As he drove along the long driveway leading from their lodge, his cell phone rang, and he punched on the Bluetooth that Zack had insisted he use after the wreck he’d been in a year or so before. Not that the wreck had even been his fault, but Zack was a wolf, and the alpha at that. Over-protectiveness came with the territory. Zack’s voice came over the speakers in his dash.
“Hey, sweetheart. You got away without a kiss this morning. I just may have to spank you for that when I get my hands on you again. ”
Gabe laughed. “Mmm, yes, please. I won’t be gone long, babe. I just wanted to put out these flyers for Nicky. Are you on your way to the mines?”
“Yes, Jamie’s with me too. We’ve only just left, but we should get there around ten o’clock for our meeting with the foreman. Should be back home by this afternoon. Where are you going to put out the flyers?”
“I wanted to go by some of the bars in town, just to check and see if anyone has seen him. ”
“Okay, but be careful, honey. I don’t like you in places like that. ”
“Afraid I might get on the bar and start dancing again?” Gabe laughed. “No, I think my butt’s still sore over that one. I have no desire to repeat that punishment, thank you very much. ”
Zack chuckled softly. “Now you’ve done it. My dick is hard as rock just thinking about that pretty little ass across my lap. ”
“Oh my God!” Gabe suddenly yelled, and he could hear Zack’s frantic shout.
“What’s the matter? Are you okay? Talk to me!”
“Zack, somebody just stepped out on the road in front of me. I think they’re trying to flag me down. ”
“Run over them! Don’t you dare stop!” Zack said loudly, fear evident in his voice.
“No, it’s…oh my God, Zack, I think it’s—Nicky! He looks like Nicky—oh Jesus, he looks so…”
“I’m on my way to you, baby, but it will take about twenty minutes. Stall for time. Try to get him inside the truck. ” Zack hung up with a clatter and Gabe slowed way down, rolling to a stop beside the figure that had darted back off the road and was now standing just outside the tree line. Gabe jumped from the truck and ran toward him, but the man who looked like Nicky put up his hands and growled slightly.
“Stay back. ”
Gabe slowed to a halt and stared at him. “Nicky? It’s me, Gabe. ”
“I know who it is. Just please don’t touch me, Gabe. I’m filthy, and I-I don’t like being touched now. ”
Gabe stood very still, looking at his friend. Nicky’s hair was long and shaggy. He had dark circles under his eyes, and he looked really dirty, with dirt caked even under his fingernails. He was trembling, and had lost twenty pounds at least, since the last time Gabe had seen him. He was still achingly beautiful, but he had a haunted look, and the sparkle that had always been such a huge part of him was gone, his eyes flat and lifeless, like a doll’s eyes.
“Nicky, please let me help you,” Gabe said softly, holding out a hand to him again.
He shied backward, but nodded. “Yes, I came for help. I, uh, I spent all the money I had, and I need more, Gabe. I was wondering if you could give me some. ”
“Of course I will, Nicky. Let’s go back to the house, and …. ”
“No! I can’t let Zack see me. I’ve been waiting around for three days now to try to find you alone. Zack will tell Marco, and he’ll come to get me out of some stupid sense of responsibility or duty, and I won’t be just a burden to him. A fucking millstone around his neck. ”
“No, Nicky, he’s been frantic and miserable since you left. He’s been searching everywhere. He loves you so much, Nicky. ”
Nicky tilted his head and for a moment, Gabe saw hope in his eyes, just a faint glimmer, but then it was gone, almost as fast as it had come, leaving his eyes dull and hopeless again. He shook his head. “He feels bad about it all, of course. Feels responsible. Good. The son-of-a-bitch is responsible. I want him to suffer, like I have. I hate him!”
“No, Nicky, please come and sit in my truck. You look so tired. I can give you some money, or whatever you need. I’ll take you wherever you need to go. Come on, I’ll help you. ”
Nicky hesitated, then took one step forward. Suddenly he froze and tipped his head in that same strange little way again. His eyes narrowed as he looked back at Gabe. “You’re trying to trick me! Your damn wolf is coming, isn’t he?” He backed away and would have melted back into the woods if not for Gabe’s excited cry.
“No, Nicky, wait! You’re right, Zack is coming. He was on the phone with me when I first saw you. But wait! You know they’ll shift and hunt you down. You could be hurt! Don’t run, Nicky, please. Just give up and come home with us. ”
“No way, Gabe. I can’t go back! I’ll never go back!”
He turned and ran off into the woods, even though Gabe yelled frantically at him to return. Gabe peered into the bushes, wanting to run in after him, but knowing Zack would kill him for risking himself. Nicky was too unpredictable in his present state. He turned and ran back to the truck, and grabbed his phone. Scrolling through the numbers, he found the one he wanted and punched the number in with his hands shaking. “Marco, thank God you answered right away. It’s Nicky! I’ve seen him, and you need to get down here right away!”
Knowing he didn’t have much time before Zack and the other wolves would be after him, Nicky ran straight for the nearby stream he’d gotten a drink of water from earlieri. He ran straight down the middle of the freezing stream for as long as he could, stumbling and falling over the rocky bed, hoping to drown out his scent. Finally, when the stream widened and got deeper, he was forced to climb out on the steep bank and head into the deep woods. Exhausted, he had to stop and rest frequently, but he knew he had to keep running and get as far away as he could from the place he’d stopped to talk to Gabe on the road. Not only was Zack and the rest of his pack sure to be hot on his trail, but by this time, he knew Gabe had called Marco.