Page 63 of Bear Creek Christmas
If he were going to do this, he’d need to leave soon. Levi stopped as a new thought came to him. If Knox happened to return before he did and found him gone, the big guy would be worried. He decided to leave a note just in case and found a pen and paper to jot it down.
Needed something at the apartment. Be right back. Love you!
Levi left the note on the stovetop where Knox was sure to see it. Next, he hurried to put on extra clothes and socks before stuffing his feet into a pair of boots. Now bundled in a coat, hat, and gloves, Levi left a few lights on and locked the door behind him. Snow-clogged wind slapped him in the face as he made his way to the jeep. Even with the heat blasting away, it took a while to clean it off before he could go.
A little voice told him this wasn’t a good idea, but he ignored it and headed down the long drive. The pavement was covered again, even though Knox had scraped it clean less than an hour ago. Levi put the wipers on high and eased out onto the deserted road. The plows hadn’t made a pass through here yet, but he knew the jeep could handle it. With only his headlights to cut through the dark and snow, Levi took it slow and easy down the middle. Tense minutes ticked past with the howling wind as his only companion.
Up ahead, Levi spotted the street lights which marked his turn into town. Even here, he encountered no one else and made it to the apartment complex without any trouble. Based on the lack of parking spaces, it looked like all of his neighbors were at home. In shocking contrast, the building provided an oasis of warmth and quiet on the way upstairs. Inside, he went directly to the hall closet and snatched the bag of gifts. Next, he added the stuffed teddy bear from his bed, tied the top of the bag and locked the door behind him.
Though inside for less than five minutes, the snow now blew thicker and faster, making it difficult to see. Levi brushed off the windows again, cranked up the defroster, and headed back out the way he came. The drive became scary when he turned onto the main road leading north. Levi crawled along at twenty miles an hour, trying to stay away from the edge of the pavement—marked only by the occasional road sign. It was almost like driving blind, and the wipers were now clogged, leaving only streaks of cleared glass to peek through.
Up ahead, Levi spotted the muted headlights of another car coming towards him, kicking up a huge cloud of snow. Not only that, they’d wandered across the centerline, leaving no room for him to pass safely. Levi slowed and flashed his lights, but the oncoming vehicle continued to barrel straight for him until the last minute. The other driver must have understood what was about to happen, for the car started to fishtail. Levi’s mind perceived the next few moments with a gut-wrenching, slow-motion promise of the inevitable.
Correcting at the last second avoided a head-on collision, but the other vehicle’s back end slammed into the front corner of Levi’s jeep, forcing it over the narrow shoulder. Sinking into the soft, snow-filled ravine, the jeep flipped up and sliced deeper like a hot knife in butter. It landed on the passenger side with a muffled WHUMP, nearly buried in white winter’s fury. The one visible taillight flickered and then went dark as the other car continued on its way.
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Confused and frightened, Levi’s heart pounded as he took stock of his situation. Kept in place by the seatbelt alone, it cut into his hip, neck and shoulder as right and left were now up and down. The jeep’s engine had died, and all the lights were out, leaving him in complete darkness. Fortunately, he had a small penlight on his keychain, though it took some fumbling to detach it from the ring.
As he thought, the jeep lay on the passenger side—now littered with every loose item found in the vehicle. As far as he could tell, none of the glass had broken, but it was getting cold. First, he must get free of the seatbelt—difficult now that it bore all of his weight. He stowed the light, and using the handle above the driver’s door, Levi pulled himself up with one hand while releasing the belt with the other.
Success meant a painful fall onto the cold window below, further disorienting him. He couldn’t stay here for long with no food, water, and nothing to keep him warm. He knew Knox would come if he called and reached for his phone. It wasn’t there. A search through the detritus at his feet also revealed nothing, and a sinking feeling washed over him when he realized the truth.
He’d left the phone at the cabin, charging on the nightstand! Fear, and anger at himself for going out in this weather, battled for control. Fear won out, and Levi wondered what in the world he was supposed to do.
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Knox would never havetaken this route, after dark and in such a storm, if it hadn’t been the shortest way home. He’d texted Levi but received no response, and it bothered him. He made decent progress, taking it slow and easy, and arrived at the turn. The driveway contained a single set of almost-filled tracks. Was there a visitor at the cabin? It might explain why Levi hadn’t responded, but who’d be calling on them tonight?
Rounding the final curve, Knox’s stomach clenched when he saw an empty space instead of the jeep. Why would his mate have gone somewhere without telling him? Knox’s bear began fretfully pacing in his mind, melding ursine and human dread into a potent motivator. Knox parked the truck and hurried inside, met by the smell of recently-cooked food and the fading scent of his mate.
“Levi? LEVI!”
Knox looked everywhere, including the spare bedroom, to no avail. Reaching for his phone, the call connected, and he heard the distinctive ringtone coming from the bedroom. He found Levi’s phone charging on the nightstand.Where was his mate?An unwelcome dread moved Knox to search the house again for clues. Finally, he found Levi’s note on top of the stove.
Needed something at the apartment. Be right back. Love you!
More than upset, Knox growled and huffed with worry. What could be so important to go after in the middle of a blizzard? When had he left? Was he on his way back? Even driving slowly, it shouldn’t take more than ten minutes to travel the six miles round trip. Knox would give him that much time, and if he didn’t return, he’d go looking for his mate.
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Levi stood with hisfeet braced against the center console, unlatched the driver’s side door, and pushed. Nothing. Between the weight of the door itself plus the layer of snow, it would be a challenge to get it open far enough to squeeze through. He tried again, pushing harder, and felt the door move a bit this time. Loose snow poured through the gap, covering his bare face and neck with a layer of icy crystals. Levi let the door close while he shook off the white stuff before it melted all over him.
Hehadto get out of here, even if it meant walking back to the cabin in a blizzard. The cold, darkness, and confinement were pressing in, and he’d lose it soon if he couldn’t escape. Before trying the door again, he untucked the red and white scarf his grandmother sent him and wrapped his head with it. Next, he retied the hood on his coat to hold everything together and prepared to exit the jeep. If he stood on the vehicle, his head should be above the snowline, allowing him to get out of the ravine.
A loud rumbling—both heard and felt—caught his attention, and Levi sprung into action. That had to be a snowplow! If the driver saw him, he’d have a chance for some help. Bracing himself against the steering wheel, Levi kicked at the door with all his strength. The noise increased as the plow came closer, even as the door inched open with every forceful kick. Levi finally wiggled his head and shoulders through the opening, just as a wall of snow fell on top of him from the plow’s blade.
The weight was too much, and he fell back inside the jeep with a frustrated cry. So damn close! Further attempts to open the door proved futile, and Levi curled up to conserve heat while the tears fell. It couldn’t end this way! He had a mate who wanted him—waiting for Levi to say the word and begin their lives together. If he hadn’t left the cabin, he’d already be in Knox’s bed, claimed and happy.
Not even a shifter would be able to find him now, buried alive in plain sight.
