Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
ANGEL
Sadie Lynn elbows me gently and nods toward the woods. “Did you catch that scent when the wind shifted?”
Did I catch Garrett’s scent? It’s all I can think about, which is why I don’t dare look to where she’s pointing.
“He’s here because of you,” she says, without any contempt in her voice. That’s what I love most about Sadie Lynn. There isn’t a jealous or competitive bone in her body.
“Why would you say that? You said he liked you.” I lift little Madeline after I bandage her scraped knee. She’s rather clingy, even though she finally stopped crying. Holding her soothes my wolf, though, so I’m happy to hold onto her longer than necessary.
As for why my wolf is so on edge, I’m not sure. She never stopped liking Garrett, even when I was mad at him.
Was… When did my anger disappear?
Madeline’s little arms loop around my neck and her head rests against my shoulder.
“I never said he liked me. I said I like him,” Sadie corrects me. “Big difference. And I won’t pursue a male who’s in love with another female.”
“Marla’s gone.”
“I’m talking about you.”
“Try again. The male barely acknowledges that I’m here. He made it quite clear he did his job by rescuing me, and all that time we spent on our way back here, talking and getting to know one another, was nothing more than a way to pass time.”
“And you’re buying that?”
“He made it quite clear when he pushed me away.”
“And what does your wolf say?”
I don’t answer.
“I thought so. The one rule I try to teach the kids when they first shift is to trust their wolves. They’re perceptive in ways we aren’t. Our wolves rely on instinct whereas we let emotions cloud our instincts.”
“I’ll remember that the next time I find two teens alone in the woods after they’ve shifted from their wolf forms where they conveniently lack clothing.”
“Oh, damn, I forgot to warn you about that.”
I wave a hand. “No need to. I remember those days, and the excuses we used when caught.”
“Were you? Ever caught?”
“Every damn time.”
“You had good teachers then.”
“Give Miss Sadie Lynn a hug, Madeline. She’s feeling kind of sad because she forgot to tell me something.” Madeline shifts from my arms to go to Sadie Lynn and hug her.
“Thanks, sweetie. I needed that.” Sadie Lynn glances back at the trees. “Garrett’s gone. Damien too.”
“He was here, too?”
“Didn’t you scent him?”
“I… I guess I was too focused on Garrett.”
“Which proves my point. Don’t worry, Lina. It’s not hard giving up a male who doesn’t know you’re alive. Oh, don’t take that the wrong way. I meant me, not you. Like I said, he was here checking on you.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Sure I do. He’s never once checked on me. Never. Not before Marla or after. And suddenly he shows up here? That’s because you’re here, sweetie. Now, what are you going to do about it?”
I have no idea. I smile though, because that last bit of awkwardness I’ve had around Sadie Lynn has disappeared. She’s not one to play games, just like she said. She’s sincere. No deception, no maliciousness, no—
My wolf bites me. A warning. Immediately, I scan the area and spot six-year-old Alex on a frozen section of the river, reaching for his overturned basket, berries scattered across the ice like drops of blood.
“Alex, stop!” I race to the riverbank. He’s twenty feet out, near the center of the river where the water hasn’t frozen. He’s light enough that the ice holds, but that can change any second. “Walk back to me, slowly,” I say as calmly as I can.
He bends to pick up another berry.
“Leave the berries, baby. We’ll pick more. Together.”
“I need my basket.”
“We have more baskets. Please, just walk to me slowly.”
He glances at the basket, then takes a step toward me.
“That’s it, baby. You’re doing great.”
Behind me, voices shout for help. I tune them out, listening for the cracking of ice, calculating my next move if the ice gives way. If I step out there, my weight could shatter it beneath him. But if I don’t—
“Alex, what are you doing?” Shane, one of the teens appears beside me.
“I dropped my berries.” Alex bends for more berries.
“You’re not allowed out there!” Shane yells.
Panic floods Alex’s face. He freezes.
“It’s okay, Alex. No one’s mad at you,” I say calmly, my hand outstretched. “Keep walking to me.” I glance at Shane. “Find me rope. Anything.”
A crack splits the air.
Alex is too young to shift. If he falls through the ice, his wolf can’t save him.
“You can do this, baby.” I lean over the edge as much as I can without stepping onto the ice.
Another crack, slightly louder than before, fills my ears. We’re out of time.
I strip down to my underwear, knotting my shirt and pants into a makeshift rope. “Grab hold, Alex.” I throw one end to him.
The ice shatters around him.
“Run!”
He bolts toward me. Chunks of ice plunge into the water all around him.
I shift—too damn slow—as he goes under.
My paws barely touch the icy shore as I leap into the water. My teeth snag Alex by the back of his jacket. I have him, but the raging water has me.
I struggle to keep Alex’s head above the water as the current grabs hold of me, trying to drag me under. I cannot—will not—lose another shifter, especially a child.
Alex’s little arms and legs kick furiously, trying to escape my hold. If I let go, he’ll drown. He’s not strong enough for this current. I’m not even sure I am.
As we’re washed downstream, I spot a felled tree sticking out over the river at the bend up ahead. It’s our way out, if I can angle us closer to snag the tree.
My wolf pours all her energy into freeing us from the undertow. Just when it feels like we’ve broken away, I’m slammed against a boulder and dragged back under.
I surge upward, thrusting Alex above the waterline. He gasps for air. My lungs burn and my jaws ache to open and breathe, but I can’t let go. Can’t give in.
The tree is just ahead, but we’re too far. The angle’s wrong!
We’ll never make it. Not together.
I have one shot.
Using what little energy I have left, I fling Alex up into the air. The last thing I see is him landing on top of the felled tree, safe, as I’m pulled under.