Howling Moon (13 page)

Cat stared out
the Jeep window. Rugged cliffs of tan and rust stone rose sharply above the edge of the highway and the occasional boulder embedded in the pavement at the side of the road bore witness to the truth of me yellow “Falling Rock” warning signs she saw posted every few miles.

The shadows raced across the rocky surfaces mirroring the clouds that scurried in front of the bitter wind.

“Where are we going?”

“I thought we’d head up toward St. Mary’s glacier in the national forest. That part of the forest isn’t busy this time of year. We should have the place to ourselves.”

Raphael had been quiet for most of the trip. Cat wondered if he was angry with her for not following through on the promise of that kiss, but truthfully, she hadn’t intended for things to get quite that
intense.
She barely knew him. And yes, he was sexy as hell, smart, funny – but he was also a whole lot older than her. And he clearly had a whole life in Boulder, with the wolf pack. Whereas Cat didn’t fit in, and didn’t think she ever would – but did she fit anywhere?

California, her old life mere, was just gone. Violet had offered her shelter in Boulder, time away from the press and the constant demands. Her aunt had assumed that after a month or two things would settle down and Cat would be better able to face her grief and a future without her parents. It had only been a few weeks, but Cat didn’t have any more idea of what to do than she had the day she arrived.

“You’re thinking awfully hard about something over there.” Raphael observed. “Anything you want to talk about?”

Cat turned in her seat to take a good look at him. She needed somebody to bounce ideas off of, to help her think. Because while there was a good chance that she wouldn’t live to take Jack down – or
through
taking Jack down – she needed to believe that it would happen, and that there would be a life for her afterward.

“I don’t know what to do,” she said, her voice soft. She waited for his reaction, but other than a slight nod to acknowledge her words, he said nothing. “Everything’s changed – and I’m not just talking about the whole Sazi thing.” She took a deep breath, trying to organize her thoughts. “I loved my life in California. But then the local paper broke the news about my mom’s past as a call girl, and Brad dumped me.” Her eyes stung, but she fought back the tears. “So Dad suggested a long camping trip, so that Mom and I could work things out.”

“But…”

“But Jack killed them.” She took a ragged breath, trying to calm herself.

She felt his hand on her arm. Just a gentle touch, but it was meant to comfort, and it did. She opened her eyes, relaxed her hands. “I can’t go back. I know that. But I don’t know how to move forward, either. What am I supposed to do?” The last was a pained whisper.

Raphael pulled the car off onto the shoulder of the highway and put it in park. He turned to her. Cupping her face in one hand he stared into her eyes. “Give it
time,
Cat.” He gave her a sad smile. “You’ve been through more in a couple of weeks than a lot of people endure in a lifetime. You need time to adjust.” He gave her a sad, rueful smile. “And I promise. I won’t rush you… much.”

Cat laughed. She brought her hand up to lay it against his. “Thank you. You have no idea how much I appreciate that.”

“You should.” He teased her a little, trying to lighten the mood. “Because it
isn’t
easy.”

“Are you saying,” Cat arched an eyebrow playing along, “that it’s
hard?”

“Just about all the time, thanks to you.” he grumbled.

She dropped her hand from his, but she was smiling. “We’d better get moving if we’re going to have any time for me to do my lessons before I have to meet Ned at pack headquarters.”

“Right.” Raphael turned in his seat and reached down to grab the gearshift. Cat tentatively reached over, placing her hand lightly on his arm.

“Raphael?”

He turned again, looking her in the eye.

“Thanks.”

They drove quite a way up the mountain in companionable silence. Raphael turned off the main road onto a rough gravel track. The uneven surface made it hard to keep the Jeep steady, and Raphael had to fight to compensate as the vehicle rocked and jerked beneath him. Gravel dust rose thick enough to make it hard to see.

Cat grunted, holding on tight to the handle mounted on the vehicle frame as she was bounced roughly from side to side. “I can see why nobody much comes up here. You’d wreck an ordinary car on this. Don’t the parks people maintain this road?”

“It’s deliberate. This is private land, owned by a friend of mine. There’s a helipad a little farther up. Keeping the road this rough discourages unwanted visitors.” .

“Makes sense I suppose.” Cat agreed. She really hoped they wouldn’t be going much farther. The jouncing was giving her a headache.

“Almost there.” Raphael turned left at a fork in the road. After about a hundred yards there was a thump and they were back on smooth pavement.

The drive curved sharply beneath the fragrant overhanging branches of the Douglas firs opening up into a clearing with a parking lot large enough for four or five vehicles. An asphalt landing pad was placed twenty to thirty yards away. It seemed a little small, but then Cat supposed it didn’t need to be any bigger. After all, there were all kinds of hospitals with helipads on their roofs for emergency evacuations.

“I’m surprised nobody objected to this being put in,” Cat observed. “It’s awfully close to the park.”

“They have an agreement,” Raphael answered as he pulled the Jeep into the nearest parking space. “They let him build it. He lets them use it for things like fighting wildfires. That way everybody’s happy.”

He threw open the car door and climbed out. Immediately he began to strip. Cat sat, transfixed, watching dry-mouthed as he unbuttoned the heavy denim shirt to reveal a well-muscled chest and washboard abs. He slung the shirt casually over the back of the driver’s seat and began unfastening the leather belt that ran through the loops of his faded jeans. Yes, logically, she knew they would have to both be naked to change, or ruin their clothes, but she’d never actually watched him strip before. They had used the locker rooms at the school.

It was a few more moments before she noticed he had stopped undressing and was staring at her with amusement. “It’s not that I mind you watching, but are you ever planning on getting out of the car?”

Cat felt her face heat as she blushed to the roots of her hair. Oh, Lord. She’d been drooling. And he knew it. Oh, crap. How utterly embarrassing! And to make it worse, she was going to have to get out of the car and undress, too – unless she planned to change into cat form fully clothed. Which would, of course, leave her nothing to change back into when she shifted back.

“Right. Out of the car.” She unfastened the seat belt with unsteady hands, fighting
not
to look over at him as she heard the sound of his zipper sliding down. She climbed out of the Jeep, shutting the door firmly behind her. Kicking off her shoes, she began pulling off her clothing, all the while making very sure she was facing away from where Raphael stood. She had never felt more aware of a man in her life. The sexual tension between them was practically a living, breathing thing. She shivered, and it wasn’t from the cold wind whipping at her exposed skin.

Gathering her clothing into an untidy bundle, she opened the Jeep door and dropped it onto the passenger seat. She slammed the door quickly shut. Then, looking around to make sure there was no one near other than Raphael, she concentrated the way she’d learned in class, and shifted.

Raphael forced himself
not to watch her undress. She smelled very embarrassed – and turned on. Not that he’d minded. In fact, he’d been pleased and more than a little flattered that the sight of him affected her as much as it did. She wanted him, every bit as much as he wanted her.

He knew if he pursued her now, she’d say yes. But he couldn’t. Not today, nor anytime soon. She was just too fragile emotionally. Waiting would be hell. But she’d be worth the effort. So he stood, facing east, listening as she hurriedly stripped off her clothes and tossed them into the Jeep. He didn’t turn until he felt the warm wash of her magic flow outward as she slipped into animal form.

Raphael called to his wolf, felt the magic flow through him as his body shifted into a form that was so different, and yet still so much a natural part of who he was.

“Are you ready?” He asked it softly, realizing that there might be more than one meaning to the question.

She paused for a moment, and then her green eyes looked out of that lovely black fur and held his gaze. “Yes.”

“Then follow me.” Raphael took off at a gentle lope in the direction of the distant trees.

He felt her following a few feet behind. He couldn’t hear her. That both surprised and pleased him. This was her first time hunting. He’d expected her to be clumsy, loud. Then again, she was a cat. Instinct would be her friend if she could manage not to fight it.

When they reached the tree line he set his nose to the ground, shifting through the sent of pine needles, rocks, and earth. There was the trace of rodents, but nothing large enough to provide much of a mouthful. He moved around a little bit, keeping his nose down. There… faint, but definite, the scent of a mule deer.

Cat, come here.

She padded up beside him.

Can you smell that?

Obediently, she put her nose to the ground. She smelled dirt, pine needles, and rocks. But beneath it, ever so faintly, she smelled urine with musky overtones.

What is that?

That is the scent of a mule deer. They still have them at this altitude. Farther up, not so much. It’s faint because she hasn’t been here for a couple of hours. But that is the scent we’re going to try to track. As we get closer, it’ll get stronger. You’ll also want to keep an eye out for hoof prints, either in mud, or in the snow. I want you to use your ears, too. I’ll follow behind.

He watched as she did as she was told, following the scent trail along the rough ground. Raphael knew that even over the bare rocks there were clues of the doe’s passage, a scratch where hoof scraped stone, small tells.

But she was growing frustrated, tired and irritable in very short order. He could feel it beat against his mind. Finally, thoroughly out of sorts, she stopped at the base of a large tree. Extending her claws she began to climb upward.

What in the hell are you doing? Raphael stopped several yards behind, and was watching her climb, his gold-flecked eyes wide with surprise.

I’m taking a look around, thank you. Your nose may be your best sense. My eyes are mine. Ah… there she is. Or should I say there
they
are. There are three of them. They’re about three hundred yards ahead and to the right.

He laughed, but it came out as a series of short barks and no doubt his tail was wagging. He should have thought of this himself. All of the cats he knew hunted from the air. All right. How would you hunt them?

With or without your help?

He cocked his head for a moment as he thought. Both.

She paused and he could tell she was considering. With, I would suggest you circle around and drive them to me. I spring from hiding and take one of them down.

And without?

I… I don’t know. I mean, I could try to sneak up on them, but their ears are like satellite dishes. I don’t know if I could get in close enough.

Are you hungry?

Not really. Cat dropped to the ground. The thick blanket of fallen pine needles muffled the sound so that she landed with a barely audible plop on all four paws. She padded over to where Raphael lay in the deep shadow of large boulder.

Neither am I. Raphael looked up, over her shoulder, checking the angle of the sunlight that filtered through the trees and the lengthening shadows on the ground. We’re running short of time anyway.
You
have a meeting to get to. So, we’ll call it a lesson and you can follow our trail and lead me back to the car. For your homework, I want you to find video footage of large cats hunting. Start with the cougars; they’ll give you the best idea of what to do in this terrain.

By the time they dressed and started back down the mountain, the shadows had lengthened to the point they had to watch closely for wildlife leaping into the roadway.

“Oh, sure!” she commented when one particularly large buck bounded out in front of them. “Now they come looking for us!”

Raphael laughed, and she joined in. He was surprised, and flattered that her laugh was a combination of warmth and delight. She really did have a terrific sense of humor, and he was constantly amazed that she was taking everything that was happening so much in stride. Yes, there were some meltdowns, but not nearly as many as he’d expected. She was handling the transition quite nicely.

Not willing to ruin the good mood, he pressed a button on the dash, heard the CD player search, and then relaxed back into his seat to the strains of the soundtrack of
Phantom of the Opera.

“How did you know this was my favorite musical?” she asked incredulously when the opening strains filled the car.

He smiled without turning to her, keeping a close eye out for deer. “I didn’t. But I’m not surprised.”

Ned was waiting
on the steps of the administration building when Raphael dropped her off.

Cat leaned over, gave Raphael a quick kiss on the cheek, and climbed out of the Jeep, slamming the door behind her.

“Sorry I’m late.” She apologized as Ned made his way down the stairs.

“No problem.” He smiled, and it softened the harsh lines of his face. “How’d the lesson go?”

Cat scowled. “Apparently I am not a natural tracker.”

“Almost nobody is.” Ned pulled the keys to his truck from the pocket of his battered fleece-lined denim jacket and gestured for Cat to precede him to the corner of the parking lot where his truck was parked next to Violet’s car. “It takes practice, and patience. Some people never get the knack of it.”

“That’s not exactly encouraging, Ned,” Cat observed wryly.

“Don’t worry.” He chuckled. “You’ll be fine.” He hit the button to unlock the truck doors before opening the passenger door for her. When she’d climbed inside and was belted in safely, he walked around the front of the vehicle and climbed inside.

“So,” she asked while he slid the key in the ignition. “What’s the big secret?”

The engine turned over on the first try, and Ned reached down to switch the heater onto high.

“You mean you haven’t guessed?” He ran his right hand through his hair. Cat caught a glimpse of a silver and turquoise ring. She’d been with Violet when her aunt had picked it out for him a few weeks ago, and was pleased to see him wearing it.

“I have an idea.” She turned to him with a smile. “But – “

Ned put the truck in gear, checking the mirrors before backing out of the parking spot. “Fine. I’ll fess up. I’m thinking of proposing to your aunt.”

Cat gave a huge grin and reached over to touch his arm. “That’s
wonderful.
I’m so happy for you. I just know she’ll say yes.”

Ned’s face reddened a little. “Thanks.” He turned the wheel, taking the truck onto the access road that led off of pack property, but instead of turning left toward town, he turned right. “Yeah, I think she’ll say yes, too. But there’s a problem.”

“A problem? What?”

“Your aunt has money. I don’t. And while I know she’d never say anything, I think it’s important that a man and a woman enter a relationship on equal footing.”

Cat opened her mouth to answer, but he waved her to silence.

“So, I’ve been checking into selling my property up in the mountains. I hate to part with it. It’s been in the family for generations. But it’s a nice place, and should be worth a fair amount, prices being what they are.” A new scent rose off of him, filling the truck. Angry. He smelled angry. But for the life of her Cat couldn’t figure out why.

Ned turned the truck onto the ramp that joined the access road back up to the highway. When they’d merged safely into traffic he continued what he was saying.

“Anyway, it occurred to me that all things considered, you might be wanting a place of your own to hunt. So I thought that maybe I’d take you up there, let you take a look around.”

He risked a glance at her that was both nervous and hopeful. “I figure, if
you
bought the place, it would still
be
in the family, so to speak. And Violet tells me you don’t plan on going back to California…” He let the words trickle off into a nervous silence.

“Wow.” Cat wasn’t sure what to think or say. On the one hand, mountain real estate was obviously a good investment, and God knew she could afford it. But that comment about keeping the land “in the family” meant that resale probably wouldn’t be an option unless she was ready and willing to truly piss off her aunt’s husband.

But she didn’t have any place else to be. It
would
be a good idea to own land to hunt on.

The thought that she’d be close to Raphael popped into her mind unbidden.

“I don’t have open access to the estate for two more years, so I’d have to check with the trustee. But Uncle Chuck is a reasonable man. If you quote a fair price I’m sure he’ll go along with it.”

Ned smiled, and she saw some of the tension leave his shoulders. “We’ll go up and give you a good look at it first. Don’t want you to go into anything blind. But it’s a nice place. Worth more man what I’m asking for it, too.”

It was still daylight when they pulled up the gravel drive, but the sun was sinking in the west, its dying rays painting the sky vivid oranges and purples. In the east, the first stars were visible.

The automatic lights came on, illuminating a stone walkway that led up to a large A-frame house. A deck ran along three sides of the building, its weathered wood blending gently with the gray and tan stone of the huge fireplace that took up most of the north side of the building and pale gray siding. The second-floor balcony jutted out to protect the front entrance.

Ned led her up the sidewalk, but rather than take her inside, he walked along the outer deck until they stood against the deck railing facing west, overlooking a wide meadow backlit by a spectacular sunset. It was gorgeous, utterly breathtaking.

“Wow.” Cat knew Ned had deliberately timed their visit so that she’d see the sunset and be sold on the place. She knew she’d been manipulated. It didn’t matter. There was a wildness about the place, and at the same time a sense of
peace
that called to something deep in her soul. She took in a slow breath of cold, clean air, letting it out slowly, watching it puff like smoke in front of her mouth.

“Well?” Ned shifted his weight nervously from one foot to the other.

“It’s gorgeous, but you already knew that.”

“Would you be interested?”

“That,” she teased gently, “will depend on the price. But I’ll ask Charles to come check out the place.”

“He’s been here. Many times. I don’t think it will be a problem. Thank you.” He said the next words with difficulty and more than a hint of sadness. “I love it here.”

“I know. Are you
sure
you want to sell?”

Ned nodded firmly. “I may love this place, but I love Violet more.”