CHAPTER18
Chael
I cursed Elsie, Chance, and myself for talking me into bringing Reese with us to Colorado. She was safest in New Mexico with my pack around her to protect her, while I went and found out who the hell was behind trying to hurt her. I’d already been working on getting Dr. Pines removed from his station at Creekview. Though I tried as much as possible to keep my distant relatives from knowing too much about my world, I went to Micah for assistance. He was able to gather information about Pines’s history at other nursing homes.
As it turned out, not only had some of the residents within those nursing homes disappeared, but additionally, there were vials of medications that’d gone missing. I had Micah send that information to the state health department. That sped up the department’s investigation and Pines was on his way out of Creekview.
It disgusted me that missing pharmaceuticals was a bigger concern than missing human beings.
“We’re almost there.” I glanced over and told Reese as we passed the sign that welcomed us to Colorado Springs. She gave me a nod of acknowledgment but didn’t say anything. She’d been quiet for most of the ride.
I reached over and brought her hand to my lips, kissing her knuckles. Though I wanted her to remain in New Mexico, where it was safest, I couldn’t deny that it made both me and my wolf happy to have her next to us.
“Are we going into the mountains?” she asked with her eyebrows knitted when I turned onto a winding road that led up into the mountain ranges that surrounded the city.
“We are.” I nodded.
She studied the forest around us as the truck made its way up high into the mountains, where most of the human population chose not to live. Through the trees, we could make out a few of the snow-capped mountains, although it was late spring, moving into the summer.
“I bet there are natural springs all around this place.”
My wolf groaned in my head at the longing we heard in her voice.
“Probably,” I answered, although she hadn’t asked a question. “But we have better natural springs in New Mexico. And they’re not as cold.”
“Really? I haven’t seen any.”
My stomach muscles tightened, reminding me that there was so much I hadn’t gotten to show my mate about her new home. With a shake of my head, I vowed to change that as soon as we returned.
“That’ll change soon.” I kissed her hand again before I turned onto the final stretch of road that would lead us to the largest commune of wolf shifters in the state of Colorado. A place I rarely visited.
Before us, a handful of log cabins dotted the scenery among the trees. I knew that this was just the tip of the commune. There were around a hundred cabins or so, varying in sizes. I proceeded down the road until I came to a stop in front of the largest of the cabins.
In my rearview, I spotted Chance’s truck pulling in behind mine. We didn’t get the chance to cut off the engines before the massive black door burst open and out stepped Ronan. My cousin.
Ronan was soon followed by his twin brother, Noah. I pushed open my door and ignored the smack in the face I received from the particularly cold mountain air. Chance nodded my way as I rounded the back of my truck to open Reese’s door for her.
“Thank you,” she said as I took her hand to help her down.
“Who’s this?” Ronan asked before I could even turn around.
I pushed Reese behind me and faced my cousin. He lifted his nose and sniffed the air. “She’s human.”
“She is,” I replied dryly.
“What is she doing here? This is a family matter,” Noah added, his arms folded across his chest.
“She’s here because I brought her,” I returned just as terse.
Noah and Ronan looked me and Chance, who’d come to stand by my side at that point, up and down. They peered over toward Chance’s truck, where I knew our other packmates lingered.
“They can remain out here,” Ronan ordered.
I bristled at his tone but I held my wolf at bay.
“Her too,” he added before turning.
“She’s not staying out here,” I said in a voice as calm as I could muster. “If I brought her with me, you know she’s safe.”
