Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

MELINDA

M elinda awoke slowly, her body aching and her mind foggy. She lay on a cot in a small, dimly lit cabin, the warmth of a nearby fire a stark contrast to the freezing cold she had been immersed in. Blinking, she tried to piece together her fragmented memories. The last thing she recalled was escaping through the vent in the research facility and making her way to the woods, stumbling through the snow, her strength fading as the storm closed in around her.

From time-to-time, she had unbundled her clothing, shifted back to her human form and placed the flash drive against her skin where her core temperature would be the highest in order to keep the information safe. Had the flash drive become too cold, the data might have been corrupted or even lost. Preserving its integrity had become a primary goal in her survival.

She had escaped from the research facility via the duct work as an Arctic fox. Using her ability to connect with the magnetic fields deep within the earth, she was able to home in on the best route to civilization that was not connected to the research center.

The research center. Even thinking about it made her head hurt and her stomach churn. She still felt as though she'd been hit by a truck and wanted to puke.

She turned her head and saw the man who'd rescued her sitting by the fire, his rugged features illuminated by the flickering light. He looked up, sensing her gaze, and gave her a reassuring smile. He was a shifter, but something far more dangerous and predatory than a fox. Despite his help, a part of her remained wary. She had no idea who he really was or what his intentions might be.

"Feeling better?" Joe asked, his voice gentle but edged with concern.

Melinda nodded slowly, pushing herself up to a sitting position. Her body protested, but she ignored the pain. "Thanks for saving me," she said cautiously. "Who are you? Why are you here? Where are we?"

Joe waved off her gratitude. "I just did what anyone would. My name is Joe Crawley. You've got a lot of people worried about you. Asher Wells, who's in charge of the park rangers, is a friend and asked me to join the search. You're lucky I found you when I did. I knew this emergency shelter was here, so I carried you. That storm's only getting worse."

The wind howled outside, the cabin walls creaking under the force of the blizzard. Melinda shivered, both from the cold and the fear that had settled in her chest. She needed to get to safety, to reach someone who could help expose the conspiracy she had uncovered. But the storm outside made that seem impossible.

"Why were you out there in your human form?"

"I have information I need to get out. As an Arctic fox, it would be hard for me to protect the data so whenever I had to cross an open field, I shifted to my human form. Then when I reached a wooded area, I removed my clothes and shifted back."

Joe shook his head. "That can't have been easy."

He had no idea. She gave him a weak smile. "You do what you have to do, but we need to get out of here," she said urgently, her eyes locking onto Joe's. "I have to get this data to the authorities. There's something much bigger at stake here."

Joe shook his head, his expression firm. "We're not going anywhere in this blizzard. It's too dangerous. We need to wait it out, at least until it lets up a bit."

Melinda's frustration boiled over. "You don't understand. They're hiding something…"

"Who is ‘they?'"

"The company I work for is hiding something, something that could have catastrophic effects. We can't just sit here while they cover it up."

Joe stood, his demeanor calm but resolute. "I understand more than you think. But if we go out there now, we're as good as dead. The storm will kill us before we get anywhere close to help."

Melinda clenched her fists, feeling a surge of helplessness. She knew he was right about the storm, but the urgency of her mission burned within her. She had risked everything to uncover the truth, and now it felt like time was slipping away.

"Please, Joe," she pleaded, her voice cracking. "I've seen the data. The methane release—it's worse than anyone knows. If we don't act now, it could be too late."

Joe's eyes softened, and he walked over to her, sitting on the edge of the cot. "Melinda, I get it. I really do. But we have to be smart about this. We'll wait for the storm to pass, then we'll go. Together. I promise I'll help you get to the authorities, but we can't do it if we're frozen to death out there."

She looked into his eyes, searching for any sign of deceit but found none. His sincerity was evident, yet the fear of betrayal lingered in her mind. She had trusted the wrong people before, and the stakes were higher now than ever.

Taking a deep breath, Melinda nodded reluctantly. "Okay. We'll wait for the storm to pass. But the moment it does, we have to move. There's no time to waste."

Joe nodded, relief evident in his eyes. "Agreed. We'll be ready."

As the blizzard raged outside, Melinda settled back onto the cot, her mind racing with plans and contingencies. She still wasn't sure if she could fully trust Joe, but for now, he was her best chance at getting the truth out. She just hoped they would make it through the storm alive.

Melinda sat on the edge of the cot, staring into the flickering flames of the fire. The warmth was comforting, but her mind was anything but calm. She replayed the conversation with Joe in her head, worrying that she had revealed too much about the conspiracy she had uncovered. Could she really trust him? Despite his rugged kindness and apparent sincerity, doubt gnawed at her. She had been betrayed before; she couldn't afford to make the same mistake again.

Outside, the blizzard raged on, the wind howling like a wild beast. It sounded like the world was being torn apart, and the thought of venturing out into that chaos was terrifying. Yet the urgency of her mission pulled at her relentlessly.

She turned to Joe, who was methodically adding logs to the fire, his face set in a look of concern. "Joe, we can't just sit here. We have to get to the authorities before it's too late."

Joe sighed, his patience clearly wearing thin. "Melinda, I've told you, we can't go out in this storm. It's suicide. We need to stay here, keep warm, and wait for it to pass."

Melinda felt a surge of frustration. "Every moment we wait, the situation gets worse. People need to know what's happening."

Joe looked at her, his eyes softening. "I understand, but we need to think practically. We don't have enough dry wood to keep the fire going indefinitely. We've got enough to last tonight and part of tomorrow unless we really conserve our heat."

"How do we do that?"

He paused, before saying, "We should huddle together on the floor, share the blankets and stay closer to the fire. It's the best way to stay warm."

Melinda hesitated, her mind racing. The idea made sense, but the thought of being so close to Joe, especially given her mixed feelings about whether she could trust him or not was daunting. However, the chill in the air was undeniable, and survival had to come first. After all, if she succumbed to the storm, the information she had risked her life for would be lost.

"All right," she agreed, her voice quiet. "But just for warmth."

Joe nodded and began spreading out their blankets on the floor near the fire. They settled down next to each other, the proximity initially awkward. As they adjusted the blankets around them, the warmth from the fire and their shared body heat started to take the edge off the cold.

Melinda turned to Joe, their faces inches apart. "Thanks for helping me," she whispered, the words surprising even herself.

Joe's eyes met hers, a soft smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "You're welcome, Melinda."

"Can I ask you what kind of shifter you are?"

He grinned. "Sabretooth tiger."

"You'd certainly stand out in a snow-covered landscape."

"Not so much. I'm an arctic sabretooth, which means my base coat is white."

"That sounds pretty. I have to tell you; I think I'm glad you're an apex predator."

He chuckled. "I'm going to take that as a compliment." He seemed to sense her hesitation. "We're in this together, Melinda. I'll get you and your information to safety. I promise."

The intensity of the moment, combined with the flickering firelight and the howling storm outside, created a charged atmosphere. Without thinking, Melinda leaned in, and Joe did the same. Their lips met in a passionate kiss, the closeness igniting a fire within her that she hadn't expected.

The kiss deepened, their breath mingling, and for a moment, the world outside ceased to exist. Joe's presence felt grounding and electric all at once, a sizzling connection that made her forget the peril they were in.

Melinda melted into Joe's embrace, the warmth of their kiss a stark contrast to the freezing cold outside. For a brief moment, she allowed herself to forget the dangers that surrounded them, lost in the unexpected tenderness between them. But the spell was abruptly broken when Joe pulled back, his head snapping towards the window.

"What is it?" Melinda asked, her breath hitching.

Joe rushed to the window, pulling the curtain aside to glance outside. His eyes were sharp and alert, his entire body tense. "Snowmobiles. Several of them."

"Maybe they're here to rescue us."

"Doubtful. They don't have on any lights. I think whoever doesn't want your information to get out has found us. We need to move."

Panic surged through Melinda as the sound of engines grew louder. Jumping up and heart pounding, Melinda ran to grab the flash drive, her eyes darting around the cabin. She needed to safeguard it, ensure the data wasn't lost. "What about this?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Joe took the flash drive from her and the satellite phone from the floor, his movements quick and efficient. He placed them in a waterproof pouch, sealing it tightly. "I'll keep it safe," he promised, his voice steady.

"Now we need to shift and get out of here. Follow me and stay close."

Without wasting another moment, Joe began to shift—his human form enveloped by the swirling mist, falling away to reveal the powerful, sleek figure of a sabretooth tiger. His fur bristled, and his eyes glowed with determination. Melinda took a deep breath and followed suit, feeling the familiar rush of energy as her body transformed into an Arctic fox. Her senses sharpened, the world around her becoming clearer and more vibrant.

Joe growled softly, a signal to follow, and then bounded toward the window at the back of the cabin, managing to open it without breaking it. He jumped through it, the sound of his landing muffled by the raging storm outside. He landed gracefully in the snow, his powerful legs propelling him forward into the night.

Melinda followed, her small, nimble form darting through the open window and into the blizzard. The cold wind bit at her fur, but the urgency of their flight kept her moving. Joe's larger form was easy to track, his powerful strides leaving deep prints in the snow.

They bounded through the tundra, the roar of the snowmobiles growing fainter as they put distance between themselves and the cabin. Melinda's heart raced, adrenaline coursing through her veins. She had no idea who was chasing them or how long they could evade capture, but for now, all that mattered was staying ahead.

Joe led the way, his keen senses guiding them through the treacherous terrain. They moved swiftly, the storm providing some cover from their pursuers. Melinda glanced back occasionally, her ears twitching at every sound, but the night remained filled only with the howling wind and their rapid breaths.

Finally, after what felt like hours but could have been mere minutes, Joe slowed to a halt beneath a dense copse of trees, their branches heavy with snow. He turned to her, his eyes piercing through the darkness.

She thought they'd outrun them, but no such luck. Much to her horror, the snowmobiles rounded the cabin and began to head their way.