Winter Wolf (A New Dawn Novel Book 1) (10 page)

Chapter 12

The funeral passed in a blur. Katalina couldn’t seem to focus on anything but the grief building inside of her. Time passed in a daze. She was at the center of warm condolences and reassuring pats on her arm, but none of it mattered. Her parents were gone. They were dead. She’d never see them again. All that kept her upright was the firm grip of Bass’s hand, his strong, steady presence.

“Kat? Katalina?”

Katalina focused on her grandma’s face.

“Kat, the police, they’re here to see you,” her grandma said gently, nodding toward the unmarked car parked at the edge of the graveyard. Detectives leaned against it.

“Police, now?” she asked, bewildered.

“I’m sorry, Kat. Susan tried to get rid of them but they won’t leave. Just answer their questions and then it’s over with.”

“Okay,” she whispered, taking an uneasy step toward them.

“I’d think it would be best if you stayed here, Sebastian,” her grandmother added.

Bass looked a little put out but stayed behind.

Katalina walked slowly toward the two men, feeling lost now Bass wasn’t by her side. She weaved between the headstones, glancing back at Bass every now and then. When she reached the detectives, she took one final look at Bass and then took a deep breath, preparing herself for the questions.

“Miss Winter?”

Katalina focused on the men and nodded.

“We’re very sorry to interrupt, today of all days, but we’re hoping you can shed some light on a few things,” the oldest of the detectives spoke.

Katalina nodded again. She stuck her hands in her pockets to hide the fact they were trembling.

“Well, why don’t you just start off by telling us what happened the night of the crash?’

Katalina opened her mouth to speak but couldn’t voice the horrors of the night. It was all too much, too devastating. She didn’t want to recall the night again.

“There were wolves, weren’t there, Kat?” her grandmother prompted with a reassuring pat.

“Yes…they followed the car. Dad took his eyes off the road for a second and”—she sucked in a breath—“then they ran out in front of the car. It flipped.” Katalina closed her eyes, forcing the images, the memories away.

“But you made it out of the car?” the detective asked.

“Yes,” she answered in a small voice.

“But how did you get away?”

“My dog came.”

“Your dog saved you from a pack of wolves?” he asked, disbelieving.

Katalina looked the detective in the eye. “Yes,” she said sternly.

“So, then your biological father finds you a few streets over, and rushes you to hospital. This is what your grandmother tells us.”

Katalina nodded.

“Why not inform the rest of your family you were safe?”

“She had no memories! I’ve told you this already,” Katalina’s grandmother snapped.

“We’d just like to hear Miss Winter’s version of events.”

“I came home as soon as I had my memories back. Now, if that’s all, I’m at my parents’ funeral.” Katalina didn’t wait to see if the detectives had any more questions. She turned on her heels, marching back to Bass.

“Are you all right?” he asked as she approached.

Katalina didn’t dare speak for fear of crying, so nodded instead.

Her grandmother returned a few minutes later, having sent the police on their way. “Kat, we must get going. We’ll be late for the wake.”

Wake…more people, more questions.

“Kat?” She opened her mouth to speak, but couldn’t find the words. Fresh tears pooled in her eyes. She blinked rapidly, trying to force them back.

Bass stepped in. “I think Katalina has had enough for one day. I’ll walk her home. I think she needs a little time alone.”

“Oh, right, yes, it’s been a hard morning. We’ll see you at home, Kat” her grandma said.

Katalina hugged her grandmother, and then followed Bass as he guided her along. She was lost in her dark thoughts, playing the crash and over, looking for some way to have saved her parents. Her feet squelched in the slushy snow and the wind bit at her face, raw from tears. Her whole body felt like ice, right down to her broken, torn soul. Her only source of warmth came from Bass’s hand, still strong in hers.

“Where are we going?” she asked, after realizing they’d been walking into a crop of trees for the last few minutes.

“We are going to have a run. It will make you feel better,” he explained, stopping.

“A run?”

“Yes,” he smiled, pulling his coat, then t-shirt off.

“A naked run?” she smirked.

“Don’t be a smartass, Kat.” He slipped his jeans off and then his boxers.

Katalina gave a startled squeak spinning around so he was at her back. “Bass, I don’t want to change again remember, and I’m not sure running around as wolves is the best idea.”

“I’ll keep you safe. Now, come on, Kat, undress. I’ve seen it all before,” he said, his tone flirty.

“Bass!”

He answered by pressing a cold wolf nose against her leg.

“Fine!” she snapped, carefully putting her coat on top of his clothes so it wouldn’t get dirty. The rest of her clothes followed.
Right, Kat, easy peasy, you’re a shifter, changing should be a piece of cake.

Bass barked at her.

“Okay, okay, grumpy wolf!”

She closed her eyes, cleared her mind, and pictured her wolf. The pain wasn’t so bad. She bit her lip as she collapsed onto her knees, and seconds later, took a step forward on wolf paws.

Bass had been right. She felt instantly better. It wasn’t that the pain and grief she felt had gone; rather, it dulled. It was as if the wolf couldn’t process her feelings, making them easier to deal with. Bass took off at a steady run. Following him, Katarina marveled at the simple pleasure of feeling the wind weave through her fur, and the feel of dirt between her paws. They couldn’t run very far; the crop of woods wasn’t large and they easily covered the length of it in minutes, but it was enough. Twenty minutes of leisurely running backward and forward between the trees helped Katalina cope with her emotions better.

“Feel better?” Bass asked as he slung his coat on.

Katalina turned, now fully dressed, to face him. “Yes, but I’m ready to go home now.”

“As you wish, my Queen,” he replied with a devilish smile and a bow.

“Stop, with the queen, Bass,” she said, hitting him playfully on the arm.

Bass stopped suddenly, dragging her into his arms. He dipped her low, whispering, “Why? You are the ruler of my heart, Katalina Winter. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you. No line I wouldn’t cross. You are mine. The soul mate for both my halves.” He kissed her hard and fast.

Katalina shook her head, clearing the desire fogging in her mind. “Sometimes I wonder if you’re even real. People don’t talk like that in the real world.”

“Why do you want to live in this ‘real world’ then, Kat? Come with me into the world of wolves and soul mates.” He spoke in a joking tone, but she could tell by the look in his eyes, he was deadly serious, and it scared her. She wasn’t afraid that he may lead her into another life; rather, she was worried that she’d want this new life too much and forget she’d once lived as if human.

Katalina searched for something meaningful to say. ‘I love you’ just didn’t seem to do Bass justice, but before she could open her mouth, she found herself twisted around, air whipping past her as Bass spun her behind him with a savage growl.

“Bass?” Katalina gasped.

“Someone is stalking us. Stay behind me, Katalina.”

Katalina scanned the trees, her heart kicking up a gear when she imagined Jackson and the enforcers racing from the trees and taking her away. But it wasn’t Jackson who appeared. It was Cage, his hands held up, in a submissive gesture.

“I just want to talk,” he said in a soft voice.

“How can I trust you?” Katalina asked, placing her hand on Bass’s shoulder, hoping to calm him.

Cage actually looked hurt. “I guess I deserve that. The last few days I’ve not been very kind to you.”

Katalina didn’t confirm it. There was no need.

“But, please, Kat, I’ve come to warn you and to apologize. Can we talk? Alone?”

“She’s not going anywhere with you!” Bass growled, still not moving from his defensive stance.

“Please,” Cage begged.

“Talk, Cage, whatever you’ve come to say can be said in front of Bass.”

Cage took a step forward, a small smile of relief on his lips. “Okay.”

“Stay where you are!” Bass ground out.

“Bass, he’s hardly going to attack me in broad daylight, with you beside me. I’m sure he can come closer.”

“As you wish.” Bass took a small step, putting himself beside Katalina, but his eyes never left Cage.

“I’m sorry, Kat, okay? I’ve really messed up. All I ever wanted was to protect you, and I went along with Jackson, not because I thought he was right, but because I didn’t want to go against my alpha. I see now that was a big mistake.”

“I thought you were my friend, Cage, but you treated me as a prisoner, just like him.”

“I know and I’m sorry. I came to make it up to you, to warn you. I’ve gone against your father’s wishes to do this, Kat. Even now my wolf is pacing.”

“Warn me, about what?” she asked, feeling on edge.

“Jackson’s…he’s…he’s sent his enforcers to bring you back, three of them. They’re to snatch you when you’re alone.” He spoke the sentence in one big rush as if it pained him to tell her.

“And you? You’re his enforcer too.”

“I won’t do it, Kat. You have the right to mourn your parents in peace. You’ll come home when you’re ready.”

“This is my home, Cage.”

He didn’t respond, but she saw the hurt cross over his eyes.

“Three enforcers? Their orders are to only take her when she’s alone?” Bass asked.

“That was the order, but Jackson is bound to find out I’ve warned you. He may get desperate. Maybe I should stay, Kat, protect you.”

A growl cut off Katalina’s reply. “I can handle three. Katalina has no need for you.”

Cage growled back, his eyes filling with anger.

“Hey! No fighting!” Katalina yelled before they had a chance. Looking at the two of them, she became acutely aware they were more than just men.

“Is this what you want, Kat? You want me to leave?” Cage asked.

Katalina sighed, the heavy feeling of dread settling in her stomach. “It was hard enough explaining Bass. I can’t have you hanging around, too, Cage. You should go home to your family, to Toby.”

He nodded, turning away. He headed for the trees, but before he reached them, he paused. Half-turning, he asked quietly, “Does he make you happy?”

“Yes,” she answered honestly.

“It was supposed to be me,” he said so quietly, she was sure she only heard him because of her new wolf abilities.

Katalina walked toward him; she couldn’t help it. She felt terrible for making him so sad. She could almost feel the sadness seeping off him.

“Kat,” Bass warned.

“He won’t hurt me, Bass. Trust me.”

Katalina walked over to Cage, who still stood on the edge of the tree line, his back to her, shoulders slumped.

“Cage,” she whispered, touching his arm.

It broke her when he looked at her, tears in his eyes. “I love you, Kat. I’ve been waiting my whole life for you, and now I’ve messed everything up.”

She pulled in a deep breath, thinking of the right words to say. “Cage, you don’t love me, not really. You love the idea of me. You love the life everyone has told you, you should live. I’m not the girl you were told about. I never have been. Maybe it’s time to stop doing as you are asked, and really think about what you want. One day you’re going to meet the girl you’re supposed to be with, your mate, and you’ll understand what I mean. I’m sorry, Cage, truly I am, but I love Bass.”

A tear escaped, trailing slowly over his cheek. Katalina reached up on her toes and kissed the tear away. “Goodbye, Cage,” she whispered.

He remained standing when she looked back minutes later as she walked along the road.

“Stop beating yourself up, Katalina. It is not your fault you do not feel the same.”

“I didn’t want to hurt him, Bass. He saved me, both him and Toby. I would be dead right now if they hadn’t come.”

“He’ll get over it,” Bass muttered.

“Would you?” Katalina snapped.

“No…but we are different. We are mates. Your wolf doesn’t want him; she wants me. It would have never worked, and if your father was thinking straight, he’d know he could never push two shifters together. Our wolves choose; it has always been that way.”

“I don’t think Jackson has thought straight since Winter died.”

Chapter 13

They’d been walking for a while when finally Katalina saw her drive ahead. She didn’t feel the cold like she used too, but her face still stung from the constant bite of cold wind against her skin. A surge of joy filled her as she saw her house. Her feet quickened their pace, excitement flowing through her blood until she was slapped with reality. Her stomach dropped. It was her house, her home, but the reason behind her happiness had been ripped away from her forever. For just a second there, she’d forgotten they were dead. For one glorious second, she’d managed to forget she’d just watched their coffins being lowered into the earth.

Her feet faltered, her eyes noticing the burned charred ground. Immediately, she was hit with the memory of the attack; images, sounds, the fear came back to her. It was as if she was there again, reliving the horror, watching her parents burn as a wolves sunk their teeth into her flesh, dragging her away from her family, as if she was nothing but game. She heard distant barking; a sudden feeling of hope that Arne might save her, and then she remembered the pack of wolves, wanting to devour her.

“No, Arne!”

She didn’t want her dog to die, too. She couldn’t lose them all.

It was too late. He was there licking her face, whining…

“Katalina, baby, come back to me,” the voice whispered around her.

Wait…that voice doesn’t belong to this nightmare.

“Katalina Winter, look at me! You are here. You are safe!” The edge of a growl, the strength of a command.

Her eyes focused through the blur of tears and found his dark eyes.

“Katalina.” His words were harsh, commanding, but his eyes and his touch, held so much love that the horrifying images cleared.

She took his hand and let him pull her up. “Hey, boy,” she croaked, ruffling her hand over Arne’s head.

“Are you all right?” Bass asked softly.

“For now.”

“Come on. Let’s get you inside.”

They walked in silence to the house; no one had arrived back yet, much to Katalina’s relief. She needed some peace, some time to work through her emotions. She curled up into the corner of the sofa with Arne sat at her feet, his head resting on her curled up legs.

“Tea?” Bass asked.

She looked up and nodded.

What felt like seconds later, Bass returned with a mug filled with steaming tea. She caught the whiff of coffee and pulled a face.

“What?” Bass laughed.

“I hate the smell of coffee.”

He circled his mug under his nose, sighing as he breathed deeply. “Nonsense, it’s wonderful.”

She leaned her head on his shoulder. “If you say so.”

They drank in silence for a while, enjoying the quiet, simple moment together, without any distractions.

“Tell me about them,” Bass said quietly, squeezing her hand.

Katalina stood up and collected an album from the shelf. She opened the first page. “They adopted me a few months before I turned one. My mother said I was so quiet when they first brought me home. I never spoke or cried. She said I used to sit on the floor and just watch the world go by, but never interacted.”

She flipped the pages. “This is my first birthday. Mom went all out on parties. She said I’d been with them for six months before I actually started to talk beyond asking for things. Maybe I was traumatized from watching Winter die? I don’t remember.”

“What’s the first thing you remember?” Bass asked.

A smile lit her face. “Mom brought this cat home, just before I turned three.” She flipped a few pages. “Look, there it is.”

“It doesn’t look very happy,” Bass laughed, his finger tracing over the little girl hugging a Tabby cat.

“It hated me, but I never let it escape. It would hiss and screech at me. Mom told me it ran away, but I’m certain she found it a new home.”

“You realize why it hated you?”

Katalina frowned. “Oh! I’m a wolf. It would have been able to sense that?”

“Yes.”

“When did you get Arne?”

“On my tenth birthday.” She turned a few more pages. “He was the cutest puppy ever, weren’t you, boy!” She kissed Arne’s head when he looked up at her.

“Hey! Where’s mine?”

Katalina laughed as Bass dragged her onto his lap. She found his lips easily. Running her hands up his shoulders and tangling them into his hair, the photo album was forgotten as they got lost in the feel of one another. Katalina’s grief was pushed back by the love and desire she felt for Bass. Her hands roamed his body. Slipping under his t-shirt, her nails grazed over his smooth skin.

He moaned into her mouth, his hands gripping her waist tighter, fingers digging into flesh. He lifted her and lay her onto the sofa, trapping her body with his.

“Bass,” she gasped.

He smiled cheekily, crushing his mouth with to hers.

She wasn’t sure how long she lay trapped beneath him, her body on fire, every part of her, craving his touch, before he suddenly pulled away, jumping onto the sofa chair.

“Bass?” she asked breathlessly, lifting up on her elbows. “What’s wrong?”

He nodded toward the door. “Company.”

At first, she couldn’t hear anything, but then she really concentrated and heard tires driving over gravel.

“How do you do that? I have to really concentrate to hear them.”

He smiled. “You’ve been a full shifter for a few days, Kat. Give it time, and before you know it, every sense you have will be heightened. Katalina, I think you’d best straighten your dress and hair,” he said with a wink.

“What? Oh…” She looked down at her dress; the hem had ridden up to the top of her thighs.

Katalina jumped to her feet, straightened her hair in the mirror and wiggled her dress back down. “You don’t look much better yourself,” she laughed, patting his hair down. By the time her grandmother and aunt walked in, she’d slumped back onto the sofa and found something to watch on TV.

“Hi,” she called at they walked into the kitchen, carrying boxes of food, “need help?”

“There’s a few more in the car,” Aunt Susan called.

Katalina stood, but Bass stopped her, “I’ll get them,”

“Bass, I’m not an invalid.”

He kissed her cheek. “I know that. I would rather you stayed inside, where it’s safe and no one can take you away from me.”

“Go on then,” she huffed, walking into the kitchen. “Bass is fetching the rest,” she said, sitting next to her aunt at the breakfast bench.

“Here, try this,” her aunt instructed, sliding a box toward her. “Chocolate to die for!” Her aunt smiled.

Her grandmother passed her a spoon.

“Wow, looks amazing,” Katalina said, lifting the lid of the box.

Katalina had already shoveled three spoonfuls into her mouth when Bass came in carrying an armful of boxes. “Where would you like these?” he asked,

“Just there is fine,” Katalina’s grandmother replied. “I hope you two are hungry. There is enough food left to feed a village.”

“Bass! Try this. It’s so good.” Katalina smiled, holding a spoonful of cake out to him.

He smiled warmly at her, closing his mouth around the spoon. “Mmm,” he moaned, bending and kissing her softly, “perfect,” he murmured, looking into her eyes.

They pulled apart, realizing what they’d done. Katalina looked at Bass wide-eyed. The expression on his face confirmed he’d never been so caught up in someone that he forgot the situation he was in.

Her grandmother cleared her throat loudly. “Come help me with something, will you, Sebastian?”

Bass dragged his eyes from Katalina’s. “Yes…of course,” he answered, looking a little ruffled.

Katalina stuffed another mouthful of cake into her mouth, hoping her aunt wouldn’t say anything.

“Enough cake, Kat, come walk with me.” She didn’t have much choice; her aunt hooked her arm through hers and led her outside.

Katalina kept silent as she walked around the garden, dreading what her aunt would say.

“Kat, you’re eighteen now, an adult, free to do as you wish. I’m not sure what your mom would have said about Bass. This should have been a conversation you had with your mother, but nothing has gone as it should, has it?”

“No,” Katalina agreed.

“I can see the attraction, Kat. He’s one fine looking young man.”

“Aunt Susan,” Katalina groaned in embarrassment.

“What, I’m not that old, Kat. I’m worried about you though. Your Grandma has filled me in on what she knows, and a lot has happened to you over the past weeks. Do you not think it’s a bit soon to be meeting someone?”

“It’s not like I’m planning on marrying him,” Katalina muttered, feeling guilty for lying. He was her soul mate. She couldn’t imagine life without him, but how would she explain that to her aunt?

“But it’s not a fleeting relationship, is it? What just happened in there…a simple kiss, you were both lost in your own world. Yes, I understand how everything is exciting when you first meet, but from what I’ve seen, it’s pretty serious.”

“No, it’s not just fleeting, but I’m not stupid, Susan. I can take care of myself and I’m old enough to decide who I see,” Katalina replied, irritated. She’d always been sensible, stayed out of trouble. She deserved a little credit for that.

“Just be careful, okay. You’ve just lost your parents. Maybe you should mourn them before you go falling in love?”

Katalina turned sharply. She stood in front of her aunt in anger. Her wolf pushed against her skin as her emotions rose to the surface. Hands clenched into fists, she ground out, “Is that what you think? That I’m so caught up in my love for Bass that I’ve not even realized my mom and dad are dead? Well, let me tell you something,
Susan.
I saw them die! I saw the car burst into flames while wolves were attacking me. I will never, ever forget that. The image will be etched in my mind for eternity. Some days, it feels like I might drown in the sadness closing around me. Bass has been the only one keeping me going. So much has happened and he’s been there every step of the way.”

She turned on her heel and stormed off. Her aunt called her back, but she’d reached her limit and needed to be alone. It was as though her wolf was pacing inside of her mind, snapping and snarling; angry, oh, so angry. Katalina paced the garden, taking deep breathes. She couldn’t lose control again. Toby was a shifter; he healed quickly. Her aunt and grandma though were just human.

She realized her mistake too late. She was alone. Susan had long since gone back into the house and she’d ventured to the far end of the garden. The garden backed onto a small crop of trees and wasteland. There were houses either side, but where she was at that moment, she was vulnerable. Her wolf paced for a whole different reason; her hackles rose. Katalina felt the urge to change. As a wolf, she could protect herself better. But she lived on the outskirts of town, a town that had never had wolves venture so close before her birthday. If her aunt or grandmother saw her, how would she explain the fact she was a shifter?

Katalina backed away, slowly and carefully moving over the ground, never taking her eyes off the fence line. She’d managed only a few steps back when someone appeared at the fence. She didn’t recognize him, but then she’d only met one other enforcer apart from Cage. His chest was bare and she guessed the rest of him was too, but the shrub around the fence hid the rest of him from view. She heard movement and saw the outlines of two wolves standing either side of him.

“Katalina, we won’t hurt you. We’ve just come to take you home. You’re not safe here.”

She took another step back. “This is my home.”

“Kat, can I call you Kat? Please don’t make this any harder than it is.” He held his hands up, palms out.

“It’s not hard at all. Just leave. Tell Jackson I’ll never be forced into being in his pack.”

His hands dropped. Katalina took another step back, her heart racing so fast she could hardly hear his reply over the pulsing blood running through her head. “I’m afraid I can’t do that, Katalina. I have orders and I don’t disobey my alpha.”

Katalina turned and ran. She heard the rattle of the fence. The garden wasn’t long but the enforcer was fast and his hand latched onto her arm before she could make it to the house. Katalina gasped from his harsh grip. Twisting her body around, she slapped him across the face as she pulled with all her strength, trying to escape.

“Bitch,” he muttered, yanking at her. She lost her footing.

A growl escaped her as she pushed against him. “Get off me!” Her knee came up, slamming between his legs. He fell back with a grunt, finally letting go of Katalina’s arm. A savage growl came from behind the fence, but the enforcer held his hand up signaling for the wolf to hold position.

“Hold, I can handle the bitch,” the enforcer growled, looking feral.

Fear left Katalina. Instead of running, she stood her ground, feeling the strength of her wolf close to the surface.

Before the enforcer could take a step toward her, Bass appeared beside her, his body angled slightly in front of her.

“I leave you alone for five minutes and you find some stray mutts for me to play with.” Bass’s voice was oddly calm and yet held the savage, untamed note of his wolf.