Page 6 of Gone (Gray Wolf Security #23)

The crisp, cool air was a welcome surprise to the group at breakfast. Having endured insufferable heat in Louisiana this summer, the feeling of cooler temperatures, the hint of fall in the air, was a morning shock they needed.

Sara, Camille, Mary, and Grace were working on breakfast, while the others gathered firewood, talked about plans for the day, the direction of their hike, and which snacks they would pack.

“I say lots of nuts and dried fruit,” said Antoine. Alec and Tailor curled their noses at him as he laughed at their expressions.

“Nuts and fruit? Do I look like a damn squirrel?” asked Tailor. “Take biscuits, sandwiches, and a few chocolate bars.”

“No,” said Angel, approaching them. “We’re not going to haul fifty pounds of food on a hike. Take light-weight snacks that you can carry and plenty of water. You guys know how this works. Besides, we can’t have you getting a sugar high and then crashing on the trail.”

“I don’t crash,” said Alec.

“You do, and your big ass is too much to carry back. Listen to your older brother for once,” said Adam. “At least listen to me. I am a doctor after all.”

“Doctor, smoctor,” laughed Tailor. “I know what my body needs.”

“No, you think you know what your body needs because you’re craving the sugar. Listen to me or I’ll tell your wife.” Tailor’s face went blank as he heard Lena’s voice.

“Tell his wife what?” she asked, looking up at Adam. He smiled at Tailor, waiting.

“We were just talking about what we bring for snacks on the trail, babe. That’s all.”

“Uh-huh,” she said with her hand on her hip. “Let me guess. You want junk food and lots of it. And probably sandwiches.”

“Damn. She really knows you,” whispered Alec.

“And I know you, Alec Robicheaux,” said Lissa, handing him his backpack. “I’ve already packed it for you. Plenty of water, granola bars, nuts, and dried fruits. That’s it. That’s all you get.”

“Aw man!”

“Let’s go, children,” said Lena. Adam just smiled at the two men, chuckling.

“Watch it, doc. When you least expect it, we’ll be behind you,” smirked Tailor. Adam could only continue to laugh at the big men, shaking his head.

As it turned out, the backpacks were lined up along the edge of the campsite, each one already packed by the wives with water and the appropriate trail snacks. When the men approached them, their wives handed them the backpacks, smiling at them.

“You’re all in on this, aren’t you?” frowned Ghost.

“Yes, babe. Which means no extra coffee today. Only water,” said Grace, kissing his cheek.

“Wh-what?” he gasped.

“Too much coffee isn’t good for you,” she said, taking his hand. “Let’s go. We planned a nice long hike today to one of the falls.”

Spook turned in a big circle, raising his head to the sky as if searching for something.

“You good, Spook?” asked Code.

“Yeah,” he chuckled. “I’m actually great. I’m not getting any interference in my head. Whatever that device is you guys implanted in my skull, it’s working.”

“Well, we were only the tech guys on the project. You can thank Paige and Riley for the rest of it. They were the ones who figured out your auditory neurons were overreacting to sounds at certain frequencies. It’s pretty cool what they developed.”

“All I know is that he’s had peace for the first time since I’ve known him,” said Valentina.

“It must have been miserable, brother,” said Sly. “I mean, there have been times when all I see is computer screens flashing before my eyes, but that’s usually a nightmare, not a day-to-day thing.”

From time to time, Bryce would stop with his wife, allowing her to take photos of the magnificent surroundings. They were never left behind. Several couples were always walking with them.

Nat sped up a bit, hoping to talk to Sophia and Alexandra.

“Hi,” she smiled at the two women.

“Hi, Nat. Thanks for helping start the campfires this morning,” smiled Sophia.

“It’s what I do,” she grinned, waving her fingers in the air, sparks flying from them. “I have to be careful if the ground is too dry. Thankfully, with Flip, I’ve learned to control my emotions or I’d be setting everyone who pisses me off on fire.”

“Sometimes, that could be a good thing,” said Alexandra.

“Hey, I was wondering something. I was a kid who didn’t really have a family. I mean, my mother tried to kill me when I was just a child, and I lived on my own after that.”

“I’m sorry, honey,” said Sophia, frowning at her.

“No, it’s okay. All roads led to here,” she smiled. “I was just curious why you both chose not only to adopt but to adopt multiple children at the same time. I mean, going from none to six and five was a lot to take on.”

“It was easy for me,” said Alexandra. “I always wanted kids, and I was madly in love with Gaspar. My injuries were too extensive for me to ever have children of my own. When those six babies showed up, rescued from traffickers, I couldn’t say no. Neither could Gaspar.”

“I think that’s wonderful,” said Nat.

“It was wonderful. Luke was just a kid himself, trying to act as father to his siblings. He was such a little man, so responsible, even back then. The girls were so small,” said Alexandra, shaking her head.

“I love my children, but I miss when they were small and needed me. Now, I love spending time with the grandkids and great-grandkids.”

“It’s hard to believe you’re great-grandparents,” smiled Nat. “What about you, Sophia? What made you decide to take on five siblings?”

“Not much different than Alexandra. I couldn’t have children after what was done to me by the cult.”

“I’m sorry. You don’t have to talk about this,” said Nat.

“No. No, don’t be silly. It helps to talk about it, no matter how long it’s been.

Like Alexandra, I fell in love with Ivan and knew I wanted to adopt at some point.

Social workers and adoption agencies were hesitant because of my abuse.

I knew it wouldn’t matter, and when I saw those five desperate faces, I couldn’t look away.

“They just needed to be held and to be loved. They only asked for a bath, clean clothes, and something to snack on. Can you imagine that?”

“What’s beautiful in all of that, Sophia, is that in spite of your experiences, you knew how to love those children,” smiled Nat.

“I think instinctively, most women know. Unfortunately, many aren’t capable of it for one reason or another. Are you considering adoption?”

“Oh, no. Flip and I are too old at this point. It wouldn’t be fair to a child. Plus, with our unusual gifts, it would be hard to show our true selves. It would scare a child. We’ve loved being aunt and uncle to all the other children.”

“It’s never too late, honey,” said Alexandra. “There are a lot of older kids who need loving homes, and you know there’s always room at Belle Fleur.”

“I know,” she nodded. “I wish there’d been someone like the two of you when I was a kid. I was so different, I’m not sure my situation would have changed much. In fact, it could have been worse. Someone might have turned me over to a lab or something.”

“Well, you’re exactly where you should be right now,” said Sophia, clutching her hand.

“Hey, guys!” yelled Erin. “Come and look at this!”

Standing at the edge of a cliff, she waved her arm over the magnificent view beyond. The canopy of trees is beginning its seasonal change to lush yellows, reds, and oranges. In the distance, a magnificent waterfall was spraying her excess, misting the trees around her.

“Wow,” whispered Lissa. “That’s stunning.”

Ivy stepped forward with her camera, snapping shots of the magnificent views, while capturing the expressions of her friends as well. When Tailor and Alec stepped forward, they both chuckled.

“What are you laughing at?” asked Ivy. Tailor smiled down at her, shaking his head.

“This view was worth the granola bars and dried fruit.”