Walker's Run (15 page)

“The copter’s on its way,” Peyton said setting down an armful of kindling. “Saw it from the top of the rise back there.”

Braedyn nodded. “We’re going to let you two go back first, and we’ll take the camp apart. When they return we’ll have them take us onto Walker’s Run.

It had been harder than Casey thought to hug and release her father and brother before they boarded the helicopter that would take them back to the Ranger Station. She hated being unable to tell them the truth. There was nothing she’d ever kept from them. But if they knew she was hiding something, neither gave voice to it.

Casey took a deep breath as Braedyn reached his hand down to help her into the helicopter. Everything had been loaded. This was the next step that would change her life. It was time for her to meet the pack and to see with her own eyes what she’d become.

“Are you all right?” Braedyn shouted near her ear once she settled in the seat next to him and buckled up.

She swallowed and nodded.

“Nervous?” He gave her a gentle smile and took her hand, holding it over his heart. She read the gesture without him speaking, reading the cues in his body language similar to that of the wolf.

I’ll be with you every step of the way,
his motions spoke to her.
Nothing to worry about.

Jazzy was up front, and he passed back helmets with microphones and speakers so they could hear each other. “Ready to go Braedyn?” he asked, turning in his seat to look at them.

“Not really, but go ahead and take us home Jazzy.” His eyes travelled to where their camp had been, and he sighed. Casey knew how he felt, she was sorry they were leaving, too.

“Your family is concerned about you,” Jazzy said furrowing his brows. “Is everything all right?”

Braedyn sighed and squeezed Casey’s hand. “Things are better than they have been in a very long time. This has just been my first vacation in twenty years. You can’t blame me for not wanting to go back just yet, can you?”

The Ranger laughed and shook his head. “No, I can’t say I blame you one bit.” His eyes flicked over to Casey, and then back to Braedyn. The unspoken question was one she didn’t catch. It amazed her that the old Ranger had been able to hold the secret of Braedyn’s family this long. After a moment of silence, Jazzy nodded and turned back around in his seat, readying for the ascent.

Casey extracted her hand from Braedyn’s and nervously drummed them on the armrest. She’d never been in a helicopter before. While she wasn’t afraid of heights, the strangeness of the surroundings and the new sounds which assaulted her newly sensitive ears, was nearly more than she could handle. After a moment, she laid her head on Braedyn’s shoulder. Seeking comfort from his touch, she tried to think of anything to take her mind off her worries.

The ride was surprisingly smooth and didn’t take nearly as long as she’d hoped. There was more to be seen than just the ‘Cabin’ Braedyn had spoken of. There appeared to be a moderately sized village spread out across the backside of the mountain she’d stared at her whole life when she’d camped in the forest. She never knew people lived this far out in the wilderness.

When they neared, she realized the word village was an understatement. Most of the houses were hidden in the surrounding trees. The layout blended with the land, but there were signs of modernism such as street lamps down the road that served as the small business district, satelite receivers, and more. Walker’s Run was a surprisingly modern small town.

Jazzy landed the helicopter at a heliport. Someone had already cleared it of snow in preparation of their arrival, the evidence was mounded around the helipad.

When the blades wound down, Casey recognized one of the few people who came out to greet them. Elan.

Her heart rate increased, her nerves set on edge. The wolf in her was alert and watchful.

Braedyn placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Calm down, everything will be fine,” he murmured. He opened the door and slipped out, then turned to her, and extended his hand.

She faultered a moment, realizing this would be the first time anyone in his pack, aside from his brother, would see her. Her hands shook. She looked in Braedyn’s eyes. His brows drew together. He needed to know she trusted him.

Taking a deep breath, Casey grasped his hand and allowed him to help her down. The wind caused by the blades blew her hair into her face while he escorted her away.

“Brother.” Elan grinned. “It’s good to have you home.”

Braedyn nodded. “I figured I couldn’t safely steal another day of vacation.”

Elan laughed, clapped him on the back, and then motioned for a few young men to get their things.

Casey felt their eyes on her. Their looks frightened her a little, but her wolf rose to sniff the air and then settled down. The Silver Wolf wasn’t concerned.

“Everything all right?” Braedyn asked, glancing at the boys sent to retrieve their things.

Elan nodded. “Same as always. Boys will be boys.”

She watched Braedyn’s jaw set and his eyes narrowed when he looked at them. He turned back to his brother. “We’d like to get settled before taking any guests.”

Elan nodded and stepped to the side. Braedyn led her towards an old SUV. He held open the passenger door for her and closed it before walking around and sliding into the driver’s seat. He started the engine and turned on the heat.

“I want a long, hot bath.” She shivered, putting her hands to the vents. “I didn’t realize just how cold I was until I’d warmed up.”

Braedyn grinned. “I can arrange that for you.” He put the old truck into gear and pulled away from the heliport.

“I never even knew this place existed,” she said looking at the ranch style houses and cabins. “How many are here?”

“Not everyone here is Pack, but everyone here is protected by it. There are a couple human families out here. My father created this as a haven for anyone who needed to get away or needed protection. He accepted all types of Weres. His idea was for this to be a sanctuary. All in all, there are close to three hundred living here in Walker’s Run.”

“Weres?” She looked at him slightly confused.

He nodded, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. “There are all kinds. Wolves, bears, coyotes, lions, tigers.”

“Wow.” Casey sat back in the seat, trying to wrap her mind around this new information. “Is there anything else I should know?”

“Well, let’s just say you’ll need to keep an open mind.”

She tucked her hands under her arms. Even the heat from the vents didn’t seem to warm her. With a sigh, she looked out the passenger window and watched the winter wonderland roll by outside. Many of the homes blended with the trees. Everything seemed so natural. With a few more turns, he turned down a freshly plowed, long dirt road which led to a neat little cabin tucked away in a patch of trees. Snow-covered hedges lined the road and the front of the house.

Pulling the truck to a stop, he shut off the ignition. “This is home.”

Looking up at the cabin, Casey took a deep breath. It seemed exactly as she’d imagined it. Cute and cozy. A fire had been started, and smoke plumed from the chimney. She stepped out and followed Braedyn to the door. She watched him turn the knob without unlocking it.

He smiled upon seeing her surprised look. “No need to lock the doors when you’re the alpha. Only my mother, Elan, and Amber are allowed in my home. One of them had the presence of mind to start the fire for us.” He took off his coat and hung it in the foyer closet.

Casey shrugged out of her coat and handed it to him. She briskly rubbed her hands together. Then turned and looked around the living room. The floor was hardwood and layered with a few different types of wood in a mosaic pattern. The affect was beautiful. A modern beige couch and loveseat faced the fireplace. She noticed there was no television. Braedyn didn't strike her as the type that got involved in TV.

“Care to take a tour?”

“I would love it.” She smiled when he held out his arm and hooked her elbow in his.

Through the living room was an eat-in kitchen with an island in the center. The appliances were modern and stainless steel. A plaid table cloth covered a large hand-carved table which sat off to the side with four chairs. A small bowl of what looked to be handmade potpourri was placed in the center. She smiled wondering what other little touches his mother had managed to make in his home.

She noticed the hall off to the left side of the living room led to three bedrooms. The master bedroom took her breath away. There was a large hand carved, king sized, sleigh bed. Her cheeks warmed when she imagined the two of them entwined there on the earthy toned bed linens.

An antique armoir stood against one wall. There were double closets on either side of the bed. The master bath was what won her over. It was gloriously large, with an enormous claw-foot bathtub that stood in the middle of the floor, a large shower off to the side, and a double sink and vanity built in the center.

Casey's eyes lingered on the tub for a moment before she followed Braedyn out of the room. He showed her two other rooms. One was an office with an old desk, the walls filled with books, some so old and the leather bindings so worn she could no longer read the titles. The other was a spare bedroom, decently furnished with a double bed, dresser, and antique armoir.

“Very nice,” she said closing the door to the spare room behind her after they stepped back into the hall.

“Really? If you’d like to make any changes it can be arranged.”

She smiled and shook her head. “No, I like it. It’s very natural and cozy.” Casey walked over to him and laid her head against his chest. “That bath tub is calling my name.”

Braedyn laughed. “Go ahead. Elan will bring our things. Take a long bath and relax. Get your thoughts together.”

She drew away from him and headed back to the master bathroom. Casey adjusted the water temperature until it was just shy of blistering. While it filled, she turned and looked at herself in the mirror for the first time in over a week and was surprised she didn’t look worse.

Her hair had seen better days. She used one of Braedyn’s boar-bristle brushes to comb out the tangles and undressed. It was the first time she’d been able to get a good look at her shoulder where Tala bit her.

There was a nasty scar running from the collarbone to her upper arm and all the way around her shoulder. Punctured dots of knotted tissue where the teeth had bitten but not shredded the skin were also visible. Casey ran her hand over the healed blemishes and sighed. Her whole life had changed in that instant, but she honestly couldn't blame Tala. She'd have probably done the same had the roles been reversed, but it wouldn’t have taken her as long. She could only imagine how all-consuming Tala’s rage had been after twenty years.

Turning her attention away from her reflection, Casey took notice of the intricket tile work in a soothing blend of greys. Calmed, she turned to the bathtub and eased herself in after closing the valves. Rolling a hand towel behind her neck, she closed her eyes and settled back.

* * * *

Braedyn heard his brother’s truck rumble to a stop outside. It was time to put on the Alpha mask, especially with the boys Elan had taken under his wing. He opened the door with a grim expression and watched his brother and two of the Avery boys lug Casey’s gear in.

“Just set them inside the door here. I’ll get them put away,” Braedyn said crossing his arms and looking down at the two young men.

He watched them tremble, but doing as they were told before they withdrew back to Elan’s truck.

The muscle twitched in Braedyn’s jaw. “Have they been causing any more trouble?”

“Not one bit. Then again, I haven’t been giving them much rope to hang themselves either.” Elan looked at his brother. “The Harris girl is fine. They gave her a good scare, but she’s unharmed.”

Shaking his head, Braedyn clenched his fist. “Our father didn’t tolerate the young ones wreaking havoc on humans. I won’t either. Quash it or they’re done, Elan.”

His younger brother nodded in understanding. “Is there anything else I can do for you, Brother?”

“No, I just need to get Casey calm before she meets anyone else. She’s worried about how everyone will accept her.” He rubbed his eyes and sighed.

“It’s understandable. She’s a lot to learn, and it will take time for her to adapt.” Elan smiled and patted him on the shoulder. “Mom wants to have dinner.”

Braedyn couldn’t help his laugh and shook his head. “I’m sure she does, but I’m going to give Casey at least tonight to get more acclimated before the introduction.”

Elan nodded. They both looked back out to the truck where the Avery boys were huddled. “I’ll see you tomorrow then. We’re off to some of the older homes in the Run. There’s wood to be chopped and stacked and some menial chores I can get out of them before sundown. Good old fashioned hard work never hurt an obstinate boy,” he said with a grin.

Braedyn watched Elan walk back to his truck.

The sun would set soon, Braedyn thought, walking toward the kitchen. He rambled through the freezer, looking for something to prepare for dinner. After having eaten a lot of rabbit and venison, he’d lost his taste for game. Opting for the ground chuck, he decided a pasta dinner sounded good.