I stared at the beast, debating what to do, when a muscle spasmed in my lower back. I winced, and the gun dropped from my hand. I rubbed a knot the size of Rhode Island, tears brimming in my eyes.
Between the impact of the accident and hiking for hours on end, you’ve done too much.
I had to sit down, so I eased myself onto to the top step, inhaling and exhaling—once, twice, three times.
Suddenly, bones cracked before a naked woman rushed over. Her wavy multicolored hair—mostly brown with blond and red streaks—fell down over her breasts. Her skin was dirty, as though she’d been rolling around in the mud, and she was in great physical shape, with toned biceps and muscled thighs.
“Ma’am, are you hurt?” She sounded genuine and sweet.
But sweet wasn’t always a good sign. Harriet came off as sweet, and she was anything but.
I pressed my fingers into the knot and continued to rub. “It’s a muscle, I think.” It had to be. I didn’t feel anything leaking onto my panties, like blood, but I should check just to be sure.
I wanted Sam so desperately. I wanted a warm bed, food in my belly, and to disappear where no one could find Sam or me. I was a strong person—resilient, as my dad had told me many times. I didn’t give up on anything, but a person could only take so much.
The she-wolf held out her hand, her amber eyes morphing to a striking golden yellow. “I’m a medic. Let’s get you inside.” Her voice was silvery and pleasing to the ear.
“Medic?” That sounded military, but that didn’t mean she was trustworthy.
Again, I wasn’t in any condition to worry about anyone other than myself and the little ones growing in my belly. I couldn’t keep running. For fuck’s sake—I didn’t even know how to find my way out of the mountains. But I had a feeling she did.
She helped me up. “My name is Sergeant First Class Rebekah Whyte. And you are?”
“Layla Aberdeen,” I said as she ushered me into the warm cabin. “I pulled a muscle. That’s all.” I held my hand on that spot as I crossed the threshold. The minute I did, I stiffened.
Trust didn’t come easily. I thought I could trust my sister—someone who I’d grown up with, fought with, fought for, would die for, and loved with all my being. And Rianne had turned on me.
“Layla,” Rebekah said in a soft tone, “I’m not the big bad wolf.”
A nervous laugh broke free. “Isn’t that what the wolf said to Red Riding Hood?” Okay, that wasn’t how that fairy tale went. Despite my wariness, I was in pain, hungry, thirsty, and so damn tired I could sleep forever. Shecouldbe the big bad wolf, and I doubted I could run two feet, especially with my back in spasm mode.
As if she knew what I was thinking, or maybe she heard my stomach growl, she said, “There are cans of soup in the cupboard. I’ll heat some up for you.”
My mouth watered at the mention of food. “Do you live here?” I hoped she didn’t. The two-room cabin was depressing. A torn-up love seat sat in front of a fireplace that had a mountain of ash in the hearth. Dust covered the coffee table, and I swore an animal had died somewhere inside. And despite the dirtiness of the place, I longed to sleep on the twin bed directly ahead of us.
She let go of me. “I don’t. I’m just passing through. This is an old family hunting retreat that hasn’t been occupied in a couple of years.” She darted over to a hook on the wall outside the bathroom and grabbed a flannel robe. “Although I think my brother has been here recently. I can smell him.” She waved a hand at the bed. “It would make me feel better if you sat down.” After shrugging into the robe, she crossed the room and threw a large piece of wood into the fireplace.
“I need to use the bathroom.” I shuffled in that direction rather than hurrying, careful not to aggravate my back any further.
Once inside, I removed my coat and bulletproof vest. I’d forgotten I had on the latter. Slowly, I slid my leggings down, then my panties, and sighed heavily when I found no sign of blood. Then I pressed my fingers into that pesky muscle and massaged it as hard as I could. If I was going to hike my way out of these mountains, I didn’t have time for injuries.
Maybe a few yoga stretches would do the trick. But the space was too tiny to do anything other than what the bathroom was designed for.
I quickly relieved myself, then washed my hands. As I did, I examined myself in the small round mirror above a chipped porcelain sink. I almost laughed at the woman peering back at me. My dull auburn hair was matted to my head. My blue eyes were hollow. My lips were chapped, and my face was ashen. Oh well. I’d looked worse after a night of killing bloodsuckers.
After combing my fingers through my hair, I grabbed my coat and vest, then found Rebekah at the stove, pouring a can of soup into a pot. She’d changed out of her robe into a pair of fatigues with a tan T-shirt tucked into them. A gun was holstered on her hip, a dagger in a sheath around her leg, and the soles of her flak boots had mud crusted around them.
Her military status conjured images of Sam dressed in his gear, looking mouthwateringly handsome. I would give anything to be in his arms right about now. I had no doubt my hot-as-fuck vampire was flipping out. The possessive, green-eyed creature was having a coronary for sure.
Rebekah pivoted on her booted heel. “Feel any better?”
I threw my coat and vest onto the bed and beelined it for the fireplace. “I’m fine. But if you don’t mind, I’m going to do some yoga stretches. I’ve been hiking for two days, so all my muscles are feeling it.” I moved the coffee table out of the way and eased down onto the dirty wood floor. Actually, it was cleaner than the tree boughs I’d sat on for the last two days.
“Go right ahead,” she said. “When you’re done, I would like to examine you, all the same.”
I wasn’t about to argue. I would love it if she listened to the heartbeats. Knowing my babies were okay would give me that boost of energy I would need to find my way home.
I kicked out my legs and bent over, holding the stretch and breathing evenly. The fire felt wonderful and, hopefully, would help loosen my tight muscles. “That would be great. Um… were you tracking me earlier?” Maybe she’d been in the shadows when I’d heard that branch snap.
