17. Kyle

The early morning sun streams through the sheer curtain over the kitchen window. The mobile home park is quiet, just like it has been since we arrived last night.

Here. You look like you could use this. The hunter, Jenna, hands me a mug of steaming coffee. I look up at her warily but take the cup without comment.

Its been a long night, but so far, shes been nothing but kind to us.

I look across the cramped kitchen of the small mobile home to where Frankie is sitting at the table studying a map. Hes been staring at it for hours, as if it somehow holds a secret he’s desperate to unlock.

Devons been asleep on the sofa in the living room for the last few hours. I think the stress has finally caught up to him.

After we arrived last night, Jenna took us in without hesitation. She offered us some food and a place to sleep while she reached out to some of her contacts for news about River. Weve been waiting ever since...and the restlessness is starting to get to me.

I take it you still havent heard anything? Frankie asks, looking up at Jenna in exasperation. What about those wolves from out of state? Do you know anything about them?

The truth is, Im not entirely sure whats going on. Jenna leans against the counter holding a coffee mug of her own. Weve heard rumblings of something going on between the local pack and a bigger one from up north, but nothing concrete. From what youve told me, its probably some sort of alliance thatll be sealed by pairing up your boy, River, with an appropriate mate from the other pack.

That would explain why he ran the first time. He was trying to avoid being mated off to some stranger.” Frankie crosses his arms over his chest and leans back against the vinyl seat. “And whats your stake in all this?

Jenna barks out a dry laugh. Rivers mother was a friend of mine. We were close. Really close, to be honest. She came to town sometimes and wed talk. Um, things got...intense between us, even though she had a mate and a pup back home. She told me she was afraid and wanted to run, but she didnt want to leave River behind. Her mate was controlling and wouldnt let the pup out of his sight for more than a few minutes at a time. He was getting increasingly irritable with her and was threatening to remove her freedom to visit town whenever she liked...

I look sidelong at Jenna, watching her body language and listening to her tone. I like to think Im fairly good at judging someones character, and so far, Ive gotten no sense of deception from her. Shes been nothing but helpful and open with us.

The last time I saw her, she asked me to keep an eye on River, and that if anything happened to her, I was to try and get him out. Jenna exhales deeply, staring down into her mug. She was scared, really scared. I tried to convince her to run, to take her son and get out of there, but she said it wasnt that simple. Her mate had too much power and influence. That hed never stop looking for her. For them.

Jenna falls silent for a long moment. Shes clearly not one to lose control of her emotions, but the memory is painful for her. She clears her throat and nods to herself. Anyway, I couldnt get near the compound, let alone River. So all I could do was try to keep my ears open. I dont know how he managed to escape the first time, but when I saw him with you guys, I knew I had to help somehow.

And now hes missing again. Frankie sounds heartbroken at the reality of River’s fate. We dont even know where to start looking for him.

Well, if hes smart, hell lie low, Jenna says. If he can stay hidden, theyll never find him.

Sure, but you didnt see him when we were camping. Now I have to clear my throat to release the emotion wadding up there. He was hopeless at even the most basic tasks. Hes not cut out to survive in the woods like that.

Hell be okay. Frankie meets my gaze, trying to reassure himself more than anyone.

Jennas cell phone rings, and she motions for us to stay quiet as she answers it. Hello?

Theres a brief pause as the person on the other end speaks.

Are you sure? Shit, okay. No, no, Ill deal with it. Yes, Im sure... No, Ive got some backup of my own. It wont be a problem. She hangs up the phone.

“Is it about River?”

She looks up at us with a frown. Animal control has received several reports of a massive, mud-covered dog roaming loose through the campground. She reaches for some keys hanging on a hook by the refrigerator. Thankfully, the animal control officer who went to the scene is a friend of mine and hes pretty sure the dog is actually a wolf...and not the wild kind. He looks pretty beat up and exhausted, and he’s keeping his distance from everyone. Jenna looks over at me and Frankie. I dont know if its River or not, but...

Its him. Devon enters the kitchen rubbing sleep from his eyes. I know its him.