Chapter 33

Thea stared blankly ahead of her as she watched Gabe walk around the small clearing he'd found in the middle of the forest.  On all two sides they were surrounded by steep cliffs that were impossible to climb up and deadly to climb down, on the third side was a small bubbling brook with slippery rocks.

Thea released a huff while she pulled her knees against her chest and wrapped her arms around them.  Laying her head on her knees she turned to gaze at the thicket of tall trees and dense foliage in front of them.  "Are we safe here?"

"As safe as we could be," replied Gabe while he moved to sit next to her.  "The cliff keeps them from being able to come this way, we'd hear them coming if they tried to come across from there."  Gabe pointed at the water, "Those rocks are super slippery," he mumbled to himself.

"Uh huh," nodded Thea convinced.

"No really," reassured Gabe with a smile.  "We're safest here, I swear."

"Since you can't make a telephone call can you at least create a fire so we can stay warm," asked Thea while she watched the sun dip behind the tree line and the sky turn various shades of red before it turned a breathtaking blue.

Gabe suppressed a smirk as he watched Thea attempt to pull the sleeves of her shirt down more to cover her bare arms.  "You know if I create a fire they'll be able to spot us really easy.  It doesn't make sense to just give away our location."

"They," repeated Thea looking around skeptically.  "Who are they?"

Gabe released a heartfelt sigh and pulled her closer to him.  "The people after us?  I'm not sure but I have a feeling we'll know soon enough."

"I thought werewolves and other shifters emitted a lot of body heat.  I'm cold," frowned Thea with a small pout as she tried to move closer to Gabe to absorb his body heat.

Gabe quickly rubbed his hands up and down her arms, "How about I shift and you cuddle up to my wolf form for warmth?"  Gabe turned away to keep Thea from seeing the mischievous glint in his eyes as she grudgingly nodded her head.  "Great," huffed Gabe releasing her to stand and quickly remove his clothes.  "Don't be afraid again okay?"

Thea clicked her tongue as she watched Gabe shift.  "You better not try anything funny," murmured Thea as she stared with suspicion at his silver wolf.  She watched him nod before she patted the ground next to her, "Come on and lay down here and remember....nothing funny."

Thea hurried to sit with her back against him and snuggled into his fur.  "Why is it so stiff when it looks so soft," whined Thea as she attempted to get comfortable.  "And don't you think about licking my face," snapped Thea when she saw his head turn toward her, "I told you before I'm not into bestiality."  When his sides started to move as if he were laughing she rolled her eyes, "Don't you dare laugh at me!"

Thea finished moving with a huff and closed her eyes while the warmth from Gabe's wolf helped lull her to sleep.

 ***

Thea eyes slowly fluttered open and she could hear the sounds voices coming from the small group of trees.

"You know when Thea finds out you could have just lit a fire she's gonna be pissed."

Thea held her breath and tried remain still while she listened to Ryan say a few more things to Gabe.   After several minutes of Ryan stating the obvious Gabe finally responded.

"I wanted to cuddle and she always acts like my wolf is going to eat her or something," chuckled Gabe.

Thea moved on the ground before she bolted up in a sitting position.  "You know I hate when you do that," yelled Thea as she walked over and poked Gabe in the chest.  "That damn wolf is going to eat me and -."

"Eat you," asked Ryan with a perplexed frown.  "Why would you think that?"

"His wolf has never once tried to communicate with me," yelled Thea pointing at Gabe angrily.  "I don't even know the damn things name!"

"Gabe," laughed Gabe as he shook his head.  "My wolf isn't a separate being we are one and the same."

"My ass," huffed Thea.  "I know for a fact -."

"For the love of gawd please stop reading those stupid ass books on Wattpad!  Shifters don't have spilt personalities it's just me!"

"I don't believe you," pouted Thea folding her arms over her chest while she shifted weight off her sprained ankle.  "I've read too many books on the subject and not only those on Wattpad.  I've read -."

"This is why I won't let you meet any vampires especially not my friend Kevin," yelled Gabe in frustration.

Thea clapped her hands together and a smile started to bloom on her face, "You know Kevin?  Is he taking us with him?  Omo do you know Damon and Tyrese too!"

"Oh my gawd," yelled Gabe throwing his hands in the air.  "What's the name of that damn writer you like to read on Wattpad again?"

"Em Myles," announced Thea proudly.

"On my word, when this is over I'm going to find that bitch and wring her neck for writing those stupid ass books," growled Gabe.  "Freaking futuristic vampires and shifters with spilt personalities," mumbled Gabe while he walked over and picked Thea up.  "For the last time, my wolf and I are one being."

"That's what you say," frowned Thea indignantly.  "I think you're lying because your wolf, like a lot of your pack, doesn't like me."

"Oh my gawd," cried Gabe.  "Ryan stop laughing and tell me where the car is?"

"I'm not laughing," laughed Ryan as he pointed at them.  "But you two are funny as hell.  You both argue about nothing."

"It makes for good make up sex," growled Gabe as she swept passed Ryan and went in the direction that he'd pointed in.

Thea eyes moved from the dirt path toward the forest as Gabe carried her, "What's up with these smoldering piles of ashes."

"Oh," smiled Ryan as he walked in front of them.  "Those are the bodies of the shifters that tried to attack you two during the night," replied Ryan with a jaunty smile.

"The hell," quipped Thea as they walked past several more piles.  "I thought you said you couldn't light a fire because they'd find us."

Gabe shifted Thea in his arms and gave her a smile, "I lied."

"Fucker," mumbled Thea.

Gabe chuckled as he held her tighter and whispered in her ear, "I am and I can't wait to fuck you when we're at Desiree's place but until than be a good girl."

"You are so cocky," smirked Thea as her hold on him tightened.

"You like it," breathed Gabe into Thea's ear while he navigated the path.

"Are you two really doing this while we are trying to escape," chuckled Ryan pulling the keys out of his pocket to unlock the doors to the car.  "I would say you both could ride in the backseat but from the way you two are acting I'll say Thea in the front, Gabe in the back."

"What did you think we'd do in the backseat of your car," asked Gabe opening the front passenger door of the car and depositing Thea in the seat.  "Buckle up Thea we have a long drive before we get to Desiree's."

"How'd you get here so fast," asked Thea to Ryan.

Ryan turned to stare at Thea with a humorous tilt to his lips, "I flew."

"Flew," repeated Thea flabbergasted.  "I thought you were a cat shifter?"

"I am," chuckled Ryan.  "I took my high council's private jet here but because of the issues we are currently facing the jet was needed elsewhere."  Ryan put the slate gray Chrysler 300 into drive, "Did you have any other questions?"

"Yes," snapped Thea, "what the hell is going on?"

"Oh," frowned Ryan as she sped down the road, "It would appear the Midnight and the Johansson Pack are both under attack."