Wolf Quest (10 page)

“Hand it over, sweet cheeks.” She gave in with a roll of her eyes as he placed the state-of-the-art cell phone in her hand with a chuckle.

The screen lit up and she dialed her nona’s number, wanting desperately all of a sudden to hear the reassuring voice of her grandmother on the other end. It rang. And rang. And rang.

“She’s not answering.” Worry made her brows knit as the call clicked over to voice mail. There was Nona’s voice, but it was a hollow recording, not the rich sound Maria needed so badly to hear. She left a message for Nona to call as soon as possible and hung up.

“Maybe she didn’t answer because she didn’t recognize my number?” Jesse offered.

“No. She always answers if she can. And she always knows when I call, even if I’m not using a number she recognizes. It’s part of her magic. She always knows who’s on the other end.” Maria thought through the possibilities. “She never leaves her phone home when she goes out. I called her cell number. She should have it with her. The only reason she wouldn’t answer is if she’s out of range of a tower or…something worse.” Fear gripped her heart for a striking moment, but then dissipated. “But I’d know if something was really wrong with her. So would my aunt. We both knew when she fell and broke her hip. We both called 911 and got an ambulance to her within fifteen minutes. If something was really wrong, at least one of us would have picked up on it. Do you mind if I call my aunt?”

“Have at it,” he invited.

Maria dialed her aunt’s number and was relieved when her call was answered on the first ring. Her aunt had the same phone radar.

“Maria, where are you?” Her aunt’s concerned voice was a balm to her senses.

“It’s a long story. Are you okay? Why isn’t Nona answering her phone?”

“She’s heading for the hills, child,” her aunt replied with a small trace of humor. “She got in her Jeep and started heading into the foothills as soon as the weather turned. I was going to go with her, but she said I had to stick around long enough to talk to you before I left reception range. I’ve been waiting for your call. As soon as I hang up with you, I’m outa here. I’m going to join Mom at the cabin and we’re going to ride out the storm up there.”

“Wow. The cabin? It’s that serious?”

“Mom thinks so, and I’m inclined to agree. Someone powerful is messing with the weather. The weather—and a lot more—if my sixth sense is still reliable with all the lightning flying around. Mom says we need to go to our place of power. That’s the cabin for us. For you…” Her aunt seemed to hesitate. “Mom said to tell you that your locus has changed. It’s not a place anymore. It’s a person. A man.”

“You’re joking.” Maria’s breathing slowed as the conversation got really serious, really fast. “How did she know?”

“How does she ever know anything?” A trace of her usual gaiety touched her aunt’s voice. “I stopped questioning my mother’s power when I was thirteen years old. So, was she right? Did you meet him yet?”

“I’m using his phone. At least I think it’s him.” Maria tried to be vague enough that Jesse wouldn’t be able to follow her discussion.

“You do know weres have sharp hearing, don’t you? I can hear every word your aunt is saying, sweetheart.” A wolfish grin spread across his lips as he drew her attention with a caress of her thigh. “I like what she’s saying. My wolf likes it even more. That means you’d better get used to me. I’m not letting you go anytime soon.”

Her stomach felt like a herd of butterflies were suddenly having a fluttering contest. The molten look in his eyes almost made her forget she’d been on the phone until her aunt’s voice brought her back.

“Is that him? He sounds yummy. Nice deep, powerful voice. I think I like him already. Hello, Maria’s boyfriend!” she called into the phone, knowing Jesse could hear her.

“Hello, ma’am,” he raised his voice only a little to be heard more clearly. “My name is Jesse Moore.”

“Did I hear right? Did he say he was a werewolf?” Her aunt sounded more amused than alarmed, which helped settle Maria’s sudden nerves.

“Yeah, he’s a wolf all right. Look, we’ve got a little problem. Two men Jesse was trailing broke into my house last night and tried to abduct me. Jesse got there in time to help and his people took the bad guys into custody. They’re being transported, as we speak, to Jesse’s Pack in Wyoming. His brother is the Alpha.” A low whistle was her aunt’s only comment. “Jesse stayed behind because I refused to leave my animals. Turns out, there was a juvenile bear shifter in my care. His name is Zach and he was shot a few days ago. We’re driving west right now, heading ultimately for Wyoming and Jesse’s Pack, but we’re going to stop for a bit just over the border to see if we can pick up the trail of the Zach’s parents. They were captured at the same time he got shot. What can you tell me?”

“It all starts to make more sense now, I’m sorry to say. The weather magic has been building for a couple of days. It probably coincides with your bears being attacked. What kind of bears are they?”

“Grizzlies,” Maria answered, wondering what that had to do with anything.

“This is bad, sweetie. Really bad. Grizzlies are among the most magical of weres in this part of the world. If these enemies are strong enough to trap two of them, we don’t stand much of a chance against them. I can see why Mom bolted for the cabin.”

“How do you know about weres? You never told me any of this. I had to find out the hard way,” she griped a little, trying not to let her aunt’s words frighten her.

“I dated a cougar once,” her aunt answered rather flippantly. “Those weres are talented lovers. I hope your wolf is half as good as my cat was.” The tone of her kooky aunt’s voice implied things Maria didn’t want to think about.

“Back to the weather?” Maria prompted impatiently.

“You’re no fun,” her aunt teased but managed to focus back on the matter at hand. “Mom thought they were building up to something. That’s why the weather pattern is growing and not moving. It’s localized over the area where they’re preparing to do…well…something awful. Some kind of dark ritual. Stop the ritual and the weather will dissipate naturally. Let this continue and we could be looking at a hurricane-sized storm system covering the entire middle of the continent.”

“Damn.” The very idea shocked her. “What can we do?”

“Find the grizzlies. It sounds like everything started when they were abducted.”

“That’s our mission anyway. We’re going to find their trail. Help is coming, but we’re the closest and Zach is the only witness. He’s hurt, but he’s healing fast and he can tell us how it all went down.”

“Good. But keep that boy safe. The last thing you want is for the enemy to get even more magic under its control.”

“They can do that?”

“From what Mom told me, yes. But only the most powerful of mages can drain magical energy from other beings. Only the most evil would do it from people he’d kidnapped. This is not good, Maria. You’re going to have to be very careful. The merest hint of magic will be noticed by these people. You’re going to have to track them the old-fashioned way. I hope your werewolf’s nose is good.”

Jesse stifled a quick laugh at her aunt’s words. “I think he’s up to it. He’s an ex-soldier. Special Forces. I bet they taught him all kinds of non-magical tricks in the service.”

“You’re in good hands then.” Her aunt’s voice held a note of relief. “Tell him to keep you safe and when this is all over, Mom and I can’t wait to meet him.”

“No problem. Actually, you can tell Nona that Jesse’s new sister-in-law is who sent him to help me. She thinks she’s related to us through a common ancestor named Leonora who is—get this—a dryad. Have you ever heard such a thing? I mean, is it at all possible we could be descended from dryad magic?”

Her aunt didn’t answer right away, and Maria’s curiosity was piqued. “Stranger things have happened, Maria. Best we keep an open mind. I’ll look forward to meeting this supposed relative and your new boyfriend once the storm passes. Be careful, sweetie, and take good care of each other. This is going to be a rough one.”

“Take care of Nona and yourself too. Call me if you need me.”

“I’d say the same, but there’s no reception up at the cabin. Still, if you’re in desperate need, you know what to do.” Her aunt’s tone turned deadly serious.

“I remember. I love you. Give Nona my love too.” A tear formed in her eye, but she fought it back. She had to be strong.

“We love you too, sweetie. Watch each other’s backs and trust the man who holds your heart, Maria. This is your time. Your moment to decide what the rest of your life will hold. Grab it and make it do the right thing for you and for everyone who values the Light.”

The call ended on that note, with Maria holding back tears and spending just a moment in worry about what would come next. Jesse put his arm around her shoulders and suddenly things didn’t seem quite so dire anymore. They were together. He was strong. She could be strong with his help. Together, they could do what needed to be done.

Chapter Six

They drove back roads most of the day, stopping for gas once and making use of out-of-the-way public parks to have a picnic lunch and dinner. After full dark had fallen, Jesse turned off the road into a small motel that looked neat but rather run down. It was like something left over from the 1950s, but it would do.

“I know it’s not the Ritz,” he said softly as he shut off the ignition.

He’d run into the office and gotten a room at the far end of the long, single-story building. He’d then parked his vehicle over one space from the door. He could still see it, but it didn’t block their door or obstruct his view from the front window or peephole in the door.

“It’s all right. As long as it’s clean and safe, we’re good.”

“It’s as good as we’re going to get tonight. I wanted to give Zach more time to heal before we tackle the recon. He managed to travel quite a ways before the humans captured him and drove him even farther away from the scene of the crime, bringing him to you.”

“I run one of the only sanctuaries that provide free surgical care for the larger species of wild ones.” She shrugged as if it was no big deal, but Jesse was impressed with her dedication to her work and the care she so clearly gave all of her patients.

“I meant to tell you before how much I like your place. You’ve got a good setup. Decent security for the animals, though the locks on the cages are a little problematic if you get another shifter by mistake. I could install a better security system for you when this is over.”

“Really?” She looked so surprised, he had to lean down and kiss her.

“It’s the least I can do. I’d do anything for you, sweetheart.”

“Where are we?” came a plaintive voice from the back seat.

Zach was awake again. He’d been sleeping off and on all day. Each time he woke, he seemed to be in a bit better shape physically.

“We’re at a motel about a half hour north of Lincoln, Nebraska,” Jesse answered with a sigh. The kid had bad timing, but it couldn’t be helped.

So much had happened in so short a time. He’d discovered the most amazing woman he’d ever met, and his wolf had gone ape shit the moment he’d gotten his first good whiff of her amazingly alluring scent. Jesse wasn’t sure—since it had never happened before and Maria wasn’t a wolf—but he suspected very strongly that he’d finally met his mate.

Now if only she could be convinced of that little fact. But she’d lived in the human world all her life. Although some of her relatives knew about magic, it was clear Maria had known next to nothing about shifters. He doubted she’d fully understand what it meant to mate one. It would be his task to teach her. Actually, it would be more like an honor. And a pleasure.

Jesse hadn’t thought he’d ever find a woman who could claim both his heart and his soul so completely, but in the few hours he’d known Maria, he was already truly, fully and blissfully lost in her. The wolf wanted to rub against her at every opportunity and protect her with everything in him. The man wanted the same, though in different ways.

Jesse had seen the way she could take care of herself when he’d busted down her door and found she had already disabled two young, fit men. She was a very capable woman and he liked that about her. She was also delicate and feminine in a way many wolf women weren’t. She might have trouble in the Pack because of that, but Jesse would clobber anyone who hassled his mate. He wouldn’t give her up. He’d leave the Pack if he had to. He’d go anywhere to be with Maria. If that meant forsaking the Pack he’d grown up with, then so be it.

“Can we get fast food?” came a plaintive voice from the back of the vehicle.

Jesse shook off his troubling thoughts and got his mind back on the game at hand. They were in the parking lot in front of the motel. It appeared the kid in the backseat was feeling better. He’d spotted the familiar, glowing golden arches across the street and Jesse could hear Zach’s stomach rumble.

“Let’s get settled first. If everything is secure, we’ll make a cheeseburger run, okay?”

“Okay.” Zach sounded resigned, and Jesse took it as a good sign that he was on the mend.

“All right. This is how we’re going to do this. You two stay in the vehicle. Maria, I want you to slide over here and be ready to drive if something goes wrong. I’m going to recon the room and as much of the area as I can while keeping you in sight. Lock the doors when I leave and sit tight. I’ll be back in five minutes. If I haven’t returned in exactly five minutes, take off. Drive and keep going.”