Page 37 of The Wolf I Sworn To Hate

“Did that help?” Sawyer sounded amused.

“It made me feel better. I think I might end up losing my ever-loving mind if we don’t get off this damned mountain soon. I don’t know if they’ll ever get this road cleared.”

“Well, you could always run down the mountain in wolf form, carrying a pack with your clothes in it. Then, you rent a car and go home.”

Sean tilted his head to one side and flicked his ear. “That might be the best idea you’ve had.”

“I’ll just tell Elliot that you went out for a walk and slid off the mountain.”

“Why would you want to make him so happy? That’s better than any Christmas present you could ever give him.” Sean blinked against the bright sunlight. “I have no idea how he survives with such hate eating a hole inside of him.”

“Some people live off of hate. Eventually, though, it will destroy him.” Sawyer turned around. “Come on, let’s get back. I’m hungry.”

Lunch was delicious as usual. Sean was amazed that Franny was able to keep producing one delicious meal after another with a huge building full of people.

Sawyer looked out the window. “Do you want to go snowshoeing?”

“No, I’m going to take a nap. There is a sleeping bag in that room that has my name on it and I’m on my way.”

“You’re starting to sound like an old man. Old men take naps,” Sawyer teased.

Sean laughed. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.”

The room was cold but Sean was warm in the sleeping bag. He was pretty sure he could sleep for a week and still never feel rested again.

He was in a deep sleep when he felt someone shaking his arm. “Sean. Sean, please wake up.”

Sean opened one eye and saw Xyla’s worried face standing over him. “What’s wrong?”

“Edward is missing. I’ve looked everywhere in the resort and even went to our cabin. I can’t find him. No one has seen him since right after lunch.” The panic in Xyla’s voice was obvious.

He jumped out of the sleeping bag. “Okay. Don’t panic. I’m sure that we’ll find him.”

In spite of his reassurances to Xyla, his stomach twisted in a knot and his heart thundered in his chest. Edward was a good kid and wouldn’t just disappear without telling someone where he was.

Sawyer saw him putting on his coat and raised his eyebrows questioningly.

“Edward is missing. I’m going to help Xyla find him.”

Sawyer glanced at Xyla who had pulled on her coat, hat, gloves, scarf, and boots and was shifting anxiously from one foot to the other.

“Do you want me to come?”

“No. I’m sure that he wouldn’t have wandered away too far. The snow is deep and it’s pretty cold outside. I’m sure we’ll find him soon.”

Sawyer nodded. Sean looked over and saw Elliot standing in the doorway of the bedroom glaring at Sean and Xyla. Sean wondered whether he even knew that his son was missing. He wasn’t going to be the one to tell him. Elliot could figure it out on his own.

“Good luck and be careful. Let me know.”

Sean nodded. He could communicate long distances with Sawyer when needed.

They stopped at Sawyer’s truck and he grabbed his backpack that he carried for emergencies.

Luckily, the wind hadn’t blown a lot, so Edward’s prints were pretty easy to follow. They could see where he fell through some drifts a couple of times. Sean could smell the boy’s fear. He must have gotten confused and lost.

Xyla screamed out Edward’s name. The sound echoed against the mountain, and Sean hoped that she didn’t start another avalanche.

“We’ll find him.”

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