Wolver's Reward (32 page)

He spun around to face the others. "That goes
for all of you. You say pack comes first, now prove it." He started
to walk away, but turned back again with one last threat. "No work,
no food. Anyone who wants to challenge me on it can do it tonight
after sunset. While there's daylight, there's work to be done."

No one challenged and everybody began to
work. River, Reb, and Darla worked out schedules, organized groups
of workers, and prioritized what needed to be done. Once the
transformation began and people saw the results of their efforts,
things moved faster and more smoothly. Ideas began to take form,
like Arnold's smokehouse.

But in what was to become a habit, he later
told Reb. "I won't be here to see them through the winter. I'll be
gone before the first snow."

He'd said it every day since.

Reb dropped the log she was holding. "He
can't go," she said bleakly. "We need him."

"We need him? Or you do?"

"We do." Reb closed her eyes tight, but a
tear escaped from the corner anyway. "You and the rest of the pack
do."

"What about you?"

"Me? I'm enjoying my freedom before I join
the real world and become what I was born to be. I'm an Alpha's
daughter and future Alpha's Mate."

"Who says?" Darla demanded.

"Everyone. You know it as well as I do. It's
what I'm destined to be."

"Bullshit."

Reb's eyes popped open. "Darla!"

"Fine, maybe I've been hanging around with
your boyfriend too much, but if the shoe fits, say so. Call it cow
poo if you want to, but it stinks just the same." Darla drove the
ax into the stump and put her fists to her hips. "I've been loyal
to your mother for as far back as I can remember, and saying this
turns my stomach inside out, but she's wrong. Flat out wrong.

"Just because someone comes from a family of
mechanics, doesn't mean they have to be one, too. Just because my
family served their Alpha's household, doesn't mean I have to."

"But you did, Darla," Reb reminded her.

"Because I chose to," the husky nursemaid
said impatiently. "I like what I do. I've loved taking care of
Margaret and loved taking care of you. Now I love being Roland's
Second. I'm proud of that. My sister wanted her own home and mate.
Nobody said she couldn't."

"Your sister isn't an Alpha's Mate."

"Neither are you." Darla wagged her finger as
if Reb was still six and in pigtails. "And don't give me that
potential garbage. Potential means could be, not must be."

"It doesn't matter," Reb sighed.

"It does matter, Reb. You matter. Your
happiness matters. You love that wolver. It's written all over you.
That matters."

"No, it doesn't," Reb insisted and blurted
out the truth. "River doesn't love me."

The big female shook her head with a
disgusted frown. She withdrew her ax from the stump and set another
piece of wood in place. The violent thud of her ax blade striking
home emphasized her anger and her point. "I'm going to attribute
that remark to the stupidity of youth."

"It's not stupid. He's had ample opportunity
to say it. He hasn't."

"Have you?"

Reb shook her head.

"Then maybe you'd better stop playing the
meek little babe-in-the-woods and waiting for him to make it
happen."

Celia and Rosemary dropped the log they were
dragging.

"What happen? What's not stupid? Who hasn't
said it and what's the it he hasn't said?" Celia asked, not the
least apologetic for butting in on the conversation.

"Never mind. It's not important," Reb
answered.

"River," Rosemary answered at the same time.
"What other he does Reb talk about?"

"He says he's leaving," Darla tried to cover
for her.

"Oh." Reb didn't need her gift to feel
Celia's disappointment. Her face said it all. "By the way things
are going around here, I thought he'd changed his mind." Her voice
reflected the disappointment in her face. "Hasn't he said he loves
you?"

"Does he have to?" Rosemary asked with sudden
interest, when Reb shook her head.

"Not if she's you, apparently." Celia snapped
impatiently.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh please, Rosemary. You know perfectly well
what I mean. You and what's his name."

"Nathan," Rosemary bristled. "His name is
Nathan and he's very nice. He's a gentleman."

"He is, Rosemary. Lawrence and I were just
discussing him this morning. Taste this, Rebecca." Arnold, who'd
arrived with Lawrence while the women were talking, held out a pot
and a wooden spoon. "River said we need to conserve our food
budget. Susan has been experimenting with ways to make the meat go
a little further. You'd never know it was mostly vegetables." He
held out a spoonful to Reb. "She wants your approval."

"She doesn't need my approval, Arnold. If she
cooks it, we eat it."

"The Mate says she does," Lawrence countered.
"The Mate also says you need the practice."

"Oh, for heaven's sake, give it to me." She
tasted and nodded. "It's good."

Her mother had taken Reb at her word and
turned over most of her responsibilities with regards to the women
of the pack. Her current assignment was to concentrate on
individual connections, rather than the whole.

She closed her eyes, sorted through the
various emotions in her mind, and found the pensive Susan. Reb
smiled and sent the female a happy sense of appreciation. When she
was done, she turned her eyes to her shy friend who'd wandered away
toward the equally quiet Nathan. While Reb was searching for Susan,
she'd found Rosemary, too. Their timid wolver was in love.

Arnold followed her gaze to the woman walking
away. "I wonder what they talk about?"

Lawrence laughed. "I wonder if they talk.
Period."

His mate agreed. "You know, I think you're
right. I always see them walking side by side, arms barely
touching. They stop, she looks up, he looks down, and they smile at
each other. And then, they keep on walking. Have you ever seen them
talk?"

"Not me," Reb laughed. "They do the same
thing at supper. They sit at the table across from each other. They
eat, they chew, they look at each other, swallow and smile, and
take another bite." She turned to Celia. "How about you?"

"No, I've never heard them talk."

The tiny female sounded sullen, unusual for
her, and they knew she was holding something back. The three
friends continued to stare until Celia gave up what she knew.

"All right," she said in a huff. "I've never
heard them talk, but I heard them going at it in the woods out
beyond that big boulder. Tall, dark, and gawky was grunting away
while Rosemary moaned. Loudly, I might add. It's a wonder she
didn't faint," she added snidely, which wasn't like her, either.
"He wasn't going lightly, I can tell you that."

"Why didn't you say something sooner?"
Lawrence asked.

Celia shrugged. "I wanted to keep her
secret."

They all knew that was a lie. Of the five of
them, Celia was always the first with the news and the first to
repeat it. They stared at her again.

"Fine. It's embarrassing. Happy now?"

"Why would it be embarrassing? You weren't
the one grunting and moaning in the woods."

"That's just it, Lawrence. It isn't me." She
waved her hand around the encampment. "Everyone is finding someone,
hooking up, as they say. Everyone but me." Celia hung her head,
sniffed back a tear, and grumbled resentfully. "Even Rosemary."

It wasn't everyone, but Reb understood why
Celia would feel that way. The pairing up was already beginning
with two matings scheduled for the next full moon which was only
three nights away. A party was planned for welcoming in the new
members and celebrating the newly mated pairs.

"Oh, Celia, don't. You'll find someone."

"I already have. He's my mate. Just ask my
wolf. She's been howling for him since day one."

"Then what's the problem?"

"You! He only has eyes for you."

Arnold brought his hand, still holding the
spoon, to his chest in shocked surprise. "Good heavens, Celia, you
don't mean River."

Celia shared his shock. "No way!" She took a
step back from the fiery look Reb was sending her. "I mean, heroic
and handsome as you think he is, he's just not my type. Really."
She put her hand to her chest. "No pitter-patter of the heart, no
snarling wolf attempting to climb the walls, and screaming mate,
mate, mate every time he walks by. No, definitely not River. You
can have him and when you're done, someone else can have him, but
it won't be me."

"Then who?" Lawrence demanded, unable to
stand the suspense.

"Ben."

"Ben?"

"Yes, Ben." She sighed and shook her head.
"It's awful. I can't talk to another wolver. I can't look at
another wolver without my wolf snarling and snapping."

"You don't think you're mate-crossed, do
you?"

It happened infrequently, but it did happen.
A wolf recognized its mate, but the mate's wolf recognized another.
It was referred to as mate-crossed because the genetic wiring got
crossed.

"How would I know? I only know that every
time I look at him, he's looking at Reb."

"He's not looking at Reb," Darla muttered.
"He's looking at the future Mate."

"He is, isn't he?" Reb murmured more to
herself than to the others.

"Reb," Darla warned. "I don't like that look
on your face."

"What are you planning, Rebecca?" Arnold
asked cautiously.

"Well," she began, but the thought was gone.
Her chin came up, and her eyes went wide. "Louisa!" she cried as
the female wolver screamed.

Chapter 25

River was off the ladder and running before
the woman finished the first scream of her child's name. Ben was
right behind him as he ran toward the river. Others followed
behind. While they ran toward the screeching female, River veered
left and headed downstream. Ben stayed with him.

Cold dread filled River. He'd always believed
in Fate and Luck. Fate hated him and Luck never held. He'd never
prayed before, but he was praying as he ran. Don't let it be. Don't
let it be. But it was.

They reached the bank at the place where the
water grew deeper and ran with a swifter current. Still further
downstream, they saw the bobbing head and flailing arm. It
disappeared beneath the swirling water. They were too late to
intercept the pup before he was carried away.

River kept running. The ground along the
banks beyond where they stood became more roughly cut and
overgrown. They couldn't keep up their running pace while
travelling such uneven terrain.

Behind him, Ben swore. "He's gone, damn it.
River, give it up."

But River couldn't. Not this time. "Help me,"
he prayed, not realizing he shouted his words aloud.

A fallen tree blocked his way. He leapt, and
the moon answered his prayer with her power and blessing. He landed
on forepaws, hind legs catching up and coiling beneath him. He
sprang again, this time over the pile of rocks that barred his
path. Free of the clumsy and awkward human body, his wolf tore
along the bank. Keen ears heard the cub's choked cry. Keen eyes saw
the water darkened head bob along the surface. River kept running.
Legs churning, he tore through the woods. Trees tried to block his
way. He skirted them. Vines reached out to tangle him in their
webs. His feet were too agile to be captured. His sleek wolf's body
maneuvered over and around each obstacle meant to keep him from his
goal.

These were his woods and here he was king.
Flora bowed before him, and fauna scattered in his wake. Instinct
found the path he needed to bring him to the place along the bank
where he was high enough to see. He was ahead of the pup. He had to
be.

"
There
!"

Body stretched taut to extend the distance,
River sailed from the bank, a soaring blur of fur and power.

His human body hit the water and collided
with the pup's. River clasped the boy to his chest, gasped for air,
and went under. They were rolled, tossed, and turned. He caught
sight of the light, lost it, found it again, and fought his way
toward it. Arms reaching for the light, he shoved the body he held,
up and up, so the pup broke the surface first. He followed, barely
had time to suck in air, before he was swallowed again. This time
he managed to keep the limp body of the child aloft, but the weight
drove River down and kept him under.

Again and again, his body was battered
against the rocks as the swirling waters demanded he give up his
burden. Choppy white peaks splashed against his eyes, blinding him.
Dark shapes rose as if by magic, where none were there before. He
bent and curled, pushed off when his feet hit solid surface, and
did what he could to protect the body in his arms. Something sharp
stabbed at his back. His shoulder crashed against another boulder
and he tried to reach out, but his hand slipped uselessly from the
slick surface. When he could hold it no longer, the fiery air burst
from his lungs. The churning water replaced it, yet he held the pup
above him.

The river broadened and slowed. River
resurfaced, coughed up water, and choked on the intake of air he so
desperately needed. Feet kicking, he spun in a circle, searching
for the closest bank. One arm held firmly around the silent and
unmoving cub, he kicked out with his feet, and pulled himself
through the water with one hand.

He fought the current and at last reached the
steep bank. He clawed at it. Dirt and small stones rained down on
him, denying him purchase. The bank was too high and steep to
climb. He was too weak and the pup too heavy in his arms. River
grabbed a protruding root and hung on, while time slowly passed and
the water's constant tug at his body urged him to let go.