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He placed his hand on Peterson’s shoulder. “No. We’ll find her.”

Peterson closed his eyes and hung his head. “Four days. It’s been four days of pure hell, Van. I didn’t eat. I didn’t sleep. Hell, my wolf wouldn’t stop. It was only the knowledge that he would kill us both and be of no use to Jayden if I didn’t come back that finally allowed me to take control of him. We’re going to need more help.”

“I agree. That is the reason I came back.”

Peterson lifted his head and looked at him with a haunted stare. “If it was this hard on us, what must she be going through—all alone out there?”

“We’ll find her. We won’t stop searching until we do,” he vowed.

“Hey, Beau and I thought you two might need some fuel. We have dinner ready if you’re hungry,” Grayson called out.

“Let’s get some food and make a plan. It will help you heal faster,” he encouraged.

Peterson rose and finished getting dressed. The sense of anguish radiating from his friend reflected his own. He couldn’t stop thinking of how miserable Jayden must be—or how frightened and alone she must be feeling at that moment.

Chapter 13

“It’s nice to have someone to talk to. It’s also nice to have someone who can fish and hunt as good as you do.”

The barred owl rotated its head to look at her and hooted in response. A wide grin spread across Jayden’s face. Three days ago, she woke up feeling surprisingly refreshed, only to be greeted by the sight of a dead rabbit staring back at her. She had barely silenced the scream that threatened to escape her lips. Only after she sat up did she notice the owl perched on a dead tree trunk; its eyes fixed on her from several yards away.

After she had skinned and cleaned the rabbit, she tossed the remnants out for the owl, who eagerly devoured the remains of the poor creature. She cleaned the meat of the rabbit in the rain before building a spit over her small firepit. While the rabbit sizzled over the fire, she diligently worked on cleaning the pelt and gathering a selection of tiny bones to repurpose as needles and hooks. Every part of the animal would be used, leaving nothing to waste.

As she savored the moist, perfectly roasted meat, a comforting warmth spread through her stomach, lifting her spirits after days of feeling down. The heavy showers persisted for the following three days, leaving everything drenched and muddy. Jayden took the time to inventory her supplies, dry her wet clothing over the fire, and study the map she had taken.

Nature’s call was the only thing that could compel her to venture from her small, makeshift abode. Luckily, amidst the silver blankets, she stumbled upon a poncho that had been haphazardly thrown in. Once or twice a day, the owl would return, bringing gifts of food. This morning it was a trout.

“The rains have slowed. I need to continue on my journey today,” she explained, looking at the owl who pecked at the remains of the fish she had laid out on a large leaf.

The owl looked up and blinked at her before returning its attention to its meal. Jayden studied the creature. She wasn’t concerned that the owl was a shifter. She had seen them all her life in the forest. Her people thought of them as guardians. The elders often told stories at night about how the owls would warn them if shifters were close.

She remembered asking them how they knew the owls were not shifters. Why would owls want to protect humans? Could shifters not change into birds?

Shifters can take many forms. There are said to be shifters who can change into the forms of the great eagle. The owl is wise. He knows there needs to be balance. The eagle is a predator who thinks only with its stomach. It can be greedy like the shifters. Seeking only to destroy for pleasure. The owl is our brother.

She studied the owl. “You aren’t a shifter—are you?”

The owl continued to peck at the fish, swallowing some of the gut. She shook her head at her wayward thoughts. The owl simply wanted a dry, safe place during the storm. It wasn’t that unusual. She had witnessed other creatures doing the same.

But they didn’t bring you food.

Perhaps it was just dropping it to eat later and I took it as a gift. Once it realized that I wouldn’t eat it all, it was happy to share.

She argued back and forth with herself as she packed her meager supplies. Dousing the fire, she did what she could to conceal her presence. Once she was satisfied, she climbed out from under the tree and stretched.

After four days of mostly sitting or lying down, she was stiff. She worked her muscles while she scanned the surrounding area. The owl hopped out before lifting off and landing in a nearby tree.

“Keep watch,” she requested.

The owl’s head turned as if following her request. Jayden smiled and rearranged the brush to help hide where she had sheltered. Hopefully, the rain would do a good job of concealing her scent and the dirt she had piled over the firepit would hide the aroma of smoke.

The strange, heavy feeling was threatening to build again inside her. She shoved it down. Time was her enemy and distance was her friend. She needed to get moving. She had already lost enough time because of the weather.

She looked over at the owl. Its head was twisted around until it looked like it was stuck on backwards. A rueful smile curved her lips when it swiveled back around.

“I won’t even tell you how weird that is. I’m heading that way, just in case you were interested in going the same way. If not, that’s okay. I understand. Thank you for all your help the last few days.”

She pressed her lips together. She was beginning to sound needy. Bending, she picked up her backpack, slung it over her shoulders and strapped it on before she grabbed her lance, which was leaning against the branches she had artfully arranged. She released a deep sigh, scanning her temporary home once more before setting off.