On the Move by Catherine Vale Read Free Book Online

faster than humans. By the time we’re home, I’ll be well.”
    “Even the broken hand?”
    He held out his hand. It was discolored and swollen, and Addison guessed there was more than one break in the bones of the hand, if not some of his fingers as well. It looked incredibly painful.
    “Even the hand.”
    They walked in silence for a time, Addison trailing behind Griffin on the narrow path through the jungle. Finally even that disappeared and Griffin pushed through the thick foliage, their progress slowing. Her heart sank. They’d be in the jungle for hours at this rate.
    Suddenly, they broke through the thick vines and she found herself in a clearing ringed with small huts. There were shouts and before they’d gotten more than a few steps, a dozen men, and women surrounded them.
    There was a distinct shift in Griffin’s demeanor. He straightened, the limp disappearing, the broken hand tucked in the folds of the cape. He strode forward, greeting his clan.
    The group stopped, silence descending, as they waited for him to speak. He looked over them, meeting the eyes of each clan member.
    “I am back. And I have brought a mate. She is to be welcomed into the clan.”
    Addison felt ever pair of eyes shift to her and her face grew warm. She managed what she hoped was a confident smile, something befitting the mate of their leader as whispers of the group washed over her. There were open looks of approval from the men, and shy smiles from the women.
    “I am no longer just your clan leader. I am now the leader of all the clans.” There was a stunned moment of silence and then voices rose around them, questions filling the air.
    Griffin raised his unbroken hand. “I defeated Xavier in an honorable challenge. He is dead, as is Kade. His clan is now joined with Ramos’. There will be changes; there will be no more raids on the villages. There will be no more clan fighting.”
    A cheer rose from the clan, startling birds from the trees. Addison saw relief on the faces of the men and women. Voices rose again, questions again bombarding him. Griffin held up his hand once more, and the voices faded to a low murmur.
    “We will meet soon. But I have other duties to attend to.”
    There was laughter this time. For a moment it was embarrassing, but then strangely familiar. The group broke up, moving toward the huts, small groups forming and reforming.
    Addison caught the eye of the women near the back of the group. She saw that they appeared to be shifters as well, with characteristically dark skin, dark eyes, and black hair. She’d hoped, after finding Daphne among the clans, she’d be lucky enough to find other women from the expedition. Her heart sank when she realized it had been a stroke of luck Daphne had survived. The chances of more than one woman being found were slim to none.
    Griffin had moved away from her, a few men of the clan surrounding him. They appeared to be guards or his lieutenants. He spoke directly to them, they nodded, and then stepped back.
    “Come.” Griffin held his hand. She reached out and took it, and he led her to a hut set at the edge of the clearing. He held the pelt covering the door and she stepped inside.
    The pelt dropped and they were enveloped in a soft darkness. There was a small window that let in just enough light for her to see a wide pallet bed, small stools and a trunk. It was clearly a find from a raid, a large wooden affair banded in metal, with a large hasp and padlock. It held an empty bowl and a folded stack of cloth.
    “We’ll be left alone.”
    She turned. Griffin stood inside the door, exhaustion and pain clearly evident on his face, in his posture, in his voice. She reached out, taking his arm, pulling him toward the bed.
    “Lay down, for heaven’s sake. You’re going to faint from blood loss. Is there anything to eat? You need water, and medical care.”
    Her voice rose, panic-tinged, and she stopped, taking a shaky breath. But Griffin only grinned. “I’ll lay