Tracking the Bear (Blue Ridge Bears Book 1)(25)

The young man stopped a few paces short of where I stood. “Do you need some help?” he asked, gesturing toward the two large packs that I had yet to unload.

“I’m not entirely sure Chance will win the argument,” I muttered. “We could be packing all this stuff up in a few minutes.”

“You won’t be,” he said confidently. “Darren can be pig-headed sometimes. It’s a quality I admire, even if it can get a bit tedious.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I have a way with people,” he said with a shrug. “I’ll talk to him in a few minutes. You’re needed on this mission, Miss Elmsong, now more than ever.”

I stiffened. I was almost certain that Chance hadn’t told them my last name. That would be a strike against my participation that he didn’t need. “How do you know my last name?”

He gave me another dazzling smile. “Ah yes, where are my manners? I haven’t introduced myself, have I? I’m Adrien. Adrien Frey.”

My mouth popped open. “You’re-”

He put a finger to my lips gently. “Shh. Not here. Walk with me, and we can discuss it further.”

He walked several hundred yards down the road, away from the rest of the were-bears. Adrien, or Freyr, as I suspected, didn’t look back at me as he spoke.

“There. We should be far enough away they can’t eavesdrop. You were saying, Miss Elmsong?”

“Adrien Frey?” I repeated incredulously. “Isn’t that a touch obvious?”

He chuckled. “Perhaps, but none of them will remember me once I leave this place. I’m merely here to ensure that you are able to participate. You’re the only one that can stand in his way.”

“I don’t see what you think I can accomplish,” I said, throwing my hands up in frustration. “He’s stronger than me. Faster, too.”

“Yes,” he said simply. “He is that. But you swore an oath to me. You must stop him. Your brother will save many lives.”

“You sent a creepy puddle monster after me. What was I supposed to say? I think I’m getting the raw end of this deal. I didn’t sign up to be a part of your supernatural army.”

“Your mate is frightened for your life,” he informed me, turning fully toward me for the first time since we’d started walking. “I don’t blame him. I didn’t believe that the Aesir would be able to locate him this quickly, or I would have come to you earlier.”

“The Aesir?” I echoed. What was with all the funny words? I didn’t know what the hell people were talking about half the time. I really had to brush up on my Norse mythology.

“Odin and his ilk. Surely you’ve heard of Odin? At the very least you’ve heard of his son, Thor. He’s been getting an obnoxious amount of attention in human media in the last century.”

I would have laughed, if the situation weren’t so serious. It wasn’t every day you saw a god sulking over his lack of publicity. I nodded, covering my mouth to hide the sudden smile on my face.

“So, Thor threatened to kill me?” I checked.

“The scent of honeysuckle and wheat lingered on his skin, so it was either Frigg or Sif.”

I bristled at the mention of another woman anywhere near Chance. Frigg or Sif would keep her hands off of Chance, if she wanted to keep said hands.

Freyr turned and began walking back up the hill. It was more difficult going up the hill than down it, especially since I hadn’t taken any pain medication since leaving the hotel in the morning. I limped after him, fuming. I didn’t like any of this. I didn’t like that Chance was keeping secrets from me. I didn’t like that I’d been strong-armed into helping Freyr accomplish whatever his agenda was. And most of all, I didn’t like the odds stacked against me. I couldn’t stop Chance. He was bigger and stronger than I was. Even if my leg was whole, I couldn’t outrun him.

I had the sinking feeling that I was going to fail miserably. Why not? I wasn’t exactly the pinnacle of success. I’d always fallen short of expectations. Poised on the edge of attending Notre Dame with a full ride sports scholarship, I’d apparently gotten “drunk” and crashed my brother’s car. Instead of attending community college, I’d spent the following five years working as a waitress.

What was it that Uncle Mack had said before I’d left? Ah, right. You’ve got a lot of quit in you.

Freyr cocked his head to one side and considered me as we ascended the hill. “Do you?” he asked.

“Do I what?” I muttered, rubbing at my eyes before tears could fall.

“Do you have a lot of quit in you?”

I jumped. “You never said you could read minds. Butt out.”

“I can’t help that you’re practically screaming it right now. But the question still stands. Do you?”

“No,” I growled, finally reaching the top. My leg hurt like hell, but that didn’t matter. I was going to hike into the woods whether Chance followed me or not. “I don’t.”

“Good.” He flashed me a wicked grin that looked wildly out of place on his young, innocent face. “That’s my girl. I’m going to sort the boys out. Be ready when I send my gift to you. I won’t send it twice.”

“Gift? What gift?” I hissed as he sauntered toward the squabbling group of were-bears.