Читать книгу A New Beginning - Joycee Clark - Страница 22

Chapter Seventeen

Garret got things as ready as he could for the storm. They were all on call as there were always lots of emergencies in a storm like this. He was in a hurry to get to Mariah and Lucca. “Ah Mariah” Garret thought to himself, she took his breath away. Her beauty, intelligence, and her devotion to the wild wolves and her project. He’d never met a woman even remotely like her and he knew Lucca felt the same way. Garret thought of the way she was starting to relax around them, especially their wolves. She was smiling more and even making a few jokes now and then. She was still nervous to make eye contact with them, but not with their wolves. She talked to their wolves the way most women would talk to their best friend. Since she started that, they had learned a lot about Mariah’s past, her sisters, and even about Mariah herself. There hadn’t been any sign of her stalker for a couple weeks now. Maybe because of the extra security they had around the cabin. Not only their friends in wolf form, but cameras. Maybe they had him spooked and that would be the end of that trauma for Mariah. Garret sincerely hoped so. Nearly to the cabin, he could hear Mariah and Lucca talking and laughing, the drop must have gone well. The snow was really starting to come down fast. He would get the fire stoked up and start something to eat so the three of them could have a meal together before Lucca had to take off to get his duties done. Always more equipment to clean and repair and prepare for any emergency that will arise.

“Hey Garret,” Mariah hollered as she saw him when they came around the cabin. “Lovely to have you join us. You missed the fun. The wolves are absolutely amazing. I’m excited to tell you all about them. Lucca helped unload them so he got a good look as he can help keep an eye out for them. He even offered for you two to catch them food in this blizzard until they get use to their new hunting grounds.” Nice guy, Huh!

They all headed into the cabin so they could get warmed up, not that the cold bothered Garret and Lucca much, but they played the game for Mariah. Fire stoked, food ready, they all sat down at the table to eat and catch up for the day. Mariah went first telling Garret all about the wolves. Their colors, their eyes, she could even pick ot the Alpha and his mate, which Mariah had determined may be carrying pups, which excited her even more.

Lucca explained the location of the drop sight and Garret gave Lucca the run down on the equipment so Lucca would know what still needed to be done when he got to the fire station, where Search & Rescue kept their gear and the helicopter.

When it was time for Lucca to take off, as he put on his coat, Mariah approached him. She started pulling on his coat to tighten it up. Not looking into Lucca’s eyes but only his chest, Mariah commented, “Lucca, stay safe, stay warm, and call if you need Garret. I’ll lock myself in good and tight. I have a full tummy and a full wood box. There’s been no sight of the dimwit asshole stalker, so all is well. I’m a big girl, you two shouldn’t have to babysit me.” Lucca lifted her chin with one finger and looked into Mariah’s eyes and smiled, “Thanks Baby for caring about me.” A slight kiss and Lucca was out the door.

Mariah turned to look at Garret and he was smiling. “Do I have to leave again to get one of those?” Garret teased, referring to the Kiss. “Of course not.” Mariah replied and walked over and gave him a soft kiss too. “But these don’t come free. Kisses are near and dear to me and I don’t give them to just anyone at any time.” Mariah smiled and walked into the living room and sat on the couch. “Come talk to me Garret, Please” Mariah said. Garret sat at the other end of the couch not wanting to crowd her, and it wasn’t a big couch anyway. As he faced Mariah, their knees nearly touching.

“What do you want to know? We have been through color, music, and movies.” Garret reminded her. Mariah sighed, looked intently at Garret. “History”, Mariah answered. “You and Lucca. How did you meet, how long have you been real friends, how long have you worked together, family, you know, your history.”

“Well, where to start. I’ve known Lucca pretty much my entire life. We grew up together in the same pack. We basically learned everything together from changing to our wolves to schooling. We were home schooled until High School. We grew up not far from here in Washington State and went to Washington State University, we both enlisted at the same time and tested out for Special Forces. We were in our Unit for eight years, that’s where we met Dean Harper, our Alpha. Dean was our commanding officer as well as Alpha. Yes, the higher ups knew we are shifters. Our government has used us for years as a special unit to go where regular soldiers can’t or it’s too dangerous.”

“Lucca was always there to have my back and I was always there for him. We protected each other and the Alpha knew to always send us in on the same mission. Many times, without Lucca, I would never have made it home. We have shared everything from heartache to joy. The joy part was when we met you.” Garret chuckled and leaned over to pat Mariah’s knee. “My parents have both passed and so have Lucca’s. His Aunt actually finished raising us. She was there when no one else was. She keeps in touch and we take care of her financially. In pack life if the young loose their parents, relatives step up and take the kids, if you have no relatives, the pack Alpha places them in the best place for them to continue learning not only the outside world, but the pack laws. We are taught the laws and respect for the human world from very young.”

“I had a twin brother that died right after birth, so I guess I substituted Lucca for him. Lucca has two sisters that actually teach school her in Cedar Creek. They moved here when we did. They were struggling and had been ousted out of the pack because they were human. But they had been excellent additions to the pack.

“Lucca said neither of you knew all your history. Only parts of it. Because the Witch only made males wolves, is that why you have to find human mates to keep the family lines going?” Mariah asked. “I imagine so. It was such a long time ago. Records back then weren’t kept as well as ours today, of course. We know the wolves were charged with assisting and protecting humanity. After the epidemics mostly ended, there were always wars. Groups would come in and wipe out entire villages. Our elders use to tell us stories of how wolves would go in, clean up the dead, scanvage what they could for the other humans. We would help rebuild their huts or houses, replant crops so they wouldn’t starve, and hunt for missing people, mostly children. Wolves rarely went to war with humans, it just wouldn’t be right, we are so much stronger and faster, but every generation has been taught honor, integrity, and courage. There are always a few bad ones that go rogue. They refuse to live in a pack and follow our laws. They break human laws as easily as Pack Law. When they are found, they are usually put down. There are actually hunters for this type of wolf. We don’t interfere with them because they are actually doing us a favor.”