the wheel house. She slid down the wall to the deck under his weight and he allowed himself to follow her.

Shanaea began to breathe a bit faster as she gazed up into his eyes. “I love you Tiembe.” She said.

Tiembe felt a bit of nervousness growing in the pit of his stomach as he realized what was about to happen, and what it meant. He put his paw against the side of Shanaea’s face and nuzzled her and the nervousness left him. “I love you too Shay.” He said. If Tiembe was only sure of one thing in his life it was this.

 

Josh took the steps to the porch of the Old Mill two at a time. He nearly slammed into the door of the old mill as he skidded to a stop on the slick porch. He pawed at the door until it was pushed open by Astarre. She was smiling, but her smile disappeared when she saw Josh.

“What is it Josh?” She asked. “…is everything okay?”

“No it’s not.” Josh said. “…is Blaize here?”

Astarre shook her head. “No, he went to see if he could find any clues as to Gemeni’s murder.”

Josh nodded. “Thanks Astarre.” He said.

Then he leapt off the porch and took off down the road.

Astarre sighed and pushed the door closed. There were times she wished she hadn’t volunteered her mate for his job.

 

Blaize sighed and pushed Gemeni’s paw with his nose, moving it close to her body so he could see beneath it. He shook his head. “…nothing.” He said. “…***** it Gemeni.” He said. “…who did this to you?”

Just then a voice came from behind him. “I think I know.”

Blaize jumped and turned. “What the! …oh, it’s you.” He said. “Josh you about gave me a heart attack.”

Josh walked past Blaize and pointed his paw at Gemeni’s blood covered body. “I know who did this to her.” He said.

“…and who is that?” Blaize asked.

Josh turned. “…it was Tiembe.”

Blaize shook his head. “…Josh…”

Josh cut him off. “No Blaize I know now. I heard my sister talking to him. She knows too. Can’t you subpoena her or something, make you tell her?”

“So you’re saying that Tiembe is at the boat now?” Blaize asked.

Josh nodded. “I heard him myself.”

Blaize sighed. “Well it’s good to know that he’s back.” He said.

“…that’s it?” Josh asked.

“Josh I still haven’t found anything to link this to him.”

Josh shook his head. “…I don’t believe you Blaize.” He said. “There’s a murderer living right here in Nome and you don’t do anything at all.” He turned and began to walk away.

“Josh, don’t go and do something stupid.” Blaize said.

Josh growled at him. “…someone has to do something.” He said. Then he took off, leaving Blaize alone.

 

It didn’t take Josh long to stir up a crowd down at the boiler room. Soon a group of dogs were gathered around him.

“…so you say Tiembe is killing again?” One of them asked.

Josh nodded. “Yes. He killed Gemeni this morning.”

“..what?” One dog asked.

“…why?” Another said.

“…are you sure?” Still another questioned.

Josh nodded. “…who else would have done it? Gemeni didn’t have any enemies.”

“That’s true.” Said one of the dogs.

“So why don’t you tell Blaize?” One of the dogs asked.

“I did.” Josh said. “He’s not going to do anything.”

“…why not?” Another asked.

“…because he’s afraid.” Josh said. “He’s afraid of Tiembe.”

“…then he shouldn’t be Keeper of the Law.” One of the dogs said.

Josh nodded. “…we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now Tiembe is back in Nome again. I just heard him talking to my sister in the old trawler. Now, are you with me?” He asked.

The dogs nodded.

“Let’s go get him!” Someone cried.

Josh smiled. “…I’ll see you in hell Tiembe.” He thought.

 

Tiembe opened his eyes and smiled. His thoughts drifted to the soft furred creature snuggled up to him, her paws rested on his, his nose inches from her creamy muzzle. Her eyes were closed and her body rose and fell beneath him in a slow and steady rhythm. She’d fallen asleep, as had he. Tiembe smiled and his thoughts turned to how lucky he was. Of all the things that had ever happened to him this was the best. This special union with the one he loved held no comparison. She stirred beneath him and opened her eyes halfway. A smile slid across her muzzle and she looked up to kiss him on the cheek.

“Hey you.” She said.

He smiled back and nuzzled her. “…hey.” He said.

He stood up and slid off of her to lay at her side.

She yawned and laid her head on his paws, then she rolled over on her back and stretched. “Well, what are we going to do now Tiembe?” She asked with a sigh.

He smiled. “Well… I was kind of wondering if you wouldn’t mind being my mate too much.” He said.

Shanaea smiled and rolled over onto her paws and kissed him. “You mean that Tiembe?” She asked. “…no more running away, no more fear, no more facing things on your own?”

He smiled and shook his head, kissing her back. “..Yep.” He said. “…from here on out we’re a team.” He said.

She nodded. “I love you Tiembe.” She said. “…and nothing would please me more than to stand at your side through anything and everything.”

He smiled. “I love you too Shay.” He said.

He nuzzled her.

“Hey Tiembe, you in there?!” A familiar voice said.

Tiembe sighed. “…what’s he going to think of this?” He asked her.

Shanaea sighed. “I don’t guess it matters.” She said. “I mean… he is my brother, but… you’re my mate.” She smiled.

Tiembe smiled back. “I like the sound of that.”

She nodded.

“…don’t worry.” He said. “I’ll go smooth things out with him.” Teimbe stood.

Then Shanaea did too. “We’re a team remember?” She said. “We’ll face this together.”

Tiembe nodded and nuzzled her.

“Teimbe you might want to come out of there now!” Josh yelled.

Shanaea sighed. “…after you?” She said.

Tiembe laughed softly. “He is *your* brother.” He said.

She laughed back at him. “…guess he is huh?” She asked. Then she stepped out of the wheel house…

…only to have a large gray dog slam into her side, throwing her to the deck.

Tiembe was caught completely by surprise by the dog that leapt at him. The dog knocked Tiembe away from Shanaea and they rolled to the other side of the deck.

Shanaea reacted on instinct and latched her teeth into the paw of the dog that had tackled her

He yelped and slapped her across the muzzle, being careful to keep his claws retracted.

She yelped more in surprise than pain.

“SHAY!” Tiembe called. That yelp gave him drive, gave him focus. He turned and rolled out from under the dog. The dog growled and snapped at Tiembe.

Tiembe dodged his head sideways and sank his teeth high into the dogs leg. He turned and threw the dog sideways.

The dog slammed into the railing of the deck and with one god push from Tiembe went over it, dropping the three stories to the snow covered ground. The dog yelped and lay still in the snow below.

Instantly three more dogs pinned Tiembe to the ground.

He fought for a moment, sinking his teeth into whatever yielding flesh presented itself, but he was losing the fight. Soon they had him pinned to the deck.

…put up quite a fight there Tiembe.” Josh said, stepping toward the downed dog.

Shanaea twisted under her assailant, trying to get free. “Josh, please don’t do this, we’re…”

The dog that was holding her down swatted her in the face again.

Again she yelped and stopped moving so much.

Josh whirled around and growled at the dog. “Hit my sister again and I’ll have your balls for breakfast.” He said. “…think I’m kidding just try me.”

The dog nodded and eased up his grip on her.

“Now, Tiembe I’m charging you with the murder of Gemeni and the suspected murder and kidnappings of Jenna and Alyse.”

“What?” Shanaea and Tiembe both asked.

Josh sighed. “Shay, he’s using you. You just can’t see it. You’ll thank me for this someday.”

He turned to look at Tiembe who had ceased struggling beneath the three dogs. “…the sentence? …death.”

“Who are you to sentence me?” Tiembe asked. “If you suspect me of these crimes let’s take it to Blaize, let him decide if the evidence points toward me or not.”

Josh walked over and belted Tiembe in the face several times, drawing a yelp of pain from his throat.

“…Tiembe!” Shanaea yelled. “…Josh don’t!”

Josh leaned down to Tiembe’s face and growled. “I’m her brother, that’s who I am to sentence you.” He said. “…and that sentence is death. He smacked Tiembe in the side of the head again and Tiembe went limp in the dogs’ grasp. Josh spit on the unconscious dog. “…no one messes with my sister.” He said. He nodded at the three dogs and two of them started pulling Tiembe up onto the other’s back.

Josh walked over to his sister and smiled. “I know you don’t understand.” He said. “…but trust me, one day you’ll thank me.” He said

Shanaea lunged forward, half out of the dog’s grasp. She got her foreleg free and smacked Josh across the face with her paw.

Josh yelped and jumped back; twin streaks of blood visible on his muzzle. He growled. “Throw her in the wheel house.” He said. “…and guard it, make sure she stays in there.” He said. He started to walk away and then stopped and turned. “…and kill anyone that tries to let her out. My sister and I need to have a little chat later.” With that he turned and followed the dog carrying Tiembe down the ramp.

One of the dogs pushed open the door to the wheel house and the other pulled Shanaea to her paws. He gripped her by her leg and pulled her over to the door. “…Tiembe!” She called. “…Tiembe don’t worry I’ll come for you!” She stood up on her hind legs trying to get away from the dog to rescue her mate, but he just pushed her toward the door.

Shanaea saw her opening and latched her jaws around the dog’s exposed hind leg. He yelped and clamped his jaws on her leg. She let go and screamed and the dog threw her into the wheel house on her back. Shanaea lunged at the dog again, but he hit her in the face with his

Previous Page

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Next page