Phantom Warriors: Arctos Read Online Free

sense. He was injured for Pete’s sake. Caitlin was about to ask, when a howl rose on the wind. The hair on her neck bristled.
    “We’d better hurry,” she said. “Don’t want to get caught out in the open by the wolves. They probably smel our blood.”
    Arctos’ eyes appeared to flash from brown to red and back again. “I won’t let anything harm you,” he said with such conviction that Caitlin actual y believed him.
    The howl came again. This time it was the wind warning of the approaching storm. “We might be able to outrun the wolves, but we won’t outrun the storm. Not with injuries,” she said.
    He arched a brow. “Your concern for my wel -being is…unnecessary.”
    “Unnecessary?” She balked. “You saved me from being eaten by polar bears. I’d say that I owe you. And I always repay my debts.” Caitlin glanced around, scanning the horizon through the blowing snow for any manmade objects. “Look over there and tel me what you see.” She pointed at something a couple hundred yards away, hoping it wasn’t just a clump of trees.
    Arctos looked. Blinked a few times, then said, “It’s a dwel ing of some sort.”
    There weren’t any lights on, but that didn’t mean anything in Alaska. A few miles outside of a smal town meant no electricity. If someone was home, she didn’t think that they’d be turned away, but it paid to be cautious, since everyone in Alaska tended to be armed.
    She shielded her eyes and looked again. “I can’t tel if the structure is sound from here, but at this point it’l have to do. We need to get out of this storm.”
    * * * * *
     
    Arctos stared at the smal shelter in the distance. He sent his senses out, searching the area for threats. The wolves were closing in from two sides, but they were stil a great distance and would pose no threat. They smel ed the blood on the wind, but what they hunted was bigger game like the caribou herd making their way across the tundra a half a mile from their location. Arctos sent out a warning, alerting the pack that there was a larger predator in the area. It would be enough to deter them from pursuing them.
    That done, he turned his attention back to the cabin. It was empty and might serve as the perfect place to rest for the night. He chastised himself for not making better time.
    He should’ve had her safely tucked back with her people by now.
    He glanced at the woman. He’d been right. She barely reached the center of his chest. Nowhere near big enough to defend herself. He was amazed she’d managed to survive this long without protection. Was she who the Goddess had chosen for him? Bitterness rose. He’d never know for certain now that the first bond was in place.
    “What is your name?” he asked, pushing aside the useless emotion. In his haste to get her to safety he’d al owed his manners to slip.
    She blushed, her cheeks turning even pinker. “Caitlin.
    Caitlin Kel y,” she said, before adding, “we’d better get moving.”
    Caitlin. Her name tasted sweet on his lips and suited her smal stature. Arctos watched her march out into the snow toward the structure. Not only did she not look like the women he’d known on Zaron, she didn’t behave like them.
    Her diminutive size belied her hidden strength. She was not a woman used to being coddled. That much was abundantly clear when she’d demanded to be put down.

    Other than her initial panic from finding herself in a stranger’s arms, which was understandable, Caitlin didn’t appear fussed by their present situation. Her bravery was admirable. If anything, she’d responded practical y. First seek shelter, then tend to his wound. Arctos wasn’t quite sure what to make of her.
    The women he’d known would’ve been screaming about the cold and demanding that he find them food and shelter immediately. Instead, Caitlin had been the one to spot a dwel ing and make the decision to spend the night.
    How utterly…fascinating.
    Arctos fol owed at a short