Laurie’s Wolves(31)
“Where?”
“Back side of the ski mountain. We went for a run. Stopped in a clearing. It was so peaceful, and then bam, the black smoke coalesced into a shape like a large animal and hovered in front of me.”
“Any idea what it wanted?”
“Do you normally know?”
Melinda seemed to blow out an exasperated breath. “No. But I was hoping.”
“When do you usually see these things? You said right before the earthquake and then that disaster at the casino site, right?”
“Yes. But not necessarily immediately preceding danger. I just knew I was getting a warning. A sign. Kind of a ‘wake up and pay attention’ thing. It’s hard to explain.”
“I think I get it.” Laurie looked around. There was no evidence of the spirit now. Would it come back? “You don’t think we’re in imminent danger?”
“You would know. Trust me.”
Laurie spun in circles, taking in the scene. Her mates closed in on her, their teeth bared as though ready for attack. She couldn’t hear them. “I need to break this connection. Let’s talk tomorrow, yeah?”
“Yes. Why don’t you come to my shop in the morning? You haven’t seen it yet. We can talk then.”
“Perfect. I can visit Corbin in Sojourn too. That’ll make him happy. He works so far away from us, I see him less than Zach. Makes him pissy.” She giggled into her sister’s head. “Later then.”
As if she had been sucked into a vacuum, she was suddenly released. With a gasp of breath, she sunk to the snowy ground once more, exhausted.
“What the fuck? Laurie? Answer me?” Zach called to her. She knew he’d been doing so for a while.
“I’m okay. Hang on,” she communicated.
Corbin lowered to his haunches in front of her and nudged her with his nose. “Babe?”
“I was talking to Melinda.”
“Okaaay… But why couldn’t you talk to us also?” Corbin asked.
“Couldn’t hear you.”
“What? We were right here, practically shouting into your head,” Zach said.
“I can’t explain it. Give me a minute.”
“Let’s get the hell out of here. We can talk back at the condo.” Zach set a paw on her.
“Give me a second first.” She closed her eyes, knowing she needed to regroup a moment before they made their way down the mountain.
She tried to process everything that had transpired while it was still fresh. The black cloud had specifically made its presence in front of her. Why her? And there was little doubt it was warning her of something. She had no idea what.
It wasn’t imminent. It was ugly.
She shuddered and then dragged herself to her paws. “Let’s go.”
»»•««
“Talk to us.” Zach paced back and forth in the living room. “What the hell happened back there?”
The men had graciously left her in peace on the way home, waiting until they entered the condo to start tossing out questions. She stared at Zach on the other side of the glass coffee table where he paced.
The inquisition continued without either man waiting for answers.
“Why was Melinda shifted? How did you manage to reach her?” Corbin plopped down on the black leather couch and reached for her.
Laurie ignored his outstretched hand and stood across from him, watching Zach pace. “She wasn’t shifted.”
“What the fuck?” Zach stopped moving abruptly and stared at her.
“She was cooking dinner.” As if anyone needed to know that detail.
“Laurie?” Corbin prodded, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.
“I don’t know what to say. I reached out, and she responded. I suspect she dropped something in the kitchen, actually. And in addition, the moment we connected, you two were blocked out. So were Trace and Keegan.”
“I’ve heard of blocking people from hearing things, but being blocked by nature to zone in on one single being? That’s crazy.” Zach rubbed his brow with one hand in confusion.
“Yeah. Trust me. It was weird. I’m going to go to her shop tomorrow and talk to her more, but for now, suffice to say, we’re being warned.”
“About what?” Corbin asked.
“No fucking clue. If I knew that, we’d be golden. I just get the ominous feeling that we need to take heed. Something’s about to happen. Whatever it is, we need to do something.”
Zach wrapped his arms around Laurie, calming her instantly. “We’ll figure it out, baby.” He kissed her temple.
“Come here.” Corbin reached out toward her again. “I need to be closer to you.”
Zach released her, and she headed toward Corbin. When his hands landed on her hips, she calmed again. Something about their touch.