Chapter 83 Up ARQ Bluff
Canyon grabbed Sage’s hand and they sprinted between two cabins, with Timber and Wulf following fast. He dug his keys out of his pocket and unlocked the truck, then took a look over his shoulder.
No one was following. He opened Sage’s door; she gave him a strained smile and got in.
He closed her door and climbed into the driver’s seat, starting the truck while Timber strapped Wulf in next to Sage.
Canyon revved his engine and pounded on the steering wheel. “Wade’s outta line!” he growled.
Timber climbed in the passenger seat, saying, “He’s been outta line.”
Sage didn’t say a word. Canyon adjusted the rearview to look at her. She was twisted in her seat, looking out the back window, watching for anyone following.
Canyon eased out of the parking spot into the driveway, then stepped on the gas, saying, “Good job getting us out of there, Wulf.”
“Hold on,” Sage said, her head snapping forward to check the time on the clock. “It’s still two hours till the bandage change!”
Canyon reached the end of the driveway and turned right on a farm road that would spill them out on the main road.
“You… you…” Sage breathed, pointing at Wulf, then Timber. “You didn’t tell it—tell him to do that?”
Timber shook his head, grinning.
“Wulf, did you…lie?” Sage asked.
:Canyon and Wade should not fight. I ended the fight with the lie; therefore, it is a beneficial lie—
The road ended, T-boning into the main road. Canyon stopped and checked all directions. There were no other cars in sight. He put the truck in park and watched Sage in the rearview mirror. The changing expressions on her face matched his feelings when he finally accepted that Wulf was alive.
“All in all, that went pretty well,” Timber said.
Sage shook her head. “You think that went well?”
Timber shrugged. “I thought Wade was gonna bind Canyon, and then I would’ve done something stupid, and then Wade would’ve bound me, too, and Trevor would have had to pick sides, and you would’ve been upset and jumped in.”
“That would have been worse,” Sage said.
“He did bind me,” Canyon said. “He let me go when Wulf drove between us.”
:That was me who released you, Canyon. Citlali must never bind wolven in anger—
Canyon looked at his brother, feeling stunned, but not in disbelief. Timber’s expression said he was feeling the same. Timber twisted in his seat to look at Wulf.
“Wulf, are you… the Meadow guardian Wulf?”
:I am Wulf—
Canyon didn’t know if that was an answer or not, but he thought it was the only answer they were going to get. “I bet Wade didn’t like that at all.”
Timber laughed. “He’s probably still trying to figure out what happened.”
Canyon revved his engine. “Who’s gonna tell him? Not me.”
“Not me,” Timber said.
They both waited a beat. Canyon turned around to look at the two in the back seat, and so did Timber.
“Not me,” Sage said hurriedly, laughing.
:Not me—
“Which way?” Canyon asked, indicating the road before them.
“Where’re we going?” Timber asked.
“Somewhere neutral,” Sage said, “But outside would be nice.”
Canyon stayed quiet, watching Sage in the mirror.
She hugged herself, looking out the window, her expression worried.
Canyon didn’t like that. Things had been so smooth until Wade showed up.
The old male was blind to what was in front of him and making poor decisions.
Canyon brooded about it, alternating between looking at the road and looking at Sage.
“I know the perfect place,” Timber said. “Up ARQ bluff.”
Canyon turned right and pulled out onto the road, putting the pedal to the medal, glad to be on the open road and driving fast. “Camp Dodger?”
“You know it.”
“Sage, Camp Dodger?”
They locked eyes in the mirror and she nodded, but she still looked worried.
Canyon’s anger at Wade flared.
***
Half an hour later, they were still driving, almost at the top of ARQ bluff. Canyon followed Quiles Drive to its dead-end where a locked gate stopped them. Timber grabbed the Serenity Public Works keyring from the center console, unlocked the gate, and they were on their way.
“Ever been up here?” Canyon asked Sage. She’d been quiet the entire drive and he hadn’t tried to draw her out. She had plenty to think about. So did he. His anger at had Wade faded some. The old male was being stupid, but he’d come around.
“Couple times,” Sage said, her voice quiet.
The road was old and pitted, no longer maintained by anyone.
They passed a weathered wooden sign reading, “Camp Dodger—We Serve, We Protect.” The WWII era military base had been abandoned for decades but was maintained by local veterans’ groups.
A hundred feet in, empty bunkers appeared on both sides of the drive, massive holes in the ground with concrete linings and gun turrets.
The surrounding forest ended, but the drive continued another hundred feet to an unofficial campsite with remnants of a bonfire.
Past the bonfire was the edge of a cliff leading to the sheer bluff face that looked out over Blue River and much of Serenity.
A single concrete bunker hung over the edge of the bluff, with metal stairs leading both inside, and on top.
Canyon parked near the campsite. They all got out, and Timber lifted Wulf to the ground. Canyon took Sage’s hand. “Want to patrol with me?”
She smiled at him, nodding enthusiastically, her braids bouncing prettily.
“I’ll set up camp,” Timber said.
Canyon grunted affirmative. The air was getting chilly quickly.
He dug his SPD jacket out of the back and offered it to Sage.
She pulled it on. It was several sizes too big on her and made her look adorable.
He touched his forehead to hers and they stayed that way for a moment, until Canyon took her hand and picked a trail.
He led her down it, checking the compass in his head automatically.
“Is your family looking for you?” he asked.
“My aunts know I'm with you. Abigail—I have no idea what she knows or thinks.”
Her scent grew thick, as she spoke. Canyon thought she might be holding something back, but it didn't bother him.
She had a right to reticence. They walked in silence, the forest quiet around them.
They walked quietly, Sage looking every which way, Canyon using his nose.
There had been no people up here for weeks.
His thoughts went to Conri. The bear.
“Did you…” he asked, not wanting to be scary, but needing to ask.
If she’d slept with Conri… he would hunt Conri down and…
and what? Fight him? Kill him? Canyon struggled with his urges, until he realized his wolf was not involved, and his wolf had no fight with Conri.
The realization calmed him, and he was able to finish the question. “… have sex with Conri?”
She didn’t answer, didn’t even look at him, and that made him think she had. Dark fantasies filled his mind. He knew where Conri lived.
“I don't think so,” Sage said, her tone light. “It was never that serious, but there was an incident. We woke up in bed and thought we were roofied. Neither of us felt like we’d… done anything but still… it was unsettling.” She peeked at him, eyes pleading, saying, “Now that Conri bit Eventine… I bet Abigail made it happen somehow.”
Canyon growled, anger overflowing. “That shit ain’t right. The witch needs to be stopped.”
“She does,” Sage said, her voice hard and sad at the same time.
“Is it possible?”
“I don't know,” she said, her tone filling with weight. “She’s strong, and secretive. I don’t know why she’s doing this.”
“She doesn’t want us together,” Canyon said, knowing in his gut it was the right answer. “She doesn’t want you with the vod.”
Sage looked out over the forest, her expression grim. They walked in silence, until they’d fully circled the campsite, then they returned. Timber had a hand-washing station, a grill, a tent, and three camping chairs set up, plus a fire going.
“Stake out?” Timber yelled across the campsite, shaking his head, saying. “Noooo.” He speared a thick steak on a grilling fork and held it up “Steak out?!”
“Yes!” Canyon shouted, his mouth watering.
Sage looked at him and he couldn’t read her expression. He squeezed her hand and pulled her to the chairs. They sat, facing the fire and holding hands. Timber left the grill and sat beside them, while Wulf was dark and quiet near a rear truck tire.
Timber put his hands behind his head and kicked his feet out, settling them on a tree stump. “This is the life.”
Sage smiled. Canyon had to agree. It did feel good to be outside, on top of the bluff, miles away from civilization, just the four of them.
Timber pointed to his left. “When my mate slaps me in the face and falls into my arms, we’ll all come back up here, and her chair’ll go right here.”
Canyon rubbed his jaw where Sage had hit him. “Still stings,” he said, glancing at Sage.
She laughed. “You said it didn’t hurt.”
He moved his jaw around. “The pain comes and goes.”
“Willow shoulda been my mate,” Timber said. “Because of the tree name. You know I woulda been knocking her over plenty.” He put a hand to his mouth and yelled, “Tiiimmmmbeeerrrrrrr.”
Canyon grunted. “Better not say that around Bruin.”
Timber slowly leaned in his chair, demonstrating. “He might be a 1500-pound bear, but even he can’t fight the law of gravity.”
Sage made an I-don’t-think-so face and Canyon laughed. “I ain’t helping you if Bruin fucks you up. You’ll deserve it.”
“I deserve everything I get,” Timber said, getting up and going to the grill.
Canyon pulled Sage’s hand to his lips and kissed it. He took her fingers and massaged the knuckles, then the palm, watching Sage’s face. She blissed out, murmuring. His cock stirred.
“You did this the last time…” she said, “And I loved it.”
“Did I do this?” he asked, sliding her hand down his front to his half-hard cock.
She laughed and snatched her hand away, looking toward Timber at the grill. Timber’s back was to them. “Yeah, actually, you did.”
Canyon grinned at her, slouching in his chair, studying her.
She looked so pretty and fresh and sweet, but also shrewd and strong.
Everything about her enticed him. He liked her in his jacket.
He’d like to see her in more of his clothing.
He’d like to move her right in and buy her a whole new wardrobe.
She caught him staring and smiled coyly.
Sexy, he said, I can’t wait to get you alone later.
And then he remembered she didn’t speak ruhi. He leaned over, grasping her nape, leaning to whisper in her ear—
“Steaks’re done,” Timber called.
Canyon growled. Talk about bad timing. He kissed Sage on the forehead.
“Sit tight,” he said. “I’ll serve you.”