Page 53 of Lion Conquers All
Mrs. Roberts glanced at Aarav and then the others as each of them pulled their phone out.
Two other phones went off. Tara and Owen had arrived. They glanced over at Col before nodding and then exiting the community center.
Col took a step away and stopped when Mrs. Roberts put a hand on his arm. “You and yours belong in this town. We won’t betray you.”
He laid a hand over hers and sighed. “You don’t know what you’re promising, but your sentiment is appreciated. I must go.”
She nodded and released him. “Calvin.” She called her husband’s name and half ran toward him.
“Let’s go.” Col’s word spurred everyone to movement.
“I need to stop and tell SAR that…” What was he going to tell them? That he was going out in this weather with friends to search for the kids. They’d think he was a fool. “Never mind. Let’s go.” Connie was deep in conversation with a park ranger. They were going over a map. She wouldn’t even know he’d left.
They were going to do the thing she warned themnotto do.
It would be better that she stayed here. Easier.
For you, maybe.His lion grumbled.She’ll beg you not to.
His beast was right…and he wasn’t sure he was strong enough to do this if she begged or cried. In fact, he was quite sure he wouldn’t. He was quite sure he’d do anything Connie asked him to do.
But finding these kids was the right thing.
She knew that. Deep down, she would understand.
They marched silently through the foyer of the community center together and out into the snow. The wind was still formidable. Visibility was at about fifty percent, and they were standing in at least a foot of fresh powder off the cleared areas of the parking lot.
The mountain would be worse. They’d be up to their chests in drifts, maybe deeper.
Tara and Owen were in their truck waiting. Steam from their exhaust swirled around and disappeared into the gusts of wind.
Col led them toward Owen and Tara’s truck.
Katherine and Knox came around from the back of the community center and ran toward Col. “What the hell do you mean we’re taking a vote to go find them. This would expose us all. This goes against everything we’ve ever talked about.”
Col growled, his chest rattling loud enough Aarav could feel the vibrations even through the noise of the storm.
“We will discuss everything at the cabin. I willnotspeak of it here any longer.”
Her mouth opened again but then snapped shut so hard Aarav winced for her teeth. Knox was silent next to her, but worry pooled in the wolf’s eyes.
Aarav broke off from the group and headed to his patrol car. This was it. They might lose everything. Their homes, their friends, their jobs. He’d lose Connie if he did this, but how could they not? How could they let the kids die without trying? They’d waited this long. They’d given the humans time, but the weather had been against them, and the kids had been hiding.
No one was going to vote not to help. He knew the hearts of this tribe and they’d all been suffering in silence.
Even though Katherine had objected, he knew ultimately she would make the same choice he already had in his heart.
They had to save these kids.
22
CONNIE
“Look here, you’re only wearing that badge because we allowed it.”
Whoa!Connie kept staring at the map of Denali in front of her, but her ears focused onto the conversation over to the far side of the gym. It wasn’t like they were being particularly quiet. But still.
“They have a way of finding the kids that we don’t have. I need everyone called down off the mountain. Every hunter, fisher, and musher. All of them. I want it empty.”
