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Slayer stood and gave Lester’s last word thought.

Wolves.

There had been no wolves in the ravine, but there had been paw prints. Had they guided Sky to safety? But where would that be? Where would the wolves take her?

Slayer shook his head at how easily he understood. The wolves would have taken his wife to their den.

* * *

Sky examined her ankle.The walk here had not helped it. It had swelled, though not badly but it did hurt her. It was her only injury from what she could tell. Her body ached but she had found no other wounds except for the scratch on her face she had felt after feeling it sting there. She had been lucky. She could have suffered far worse wounds or died from the fall. It had not been easy getting here with her ankle hurting her and her own worry about trusting the wolves, but they had proved to be trustworthy, especially when they offered their den as protection for her.

The incident of when she faked an ankle injury came to mind and she wished she felt her husband’s tender touch on her ankle once again. He was no doubt already searching for her and his skilled trackers were sure to locate her. However, she worried that whoever else was searching would find her first. She hoped the wolves were enough to deter them and hoped no wolf lost his life protecting her.

Sky’s head shot up. She heard something. Growls. The two wolves outside the cave-like dwelling were growling. Someone approached.

The space was not tall enough for her to stand, so she shifted herself along her bottom to reach the entrance and peer out. Aches and pains attacked her body, but she did her best to ignore them, needing to find out if friend or foe approached.

But wouldn’t a foe have already killed the wolves so they could reach her? Hope had her stomach fluttering, and she was careful to peer out the opening to look, though not be seen.

“Sky!”

She rushed her hand to her chest at the sound of her husband’s voice and called out softly so as not to alarm the wolves, “Slayer.”

“Curb the wolves,” he called back.

“Friend. He is a friend. Here to help me. Friend,” she repeated in a gentle tone.

She spotted her husband then, bravely stepping forward to show himself and approach the cave.

“Friend. Friend,” Sky kept repeating as she made her way out of the wolf’s den, worried they would not allow a dominant male to enter their home.

Relief so strong hit Slayer that he thought for a moment his legs would buckle as he watched his wife emerge from the cave. He forced himself to remain where he stood and forced strength to return to his legs. Though he desperately wanted to rush to her and take her in his arms, especially when he saw how she struggled to get to her feet. But he knew if he rushed toward her the wolves would view it as a threat and attack.

Sky smiled and after she managed to stand, she glanced at each of the two wolves there and spoke softly. “Slayer is a friend and will help me get home now. I am grateful for your help, and I will be here for you if you are ever in need of help.”

Slayer almost took a quick step forward when his wife cringed as she took steps toward him. She had suffered an injury, her leg or ankle most likely from the way she limped, but he saw no other visible injuries on her. No blood stained her disheveled garments, though debris from the pine tree clung here and there to her and pine needles stuck out of her hair that had fallen loose from its braid.

“Reach out and claim me, so they know I belong to you,” Sky said when she got near him.

Slayer was only too happy to do as she said. He eased his arm around her and drew her to rest against him, then he looked to each of the wolves as she had done and said, “My thanks for protecting my mate.”

The largest of the wolves approached them, his eyes on Slayer.

“Stay as you are,” Sky whispered.

The wolf came to a stop beside Sky, his eyes remaining on Slayer. He pressed his body against Sky’s leg, and she brought her hand to rest on his head.

“Again, I thank you, my friend,” she said, and the wolf stepped back, his eyes never leaving Slayer.

Though it was difficult for him, Slayer kept silent as they walked away. It was not until they neared a stream that he went to speak, but Sky spoke first.

“I hurt my ankle and I ache from the fall but other than that, I am good.”

“You knew what I would ask,” he said, not surprised, they both having come to know each other so well.

“Just as I knew you would find me,” she said and stopped to turn and rest herself against him.

“Always,” he said and held her close, though not tightly, worried he would cause her more pain. “We can take a quick drink from the stream and then we need to move and not stop until my men reach us.”