8. EIGHT
EIGHT
Bastien
I slide out of the truck and tug off my pants behind the door, not really caring if the tourists see me getting naked or not. They’re about to deal with ten foot two of angry bear in a minute, so a naked ranger is the least of their problems.
I’m an asshole, though, because I draw in a deep breath and the savor the way Vera’s scent changes as I do it, getting a sick pleasure from knowing my nakedness has an effect on her.
I should be shutting that down, not enjoying it.
I don’t linger to berate myself, though.
Instead I shift, staying in my beast form—the form part way between bear and man.
My face is not exactly human shaped and my teeth sharper, ears higher on my head and rounded like a bear.
But unlike my four-legged form, my center of gravity is higher, and I walk more easily on two legs than four.
Most importantly, I still have thumbs and I can talk, even if it comes out more like a growl.
The woman in the camper shrieks as I approach, but I ignore her. The icy wind whips through my fur. The man presses his foot to the floor, spraying muddy snow from the tire up at me, and I growl. “Wait until I’ve lifted you.”
The woman is too busy screaming to listen, and the guy just keeps right on flooring the accelerator, digging them further into the ditch they’re stuck in.
I’m suddenly aware of a small figure beside me. “We’re going to push you so you can get unstuck. Wait for my signal!” Vera shouts at the tourists.
Finally the man stops accelerating and listens.
I throw my shoulder against the back of the vehicle. It’s heavy, but in this form I’m strong. I push forward, heaving, and the van lifts an inch and then two.
I’m about to call out to Vera, but she’s already on it. “Now!” she shouts.
The camper’s engine revs to life again, and it shifts forward. I keep pushing, lifting with my legs, slipping a little in the icy sludge.
“More!” Vera shouts.
I push harder still, and the man revs the engine and the wheel catches on solid ground. I lower the vehicle, and he lurches forward onto the road again, rolling a few yards before coming to a stop.
Their window winds down, and he twists to give me a wave. “Hey, um… thanks.”
I’d shift back, but he probably wouldn’t appreciate the view. “Don’t mention it.”
The wind has picked up, and the snow is really falling. There’re already a few inches on the ground.
“Have you got snow chains?” Vera shouts over the wind.
“No, we didn’t think we’d need them.”
I shake my head. “The station.”
Vera nods, translating. “Head to the ranger station and wait for us there. We’ll fix you up with some. Drive slowly and don’t break suddenly. We’ll be right behind you.”
“You got it.” He takes off, much more slowly this time, finally listening.
We hurry back to the truck, but before I can shift to get in, there’s a massive crack from a tree at the side of the road.
My heart seizes in my chest and every inch of me turns cold as I imagine a huge branch smashing the front of the truck and crushing Vera.
I’m too far away. I can’t get to her. Nevertheless, I’ve vaulted the hood and I’m blocking the door to the passenger side with my body when there’s a howl of wind and a crash.
I brace, but nothing hits me. When I look around, I spot the damage instantly.
Thankfully nothing landed on the truck, but it’s not just a branch. The entire tree has fallen across the road, blocking the way completely.
It’s massive. Far too heavy for me to lift alone, and with this snow, I’d never get enough traction in the truck to move it. “Shit.”
“Oh my god! Bas, are you OK?” Vera is back out of the truck in an instant.
“Fine. Get in.”
“But—”
“Get in,” I growl.
She obeys.
I follow her, shifting but not bothering to dress again, simply slinging my pants over my lap for the time being. We left the engine running, so thankfully it’s warm inside the cabin. Outside the world is blanketed in white.
I shut the door and think. “I don’t think we should do anything stupid.”
“Uh, yeah. I agree. Just for argument’s sake, what’s stupid in this case?”
I scratch my chin where I can already feel stubble growing, though I shaved this morning. “That snow is heavy. I could try to go off road, but I’m worried we’ll get bogged just like the camper, and that does nobody any good. We can’t run the engine forever.”
“Mmm.”
“There’s an emergency shelter by the hot springs if we can make it that far. I have food and supplies. We’d be warm enough in there until the snow clears. But it could be a few days, or overnight at the very least.”
Vera chews her lip. “Okay.”
I frown. She sounds worried. “It’s not my first preference for comfort either, but it’s the safest option.
The tourists should be fine if they wait it out by the visitor center, and there’s an emergency radio there.
If they’re smart, they’ll stay put. We won’t do anyone any good if we get into trouble ourselves. ”
She nods. “Yeah, you’re right. Don’t worry, I’m not bothered about being a little uncomfortable, it’s just…” She trails off, and I narrow my eyes trying to work out what she is worried about.
Normally I have a pretty good read on Vera.
At least I used to. Lately, though, I can’t tell if I’m coming or going, which is down to me and whatever the hell is going on inside me.
I know that. So I don’t push her. If she wants to tell me she will.
“Good. Let’s turn around and get the truck as close as we can and take it from there on foot. ”
“Right.”
She’s silent for much of the journey, looking out the window at the wall of falling snow rather than at me. Maybe she’s just worried about the conditions. That would be logical.
Frankly it’s making me a little nervous myself. Especially since I’ve got Vera out here with me.
I drive carefully, though inside my chest my heart is thundering and my instincts are screaming at me to hurry. Every minute the road gets thicker with snow, and there are a few hairy corners where the wheels slip and I have to hold my nerve until we get some purchase again.
Every muscle is tense.
If I was more aware of what was happening inside the cabin instead of being so focused on the road, maybe I would be questioning why the citrus and burned sugar smell of Vera fills my nostrils and teases my cock to life.
Now?
Really?
When we are safe, I’m going to need a long hard look at exactly what is wrong with me lately and a private moment with my hand apparently.
I force the awareness aside and drive. Finally we make it to the barrier where we’ll have to leave the truck.
It’ll be quicker if I shift and carry Vera.
Less dangerous too. Four feet are always better than two in these conditions.
“I’m going to shift again. First I’ll unpack the gear. You strap it to my back and climb on.”
She nods. We don’t need to exchange many words. Instead we work together to get it done.
I have to leave the larger supplies in the truck, but I’m able to carry blankets, food, water and two warm sleeping bags as well as Vera on my back.
The snow is growing deeper every moment, but I forge through. In this form I can clamber over the collapsed earth and onto the trail on the other side, and we make it down to the hot springs and the nearby cave which has been turned into an emergency shelter.
The cave itself is an old lava tube that was hollowed out with machinery in the seventies before sustainability and preserving the natural landscape was a thing.
There’s a reinforced timber structure at the entrance, and further in there’s a door which we keep locked now so park visitors won’t come stumbling in and get lost in one of the tunnels.
Vera slides from my back as I stop, and I nose at my trousers until she gets the idea and finds my keys. I shift into my beast form, though it means I have to hunch over under the overhang. At least my fur partly protects my modesty.
I’m clumsy with the keys because my paws are so much bigger than my human hands, but eventually I get the door unlocked and we hurry in out of the cold.
The main cavern has a low ceiling, and the walls are blackened from smoke.
Inside there’s a battery powered lamp and some firewood stashed under a tarpaulin.
There are food supplies and a first aid kit, which we hopefully won’t need.
It’s already warmer, since the cave naturally stays at a stable temperature most of the year, but not warm by any means.
To my surprise, Vera strips off her beanie and jacket. “Is there an emergency radio?”
We’re as safe as we can be now, but she’s pacing back and forth across the open space of the cavern as if she’s restless to run back out into the snow.
I shift back, keeping watch on her as I hurriedly dress. “You feeling OK? Give me your hands.”
“I’m fine.” When I go to her, she stops pacing and places her hands in mine.
They’re cold, but when I check, she has sensation in each fingertip and good dexterity and strength of grip.
No frostbite. She’s not showing the classic signs of hypothermia except shedding clothing when it’s really not that warm.
She’s definitely edgy. Perhaps she’s just feeling the forced proximity of our situation like I am now that we’re enclosed together in a small dark space.
I get a fire started and encourage her to drink some water, which she takes eagerly.
“I have a radio in my pack. Once the storm settles, we can go out and check if we have a signal, but for now we should stay put.”
Vera runs a hand through her hair, making it stick out wildly from her head. “Do you really think that’s a good idea, Bas?”
I frown. “Vera, I’ve known you most of your life, and I can tell you’re not fine.”
“Yes, I am. I’m just claustrophobic is all. The small space is making me nervous.”
I snort. “Oh sure, so that’s why when we were kids you hid from me and Riley in the toy box in my room until your parents were ready to call a search party out to find you.”
She opens her mouth and shuts it again, and a nervous tic starts up in my jaw.
“What are you not telling me?”
“Nothing.”
Frustrated, I stride forward and grab her arm, turning her to face me only to notice her cheeks are flushed, her pupils dilated.
Then the scent of her hits me like a motherfucking avalanche off Mt.
Everest—sweet, succulent citrus and caramel.
She’s dripping with it, clothed in it. It’s so strong any trace of the horrid perfume she wore is swallowed up, and my mouth waters.
Her eyes widen, and I feel her tremble in my grip. “I think—I think I’m going into heat.”