They rode in the truck for a while in silence after that. Amaris heard Anna’s voice in her head. “Testing, Testing. Does this still work?” Amaris let out a small giggle. “Yes it still works.” she mind linked back. Marco made a brief look over at them. He seemed to be considering them for a minute and then said “Can you do that with anyone or just her?” Looking at Amaris briefly before looking back at the road. Amaris was dumbfounded. How did he know?“I am not sure. I’ve never tried it with anyone else.” “Try it with me now.” Marco said expectantly. Amaris did not know how to make it work with anyone else. It just happened with Anna. She closed her eyes and thought hard "Hello Marco" over and over. Suddenly he started laughing. "I can hear you." Came his reply back in her mind. "How long have you been able to do this?" Marco inquired curiously, out loud this time. "Since the incident at the firepit. It just sort of happened. I had no idea that I could talk to anyone else this
After making contact with a very freaked out Anna's dad, Amaris also contacted Anna's mother and now they were all in the loop. "I am not sure this whole mind linking instataneous communication with my parents thing will be working in my favor as a teenager." Anna laughed. Marco chuckled. "You will have to ask Amaris if there is a way that she can shut it off, like a cell phone. No calls after midnight." At that thought, Anna's face lit up. She mind linked Amaris. "He is right! we can not be told to get off the phone by 10pm any more. Or even have the whole 'we are taking your phone away' as a punishment! Oh I love this!! Too bad that you did not discover this sooner." Anna and Amaris laughed. She could see that Marco was mind linking someone from the look on his face. “What is the plan Marco? I can see that you have one.” Amaris asked. Marco raised an eyebrow at her. He did not say anything for a minute, and then looked over at her. “So Lyle says I need to start running everything t
Marco pulled out of the logging road and out back onto the highway. The girls were silent although their curiosity was burning at them. Anna looks to Marco, “Okay. I give. Who is in the bed of the truck, and why did that wolf have a backpack in his mouth?” Marco smiled at the girls. “Can’t you guess who it is? I bet Amaris can guess. I am sure you can feel him now that he is close.” Amaris’ head popped up and she thought about it for a minute. She could feel something. “It’s Lyle right?” Amaris said. Marco smiled and nodded. Amaris was not sure how she knew, but the thought of Lyle being closer, even though she could not see him, made her feel calmer and safer at the same time. She laid her head down on the seat with a small grin and a sigh. Anna looked at her and got a knowing smile. Anna said nothing but reached over and grabed hold of Amaris’ hand . “Sleep both of you. It’s going to be a long ride and then a long flight.” Marco said to both girls. Amaris closed her eyes and was soo
They all hopped into the truck with Marco in the bed under the cover and Lyle driving. Lyle maneuvered the truck onto the highway and Anna opened the window and let the wind blow through her hair. Amaris was in the middle next to Lyle. She felt awkward next to him. The pull to be near him and touch him was making her crazy. She was still not sure what to think about all this. She had no doubt that she was attracted to him. He was a good man. He clearly cared for her. How many men watched from the side lines for 4 years keeping you safe, and never said a word. She still felt bad for hurting him. She never meant to hurt him with her being unsure about how this whole mate thing works. He had to know that all this was a shock to her. The three of them all sat quiet lost in their own thoughts. They drove for another half hour before Anna fell asleep again. “How are you holding up?” Amaris jumped as she heard it directly in her mind and it startled her out of her own thoughts. Lyle looked o
The front door opened and out walked a bear of a man with a huge dark beard flecked with grey.. His cheeks were rosy. If his beard was grey he could have been a stand in for Santa Clause. He smiled at them warmly and greeted everyone. Upon seeing him closer, it was clear that this was a jolly man and seeing his sharp eyes, he was one who did not miss anything. He shook Lyle’s hand and kissed Anna and Amaris’ hand as they each went to shake his. He and Marco embraced like brothers and Horis left his arm around Marco as they all walked inside. Everyone else followed. The front room was a large open room with a cathedral ceiling. It was grand but comfortable and welcoming. There was a lofted second and third floor. The second floor railing continued to either side and into the greenhouses. The smell of earth and a sweet floral scent permeated the house.Horis led them in through the back of the living room around an enormous fireplace. They walked into the dining room which the double s
“NOOOOO!!!” There was a desperate pained scream from upstairs somewhere. Horis knew that she was gone. A huge crash was heard from the other side of the fireplace and Marco left the room to investigate, keeping low as he went. A few moments later he came in half carrying Horis. His arm was clearly broken. Marco grabbed the kitchen towels that were hanging on the front of the stove handle and then opened a drawer and pulled out two long handled wooden spoons. “This is going to hurt old friend.” Horis did not seem to hear him. His eyes were locked on the body of his mate laying on the floor. Lyle had taken off his sweatshirt and covered her face with it. As Marco moved back toward Horis there was another crash. The door to the microwave smashed as another bullet came through and hit it just over Marco’s head. The sound and explosion of glass seemed to bring Horis to his senses and he reached into his pocket. He pulled out the same remote that Amaris had seen him use before for the photo
“There are a whole line of men fanned out and heading this way. They are trying to cut us off from the vehicles in the driveway.” Lyle said looking concerned. Marco held out a set of keys and said “Horis has us covered. Thank you old friend." Marco says looking down in front of him. "Follow me.” He says and beings to move out toward the woods at a low crouch. Amaris and Anna both looked down to see that Horis had stopped breathing. He was gone. HIs eyes were staring far off to where his beloved Angel had gone. The girls bowed their heads to Horis and followed after Marco. Lyle took a moment to bend down and close Horis' eyes. "Sleep in peace. Be with your mate forever more." Lyle grabbed Horis' shoulder one more time in farewell and then sprinted low after the rest of the group. Marco led them out from the berm, keeping it out of the sight of the oncoming men. There was a stant of old growth wide pines that Marco was using as cover so the men that were heading towrd the berm wo
The four wolves headed toward the creek. They were now able to hear others moving in the woods. Whether they were wolf or man Amaris was not able to determine, but at least she could hear them now. Once they reached the creek, they turned and followed it toward the park area where Horis had told them that they would be able to find the camper to get away. They reached the edge of the park and decided to change back to their human forms so it would be easier to blend in. The girls changed back first and got dressed and then the guys. They all walked as a group up to the parking lot. One look told them that it was full of campers. A popular tourist destination, there were many people there that traveled by RV. “What do we do now?” Anna asked looking deflated. Marco pulled the keys out of his pocket and looked at them. He quickly took one of the keys off the key ring and handed it to Lyle. “We split up. Anna your with me and Amaris your with Lyle, that way none of us looks suspicious.