Chapter 28
Chapter 28
Bo
It was fucking cold. I didn't have too long to go to get to the barrier and where the land of summery
warmth awaited me, but I hated being out in this weather for even an instant.
OH well, at least Javier's ass was suffering. That alone brought a smile to my lips. If I couldn't be nice
and warm and in bed with my Luna and Prime, I could at least warm myself by the thought of my fellow
mate suffering through this fucking cold.
Maybe Zale would get off his ass and put his power to use and end this stupid weather. I was sick and
tired of having my damn nose froze off every time I poked my face outside. With Amanda in position
and Zale's power completely unlocked once we took care of the issue up north we could have a real
summer again. Besides who wanted to raise cubs in this?
I held myself tight to fight the chill and strode forward through the high snow drifts. Fucking Javier. If it
wasn't for him I would have slept in today. I didn't even want to go investigate Amanda's hellhole she
came out of. Besides, why should we care? She was ours.
I shuddered, and glanced around. How far had Javier made it away anyway? The storm screamed
around us and my visibility was cut off. I saw the tracks where he had slogged his own path through the Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.
high snow, but I couldn't catch sight of him at all.
Unease pricked at me. Damn it. I hated that I worried about the idiot. It wasn't just because he was a
great fuck top or bottom. I would never ever fucking admit this to anyone even on my death bed, but I
cared for the lug. I did carry his bite mark after all, on my hip of all places. I just didn't advertise my
softness.
Whatever. He knew how to take care of himself. Even if he had to fight a nest of demons, they would
be the ones I'd end up feeling sorry for. Nothing could stop Javier when he was on a mission.
I glanced back over my shoulder. My place was already half-way out of my vision. Going back now was
out of the question. I needed to continue marching forward.
Groaning, I stared straight ahead and kept striding through the snow. It clung to everything. My hair, my
eyelashes, my teeth, and I was pretty sure some had got stuck to my ass by the point I finally made it
to the fucking border.
I glanced up at one of the bored guards. He stayed safe in his warm little hut. "Hey," I called up to him,
hitting the wooden frame he was attached to. The damn thing didn't even budge. "Open it up!"
A blue-haired mongrel glanced over the edge at me. His scarred face betrayed his many experiences
with battles past, and one of the reasons he was chosen for guard duty. "What are you pulling, Bo?
Why are you going South?"
I blew out a breath. Just let me get out of this crystal prison and into the warmth already. I could literally
see the sunshine on the other side of this barrier, taunting me. "I've got orders. I'm inspecting our
Luna's previous pack. Whoever the fucker was in charge of it is going to be dragged in front of Zale.
They let her get abused."
Marx sucked his lips against his teeth and whistled. "Hate to be them," he agreed. He rummaged in his
hut and pulled out the small magical orb he was in charge of. "Get ready, it'll only be down for a few
seconds. You got a plan for letting me know when you're back?"
"I'll be here again in exactly forty-eight hours. Pull it open then to let me through." I shook the excess
snow off my body and swayed back and forth, eyes locked on the glassy-like barrier.
"Good luck!" Marx called before he grunted and the orb lit up as he sucked its power out of it, letting it
siphon through his body.
The barrier in front of me vanished like giant panels disappearing and the snowstorm usually trapped
inside roared as it flooded out of the exit. I didn't waste time. Marx couldn't hold the power back for
long, and I had no desire to see what would happen to me if I got caught in-between. I squeezed
through and rolled to the other side.
The snow roared for a couple more seconds before shutting off and instead the blessed sun warmed
me. I grinned, turning my face in the direction it came from and stretched. God, maybe I had time to
laze out and soak this up for a few hours. I did have a full forty-eight hours before I could get back into
the place and it wasn't like anyone was going to catch me around here.
I glanced around until I found a likely tree with just the right amount of sun exposure. WhenI got to its
base I frowned, sniffing at the wood there. The iron tang of blood seeped into the soil all around it.
Damn it.
Sighing, I turned away from the promising spot. Ares would rat me out if I waited too long. Fine, I'd go
investigate first, then I'd rest with all the time I had left over. It's not like it was going to take that long to
scope out this pathetic pack.
I strode farther south and the iron scent only intensified. Birds were scattered on the ground, wings
broken, chirping and hopping and dying.
I paused. What the fuck?
I continued forward, using more stealth this time. But the farther I got into the territory, the more signs
of a deranged mind were revealed. Far too many animals both prey and predator were ripped apart like
some child was having a giant tantrum and tossed their toys around. The scent of death was
everywhere.
A thin gray wolf had it's back to me, it panted heavily, staring blearily at something in the distance.
It turned when it heard me approach but instead of growling or attacking it swayed on its feet. "Thank
Goddess," she mumbled, falling to my feet. "Please, kill me. I can't go back."