Page 31 of Running with Direwolves
Sienna pulled a bottle of water from her rucksack and took a few sips. She also munched on a cereal bar—that would have to do as dinner. It was getting dark. Soon the sun would touch the horizon and slip away.
She looked around, hands on hips, and blew out a breath. At least no one would find her here. She hoped Kochi would feel just as remote and safe. Oh, and a fire would be good too. She didn’t have as much fur as her companions.
Chapter Eight
The moon had risen like a giant pearl by the time they reached their destination. Stars had come out to join it and they looked as though salt crystals had been thrown into the air.
Tarl stopped. He was breathing hard, the last hour had been uphill and rough terrain.
Seeing rooftops and the curls of chimney smoke, Sienna slipped from him, landing on the hard ground.
Grady dropped the rucksack, looked at her, the village, and then shifted back to his human form within a matter of seconds. Tarl did the same. He too was breathing hard, and when he shifted his cheeks were red.
“Are you okay, Grady?” Sienna asked.
“Never better, didn’t think I’d see this place again.” He reached for his pants. “Didn’t think I’d see my pack again.”
“You better hope you haven’t been usurped,” Tarl said, also getting dressed quickly.
Grady let out a growling noise. “If Dresdon has done one thing to disrespect me I’ll…”
“You’ll put him in his place,” Tarl said, setting his hand on Grady’s shoulder. “And I’ll help you.”
Grady pulled in a deep breath, nodded, and then put on his boots, lacing them quickly.
“Stick with us,” Tarl said, linking his warm hand with Sienna’s cold one. “And don’t worry, snapping and snarling is usual.”
“Snapping and snarling?”
They walked the last hundred meters to Kochi and when they arrived saw that half a dozen people were sitting around a large fire in the center of the cabins.
“Grady! Tarl!” A young woman with long brown hair leapt to her feet and pointed. “I knew you were coming. I knew wehadn’t lost you. I could feel it.”
The rest of the group stood, there were gasps and whoops and then they were surrounded.
Everyone wanted to hug Tarl and slap Grady on the back. There were a hundred questions at once and lots of curious glances at Sienna.
A wave of shyness came over her. She was used to being in control and even the center of attention when giving lectures at the zoo, but this was different. This was stepping into a world she had no understanding of. She was the outsider.
But Tarl didn’t let go of her hand and when the noise of the chatter calmed, he led her toward the fire that had a huge pot of stew sitting over it.
Suddenly a huge guy, big black beard and shoulders as broad as a mountain, stomped down from one of the cabins. He was glaring at Grady as though he hated him.
“Oh, fuck,” Tarl muttered and steered Sienna to a log.
“Who is that?” she asked.
“Dresdon. Sit here, wait.” He nodded at the girl with the long brown hair, Billie. “Look after her, Billie.”
“Sure.” Billie squeezed closer to Sienna. “I can do that.”
But Sienna wasn’t taking much notice. The huge guy, Dresdon, had marched straight up to Grady with malignant intent in every pace.
Tarl was behind Grady in an instant, as were several other men and women.
Dresdon stood alone. He tipped his chin. “Huh, he’s back and you’re around him like puppies. Who has led you these last weeks?” He stabbed his thumb against his chest. “Me.”
“I’m grateful for you holding the fort,” Grady said, folding his arms. “But as you said, I am back now, and last time I looked I was alpha around here.”
