Page 113 of Not Your Ordinary Shifter

This was his chance. Luka’s heart pounded. His stomach churned with fear. Obviously, the turbulent emotions rollingthrough him could’ve been because of the man in front of him. More than a few scenarios played through his mind as he stood there. Most ended amicably. Those that didn’t, caused Luka to second guess himself. Still, even as anxiety snaked through his overwrought system, he needed help. Ilariy was out there somewhere, and he had to find him.

As if understanding the war raging within Luka, the man waited him out. He was patient and didn’t try to hurry him along. “Kalkin Raferty.” If there was one person Luka knew he could trust, it was the Alpha of Apache County. The man his parents stressed to him and Ilariy was the only kind and generous Alpha in the whole of the world. “I must speak with him at once.”

Day four had gone the same as the last three days. Nothing. No one saw the animal whistling at night. Nor, when he looked around their properties, did he find any clues. The wildlife center promised to get him an answer on the fur as quickly as possible, but like with DNA, sometimes it took longer than expected to find the right answer.

Still, he wouldn’t give up.

Trackers never lost hope.

As he stepped out ofYoJo’s,a smell he’d engrained on his senses more than once over the last few days assailed him. He drew the scent in, allowing it to consume him as he tracked whoever it belonged to. He stared toward the Mariposa cutoff, only a half-block down the sidewalk, hopeful he’d find his answer. It was a little after one when he exitedYoJo’sand town was busy. Since it was the off season for the tourists and such, the shifter community like to stretch their legs more. It wasn’tthat they were afraid of humans, they were, more or less, set in their ways.

Small children ran and played while mothers and fathers enjoyed the blissful afternoon. Pretty soon the temperatures would drop, and the cold would push everyone back in. Johnathan waved to a few people he knew along the way. Some he’d helped and others he’d known since childhood. That was the thing about Window Rock, everyone knew each other. So, if there was someone new, they’d stick out.

And there he was.

Johnathan quickened his pace, crossing the road. The odor he caught three days ago, sounding mountains, misting rain, mixed with the petrichor of low hanging clouds, he’d never forget it. The guy’s head was bent with his shoulders over his ears. Whoever he was, he tried hard to hide in plain sight. Slouched as he was, the man stood a good couple of inches taller than Johnathan. He had russet-colored hair and pale skin. Rangy, though in his prime, could rival any of the wolves in the pack. Even in his disheveled appearance, a current of strength fortified him.

Johnathan stepped in the shifter’s way, realizing rather quickly he’d never seen the guy in Window Rock before that moment. Could it have been that easy to find the animal who, whistled like a banshee, as one person said? No. Johnathan didn’t believe in serendipity. It could be he was just a new person who found Window Rock. It couldn’t have been the first time nor, Johnathan suspect, be the last.

Then he spoke.

The first words out of his mouth, was a request to speak with Kalkin.

What were the chances?

Probably a million to one.

“You want to see Kalkin Raferty?” The man’s Russian accent reminded him of those he’d met while trying to find Jochi’s parents. Finding other people who lived in that mountainous region of the country were rare, but shifters? Almost impossible. Humanity went where they could live in peace and never be found. Shifters hid deeper into the mountains, so they’d never be found, period.

“Da... I mean yes,” he said. “My name is Luka Novikov.” He lifted his chin, showing a fortitude Johnathan only wished he had some days. There was also pride there. He had a scraggly beard and a streak of white down the middle of his hair. His amber eyes spoke of untold trials and tribulations he’d been through on his journey to Window Rock. His scent also spun through Johnathan melding with his system while the hare within him rejoiced at the belief his mate had been found.

“I’m Johnathan,” he replied, pushing aside the rapturous feeling, deciding to concentrate on helping Luka first. “I can take you to see the Alpha.”

“So, he lives still?” The wonderment in Luka’s voice had a pang of emotion lodging in his chest.

“Very much so,” Johnathan replied. “Along with his family. You say you’ve only been here for a short while?”

The guy grunted nodding his head. “Asylum.”

“Well, welcome to Window Rock. If we’d known you were here, we’d have welcomed you better than this.” By his appearance, he looked like he didn’t have a dime to his name nor any food to speak of. After they talked to Kalkin, Johnathan decided they’d hit the diner to grab Luka some food. Fuck knows the last time he ate.

“Is it always so... Loud here?”

The question threw Johnathan for a second before he laughed. “Yes. This is mild compared to the summers. We’re out of tourist season now. For the rest of the year, into next Spring,all you’ll see is us. No one else. I have to admit, it takes some time to adjust to.”

“People are happy,” Luka added, glancing at those who filled the sidewalks and the roads. It’s been a long time since I’ve experienced this freedom.”

“For the most part. There are more shifters than humans here, which gives us freedom to be ourselves.” He shrugged. “Where are you from?”

A myriad of emotions played across Luka’s face before he said, “The Irkut River basin. Siberia.”

Johnathan whistled. “You’ve traveled a long way to get here.”

“Six months,” Luka said. “We left in May at the first thaw and traveled through many lands and through many conditions.”

Johnathan couldn’t fathom how grueling the trip had been for Luka. He paused though when his brain tripped over the fact Luka wasn’t alone. “We?”

“Da,” Luka answered. “My parents, and my little brother, Ilariy.”

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