“Yes.” He turned as the pot boiled over with papa bear porridge. Lev growled and dashed to it and set the pot on the ground.
Fearing he seared his hand, she stared. “Did you get burned?”
Lev lifted his palm. Not even red. “No worry.”
Rachel dressed and added layers of extra clothing.
Lev spooned out the oatmeal and tasted it. “Nice and hot.” He poured some into a bowl and handed it to her.
Rachel sat by the fire and ate, grateful for the thick oatmeal coating her empty stomach. She gazed out the cave entrance. Some of the packed snow had melted, widening the window and giving her a view of the scenic Himalayas. Too bad they were on the run from a group of bad ass werewolves who desired her as a possible broodmare; otherwise, she could spend another couple weeks up here. Alone. With Lev. Dramatic hikes in the day and great sex at night. Burdened with the secret about their society, she wanted to clarify she would continue to practice medicine, and once the bad guys were no longer an issue, live apart. With or without Lev. Living with a pack of werewolves was too weird. Even for her.
Lev downed his bowl and grimaced. “Porridge needs meat.”
“So you don’t want seconds?”
“We need to leave. Now.” He dug out the opening. His claws raking and melting the snow pack. His touch might as well be a nuclear fuel rod. Whatever the case, her father would enlighten her about Lev’s unusual mutations.
The urgency of his tone didn’t bode well. “Are we in danger?”
“I hear a helicopter. Probably the bad guys returning for their pack.”
Rachel tilted her head. “I don’t hear anything.”
He laughed. “You won’t. The helicopter is too far for human ears to pick up.”
Trusting her protector, she nodded. “I’m ready when you are.”
The entrance free of snow, he offered her his hand, but she hesitated. Leaving the cave was like leaving the womb. Once out, she’d be introduced to a new world that included lycans.
“Trust me.”
I do. She took his hand. “Okay.”
They headed down the trail from the cavern. She still didn’t hear the helicopter. “Maybe it’s just the pilot.”
“Since they lost contact, they’ll send more pack members.”
Rachel kept up with his long strides. “We’ll be outnumbered.”
He snorted with Russian bravado. “I can fight more, but I won’t risk you getting hurt.”
Although her protector had super strength so did the other werewolves. Besides, the fact her father had saved Lev’s life proved he too was vulnerable to injury and death. “And I won’t risk you getting hurt on account of me.” Rachel slipped and he kept her from falling.
“The terrain will be dangerous so it will be best if I carry you.” He bent down. “On my back.”
“Okay, but watch your step.” She climbed on.
He laughed, looping his arms around her legs. “Hold on.”
Rachel closed her eyes. Lev ran down perilous cliff edges at speeds she could only compare to a sprinter heading toward the finishing line. One slip, goodbye life.
The roar of what sounded like another avalanche cracked the calm air.
“I’m going to go faster so hang on.”
This was not his topnotch speed? She squeaked. “Faster?”
In a mad race to beat the oncoming avalanche, she held on for dear life. She opened one eye.