Laurie’s Wolves(96)

Please God…

At the last second, he called out to his mates. “Avalanche. Not gonna make it. Love you both.” He took one more peek at the wall of snow heading his way, grabbed the trunk with all his strength, and closed his eyes tight.

He tucked his face down inside his slightly unzipped coat, hoping for a few minutes of air when all was said and done.

And then the snow hit him so fast he didn’t have time for another thought.

He held tight to the trunk, but the force was too much. In a moment, he was shrouded in total darkness. He lost his grip and fell backward, tumbling with the snow for several yards.

He couldn’t breathe. The air was ripped from his lungs.

Just as suddenly he stopped, his head slamming into something.

And then nothing.

∙•∙

Corbin stared in horror as he lifted his face up the mountain, realizing immediately what was happening.

“What is it?” Laurie asked. She grabbed his arm, squeezing it hard.

He couldn’t hear the telltale roaring of the avalanche yet, but he knew in seconds it would follow the giant plume of snow lifting into the sky at the crest.

“Jesus,” Laurie muttered as they both helplessly watched the wall of whiteness plowing down the mountain from near the upper lodge.

She flattened a hand over her mouth and gasped. A loud sob escaped her lips. “No,” she screamed.

Corbin grabbed her by the arm and tugged her against his body. He buried his face in her shoulder and let out cry of angst.

“No,” she said again, her shoulders slumping. “No.” She shook her head back and forth. “Zach,” she screamed through their connection.

Corbin shouted into his head also. “Zachary.”

“Avalanche. Not gonna make it. Love you both.” And then nothing.

Laurie shuddered in Corbin’s arms.

He wrapped his body around hers and held her tight.

“This can’t be happening.” She shook her head again, back and forth without stopping. “This can’t be what Fate had in mind for us. I can’t believe it. I won’t.” She stomped her foot.

Adam stepped up behind them. “Lord.”

Corbin lifted his face from Laurie’s shoulder and met Carlie’s gaze. He swallowed.

She shook her head the same way Laurie had. “Oh, God.”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Masters.”

“No.”

“We’ll find him.” Laurie tore herself from Corbin’s arms and ran toward the ski lift. “Come on,” she shouted. “Let’s get up there.”

“Laurie.” Corbin raced toward her and grabbed her by the arm.

“Don’t. We need to hurry. Every second counts.”

“It does. And we’re going up, babe. But we need coats. Gloves. Hats. Boots.”

She glanced down at her sweatshirt and jeans and nodded. And then she turned to race toward the lodge. “Let’s go.”

In minutes, Corbin sat on the lift with Laurie at his side. She gripped his hand as they stared down at the devastation.

“How will we find him in all that mess?”

“I don’t know.” He wasn’t as optimistic that they could as she was. He’d been pleading with Zach to answer him from the moment he’d heard his last statement of love. But he’d gotten no response yet.

He knew Laurie was also screaming at Zach. He could tell by the glazed look in her eyes.

And then she switched the direction of her gaze and continued concentrating with wide eyes.

Finally she broke from the short trance and looked at him. “Mimi just spoke to me.” She grabbed his arm.

“In human form?”

“Yes. She could sense something wasn’t right. She says she feels Zach. He has to be fine. He isn’t dead. She would know.”

Corbin stared at her. Weary. Could that old woman really predict such a thing? His fear didn’t alleviate. He said nothing.

As they exited the lift with dozens of other people, Corbin took off running for the third cabin. Zach was presumed to have been digging in that area. He was a survivor. He would have done everything possible to save his life and that of his men.

He could sense Laurie on his heels as they ran. It was a ways, but it looked as though the majority of the avalanche had barreled toward the row of cabins. The snow groomers probably dislodged the loose powder and caused the land to be upset.

Several men who had abandoned the grooming vehicles were already on the scene, digging frantically in the snow around the cabin with their bare hands.

One of them shouted as Corbin approached. “I’ve got something.” He reached into the snow and pulled out a blue knitted cap. “Shit.”

Two men flanked him and dug harder in that area.

Seconds later, Corbin came to their side. “How many are buried?”