Wolf Lake (Werewolf / Shifter Romance) Read Online Free PDF Page A

5
     
    It wasn't easy walking Will back to our cabins. His normally strong, confident stride was handicapped by whatever illness had suddenly come over him. We left the laughter and the beautiful fireworks, and slipped onto the dark road that traveled around the lake. The only lights were from the empty cabins near the edge of the water and the stars that flickered through the trees above us. The lights from the cabins cast long shadows across the road, but didn't hide the extreme pallor on Will's face.
    He first strode quickly down the road clutching at his heart, but a quarter of the way back to the cabins he tripped over a rock and stumbled forward. I caught his arm and he caught himself, or he would have dragged me down with him to the ground. He knelt down with me still clinging tightly to his arm with both hands.
    "I-I'm fine," he hoarsely whispered.
    "Fine is being able to breath without sounding like you want to heave your guts out. What I'm hearing from you is death-bed fine," I retorted.
    "I can make it as far as I need to," he insisted.
    I shook my head. "Stop being so stubborn and let me go get a car," I argued.
    "Just a little farther. He'll come to meet us," Will told me.
    I frowned. "Who will come to meet us?" I asked him, but he was already struggling to his feet. Will stood, but his legs buckled underneath him and he fell forward. I slipped in front of him and propped him up with my body. "Will you quit being so stubborn and at least let me help you?" I pleaded.
    "All-all right," he reluctantly agreed. Will lay an arm across my shoulders and I raised myself up to stand nearly level with him. He was a head taller than me, and broader in the shoulders. Will was also heavier, and my own legs nearly buckled underneath me as he leaned his body on me.
    I grit my teeth and bore him up with more strength and energy than I thought I possessed. "I don't know how far I can drag you, but here goes," I told him.
    We took the trip one step at a time. The fireworks exploded overhead and their colors danced across the tunnel-like road. The branches above us swayed in a soft breeze and close by were the sounds of the forest night. Things scampered through the brush and snapped twigs. The dry, dead limbs of the trees rattled against each other like old bones. My stupid mind wandered back to the dead thing in the woods and the cow on the side of the road. Whatever killed them had probably done it at night. I had no idea what beast had slaughtered them, but my imagination filled in the blanks with visions of wolves and rabid moose infesting the forest.
    Just when I was about ready to bolt and drag Will's heavy carcass along with me help came in the form of a pair of headlights headed our way. I propped Will against a tree and jumped into the road while wildly waving my arms. The car stopped in front of me and Vuk jumped out. I couldn't figure out how he knew we needed a guardian angel right then, but I wasn't going to look a gift-servant in the mouth.
    I rushed up to him and nearly flung my arms around him in relief. Instead I half turned so I could keep an eye on Will. "Will's-" Vuk brushed past me and straight to Will's prostrate form in the shadow of the tree.
    I don't know how Vuk saw Will seated as he was in the darkness, but the servant knelt down in front of Will, who lifted his head and weakly smiled at him. "None of your scoldings, if you please," Will pleaded.
    "Very well, sir. I will save them for later," Vuk replied. He helped Will stand and the pair carefully made their way to the car. "If you would get the passenger door on the driver's side, Miss Grace," Vuk instructed me.
    "Oh! Sure!" I agreed. I opened the said door and Vuk pulled Will to the door. He maneuvered Will in front of him and helped Will climb into the car.
    Will leaned back in the seat and grimaced. Vuk stepped back to shut the door, but Will held out his hand to block him. "Let her inside," he instructed his servant.
    "But sir-"
    "Let her inside,"