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and rest ?” she asked.
    “ No, ” Cathen snapped at her. “ We don’t have far to go. ”
    If they were attacked, neither of them would be in a position to fight. “ Please. ”
    “ We haven’t any shelter. It’s too dangerous .”
    As she’d suspected, there was more to his refusal than he told her.
    “ I can make us a shelter and we can set a trap. I need to walk, drink and eat. You both need water, food and rest .” She knew his mind was consumed with his need for her. So in many ways it was easier for him to keep going than to stop. “ Please…Cathen .”
    He barked to Varor and stopped.
    Once he lowered to the ground, she dismounted next to partially frozen water. Her legs felt weak and she wobbled. As circulation returned to her legs, she scouted for a fir, and found one that looked like a large Christmas tree. It had full boughs, which covered the ground beneath.
    Cathen did not interfere with her gathering of branches. Soon he and Varor brought more to her. Every time Varor was near her, she felt Cathen grow uneasy.
    She used some spruce boughs to pad the bottom of the area and cover any gaps in the branches above. Bark and woodbine vines kept everything in place. It wasn’t impressive, but it wasn’t bad, either. She hadn’t made one of these shelters since she was a girl with her father and brother.
    “ I’m impressed. I had no idea you could make such a thing ,” Cathen said.
    “In America we have ancient people who don’t live among us in our cities, towns and villages. Indians. My father had a very good relationship with the tribes in our area. Not unlike Shunus, they live in communities.” For the first time since she’d become VanWolf’s mate she missed America, the land and the people.
    She filled a bowl with snow, crawled into the space and placed the container to the side to melt, opened the bag and pulled out the food Tyra had wrapped for her. Why did anyone have to die for her? Tears burned her eyes.
    Varor and Cathen covered their tracks and created a false trail for anyone stalking them to follow.
    Alexia took a few bites, but didn’t have the stomach to eat. Now that she’d stopped moving she felt nauseous. She ran out of her makeshift shelter and heaved. This couldn’t start now.
    “ What cannot start now? ” Cathen stopped behind her.
    “ Nerves and stress. ”
    Cathen’s jaw tensed. “ I pushed you too hard today. ”
    The last thing she wanted was for him to hold himself responsible. “ No, I didn’t say anything earlier. ”
    “ But I sensed your fatigue and should have stopped. I’m sorry, coquette. ” Regret made his voice deeper than usual.
    She patted his head as she walked by and reentered the shelter. The inside was warm. She removed her boots and jacket, then lay down by the door, staring out.
    * * * *
    Night fell. Dark gray clouds covered the sky. The moon rose on the horizon. Alexia watched Cathen and Varor play fight in the snow. Though they were both tired, restless energy made them aggressive because of the waxing gibbous moon and her. Always her. Chasing, nipping and biting, Cathen pinned and released Varor, asserting his superiority over the other male. Varor seemed good humored enough about the game they played.
    Cold and tired, she retreated into the makeshift shelter she’d created for them and wrapped herself in the animal skin blanket from her bag.
    A snapping sound came from the woods behind them. Her heart pounded in fear that they had been tracked and now were in danger.
    Cathen and Verror grew still, then crept along the ground. One went around one side and the other headed in the opposite direction.
    “ Alexia, grab the gun out of the bag, ” Cathen ordered.
    She did as commanded and held the weapon. Yet it did not make her feel safe but rather more fearful. Had her insistence in stopping cost more lives?
    Low growling came from farther away, a menacing snarl she didn’t recognize. It was a werewolf.
    “ He isn’t alone and the