“Stop stalling. Let’s go!” Jackson grunted.
“Fine!” she snapped, focusing, her anger on Jackson.
Katalina walked to the truck as large flakes swirled around her, landing on her cheeks like frosty kisses. As they drove, she stared out the window, watching the world of white pass her by.
She’d always loved the snow. Quite often she’d run outside and stand with her arms spread wide, head tilted to the cloud covered sky with her tongue stuck out as the flakes melted. The snow froze time. Transformed the world into a fairytale landscape, but as she watched the snow, she couldn’t see the fairy tale, nor the beauty.
“We’ll pull up here and walk the rest of the way. With the snow, I don’t think the truck’s going to get through,” Bass said.
Jackson nodded and hopped out. Katalina followed. She held Bass’s hand as they walked into the trees. The snow-covered branches above them blocked out the little light there was. For once, she was pleased for her shifter senses and enhanced sight.
They’d been walking for ten long minutes. The snow had stopped falling as they’d walked. Bass and Jackson were ever vigilant, their eyes scanning one way, and another, ears tilted toward the wind to catch distant sounds. Katalina watched them, marveling at how wolf-like they seemed, even in human form. She wondered whether she’d ever be that natural, or if she’d always be the outsider, who grew up as a human and never quite lost her skin.
She noticed Jackson’s change in body language before she heard the soft tread of footfalls. She tilted her head trying to hear better, when the air was sucked out of her. Her body moved so fast, her head spinning when she was set back on her feet.
With a shake of her head, she focused her eyes. Bass hand moved her behind him, his body angled defensively, one hand pressed against her leg. Jackson was at her back. The energy and the power zapped between the few centimeters separating them.
Wolves appeared all around them, watching them, but didn’t move to fight.
“I’m here to see my father,” Bass said to the wolves, his voice soft, non-threatening.
“And the River Run alpha?” They all focused on the man who walked into the center of the wolves. He was dressed in black, his skin bronzed, and his hair long and as black as coal. His brown eyes held a nasty edge, his voice one of malice.
“Malaki,” Bass nodded in greeting.
“Thank the Heavens. The alpha’s prodigal son has returned, and he’s brought us a River Run whore and the alpha to play with,” he chuckled aloud.
Bass and Jackson’s growl thundered around them, their bodies tensed, ready to attack.
“My father, Malaki,” Bass snapped.
“Oh, don’t worry. You’ll be seeing him. He’s looking forward to hearing your explanation for killing your own and ordering his men away. I am too, actually. Care to give me the spoilers?” He laughed again, indicating for them to follow him.
The wolves fanned around them as they went, never moving more than four feet away at any time. Katalina tried to calm her rapidly beating heart. Bass never took his hand from hers; she was sure he could feel her sweaty palms. She was petrified. Katalina imagined so many scenarios, but none of them had been as terrifying as this. The further they walked, the more densely packed the trees became until they opened out onto a large open area. The snow had been cleared into piles. Wooden cabins were dotted here and there, men, women, and children stood on their porches, watching them as they walked. Katalina felt like she’d been transported into a horror movie set, set in a time where men were the leaders and ruled under a barbaric thumb. As she looked around her, she realized what Bass had meant. This place, this pack, it was nothing like River Run. River Run looked like the most normal of places on earth compared to this.
Malaki indicated for them to stop in the center of a circle of cabins. The largest stood in front of them. A huge bonfire to the left cast an orange hue over the ground.
“Son! What have you brought me?” The man who walked out of the largest of cabins was a huge solid brick of a man. Although very wide with arms like tree trunks, he was clearly a little on the chubby side, his middle as wide as his shoulders. But none of this made him any less intimidating. The power rolling off him prickled against Katalina’s skin. Her wolf stirred and rose, her every instinct saying run!
Bass didn’t say a word as his father walked around them. He appeared calm, his posture lazy even.
“Jackson, how lovely of you to visit, and this must be your daughter. She’s the image of her mother, such beauty. What a shame for it to leave this world.”
Katalina was struggling for air. Her head felt dizzy, the buzzing in her ears preventing her from concentrating on the predator in front of her.