The Snow Leopard's Love Read online

  “Careful.” Katrina pressed her lips together. “If we go too fast, there’s a chance we’ll take a curve wrong and crash.” She glanced at the dashboard. “You need to slow down.”

  “Mom.” Belle glanced at her mom for a second as they traveled along a relatively straight part of the road.

  The driver of the truck made his move. The engine revved and the truck shot forward, heading for the side of the car. There might be enough room to pass if Belle moved over to the side of the road and slowed down.

  “Don’t let them pass.” Katrina gripped the edges of her seat.

  “The car is no match for their truck.” Belle looked in the side mirror. The truck was almost level with the trunk of the car. She had to make a decision.

  “You’re right. If they don’t pass and they smash into the car, we’re in trouble,” Katrina’s voice rose in panic.

  “Mommy?” Rosie’s voice wavered as she dropped her book.

  “Sit still,” Belle commanded. “Just hold on tight. There’s a crazy driver behind us.”

  “They’re coming up the side,” Rosie wailed as the hood of the truck drew level with her window. There was no way to outrun them. She needed a new plan.

  Up ahead there was a trail mouth that opened up on the side of the road and led into the trees. If she slowed down, she could pull off the road and let them pass. A quick glance told her the truck was still coming, edging farther alongside them.

  Belle eased her foot off the accelerator and then pressed down on the brake, guiding the car into the trail mouth.

  The truck sped past them, giving Belle a quick chance to look at the people inside. The guy closest to the window stared at her, his eyes fixed on her face before he turned away.

  Her heart hammered in her chest as she stopped the car, her fingers clutching the steering wheel so tightly she had to flex them a couple of times before she loosened her grip.

  “They’re slowing down,” Katrina whispered.

  Belle raised her head, the truck’s red brake lights were bright under the dark canopy of trees. “Hold on tight.”

  She pulled forward across the road, and then put the car in reverse. As she pulled back into the trail mouth, the truck driver began backing down the road.

  “Hurry.” Katrina gripped the door as Belle swung the car around. She pulled forward again, there was no way she’d make it in one go without risking the wheel going off the edge of the road.

  She reversed again, aware of the approaching truck speeding toward them.

  The wheels spun as she drove forward, the wheel turned hard as she finally made it back around and headed back the way they’d come.

  “Mommy, what’s happening?” Rosie wailed as she swung right and left in her seat.

  “We’re going back the way we came,” Belle replied.

  “Why?” Rosie put her hand out to catch her book as it slid off her lap.

  Damn it! What the hell did they want? The boxes in the trunk? There must be something in Reggie’s stuff that they wanted. But what? It all looked like junk, aside from the books.

  Perhaps there was something hidden in them?

  She glanced in the rearview mirror. They were trying to turn the truck around, but the vehicle was too long, and they seemed to have gotten themselves wedged across the road. She pressed her foot down on the accelerator and drove like the devil himself was on their heels.

  “What are we going to do?” Katrina asked.

  “Call the police,” Jack suggested.

  “Good idea.” Belle glanced at her mom. “Call them.”

  “And say what? What are the chances they’ll find us before...” She closed her mouth, her jaw tense.

  “They’ll find us.”

  “And then what? Those guys will go to the ground and we’ll go home...”

  Her mom’s words brought up all kinds of horrifying scenarios in her mind. “They know where you live.”

  “They do.”

  “Then what do you suggest?” Belle asked. “We can’t run forever.”

  “We should call Rift.”

  Belle swung her head around to face her mom. “I am not dragging him into this. Whatever this is.”

  “I don’t think you have a choice,” Katrina replied.

  Belle raised her eyes, glimpsing the truck in the rearview mirror before the road curved to the right and they disappeared from view. Her mom was right, they were out of choices.

  But if they called him, would he come?

  There was only one way to find out.

  Chapter Eight – Rift

  Rift ran through the pine forest, he could hear a car in the distance, signaling he was close to the road. Slowing his pace, he waited until he could see the road before he slipped behind a thick shrubby bush and shifted back into his human form.

  Stretching his arms above his head, he leaned from side to side, trying to get rid of the kinks in his body from being in the truck for too long. He couldn’t wait to get back to Wishing Moon Bay, but he hated the idea of going home without his mate.

  He looked up at the sky, it was an hour or two past noon and if they wanted to get back before dark, they needed to get back on the road soon.

  His stomach rumbled. First, he needed to eat. He jogged down to the road, crossed over in the same place as before, and hurried on to the truck stop. The aroma of steak and fries met him as he opened the door and went inside.

  “There you are.” Aiden was at the counter talking to the cashier. Next to him was a cardboard container. “I was worried your food would get cold.” He nodded toward the packet of food.

  “And I was worried we’d be hanging around here for hours.” Flora picked up the food and handed it to him. “I persuaded Aiden to let you eat this in the truck as long as you promise not to wipe your greasy fingers on his upholstery.”

  Rift cracked a smile. “You’re so kind and thoughtful.”

  “Don’t get used to it.” Flora stared at him for a long moment as he sniffed the food. “You look a little better. The run did you good?”

  “It did. I’ve cleared my head.” He backed toward the door as Aiden finished paying and slipped his wallet into his pocket. “If I also fill my stomach, I should be feeling halfway to normal.”

  “I’m sorry about what happened with Belle,” Flora told him as Caleb and Elise left the table they’d been seated at and came to join them. “But I am certain it’ll work out.”

  “It has to.” Elise screwed up her mouth. “You deserve to be happy, Rift.” She linked arms with him, and they went outside. “We just have to figure out how to make Belle see that she needs you in her life.”

  “That might be a little difficult if I’m in Wishing Moon Bay and she is...” He looked up at the thick pine forest. “Wherever she is.”

  “It’ll work out.” Elise let go of his arm and he unwrapped the food. It looked good and the smell assailed his senses.

  “I hope so.” Rift was done talking about it for now. As much as he appreciated their concern, he didn’t want to spend the entire drive home going over and over the subject. There was nothing more he could do, nothing more he could say.

  Unless he tracked Belle down like a stalker, he’d have to trust in fate to bring them back together.

  Just as fate brought us together in the first place, his snow leopard reminded him.

  Exactly like that, Rift agreed.

  They all got in the truck and Rift started on his food, the fries were golden and delicious while the steak was cooked to perfection. He relished the flavors as they drove on, and he ignored the nagging voice in his head telling him they were getting farther and farther away from his mate.

  “Thanks for the food, Aiden.” Rift wiped his fingers on a napkin.

  “You’re welcome. I wish there was more I could do for you.” Aiden glanced in the rearview mirror and offered a sad smile.

  “I know. And I appreciate it, I really do. But I suppose I just have to move on and hope that things turn out the way they�
��re supposed to.” Rift wiped the back of his hand over his eyes. He was tired, emotionally drained and now that he’d eaten, he just wanted to curl up under his bedcovers and go to sleep. But they were still a long way from home.

  As he stared out of the window, the steady thrum of the engine lulled him to sleep, his eyes growing heavier as the wheels turned.

  “Rift.” Elise dug him in the ribs, and he jumped, forcing his heavy eyelids open as he reached for his phone.

  “I must have dozed off.” He tapped the screen, his eyes unfocused for a second before they widened, and he was suddenly wide awake. “It’s Belle.”

  “Belle is calling you?” Caleb leaned forward and stared at his brother.

  “Yeah.” Rift locked eyes with his brother as confusion filled him.

  “Well, answer it,” Flora ordered.

  “I am.” He tapped the screen again. “Hello, Belle?”

  “Katrina.” Belle’s mom sounded breathless as if she’d been running.

  “Is everything all right?” Rift was instantly focused as he waited for the reply.

  “No.” Katrina gasped.

  “What’s wrong?” He tapped Aiden on the shoulder and his brother pulled over to the side of the road.

  “We’re being chased. There’s a truck following us and...” Katrina hiccupped as she stifled a sob.

  “Where are you?” Rift demanded.

  “On a mountain road.” Her voice was muffled for a moment and he could hear Belle’s voice in the background. “When we left the house, we took a mountain road that headed toward the highway.”

  “I have the map on my phone.” Elise tapped her phone screen and presented it to Rift. “Here’s the house where we met. I think this might be the road they’re on.” Elise leaned forward and traced her finger along a road that followed the edge of the mountain range.

  “Okay, I think we know which road you’re on.” Rift pointed to Aiden and Elise flipped the phone around and showed the bear shifter the route they needed to take.

  “Hurry.” Fear laced Katrina’s voice.

  “We will.” Rift leaned to the right as Aiden swung the truck around and headed back in the direction they’d come from. “Can you stay on the line?”

  “I’ll try.” Katrina gasped as tires squealed. “Careful, Belle.”

  “I’m trying,” came Belle’s muffled reply.

  “What’s happening?” Rift asked. “Can you tell me how close they are to you?”

  Katrina was quiet for a moment. Then she answered, “We can’t see them right now, the road is too winding.”

  “Good, try to keep ahead of them. We’ll meet you soon.” He sounded more confident than he felt.

  “Maybe we should turn off the road and hide in the trees,” Katrina suggested. “There are a couple of trails.”

  “No!” Rift snapped before calming his voice. “If they are shifters, they’ll be able to sense you. You’ll just end up trapped with no way out.”

  “I forgot shifters can sense people even if they aren’t their mate,” Katrina replied.

  “They’ll be able to sense you for some distance. I’d expect you to need at least a couple of miles or more between you and them to lose them completely.” He glanced at Caleb. “That gives me an idea.”

  “Any idea of how we’re going to get out of this is fine by me,” Katrina replied.

  “Okay, we’ll be turning onto the road in about half a mile.” Rift glanced at Aiden, his brother’s face was set firm, his focus completely on the task of reaching Belle and her family before they came to harm.

  “We’re about a mile away from the end of the road.” Katrina let out a small cry.

  “Are you still okay?” Rift asked.

  “We’re good,” she replied, although she didn’t sound good.

  Rift’s snow leopard snarled, he wanted to spring free of the truck and run across the mountainside to his mate. As the distance between them lessened, he could sense her. Our mate.

  We’ll get to them, don’t worry, Rift assured his snow leopard.

  “Do you want to fill us all in on your plan?” Aiden glanced at Rift in the rearview mirror.

  “We’re going to trade passengers,” Rift replied.

  “Trade passengers?” Elise was surprised by the plan.

  “Yes.” He spoke into the phone as Aiden indicated to turn left, his mate was close, he could sense her more clearly now. “Aiden, drive a little way up the road and then turn around,” he directed.

  “Who’s going to swap cars?” Caleb asked.

  “The children and Katrina need to get in here. I’ll get in the car with Belle.” He would prefer for Belle to ride in the truck with Aiden, but it was risky putting all of Belle’s family in one car with Aiden in case the pursuers realized what they’d done.

  “We’ll come with you,” Elise offered.

  “Elise, I don’t want you...” Caleb was silenced by a sidelong look from his mate.

  “We’ll get out of the back seat and they can slide into our places,” Elise said. “Aiden and Flora can protect them if they get followed.”

  “Agreed,” Flora said. “We’ll split up. If they follow you, we’ll just head to Wishing Moon Bay. If they follow us, you’ll need to turn around and come after us.”

  “That’s a good plan,” Aiden replied. “Although, if they do follow Belle’s car, I’d rather be there when they catch up with you.” He snarled under his breath, his shoulders tensed, and the whites of his knuckles showed as he twisted his fingers on the steering wheel.

  If only he could wring the necks of the people chasing Belle and her family. He’d soon teach them not to threaten his mate and her kids. They were his to protect.

  “I’ll feel better knowing you and Flora are keeping the children safe,” Rift replied.

  “Do you think those people have anything to do with...” Caleb glanced down at the phone in Rift’s hand, realizing that Katrina was still on the other end of the line.

  “We’ll ask them if they catch up with us,” Rift replied.

  “I’d sure be happy to force the information out of them with my fists.” Caleb’s lip turned up at the corner. “Or maybe I should introduce them to my bear. He’s not in the mood to ask nicely.”

  “Okay, let’s calm down a little,” Elise said warily. “Don’t go doing anything stupid. Just keep your cool.”

  Elise slipped her arm around Caleb’s shoulder and he leaned on her, before kissing her cheek. “Don’t worry. I’m in control.”

  “Good.” She placed her hand on his cheek and turned him to face her, brushing her lips across his.

  Rift licked his lips, he longed to taste his mate, to feel the warmth of her body as he held her in his arms. Was this fate’s way of bringing them back together? If it was, he’d rather his mate had come back into his life without the threat of danger looming over her.

  “Are you still there?” he asked Katrina.

  “Still here. We’re close to the end of the road. Still no sign of the other truck. I hope we haven’t gotten you involved for nothing,” she replied.

  “It’s better to be safe,” Rift answered.

  Maybe they were just opportunist guys, his snow leopard said. The best result here would be for them to have given up and gone back to whichever rock they crawled out from under, while we still get to be the hero for our mate.

  You’re right. But we don’t know anything for sure. His jaw clenched. What if they know where Belle lives?

  We’ll go home with them, his snow leopard announced. Until we know for sure the threat has passed, we won’t leave their side.

  Belle might need some convincing about that idea, Rift said. She might be suspicious of us and think we are involved in some way.

  How can we be involved? His snow leopard frowned.

  It might seem suspicious that we showed up at the house and then these guys chased them. She might think we’re in on it together. Rift would not blame her for suspecting them.

  She would
n’t have called if she believed that, his snow leopard insisted.

  You’re right. I’m just afraid we might blow this one chance of winning our mate over. Rift focused on the road ahead as they passed a sign indicating the mountain road was close.

  Then we’d better not blow it. His snow leopard was ready to move, ready to fight. Ready to make their mate see she needed him in their lives.

  “This is it.” Aiden leaned forward and peered ahead as they turned onto the road that ran along the side of the mountain. “I think I see them.”

  “You do?” Flora leaned forward. “Damn, you have good eyesight.”

  “Okay, swing the truck around, we’ll wait for them here.” Rift stared ahead of them. Aiden was right, up ahead a car was speeding toward them, although he couldn’t make out the details yet, it had to be them.

  Aiden pulled across the road before turning the wheel hard as he backed up the truck. Another couple of tries and he’d turned the truck around, Rift unclipped his seatbelt and turned to look out of the back window.

  “Are you ready?” Caleb asked Elise.

  “Yes.” She unclipped her seatbelt and looped the strap of her purse over her head. “Should we get out now?”

  “No, wait until the car slows down.” Rift replied. “If there’s a problem and they don’t stop, we’ll be ready to follow them.”

  He pushed his senses out, searching for his mate. She was there, in the car, the space between them growing less with each passing second. He could sense the other people in the car, the people he’d sworn to protect.

  Then he pushed his senses out farther. If the truck was following them, he should be able to sense them, too. He closed his eyes briefly, pushing himself harder as his mind fought to cling to the presence of his mate. He wanted to blot out everything else and just focus on her. She was all that mattered.

  Not true, his snow leopard stated. Her family matters, too. Katrina, Jack, and Rosie need to be kept safe, too.