My Wild Alien Experiment – The Parallel Dimensions Series (Book 4)

She longed to end hunger and feed the world, but she never planned to do it in an icy alternate dimension full of apex predators.

When Destiny Roberts’ plane crash lands in another dimension, she learns first hand how brutal the frozen landscape is. She and her fellow team of scientists struggle to come to terms with where they are and how to survive. The climate is deadly, but it’s the monstrous hybrid creatures they really have to watch out for. Dr. Frankenstein must have given ethics lessons to whoever thought it was okay to combine the DNA of so many creatures. Not only are they savage, they’re perfectly adapted to survive in the icy wasteland.

There has long been a prophecy among Ice Claw’s people of a female who will fall from the sky in a giant metal bird. She will save them and lead them to a new place where they will be safe from danger and have full bellies. But how can he convince her that she is the one? And will she ever accept that she is his fated mate?

Get your copy to find out!

She was destined to save them.

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CHAPTER ONE

DESTINY

I was counting down the hours until I got to be warm again. Thirty degrees Fahrenheit was warm for Alaska, but I still considered that way too cold for comfort. It probably had something to do with the fact that my ancestors had come from Africa. Give me sunshine and warmth any day! I layered on a coat and gloves over the other layers I was already bundled up in and sighed. All of the bulky clothing certainly wasn’t doing my figure any favors. I braced myself for the chilly slap of air as I exited my tent. From a logical stance, I knew this was child’s play compared to the subzero temperatures we’d encountered earlier on in our expedition, but that knowledge didn’t make me any warmer in that moment.

I was carrying my portable field kit. It was heavy, and I was glad I didn’t have to take it very far. I was soon joined by Gary, our handy dandy field guide who always accompanied me to keep me safe when I went to gather my plant samples. He was handsome, strong, and tanned from a life spent outdoors seeking adventure. I wasn’t sure if it was part of his actual job description to go with me or if he saw me as girlfriend material. Flattered though I was by his endless flirting, I just wasn’t that into him. I was only twenty-five and he was in his mid-to-late thirties, so that might have had something to do with it. I certainly enjoyed his company, but only as a friend.

We were both part of a several-month-long expedition to collect the hardiest edible plant samples from the most extreme climates and conditions in the world. Unlike me, Gary wasn’t a scientist, but his more hands-on skill set was highly valuable to me because it kept me alive. Over the past months, he’d saved me from rockslides, flooding, and a group of angry villagers. In addition to that, he knew how to use all of the fancy survival gear we traveled with. Seriously, the instructions for some of these items were even more complicated than wordless furniture assembly diagrams.

“You don’t even look tired,” I accused playfully.

“What can I say, morning is when I shine,” Gary joked.

He handed me a thermos full of coffee, earning him a happy sigh and an instant look of gratitude.

“You’re the most important member of our team,” I praised with mock sincerity.

“And there I thought that was you, the only person actually qualified to gather the samples.”

“Well, when you put it that way—” I laughed, leaving the rest of my sentence unspoken.

I loaded my field kit into the back of the two-seater ATV. I was happy to let him drive, especially since I wasn’t certain I could find my way to the site on my own. That day I was taking green cuttings from an indigenous plant called Empetrum Nigrum, more commonly known as the black crowberry. It would be a couple more months before the seeds would ripen, but others had found greater success with cloning plants from cuttings, so I’d chosen to prioritize that over berries and seeds when I’d made our harvest schedule. The ride was bumpy, but the scenery was gorgeous. It was amazing how much of the snow melted this time of year when the sun took up residence over on this side of the hemisphere.

“Let’s try there,” I said, pointing to a large patch.

The crowberries provided an evergreen ground cover. They grew in large clumps, low to the ground. Their branched stems and long roots formed dense mats. They were edible, although not all that tasty based on what I’d gleaned in my research. The lack of sweetness wasn’t important to me, though. What I was interested in was hardiness. My hope was that everything else could be tweaked over time in the lab.

Gary parked the ATV, and I unloaded my field kit. I carefully removed one of the insulated bags, which I’d already packed with peat moss to help my cutting take root. I focused on healthy green growth, avoiding the woodier stems. Using my pruning shears, I managed to collect several promising samples. I took photos to catalog the condition of the original plant and its native habitat. Then I pulled out my field journal, noting our exact GPS location, the date, and other relative data like the current temperature. Once I’d finished, I carefully sterilized my shears and packed up all of my equipment. Then I grinned at Gary, who let out a loud, excited, “Whoop!”

“Does this mean we finally get to go home?” he asked excitedly.

“That was the last plant. It’s been a long six months,” I agreed.

“I’m getting a pizza first thing . . . no, a beer . . .” he decided, making plans for his imminent return home.

“I’m going to sleep in my comfortable bed in my perfectly climate-controlled home,” I shared.

“Ummm . . . your fantasy is kind of boring,” Gary teased.

Boring or no, I couldn’t help but be excited about returning home as the ATV bounced along the crude road. The rest of our crew had been busy packing up camp while we’d been gone. I was grateful to see that my luggage had been carefully loaded into the back of one of the vehicles. I was checking to make sure that the tubs containing all of my plant samples had been properly secured when my boss Doug, a serious-looking individual with a near-constant frown on his face, approached. He was in his forties, so maybe he was just tired. It was hard to say. Like everyone else, he’d been waiting for us to return.

“Did you get what we needed?” Doug asked.

“Yes, it’s all right here,” I said patting my portable field kit.

“Wonderful. Time to head back home, people,” he called out to the group.

There was more cheering, and then everyone climbed into whatever vehicle had space for them. Our caravan of assorted vehicles took off toward what had become like a second home, our plane. The pilot greeted us warmly, having already completed his safety checks before our arrival. Once again, I checked on my samples to make sure that they’d been loaded and secured properly, adding my latest cuttings to a cooler.

It was warmer on the plane, so I stripped off my thermal layers, grabbed an outfit from my suitcase, and headed off to change in the restroom. It was still a little too chilly for what I’d selected, but it would be the perfect outfit for when we landed. This was still one of my favorite outfits, which was saying something because I’d been living out of a suitcase re-wearing the same clothing for months. My pink and floral blouse looked especially good on me, and it could vary from day to night depending on how many buttons I left undone. I felt that my blue silk skirt was professional and flirty at the same time, which I liked.

I wasn’t actively looking for a relationship because I wasn’t ready to settle down yet. But that didn’t mean that I wasn’t open to the possibility, supposing Mr. Right happened to show up early. I sat down as the flight attendant announced that it was time to fasten our seat belts. Carla, our group’s linguist, took the seat next to me. Without her ability to communicate with the locals, we never would have managed to secure as many samples as we had. She handed me a glass of champagne when the flight attendant stopped by my seat, and we clinked glasses to celebrate. We’d gotten quite close through an endless series of girl nights and fun excursions in exotic locations. She was a couple of years older than me, but we had found lots to bond over as females with advanced degrees.

“What should we toast to?” she asked excitedly.

“To curing world hunger, of course!” I said. After all, that was why I’d joined this research team in the first place.

“Works for me,” Carla agreed readily.

The plane took off down the runway, and I took a sip of my champagne to steady my nerves. I’d never been a huge fan of flying. I hurried to screw in my earplugs and relaxed my jaw to take some of the pressure off of my ears. I was relieved when we finally achieved the desired altitude. The seatbelt light turned off, and I saw my boss head toward the front of the plane. I assumed he was headed for the restroom and, as always, he was frowning.

“Have you ever seen Doug smile?” I asked Carla conspiratorially.

“Nope, never,” she replied instantly.

I pulled out my phone to see if the plane Wi-Fi was working yet and was thrilled to note that I actually had a decent signal. Thank you, satellites! I held my breath as I went straight to my email. Now that my research project was finished, I was in limbo until I landed another job. I’d applied for several, but truth be told, I didn’t want just any old job.

I’d applied for a research grant of my own because what I wanted most in life was the chance to actually study all of the samples I’d just collected. I longed to work on real-life applications for better ways to grow food in areas where it was in short supply, places where people needed access to healthy and affordable food the most.

Growing up, I’d known what it was like to endure days where there was literally nothing to eat in the house. I’d been raised in a three-generation home. My grandma and my parents had all worked hard to provide. But when they’d shut down the factory, jobs had gotten scarce. I suppose that was why I’d always been so passionate about feeding the world. In my opinion, access to healthy food shouldn’t have been a matter of class, but a basic human right.

There sitting in my inbox was a response from the grant board. I held my breath as I clicked, knowing one way or another that my life was about to be affected by whatever their response was. I began skimming the words excitedly, but it didn’t take long for my spirits to plummet, and they plummeted hard. They’d rejected my proposal. 

Despair threatened to choke me at the thought of all of my beautiful samples going to waste in a vault somewhere. What had been the point of collecting everything if they weren’t going to do anything with it? I felt as though I’d wasted the last six months of my life. Not one to stay down for long, my mind began to scramble for a way out of my predicament, for some kind of genius backup plan.

I’d taken a lot of extra samples. What if I snuck some of them into my suitcase and conducted my own research? I couldn’t afford to travel around to all of the same exotic places on my own dime, and they’d never even know because they’d still have a full inventory for their stupid seed vault. Still thinking about my possible plan, I took a moment to reply to an email from my parents. I forced myself to keep my tone upbeat as I typed away on my little keypad. I let them know that I’d be home soon and that I’d wired them some money from my last paycheck.

They’d all sacrificed a lot so that I could go to school. I was the first person to graduate college in my family, and I still lived at home when I was in town anyway. So far as I was concerned, my money was theirs. In fact, we’d all been required to draw up proper wills before going off on our expedition. I’d made my parents my sole beneficiaries. There had been a moment before Gary had saved me from the rockslide where I’d been very grateful that at least they’d be able to cash in my policy if I didn’t return.

My stomach lurched as the plane dipped abruptly. I grabbed the armrest, and Carla and I glanced at each other nervously.

“It’s probably turbulence,” she said reassuringly.

“Yeah, I’m sure you’re—” I cut off mid-sentence when the plane dipped violently to the side.

Several people screamed, and I’m not ashamed to admit that I was one of them. I was already buckling my seat belt when the sign flashed back on. The floor was a mess of spilled drinks and pretzels. Everyone who had been roaming around stumbled back to their seats. Except for Doug. I didn’t see him anywhere. Was he still in the restroom?

The plane seemed to recover briefly, but then it plunged nose down even more violently than it had the first time. I felt my stomach flip in that terrible way it did on elevators. Something was wrong, terribly wrong. The cabin lights flickered, and the view outside my window blurred as we plummeted downward. The cabin pressure must have triggered some sort of automatic response because that’s when all of the oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling above. My hands were shaking as I pulled a mask onto my face.

Then I turned to check on Carla. She’d passed out, but at least she’d had the foresight to fasten her seatbelt first. I reached over and secured a mask to her face. It was super important to me that she had access to oxygen too; I’d never have been able to live with myself if something happened to her. I craned my neck around, making sure that the passengers in the seat behind us had their masks on. I was relieved to see that they did because I wasn’t sure I would have been able to reach far enough to help them without undoing my seatbelt. Unbuckling was something I really, really didn’t want to do.

The temperature dropped rapidly, and I gasped at the changed view outside my window. Time slowed, each second stretching out impossibly long. Lights flashed brightly, as though I was trapped inside a massive kaleidoscope full of impossible colors. As the lights flickered on and off, they cast fantastical shapes and shadows across the interior of the plane. Was I already dead? Was this heaven?

Or was I imagining this spectral light show? It all seemed too crazy to be real. And then time seemed to speed up again. Turbulence shook the aircraft like an angry toddler with a toy. Baggage burst out of the overhead compartments, and I threw my arms up in an attempt to protect Carla and myself. That’s when the sound of the engines cut out altogether . . . and I knew for certain we would crash.

Blinding white filled my window, and for a moment, I could have sworn that I saw snow, and a lot of it. But hadn’t we flown out of the cold regions? The plane hit the ground hard, and there was a harsh grating metallic sound as it continued to skid forward until, finally, with a last shudder, it came to a stop. Initially, no one moved . . .  but then the shock of what had transpired struck, and people began to moan and move about dazedly. I unbuckled and ran a hand over my body quickly, checking for injuries.

Somehow, miraculously, I’d remained unscathed. I sent up a quick thank you to my Nanna for her faithful prayers. I was certain that she had something to do with my surviving in one piece. I removed my mask and started looking Carla over. She had a small gash on her forehead where I suspected something had hit her. Ever analytical, my brain immediately processed that I needed to find a first aid kit. It was likely that the others would require care as well.

I stood up, but when I heard a series of frantic scratching sounds coming from outside of the plane, I froze. It was like nails on a chalkboard times a thousand. The noise amplified, growing ever more insistent like something was attempting to dig its way inside the plane. I wasn’t the only one to notice the sound, and there were frantic murmurs and whispers as others demanded to know what was happening.

And then there was a loud thwacking sound as something white and furry collided with my window. It happened so fast that I wasn’t able to make out any details other than the color. But it happened again right away, and that time, I saw beady black eyes and long, black-tipped claws. The wicked-looking claws scratched at the windows, leaving deep gouges behind in the glass. Another creature flew violently at the window, and I watched, terrified as it cracked.

I screamed, stumbling and falling back down onto my seat. I gaped incredulously as a spiderweb of fissures formed in the glass. A quick glance around the cabin assured me that the other passengers’ windows were also under attack. Unable to withstand the violent assault, the glass shattered, sending shards flying toward me and Carla. I stood, crouching as I scooted backward in search of a weapon. This simply couldn’t be happening.

My fingers shook with cold because when the window had exploded, it had let in a blast of cold, sub-freezing air and snow with it. But none of that could compete with the strange, monstrous creature flying before me. It was as though someone had decided to play Dr. Frankenstein and had creepily combined the DNA of the Arctic hare with a snow owl. Bunnies weren’t supposed to fly, but this one was. And it was headed straight for me!

Carla was still unconscious, but I refused to leave her behind, helpless to defend herself. I unfastened her seatbelt, shouting for her to wake up. I struggled to lift her, but I wasn’t strong enough. That’s when Gary materialized by my side, and I swear I could have kissed him. He picked Carla up, and we both looked around desperately for somewhere safer, somewhere to hide. The flying monster bunnies were inside the plane, and people held up arms covered in bloody scratches as they attempted to protect themselves.

“The restroom!” I shouted, pointing to the front.

Gary took off running, and I was hot on his heels. The pilot ran screaming from the cockpit, covered in dozens of the furry attackers, and he must not have seen me because he knocked into me hard. Then he fell, and he took me down with him. Gary looked back at me, panicked. He’d reached the restroom, but there wasn’t time for me to join them, not without letting the vicious creatures inside.

“Shut the door, it’s okay! I’ll find somewhere else to hide!” I told him. It was a big lie, of course. I had nowhere else to hide, and I doubted very much that I would be fine. Something told me that none of us were going to be okay. Our plane had crashed into a frozen wasteland filled with hybrid monsters when we should have been landing safe and sound in the city, surrounded by warm weather. How was I supposed to survive when I had no idea what was happening?

CHAPTER TWO

ICE CLAW

The snow crunched softly beneath our boots. I led the way, my movements intentionally slow so that my sister, Frost Seer, could keep up. We passed a stand of bitter larch trees, their dark brown bark and pale pink needles providing the only hint of color in sight, unless you counted the white blanket of snow on the ground.

I breathed in deeply; the air was crisp and cold, stinging as it entered my nostrils, but I was used to the discomfort. I sighed, releasing a puff of steam into the air as I glanced back at my sister. I should not have let her accompany me, not in her condition. Her usually graceful movements were slow and cumbersome. She was heavily pregnant, her massive stomach letting all know of the life that grew inside her. She’d insisted on coming, and I’d never been able to refuse her anything. She was as stubborn as she was wise, and arguing with her was a wasted effort. There was also the fact that thanks to her ability to see the future, she was always right. So I’d let her come, but I still wasn’t happy about it.

“Not good for baby. You better home,” I complained.

“I strong. No argue you,” Frost Seer said.

She should have been home preparing to give birth, not out hunting with me. But she did not want to argue, and neither did I, for that matter. I tried to focus on the hunt, eyes scanning for telltale tracks in the snow. I saw the small prints of the rodha beast and followed them. Perhaps if I bagged some easier game, my sister would let me take her back home.

Suddenly, she stopped walking, and I turned to see if she needed help, or perhaps had something more to say. Snow clung to the bottom of her clothes, but she paid it no mind. At first, it appeared as though she was focused on the animal tracks ahead of her, but then I realized she had that look about her she got when she received a vision. Her eyes glossed over, and she began to speak, but she did not sound like herself. I instantly recognized the first words of the prophecy; I’d heard this one before.

“Sky get dark. It day, not night. Wind smell smoke. Smell fear. Great metal bird fall from sky. Crash. Danger. Blood in snow. Female claw out belly of bird. She have dark brown skin. Pretty like bitter larch bark. She scared. She run. Much danger inside bird. Much danger outside.”

I listened carefully as I always did when Frost Seer spoke prophecy, but, as always, it was the next part that interested me most.

“Ice Claw love female. Female love Ice Claw. Fated mates. She save us. Show us where go. Where danger no follow. We eat lots. Have full bellies. We be safe.”

The prophecy had always filled me with hope for the future. But too many moons had passed since Frost Seer had first spoken the words. All this time and no sign of the great metal bird. No sign of my fated female. Instead, our people had grown more hungry and more desperate. The cold seasons grew longer and harsher. And the wild beasts bred in ever greater numbers. We lacked the power to fight back as we once had. How long before they began attacking our home instead of picking us off one at a time while we hunted?

I had done my best to protect my people. But I was hurt by each life taken. I had lost brothers, friends, and parents. How much more must I endure?

“When, sister? When fated mate come? When she save us?” My words sounded desperate, even to me.

I watched as Frost Seer’s glazed eyes became clear again. She took a deep breath as though she had been holding it. Something was happening, I could feel it. Something was different. She stiffened, looking up suddenly as her eyes widened in shock. She raised a hand and pointed up at the sky.

“Now. It happen now.”

I turned and looked up at the sky where she was pointing. I watched, transfixed, as a large shadow passed overhead, and I got chills. Sky get dark. It day not night. The wind carried the hint of smoke on it. And there above me was a huge metal bird, just like she’d always said there would be. How could I have ever doubted her? She was never wrong.

The metal bird was moving fast. Too fast. Then it began to drop from the sky. I remembered the next part of the prophecy, and my heart sank. Crash. The metal bird was going to crash. What if my fated female did not survive the crash? Panic filled my body, and my heart began to beat wildly inside of my chest.

My sister gripped my hand and turned my head until I was looking her directly in the eyes. Then she spoke with great urgency.

“Go now. You save her. She save all people.”

My feet started moving before my mind really processed what I was doing. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I felt I should insist on seeing Frost Seer safely home first. But I knew better than to argue with my sister. After all, she was always right. Powdery snow flew through the air, and my boots sank down into the drifts. But my legs were strong, and I continued to pull them out of the deep snow as I followed the shadow of the great metal bird overhead.

My thoughts drifted to selfish things. What would she look like, my fated mate? My eyes darted toward a small cluster of bitter larch trees as I passed. I reached out and ran a hand over the rough bark. It was hard to imagine skin like bark. My eyes dropped to my own skin, white like snow and covered with fur and countless brown and black spots. For the first time, I wondered, would she find me equally as strange to look upon?

I growled softly in frustration. None of that would matter if I didn’t reach her in time to save her. There was one part of the prophecy that filled me with fear greater than I had ever before experienced: She scared. She run. Much danger inside bird. Much danger outside. I was close now. I could feel it. A strange heaviness filled the air. It was time to fulfill my destiny. Then at last my people would be safe.

DESTINY

I wriggled frantically. I was trapped beneath the heavy body of the pilot. He’d stopped screaming, and I wasn’t sure if he’d passed out from shock and pain, or if the rabid bunnies had killed him. All I knew was that I had to run, or I would be next.

Given the current condition of the pilot, the cockpit wasn’t a viable option. I couldn’t join my friends in the restroom without putting them both at risk. Screams rang out constantly in the cramped interior of the plane, and I watched helplessly as people ran around, wildly attempting to fight off the rabid monsters. That’s when I noticed that the door to the plane was ajar. It wasn’t opened properly, which had kept me from noticing it at first. But the impact of the crash had forced it open on one side. It wasn’t a huge space, but if I was lucky, I’d have just enough room to squeeze through.

I wasn’t sure what exactly I expected to find outside, but anything had to be better than this mayhem! I shoved hard, at last succeeding in pushing the pilot’s body off of me. There was a terrible red void where his throat had once been. Nausea slammed into me, and I choked back the urge to vomit as I crab-walked backwards away from the horrid sight. I must have made a noise or done something to draw attention to myself because I heard the flap of furry wings. One of Frankenstein’s monsters was coming for me!

I sprinted toward the exit, adrenaline coursing through my body in a rush. I jumped over bodies and yelled at the others to “run for the door” but I wasn’t sure if anyone else had heard me. The “rabbits” were everywhere, but these weren’t the cute, fluffy kind I loved. Their white fur was matted with blood, and those scary black claws gave me another shot of adrenaline which allowed me to run even faster.

But one still got to me before I reached the door. Sharp claws raked down my arm, easily slicing through the thin fabric of my floral blouse. I could feel the hot, sticky blood trickling down my skin. The pain was excruciating, but something told me that if I stopped moving now, I wouldn’t survive. I reached back blindly and swatted it away as I lunged for the opening in the door.

My fingers burned as I touched the freezing cold metal of the door. Why hadn’t I left on my warmer clothing while we were still in Alaska? The plane was tilted to the side, so I had to pull myself out. The cold air was like a slap in the face. My teeth began to chatter as I dropped from the opening. I screamed as I fell, landing in a mound of snow a few feet down. I felt stupid. Of course there weren’t stairs. We hadn’t landed at an airport. I heard the flapping of furry wings closing in on me, and I dragged myself to my feet.

I didn’t stop. I didn’t dare look back to see how many of them were after me. Each step was a struggle as my stupid, useless heels sank repeatedly into the snow. My bare legs burned. How long did it take to develop frostbite? Would they have to amputate my legs? Would I be alive long enough for that to matter?

“Probably not,” I muttered, not bothering to stifle the pessimism.

The rabbits were closing in. And that’s when I heard a low, menacing growl. My breath caught in my throat. Had I rushed headlong into even worse danger than the killer hares? I squinted into the blinding white distance, eyes wide in terror. I couldn’t make out what it was, but something was moving, and it was way bigger than a bunny.

I didn’t have time to react. The figure came out of nowhere. It moved so fast it was a blur of white. I braced myself for the terrible impact and then watched in amazement when, instead of attacking me, it launched itself after the horde of rabbits. I stumbled, barely catching myself before I landed face-first in the snow. I was so cold that I questioned my eyes as the larger figure tore through the pack of bunnies with lethal grace.

Somehow, I was certain he was male before I even saw his face. He was wearing a white combat-style coat and pants, and his pale white head was covered in what I first assumed were tattoos. He wielded a knife in each hand, and all I could do was watch in awe as he cut through the rabbits with ease. His movements were strangely beautiful. It was like witnessing a macabre dance, as arcs of blood shot out around him, staining the white snow red and pink.

Where had he come from? And where had he learned to fight like that? There was another low growl, and I realized it had come from my rescuer. The way he fought was primal. The flying bunnies were savage, but they were no match for him. He was faster, stronger, and far more deadly. I swallowed nervously. What if I was wrong about him? What if he hadn’t come to rescue me?

The last bloody rabbit dropped to the ground, and he stood there, chest heaving with exertion, as he scanned the area, no doubt looking for more threats. Then slowly, he turned to face me. His gaze was so intense that looking away would have been impossible. I forgot to breathe, and for a moment, I even forgot how cold I was. It was like he could see inside of me to my very soul or something. I’d never felt a connection that deep, that profound. I should have been terrified of him, but I was drawn to him in a way that defied all logic.

I took a step closer to him without even making the conscious choice to move. I’d never seen anything like him. It would seem Dr. Frankenstein had been busy again because there before me was another fantastical hybrid creation. He was a man, but layered over his human form were the features of a snow leopard. It was incredible to see the wild, majestic beauty of the animal merged perfectly with that of a human male in his prime.

There was no doubt in my mind that there was something terribly wrong with me because I was attracted to him on a startling level. His mouth was shaped like a predatory feline. His broad nose ended in a dark triangle. His combat jacket had come open during the fight, revealing a swoon-worthy muscular torso. There wasn’t an ounce of fat on him, but he was covered in what appeared to be leopard spots from his head all the way down his chest.

Neither of us spoke, and neither of us broke eye contact. He stepped closer to me, and his movements were at once graceful and deliberate. He made walking in the deep snow look easy, when I knew it most definitely was not. When he reached out and brushed a hand against my cheek, I stood still, never once considering pulling away from his touch. I noted that he had hands, not paws, or at least I thought he did. He was wearing black gloves, so it was impossible to say for certain.

We stayed like that for what felt like an eternity, and the world around us faded away, forgotten. I felt the connection between us growing, becoming stronger than anything I’d experienced before. When he noticed me shivering, he took off his coat and draped it over my shoulders. His scent wafted up from the fabric, enveloping me even as the fabric with his trapped body heat warmed me. Was that some kind of cologne, or did he naturally smell that good? I wanted to get closer to him to find out. I was leaning in when a voice called out my name, and the perfect moment was shattered.

“Destiny! Are you out here?” Gary called out frantically from the plane.

The leopard-man’s eyes broke away from mine, darting toward where Gary stood in the opening of the plane. I sensed a tension in his body. Was he planning on attacking Gary? As grateful as I was to him for saving me, I couldn’t let that happen. My rescuer looked intensely into my eyes one more time, and then he turned and sprinted away. I quickly lost sight of him, his pale white fur offering the perfect camouflage in the endless snow.

I gripped his jacket tighter. It was tangible proof that he’d been real and that I wasn’t imagining things. So were the bloody bunny corpses I did my best to avoid stepping on as I made my way back to the plane. I couldn’t resist turning back to look one last time before I entered the plane, but he’d vanished. Would I ever see him again?

ICE CLAW

I felt so stupid, cowering in the distance. Why had I run away? How could I keep her safe if I did not remain by her side? I had not expected others to emerge from the giant metal bird. I had panicked, and flight had been my instinctive response. I cursed myself for not thinking to bring her with me.

From my hidden vantage, I watched as she made her way back to the metal bird . . . back to the one who had called out “Destiny.” Did they know about the prophecy and how I had been sent to fulfill my destiny, or was that her name? She was standing just outside the bird when she turned back, pausing as she scanned the distance. I knew she couldn’t see me, so I unabashedly took my time soaking up every detail of her lovely body.

She was beautiful in an exotic way I’d never seen before. We couldn’t have been more different, and yet I felt deep down that she had been designed for me, and I for her. I watched from my hidden vantage as she made her way back to the metal bird. It was as though every detail of our bodies was in direct contrast. My white-furred skin was the opposite of her rich brown. I’d feared she would have the rough texture of the bitter larch, but it was only the lovely color. It was completely impractical; how could she hope to hide in the snow? When I’d touched her perfect face, her skin had been soft, so soft. But how could she stay warm without a protective fur covering like I had?

I was all lean muscle, but she was all long, shapely limbs and the most wonderful curves, curves guaranteed to please a male because they certainly pleased me. Her lips were full and red like a ripe berry. What would they feel like pressed up against my own? From what I could see, the only fur on her body was above her eyes, and the thick mane on her head.

I watched as a hand reached out of the belly of the metal bird and helped pull her back inside. Something told me this was no ordinary bird. It reminded me of the strange objects in the place where my grandparents were born. I felt trapped. I was afraid to leave her. What if more danger came and I was not there to save her? I formed a small snow cave to protect myself from the wind. I patted down the rounded structure, taking my time to compact it well so it would not fall in on me while I waited. I was a little chilly, having surrendered my coat, but I did not regret my actions.

Her skin had felt as cold as ice when I’d touched her, and she needed the warmth far more than I did. As I waited, I planned ways I could keep her safe. First things first, I would have to get her some warmer clothing, but that would mean leaving her or convincing her to come with me. But how could I approach her when she was locked in the belly of the bird with who knew how many of her kind?

I quickly grew impatient with the waiting. I could not see inside the metal bird, but it didn’t seem as though anything was happening. I was scouting the perimeter when I saw fresh caribou tracks. My breath misted in the air, forming small clouds that vanished in the wind. The wind carried with it a faint scent, the scent of caribou. I would hunt. After all, it was how I had originally planned to spend my day. And now I had even more motivation to do so. There were even more mouths to feed, and my fated mate needed warmer clothing. My muscles tensed in anticipation as I reached out with my senses for more clues as to where the creature was.

My hand tightened around the hilt of the knife I had found in the place where my grandparents were born. The blade shot out from my hand like a long, wicked claw. The metal was strong, and I was never without it. It was how I had earned my name, Ice Claw. I moved, quiet as a whisper toward my prey, every step taken carefully to mask my movements. I entered a state of single-minded focus, where nothing existed but me and the caribou. I could see it now, a solitary figure standing majestically with its massive antlers spread out above his head. It was a large male, and it would provide much sustenance for my people and for my mate. It pawed at the snow, seeking the edible plants buried beneath. It was totally unaware of my presence, of the danger I represented.

I crouched low, every muscle tensed and ready, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce. I would only get one chance. The wind shifted, and I had no choice but to attack before it carried my scent and gave away my location.

The animal jerked its head up, eyes widening in alarm, but it was too late. I struck out with my blade, plunging it deep into the caribou’s side. The animal bellowed, voicing its rage, and the pain. It bucked its powerful body, thrashing about in an attempt to buck me off. But I held fast, being careful to stay clear of the animal’s powerful hooves. I twisted my knife, driving it into the animal’s heart. The beast staggered, and its legs gave out as blood poured from its wound, staining the white snow red. Then it took a final pained breath as it collapsed onto the snow. I stood above the majestic creature, watching as the life faded from its eyes.

A swell of gratitude filled me, and I dropped down beside the beast, pressing a hand to his hide as I murmured, “Good death. Feed many. Thank you, gift of life.”

Kneeling down beside the beast, I worked quickly, cutting away the skin with careful strokes. Nothing would be wasted. The caribou’s hide was thick and warm, and I would gift it to my female. My thoughts drifted back to her as I worked steadily at butchering the animal. I wrapped the meat in leather from my hunting satchel. I would use the horns to carve more tools. The inner organs that I didn’t eat raw would serve as bait in traps. Everything had a purpose, and I was thankful for each one.

I had been gone from my female for too long. I found myself anxious to return to my makeshift camp by the giant metal bird. I slung the meat and other materials I had harvested over my shoulder, leaving nothing behind of value. On my trip back, I collected fuel for a fire: animal dung and small bits of bark and grass. I deposited everything beside my snow mound and carefully patrolled the area around the giant metal bird once more. I could hear noise inside like they were talking, but I didn’t dare venture closer lest they see me.

“Morning,” I promised myself. “In morning, I go back.”

It was going to be a very long night. But that would give me some much-needed time to figure out what I wanted to say to her. How did one go about informing one’s female that they were destined for one another? And how long was I supposed to wait before I asked her about her plans to save my people?

***COMING SOON TO PRE-SALE***