Se connecterNick~ So far, so good. The decoy transport van is in place with a flat tire up on a jack. A lookalike Harley is in the back waiting for the driver to fix it. Kyle and I secured our backpacks on the branches of a cedar tree near the bridge. Then we drive our SUV a few miles back down the road and find a hiding spot. After returning in wolf form, we take cover in the thick brush and trees, which Rolling Bridge has much of. Zeek's panting from the run, his rapid breaths sound like a jackhammer on this side of the wolf. He lay down, stretching his belly out on the cool earth. Within a few moments, the vibration stops, and he tilts his head to the wind. 'They're coming, Nick.' To our right, Knox raises his snout in the air and snorts as he scents them too. We rise from the ground, and our two wolves maneuver their way unseen through the brush back to the bridge. We shift, retrieve our clothes, dress, and their humans emerge. It had been a mystery why Harley had stayed in such a
Harley~ After that, the truck goes silent, and I roll my window down and ride the air. My fingers spread, and the wind runs through them as a breeze of lavender growing wild fills the passenger compartment. If only a pleasant breeze and a picture-perfect day could bring Nick's family back together again. Right now, I don't have a clue how to do it. Nick is a million miles away as I look over at him. I'm surprised by the jealousy that fills me at the thought that he's thinking about her. We've indeed both had over lovers, though mine wasn't so close to home. "Wolfman, whatcha thinking about so hard over there?" One of his hands squeezes the wheel, and the other one my hand beneath his. "You know, all of this is happening because of you?" Is that a good thing? He won't look at me, so I can't tell. "Do I want the credit?" He glances at me. "We can find another doctor if that's what you want." "Then I would be the coward who can't own up to his mistakes. And it's too late f
Harley~ My nut is proving difficult to crack, and he gets a raised eyebrow for his stubbornness. "As long as you have breath, it's not too late, Nick. Someone has to go first." He has wiped the same spot twice. "Rich said you need to relax. How about while we're here, you get some rest?" And I thought I was a master of deflection! Whatever he's running from, he believes, is unforgivable. The detective in me has bad news: it's either money or love. "I'm up for a nap." Nick extends his hand, which I accept, and he pulls me into his chest, holding me close. This is my favorite part; I lay my head on his chest to hear his heartbeat. "Come on," he rubs his hands down my back. Once we were inside, he moved me aside and closed the doors. But opens the curtains and pulls up the blinds. Then we settled on the bed, and he wrapped himself around me. These times when we are completely open to each other are intense. The strength of Nick's love for us overrides anything that he coul
Harley~ "Meaning my body is adjusting to being pregnant?" "That's right," Ponzie spreads my legs, "You may feel some pressure." He pushes his thick fingers inside me. "The cervix becomes much more sensitive during pregnancy." Tears streamed down my face as I closed my eyes and turned my head. Nick brushed his knuckles across my face with our adjoined hands. My core muscles tensed as he moved all around, poking here and there. When he pulled out, his glove had several small smears of blood on it. "Other causes include stress, overexertion, and intercourse." All three of which I'm guilty, I dropped my eyes to my lap as a knot formed in my throat. Ponzie removes his gloves and goes into the bathroom. He comes back, wiping his hands with a paper towel. "Everything feels secure," he looked between us and settled on Harley, "but your situation is still precarious; I would classify yours as a threatened miscarriage pregnancy." Nick's jaw tightened as he spoke. "Is that just as
Nick~ Somewhere around daybreak......' Nick! Wake up!' Zeek's voice clawed at the back of my skull, sharp and frantic. 'What the hell, Z? I groaned internally, my mind still thick with honeyed sleep. 'Blood. Harley's.' My heart didn't just pound; it thrashed against my ribs like a trapped bird as I surged upright. The sheets were a grisly, sodden mess, the copper tang of iron filling the air. With shaking hands, I patted down her limbs, searching for a jagged cut or a wound. Nothing. Her skin was pale and cool, her eyes locked in a deep, unresponsive heaviness. 'The bleeding is internal, Nick. Wake her up. Now.' 'Ok, I choked out, sliding my arms under her and pulling her limp weight into my lap. The source became clear as fresh blood spread over us from between her thighs. "Harley? Harley, baby, look at me." Panic was a cold pressure in my throat. This shouldn't be happening; pregnant women do not bleed, certainly not with this much volume. Her eyelids fluttered, th
Nick~ There's not much left of the pie, so I spoon the leftovers into a Tupperware and put them in the fridge. Harley and I rinse the dishes, put them in the washer, and clean up our mess. It's hovering around midnight when we strip on the back porch. Then I flip the indoor switch and throw juice to the jacuzzi. Spa lights glow under its cover, and the hum of the jets vibrates through the deck, beckoning us. We step out into the night and cross to another platform to reach the hot tub. A strong whiff of the cowboy cologne shrubs growing around the lake wafts past as I lift the cover. My parents must have been here recently; there are still towels inside the warmer. Harley's body glowed in the moonlight, but her growing breasts and belly took the spotlight for me. Goosebumps are forming on her arms, so I lead her down the steps and into the bubbling water. We settled on the wrap-around bench, and naturally, my arm goes to rest on the side behind her. The velvet sky was thi
Kyle~ For quite some time now, I've been standing in the middle of Harley's bedroom without the first clue of what to bring her other than the basics. Becky's voice is high-pitched and fast when she calls for me, insisting that I return to the hospital. The beach bag from the bottom of Harley
Harley~ Nick tucked a stray curl behind my ear. "Anyway you want it, Amante." He let out the footrest of the recliner, pulled the stiff white hospital blanket over his feet, and adjusted the pillow under his head. Nick looks over at me with a smile, though I know he is uncomfortable. Half of h
Nick~ The red digital clock on the wall reads 03:00. That leaves about five hours before the next round of poking, prodding, and vital signs. Thankfully, there is finally light at the end of the tunnel. It's been a LONG four days and now five nights for both Harley and the staff. Harley adjust
Nick~ My hands shake, and my leg muscles tense as I step up onto the rotting wood. The boards creak beneath my weight, causing me to focus on the murky water below. Steve must have had another way in; there's no way he was coming and going here. Slow and steady wins the race when it's every man







