An assassin.
But why hadn’t she killed her during the flight to the lodge?
An answer popped into Renee’s mind. Daylight. Loss of communication to base. Someone might have located her. The woman had required darkness to complete her job, although how had she expected to leave? No doubt, the woman had a plan, and meantime, she was toying with Renee. She knew Renee had crashed, and now she wanted her terrified.
Maggie’s plan was working.
Panic rushed through Renee again. A helicopter crash. A polar bear. A crazed assassin. Odds were good she’d meet with Hunter sooner than later. She’d tell him about his son. Perhaps she’d tell him about his son’s hot uncles.
“Fuck, I hate snow!” the woman shouted. “I hope you’re still alive, Renee Paulson. I want to slit your throat for making me suffer through this bloody cold.”
The woman was closer now.
Too close.
12 – The Taktuqs Take To The Tundra
Calian forged his way across the Arctic landscape, and his brothers followed in single file. Instinct, passed down from his ancestors, guided him across the tundra while fear and desperation drove his speed.
An hour passed. Two.
He slowed, his sides heaving.
A rest. They’d become city boys. While he possessed the reserves to continue, his brothers required a break.
He halted, and his brothers did the same. Calian let out a whine and nuzzled each of his brothers, checking on their health. To his relief, each of them appeared fine. Fatigued, yes, but he glimpsed determination too. Pride rose in him.
Matto grunted. An inquiry.
In answer, Calian found a spot, sheltered from the worst of the snow and wind and curled in a ball. His brothers got the message and heaped around him. A short rest before they continued their journey.
Renee, please be okay. We’re coming for you.Calian’s last waking thought as he fell into an exhausted sleep.
On the move again, Kanas trotted after Calian. His paws hurt and the quick nap hadn’t been long enough. When they returned to the city, he intended to listen to Calian. Since he’d started shifting on a more regular basis, the connection to his wolf had strengthened, the link growing stronger to his heritage.
But not fit.
If this wasn’t so urgent, he might have planted his butt in the snow, thrown back his head and howled in frustration.
Behind him, Dakota yipped.
Dakota’s exhaustion ricocheted through their twin bond, but also his determination and love for Renee. His twin’s emotions echoed his own, so he kept putting one paw in front of the other, kept following Calian, kept up the relentless journey to reach Renee.
His big heart squeezed as he thought of her, the sensation bouncing back to his mind from Dakota.
The twin factor.
Renee. Since they’d met her, his wolf and human sides joined and connected with synergy. While he’d never considered sharing a woman with his brothers, Renee brought them together, made his ties to Calian and Matto closer. Dakota too.
Renee, hold on. We’re coming for you. Kansas shoved aside his fatigue and kept pushing his weary body onward.
Thoughts of Renee filled Dakota’s mind as he trailed Calian and Kansas. Weird how they’d automatically arranged their single file in age order. Exhaustion pushed at the edges of his mind, his limbs moving on automatic because if he thought about the process of running too much, he might stumble and fall.
Renee.
The unexpected joy he’d experienced on meeting her had grown with the physical expression of passion. No. It was love. His heart did a slow pulse at the idea of Renee lying someplace, helpless in the snow. She was alive.
Certainty kept him mobile.
