Neither of them moved.
Was this Alaska’s version of a standoff? One of them had to make a move. Aidan took a step, the wolf watched. He took another step. Other than the wolf’s eyes following each move he made, the animal didn’t shift. Just watched. It was eerie, unnerving.
And freaking cool.
He began to relax, his heart still beat at an alarming rate, but his shaking had lessened. Somewhat. He reached the SUV and still the wolf stayed. He climbed in—breathing a sigh of relief when he locked himself inside—and started the engine. It coughed, and died. “You got to be kidding.” He couldn’t make the trip back to the cabin with the wolf out there. Chances were the predator wouldn’t spare him a second time. That was asking too much. Staying in the SUV too long and he’d freeze. He cranked over the engine again. It flared to life.
The wolf stood there, watching. A peculiar trickle slid down Aidan’s spine. He wasn’t scared—wary, yes—but he didn’t feel fear anymore. Not that he wanted to get out and pet the wild animal. It was hard to explain, but he felt as though he and the wolf could be…amicable. Now that was weird. He needed to grab his notebook and write this down. Excitement spread through him. Maybe he hadn’t lost it. Maybe he could lose himself in his story again. Maybe…
First he needed to get his sorry ass out of here. Or he wouldn’t have any maybes. Carefully he unstrapped the Velcro on the boot, releasing his leg from the brace. He tried some pressure on the brake. It hurt, but he could bear it. Sure as hell beat sleeping in the cabin with a wolf prowling around outside. He put the SUV in gear and backed it out of Earl’s makeshift driveway. Heading back toward Chatanika, he glanced in the rearview mirror to see the yellow eyes of the wolf.
Watching.
Aidan walked into the kitchen and found Fiona, Coho, Chickadee, Eva, and Lynx around the table eating dinner.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“Nonsense,” Coho said. “Have a seat. You must be hungry.”
Yes, he was, but he didn’t want to sit where he so did not belong.
“I’m sure he has things to do,” Lynx said with a glare.
Eva elbowed him in the chest. “Don’t be rude. Besides I want to find out what Doc Jaskoski said today. Sit, Aidan.” She said the words much the way a general in the army would.
Aidan was too afraid of Eva to disobey a direct order so he sat. Fiona rose and grabbed another plate, filling it with generous helpings of caribou steak, red potatoes, green beans, topping it off with two homemade sourdough biscuits. “This looks great. Thank you, Fiona.”
“You’re very welcome, my boy. Now eat up, you need your strength.”
“What’d Doc say?” Eva asked, spearing green beans with her fork. “Is it broken?”
“Hairline fracture, which is why he put me in the boot.”
“You’re lucky,” Eva said. “I’ve seen nasty accidents like yours where the bone split through the skin.”
“Hey.” Lynx grimaced. “I’m eating here.”
“Buck up,” Eva returned. “You married a nurse. There’s bound to be blood talk at the table.” She turned back to Aidan. “Anything else?”
“Nothing other than praise for you.”
Eva smiled, giving her an adorable look that would fool anyone into believing she was as sweet as cotton candy. “Ah, that’s nice to hear.”
Aidan cut into his steak and took a bite. He hadn’t eaten lunch since he had been busy cleaning up Earl’s place. Not that he’d gotten far. “This is wonderful, Fiona,” he said, chewing a piece while he cut another.
Fiona beamed.
“Yes, Mom, dinner is great.” Lynx wasn’t going to let Aidan show him up.
“Mr. Harte?” Chickadee asked. “Can I ask you a question?”
“As long as you call me Aidan.” He smiled when she blushed. She looked a lot like Raven had at that age, and he couldn’t help being charmed by her.
“Fox leant me your graphic novels, which I love by the way. But I have to know, are you bringing Senyea back from the dead?”
He’d been plagued with fan mail since the last novel came out when he had sacrificed her. From pleas, to coercion, to threats. The most serious threat had come from his editor. “You’ll have to wait and see.”
“No. Please tell me. Don’t make me wait. I won’t tell anyone, promise.”
“To tell you the truth. I don’t know. I haven’t written it yet.” Aidan took another bite and chewed.
She gasped. “What do you mean you don’t know? They’re your characters.”