Chapter 9

"Are you okay?" Piper gave her sister a worried glance.

Paige groaned and squeezed her eyes shut against the splitting headache. "No."

"Orbing apparently isn't an option then."

"It was like banging my head into a wall. Whatever block she's put up, it holds. Any chance you can blow up the door?"

"My hands are tied – literally!" Piper wiggled her fingers and grimaced as the ties cut into her wrists. Her hands were feeling decidedly stiff and swollen. "Even if I could, I don't think it would be such a good idea. We would risk getting showered by ice needles. I'm afraid we have no option but to wait and see what happens."

"Well, at least we don't seem to be in any immediate danger. Until they get Phoebe, that is."

Piper's brow wrinkled up in a deep frown. "What happened to that, by the way? Didn't she say they already had Phoebe? You'd think they would have brought her here by now if they did. It must be hours since we heard anything."

"Yeah, and they did seem a bit pressed for time too." A bit more hopeful, Paige nodded and instantly regretted moving her head. "Do you think Phoebe escaped?"

"Either that, or they never had her to begin with."

"Maybe she got hooked up with some hot movie star at the airport so the warlocks never got to her."

"Oh, come on, Paige! That sounds a bit too good to be true, don't you think?"

Paige gave her a tongue in cheek look. "I think it sounds just like Phoebe."

"Okay, you got a point there." Piper smiled ruefully. "I think I will hope for a narrow escape, though. That way, Phoebe will be on to something's being wrong."

"So we hope that she figures out that we are being held prisoners by some evil fairytale queen at the North Pole, and comes to rescue us with her power of premonition?"

"You make it sound like Phoebe is completely helpless," Piper objected. "Phoebe was always the resourceful one."

"In what areas?"

"Paige!"

Paige rolled up her eyes. "I'm just saying. I mean how will she even get here? Tame a wild demon?"

"Why not?" Piper snapped. "She did that once before."

"Yeah, and look how well that went! Pity the Elders haven't assigned us a new Whitelighter."

"They wouldn't dare," Piper growled. "Phoebe will find a way. She always has."

"Whatever you say, sis'."

"Maybe, it's best if she stays away since they can't do what they want to do unless all three of us are here."

"Aren't you worried about where that leaves us?"

With a heavy sigh, Piper sank back down. "Right now I'm a lot more worried about Leo and the boys."

Whistling "Jingle Bells", the man he had been watching was following a barely discernable trail into the deeper parts of the forest; carrying a small axe over his shoulder.

"He's on his way." Lother, having resumed his human shape for the moment, stepped back behind the tree to disappear among the shadows of the snowy forest. "C'mon! We're leaving!"

The Snow wolves stirred leisurely among the bushes; gathering around him.

"The main task is to get a finger without him suspecting magic at play, so stay invisible. Once he starts chopping away, we will have our window of opportunity. Henbane said we need him alive, so be careful an accident doesn't occur once we move in."

The Snow wolves gazed silently at him with their pale blue eyes. More clever than many humans, they understood him perfectly even if they communicated amongst each other in their own tongue. As Lother once more shifted into their shape and trotted off, they followed him in silence, leaving no marks on the pristine snow.

"Please, explain one more time why I can't call Leo or dad." Phoebe was holding on tightly to the cordless, her eyes warning him to try to take it from her.

Cole's look was becoming increasingly exasperated. "I thought that was obvious."

"To some of us, maybe." She firmly stepped away from his outstretched hand. "It sends up all sorts of red flags to me."

Folding his arms across his chest, Cole gave her a slanted look. "What happened to 'the benefit of the doubt'?"

"Momentary lapse of judgement?" One hand went to the leather pouch, hanging around her neck in its thong. "Just so you know; I am not opening this again while you are within reach."

"Just so you know; I'm grateful for that."

"Excuse me…" a guttural voice said, making them both jump a little. "I can always drink from the toilet, but if you'd rather I didn't…" Tes glanced up, yellow eyes resting briefly on each of them.

"I'll fix it," Phoebe offered at once. With a forbidding glance in Cole's direction, she put the phone down on the kitchen island and quickly found a bowl to fill with water for Tes.

The werewolf drank slowly and for a long time, unperturbed by the silence.

Cole was watching Phoebe as stubbornly as she was watching Tes, pointedly avoiding eye contact with him.

Having emptied the bowl, Tes glanced up at her. "I'm sorry. Did you want some?"

"What? Uh…no. I mean, I didn't mean…" Flustered, Phoebe tried to back out of the awkward situation.

"No? Because you do look like you could use a drink," Tes observed candidly.

"I guess you're right." Phoebe wasn't sure if she should be embarrassed or grateful for the way Tes turned this around and at the same time provided her with a way out. "Considering all that's happened the past 24 hours, I think I do need a drink."

"Actually," Tes said slowly. "What I meant was that I can smell that you are dehydrated. You do need something to drink, but I wouldn't recommend alcohol."

Phoebe opened her mouth and shut it again. Tes was embarrassingly right. She hadn't eaten anything since she was on the plane to L.A., and all she had had to drink today was a glass of that obnoxious – albeit effective – potion Cole had made, and a mouthful of coffee. Before that, it had mainly been Champagne, and more Champagne.

"Tes…" Cole began, having stifled a laugh, but Phoebe interrupted him.

"It's okay, I deserved that," she conceded. "I know I'm sounding like Piper now, but maybe we could all use something to eat before we go."

"It would be great if we had the time," Cole pointed out and was interrupted again; this time by Tes, rubbing hard enough against his legs to get his attention.

"Eating to gather energy sounds like a wise idea," the werewolf said. "Meanwhile, maybe Cole can show me the garden."

"The garden?" Confused, he looked down at Tes.

"Yes. I know males want to mark territory indoors; personally, I find it terribly impolite…"

"Oh…" Ignoring Phoebe's giggle, Cole beckoned Tes to follow him to the backdoor when the phone on the table rang.

Startled into immobility by the signal, Cole and Phoebe stared at the cordless as if it was an alien entity. The phone produced another signal and their eyes met across the table. He could tell she would pick it up. "Don't…" he warned, shaking his head.

"I have to. What if it's Leo calling for help?"

"How would he know you are here?"

A third signal rang out, making Phoebe wring her hands. "What if he's calling for Piper?"

"Wouldn't he call her on her cell phone? Even if it is Leo, we won't know that it is Leo."

A fourth signal came and Phoebe grabbed the phone, her eyes pleading with him to understand that she had to answer.

"Phoebe, don't answer," he advised, forcing himself not to move. "It could be a trap."

Torn, Phoebe squeezed the cordless when the fifth signal came and made up her mind. "Hello?"

"Phoebe?" Leo's surprised voice came over the line. "What are you doing home?"

"I…eh…it's a long story, Leo. I'm glad you called though." She threw a glance at Cole. "I have an emergency here. Quick, tell me where Piper keeps her stash of tampons!"

"Huh? Eh, top drawer, in the far left corner."

With a faint sigh of relief, Phoebe mouthed 'It's him' to a still skeptical Cole.

"Great," he snapped quietly, wary of being overheard on the phone by Leo. "Tell him you will call back."

"Phoebe?"

"Yeah?"

"Is everything okay? You sound distracted."

Phoebe let go a nervous laugh. "That's me, Leo; always distracted. Are you and the boys okay? Is dad…?"

"Phoebe!" Cole warned in a low voice.

"We're all fine. Look, is Piper there? I tried to call her, but she doesn't answer her cell phone."

"I know. I mean, no?" she hurriedly corrected herself.

Leo didn't seem to notice. "It's just; she hasn't been herself the last couple of days. I thought she was stressed out over P3, but I'm beginning to worry it has something to do with me."

"Oh…no! It's not you. She's been… One second, Leo!" Inhaling, Phoebe covered the microphone with her free hand. "I can't do this, Cole," she hissed. "I can't lie to Leo about his wife being kidnapped."

"You can't warn him! If the warlocks think they suspect anything…"

"How do you know they have even found them?"

"How do you know one of them isn't listening to this phone call?"

Phoebe removed her hand again. "Leo? Are you alone?"

"Phoebe, that's not exactly a sure proof way to…" he tried, but Phoebe waved him down and exasperated, he gave up.

"Pretty much. I'm on my way to cut down a Christmas tree."

"Ooh, that sounds nice, but don't you have to ask the landowner or something?"

"Oh, I have. Well, truth to tell, he came by to tell us we could have one. Nice to know the spirit of the season is alive and well somewhere. He even gave me directions to where I could find a good one."

"Yeah… that's very… nice." Phoebe's troubled eyes traveled up to meet Cole's frown again, and saw him shake his head. Hesitating only for a second, she took a deep breath and with eyes fastened steadily at Cole she said into the cordless: "Leo, don't ask why! Just turn around and walk the other way. Turn around now, but don't go back to the cabin! I will meet you in…?" Her left eyebrow lifted a little.

"Now wait a minute…" Cole began, recognizing that look – but to no avail. "Ten minutes," he sighed.

Some things just never change…

"15 minutes."

"Okay… Wait! How will you…?"

"15 minutes, Leo. Find a spot out of sight and stay hidden!" She quickly disconnected. "Okay, I just put all my trust in a demon returning from hell. You better live up to expectations, buster."

"I'm not a demon from hell," Cole objected grumpily, not sure if this was the kind of progress he wanted to have with her.

"If it's any consolation, I trust the Elders even less than I trust you," Phoebe quipped sweetly as she swept past him in search of something appropriate to wear in snowy conditions.

When she returned, she was wearing a creamy white winter coat and a pair of thick-soled, knee-high boots in soft sheepskin. The latter she had bought on a whim last year when they were the latest thing. Right now, she was glad she had endured Piper's snippy lecture on not wasting money on clothes they didn't need.

Forcing himself to look away, because he was supposed to be cross with her for not listening to him, and not taken in by her looks, Cole crouched down beside Tes. "Apparently we are going to Aspen. Do you want to come with us or stay here until I'm back?"

"That's another bad habit of his," Phoebe remarked dryly as she bravely but carefully passed the wolf to find a knitted cap by the door. "He's just like that bad penny."

"I think I'd rather go with you," Tes said and rose to her paws. "It could prove… interesting."

Knowing better than to start an argument with two females at once, Cole decided not to comment on either, and stood back up too. Putting one hand on Tes' head, he held out his other in invitation to Phoebe. "Trust me enough for a shimmer?"

"I don't trust you further than I can throw you."

Cole flashed her a wolfish grin "Which could be pretty far, when you put your best effort into it." His hand hung in the air, waiting for her decision. "Coming?"

Phoebe glared at him as she stepped up close. "No fancy tricks," she warned and gingerly placed her petite hand in his, feeling his strong fingers close around hers. It was a remarkably familiar feeling, not entirely unpleasant despite the many and diverse feelings it set off again in her stomach.

"You can always hope," he said and triggered the shimmer.

It was hard to tell if it was the sight of the werewolf or of Cole that caused Leo's very startled reaction as they shimmered in ten feet in front of him.

"What the…?"

Cole grinned at the shocked look on his face. "Nice to see you too, Leo."

Not sure what to believe, Leo warily swung up the axe in front of him. "Phoebe?"

A low growl started to grow in Tes's throat, and Phoebe rapidly slipped out of Cole's grip to fling herself around her brother-in-law's neck in greeting. "It's okay, Leo. I'm sorry about the surprise. I couldn't tell you over the phone, but it's okay."

Not entirely convinced, Leo lowered the axe again. "Aren't you supposed to be dead?"

"Oh, I am," Cole conceded. "For a certain value of death, anyway. Don't worry, though. My present condition is quite temporary."

"Very funny. Where's Piper?"

"Safer than you are."

"What's that supposed to mean? What's going on? Why are you here?"

"There's no easy way to explain this," Phoebe quickly answered in his stead. "There was no invitation to go to Hollywood. Billie never invited Paige, and Piper wasn't offered to host a party at P3. It was all a very big demonic scam to destroy Christmas."

"What do you mean 'demonic scam'?" Leo couldn't help but glance suspiciously at Cole, who sneered back at him.

"A hoax to separate us," Phoebe explained. "And they did it." She went on to tell him all about the Snow Queen's anti-Christmas spell, and the warlocks coming after them. "Leo… they've got Paige and Piper."

The former Whitelighter snatched back in alarm. "What? Why?"

"Cole says the Queen needs the Power of Three to destroy the Spirit of Christmas."

Leo's harried look followed hers to glare at Cole. "Are you certain he hasn't staged the entire thing to trick you into…?"

"Into what?" Arms folded in front of him, Cole glared back. "Evil?"

"Well…" His resolve wavering, Leo pressed for an argument. "We all know what a master you are at deceiving people into doing what you want."

"I can assure you in this case it's quite the reverse."

"Okay, stop it!" Phoebe interrupted. "Cole has nothing to do with it. They had me too. I was so drugged I couldn't tell up from down and they were about to…" She faltered, and her gaze traveled hesitantly to Cole to rest quizzically on him. "Cole saved me," she said in a near whisper, as if the fact had finally registered in her mind.

While his jaws still clenched a little, there was now a curious look in Leo's eyes that partly belied his lack of enthusiasm over the half-demon's reappearance. "Now, why am I not surprised to hear that?"

"He also helped me break the Winter Queen's spell." Phoebe's left hand moved absently to finger the pouch around her neck. "I'm not saying I trust him completely; there's still the question about this elf he claims sent him. Piper never told you about any elf, did she?"

The hope in her eyes that Leo would confirm Cole's story, died as the ex-Whitelighter shook his head. "No, she didn't, but…I knew there was something she wasn't telling me. All that soot on the floor…I thought maybe it had something to do with how Chris burnt his hand, but an elf coming down the chimney actually makes more sense in this case." Raising his eyes to give Cole a square look, Leo reached out his right hand. "I owe you a big one, Cole, so I guess putting my trust in you now will be it."

Taken by surprise by the unexpected offer, Cole only hesitated a second before taking the ex-Whitelighter's hand. "Fair enough."

"You owe Cole?" Phoebe gave her brother-in-law a baffled look. "For what?"

Leo opened his mouth, but caught the look in Cole's eyes. "It's just something Piper did tell me," he offered, eyes steady on Cole, who nodded almost imperceptibly at what was left unspoken.

So Piper told you about me…

While he appreciated Leo's gesture, he wasn't thrilled. It was one more thing to worry about. Knowing Phoebe, he was quite certain she wouldn't leave that itch unscratched. Luckily for him, Tes, returning from her excursion into the woods, shifted everyone's attention to her before Phoebe could begin to scratch.

Letting go of Cole's hand, Leo gave the large creature an uncertain look. "Please tell me that's not a wolf."

"Oh, don't worry," Phoebe said, adding mischievously just as Leo relaxed a little. "Tes is a werewolf."

Cole thought Leo's look was priceless, but his laughter never even reached his throat as he noticed that Tes' fur was bristling from her neck to her tail. "What's wrong?"

"Something's coming!"

The werewolf was snarling fiercely at something and Phoebe's eyes flickered over the pristine, white landscape and the copse of trees they were standing in. "I can't see or hear anything… Cole?" Her eyes widened in shock as he, without any warning, launched an energy ball in Leo's direction. "Cole!" she yelled before the blast of the well-aimed bolt, hitting its target, knocked her off her feet. When she looked up again, Leo was still standing, looking as bewildered as she felt, staring at the ground. Two feet in front of him, the remains of…something were smoldering in the snow.

"What was that?!" she gasped, scrambling to her feet.

Cole scanned the area warily, a new energy ball already in his hand. "Snow wolves. One of them any way."

He had glimpsed it out of the corner of his eye; a translucent shape, no more than a shimmering haze in the sunlight, vaguely dog-like, hurtling itself through the air – and reacted on reflex. His energy bolt had taken it out just before it pounced on Leo.

"Great. Invisible wolves." Phoebe brushed off the snow from her pants. "They wouldn't have anything to do with the Winter Queen, would they?"

"They would; they are her private army, but they are only invisible while they travel in the space between their world and this."

"But we just got here. How did they find us so fast?"

"I don't kn… Get down!"

Phoebe yelped as the launched bolt swooped past her and exploded another of the half-invisible beasts. The sounds of growling could be heard all around them now; faint paw prints becoming visible in the snow.

"What are they doing?" she whispered, glancing around.

"They're forming a circle." Cole's voice wasn't much more than a growl either. "Me taking out two of them will have them thinking twice about attacking head on again, but they will figure out soon enough that I'm the only one with powers, and then…"

Phoebe swallowed. "Can't we just shimmer away?"

"Where to? This close they would only follow."

If he was alone, he would have engaged them himself, but with Phoebe and Leo more or less defenseless against the beasts, he needed a better plan.

This is precisely why I prefer to work alone.

Several tense minutes slipped by and nothing happened. Occasionally, one of the bolder wolves would rush at them but stop short, just out of reach to lope back. That too ceased, however, when he took out one that came too close to Phoebe.

"Why aren't they attacking?" Phoebe hissed. Her arms were beginning to shake from the effort of holding up and wielding the thick bough Leo had cut down for her. She had found that if she screwed up her eyes, just so, she could almost discern the Snow wolves; snow white beasts with lolling tongues and blazing eyes, moving cautiously in a circle around them. She had never seen wolves that large before – they were as big as calves.

"I don't know. Tes, can you understand anything they say?"

"Some. They were waiting elsewhere for the human. When he didn't show up, they went looking. They are surprised to find you here with him, but not unprepared, only confused as to what to do."

They knew he was coming?

Cole cursed under his breath as things fell into place. "These Snow wolves aren't after us at all. We just stumbled into their trap for Leo."

"I told you it was a trap." Phoebe gave him a triumphant look.

"But why?" Leo shook his head in consternation. "Without magic powers I'm no threat to them."

"No, but others are."

His words were left hanging in the air while the almost invisible wolves snarled around them, and then Leo and Phoebe caught up with his train of thought.

Leo grabbed him by the sleeve. "I have to get back to the cabin."

"We don't know what's there."

"My sons are there, Cole."

Seeing the same determination and anxiety in Leo's face he knew he would have felt if Phoebe had been in danger, Cole chewed his lip. "Very well." He nodded once in consent to himself. "I think I have an idea on how to get out of this, but I need both my hands free. Hold on to me and be ready! Tes!"

As the wolf immediately pressed up against him, he felt Leo grab a firm hold of his shoulders, while Phoebe's arms circled his waist.

"Hold tight!" he warned. "Things will get hot here very soon."

"Don't get any ideas!" Phoebe snapped immediately, causing him to raise an eyebrow.

"I'm talking about our escape."

There was that microsecond of silence as someone tries to shift gear fast enough to save face. "What makes you think I wasn't?" Phoebe sniffed, hoping neither of the two men saw her blushing cheeks.

Cole raised his arms to stretch them out in front of him.

I just hope I have the powers to do this.

Concentrating at the ground behind the wolves, he gestured, and immediately it burst into flames that fanned out in a circle around them as he spread his arms outward.

Confused, the Snow wolves started to move about, growling and snarling, but as the ring of fire slowly contracted, they were forced to back up, closing in on the four in the middle.

"Are you nuts!?" Phoebe hissed frantically. "Why didn't you put the fire between them and us?"

"Oops." Cole's face was a mask of grim concentration as he forced the wolves even closer. "You mean like this?" Gesturing at a spot on the ground, much closer to them, he started a new ring of fire, catching the wolves between the two circles.

As the fire crackled and sparked, sending its roaring flames toward the sky, the baying and howling reached ear deafening proportions as the Snow wolves realized they were trapped between converging fires with flames too high to jump. Before the two circles met, an angry, commanding bark could be heard over the din, and then the Snow wolves disappeared.

"Tes?"

"All gone!"

Wasting no time, Cole shimmered away with them.

"Okay, what happened over there?" Phoebe demanded to know, pushing away from him the moment she felt her feet on solid ground. By the look of it, Cole had taken them to the edge of a grove, a short distance from the cabin.

"Fire scares them. I forced them to leave this plane," he explained, breathing hard from the exertion. "With any luck, they won't be able to pick up on where we went. I made a few extra jumps just to be on the safe side."

"I noticed." Hands to her head, Phoebe closed her eyes for a second. "If I wasn't nauseous before…"

"Wyatt and Chris," Leo whispered, oblivious to her. "I'm going in." Determined to save his sons, Leo started toward the cabin, but was caught by a strong grip on his arm, and pulled back.

"Let's not rush into anything," Cole suggested. "Tes?"

Understanding, the werewolf headed off to sniff around on the ground behind the cabin, occasionally putting her nose up in the air.

While they waited for her to come back, Phoebe took the opportunity to get a good look at the place Victor had talked so much about. It was an old fashioned, log cabin placed at the edge of the forest, with a marvelous view over the snowy landscape, and large enough that they would all have been able to stay there comfortably. "It's a dream place," she sighed, regretting very much that she had opted to go to Hollywood on Christmas, instead of here.

"No Snow wolves, but there's definitely been a Shapeshifter here," Tes informed them as she returned. "I can't tell if he's still there or not; there's too much magic around."

"I hate Shape-shifters." Phoebe wrapped her arms around her. "Do you remember when a lamp spied on us in the manor?"

"I do." Brow furrowed, Cole turned to Leo. "That man who told you where to find a good tree; did he stay around?"

Leo shook his head. "No. He left before I did."

"Still no guarantee there's not another one hiding in the house. We need to…"

"We need to get the boys out," Leo determined. "Phoebe, if you take them outside to play, maybe Tes can search the house."

Cole had some objections, but he was outnumbered and generally not listened to, and with the matter settled by two against one, they all headed out toward the cabin.

Leo hurried up to the door and opened it. "Wyatt, Chris? Look who has come to visit!"

There was a bit of commotion, and then two boys came rushing to the doorway, their face lighting up at the sight of Aunt Phoebe.

Very happy to see them too, Phoebe bent down to receive their enthusiastic hugs. "Hi, my darlings!"

"Auntie Phoebe, why are you here?" All smiles, Wyatt took her face between his tiny hands and giggled happily.

"Because I missed you two so much. I just had to come up here and play with you in the snow."

"That's a great idea," Leo quickly chimed in. "You guys wanna go out and play?" The suggestion was met by a happy shriek of joy. "Okay, I'll get your clothes." Stepping around them, Leo went inside and almost collided with Victor, who had come to see what the noise was about.

"We just came in. Their clothes are all wet," he said, giving them all a very confused look. "Phoebe?"

"Hi, dad!" With Chris securely in her arms, Phoebe straightened up. "I changed my mind."

"I can see that. But how did you…?"

"That's another surprise." She stepped aside to let Cole in.

"What the…" At a complete loss for words, Victor stared at the tall, dark man in the doorway. Before he could collect his wits enough to be coherent, another man turned up from inside the house.

"You are getting lots of surprise visits today, Victor."

Startled, Leo and Phoebe looked up to see a man in his late fifties, approach them with a curious but friendly smile.

Acting fast, before Victor could say his name; Cole grabbed his hand and pumped it vigorously. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Bennett," he beamed. "We haven't met before but Phoebe has been telling me so much about you; it feels like I already know you."

Confused, Victor looked back and forth, trying to get a grasp on things. "Yes…uh, she hasn't mentioned you…at all."

Cole grinned at him and slung a long arm around Phoebe's shoulders. "Well, it happened a bit suddenly."

"Not to say completely unexpectedly." Phoebe's grin up at him fell on the stiff side. "Remove the arm or I will rip it out of its socket," she hissed between clenched teeth, before she turned back to her father. "Did we come at a bad time?"

"Uh, no…" Not yet recovered from the shock, Victor still managed to find his feet. "This is John Alcott, our closest neighbor here. John, this is my son-in-law, Leo, and my youngest daughter, Phoebe."

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Alcott." All smiles, Phoebe reached out a hand.

John Alcott smiled pleasantly as he took it. "The pleasure is all mine. Please, call me John."

While Phoebe said hello, Cole pulled Leo over. "You could've told me he was here," he growled quietly.

Leo just looked nonplussed. "I didn't know."

"Do you know him?"

"Yeah, John's okay. We met him yesterday in the store. He lives here. Victor has known him for years."

"Okay. Get rid of him."

"How?"

That problem, however, solved itself.

"I see you have your hands full, Victor," John was saying, reaching out to shake the hand of his host. "I was only stopping by to see you had settled in and everything was alright. So I'll be on my way again and I'll see you another time, okay?"

"Okay. Yeah, sure." The moment John was out the door, Victor snapped out of his daze. "Can someone tell me what's going on here?"

"Actually…" Leo rubbed a hand through his hair. "No, we can't. You just have to trust us."

Victor's eyes searched out his daughter. "Phoebe?"

"It's okay, dad. Just help me get Chris and Wyatt dressed and Leo will explain everything in a little while."

Once Phoebe had left, Cole gave his ex-father-in-law his second shock for the day as he called in Tes, but Victor overcame his initial wariness at her first remark.

"It reeks in here," she snarled, showing a set of sharp teeth.

"Hey! We cleaned up in here yesterday."

Ignoring him, Tes searched the entire cabin, but while she felt the smell of a Shape-shifter very strongly, it was nowhere to be found. "He was here, but now he's gone," she stated.

"What?" Victor burst out in exasperation. "Who?"

As Leo started to explain, Cole bent down to give Tes an absentminded pat on the head, but the werewolf snatched away.

"What's the matter?"

"What have you touched? You have that smell on your hand!"

"I do? But I haven't…" Frowning, Cole stared at his hand, then – eyes narrowing – he looked over at Victor. "Mind if Tes checks you out?"

"What?" Victor took a step back. "Look, I like dogs, but…"

"But one that can smell magic isn't on your top 10 list?"

"Cole…" Leo looked warily from one to the other. "Are you sure?"

"No." Cole watched Victor closely. "That's why I want Tes to check him."

"Leo, is this necessary?"

"Just let her sniff your hands, Victor."

Reluctantly, Victor Bennett let the werewolf come up and put her cold, wet nose on his hands and up his legs.

"I can only smell it on his hands," she said after a while. "It's just residue from someone he's touched. He isn't a Shape-shifter."

"I could have told you that." Victor glared at them.

"I'm sorry, but we had to make sure," Leo amended. "Apparently, the 'land-owner' was one. The Christmas-tree offer was just a trick to get to me."

"One that failed," Cole muttered. "They will try again." He swung around to stare out the window by the door, staring at all the tracks in the snow – more out of life long habit than anything else. From the looks of it, Phoebe had gone sledding with the kids. Their footprints led past Victor's rented Range Rover, veering right alongside the road.

All of a sudden, he stiffened a little. "Victor, that friend of yours… Does he live nearby?"

"John? About four kilometers down the road. Why?"

"Because he didn't come here in a car."

"So? It's not that far to walk."

"In loafers?"

"You mean he's a…?"

Cole was already out the door at a dead run, disappearing in a shimmer not ten feet away. Not fast enough to catch up, Tes loped after, following Phoebe's footprints.