Chapter Ten
The late afternoon sun filtered through the forest canopy, painting the area in speckled shades of gold and dusky shadows. Like the stealth predator he was, Jon padded along the narrow dirt ridge jutting from the side of the steep knoll, expertly navigating the precarious ledge despite the thick foliage, his heavy bulk, and the damp, slippery undergrowth that shifted under his paws.
Jon wasn’t worried about losing his balance and falling over the side, nor was he concerned with the very real possibility that the root and soil overhang he treaded upon might crumple beneath his massive weight. Either way, it would be a fairly short drop—one he would survive.
He looked over the brush that lined the edge, glancing down to the level ground below. He doubted he’d even suffer an injury. After all, the ridge was only a few feet above the hill’s base.
The only reason he bothered to stay up on the unstable ridge rather than walk the usual path was for Oriana. He didn’t want her to notice his “fresh” paw prints and get scared. He figured that revealing himself in his shifted form was going to be traumatic enough. There was no need to add undue stress before the big revelation.
Jon had left the hot spring a tad earlier than Jordan and Ori, claiming that he needed to search again for the missing helicopter keys. As to not lie, Jon had done just that—even though the real reason he’d left early was so he could initiate the “bear” plan he and Jordan had agreed on earlier that morning.
While Jon didn’t find the keys, he wasn’t worried. They still had plenty of supplies. However, they would have to restock someday, and Jon knew Jack would have his ass if he didn’t locate the keys before that day came.
Fuck it, he thought. I’ll just replace everything. When he got a free moment, he would order new door locks and a new fuel cap from the manufacture and have the parts express shipped. Once the order was delivered to his P.O. Box, he’d ask Ori to give him a ride to town so he could pick them up. He was sure she wouldn’t mind—
Shit.
Jack would want to know how he was able to get the package from the post office.
Oh well, he’d have to confess the “broken-plane” lie to his eldest brother sooner or later. Might as well be sooner.
Feminine laughter flitted on the breeze and his ears peaked. Jon stilled, listening, gauging Ori and Jordan’s location by the sound of their footfalls—the crunching of the rock and leaves beneath their shoes, the loud snapping of twigs under the weight. Jon sniffed the air, catching their scent.
They had caught up to him much faster than he’d anticipated. He wasn’t even prepared for his performance.
Careful to keep his movements to a minimum, he turned slightly, searching the path that meandered below the dirt ledge. A minute later, they came around the bend, following the barely trodden trail that wrapped around the hill’s base.
Ori chatted away happily, relaxed, pointing out various plants and trees as they walked. Tension radiated from Jordan—nervousness, anticipation. In his bear form, which came complete with heightened senses, Jon could literally smell his brother’s anxiety.
He decided it would be better to approach them at the next bend where the hill was not so steep or overgrown with vegetation, allowing Jordan time to spot him and reassure Oriana of her safety. Jon crouched low behind the foliage and held his breath, hoping they didn’t notice him when they passed.
As he silently watched the two draw near his position, he registered the sensation of sinking, and realized his paws were sliding ever-so slowly into the moist soil. But Jon didn’t dare move a muscle, not even to adjust his footing.
Oriana skipped ahead, leaving his brother behind. She passed so close to Jon’s hiding spot that he could have reached out his paw and caught her hair in his claws.
“Come on, Jordan,” she laughed, walking backwards and swinging her basket. “We’re only two minutes away. Surely you can find the energy to walk faster. I want a bath before dinner…and I would like you to join me. We’ll make Jonathan cook tonight.”
“You really want pancakes for supper?” Jordan asked absently, his gaze searching around them.
Try not to appear too suspicious, dumb ass. And fucking get a move on! Stop dragging your feet. Jordan had to be the only straight guy in the whole freaking world who would ignore the pleas of a beautiful woman begging him to hurry along so they could get home faster and bathe together.
Jon’s paws slid forward an inch, causing the brush around him to rustle.
Jordan froze. “Did you hear that?”
Oriana stopped as well. “Hear what?”
The dirt beneath Jon’s paws broke off and tumbled down the embankment, leaving him teetering on the ledge. He barely maintained his balance as he slipped a little more, the undergrowth protesting the movement with reverberating snaps.
For the love of God, Jordan. Leave! I can’t hold much longer!
Instead, his brother slowly approached his hiding spot.
Fuck!
Suddenly, a loud crack marred the tense silence and the undergrowth shifted. The ground instantly crumbled. He found himself pitched forward, plummeting through the foliage, but instead of seeing the ground, he saw Jordan’s astonished face.
Jon roared in warning.
Thankfully, his brother managed to shift a split second before impact.
The world blurred, a collision of sinew and fur, and Jon landed sprawled on top of Jordan.
There was snarling, flashes of fang and claw, and Jordan immediately shoved him away. Jon fell back in a hard rolling tumble, but quickly recovered, roaring in outrage at his brother’s unnecessary use of force. Jordan growled in return, and Jon could almost hear him bitching. You nearly squashed me, you dumb fuck.
There was a quiet thud.
Automatically, he swung his head, investigating the cause of the sound. Oriana had dropped her picnic basket, the contents of which lay spilled out at her feet. His first thought was to go over and help her pick everything up, but her stance drew his attention.
Frozen in place, her eyes wide and unblinking, her mouth hanging open, she looked… Oh, great. She looked positively petrified—literally immobilized with fear.
A bloodcurdling scream rent the air.
The sound of rapidly retreating footsteps immediately followed.
Okay, obviously not “immobilized” with fear.
Shifting back into his human form, Jon watched helplessly as Ori disappeared around the next bend. Jordan came up beside him.
“That didn’t go well,” his brother stated flatly.
Jon shook his head. “Jack’s gonna fucking kill us.”