“The suite is amazing, by the way. It’s very kind of you,” she noted. “I can’t say I’m treated this well on most of my assignments.”
“My pleasure,” Grayson said with a solemn nod. “I appreciate you traveling up here to help us with this issue.” His brows furrowed. “Something I have been unable to resolve on my own.”
“Tell me what’s happened thus far.” She leaned forward. “I have an idea from my aunt, who arranged this assignment, but I’d like to hear more from you.”
Grayson picked up his glass and took another sip, watching her over the rim of the glass. She crossed her legs and then uncrossed them, switching to the other side. The intensity of his gaze bore through her again, scorching her skin.
After he set the glass down, he clasped his hands on the table. She glanced at them. They were masculine hands, rough, and not at all what she’d expect from a CFO who sat behind a desk. But he was also a wolf shifter, and she sensed there was much more to Grayson Dumont than what was on the surface.
“The Franconia and Sacco packs have fought over land in this area for as long as I can remember,” Grayson explained. “Around ten years ago, we purchased the ski resort. It was a bare-bones operation with outdated equipment and lodging. We’d invested wisely over the years and had the means and resources to develop the resort. The Sacco pack wasn’t at all happy about our plans. After much arguing back and forth, we came up with an agreement to live and let live. We each stay on our respective sides of the border and not trespass into the other’s territory.”
Grayson continued to explain the recent tensions that had arisen between the packs. Then he asked, “Are you familiar with how wolf shifters bond?” His voice sounded strange, all of a sudden, almost strangled.
“I am,” she replied. “Apparently, a wolf has one mate, kind of like a soulmate, I think.”
His gaze lingered on her before he swallowed. “Right. Well, when a shifter finds his or her mate, the compulsion to protect and care for a mate overpowers all else. Even reason.” Grayson glanced at his glass of sangria and licked his lower lip. “One of our enforcers, Damon, felt his mate was in trouble, but she was on Sacco land. When he crossed into their territory to find her, one of their enforcers engaged. That fight sparked more tension between the packs.”
Grayson rubbed the stem of his wine glass and lifted his gaze back to Aurora. “After that encounter, their enforcer developed a vendetta toward Damon. He kidnapped Damon’s mate, Sophie, and when he tracked her, it led to another fight—this time to the death. Fortunately, it was the Sacco enforcer.”
As she listened to the story, she couldn’t help but lean closer, captivated by the tale. Damon risking all for his mate had a romantic aspect to it.
She shook her head, snapping out of it. As a mediator, she’d listen to both sides and help them come to an agreement.
“You mentioned that your attempts to settle this dispute with them haven’t yielded any progress?”
“Right. They accused us of spying in order to scope out their lands and continue to expand development of the resort.”
“Is that true?” she asked.
His eyes widened, as if offended. “Of course not. That’s a complete fabrication from them.”
She nodded. “Got it. Well, I hope to be able to help you both come to a compromise you can both live with.”
Grayson searched her eyes with his intense look once more. “So do I. My talks with them have gotten nowhere. They’ve demanded Damon’s head as retribution.”
His head? Perhaps Aurora had gotten herself into a more complicated mess with these wolf packs than she’d anticipated. She swallowed and resolved to handle the task as a professional. “That is quite a demand.”
Grayson’s lips tightened into a grim line. He stared off into the distance, and his eyes glowed with a fierce, golden hue. “I’ll never let that happen.” After a few slow breaths, his expression softened, and he returned his gaze to her. “Damon is like a younger brother to me. Will you help me save him?”
Chapter 3
Grayson
Grayson paced over the hardwood floors of his office the next morning. Where was Aurora? Had she already gone over to talk to the Sacco pack? An uncomfortable shiver curled up his spine. He shouldn’t have let her go alone. He should have gone with her. Yet, she’d insisted that it was better for her to hear each side of the story first before bringing the tense packs together.
He could have said that it wasn’t safe. But why? He had no reason to back that claim. He’d spoken to Lars, the Sacco beta, and had made arrangements for Aurora to visit. Why would they hurt a witch who came to them to help them keep peace?
Unless one of their wolves tried to seduce her.
The discomfort twisted with a renewed force.
He stopped pacing and stared at the mountain peak. They’d had a few inches of powder overnight, which meant the trails were packed. The chairlifts were all running smoothly. Everything on his morning checklist was done, so he could head out for a few runs before an afternoon meeting.
That was a good idea. It would help get his mind off his worries.
Only it didn’t work.
On his third ascent up the chairlift, he tried to keep up the conversation with the couple on the lift. He liked to talk to patrons. Not only was it a friendly part of ski culture but also a way for him to keep the pulse on what visitors liked and what they wanted. Yet, Grayson found it difficult to focus.
