Fire in the Smokies

“Saw him? Ha. I fucking killed him.”

“You what?” Sergius screeched the word before he glanced back and forth and reined in his temper. “Where? How?”

“Are you okay?” Micah stayed calmer, stepping toward Jaxon while he let his gaze roam him from head to toe.

“I’m fine. If you two would shut up for a second and let me catch my breath, I’ll explain.” Jaxon gasped for air. He’d run faster than at any other time in his life.

Sheriff Hardin came around the corner, no doubt following in the footsteps of Jaxon’s brothers and Juliana. The wolves held no secrets from Hardin. If anything, Jaxon needed the sheriff now more than his own brothers. He didn’t know a thing about what to do with a dead vampire body.

It wasn’t as though he could suggest they send a coroner out to collect the corpse. What if it didn’t present the way a normal human did? How would they explain a vampire in the forest? They didn’t need that kind of publicity. No, the four men were going to have to be secretive about whatever plan they decided upon.

“What happened?” Hardin asked. Concern etched across his forehead in the form of creases where his eyebrows drew together.

“McKinney trapped me. Apparently he overheard you on the radio and knew where I would be today, so he set a rope trap that yanked me into the air when I stepped in the center of it. I was in wolf form, of course. He then proceeded to threaten Brianna if I didn’t do as he said—”

Sergius cut him off. “Why didn’t you contact us?”

Jaxon exhaled and glared at his brother. “Do you think I had some sort of hero complex here, Serg? For God’s sake man, I tried. You might recall he managed to block you and Juliana from communicating last spring when he kidnapped her.”

“Right. Of course. Sorry.” Serg nodded toward Jaxon.

“Well, he’s expanded that capability. Now he managed to block me even from a great distance. As though he zoned in on me from across the forest and shielded me from communicating with you. It was freaky.” Jaxon leaned down and stepped into his boots.

“Anyway, the bastard had me cornered. I decided the best thing to do was to go along with him until I could see a better escape route.” Jaxon stood and buttoned his jeans. “He dragged me into a cave like a pet dog and then had the audacity to tie me to a loop of rebar in the wall. Seriously? Like I couldn’t just shift and untie the knot? I don’t know what he was thinking.

“He left for a few minutes to get his stash of supplies from the cave. The man had sight as good as ours by the way. He never used a flashlight or anything to see… So, while he was gone, I shifted, untied and resumed my position pretending to be tethered. McKinney waltzed back like he did this sort of thing every day and proceeded to arrange to blow up the cave with his famous stash of dynamite.

“As soon as he turned away, I pounced, driving him backward until he fell onto a long, protruding piece of rebar sticking straight up out of the concrete.”

Everyone gasped.

Hardin spoke next. “And this worked? He’s dead?”

“Deadest guy I’ve ever seen.”

“Was it like…normal?” Hardin paced, his hand running through his hair, no doubt contemplating how he was going to recover the body and handle the fallout.

“Perfectly natural. Blood gushing out. Pupils dilating. Heart stopping. Dead.” Jaxon’s chest heaved, relief washing over him. He glanced at Juliana and winced. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to be so graphic.” Clearing his throat, he continued, “Granted, I’m not suggesting you send an ambulance out to the cave. I can’t guarantee he’s completely humanlike. Perhaps the four of us should take care of it ourselves and keep the entire episode under wraps.”

“Seems like a good idea.” Hardin was visibly stressed. This was apparently not the way he pictured his day going. He lifted both arms in the air and dragged a path through his mussed hair over and over again. He turned from side to side as though searching for the answers lurking in between the forest leaves.

“Well, let’s go now. Get this over with. I for one am looking forward to a good night’s sleep without having to worry about that bastard sneaking up on me.” Sergius zipped up his jacket and stuck his hands in his pockets.

Jaxon knew he wasn’t cold, but more like chilled. To the bone.

The relief of disposing of McKinney once and for all would put them all at ease.

When the group rounded the trucks and headed back to the base area, there were very few people mingling around. The fire chief was leaning over a large map, pointing at various locations and discussing strategy with two other men.

Jaxon looked at the fire chief and thought about checking on Brianna. The chief was busy and Jaxon knew Brianna would be pissed if Jaxon made an issue over her with the chief. She’s fine. If any of the firefighters were in danger, people would be scrambling. Deep breath. He turned back and followed his group. But after everything, her safety niggled at him. “You okay?” he communicated to her.

“Fine. Get out of my head. I’m working. You promised.”

He smiled at her stubborn streak, relieved by her tone that told him she was indeed fine.

No one paid any attention as the five of them jumped in the sheriff’s cruiser and drove away.

They only needed to go a short distance. Taking the car was more for show than anything else. It would have looked awfully suspicious for the men to have simply walked away into the trees. It was hardly a day for hiking.

“How are things on the fire front?” Jaxon questioned. He sat in the front seat with Hardin.

“Progressing. It’s slow work. The weather hasn’t been cooperating so far, but the forecast calling for rain keeps increasing. I think we’re up to an eighty percent chance of showers this afternoon. That would be a welcome relief.” Thank God Hardin knew what was happening on that front. No matter what, it would be a relief if rain would put an end to Brianna’s work for today. Vampire or no vampire.

Hardin glanced over at Jaxon. He grinned as he stopped the car. “I’m happy for you, by the way.”

Jaxon flushed. “Let’s get this over with.”

Everyone climbed out of the cruiser and headed in the direction Jaxon indicated.

“See that tree? That’s where he set up the trap that landed me in this predicament.” No one asked why he hadn’t been paying enough attention not to notice a fucking rope trap. Jaxon was glad for that small miracle.

They followed his lead in silence until they reached the cave. “Here we are. It must’ve been used for tours many years ago. That would explain the iron loops set in the walls.” Jaxon stepped inside.

Hardin pulled out a flashlight and shined it all around the chamber.

“What the fuck?” Jaxon ran deeper into the entrance and spun in circles. His heart pounded. Sweat trickled across his brow.

Nothing.

No body. No vampire. No McKinney.

“Jaxon?” Sergius asked.

Juliana touched his arm. “Maybe it wasn’t this cave?”

“It was. He was right here.” Jaxon pointed at the rebar sticking out of the cement path. He leaned down to touch the iron stake he’d used to pierce the vampire. Sticky blood still dripped down the rusted metal. “How the fuck did that bastard get out of this mess?”

Everyone gathered closer to inspect. They each leaned over and checked the ground and the surrounding concrete. There was a lot of blood. But no body.

“Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck.” Jaxon stood and kicked a large rock with his boot. He spun around. A pile of ropes lay in the corner where he’d been held captive. Several sticks of dynamite lay scattered across the ground where they’d been disheveled in the battle.

The box that contained who-knew-what was gone.

“Jesus Christ,” Jaxon screamed in frustration and stomped out of the cave.

Brianna…

As if that dynamite was in fact lit and attached to Jaxon’s tail, he wasted no time shifting and running toward the flames. With no regard whatsoever for his clothing, the shreds landed on the forest floor as they tore from his