LEVIATHAN
White squalls of snow billowed around me. The storm was worse than it had any right to be. It had turned from a small seasonal storm into a blizzard. It was difficult to navigate, even though I knew every inch of this forest.
I’d taken a path that would lead me toward the outer edges of Idlewild.
Not close enough for it to be within sight, but close enough that I could hopefully find any wandering wolves who might need help or a place to stay.
Still, at this rate, I likely wouldn’t find anyone.
It was nearly impossible to travel. Normally, I’d head home, but I had a nagging sense that someone was out here.
I had no clue why I thought that, but I couldn’t shake the feeling, so I kept going, driving through the storm.
Trudging up a rapidly building snow drift, I put my nose in the air, trying my best to check for scents that might lead me to someone. I’d give myself ten more minutes. If I didn’t find anyone by then, I’d assume it was a lost cause and head back home.
Sniffing, I caught a multitude of smells, all faint and diluted by the wind and snow: a squirrel, the smell of dead deer, the icy scent of frozen water that had to be the lake. Wincing against the stinging cold, I took one more breath…and froze.
What the hell?
A strangely familiar scent cut through the ice and snow. Jasmine and rose, a hint of vanilla, as well as a delicate feminine musk that was hard to pinpoint.
The smell grew stronger as I followed it. Without realizing it, I sprinted, running through the snow with renewed excitement and growing worry. Why did I know that scent? And why did smelling it out here fill me with terror?
Digging my paws into the fresh snow, I passed a small cave I knew well. Inside was a deep overhang that led back nearly twenty yards. I stopped, sniffing the air, hoping whomever was out here had taken shelter within. Nothing. Damn.
Turning from the cave, I raced down the hill, bobbing and weaving between trees, struggling through the deepening snow.
The scent pulled me to the right, and I ran until I came to a massive oak tree.
A backpack lay beneath it, almost completely obscured by snow.
Shifting to my human form, I picked it up.
I shivered from the blast of cold. When I’d left my cabin, I’d assumed I would be in my wolf form the entire time, so I was dressed only in a flannel shirt, jeans, and leather boots.
Not the best attire to search for a lost person in a blizzard.
“Hello!” I bellowed against the roar of the storm. No response.
As I shouldered the pack, I spotted footprints. Sniffing the air again, I sprinted along, the scent growing even stronger as I went.
Nearly a hundred yards from the tree, I skidded to a halt, staring down at the ground, eyes wide in surprise as well as recognition.
“Oh my god,” I whispered. I knew this woman.
It had been a long time—years—but there was no time to think about that now. Her lips were turning blue, and she appeared to be asleep—a dangerous combination in this weather.
“Come on, young lady,” I said, kneeling to scoop her up. “You’re in a load of fucking trouble.”
Arms flexing, I cradled her and glanced back up the hill I’d descended earlier.
The cave. That was the best and only option for warmth and dry shelter.
As I ran, her dark hair spilled out from under her hood.
Her scent surged into my nose, making my head spin.
She smelled exactly the same as she had that night I’d found her crying in the woods all those years ago.
The fact that she was out here today told me she’d either rejected her mate pairing, or she had been the rejected party.
The poor woman had chosen a terrible day to run off, though.
By the time I got to the cave, I was breathing heavily, my legs burning from running up the hill, and sweat basically freezing on my chest and arms. I could barely feel my feet as I walked to the rear of the cave.
After gently putting her down on the ground, I looked around for something I could use to start a fire.
Thankfully, a tree had fallen years ago, and the top third had landed within the cave overhang.
The limbs and dead leaves were dry and brittle—perfect for a fire.
Snapping off the branches and sticks, I created a pile of kindling.
Crap, I didn’t have matches. Of course I didn’t.
I hadn’t anticipated this when I’d left my cabin.
The woman shivered in her unconscious state.
She possibly had hypothermia. I grabbed the backpack and dug through it, sighing with relief when I found a lighter at the bottom.
Using that, I lit the twigs and leaves, stoking and building the fire, groaning in satisfaction when the heat washed over me.
I dragged her toward the flames, but her clothes were soaking wet.
Not good. Staring at her deathly pale face, I shoved the hesitation away.
This was life and death. If she was upset about it when she woke up, if she thought it was inappropriate, well, I’d deal with it then.
First, though, I had to make sure she did wake up.
Unzipping her coat and pants, I pulled them off her and spread them out beside the fire along with her boots and socks.
Her sweater and leggings were also wet. Grumbling under my breath, I took those off as well, leaving her in nothing but a sports bra and panties.
Her skin felt like ice cubes as I lifted her into my lap.
With the fire in front of her, and me behind her, she had warmth on all sides. I inched closer to the fire, feeding it with some branches. I looked down at her face, gently patting her cheek.
“Come on. Stay with me,” I whispered. “Wake up…uh…shit.” I didn’t even know her name. “Wake up, lady. You need to wake up.”
She let out a faint sigh that turned to a moan. Without opening her eyes, she spoke.
“Primroses,” she muttered.
I froze, eyes going wide with shock as I stared at her.
“Wh…what did you say?” I asked, my voice shaking.
She curled up tighter in my arms, nuzzling against my chest.
Had I heard her right? Could I have? Primroses. Naphele’s favorite flower. Gazing down at this strange woman’s face, I allowed myself to wonder and hope. She didn’t look like Naphele, but that didn’t mean anything. Not when it came to reincarnation.
Of course, there was always a chance that this woman liked the flower as well, but why would she mention it when she was in this state?
When she was lying in my arms? I tried my best to recall the night I’d met her.
Had she reminded me of Naphele back then?
I had a fleeting memory of something strange passing between us when we’d kissed, but that entire situation had been strange, right?
Still, as she pressed her body against mine, seeking warmth, I couldn’t help but wonder. After all these years, all the decades, could it have finally happened? Had I found my reincarnated true love?