Page 56 of My Boyfriend Marks Trees

Ares whipped his head around sharply. “Where?”

“Dunno. We was just following this trail when he waved us off and told us to stop anyone that came through.”

“How far ahead is he?” Couldn’t be that far since they’d not been long at the farm.

“I don’t know. I’m cold.” The guy shivered, but Ares honestly didn’t care.

Derek, however, had some words for him. “So, here’s the deal. You made a very poor life choice in following this Barry fucker, but that doesn’t mean you can’t turn your life around. You’re going to get on that sled and leave. And by leave, I mean fuck off to wherever you came from because if I ever see you poking your nose in this area again, I will feed you to my woodchipper and fertilize our garden with your shredded remains. Do I make myself clear?”

“How am I supposed to ride? My legs don’t work,” chattered the man.

“Not my problem. You chose this.”

Ares pursed his lips. “Are you sure we shouldn’t just save ourselves the trouble and kill him now?”

“He’s young enough that if he survives, he can still repent and mend his ways.”

“He’d better…” Ares growled.

They didn’t wait to see if the guy managed to get going. They hopped their sleds and sped away, racing almost blindly on the trail they’d forged, the visibility getting worse and worse as the next storm rolled in early.

By the time they hit the marker indicating they’d reached the outskirts of the farm, snowflakes came down thick and fast.

They didn’t slow down and soon, despite the storm, could see the glowing lights of the house… and a few snowmobiles parked out front.

Ares no sooner cut his engine than Charlotte, along with Grams and Gramps, were on the porch, the latter holding guns.

Charlotte looked frantic.

She wasn’t the only one.

“Where’s Athena?” Derek hollered as he tore off his helmet.

“She went after the thugs that tried to kidnap Greta,” Grams announced with a scowl.

“She did what? Is she insane?” Derek yelled.

“We told her to wait for you boys, but given the little one took off with those assholes hot on her tail, Athena decided to follow in her wolf form. Good thing she was agitated enough to shift.”

“Wait a second. Are you saying Greta’s out there in this storm?” Ares couldn’t help his shock—and fear. The woods could be dangerous in fair conditions, but in this type of weather, and with parts of the forest booby-trapped, it could turn deadly, especially for a small child.

“I wanted to follow, but Athena told me to stay back.” Charlotte’s voice cracked. “Said she was better equipped to find her.”

“I’m going after them.” Ares tossed his helmet to the snowmobile seat.

“Before you go haring off too, there’s something you need to know.” Charlotte swallowed hard before whispering, “Greta turned into a wolf.”

“What?” Ares said dumbly, but then reality hit. If Barry was a lycanthrope, then it made sense Greta would be too.

Charlotte wrung her hands. “I never believed she was one until today. When Barry tried to hurt me, Greta changed. I told her to run, but he went after her.” Her lips quavered as she whispered, “You have to find her. She’s so tiny. Just a baby still.”

“I’ll bring her back.”

We will find her and destroy those that would harm the pup.

“They don’t have much of a head start,” Grams stated. “It’s been less than ten minutes since the little one bolted.”

An eternity in a storm that rapidly erased tracks and scents.

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