THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR REVIEWS :c) THANK YOU THANK YOU - I hope I don't disappoint

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Mercy Thompson characters. BUT THIS STORY 'LONE COYOTE' IS MINE! GRRR…

MERCY POV

Sailing isn't all what it's cracked up to be. From the outside looking in, I thought sailing would be more adventurous and…less…boring. Why the hell did I think that deep-sea fishing would be anything more than what it is? Luckily, though, Al and Tommy have made this boring, yet life changing trip worthwhile—but the day-in and day-out sailing can take its toll on someone who isn't into it, especially one that is running from her past.

As for the sailing itself, the West Coast waters were both choppy and calm. We made it to Baja in record time according to Tommy. Although, Albert complained that they were on vacation for rest and relaxation, not racing and breaking record time. As for me, I just wanted to get to the East Coast as fast as possible so I can start living again; a part of me can't wait to be human and start over, but another part of me is frightened to death and wants to slow down a bit.

Surprisingly, East Coast sailing isn't an easy or a quick journey as one might think. In my non-experienced mind, I thought one could get on a boat and just sail, but dismally that is not the case—especially if one has to sail through the Panama Canal. All in all, it took us one month to sail along the West Coast to Baja, and then another two weeks to Panama. Unexpectedly, in Panama we hit a speed bump. What I didn't know about sailing through the Panama Canal is that you are not the only one using it or the biggest boat using it. We stayed docked in Panama for 6 long weeks before we were allowed to use the infamous Canal—Tommy was furious, Albert was amused. Our small Yacht didn't take priority to cross the Canal; the larger shipping vessels and cruise-liners received top priority and to make matters worse we were sailing in peak season.

For the six weeks we waited, I thought I would be a nervous wreck or anxious, but I wasn't. Instead, my entire being just rested—I basically shut down. I became a sort of coyote robot—I ate, slept, slept, and slept. It seems as though I were making up for all the lost sleep I ever had. For the first time in a long time, I felt safe and I completely let my guard down. My body finally had the chance to relax to the point of unconsciousness, which triggered my recovery process. That hole Tim left was slowly filling—becoming filled with the past love I remembered before that incident—memories of my life with Bran-Sam-Zee-my shop-and Adam. Tim's filth was slowly fading.

The first step of my healing began 5-1/2 weeks after we were ported in Panama. That was the moment I was ready to phase to human temporarily. Curiosity grabbed a hold of me and held on for good life––I had to know, I had to find out how my old world was doing—I had to know how Adam was, how Sam was, how Zee was, how my shop was. Al and Tommy left the boat one morning to eat at some famous restaurant and do some shopping in Panama City—and at that moment I knew it was my chance to call home—to at least tell someone that cared that I was safe and alive, and to request that if someone was looking for me to STOP.

It was easy to sneak off the boat but was uncomfortable as I held some of Albert's—since he was a smaller male—clothes in my mouth and ran through the busy streets of Panama City trying to find a little corner to change. The hard part was finding money for the call. I would rather die than steal money from my friends-so panhandling was the only right thing to do.

I'd found a little dark alley and changed, but the moment I did change my coyote sharp senses slowly dwindled, which made me nervous. I had to remind myself that I needed to do this. I had to call Sam—I had to know how everything was—I needed my questions answered before I finally said goodbye indefinitely. A part of me wanted Sam to tell me that no one really cared, that they were glad to get rid of such a trouble maker like me, but another part of me wanted Sam to beg me to come home, to tell me that Adam was miserable and hadn't slept for days. Maybe that way of thinking was selfish but my every thought has been of my home, my life back in the Tri-Cities, my good memories.

When I finally panhandled enough pesos to call home, I searched for the most secluded and working pay phone in the city. I had finally found the perfect phone, which ironically was by the marina where our boat was docked.

As I dialed his number my fingers shook and I started to feel lightheaded. What on earth would I say? How do I explain that I care about everyone I left, but I am still not coming back, EVER? But of all people to divulge this to, I know Sam would know exactly what I was going through. He has done what I am doing now, he too left his pack and is still a lone werewolf—he will understand.

My breath stopped the moment the phone started to ring. One ring, two rings, three…

"Kennewick General Hospital, Four North Nurses Sation, how can I help You?" I recognized her voice immediately. She was a nurse that always worked during Sam's shift—she was in love with him.

"Hello, my name is Claire O'Donnell of North Pacific Bank. I need to speak with Samuel Cornick." I tried to sound southern, miserably failing.

"What? Is something wrong?" She sounded concerned but nosey.

"I cannot get into specifics with anyone but Sam Cornick, but there have been some very suspicious purchases made with his card today and this is a courtesy call to confirm such purchases." Damn, I'm good. I sound so official. I quickly held back my laughter waiting for this knucklehead to get Sam on the phone.

"Please wait, let me locate him." The hold music came on and I had about 10 to 20 seconds to think of what I would say to Sam. Calling him at work was the only choice I had. There might be a slight chance that Adam would have every phone I might call tapped—every phone except one at a busy hospital—Sam's hospital. I hope I was right.

"Hello, this is Sam Cornick."

His strong concerned voice made me shake with fear. The memory of our past life together immediately flashed before my eyes—it was like my heart was breaking for him again.

"Sam…"

He gasped the moment he heard my voice. He interrupted me immediately.

"Mercy, where are you? What the hell were you thinking? WHERE ARE YOU?"

He was yelling—the kind of yell that made him tremble and almost change to werewolf. He was pissed.

I wasn't going to let him control me, not now—not ever again. I don't have to answer to him. "If you are going to yell at me I'll hang up."

I heard his muted growl and he quickly sighed. In that instant, his voice came out in a purr—the trick he used to entice me. I knew that trick to well.

"Mercy, please where are you? I will go pick you up right now. Let me call Adam with my cell, hold on?"

The moment I heard Adam's name my knees shook and almost gave out. I let out a surprising screech. "NO WAIT LISTEN TO ME SAM."

Through the phone, I heard Sam stop what ever he was doing. I had his full attention.

"I had to do this Sam. You of all people should know this. You had your Texas, let me have mine."

"Who told you about Texas? What do…"

I interrupted him. I want to ask the questions, this is my call not his, and I have no more pesos left.

"Listen Sam please, I had to do this, but before I hang up I want to know one thing." I had to really think of how to put my next question—but do I really want to know the answer.

"Sam, why didn't anyone follow me…did they really hate me that much…" My voice trailed off. I didn't think this would hit me so hard. The tears rolled down my face and my chest tightened as I struggled to breath. Do I really want to know?

Sam sighed. "You should call Adam if you want to know that inf…"

"I AM NOT CALLING HIM IM CALLING YOU SAM. I AM ASKING YOU—my friend, my pack." Why did I say it like that damn it?

It worked…"Because Mercy, Adam ordered them all to not follow you past the bridge. He didn't want any of the wolves dying trying to rescue you but not because he didn't care about you but because if anyone was going to die trying to save you it was going to be him. He was actually closer than you think; he was already pulling up to his driveway the moment Ben realized you escaped. At that moment Adam knew—he jumped out his car and knew where you were headed. He ordered the wolves to follow up to the bridge but not to follow any further."

Sam quickly stopped speaking. Was he texting Adam? What was he doing?

I was about to protest the silence when he continued, "Adam's really torn up about ordering his wolves not to follow you—even Bran is coming down hard on him."

Sam's voice was almost robotic, Bran must have done more than he is telling me.

He continued with a sigh, "The moment Adam got out his car to follow your scent, his mind was totally scrabbled Mercy, he seemed lost…he was losing it already. Mercy you are his mate, why cant you understand that losing a mate really messes with the wolf mind. Adam even had a hard time changing. By the time he finally did change, it was too late, you had already jumped and were too far down river to follow and when he finally did reach the bridge he jumped in without hesitation—he wasn't in his rightful mind he should have just ran along side the river and followed you. But he immediately sank to the river bottom Mercy. He didn't come up at all. The pack—in human form—jumped in the river searching for their leader. He almost died. It was Ben who found him and dragged his unconscious body to shore, but without Adam's orders they couldn't follow you." He made a deep growl sound. "Mercy, I'm so sorry I wasn't there. It wasn't until after everyone was back at Adam's that I finally found out what happened. UGH! I would have followed you." His voice broke off and cracked. He sighed and continued, "I would have dragged your ass back by your hair if I had to."

As the tears rolled down my cheeks, I was gasping for air and the few passersby seemed concerned—but thankfully they continued walking.

"Sam—tell everyone I'm sorry…and tell Adam that I lov…" I couldn't let it out. The word love caught in my throat like a sharp blade stuck sideways. Just then a strange feeling hit me, my mind started to get fuzzy, I was loosing balance quickly. I dropped the receiver and my hands leaned on each side of the phone booth to balance myself—I placed my left palm against the booth window but my right hand grasped something round and smooth. I quickly looked down to see what had made its way in my hand-my walking stick...my ancient and beautiful stalker. It was gracefully leaning against the right side of the booth and my hand was clutched tightly around it. A deep grunt vibrated in my chest, my reliable walking stick—thank God for it—at least I had something from home to keep. My mind quickly focused and Sam's loud yelling brought me back to reality. I quickly lifted the receiver and gently placed it to my ear.

"MERCY…MERCY…"

Faintly, I then heard it—the quiet buzz of a cell phone in the background. Sam had phoned Adam. I heard Adam's muted eager voice in the background—not in person, but I could tell his voice was coming from a device—phone or walkie-talkie. Sam fucken called Adam.

"Sam, I told you not to…" I wanted to scream at him for doing something so stupid-he ruined it. He ruined my moment. Damn it. Grudgingly, I hung up the phone. I was afraid—afraid of talking to Adam. Would I have cared what he said, would it have mattered? Maybe just maybe it would have mattered. Would I have crawled back to the Tri-Cities disgraced again with my tail between my legs?

After hanging up the phone, I nearly tore off the door of the phone booth. I rushed out the booth and fell straight forward landing on my knees and the palm of my hands. The sting of the impact told me that I scraped both my hands and knees—badly, but that wasn't my biggest issue. I was unable to breath. There wasn't enough air in the world that would have filled my lungs as I gasped and gasped. It felt like I was trapped underwater. CHANGE—I wanted to change. I needed to escape my weak human body; I needed to be away from my human frailty-my weak human memories and feelings.

I took a deep breath making sure that no one was around and without rethinking my decision I was on all four paws in milliseconds. I quickly escaped my borrowed clothes and didn't look back. I ran toward my temporary boat-home. I was ready for the EAST COAST—I actually needed it.