Page 47 of Storm Echo

But Soleil needed to know the truth without question—so he would help her find out. With that in mind, he got them back on the road toward leopard territory—but he pulled off onto a dirt track before reaching the official start of the highly secure zone. After driving for about ten minutes, he brought the car to a stop in the shadow of multiple forest giants.

This area was just far enough out from the pack’s core Yosemite territory that it wasn’t as heavily patrolled. He’d spotted a number of sensors, but two individuals shouldn’t set off any alerts. It could easily be members of the pack out for a stroll. Because, as far as he could tell, there were no cameras.

It made sense given the precautions that kicked in beyond this point.

Stepping out into the soft dark of a night lit only by a half moon, he led Soleil along the path he’d already mapped out in his head. They walked in silence until he said, “Will you tell me why Monroe refused to claim you?” If the alpha hadn’t already been dead, Ivan would’ve done the task.

That’s what healers are built for. For family. For pack.

The devastation in her voice was not a thing Ivan would ever forgive. And Monroe had sentenced her to that agonizing aloneness with the full knowledge of what he was doing.

“I failed to protect the pack,” Soleil said flatly. “Monroe told me so when we met in the midst of the massacre, both of us covered in blood and close to exhaustion. He screamed at me that I’d failed, that I was pathetic, that I had no right to call myself a packmate.”

“Healers heal. It’s an alpha’s job to ensure that the pack is protected.” Ivan’s voice was a stone honed to a killing blade. “I know a bear alpha. He would’ve eaten your alpha alive for speaking such an ugly and dishonorable lie.”

She swallowed hard. “Monroe’s mate and child died in the massacre. I couldn’t do anything to help them.” Their blood had flowed like water, drenching the soil to a viscous darkness. “I think he must’ve gone a little mad from the loss.”

“A healer’s heart is a too-kind thing at times, Lei.” He lifted a finger to his lips on the last word and she realized they’d reached the boundary from where they’d have to move in absolute silence.

“Be sneaky like a cat,” Ivan murmured.

She stared at him. That hadn’t sounded like a Psy thing to say. But she’d ask him about that later. For now … she’d be sneaky like a cat.

Chapter 24

Loving

Extraordinary

Ocelots(*Teacher’s note: interesting choice, K. Tell me why it fits.)

Playful

Aleine!

Roaming

DarkRiver

Stealthy

—Completed school word challenge on subject of the student’s choice by Keenan Aleine (age 7.5)

SOLEIL’S OCELOT ROSE to the surface of her mind, taking over her movements. Her feet were light on the fallen leaf debris, her body sliding through the forest with the comfort of a creature at home. Because though this wasn’t her territory, it felt more hers than any city ever would.

Beside her, Ivan was a ghost. If she hadn’t known he walked right beside her, she’d have doubted he was even there, the cloak of stealth he’d wrapped around himself impenetrable.

It annoyed her. She wanted to poke at him to get a response, barely restrained the very catlike urge.

Ivan held up a hand, the movement sharp.

She curled fingers into her palms, her heart squeezing, an image of the cubs in her mind.Please, please be alive.

That was when she caught a faint scent on the air currents. The hairs on her nape bristled, ice in her veins. Touching Ivan’s arm to catch his attention, she mouthedleopard. The half moon lit up the night enough that he saw her.

A quick nod, after which he tested the direction of the wind, and indicated that the two of them should stand exactly where they were, in the shadow of a tree with enormous roots so tangled it was a piece of art. She did so in silence, her ears pricked for any hint of sound, of a presence … but her pulse still kicked like a horse at the gleam of black on gold that passed in the distance.

Biting down hard on her lower lip, she tried to control the beating of her heart, though she knew even the leopard’s sharp hearing wouldn’t be able to discern that from such a distance. Far more likely that he’d catch her scent, but the leopard moved on, unaware of the two watchers who stood frozen in the night.

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