“Brother, don’t be an ass.”

  I snorted.

  “Too late, Your Highness, he missed that boat long ago.”

  Alex growled and, I couldn’t help it, I grinned.

  “Daddy!” Mari called out to him as she moved to where we sat. She sat on her father’s lap and hugged his neck. “Was I like this when I was her age?”

  “Like what, Princess?”

  “Full of energy. Never wanting to go inside?”

  “Most days, yes. I’d have to bribe you to leave the barn and come in to eat, sleep and take a bath. Once,” he got a far away look in his eyes as he continued, “I guess you were about three, then. You wanted to go with me into the woods. We were walking and you darted out of sight. You had been doing that the whole time. I could hear you playing, and when you came back to where I was you were covered head to toe in mud, and had sticks and leaves in your hair and the biggest grin on your face. You had been chasing a butterfly, or something. I fussed at you for getting so dirty. But the smile on your face made it all worth the mess I had to clean up.”

  “I don’t remember that.”

  “I do. It’s one of the many times you made my heart clench that your mother wasn’t here to see you and your antics.”

  “Aww, Daddy.”

  Mari hugged her father’s neck and he chuckled.

  “It’s good that you and Natalia have Pyper around. At most, she is around three, so there is much more to come as she grows up. She will teach you a lot about kids and their antics.” He chuckled.

  We turned to watch Talia shift into her panther and chase after Thor, who was chasing after Pyper. Something must have caught the little bear’s nose, cause she was making a beeline to the woods. I chuckled. They disappeared into the woods, and at first I didn’t worry. Joshua and his father, along with a few other wolves were out hunting up dinner, so maybe she caught his scent.

  The area around us had been quiet, nothing but the sounds of nature for miles, at least that was until I heard the bark of a dog, the snarl of a big cat and the cries of a baby bear.

  I stood and moved to follow where they had gone into the woods.

  Pyper darted back out of the woods, crying. Her little legs were pushing her towards us. Talia’s panther was running right after her. Thor, too, was running this way. He was whining and shaking his head.

  I moved faster to intercept the bear cub. I scooped her up and came to a stop. Shit! She had porcupine quills in her face, neck, shoulder and leg.

  Talia came to a stop and shifted. Her body was shaking as she came to where I stood. Her arms went out and she took the still crying bear cub.

  “SHERI!”

  “What happened?” Mari cried out as she ran over.

  “Porcupine,” Talia and I said at the same time.

  “She barreled right into it. Thor has some quills in his face. He went after the porcupine when Pyper screamed the first time. He was trying to protect her. Make sure you pull the entire quil from him so it doesn’t get infected.”

  “Oh dear. Come, get her into my tent. Lets get those out of her so she can shift back. We’ll need some hot water, Alexander. Please?”

  “I’ll get it. Brother, you help Demetrius get those quills out of Thor. They’ll make him sick if they stay in him for too long.”

  We all went our separate ways and I moved to Thor, who was sitting with Mari, whining.

  “He only has a few in him. Demetrius, you hold him. Mari, talk to him and I will pull them out. This is going to hurt him, so be ready for a fight.”

  I gave Alex a nod and moved to wrap my arms around the big dog. Mari’s worried gaze met mine.

  “Don’t ya worry, lass. He’s gonna be fine.” I gave her a wink and tightened my arms around Thor when Alex tugged the first quill loose. The poor pup yowled and snapped at Alex as he pulled at the quills. Mari’s tears made my heart clench.

  “Marissa.”

  She looked up to meet her father’s gaze.

  “You have to stay calm. If you don’t it will only agitate him more.”

  Mari nodded and moved to pet her puppy. He whined and kicked his feet as Alex continued to pull the quills from his muzzle.

  “It’s okay, buddy. It’s almost over,” Alex looked at Mari and continued, “when I’m done, you’ll need to take him to Sheri, wash his muzzle with warm water and soap. Make sure you dry it and let Sheri put some herbs on it.”

  “Yes, Daddy.”

  The last quill was pulled and I relaxed my grip as Mari loved on him.

  “Come o-”

  The scream from Sheri’s tent sent us all running. Blood curdling doesn’t even begin to describe the sound. Pyper was writhing on the table, her little body going from bear to toddler and back again. Mari rushed over and helped Talia hold her down.

  “Come on, sweet girl. I have to get them out. I’m so sorry, sweetie.”

  Sheri had tears in her eyes, as did both girls. I moved to hold her head. I closed my eyes and started to sing an old lullaby my mother had taught me as a child. Her little body was still shaking, but she seemed to be calming with both of the girls here.

  “Sheri…” Talia’s voice cracked.

  “Almost done. She pushed a few in further by shifting.”

  I kept singing, raising my voice slightly. I met her gaze. I stopped singing long enough to say, “we’ve got ya, beag amháin. It’s almost over.”

  I held her head as she shifted back to her bear. Sheri worked to pull the last couple of quills out of her face. The cry of her bear had us all dying inside. Even Thor, who was still not happy with any of us, had his paws up on the table, whining as he licked at her face.

  “That’s the last one, sweet girl. I just need to wipe your face and shoulder down. This is just warm water and soap, it might sting just a little, though.”

  Sheri hurried to wipe her down and added some ointment to the small holes that sprinkled her face, neck, shoulder and leg. Once the areas were bandaged I released her head. Talia lifted her up and wrapped a small blanket around her.

  “It’s okay, sweet baby, it’s over now,” Talia said to her softly as she moved to the door flap. She was met by her father. He looked the little one over, fretting over her.

  I got Mari’s attention and pulled her to me. I kissed her cheek.

  “Let’s get ya pup fixed up. Then we can go rest. You look tired, lass.”

  “I am. That scared me…”

  “I know, Acushla. It’s okay, now. Let’s get him cleaned up. Sheri, do you- Ah, yes, thank you,” I said as she was already holding out some ointment for me.

  I took the bowl of warm water and the bowl with the ointment from her. I sat them on the table and started to clean Thor’s muzzle and followed to wash off his shoulder. The hair on this dog was crazy and made it hard to see his wounds, but I got him cleaned up. The ointment seemed to soothe him as I rubbed it in.

  “Alright, ya big fur ball, you’re done. Down.”

  I waited until he was down and Mari had her arms wrapped around his neck. She was babying the big fluff ball. I shook my head and moved to empty the water bowl. I covered the ointment and sat it back in the small pouch it had been pulled from.

  “Do you need anything else?” Sheri popped her head back in the tent as she spoke. I shook my head.

  “No, thank you.”

  “I’m going to go check on Pyper and Talia. Mari, dear, if you need something to settle your tummy, there is a free pouch with some tea leaves. Steep it and add some lemon and honey to it.”

  “Thank you. I’d like that. I’m just…”

  “I understand. It will be fine, sweet girl. Don’t you worry none.”

  “Yes, ma’am, thank you.”

  I moved to grab the pouch Sheri had mentioned. I pulled a little of the mixture out and wrapped it in a clean baggie I found in the same basket.

  I’d hit the food tent and get the honey and lemon on our way in. I moved back to where Mari was standing and took her hand. We walked out and I started her toward the tent we had been sharing. Poor Thor looked drugged, Mari was dragging and the entire camp was somber. Having to hear not only the poor little cub but the puppy cry and whine in pain from what happened, well, it sucked.

  Tomorrow would be a better day and we would have to help keep Pyper and Thor from meeting any other new “friends” while we were here.

  It could have been a lot worse, though. It could have been something bigger and a helluva lot meaner. Something more dangerous.

  13

  Marissa

  The trail we were walking along was beautiful. Talia and I were walking with Thor, allowing Pyper to run some of her pent up energy off. Since their run-in with the porcupine a week ago, neither of them has gotten too far from our sight. Which, I was grateful for, and I know Talia was too.

  “Loooook! Loooook!” Pyper squealed as she started to bounce on her toes. We made it to the hilltop where she was and looked down. There was a beautiful stream, sparkling blue churning water flowing down the small hill it ran along.

  “You want to go play in the water?” Talia asked her and I laughed. It was obvious she did.

  “Pweeeease!!!”

  Talia laughed and took Pyper’s hand. We made our way down the sloped landscape and worked our way to it. Pyper was all grins as we stopped at the edge of the stream. She hurried to push off her shoes and before Talia could get her clothes off she was shifting. Sometimes her clothes survived… others the only thing left was strips of cloth that were good for nothing other than rags.

  Her little roar before she charged the water had us laughing again.

  Talia and I moved to sit on a rock and watched as the little bear sloshed around. It was good to see her being herself. Thor joined in the fun, barking, running through the water and was all too happy about joining Pyper in chasing fish. Or anything in the water. It was a nice change of pace to be able to relax and just watch them play. We didn’t have to look over our shoulders. Didn’t have to worry about someone sneaking up on us.

  “Have you talked to Sheri about the baby, yet?” Talia’s words had me looking over at her. I nodded my head.

  “She said everything seemed to be going fine. I'm still surprised… it wasn’t planned.”

  “Me, too. I didn’t think about it when Joshua and I… ya know.”

  Her face flushed and I grinned.

  “Yeah, same here. I know things happen for a reason, though.”

  “At least my father hasn’t tried to beat Joshua up…”

  We both laugh at that. It was funny now, even though it wasn’t too funny then. I was pissed and, in reality, it took days to get over that. My nose wrinkled up.

  “Daddy and Dem have a... special kind of relationship.” I snorted. “They love to hate on each other. It’s just how they are.”

  “I guess that makes sense. You know our fathers are overprotective. Mine was gone for most of my life.”

  I look over at Talia and reach out to take her hand. I give it a light squeeze. It takes her a minute to get herself under control and she once again meets my gaze.

  “I understand now why he did what he did. I do believe he could have gone about it a different way but, nonetheless, I understand it. It’s not always easy to be responsible for someone else. I think we’ve learned that over the last few weeks.”

  We both bring our gaze to Pyper who is still rolling around and running through the stream. The delight in her eyes has me smiling. Every child should have it like this. No pain, no heartache, just fun and more love than they can handle.

  “Daddy was gone a lot. Now I see why. I always thought that he was just gone, not wanting to be with me. Sorena would tell me stories of grand adventures. Tales she had been told as a child. It always amazed me how someone could live a grandiose life like that. But after the last couple of months… I think it would be easy for me to believe that unicorns can ride bicycles while juggling bowling balls.”

  Talia’s peal of laughter has me laughing, too. We both collapse into each other and let it all out. It was Thor’s barking that pulls us from our musings. I catch sight of a little bear scurrying up a tree. Thor wasn’t looking at where Pyper had disappeared to though. He had moved closer to the tree she climbed and was snarling at the treeline.

  “What now?” Talia growled as she slid from the rocks.

  I followed after her and moved to rest my hand on Thor’s neck. My fingers curled into his collar, just in case. I couldn’t afford for him to have another run-in with another wild creature of Alaska.

  I could see Talia’s eyes had shifted, I knew mine had as well. The burning and the surge of heat filling me let me know whatever it was that was different about me was now in charge. I scented the air and growled.

  Talia also growled before she turned to me. “Shifters. At least three of them. They smell… different.”

  “Different how?”

  “Magic users…”

  Talia’s words trailed off as she shifted. I was a little wide-eyed but recovered quickly. Three men. Three very large, furry faced, pissed off looking men. A growl rumbled from Talia and I reached my free hand out and curled my fingers into her scruff.

  “Who are you and why are you on our lands?” One of the men asked. I raised a brow, my head tilting to the side.

  Again Talia released a growl, a warning to the newcomers not to come any closer. Thor was growling from the other side of me. I tightened my fingers around both of their scruffs and shook my head.

  “I could ask you the same. Who the hell are you? This is public land. There are no signs.”

  One of the other men, the one that was a tad smaller than the others, growled as he moved a step closer. I felt my powers flare, reacting to the perceived danger approaching. There was a rustling from above and I looked up just enough to see Pyper hugging a tree limb. She’d shifted back to a half dressed little girl.

  “Mawi, Taya!”

  “Stay where you are, pretty girl. Talia is okay. It’s all okay.”

  I kept my words calm as I looked back at the men. I watched as the three of them looked up and spotted Pyper in the tree. Then - as one - they moved closer. I let some of my power out and, the moment the ground rumbled under their feet, they stopped.

  “I’d appreciate it if you stayed there. We are not bothering you. Simply letting the little one play in the stream with my dog.”

  “You’re tres-”

  “Taya! I...I…” Pyper’s words cut off and I had a flashback from the last time she had been stuck in a tree.

  “Talia, can you shift back, please. Pyper is slipping. You need to catch her.”

  Before the words were out of my mouth Talia shifted and moved to stand under a tree. Luckily, Pyper wasn’t up that far. There was a short squeal from her and then a quiet grunt as Talia caught her.

  “You okay, sweet girl?” Talia fussed over her and Pyper nodded before she wrapped herself around Talia’s neck. Talia stood a step behind me, but I could see her eyes were blazing bright blue.

  “Their eyes..” the man that hadn’t spoken yet said. He looked between the two of us and then to Pyper. Her little eyes were gold. Her bear was close to the surface.

  “I sent a little SOS to Joshua,” Talia said in a whisper.

  I smirked. It paid to have a mental bond with your mate sometimes.

  “Now, boys, care to tell us who, and or what, you are? I’m really getting tired of people getting all up in my space. You know, I’m tired of it all. I don't get why everyone can’t just leave us the hell ALONE and let us BE.”

  “Mari, easy,” Talia said when the ground rumbled. I rolled my neck and put my free hand on my hip.

  “Well?” I snarled.

  The three men looked from us to the woods then back to us again. I was about to say something else when I heard our people coming in fast. Six wolves sprang from the trees, snarls leaving their muzzles. Daddy and Uncle Trenton were close on their heels.

  “What say you?!” Uncle Trenton barked. He moved to stand before us, his hands curled into fists. Daddy was at his side and no better. The three men took one good look at them and as one they dropped to their knees.

  “Your Highness, forgive us. We mean them no harm. We were simply here to see who had disturbed the barrier of our lands.”

  They did not raise their heads, nor did they move to stand. Uncle Trenton turned to us.

  “What happened?”

  “We were out walking. Pyper wanted to play in the stream, so we let her. She was having fun with Thor then, when she got a whiff of them,” I said, my chin tilting towards the men, “she tree’d herself. She got worked up and fell out of the tree… but that’s not important, cause she’s okay.”

  I kept my explanation short and to the point. I saw both Daddy and Uncle Trenton take a look around. They were scenting the air. Daddy’s brow creased. Uh, I knew that look. I took a step back with Thor.

  “I’ll ask this just once. Who, and what are you? Why are you confronting my daughter and niece?”

  “Your daughter?”

  One of the men stood, his gaze going from me to Talia. He gave her a hard look. Then his gaze landed on Pyper. His eyes went shifter gold. I saw Uncle Trenton take a step forward and to the side. His movement blocked the girls from the strangers sight. His next words had me and Talia grinning.

  “If you wish to keep your eyes in your head you will keep them off my daughter and granddaughter.”

  “Thems smells funny,” Pyper’s little nose wrinkled. I snorted as Talia shushed her.

  “Yes, my sweet girl, they do.”

  Uncle Trenton’s voice took on an edge and I saw Daddy move a few steps closer to him. Things were about to get really bad. I could feel it.

  “Daddy,” Talia’s voice rolled across the small area between us. I looked to her and watched as she shifted Pyper to the ground. She whispered something to her and Pyper moved to crawl on Thor’s back.

  I gave Thor the command to protect. His lips pulled back, revealing sharp teeth and a growl rumbled from him.

  “Talia?”

  “Something's coming.” I gave her a look and then opened my hands. My power was ready if I needed it.

 

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