Aswe attempted to get me back on my feet,Istumbled.Itwas a terrible angle on a steep pitch of the trail.Iglanced up.Itwas also a dangerous spot.Skiersand snowboarders came over the bump whereImust have been in a blind spot as they had to swerve to avoid me.IfImade it off this mountain without a collision in the next ten minutes, it would be a feat of epic sorcery.
Theguy in blue who had retrieved a ski brought it over.Skipatrol guy thanked him and said, “Gotit.We’regood.”Theguy skied away.
AsItried to slide my foot back into the binding, it kept popping out.
“It’sflatter over there.”Skipatrol guy grabbed my ski.Hethen motioned ahead to the guy in black who’d retrieved my ski farther down the slope and was trying to climb up to me. “Waitthere.We’llcome to you.”
Ugh,Iwas such an instant calamity out here that three guys had to help retrieve the pieces to put me back together.Iplodded through the snow over to the side of the trail with ski patrol guy.Hemoved quickly downhill and retrieved my second detached ski.
WhenIcaught up,Imuttered, “Thanks.”
Theguy in black ensuredIwas all set before he continued downhill.
Skipatrol guy wiped out snow from the binding and popped it into the proper position.Heput it down beside my boot. “Hereyou go.”
Iattempted to wedge my boot back in.Nothing. “Ican’t get it in.”Itried jamming it in, hoping to end this scene soon enough.
Myboot didn’t connect.Worse, the movement shot the ski forward and into the woods.
“Ohno,”Imuttered.Humiliationflooded me.Mycheeks burned.Nowwould be a good time for an avalanche to sweep me away.
VALEN
Mywolf stirred inside and roused with sudden alertness.
Thena deep rumble rolled from within his chest.Mate.
Don’tbe ridiculous,Ireplied asIskied over to a snowbank.Thewoman’s ski had wedged itself in and peeked out, half-buried.Thesnow was so deep thatIhad to remove my skis to venture in.Ipopped them off and planted them upright into a snowbank.
It’sher, my wolf insisted.Can’tyou sense it?
Iignored the question.I’mtrying to work here.
Ithad been a challenge to retrieve her gear and get her to the side of the trail.Whereshe’d fallen had left her in a blind spot for those coming downhill, leaving her in a vulnerable position.Someoneskiing downhill fast might not be able to avoid her.Thetwo skiers who had stopped to help were also in a precarious position as they’d stopped to retrieve her skis.Itried to get everyone moving off the main trail, so they’d be less likely to be caught in a collision.Atleast the other two were gone now, and she was off to the side, no longer in such a dangerous location.
AsItrudged through the deeper snow away from the groomed trails,Igritted my teeth.Withheavy boots on, this wasn’t a stroll in a meadow.Bythe timeIreached her half-buried ski, my heart beat much faster.
Igrabbed the bottom edge of the ski and yanked it out of its snow cave. “Gotit.”Ideclared in victory asIlifted it for her to see.
“Oh, good!” she shouted from the side of the trail.
Itwas covered in snow, andIbrushed off as much asIcould so she’d be able to put it back on.Icarried the ski over to her.
AsIapproached, my wolf wagged his tail inside.It’sher.
Isuppressed a scowl and focused on doing my job.Whatwas wrong with him for thinking a woman we barely said two words to and knew nothing about was our mate?Wehadn’t even made eye contact yet.Sheappeared so shaken by the fall, and her face was half-covered by her mask and goggles.Blondringlets extended from under her helmet, wet from snow—as was much of her.
“Thankyou so much for your help,” she gushed with gratitude onceIreached her.
“Noproblem.”AfterIbrushed more snow out of the bindings,Ipositioned the ski beside her white boot. “Careful, it’s as slippery as a salmon,”Ijoked to lighten the mood. “Holdon to me for balance.”
“Okay.”Sheplaced her hand on my shoulder and attempted to wedge her foot into the ski.
Iinhaled, trying to get a sense of what was making my wolf go so batty inside.Shesmelled good, for sure.Andshe wasn’t a typical human.Withthe heady scent of the pine in the crisp mountain air, her fragrance wasn’t easy to distinguish.Isniffed again, homing in on her to get a better read.Withthe earthy, herbal undertones beneath her alluring aroma,Iguessed she could be a witch.AlthoughIhadn’t met many here on the mountain,Grayson’smateAurorawas one.I’dbeen wary of witches, like many in my pack, until we’d met her.
Itwould be outright rude to ask this woman, especially while she was recovering from a fall and stumbling to get her boots back on.Still, now that my wolf had put the idea of her beingthe onein my head,Igrew curious.Whowas this woman?Wasshe here with anyone?
Ittook her a few attempts before she managed to pop her ski on.
