Echo Falls (19 page)
Authors: Jaime McDougall
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Aidan sniffed at yet another trap. At least they’d found this one. Progress had been slow with two other wolves falling prey to the Hunter’s traps. The first had been another snare that had caught the back leg of an older wolf. The second had been a more complicated rig with powdered silver spraying from above. Four wolves had to turn back into humans to help the others, using up a good amount of medical supplies and all of their spare water. He looked back over his shoulder at the wolves following, only the light of their eyes and their scents betraying their presence. Their numbers were fading dangerously.
The Hunter’s scent polluted the caves around them, making advanced warning of the traps nearly impossible in the dark. Where and when he found them, he cocked a leg and marked it to make sure the others wouldn’t get caught.
If only capturing rather than killing had been on the Hunter’s mind when he’d set them.
They had heard a howl earlier and he’d answered, but now he heard nothing. He couldn’t bear to stop even for a moment to howl again and listen for a reply. The howl he’d heard before had been one of pain, and he didn’t want to think of what no reply meant; he just needed to find her.
Her scent grew stronger, spurring him on to rush further ahead of the pack.
He smelled the blood first and stopped, looking at the lantern light coming from a cave ahead. The distinct scent could not be mistaken and he stood frozen, one paw half off the ground to take the next step forward as he listened. He heard a faint whine and rushed ahead.
Though weak with blood loss, the transformation back into human from wolf had healed Liam enough to give him the strength to stand unsteadily on his feet. He wove back and forth, trying to direct the aim of the loaded crossbow in his hands. Aidan stopped only for a moment to see he was aiming at a mass of grey fur on the other side of the cave.
He launched himself into the air and knocked Liam down. Liam tried to fight Aidan off with the crossbow, landing a blow that left Aidan with a bloody gash on his nose. Aidan easily bit into his wrist, making Liam scream until he passed out.
Aidan quickly moved around the cave, sniffing and searching for any traps. He didn’t want any more of his pack put in danger. Fear for Phoebe soon overwhelmed him and he turned to go to her. He took a step forward then caught a glimpse of silver in the corner of his vision. He turned to look at Liam who now sat laughing like a man with a broken mind as he aimed the crossbow once more.
All thought drained from Aidan’s mind as he saw Liam aim not at him but at Phoebe. He snarled as he leapt forward, slamming Liam back to the ground. At the last possible moment, Liam’s human instincts kicked in and he swung the crossbow around to aim at Aidan. He could only get a shot off that cut Aidan’s shoulder before Aidan was on him, his jaws clamping around the murderer’s neck.
After a few moments, Liam stopped squirming and Aidan released his throat. He took a few steps away and then began to turn back into a human. The instincts of the wolf melted into the grim knowledge of the human, knowing that he’d done what he had to do to protect…
“Phoebe?”
The other wolves arrived and, seeing Aidan in human form, followed suit. Most paid Liam no mind other than the few who snarled at his body for good measure. Will and Elle were the first to change, eager but aware of Aidan’s apprehension.
Aidan picked up one of the lanterns and looked over at the large mass of fur partially hidden by a rock. Cautiously, he walked over, not letting himself think about the worst.
Bringing the lantern around the rock, he couldn’t help but smile at what he saw.
Charlotte yawned and looked around in a curious daze as she ran her tiny hands through the fur of her protector. The wolf had curled around her, serving as bedding, blanket and protection. Aidan lifted her up and kissed her forehead.
Will and Elle’s eyes shone with tears as he handed Charlotte to them. She fully woke up and babbled a string of ‘mummy’ and ‘daddy’ as her parents cuddled her.
Aidan let the true horror into his system as he quickly turned and knelt by the injured wolf. Though her eyes were still closed, her body slowly transformed back into its human shape.
“Phoebe,” he whispered.
Fully human, she looked too pale. He looked at the blood and bruises all over her body and cursed. He wished Liam had lived if only for the pleasure of beating him to a pulp. The transformation from wolf to human or vice versa always had some restorative effects, but it didn’t provide miracles – and Phoebe looked like she needed a miracle.
He took off his pack and wrapped her as best he could in what was left of the flimsy emergency clothes while the others looked on. No one said a word, the silver bolt in her shoulder saying more than enough. Elle kissed the top of her daughter’s head and then gathered the lanterns, bringing them closer to Phoebe and Aidan.
Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled faintly. “Hey.”
He smiled. “Hey.”
“You found…”
“Ssh,” he said, caressing her face. “I found the video. I found you.”
“Charlotte -”
“Charlotte’s safe. Let’s worry about you right now.” He looked at the silver bolt and clenched his jaw. He would have to take it now or else the silver would kill her. “I have to take the bolt out before the silver…”
She nodded.
Gritting his teeth, he gripped the bolt with his bare hand and pulled it out. She screamed and he tried not to do the same as he quickly tossed it away. Someone handed him some gauze and he pressed it against her shoulder, making her wince.
“We have to get her out of here! Rig up something. Anything!” The others began sifting through their packs and he focused on her face. “Phoebe, stay awake for me, okay? Can you do that? Stay awake for me.”
She looked at him, her face filled with sad acceptance. “I protected her. You. The pack.”
“Yes. You protected us all.”
“Liam.”
He looked over at Liam. “He won’t bother you anymore.”
“Good,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. Her eyelids drooped. “You’re okay.”
“Yes, I’m okay. You will be, too. Come on,” he said, tapping her cheek. “Stay awake for me. I love you. You hear me, Phoebe? I love you.”
She smiled. “I love you, too.”
Then she closed her eyes.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
A steady beep and the murmur of distant voices roused Phoebe enough to try to open her eyes. She licked her dry lips and tried to swallow as the light streaming through the windows stung her eyes. Slowly she adjusted to the light and looked around.
The hospital.
She looked down at herself, warmly tucked in with a white hospital gown, robe and white blankets. Her heavily bandaged shoulder ached and she began to wiggle her fingers – the only bare part of her arm she could see. On a table to her left, beautiful flowers of nearly every color filled three large vases, their fragrance softening the sharp smell of industrial strength cleaners. Nurses in brightly colored scrubs walked past the partially open door, the sounds of conversations and other beeping machines filling her room.
To her right, Aidan dozed in an uncomfortable looking chair in the sunshine, his feet propped up on the very edge of her bed. He looked exhausted; his t-shirt and jeans were wrinkled as if he’d slept in them and dark stubble covered his face. Even in sleep he looked worried, his arms crossed over his chest and his head resting on his shoulder as if he’d resisted falling asleep with all his strength.
Tears began to well up in her eyes and she smiled, seeing the stack of Sophie’s take-away coffee cups on the floor by his chair.
Her smiled disappeared and tears began to flow onto her cheeks as her unclear memories began to clarify in her mind. Mia had betrayed them. Liam had kidnapped Charlotte. She’d fought Liam. If only she’d had the strength to fight him sooner. Four lives would have been saved.
Hearing her sniff, Aidan instantly came awake. He nearly fell out of his chair as he rushed to stand by her side, wiping away her tears.
“Ssh, Phoebe. Ssh. It’s okay. I’m here. You’re safe. Ssh.” He reached over her and grabbed a box of tissues, plucking two out and handing them to her. “You’re okay.”
She tried not to sob, the heaving of her body sending pain shooting through her. Aidan murmured to her, caressing her good arm and then bringing her hand to his lips. He leaned over and kissed her forehead and each cheek. When he moved to kiss her lips, she turned her head away.
“Phoebe?”
She took a few moments to steady her breathing and turned to face him, but she couldn’t meet his eyes. When she spoke, she could only manage to choke out a whisper. “I’m so sorry.”
He looked at her, shaking his head, and ran his hand through her hair. “You have nothing to be sorry about.” She opened her mouth to protest, but he placed his fingertips on her mouth. “
Nothing.
”
She reached up and took his hand. “I brought Liam here. I didn’t tell you about him. I did everything I could to avoid talking to you about things you needed to know. Things that could have helped Thomas.” Her voice hitched and she squeezed her eyes shut as she took a few steadying breaths. “If I had been honest from the beginning, Thomas would still be alive.”
“You can’t know that.”
“Mia hated me so much that she betrayed the pack.”
“Mia is in jail now, where she should have been a long time ago.”
She kept her eyes shut, knowing she wouldn’t be able to say what she needed to say if she looked at him. “I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done -”
“That sounds familiar.”
“- and I’ll never forget you, but I have to go.” Her wolf howled inside her, not understanding her human half or the decision she’d made. Her wolf could only see herself being separated from her mate, her alpha.
“You’re not going anywhere.” The tone of his voice forced her to open her eyes. He kissed her lightly and then put his forehead against hers, looking in her eyes. “And neither am I.”
In a brief moment of utter clarity, she saw the future she’d always wanted and more. His grey-blue eyes held love and possibilities, and she stood on the edge, terrified to let herself in.
“I love you,” he said. “I won’t let you go.”
“Promise?” she whispered.
“I promise,” he said and then kissed her.
“I bought you some more… Phoebe!” Elle walked into the room, holding two cups of coffee, followed by Will who held Charlotte in his arms. She quickly handed off the coffees to Aidan and pushed past him to give Phoebe a not-quite-gentle enough hug. When Phoebe groaned, Elle quickly released her. “How are you feeling? You’ve been crying. What has Aidan been doing to you?”
Aidan and Will nodded to each other, both smiling. Will pointed to the coffee with the stir stick in it and Aidan drank the energizing black liquid with a sigh of pleasure.
When Phoebe had reassured Elle that she felt as well as she could for a woman in hospital and Aidan hadn’t done anything wrong, Elle turned to look at Aidan. “Have you gone home for a shower yet?”
Aidan shrugged. “I have to keep an eye on the woman I love. She might run off when I’m not looking.” He winked at Phoebe. “She’s quick like that.”
Elle gasped and looked at Phoebe. “You’re not thinking of leaving us, are you?”
She looked at Aidan and smiled. “I’m not going anywhere.”
###
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jaime McDougall is a citizen of the world, currently loving life in beautiful country Victoria in Australia. She loves eating sushi, kidnapping her husband and naming her pets in honor of science fiction authors.
A love of fiction has always coursed through her veins, and she told stories as a child even before she knew how to write them. Settling into one genre was never her style and she has plans for novels in women’s fiction, urban fantasy and more – all with a touch of romance.
She has been published in
Chicken Soup for the Soul: High School: The Real Deal
and
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Campus Chronicles
. She has also enjoyed writing a column called ‘The New Australian’ in local newspapers as well as writing various articles online.
CONNECT WITH ME ONLINE
Smashwords:
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/InkyBlots
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000882618854
