The Trail Back by Ashley Malkin Page B

bathroom counter at her front and him at her back. She didn’t feel trapped, though. She felt alive. “You’ll kill us both.”
    “Never, Abbie. I’m in control.”
    “I’m not,” she whispered.
    “When are you going to come out of there?” a woman asked. “We want to get Abbie some clothes, and I have to eat before I die of starvation.”
    “You ate some crackers in the car, Katie. I don’t think you’ll die.”
    She looked at Brayden in the mirror. He was smiling at her. His pale blue eyes sparkled in his handsome face. He was ruggedly handsome, tall, and lean, his pale skin and white hair resembling his inner arctic wolf.
    “Kaitlyn and Meg have come to take us to breakfast. Then they’d like to take you shopping for some clothes.”
    He released her from his hold but snagged one of her hands in his as she turned to leave the bathroom. Two women stepped into the room before they had a chance to leave.
    “Hi there, Abbie, I’m Meg. We met yesterday, but you were asleep and—”
    “Do you remember me? I’m Kaitlyn,” the dark-haired woman said.
    “The panther with the vampire mate,” Abbie said. She remembered the vampire and his beautiful mate.
    “She has a cougar mate, too.” A huge man with golden blond hair stepped into the, now cramped, bathroom and wrapped his arms around Kaitlyn from behind. “I’m Sean. Nice to meet you, Abbie.”
    “H-hello,” Abbie stammered. He was huge, and she felt intimidated by his size.
    “I don’t think we met last night,” another huge man said as he stepped into the bathroom to stand behind Meg and wrap her in his arms. “I’m Prescott, one of Meg’s mates, her husband as of Saturday night.”
    The man was nearly as tall as Sean but with dark, unruly hair. They could have been bear shifters with their size, but they scented clearly as cats. Abbie imagined their cats would be massive.
    “Oh my God.” It made sense to her now—all the people gathered in the one place, the woman in the fancy dress. “I crashed in on your wedding, didn’t I? I’m so sorry.”
    “It was hardly your fault,” Meg said. “We’re glad you’re alive and feeling better. You look very pale, are you feeling up to a trip to town?”
    Abbie looked down at what she was wearing. It was better than being cold and naked as she’d been for the last month, but she’d like some clothes that fit. “I’d like to get some clothes, but I have no money.”
    “My mate is the Alpha of the Pine Falls pride, and we have an emergency fund set up for circumstances like these, women in need, men in need, anyone in need. Don’t we, Prescott?”
    By the way her husband was looking at her, Abbie imagined it was the first he was hearing of this fund. Meg was vibrant and kind, and Abbie had no desire to make her look foolish.
    “Then I’d love to make use of the fund for just a few things until I can get access to my own money again. Thank you, Meg. You’re very kind.”
    Brayden squeezed her hand in a silent show of support.
    “Can we go now? I can hear pancakes and maple syrup calling me,” Kaitlyn said.
    “You can have whatever you need, baby,” Sean said.
    Sean ran his hand over Kaitlyn’s flat stomach lovingly. The move was one of both protection and pride. Abbie had seen it countless times before in mated couples expecting pups.
    “You’re pregnant?” Abbie asked. She took a discreet sniff and couldn’t detect any scent from the woman who was a hybrid like herself. She did detect something from the other cat, though. She turned to her and had her mouth open to say congratulations when her big mate shook his head, ever so slightly, a wide grin spreading across his handsome face. Abbie didn’t feel quite so intimidated by him in that moment. Prescott picked Meg up and carried the laughing woman from the bathroom.
    “We’ll meet you downstairs, Abbie,” Kaitlyn said. She took Sean’s hand, and they followed Meg and Prescott from the bathroom.
    Abbie had to leave the