hair from her face and gestured towards the surrounding jungle.

  Stone frowned, cocking his head as he listened before giving another huff of laughter. “Howler monkeys. They make quite a racket, don’t they?”

  “Monkeys? Holy cheeseballs, they’re noisy.”

  “Better than an alarm clock.”

  “They scared me half to death,” she muttered, climbing out of the vehicle. “Where were you?”