Chapter 12

TWELVE

Tara

We reach the point on the mountains where the horses can't traverse any further and stop. We continue a bit on foot to see if it improves, but it doesn't. From this point forward, the terrain is rugged and uneven, with rocky, sharp cliffs that defy gravity. In some places, a narrow path winds around the mountain, so small that it would make it difficult for the horses to maintain their footing. In other areas, there's boulders and fallen trees blocking the way. There's no way five horses can make it any further.

We retrace our path, collectively aware that the rest of our journey will be on foot. Without a word, we go to our horses and get to work. I unload my pack from my horse and stare out at the path we have to take, hoping at the end of it, I find what's poisoning the water. And then I leave the wolves behind, never looking back. The thought makes my chest ache.

"Sorry, boy, we have to go on foot from here," Rinan says, patting his horse's haunch.

It's strange how I can't help but smile. Rinan has a tender heart. Apparently, for everyone but me. Maybe that should upset me, but it doesn't. I'm a witch. His enemy. It doesn't make him a bad person that he has that love for everyone and everything, except me.

I glance at my own horse, and the gear on the ground. "I guess I'll be taking all this heavy stuff from here."

Silently, Garrick comes over and takes my pack from me, tossing it over his shoulder along with his own… which is sweet, and earns him a smile. He returns my smile without hesitation, leaning down and planting a kiss on my cheek. Butterflies flutter in my stomach. Garrick does things just to be kind and helpful. Is that normal? Do people actually do that?

His smile widens when he sees me staring. "What are you thinking about?"

"She's thinking about your wet bear smell," Drogo mutters.

Rinan laughs, and Arlys shakes his head. All three don't seem happy. Still. I would have thought after they stopped having to pretend to like me they'd be in better moods. I guess not.

"Actually," I give Garrick a smile, "I was thinking about how sweet you are. I've never had anyone help me with something just to be kind before."

My words change something in the air. Something I don't understand.

Rinan's stunning blue eyes met mine. "Surely as the princess to the witches your people always went out of their way to help you?"

I laugh and shake my head. "No, that's not the witch way." And helping me would bring down my mother's wrath. Anyone with half a brain wouldn't risk such a thing.

"Well, you better get used to being taken care of," Garrick says, those hazel eyes of his filled with kindness. "Because I'm going to spoil you rotten."

Drogo snorts angrily.

Rinan moves closer to me, but he's eyeing Garrick. "I bet the way a bear wife is treated is nothing like the way a wolf wife is treated. Our women are showered with gifts, time, affection, and the best sex of their lives."

Garrick huffs. "There's a reason why they say that once you go bear, you never go back."

My cheeks heat. "That can't be a real saying."

He winks at me. "You'll see, soon enough."

A picture conjures in my mind, and my face feels hotter. There's no doubt in my mind that Garrick is good at sex. The only question is how he'll fit . It's like seeing one of those tiny dogs and those giant dogs. There's just… only so many ways that can work.

Arlys, who has been following the conversation while rearranging his pack, glances back at us and says, "Not anytime soon though. Not until she's ready. That's the deal."

"A deal that we should reconsider, considering the fact that your relationship is fake," Garrick says without hesitation.

What? He wants to have sex with me out here? With the wolves watching? Although, I did almost have sex with Drogo. He, at least, had the decency not to try to do it with an audience.

My blush deepens, and I decide to say something before the real fighting can begin. "Garrick, we're not going to… do that … with them around. Right?"

His shoulders stiffen, and he reaches for my hand, lifting it and kissing my wrist. There's immediate regret coloring his face, and his words are soft and gentle. "Of course not. I was only teasing the wolves. When we're finally together, it won't be with the wolves watching and jerking their dicks to it."

The image plays in my mind, and I'm horrified. "Garrick!"

His chuckle is low and sexy. "Sorry, my love. It's hard to resist. But you're always my first priority."

"Fucking bears," murmurs Drogo.

To my surprise, Rinan looks at him and says, "Fucking bears," right back at him.

Garrick's only response is to laugh. I'm grateful at least one of them has a sense of humor about such an awkward situation. And that Garrick made it clear he has no plans to make our first time together happen with an audience.

Arlys, Drogo, and Rinan put their packs on. Arlys walks by one of the horses and slaps it on the ass before doing the same to the other horses. The beasts take off into the woods, disappearing from sight.

"Where are they going?" I ask, worried they'll get lost, or worse, in the forest.

"They'll head back home, safe and sound," Arlys reassures me.

Our eyes meet, and I'm lost for a moment in the brilliant deep green of his irises. It's foolish, knowing now everything that I know, but I can't take my eyes off of him. His lips curl into a little smile, and he takes a step toward me.

Garrick is suddenly between us. "Horses are smarter than you'd think. They can find their way home due to a mix of sensory input, memory, and intuition."

I refocus on his words, tearing my thoughts from Arlys. We've been traveling for days. I'm amazed the horses will make it all the way back on their own. Although, my knowledge of horses is admittedly limited, and my focus should be on the next step of this journey.

With the horses gone, I face the mountain, craning my neck to see all the way to the top. I can't. That's how tall the damn thing is. Which means lots of climbing over rough terrain.

Fun. But this is what I signed on for.

"It's not going to get smaller the longer we stare," Rinan says, standing beside me.

I laugh. "If only."

"Might as well get climbing," Arlys says, resecuring his long dark hair.

We start up the mountain, walking quietly for a while. Rinan stays next to me the whole time with Arlys and Drogo behind us and Garrick at the back. I get the feeling Garrick wants to be beside me, but the wolves don't give him the room to do so as we climb, which is strange.

I'm huffing and puffing a bit as Rinan takes my hand and helps me climb over a fallen tree, his hand lingering on mine for just a minute before he drops it. Something I try not to read too much into.

Instead, I keep going. This won't be easy, I can already tell, but it's not as bad as it seemed, and we quickly find a good pace. The path winds through the mountain, revealing stunning views. Vibrant wildflowers decorate the edges of the trail, and lush green ferns poke out from between rocks. My breathing is fast and my muscles are working, but I think I prefer this to riding.

"How sure are you that this is the solution to the Illness?" Rinan asks me.

My chest constricts, and my hands tingle. I know because of my mother's message, but should I tell them? They already don't trust me, especially Drogo.

"I wasn't completely sure the witches did this until the night before we left on this journey," I begin cautiously. Hesitantly.

This is probably a mistake, but I don't like secrets. If I keep secrets from them, I'm proving I can't be trusted.

"The night you ran away from us to the tower?" Rinan asks, confused.

Glancing at the others, I can see they're all following the conversation with interest. Which is a little intimidating. I've gotten this far; there's no backing down now.

So, I nod, forcing myself to make eye contact with him.

Inevitably, he asks the question. "What changed?"

Deep breath. "I got word from my mother."

Everyone stops walking and closes in around me with wide eyes. Shit. Painful regret uncurls in my belly. I don't know if I should have mentioned her. Or if I should tell them at all.

But to hell with it.

I swallow around the lump in my throat. "My mother told me to send word to her when all of the young shifters are too sick for battle, so the witches can infiltrate your land and decimate you. She said if I do that, then I can come back home."

The second I see their expressions, I know telling them was a mistake.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Drogo roars, his face twisting in rage. "Why are we just hearing about this now? How can we trust you after you've kept something this big a secret? You're probably leading us up this mountain to keep us from the cure, so everyone can get sick. How the hell would we even know?" He takes a step towards me, but Garrick is between us in an instant.

Unconsciously, I've taken a step back. My hand is on my heart. I knew something was going to happen. I should have gambled on the fact that Drogo would get upset. The guy has the disposition of an angry porcupine.

"Drogo, calm down," Arlys says, placing his hands on Drogo's shoulders and looking him in the eye. "Tara sharing this with us and coming out here to find the cure takes away her chance to go back home. She's showing us her loyalty over the witches." He turns to me, studying me, waiting for me to say something.

My thoughts spin, but I decide to be honest. "I'd never help the shifters hurt the witches, but I'm also not going to let my people kill yours in such a cowardly way. If you all want to keep fighting, warring with each other and killing both sides, I can't stop that. I can try to stop this and save your kind from complete annihilation. I can help you heal, so you can defend yourselves against an attack."

No one says a word or moves a muscle. All eyes are on me, and I look at each of the men, trying to read their emotions. They aren't giving me anything. I bite my lip and blow out a breath, not sure of what to say or do next. Drogo seems calmer. Garrick isn't holding on to him anymore. But no one has affection in their expressions. Their faces are all blank.

"Did your mother also tell you how she was making us sick?" Rinan asks.

I sigh, feeling even more pressure to get this right. "No, but my gut is telling me that the water is the source of the illness. I won't know for sure until we get to wherever the truth might reveal itself."

"You better be right," Drogo mumbles from the back of our pack.

On the surface, he looks angry, but in his gaze, I see something else. Something new. Could it be that me revealing the truth is making him waiver in his hatred for me? I don't know, but his words are still those of an asshole.

His eyes meet mine. "Because if you're lying–"

"Shut the hell up. You know she's not lying," Garrick tells him as he brushes past him and walks on the other side of me.

I relax a little in the bear's presence. Garrick is calming in a way I've never experienced before, and he makes me feel protected. He's the only one out of the four who will really challenge Drogo, even when I can sense that Rinan and Arlys have a problem with his words. It makes me respect Garrick more.

As we continue our journey, I replay what just happened, the looks on all of their faces when I told them about the message from my mother, and I wonder yet again if I should have kept it to myself until everything is solved. I do feel better now that I've said something, but I don't know if I've improved anything between the wolves and me, or if it just made things worse.

Sighing, I try to concentrate on the present. I can't think about my relationship with the wolves too much, or I may just want to throw myself off this mountain for a little peace and quiet. Instead, I need to focus on the path ahead, and the difficult task I have to get right… or else.