The Lost Wolf's Destiny

Now he just needed a plan. After all, he couldn’t simply show up at Sanctuary and demand that the woman and her daughter leave with him. First off, Jacob would want to capture him, too. Even if Lucas managed to avoid Jacob and bluff his way in, he’d never get within ten feet of Jacob’s newest prizes.

Grimly, he considered his options. He’d come up with something. After all, he was facing a long drive. Either he’d figure out some kind of plan, or he’d have to wing it.

He blinked, once again assaulted by the image of his sister’s beaten, lifeless body. Not having a plan didn’t end up well where Jacob was concerned. Lucas had failed once. He would not fail again. This time, if anyone was going to die, it would be Jacob.

Chapter 2

Though it was dark, the main house of Jacob Gideon’s ranch was well lit, lined with soft, flattering floodlights that looked less like a prison’s than tastefully done architectural highlights. The building, a series of interesting curves and angles, appeared to be made of a soft golden-colored stucco that blended with the desert landscape. Blythe hadn’t expected to find it so warm and welcoming. She’d thought it might be more austere, like a convent or a monastery.

Groggy and out of sorts, Hailey refused to walk, so Blythe carried her. She could do this since her daughter had such a slight body. Hailey wasn’t anywhere near the size of a normal five-year-old girl, a fact that pained Blythe. Once Jacob healed her, then surely Hailey would bloom and grow.

The woman who led Blythe and Hailey to their room was soft-spoken and seemed kind. She appeared fairly young and, to Blythe’s curious eye, normal. No long, prairie-type skirt or pale, downtrodden expression. Instead, she spoke in a quiet, East Coast accented voice as she explained a little about life at Sanctuary.

“You both are honored visitors here,” she said, smiling as Hailey tried to disappear by hiding her face behind Blythe’s neck. “And though your room might seem small and plain, I promise you it will be comfortable. We don’t go much for luxuries at Sanctuary.”

Trying not to show her exhaustion, Blythe nodded. “We just need showers and a good night’s rest.”

“No problem,” the woman said. “I’m Ginger, by the way. Is it all right if I call you Blythe?”

“Of course.” From somewhere, Blythe dredged up a smile.

They traveled down a long, dimly lit hall. Keeping with the building’s exterior, the glazed terra-cotta flooring and Spanish-style decorations brought to mind an upscale hotel rather than a ranch house or, as some had claimed, a cult headquarters where women were kept prisoner.

Maybe it was the exhaustion, but Blythe relaxed somewhat as they took an elevator to the second floor.

“Here we are.” Stopping in front of a door marked with a large number seven, Ginger unlocked it and pushed it open.

Wearily, Blythe trudged past her, still carrying her exhausted daughter. The room was small, but looked clean. There was a double bed, a nightstand, one chair and a dresser. She placed Hailey, who had nearly drifted back to sleep, on the bed and turned to inspect the rest of it. There wasn’t much more. A doorway led to an equally spartan bathroom.

“There you go,” Ginger said brightly. “You’ll find a supply of clothing and undergarments in the dresser, as well as pajamas.”

Blythe frowned. While Jacob had said they didn’t need to bring anything, she’d anticipated making a stop along the way to purchase a few clothing items.

Taking a step forward, she opened the top drawer. Inside, she found several neatly folded T-shirts and pairs of jeans, all in her size. In the drawer below were similar things for Hailey, again in the right size.

“Everything you need,” Ginger said.

“How’d you know the size?” Blythe blurted out, not sure whether to be amazed or creeped out.

Ginger shrugged. “Mr. Gideon is a good guesser.”

“But—”

Stifling a yawn, Ginger ratcheted her smile up a notch. “If you don’t mind, Jacob would like to meet with you before you rest for the night.” She glanced at Hailey, who, with her sagging eyelids and drowsy expression, was clearly exhausted. “I’d be happy to stay here with your daughter if you’d like.”

Blythe frowned. This was odd, considering she’d just spent several hours with Jacob in the limo. After a moment of hesitation, Blythe tried to stall. “Do you think it can wait until the morning?”

“Oh, I don’t think so.” Her smile was sweet. “We generally don’t refuse Jacob when he asks for something. But don’t worry. He won’t meet with you for long. I promise I’ll take good care of your little one while you’re gone.”

Though no doubt the woman meant well, a shiver of warning skittered across Blythe’s spine. They generally didn’t refuse Jacob when he asked for something? What the heck did that mean?

“No.” Reaching a decision, Blythe spoke in a sweet voice, though firmly. “I’d rather take her with me.”

“Really?” Ginger cocked her head. “That’s hardly fair to her, is it? Look how sleepy that poor baby is.”

“Hailey,” Blythe said, pushing back mild panic and hating the way she felt out of control. “Her name is Hailey.”

Ginger acknowledged the introduction with a shy dip of her chin. “Of course. And I do think it’d be best if we let her rest. Just one moment. I’ll have someone else come and take you to Jacob.”

She removed a walkie-talkie from her belt and spoke a few words into it. “There we are. Savannah will be here shortly.”

Struggling not to let exhaustion claim her, which was no doubt why she’d overreacted, Blythe nodded. “Have you been here long?” she asked.

Immediately, Ginger’s friendly smile vanished. “Excuse me a second,” she said, ducking out into the hallway without answering.

Surprised, Blythe didn’t move. Was there some rule about asking personal questions? That would not only be weird, but more cultlike than she cared for. When this Savannah person arrived, she’d ask her the same thing and see if she got a similar reaction.

A moment later Ginger returned, accompanied by a short, older woman with long, frizzy hair that looked as if she hadn’t combed it in days. She wore no makeup on her lined face and no jewelry. With her stooped shoulders and listless movements, she looked every bit as weary as Blythe felt.

Her faded blue gaze skittered over Blythe as she entered the room. “Come with me, please.”

For a split second, Blythe considered refusing to go. Instead, she swallowed back her questions. She’d committed to this. She trusted Jacob Gideon and, by default, his people. She’d need to learn to deal with her misgivings.

After a final glance at Hailey, she turned to follow the older woman. Ginger stopped her. “Wait just a second.”

She held out some papers on a clipboard. “I need you to sign here, please. This simply states that I’ve delivered you to your room.”

Enough was enough. Who needed to have a room delivery signed? “I don’t make a habit of signing papers without reading them,” Blythe said. “Leave them and I’ll sign them later, after I’ve had time to go over them.”

Ginger’s crestfallen expression didn’t change Blythe’s mind.

“I’m sorry.” Squinting tiredly at her, Blythe accepted the clipboard and tossed it on the bed. “I promise I’ll look at it when I get back.”

“Very well.” Ginger smiled softly. “I’ll wait here and watch over your child. We can go over the paperwork together when you return. I do need to have it signed before I go back to my regular duties.”

Again Blythe found this weird. But then again, what did she know? She’d never been inside a religious compound before.

Once she was out in the hall, Savannah grunted. “Follow me, please,” she said. Trudging along a few steps ahead, she picked up her pace each time Blythe hurried to catch up.

Exhaustion forgotten, Blythe grabbed her arm. “Wait up.”

The other woman rounded on her, her expression panicked. “Don’t touch me,” she yelped, jerking her arm away. Then, shaking her head and muttering under her breath, she took off again.

Stopping short, heart pounding in her chest, Blythe stared at Savannah’s retreating back. Enough was enough. These people were definitely strange, bordering on scary. No way was she going anywhere without Hailey.

She turned, intending to head back to her room.

She’d barely taken a few steps when Savannah came rushing back. “I’m sorry. Please accept my apology,” she said, the words running together without any real trace of contrition. “I’m new here and I’ve had a rough time before all this. I really don’t want to blow it.”