Colton's Dilemma (Shadow Breeds) - By Dara Nelson Page 0,1

fear in their blood.

She turned, as if she had re-thought her decision to go to the house, and took a few hesitant steps toward the right side yard. She stopped again and looked back at the house. He could see that she was completely exhausted. She looked about ready to collapse as she stood there trying to decide what to do. He was trying to figure out why he almost seemed to want her to come to the house. A visitor, an unwanted guest, was the last thing he needed or wanted. But he found himself holding his breath as he watched her.

“Sir?” Hansen said as he quietly appeared by his side. They knew each other so well by now, that a few words spoken here or there was all they ever needed to say.

“I haven’t decided yet,” he said as he sighed.

Suddenly his eyes were drawn back to the trees as he heard the wolves howl. They had picked up her scent again. She heard it too. Her eyes went wide as her head whipped back to the trees and then she quickly made her decision. She ran the last few yards to the porch, stumbled up the door, collapsed to her knees and began pounding on the door.

Hansen looked at him questioningly.

“Damn it, now they’ll know she’s here.” He took a split-second to make his decision. “Let her in and tear her shirt off. I’ll take it out and leave her scent from here to the river. Hopefully they’ll think she fell in. Hurry, quickly!” he said as he pushed Hansen towards the door.

Hansen unbolted the three deadbolts, turned the knob, and she collapsed into his arms as she whispered, “Please help me.” She went limp in his arms as she lost consciousness. Hansen froze. He looked up at him, “Sir?” he said.

Frustrated at Hansen’s lack of action, he quickly tore her shirt off himself. He turned as he stepped out onto the porch, “Bolt the door then take her up to my room. Quick man, move!” he said as he slammed the door shut. He waited just long enough to hear one deadbolt click into place then he ran off the end of the porch and around the side of the house, letting her blouse periodically touch the ground and bushes as he ran past them. He didn’t worry about his own scent – they couldn’t smell him. He could hear the pounding of the wolves’ feet behind him, he could hear their panting breaths, but he knew that they were far enough behind him that they couldn’t see him. And he also knew that he left no scent for them to trace. He quickly closed the seven miles to the river. He chose a branch down by the water line to impale the blouse on it: hopefully those mutts will think she fell in and drowned. He circled the long way back around, emerging on the other side of the house about an hour later. He sneered as he heard the wolves howl in angry defeat as they reached the river – his ruse must have worked, for now.

Hansen opened the door for him when he stepped onto the porch, “You are unharmed, Sir?” he said.

He smiled. Hansen’s sense of humor always made him smile. “Yes I am unharmed,” he said, “The woman?”

“Asleep in your bed. I’m afraid I will have to burn those sheets, she smells atrocious. I’ll never be able to get that smell out.”

“She’s been running from the wolves all night, Hansen. What did you expect her to smell like? Roses?” he said.

“I expect her to not smell like anything, because I expect her to not be here. She will be going away soon, won’t she Sir?”

“Yes, Hansen. As soon as she’s well enough to leave, she’ll be gone. Until then, try to play nice, won’t you?” he said, smiling. Hansen meant well – but he guarded their privacy almost as intensely as he did.

Hansen rolled his eyes. “Will you need anything more from me tonight, Sir?”

“No, that is all. Thank you, Hansen, and goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Sir,” Hansen said as he turned and made his way down the hall to his own room.

He stood for a few minutes in the dark, unsure of what to do. His eyes moved up the stairs. She was up there, sleeping, in his bed. What the hell was he supposed to do now? He could go out for the night – find a few tasty morsels at one