WINTER ROGUE

CHAPTER 8 - TRACKING - JAYLA'S POV

As I filled my bag with some items I'd need, I couldn't help peek over at Kolton. He was leaning against the stone wall, determination on his face as he took several shakey steps, gritting his teeth with each movement.

"He's going to slow us down," Willow said, "We should just go after this girl alone so we can get back."

"Sure thing, why don't you tell him to stay behind."

"We have to be back here for when Barret shows up, if he finds us gone, he'll kill our family."

"I am aware of the damn stakes," I argued as guilt filled me, "But you heard him, those girls are being killed because of us. I should just marry Barret and have it over with. At least then everyone will believe that our marriage isn't the cure, and we can see everyone again, and save the girls."

I heard Kolton grunt in pain, and when I looked over at him again, I saw that he was on his knees.

I sighed in annoyance, "I told you not to push yourself."

"If I don't, I'll have to stay here longer."

I rolled my eyes and turned back to my packing, but when I didn't hear him get up, I rose from the ground and went over to him.

"Put your arm over my shoulder, and I'll help you."

"I'm fine." He argued, though he looked like he was in pain.

"You alphas and your ego's," I complained as I grabbed his arm and put it over my shoulders. ''We really should wait another day.''

''I can't wait any longer, Haley needs me.''

''And what good are you going to be if you can't even fight?''

''Stop arguing, I'm going.'' He stepped away from me.

''Fine, just wait here for a second.'' I ordered, before I started rummaging around my wood pile, and found a thick stick that would hold an Alpha's weight. I tied some cloth around the top so it wasn't sharp, and handed it back to Kolton, ''Use this as a walking stick, or have it under your arm and lean on it.''

''Thank you.'' He said as he took it, and started walking with it.

''Whatever, let's just get going.''

The biting wind cut through my cheeks as I trudged through the ankle-deep snow beside Kolton. The silence between us grew thicker as we journeyed, punctuated only by the soft thuds beneath their feet. I couldn't help but steal glances at Kolton, I told myself I was just checking his pace and making sure he could keep up, but I couldn't help staring at his rugged profile that seemed chiseled from the very stone that surrounded us. Why was I so attracted to him? He couldn't be my mate, could he? Why do you feel

The dense forest seemed to swallow us whole, the snow-covered trees standing like sentinels against the dim light seeping through the clouds. Kolton's eyes were fixed on some point ahead, his jaw clenched in determination. I could sense the weight of his worry for his sister, and the pain he must have been in with every step, but he was resolute in his pursuit to find her.

As we walked, I pulled my scarf tighter around my face, my eyes scanning the surroundings. We had been searching for hours, but for the first time, I saw signs that someone else had been through here.

''Don't move,'' I ordered, and went over to a tree where I found a necklace. ''Is this your sisters?''

''Yes.'' He said with interest, and smiled, ''She's leaving me clues.''

''She's a smart girl.''

''Yes, she is. She takes after my mother.'' He told me as put the necklace in his pocket.

''Where are your parents?'' I questioned as we continued down our path, ''Why aren't they helping you track her down?''

''They're dead. It's just me and my sister. I basically raised her.''

I looked over at him, and saw pain in his expression, ''I'm sorry,'' I said, knowing the pain of losing your family, ''Look, you really need to prepare yourself for the fact that we might not get her back alive.''

''I won't do that. I will not give up. She's alive. She has to be.''

''Fine,'' I shrugged, ''How's your strength?''

''It's fine.'' He said, though I knew he was lying.

Damn stubborn Alpha!

''In another hour, there's a smaller cave, we'll stop and eat.''

''Okay.'' He agreed and kept walking, until we finally reached it, but when we went inside there was already a small fireplace.

''Well, I think we found where they spend the night.''

''That's great,'' He exclaimed, ''We're not that far behind them.''

''Their scents are not that strong, I'd say they're at least seven, maybe eight hours ahead.'' I told him as I restarted the fire, ''Luckily, if they're heading in the direction I think they are, they'll have to go around or over the mountain, but I have a tunnel to cut through it.''

''So we might be able to cut them off?'' He said excitedly, as he sat down.

''Possibly.'' I nodded, and sat down by the fire, warming up, and pulling out the meat from my bag.

''Hold on Haley...'' I heard him whisper and I couldn't help feel a pang of pain.

''You're a good brother.'' I commented, as I put the meat on the fire to heat it up, ''Mine wasn't.''

''You have a brother?''

''Brother, sister, sister in-law.'' I shrugged, ''Maybe even a brother in-law by now. I don't know for sure. I'm not allowed to have information about my family.''

''Why wasn't your brother a good one?''

''Because he stood back and did nothing when I cast out.'' I smiled through the painful memory.

''I'm sure your brother loves you. It's hard going against an Alpha.''

I rolled my eyes, ''I don't need you defend him. I'm not looking for a hug. I was stating a fact.'' I said and stood up, ''I'm going to the toilet, the meat should be done by the time I return. We'll eat, and I'll redress your wounds before we head out again.''

''I know this is really inappropriate as we don't really know one another, but...'' He took a breath before continuing, ''Would you consider shifting and letting me ride on your Lycan. It would be quicker, and I can't shift right now.''

''No.'' I said simply and left for the back of the cave where there was a small opening that was still under cover.

''He's not wrong, we'd reach them quicker.'' Willow commented, ''And I'm sure they're in their Lycan forms.''

''We can't let him know we're a white Lycan.'' I reminded her, ''I shouldn't have told him that part of the curse. And we'll catch up on the mountain, even if they're in their Lycan bodies.''

''You don't think our pack is involved in this?'' She asked as I emptied my bladder.

''No, of course not. They know we're the one who'll break the curse.''

''I wonder who the Alpha is though. Maybe it's Kolton. He smells nice.'' She commented, and her tail started to wag.

''Even if he is our mate, we'll never know for sure.'' I pointed out, as I cleaned up, ''Besides. Do you think he'll want us knowing he could curse his pack if we're not. Or do you think he'll want the girl who got his sister abducted and all those girls killed? No matter what, we should just keep our distance. We'll get the girl. Try to put a stop to the girls being taken, and get back to our mountain before Barret and his father come.''

''Are you going to say yes this year?''

''Of course not. Are you mad?'' I asked, and washed my hands in the snow.

After returning Kolton, who I found peeking into the fire to see the meat, he sat back acting innocent, and I sat beside him.

''You Alpha's are such pigs.'' I smiled and checked on the meat, but it wasn't hot enough.

''I am not, I'm healing.'' He said, with an adorable pout you'd see on a small child.

''Don't give me that.'' I laughed, and rolled my eyes, ''I'll change you bandage first. Pull your shirt up.''

I leaned over and examined his injury, which was healing quickly. I hadn't told him that I added some of my blood to the wound to help with the healing process. It would give away what I was, but it seemed to have done a good job.

''So what do you think Doc, will I live?''

''Not if you call me Doc you won't.'' I looked up and found him staring at me.

''You have the most beautiful eyes,'' He said, but then he seemed to realize what he'd said and cleared his throat, ''Sorry. I didn't mean...''

''It's fine.'' I shrugged, and started wrapping another clean cloth around his stomach, ''They are beautiful.''

He laughed, but then regretted it and cringed in pain. After we ate, we headed off again, walking for the next few hours in silence, and looking for clues that his sister might have left behind, but we didn't find anything else. Either she didn't drop something else, or the snow ate it up.

The temperature was plummeting by the time we reached the mountain, and I pulled my cloak around me tighter, as I tried to remember where the entrance was.

''We'll stay in here for the night, and move out in the morning.''

''But what if we miss them?''

''We have no choice. You have to regain strength and eat, and we both need to rest.'' I told him, before pointing to the sky, ''Besides, another storm is coming in. I just home those b*stards that have your sister, find cover.''

''Me too.'' He said, as I pushed a rock aside to reveal a tunnel.

''You'll have to duck,'' I told him, ''Stand behind me and put your hands on my shoulders to steady yourself.''

''Okay,'' He agreed and placed his hand on me.

''You know, I never even asked why you ran into the mountain?'' I spoke as we walked through the tunnel.

''We were in the mountains picking a rare herb that only grows in the snow at this time of year. When we ran into the men, they had another girl already, and I think they were cutting through the woods. They took Haley, and ran, and we persuaded them, and started fighting. You know the rest.''

''You do know this mountain is in my pack's territory,'' I pointed out as we reached a cave, where I had supplies stored. I have many little caves stocked up with supplies throughout the mountain. A task I started in my second year here, after I got caught in a cave for four days with no food or water during a blizzard.

''I know.'' He smirked as I helped him sit down, ''I chose to ignore that. Where did all this come from?'' He gestured to my store.

''I put it here. There's dried foods and bedding, and there should be some wood. Ah, perfect.'' I said and went over the pile of wood by the back wall. ''I'll start a fire, and it's your lucky day, because there is a small pond through that tunnel that happens to be a hot spring. And no offense, by you smell awful, so you're bathing.''

Kolton laughed and nodded, ''Well, I wouldn't want to offend the lady with my scent.'' He joked, and slowly got up, ''I'll bathe first.''

''Wash your clothes, and I'll dry them by the fire,'' I told him, ''Just toss them out once they're wet, and I'll collect them, and in the meantime you can wear this.'' I said and passed him my cloak.

''Thank you.'' He said, but then his face turned serious, ''I meant it Jayla, I don't know what I would have done without you.''

''Probably bled out and died,'' I pointed out, as I started making a fire, ''Stop being sappy, and go wash up.''

''You don't take compliments well, do you?''

''Doesn't seem that way.'' I agreed, as I looked up at him, ''Go.''

''Alright, alright, I'm going. Such a bossy little thing, you are,'' He teased me and walked away.