It’s been a tough road writing-wise lately. Just before my mom had her stroke I was excited and ready to finish Gina’s Wolf. You know what they say about the best laid plans, right? Sigh. I’ve spent hours in front of my computer but the words just won’t come. I know what comes next, I know what happens in the next chapter, but the words just aren’t’ there.

I still don’t have the excitement back, but I am writing a little. Part of this is due to my writing group, The Word Weavers of Fargo-Moorhead are a great bunch of ladies. I love the support they’ve given me. The result is a new snip from Gina’s Wolf tonight. I will continue to write this story. I WILL get it done! 🙂

Before that, I wanted to let you all know that I will be doing a swag bag and book giveaway of all the great stuff I got at Lori Foster’s RAGT earlier this month. Look for a newsletter in a few weeks with the entry form.

And now, here is the teaser. It’s been so long you might need to go back and review a few posts to catch up.

Gunfire was sporadic, and not close to them. The wolves wouldn’t use guns, so the gunfire must be from Kansas-Missouri. When the Omaha City Guard opened fire, it would be a lot louder. Cole scanned the immediate area. Where was his mate? The large eating tent was nearby, but she wasn’t there. Dawn would be breaking soon, and the army cooks must have been at work already, but there was no movement around the tent. In fact, the only other person in sight was the guard, and he was dead.

“Gina,” Cole said authoritatively. “I have to find her. I scented her a little while ago, and she was bleeding.”

“I smelled that, too.” Howl faced north east. “The scent went in this direction.”

“Let’s go,” Rock said.

Profound gratitude filled Cole. He loved his cousins. They might have wanted to join in the fight, but they put the lure of personal battle glory aside to ensure the safety of his mate. They had gone only a few yards when another gunshot, from very near, cracked through the air.

“Gina!” Cole burst into a run.

His brother and cousins followed. Even though impending dawn lightened the darkness in the camp and his wolf’s eyesight was sharp, he didn’t see the soldiers running toward them or Rock and Red Feather peeling off to intercept them. Cole’s attention was wholly focused the large tent he was sure his mate was in. He caught her scent now, though barely discernable through the stench of blood.

He tore open the door flap and pushed into the tent. Wolf’s Howl and Gray followed him in. The canvas hangings dividing the tent into rooms confused him for only a second. He shoved them aside, shouting his mate’s name.

He followed the scent of her blood to an inner room. Horror froze his rage for a moment. He only vaguely saw the body of President Todd lying prone at his feet and a battered woman sprawled farther way with blood seeping from her mouth and nose. Another man was slumped close by her. Only a yard away, a short, stoutly built man was on his knees, trying to bludgeon Gina with a pistol. He was hampered by a knife sticking out of his back. Gina lay slack on the canvas floor, unmoving.

His horror was swallowed by red hot rage. Cole lunged toward the man, grabbed the hilt of the knife, and jerked it up through flesh and bone. “Finish him,” he snapped at Gray, who was right behind him, and fell to his knees beside his mate.

“Gina,” he breathed, gathering her to his chest. He leaned close, hoping to feel her breath sigh over his cheek. He waited, heartbeat suspended for a long, agonizing moment, until he felt her chest expand and contract. She was alive. He eased his grip on her and leaned away to examine her. Dried blood was crusted at her swollen lip. That wasn’t as fresh as the blood streaming from the split in the skin at her hairline. Whatever had struck her had left a curved print in her forehead. He touched feather-light fingertips to the bump, trying to determine how bad it was. Fresh rage flooded him. He would make the one who had done this to her pay.

He snapped his head around to see what had happened to the man who had been attacking Gina and grunted in satisfaction. The coward was dead. Gray Shirt held the pistol, staring at the bloodied butt with a disgusted look on his face.

“Is your mate okay?” he asked.

“I don’t know.” He turned back to Gina. “Gina? Wake up, Gina.”

Wolf’s Howl called, “This lady is still alive, but I think she’s badly hurt.”

Cole didn’t care about the other woman. She was probably one of Todd’s wives. Gina was the only woman who mattered to him right now.

Gray checked the pistol and thrust it into the back of his jeans. “I’ll go get help.”

“Did Uncle Jumping Stag come?” Cole demanded. The Clan healer and holy man would be able to help Gina.

Gray shook his head. “But Dancing Wolf did. I’ll find him and bring him here.”

Blood continued to run down his mate’s still face. “Get me something to use as a bandage first.”

Eagle came in. He looked around the room with a grim expression while Gray handed Cole a napkin. “Don’t bring Dancer here,” Eagle said. “These tent walls won’t stop bullets. The Omaha Guard has arrived. Hear the gunfire? It will be headed this way I bet. We need to get the ladies somewhere safe.”

Gray nodded. “I’ll scout ahead and find the safest route out of this place.”

“Red Feather is just outside the tent,” Eagle said. “He’ll let us know if any of the enemy comes close.”

After Gray left, Eagle looked down at the three dead men. Cole thought he would ask about them, but he turned sympathetic eyes to Gina. “Is your mate okay?”

Cole lifted one shoulder in a helpless shrug. Gina’s head rested in the crook of one of his arms, her face still slack. He lifted the napkin away from her forehead. Blood still welled, but more sluggishly. “She won’t wake up.”

“The lady is awake,” called Wolf’s Howl.

Cole glanced over and saw the other woman sitting up with her head in her hands. “Gina?” she said, raising her bruised face to look around the tent. “Where is…” Her gaze hesitated briefly as it swept over the dead men and landed on Gina. “Gina!” she said again, struggling to get free of Wolf’s Howl’s gentle grasp. “Young man,” she said severely, “put some clothes on immediately.”

“Be careful,” Wolf’s Howl told her anxiously. “You’re hurt.”

Cole cut through his brother’s words. “Who are you?”

“Gina is my daughter.”

This was his mate’s mother? He couldn’t see any family resemblance, but maybe without the broken nose, swollen mouth and bruised cheeks and chin, she would look like her beautiful daughter. Pity for her injuries battled with his dislike of the woman who had put her second husband over her daughter’s wellbeing over and over.

A feeble movement against his arm and a tiny breath of a voice electrified him. “Mom? Are you alright?”

If any of you follow me on Facebook you will know that my mom had a stroke on Thursday May 2. It was a massive, horrible stroke with a massive, horrible brain bleed. The neurologist in the ER told us Mom would never wake up. But she did. On the third day in ICU they took her off the sedative. She came out of it enough to respond to shouted commands. Then they removed the breathing tube and she was able to breathe on her own and could talk a little. She recognized us and smiled her beautiful smile.

But after several hours of breathing on her own she began to struggle. The doctor recommended sending to her Palliative Care. That move, on Day 5, really wore her out. She was still smiling but it hurt to listen to her try to breathe. On Day 7 she was moved to a nursing home. My brother Steve and I were with her almost every hour. On Day 11 she passed away while neither of us were with her.

She was a stubborn Norwegian/German American. She did not die until all her children and grandchildren could travel to see her while she was able to talk. Her funeral was on Saturday. It was simple and quiet.

I find myself staring numbly into space for long minutes without even realizing time has passed. I’m afraid I have done no writing during the past few weeks, so there is no teaser for you. I hope to get back into a regular writing schedule this week. I am off to Lori Foster’s RAGT in a couple of weeks and that will cut into the writing too. So Gina’s Wolf will be delayed. I am so sorry. But I will keep you posted on the progress.

Tomorrow is May!! Ah, sunny skies and warm days are ahead. Of course, North Dakota had to have just one more winter storm. Snow, high winds, no travel advised. You know, the regular. Sigh. But Fargo was okay. We were cold, and had some heavy rain and wind, but no snow. We might get up to 62 on Friday. And some sun on Sunday. That will be nice.

I will be spending some time this weekend searching for good images for the cover. I found two different models that could work for Cole. I think if I can have only one person on the cover, then I prefer it to be the hero. What do you think?

The writing progresses on Gina’s Wolf. This is a shorter snip again (not as short as last week) but I’m cutting you off here because the next scene is too long and I don’t want to cut if off in a bad place. Also, I think it will have some major re-writes to heighten the tension and be more immediate.

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Cole wasn’t sure how long he lay silently raging over his helplessness before he noticed a new scent. Distant but getting nearer and clearer each second. The Pack had arrived. Cole refused to be found by his kin as a beaten victim. He shook his hands out and slid them again between his neck and the collar. As he did so, the chain clanked. He shot a glance at it and followed the links to the heavy bolt that fastened the chain to the metal floor only a foot from his head.

His breath caught and he mentally slapped himself What an idiot! Why hadn’t he tried to pull that free? Sure, when he’d tried it yesterday, he’d been too weak, but he was stronger now. He shot a quick glance at the guard, but it was too dark for a human to see what he was doing. Shifting so he was kneeling over the bolt, he grasped the chain above the bolt, braced himself, and pulled. It was awkward. The chain only allowed him to raise his head twelve inches over the floor, which didn’t give him enough room to get a good grip. Panting, he lay back down on his side.

As he quietly panted, a gunshot rang out close by. Icy fingers grabbed his heart and squeezed. Gina had gone in that direction. He had to get to her.

 Safe with the guard’s attention drawn away by the gunshot, he rolled on his back and pulled on the chair as hard as he could. Still awkward, and the angle was bad, but he heard the metal screech. Stopping immediately, he lifted his head to look at the guard. Just as the man’s head turned from Wolf’s Howl’s cage to his, a horn in the camp gave three blasts. The guard leaped up from his chair, looking wildly around.

Run away, Cole silently urged the man. Go, find out what is happening so I can get free and find my mate.

Gunfire sounded from the western side of camp. The guard took a couple of long steps toward it, then paused, gripping his rifle more tightly. Men yelled, others screamed, but they were distant. The guard slowly backed up to his chair. He cut a glance at Wolf’s Howl’s cage, and then to Cole’s. Cole lay quietly on his side, doing his best imitation of an exhausted, beaten man. Every line of the man’s body shouted that he wanted to go find out what was happening, but he couldn’t leave his post.

A few yards behind the guard, a pair of eyes glinted in the dark. Cole’s lips curved in a vicious grin. He was sure the guard wouldn’t get a chance to decide whether or not to abandon his post.

He was right. The wolf skulked in the dark, waiting until the guard half-turned toward him, then leaped and tore out the guard’s throat.

“Rock!” called Wolf’s Howl.

More wolves trotted out. Cole recognized his cousins Eagle and Gray Shirt head in his direction while Rock and Red Feather went to Wolf’s Howl.

Cole finally managed to tear the chain free of the bolt. For the first time in more than twenty-four hours, he rose to his feet and stood straight. Dizziness made him sway. Eagle, as big and strong as his dad, Shadow, shifted to human and forced the bars of the cage open.

“You okay, Cole?” he asked.

Cole took a step toward the opening and the weight of the chain nearly pitched him out head first. Gray caught him. “Easy, cousin.” Horror, only half hidden, widened his eyes as he looked Cole over. “What did they do to you?”

Cole brushed that aside. “I have to find my mate,” he said urgently. He tried to jerk the chain free from the heavy collar around his neck. “Help me with this.”

Even Eagle couldn’t force the collar open, but he and Gray managed to break a link near the collar. Three links remained connected to the collar, but he ignored those.  Wolf’s Howl ran over, followed by Red Feather and Rock.

“What’s going on?” Howl asked eagerly. “Where’s everyone?”

“My dad is leading an attack from the south,” Eagle said. “Your dad is attacking from the west. Mayor McGrath and his City Guard are right behind them. They must not have attacked yet. There’s not enough gunfire for that.”

Gunfire was sporadic, and not close to them. The wolves wouldn’t use funs, so the gunfire must be from Kansas-Missouri. When the Omaha guard opened fire, it would be a lot louder. Cole scanned the immediate area. The large eating tent was nearby. Dawn would be breaking in about a half hour, and the army cooks must have been at work already, but there was no movement around the tent. In fact, the only other being in sight was the guard’s body.

“Gina,” he said authoritatively. “I have to find her. I scented her a little while ago, and she was bleeding.”

“I smelled that, too.” Howl faced north east. “The scent went in this direction.”

“Let’s go,” Rock said.

Profound gratitude filled Cole. He loved his cousins. They might have wanted to join in the fight, but they put the lure of personal battle glory aside to ensure the safety of his mate. They had gone only a few yards when another gunshot, from very near, cracked through the air.

“Gina!” Cole burst into a wobbly run.

Did you know that I name characters after people I know? When I wrote Sleeping With the Wolf it was sort of a gag gift for a couple of gals at work. I had no intention of getting it published. So Carla and Lisa are based on co-workers. So are Marissa and Faron Paulson, Ray Madison, Mel Dirk, Connie Mondale, and Jon and Tanner Allersen. I often change their names slightly but keep their general appearance. I jokingly tell new hires that they may end up as a character in my book. A couple of weeks ago, I asked my co-worker Jon how he’d like to die. I gave him a choice between being shot and being knifed. He chose, very tongue-in-cheek, to die by knife.

So I am sad to report that my friend and co worker Ray Mason passed away recently. His name was Martin Raymond Mason so he has two characters named for him. He died far too young. I dedicated the paperback version of Victoria’s Cat to his memory. He will be missed.

Even though I didn’t work any overtime last week, I was busy and didn’t do much writing. I didn’t even get a chance to write at Word Weavers last night. I was locked out of my laptop, and another gal’s keyboard died, so we decided to call it a night after critiquing a chapter from Tina Holland. So I have only a teensy teaser for you tonight. Sorry!

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Chapter Fourteen

The chain attached to his neck clanked when Cole lifted his head to catch the faint whisper of a beloved scent on the cold early morning air. Gina. The scent faded so he knew she was moving away from him. The wolf, yearning for his mate, wanted to howl. Closing his eyes, Cole lowered his cheek back to the dirty floor of his cage. He tested each muscle and joint and was satisfied. Four hours with no more torture had given him back some of his strength.

By angling his head just right he could see the cage that held his brother twenty yards away. A guard armed with a long rifle sat between them. Unlike the last guard, this one remained alert. Wolf’s Howl hadn’t been tortured yet, and maybe he wouldn’t be. By now Red Feather would have taken word back to Omaha. They would be rescued by the Pack and Clan. Gina, too. He made himself rest, giving his body every possible moment to heal more.

His mate’s scent came again, teasing his nose and making his wolf crazy. The wolf’s agitation surprised Cole until he caught the extra note in Gina’s scent. Blood. His mate was bleeding! It took all his control to not leap toward her scent. From the clank of chains and enraged growls twenty yards away , Wolf’s Howl wasn’t as controlled. But the scent faded again.

Cole settled against the floor again, trying to relax. He had to get out of here and take care of his mate. What had been done to her? The thought of her alone, hurt and afraid, twisted his guts into festering knots. He was her mate. He should be able to protect her. Instead he was chained in a filthy cage like an animal.

He wasn’t sure how long he lay silently raging over his helplessness before he noticed a new scent. Distant but getting nearer and clearer each second. The Pack had arrived.

It was 63 today!! It really feels like spring now. I meant to go for a walk, but decided to write a little more. Only one big chapter left and the epilogue, and then the rough draft of Gina’s Wolf is done. What comes after that?

Creating cover art.

Editing and re-writes= second draft

Beta reads/feedback

Polishing, incorporating beta readers’ feedback into the final draft

Send it to the editor

Re-writes based on editor’s comments and suggestions.

PUBLISHING!!!

Good news: I have an slot reserved with the editor for mid June. That means the book will be out and available around mid-July. Depending on how much re-writing I need to do. So, it is getting near. Soon you will be able to read this (much polished) book from start to finish. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait!

Here is the next bit in the story. Note: I am moving the location of the inner knife sheath to the back of the jeans, in slant so the hilt will be easy to grab and draw.

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“Ma’am,” stuttered one of the guards. “Mrs. Todd, what happened here?”

Jon pushed past the guards to her mother. “It’s obvious what happened. She murdered the president. Arrest her.”

A horn sounded three short blasts. The guards looked at each other. “We’re under attack!”

Her mother snapped, “Go! Find General Atwater.”

The two guards ran out. They apparently missed Jon’s raised hand. Jon took half a step after them but stopped, clenching his fist.

“Unacceptable,” he ground out in his gravelly voice.

On the ground, the president gurgled. Gina hopped back, staring down at him in horror. He was prone, his arms and legs splayed, one cheek resting on the canvas floor. The one eye Gina could see looked filmy, and a trickle of blood flowed from the corner of his lips.

“He’s still alive,” she croaked. She should do something to help him. She swallowed and crouched down to look for the bullet wound. Blood spread in a dark circle over the center of his back. “Is there a clean napkin?”

No one moved to check the table for napkins. Her mom was watching Tanner and Jon with narrowed eyes. They were watching her. Gina got up and went to the table. No clean napkins. She opened the chest that held the clean table ware and found a stack of clean cotton napkins, Grabbing the whole stack, she knelt again by her stepfather. One of his hands was palm down near his face. The fingers twitched. Gina took one of the napkins and pressed it to his back.

The sound of his breath rattling in his chest made Gina shudder. “Somebody, help.” Tanner and Jon both looked at her but didn’t move. “Help! I don’t think he’s breathing.”

Her mom’s cool face crumpled momentarily, then firmed again. Tanner turned a glare on her. “Murderess,” he proclaimed with relish. “You’ll hang.”

Mom ignored him. “Gina, double check.”

Reluctantly, Gina turned back to her stepfather. Only minutes ago, he’d tried to choke her. The front of her throat hurt from the pressure of his thumb on her windpipe. But she couldn’t just let him die, could she? Todd’s eye seemed to focus on her for a brief moment before it rolled so only the white showed through the slit between his lids. He let out a slow breath and his whole body seemed to shrink. His face went utterly slack.  Gina looked up. “I think he’s dead now,” she said numbly.

“Check him for a pulse,” Jon ordered.

Gina had no idea how to do that. “You do it.”

“No.” Her mother motioned to the door with the gun she still clutched. “Gentlemen, please leave. My daughter and I will tend to my husband.”

Tanner laughed angrily and advanced on her. “You’re under arrest.”

Shouts came from outside the tent. Gina turned her head to look toward the door, but it remained closed.

Jon said, “Tanner, let’s go. If the camp is under attack we need to get out of here.”

Tanner ignored him, reaching to take the pistol away from her mother.

“Young man, you should leave,” her mother said in a tight voice.

He didn’t, snatching at the gun again. “You grab Gina,” he tossed over his shoulder at Jon. “I’ll get  the mother. We can take both of them with us. Brother Saul will pass sentence on the murderess.”

Jon hesitated before leaning down to grip Gina’s shoulder and haul her up to her feet. “Come on, wife. Time to go.”

“I’m not going with you,” she snarled, struggling to break free of his hand. “Let me go.”

Jon hauled her close to his body. “I’ll pick you up if I have to. Better to come without a fuss.”

Gina tried to dig her heels in. “I’ll scream.”

He laughed shortly. “Who will hear you through that racket?”

The noise outside had increased. It sounded like a battle. The shouts and screams of men were punctuated by distant gunfire. Another shot sounded so close that Gina jumped and tried to duck instinctively. Jon’s fingers dug into her arms.

“Tanner!” His deep voice was almost soundless. Gina followed his horrified gaze and saw Tanner fall back and then drop to the floor. His head… She had to look away from the bloody mess.

Jon’s hands slackened. “Bitch,” he growled. “Murderess twice over. An eye for an eye, saith the Lord.”

There was murder in his eyes as he let go of her and launched himself at her mother. Gina scrambled after him but tripped over Todd’s arm. From her knees, she saw her mother raise the pistol again. Her finger tightened around the trigger. Gina flinched, expecting another blast of gunfire.

Click. Click.

Jon laughed savagely when the gun failed to fire. He ripped the pistol from her mother’s hand, twisted his hand so he held it by the barrel, and struck her across the face with the gun butt. Blood flew from her mother’s nose.

“Stop!” Gina scrambled to her feet and rushed him. “Stop it!”

Without pausing, Jon swung around and clocked her with the gun. She fell, half dazed, into a sprawl on her back. Something dug into her tailbone. The knife. She was an idiot. She had forgotten the knife! A little dizzy, she got to her feet and reached for the knife. It came into her hand with an ease that amazed her. Just like in practice. Jon was still beating her mother, bending over her fallen body.

A throat slice would be easiest, but his back was to her, so she probably couldn’t get to his throat. A wild stab to the back would probably result in her blade getting stuck in his vertebra or rib. She wet her trembling lips and angled the knife so the blade pointed out and up. Gaze centered on his lower back to the right of his spine, between his hip bone and ribs, she took one quick step toward him and jabbed the knife into his back with all the force she had.

He snapped up with a cry between a scream and a roar. The hilt of the knife was jerked from her hands, slippery with blood. She was too slow to avoid the gun butt as it crashed against her head. She fell, curiously cold and weightless, into a deep well of darkness. AS he light faded, she thought she heard someone far, far away calling her name.

The river crested yesterday at 35.03 feet, the 7th highest flood since records started being kept in 1902. It didn’t really cause much trouble, not like in 2009. But we’re not quite done with our spring woes yet. A nasty blizzard will barrel through Nebraska, South Dakota, southern North Dakota and southern Minnesota. Fargo will probably be on the edge of it. We may get 6 to 8 inches plus some wind, or we may just get a little wind and rain. It just depends on what Mother Nature decides to do. But it will definitely be different temperatures compared with what we had last weekend. I wonder if the weather they are having in the book (Omaha in late March) should be a little colder?

Speaking of the book, I have a good snip for you. I really need to go in and add a little details about the setting. What does the tent look like, where exactly are the characters, things like that. So this is pretty bare bones. I meant to do some self editing and fleshing out last night, but I came down with a nasty stomach bug and I just couldn’t do it. But I hope the main line of the story is clear. Enjoy!

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There were many latrine areas around the perimeter of the camp, but Jon and Tanner led her in the opposite direction of the cage where Cole was. She almost protested. She wanted to see Cole but making a fuss would just draw more attention to him. And the latrines in this direction were on the edge of camp. Could she get away?

No, she could not. They followed her right up to the latrine. Tanner even tried to follow her inside the cramped booth. She turned furiously on him. “There’s not room for two people in here,” she snarled. “Even if I wanted you in here, which I don’t.”

Tanner slapped her face with casual violence. She fell against the wall, holding her cheek and gaping at him in horror. “Don’t ever use that tone with me,” he warned.

There was blood in her mouth. She spat it at him. Tanner reacted with the expected fury. Jon grabbed his arm to hold him back. “Watch it,” he muttered to his brother. “Wait until we’re away from here before doing that.”

Tanner ran a sneering glance over her. “What are you waiting for? Me to offer to wipe your ass? Get in there and get it done. We need to be on the road by daybreak.”

She went in and fumbled to lock the door. She couldn’t leave with them. She could not be their wife. From outside the thin walls she heard Tanner say, “I get her first.”

“I’m older,” Jon countered in his mild voice. “And neither of us will get her first. You know dad always goes first.”

Brother Saul? Did he mean that Brother Saul would have sex with her? The thought made her stomach revolt. Or maybe it was the stench of the waste in the latrine. Gina would have stayed in there for hours, but the odor was too horrible. It was almost pitch black but she imagined the ditch under the booth was overflowing. She took as much time as she could, but after only a couple of minutes, Tanner pounded on the door.

“Hurry up. You don’t want me to come in there to get you.”

She spent a moment imagining the pleasure of pushing his head down the hole. That was only a fantasy, so she buttoned her pants and opened the door with a stoic face. She brushed past the brothers and made for the harem tent.

The ache in her cheek and lip intensified to a throb as she strode along. She was sure her face was swelling. What would her stepfather do when he saw the evidence of Tanner’s violence? Just before she got to the tent Tanner made an attempt to grab her arm. One of the guards blocked him. Gina could have hugged the private. She ducked under the door flap that the other guard held open for her and charged for the area she’d last seen the President. He was still there, sitting at the table with her mother. Brother Saul and the officers were gone.

“I’ve packed your bags,” her mother began, but her voice trailed off when she saw Gina’s face.

Satisfaction at her mother’s reaction warmed Gina. She turned to Todd. “I cannot marry them” she proclaimed, pointing to Tanner and Jon who had followed her in. She blotted blood from her lips with the back of her hand and held it out to show it to him. “See what Tanner did to me?”

“An accident,” Tanner said breezily. “It’s dark out there. I couldn’t see where she was.”

Her stepfather wiped his mouth with his napkin. “Just like squabbling children,” he sighed.

Gina clenched her fists. Was he going to overlook it? He couldn’t. Backing down now after making a point of her treatment at breakfast would make him look weak.

A man flung the door flap open and burst into the dining section.
Red-faced and sweating, he was panting as if he had run a long way.

“Sir,” he wheezed. “A classified blue message for you.”

Gina watched her stepfather take the envelope. The messenger backed away, his hands braced on his thighs as he sucked in air. Blue was the highest level of classification, but not for wartime. As Todd read, his face was dead white, then almost green. He crumpled the paper and pressed it to his chest.

“Get out,” he screamed. “Out!”

The messenger rushed for the door flap, followed by Tanner and Jon. Gina didn’t want to follow them anywhere. They would probably take the chance to bundle her off to their commune. Her mother didn’t leave, so Gina eased herself to one side of the room and watched her stepfather. He clutched the paper to his heart sand rocked back and forth in his chair.

“My son,” he moaned. “My son.”

“Gerald.” Her mother put a hand on his shoulder. “What is it?”

 He flung her off. “My son is dead! Suzanne lost the baby. I am cursed to have no children.” The dreadful grief in his voice turned to vicious anger. “None but your ungrateful, disobedient daughter.”

Gina swallowed, recognizing the budding signs one of his insane rages. She should have followed Jon and Tanner after all.

“After all I’ve done for you, how does she treat me?” His voice rose with every word. “She runs away. She lies to me. She disrespects me. She disobeys me. She embarrasses me in front of my allies. I won’t have it!”

She definitely should have left. He had never raised his hand to her, but in this mood, he was capable of anything. His lips were shiny with drool. Bad sign. That was a very bad sign.

“Where is she?” he screamed.

Her mother glanced over at her. He followed her gaze and when he saw Gina his entire face lit up with an unholy fury. Gina cringed involuntarily.

He drew himself up to his full height, which wasn’t much taller than she was, but the madness made him seem ten feet tall. “You,” he spat. “I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to drown you. Your mother refused to allow it. I am a loving husband, so I was merciful. And this is how you repay me? My son is dead!”

Gina almost blurted that she hadn’t killed the baby. She took a sidling step toward the door flap.

“You stay right there,” he screamed. “I’ll have justice for my innocent son.”

He came at her with hands extended like claws. Gina back pedaled as fast as she could.

“Gerald!” Her mother’s voice was hard and cold. “Stop.”

Gina sent her mom a quick glance and her moth sagged when she saw the pistol in her mother’s hand. Belatedly, she remembered that she had a knife. How could she have forgotten it? All the times she had practiced pulling the knife out were worthless now. She fumbled, her hands too icy and shaky to grasp it easily.

“Gerald, stop. You’d regret hurting her when you calmed down. Please.”

He barked a contemptuous laugh, latching onto Gina’s throat. “You die now, just like my son.”

A thunderous crack deafened Gina. The hands cutting off her air fell away, and her stepfather looked into her eyes with mild surprise before sliding to the ground tarp. Gina gaped at the smoke rising from the barrel of the pistol in her mother’s hands.

“Mom?” she said.

The door flap was flung open and the two guards ran in. Tanner and Jon followed them. Jon’s face turned harsh with accusation. Tanner laughed. Laughed? Gina tore her eyes from her mother’s pale face to stare at him.

“Murder,” Tanner said gleefully. “Fraticide. No, not that. What is it called when a wife murders her husband?”

“Justice,” her mother spat.

“Ma’am,” stuttered one of the guards. “Mrs. Todd, hat happened here?”

Jon pushed past the guards to her mother. “It’s obvious what happened. Arrest her.”

A horn sounded three short blasts. The guards looked at each other. “We’re under attack!”

We have been very, very lucky here in the Red River Valley. We were expecting a major flood, but our melt has been very gradual. It’s still below freezing at night, so it melts a bit during the day and then stops until the sun comes up. So instead of a major flood we will have a moderate one. The crest is forecast to be around 20 feet over flood stage, so it’s not like we’re completely dodging the bullet, but we are in good shape to fight this flood. Some bridges are closing and some rural roads are under water, but my volunteer shift for sandbagging has been cancelled. So more time for writing!

I’ve been doing some thinking about the little snip last week featuring Carla and Taye. I still haven’t decided whether or not to include it. I appreciate your comments. They made me think about several points. I think I will ask my editor what she thinks.

This week’s snip is a little awkward. There just isn’t a good place to end it so you are kind of left hanging. Sorry about that!

Chapter Thirteen

Gina was close to despair when she heard the sound of dishes and cutlery clattering and caught the scent of bacon and coffee. Breakfast was being served. She hadn’t slept much. Maybe she hadn’t slept at all. Her mind spent the night rushing from one impossible escape plan to another. Nothing she’d come up with was likely to work.

She got off the cot with a pounding head and a stomach that couldn’t decide if it wanted to growl with hunger or turn itself inside out. Her mother’s calm voice spoke in a murmur from another part of the tent. Gina lingered in her curtained-off section, trying to hear what her mother was saying. If she were a wolf like Cole, she would be able to understand every word, but she wasn’t. She adjusted the knife in its inner sheath, lifted her chin, and strode out to the dining area of the tent.

Her mother sat at the foot of the table, her stepfather sat at the head, and Brother Saul and his two sons, Tanner and Jon, were on one side and a few of the officers of the army occupied the other. Relief touched her when she saw that neither was Major Ellis. She recognized them but didn’t know them well.

Gina was noticed immediately. President Todd ran a frowning gaze over her. Brother Saul rose from his chair and moved to the other side of the table. Tanner pushed his chair back and came to her. He gave her a smarmy grin.

“You look like you slept in your clothes,” he sneered.

“I did,” she answered with a smile that hid clenched teeth.

He didn’t grab her arm as much as catch the flesh on her upper arm in a pinch. “Come sit down. Eat fast. We’re leaving after breakfast.”

 She managed to neither scream nor punch him. The painful pinch was the only reason she followed him to the table. As she sat down in the chair his words sank in. “You’re leaving?”

“We are leaving,” Jon corrected.

Tanner sat next to her and leered. “You’re our wife. You come with us.”

She looked at her stepfather, who smiled benignly at her. “I’m already married,” she informed him.

“To whom?” he inquired coldly.

The words stuck in her throat. The truth would be dangerous to Cole, and a lie wouldn’t come.

When she didn’t reply, he waved a hand. “I didn’t give my consent. It’s not legal.”

“I am over twenty-one.” That came out easily enough, although her voice wobbled. “I don’t need your consent. And how could I be married to them? There wasn’t a ceremony.”

An ugly shadow ghosted over his face and faded into serenity. “It doesn’t matter how old you are, Georgina. I am the President. I am the law. I married you by proxy to the Allersens two days ago.” His voice rose with every word. He paused and gathered himself. “In any case, if your husband is in Omaha you will be a widow very soon.”

A tiny bit of tension eased in her. He didn’t know that his captive was her husband. She wanted to ask how soon but didn’t dare. She reached for the platter of scrambled eggs. Tanner seized her wrist.

“Do you love him?”

“Jealous?” she asked.

His grip tightened so she couldn’t suppress a gasp. “No,” she lied. “I only married him because they made me. But I am married.” The pain forced a choked scream out of her. “Let me go!”

“Indeed.” Her stepfather’s mild voice took on a sweet note that made her blood run cold. “Tanner, I believe I mentioned once before that I don’t like to have my daughter manhandled like that. Release her.”

He did, with a sullen look. Jon inclined his head coolly. “We certainly don’t intend to harm our wife. But since she is our wife, she is no longer your concern.”

General Anderson raised one bushy black brow. Todd set his fork down with great care. “Georgina is my daughter whether she is your wife or not. Her mother would be unhappy to know her daughter is not treated with respect. If my wife is unhappy, I am unhappy. You do not want me to be unhappy with you.”

Gina shot a glance at her mother. It didn’t look like she was paying any attention to the conversation.

Brother Saul made patting motions in the air. “No, we don’t. I’m sure my boys will treat Georgina with all the respect she deserves.” He turned his gaze on her. “Please be patient with them. They are young.”

Gina managed a tight smile. She wanted to jump to her feet and scream that she wasn’t married to them, they were pigs, and she hated them. Instead she reached again for the eggs. She wasn’t hungry, but she would need to keep up her strength. Jon gently pushed her hand aside and took up the spoon himself.

“One spoonful or two?” he asked politely. “Bacon?”

A polite monster. His courtesy was probably due to her stepfather’s implied threat. He poured her coffee and sat back to watch her eat. Gina took her time with her breakfast. Inwardly, she spun in frantic circles, trying to find a way out of this. Another pleading glance at her mother told her she would get no help there. Why couldn’t her mom be like Carla? Carla would do anything to save her kids.

At last she could eat no more.  Jon told her, still polite, to go get packed. “I need to use the necessary first,” she said. “Excuse me. I’ll be back.”

Tanner gave her a toothy grin. “We’ll escort you. This is an army camp.”

She ground her teeth. “I’ll be fine. No one here will hurt me. I’ll be right back.”

“We will accompany you.” Jon stood and held her chair.

Trapped, Gina cast another glance at her mom. There was a tiny pucker between her brows that smoothed out as soon as she saw Gina looking. “Go ahead, dear,” her mother said. “I’ll get your packing started.”

Jon smiled stiffly. “Please set out a change of clothes for your daughter. I’m sure she would appreciate  something fresh to wear.”

Why was she going along with this? Be hauled off by these goons to be their ‘wife’? Gina opened her mouth, but her stepfather cut her off.

“You’ll go, Georgina,” he told her. “You can go on your own two feet, with dignity, or you can go tied up like a criminal. Your choice.”

Gina seethed in silence. He would do it. Being free gave her a better chance at fight or escape. “Fine,” she ground out. She marched to the door flap, hands clenched. Jon and Tanner went with her. Outside the tent it was still dark. “What time is it?’

“Half past five,” Jon said imperturbably. Having a wife who hated him didn’t seem to cause any concern. “This way.”

There were many latrine areas around the perimeter of the camp, but he led her in the opposite direction of the cage where Cole was. She almost protested. She wanted to see Cole but making a fuss would just draw more attention to him. And the latrines in this direction were on the edge of camp. Could she get away?

We are getting close to the end of this story. AT LAST!! I am not sure that this scene will make it into the book. This will be the last book in this world (at least for the foreseeable future) and I thought it might be nice to tie it up with a scene featuring the couple that started the series off in Sleeping With the Wolf. But this little scene doesn’t really add anything to the actual story, so maybe it doesn’t really belong. What do you think? Do you think readers would like this little bit or do you think I should delete it and just have it here on my website? Let me know what you think.

It was nearly midnight when Taye Wolfe climbed the stairs to his room at The Limit. Since coming to Omaha, he’d spent most of his time with Mayor McGrath or at the headquarters building. He missed his mate. He missed holding her warm body, even more beautiful to him now with the extra softness that came from bearing his children. The silver threads in her hair and fine lines around her eyes marked the joys and sorrows they had shared over their years together. He missed talking with her and laughing with her. The sooner this ugly business with Todd was over the sooner he could take her home where she belonged.

He had an hour free now. A forward scout, his cousin Wolf’s Shadow’s oldest son, Eagle, had arrived at the headquarters building to inform him that the reinforcements from the Pack and Clan would arrive an hour after midnight.

“Go back,” he told Eagle. “Tell them stay outside the city and to get ready to attack. Cole’s been taken prisoner. The rest of us will meet you west of the city so we can plan the attack on the Kansas-Missouri camp.”

Eagle gave him a fierce grin. “We’ll slaughter them.”

Yes, they would. That fool would pay for trying to take his Cole’s mate away from him. Before dawn Taye would lead his warriors in battle, but he had an hour free now and he wanted to spend that hour with his mate. They could take comfort in each other’s arms.

He was still yards away from his bedroom door when he heard the muffled sounds of his mate crying. He rushed down the hall and threw open the door. He didn’t need the dim glow of the lap to see his mate on the edge of the bed. She facied away from the door, but she leaped to her feet and twisted to face him. At the sight of him she scrambled over the bed and threw herself at him.

“Taye!”

He held her close. Each of her sobs cut him like a knife. “Sweetheart? What is it?”

She clung to him, her fingers gripping his shoulders while she pressed her cheek into his shoulder. “I’ve done something awful. Oh. Taye, I’m so sorry.”

“Sweetheart, what is it?”

“I was so worried about Colby.” She pulled back a few inches and wiped her wet cheeks. “And Gina …”

He could almost smell her remorse and guilt. He smoothed a tender hand over her hair. “What?”

Carla swallowed. “I let her get away. She went to rescue Colby.”

“What?” he said again, in a very different tone. He took his arms away and put his hands on her shoulders to lean back and look at her more closely. “Carla, what are you saying?”

Carla wiped her other cheek. “Well, you said you wouldn’t trade Colby, that he was just a casualty of war. I wanted to get him back.”

“Carla.” He dropped his hands and stepped completely out of her reach. “You thought I’d just let our son be tortured and murdered? Don’t you know better? We’ve been mated for more than twenty-five years!”

Her tears came again, gleaming in the dark hazel eyes he loved to gaze into. “I know! I was stupid. I was so worried, and you said …” She swallowed. “I heard you say it, on the wall this morning. And Gina̶ -“ She broke off to gulp back more tears. “But after I got home tonight, I started to think. You wouldn’t sacrifice Colby.” She crumpled, hands over her face, and wailed. “I should have known! But why did you say that?”

“Because I couldn’t know if there was a spy or traitor listening who could report back to Todd.” Her anguish broke him. He put his arms around her again. “Don’t cry, sweetheart. The Clan and Pack are close by. We’re going to attack the enemy before dawn. We’ll get Cole back. And Gina too.”

He drew her back to the bed. She shuddered in his arms, weeping as if her heart would break. Or perhaps had already broken. He rocked her like a baby.

“Don’t cry,” he whispered. They wouldn’t indulge in the lovemaking he’d anticipated. His mate was too upset for that, but they could hold each other for an hour. There was comfort and strength to be had in that. He laid his mate between the sheets and curled around her. Tiny sobs still shook her.

“I’m such an idiot,” she confessed. “I’m sure Gina is in trouble and it’s all my fault!”

A wise mate wouldn’t agree with that, and he wasn’t stupid. “It will be okay. Maybe she and Cole are on their way back here already. If not, we’ll get them back.”

Slowly, her shuddering sobs faded. “You’ll be leaving soon to attack.”

It wasn’t quite a question. “Yeah. In thirty minutes or so.”

She was quiet for a long while. “You could be killed.”

He never lied to her. “Not likely, but possible.”

She twisted away suddenly and reached for a handkerchief on the bedside table. After wiping her face and blowing her nose, she tossed the handkerchief to the floor and turned to face him again. There was no hesitation in her when she pulled her nightgown off and dropped it beside the bed.  “Make love to me.”

That was easy. After spending half his life loving this woman he knew exactly how and where to touch to arouse her passion. He lingered over her mouth, caressed her small breasts, stroked the waist that was not as slim as it had been when they first mated. All of her was infinitely precious to him. When he slid into the welcome of her body, the sweetness of it nearly brought tears to his eyes.

Afterward he reluctantly rose from the bed and dressed. Carla watched him with a trembling smile. He leaned down to give her one last kiss. “I’ll bring them back,” he promised.

She nodded bravely. “I’ll be waiting.”

The weather has turned nice. It’s been in the 30s most of the week. We will get into the 40s over the weekend!

Of course, that means flooding. I’ve seen the pics of flooding all over the Midwest and my heart goes out to them. It is so dreadful to see homes and towns covered with water. The mayor of Fargo has declared a state of emergency already, and we still have 10-12 days before the river crests. Let’s hope our volunteer sandbaggers will keep up.

Enough of bad news. The good news is I am making good progress on the book. I have hope that Gina’s Wolf will be out in late June or early July. More details to come in the future. Meanwhile, here is another little snip for you.

___________________________________________________________________________

Cole counted every second that rushed by. How much longer until a guard made his rounds? Finally, Wolf’s Howl shook out his arms and took up his stance. He pulled. The bars were bending more readily now.  Another inch. Two. Three.

A lazy voice edged with a sneer drawled, “Well, isn’t that impressive?”

Wolf’s Howl spun, shoving Gina behind him with an elbow.

A gravelly voice replied. “Very. That steel alloy is supposed to be the strongest in the world.”

From his position with his head chained only a foot from the floor Cole couldn’t see around his brother, but he knew who was speaking. Jon and Tanner Allersen.  He had met them a couple of months ago at The Limit when they’d all been staying there. He hadn’t remembered them until this afternoon when they’d watched his torture with sniggering commentary. They and their crazy father, Brother Saul, had been on the train from Omaha to Kearney, but instead being shot like the other men on the train, the Allersens were greeted as friends by the Kansas-Missourians. They had informed Todd about the train that carried his stepdaughter. Cole growled deep and low in his throat. They were the reason Gina had been recaptured by Todd.

Cole could see Wolf’s Howl’s leg muscles bunch as he prepared to spring on the two brothers. Before he could though, two powerful spotlights snapped on and flooded them with light.

*

Gina threw an arm over her eyes to protect them from the blinding light. Damn it. Damn it, they had been so close to getting Cole free.

“And look who we have here.” Tanner Allersen’s voice made her want to scream. “I believe that is our bride.”

“Dim the lights.”

That was her stepfather’s voice. Gina swallowed, dropped her arm, and made herself stand up. She had a plan for this eventuality, but she hadn’t shared it with Wolf’s Howl. She hoped he’d understand. She hoped Cole would understand. Growing up with Todd had taught her to hide her feelings and put on an act. This would have to be her best act yet.

She pushed away from the cage, looking at her stepfather. “At last, I’m safe,” she cried. The tremble in her voice was very real. “Finally, I’ve gotten free from them.”

Wolf’s Howl tried to keep her behind him. “Sister,” he began.

She shoved him away. “Don’t touch me,” she screamed.

Rifles were raised. Todd gestured to her. “Come here, Georgina.”

She walked to him, skirting around the Allersens. He halted her when she was still two yards away. A few of the rifles followed her while the others stayed directed at Cole and Wolf’s Howl.

“You wanted to return here.” It was a statement, but Todd’s cool voice implied a question. “That is not the information I was given.”

“I was stolen from this camp when I went to use the necessary. I didn’t leave by choice.”

In the dimmed light her stepfather looked coolly skeptical. “Did Major Ellis misunderstand your refusal to return when he went to Omaha to present my terms?”

“The meeting at Omaha’s City Hall?” She matched the coolness in his voice. “What else could I say with all of them so close to me?” She gestured vaguely at Cole and wolf’s Howl. “I had no choice.”

“I see.” Todd tilted his head and folded his arms.

“Yesterday morning at the gate, I tried.” She did her best to sound convincing. “I shouted that I would make the prisoner exchange, but they made me shut up.”

One of the men to her stepfather’s right stirred. “That’s true, sir. I heard her.”

Todd pinched his chin and regarded her with the same cool stare. “And now you escaped?” he suggested. “And took this young man captive, I suppose? Forced him to accompany you here to this camp?” His voice sharpened. “And forced him to break into the cage that held his fellow creature.”

“No, of course not. Taye Wolfe ordered him to go with me. We were supposed to free him.” She jerked her chin at Cole, not looking at him. “Then the men would leave and I could stay here.”

Todd chuckled. “That’s a silly story, my dear. Would you like to try again?”

“It’s the truth.” She put her heart into her statement, trying to look open and honest. “Why would I make up something so preposterous?”

“If Mr. Wolfe was willing to exchange you for his man why didn’t he do it outside the walls of Omaha yesterday morning?”

“He didn’t want to look weak in front of Mayor McGrath.”

Her stepfather pinched his chin again. “That’s almost plausible. Very well. Jon and Tanner, escort your fiancée to her mother.”

Gina swallowed. “My mother?”

“She refused to leave without you, and what loving husband would force his wife to abandon her daughter?” Todd’s smile was sweet enough to make Gina want to gag. “Go along, now. I have business with these creatures.”

Gina cast one swift glance at Cole and Wolf’s Howl. A hint of shock hid behind Wolf’s Howl stony face. She wanted to pass Cole some message of love so he’d know she would find a way for all of them to escape, but with his brother blocking the way, all she could see of him was his bare, battered body crouched in the cage. She turned away and let Tanner take her arm in a bruising grip.

Tanner gave her a big shit eating grin. “Did you miss me?”

Gina looked away. “I want to see my mother.”

Jon moved up to her other side and the three of them walked toward the center of camp. Behind her Gina could hear men shouting and a wolf snarling. She didn’t look back, even when the snarl turned to an agonized yip. It was up to her to find a way out for all of them. She didn’t know how she would do it, but she would, and she had to do it soon. If only she could count on her mom for help, but that was a useless thought.

Her mom stood just inside of the harem tent in a heavy wool robe and thick socks, holding a lantern that cast a faint golden glow over her stern face. She barely glanced at Gina. “Thank you, gentlemen,” she said dismissively to the Allersens and gestured Gina to enter the tent.

Jon and Tanner looked like they might protest, but the two guards drew the door flap closed. Gina’s mom led the way through the dark tent to the curtained section that had been her bedroom. She used a long splinter of wood to light the lantern on a small table. In the light Gina recognized the trunk that held the clothes someone had packed for her in Kansas City sitting at the end of the cot. She knew it held all the clothes meant for the daughter of a powerful man. Party dresses and other gear totally inappropriate for an army camp.

“Good night,” her mother said.

Gian looked up. “That’s all you’re going to say? No questions? Not even an I-missed-you?”

Her mom didn’t turn back. “Don’t try to leave. If you need the necessary, use the chamber pot beneath the bed.”

Gina stared at the canvas door as it swung closed. Her shoulders sank. For a little while she had been free of this prison, but here she was again. She dropped to the cot and buried her face in her hands. She thought she could save her husband. Instead, she had given her stepfather another subject to torture. She had to get out of this mess, and she had to take Cole and Wolf’s Howl with her. But how?

As usual, I will begin this blog post by talking about the weather. Today was the first day since January 7 that we got up to freezing. That is more than two months! It was so warm that the parking lot is like a lake with ice burgs half submerged.

Fear not. It is not spring yet. We are expecting a ‘massive and possibly historic’ winter storm starting tomorrow afternoon and going through Friday morning. If you want to read about it you can click the link. My day job office may close, but since I’m a telecommuter I will work. Unless I lose power. But that won’t be fun either. Hopefully this will be the end of the bad weather. So all we need to do it get through this and then the flood and it will all be good.

I’ve been making good progress on Gina’s Wolf. I’m getting excited as I move into the final act of the story. I spent several hours playing with cover art last weekend. I need to contact my editor and see when she has a slot open. You know what this means? Depending on her schedule, this book may be out in early summer!

Here is today’s snip. I hope you like it.

______________________________________________________________________________

Cole didn’t want to wake up. The pain was waiting to engulf him in flames of agony. He lay on the cold metal floor of the cage and tried to slow his breathing. Was he himself? Or was the wolf out? Very cautiously, he opened his eyes.

A furry leg with less fur than usual was in front of him. Between the patches of fur, the red flesh was blotched with charring. The stench of burned meat made his stomach turn. The wolf was out. Memories thudded into him like clubs. He had been forced into a choke collar like they used on dogs, and it was fastened to the floor of the cage in a way that allowed him to lift his head only twelve inches. The floor reeked of blood, dead skin, and singed fur. Or maybe that was him.

Gerald Todd was a madman. From noon until midnight he had performed what he called scientific experiments on him. He wanted to see if the man healed burns at the same rate as the wolf. He watched dispassionately as coals were applied to man flesh on the left side of his body and waited with implacable patience until the wolf forced his way out in an effort to protect the man.  Then he had the coals applied to wolf flesh on the right. Every reaction was written down.

“No screams?” he asked at one point with mild interest.

Cole hadn’t bothered to respond even though he’d been in his man form at that time. He was a wolf warrior of the Lakota Wolf Clan, and wolf warriors did not give their enemies the pleasure of seeing their pain. At midnight he thanked Cole for his cooperation and told him to get some rest. Tomorrow they would see how he healed from stab wounds.

Cooperation. Cole almost growled out loud. Gerald Todd would die. If Cole himself was unable to do it, his father and kin would. Cole eased his head to the side so he could see the sentry posted a few yards from his cage. The man’s eyes were closed, his body slumped in the chair. Stupid sentry shouldn’t sleep on duty, but Cole was glad for his incompetence. Time to let the wolf go back so Cole the man could get rid of the collar. The collar was tight on the wolf, but a little looser on the man. But try though he might, he couldn’t pry the thing open. He lay his head down again to conserve his strength. Cold didn’t normally bother him, but now he was weak with pain and blood loss, and the cold crept deep into his bones.

A scent teased him. It was there one minute, and then faded, only to return and fade again. He let the wolf out to use his superior sense of smell. The scent was faint. Familiar. Safe. His nostrils flared, trying to catch and identify it.

Dad.

Fierce joy surged through him.

Not just dad. That was … His mate? The cold that weighted his bones was nothing compared to the cold that covered him now. No. No, Gina couldn’t be here. This was the last place she should be. He closed his eyes and dropped his head, forcing back a whine. The heavy chain connected to his collar clanked.

“Hey.” The sentry stood up from his chair, glaring at Cole. “Shut up there.”

The wolf lowered his head and closed his eyes as if sleeping. Was dad here or was Cole just imagining it? And if dad was here, why couldn’t he scent anyone else from the pack? Dad wouldn’t come alone with Gina. The wolf inhaled deeply. That was his little brother. Dad, Wolf’s Howl and Gina? That didn’t make sense.

A quiet sound had the wolf’s eyes open again. The sentry slumped bonelessly in the chair and the scent of blood rose fresh and sharp in the air. A dark shadow separated from the rest of the shadows, too small to be his dad or brother.  It moved in a rush to the cage.

“Quick, Wolf’s Howl,” his mate hissed. “He’s chained up.” She knelt beside the cage, hands clutching the bars. “Oh, Cole.” Tears gleamed in her eyes as she looked him over.

He forced his wolf back and took human form. “I’m alright,” he whispered. He tilted his head to look up at his brother. “Where is everyone else? Dad?”

Wolf’s Howl shook his head. “We’re it. Your mate was coming alone to rescue you. I tagged along.”

He loved his mate, and he loved that she cared enough to come for him, but that was the stupidest thing she could have done. “The guards have a rotation. One will check on me in about thirty minutes. You have to work fast. If you aren’t finished within twenty minutes, you have to leave me. Take her out of here and keep her safe.”

“No,” Gina said.

“Okay.” Wolf’s Howl handed Gina a knife. “Step back, sister. Go search that guard for keys while I work on this. We’ll have him out before any guards come.”

In spite of the pain and horror, Cole smiled to see Gina sheath the knife in the inner sheath in her jeans with one sure motion before she retreated. His mate wasn’t helpless.

Wolf’s Howl crouched, wrapped his hands around two bars, and pulled. His face contorted with the effort. The bars moved a hair’s breadth. His brother released the bars with an explosion of breath, rested a second, then positioned himself again. Every muscle in his bare body bulged as he strained to pull the bars apart.

Cole wanted to help. He was chained in the center of the cage and neither his arms nor legs could touch the bars. If he’d been able to reach that far, Todd would already be dead.  He tried again to pry the steel collar from his neck, but, as with every other time he’d tried, no matter how he gripped it he was too weak to budge it.

The bars groaned as they parted three inches. Wolf’s Howl collapsed against them, shaking. “Almost,” he panted. “One more time.”

Cole forced himself to not order him to hurry.  “Good job, Howl. You are the strongest in our generation. You can do it.”

His mate rushed over. “I can’t find any keys,” she said franticly.

“That’s okay,” Cole said. “My brother has just about got this cage open. Right, Howl?”

His brother nodded, rising again and taking hold of the slightly bent bars. “Ready?

“Wolf’s Howl, you are amazing!”

Cole would have been jealous of the admiration on her face if it hadn’t been directed at his brother.  He couldn’t believe she was here. Once they were back in Omaha he was going to have long talk with her. Not until after he’d covered her entire body with kisses, but they were going to talk.

The bars groaned again and slowly parted another few inches. Wolf’s Howl fell to his knees, gasping for breath. Gina stuck her arm in the gap and then inched her shoulder through.

“Not big enough. Even if I could fit, I can’t pull that chain out of the floor,” she said. “Can you do more?”

Wolf’s Howl nodded. “Just need to rest a few seconds.”

Cole counted every second that rushed by. How much longer until a guard made his rounds? Finally, Wolf’s Howl shook out his arms and took up his stance. He pulled. The bars were bending more readily now.  Another inch. Two. Three.

A lazy voice edged with a sneer drawled, “Well, isn’t that impressive?”