“At least he’s a bear,”my bear chimed off in my thoughts.“So we have that in common. I bet he likes to eat too. Plus, bearsdo okay in the cold, right? Or does he sleep all winter like the wild bears? That would be funny. We go there and everyone is asleep and Rune just played a joke on us.”
That would most definitelynotbe funny.
The train pulled into the station, and I waited until the other passengers had jostled each other out before I stood and picked up my backpack. The loading guys had offered to put it under the train too but there was never a zero chance of the train derailing, and I wanted my survival gear with me at the very least. How else was I to save everyone who decided to ride on this speeding bullet?
The station was smaller than the one on Hemlock Mountain. A few of the passengers from the train on the opposite side of the station stared at me as if they’d never seen a man step off a train carrying a backpack. It was probably the long icy blue-white hair that hung down around my ass and swayed in the breeze even when there wasn’t one. Maybe it was the stubby ice-hued horns perched on the very top of my forehead – the ones that one man who now lives in my ice sculpture garden once called ‘under formed satyr horns.’ I hoped he was still laughing at that joke because you should never insult a demon who is kind enough to give you hospitality. It never ends well. Say please and thank you and leave our appearances out of it. Flattery never really worked on us either.
I glanced at the phone that I hadn’t set down since Rune put it into my hand. The little buzzy thing was something I knew I’d lose as soon as it wasn’t attached to my person. I had to fiddle with the screen to make the little map thing come up. It was more than ten miles to the village proper. The Nightshade Bears had insisted on putting the tracks far enough away so that they’d never hear the trains coming and going. Rumor hadit (well, Rune had it) that they almost refused to be put on the route all together. I didn’t blame them for that. Who wants to be somewhere everyone can come and bother you? Usually only the people who have the gumption to think they’re welcome everywhere.
After gathering my trunk from under the train and hefting it up on my shoulder, I started off in the general direction of the village. Rune had warned me that it was surrounded by trees, and I might get shot with an arrow if I cut through the wrong way. So I should make sure I find the entrance with the guards. The bears had offered to send someone to meet me, but I wouldn’t hear of it. Me and the snow got on just fine. Me and other people? Well, sometimes that was another thing all together.
Not many people were headed in the same direction as me, but one omega wolf power walked past me with his trunk on his heels as if it was chasing him. He moved over the snow as if it wasn’t there at all. He’d been close to his true-mate recently.
A flash of a band tee and a bar. No scent.
“He’s not lucky, huh?”my bear chimed off into my thoughts.
If I had a few less items to haul around I would’ve shifted into him and got this show on the road. Though, truth be told I wasn’t in any hurry to get there. I was sure Lero was kind and charming and all the things a host was supposed to be, but these bears were some of the most social creatures I’d ever heard of. They had at least four feast days a month if Rune was right about them.
The wolf glanced back over his shoulder and squinted at me. Had he heard my thoughts? Had he just picked up my scent?
“Headed to the village?” he shouted turning around.
His trunk circled his feet so that it stayed a foot or so behind him.
“Yeah,” I said.
What did he want? Was it unusual for a bear to head toward the village?
“Need help with that?” he pointed at the trunk on my shoulder.
“I’m able,” I said, unsure of what he meant to do to help me with it. Did many people pack things they were unable to carry?
“Do you know the way?” he asked.
“I have a map,” I called back.
The wolf trailed back through the snow and extended his hand. Mine were full so I merely nodded at the gesture.
“I’m Mori. My dads lead the Nightshade Bears,” he offered and I nodded.
Of course! That’s why he was so nice. Children of leaders are either nicer than their parents or are secret little tyrants with dreams of ruling with an iron fist. There was no in between from all the history I’ve seen and heard.
“I’m here for Mated for the Holidays,” I said instead of offering my name.
What if Mori wasn’t who he claimed he was? What if he was some fay wolf intent on taking my name or my ice or leading me into an ice pit so that he might eat me? He’d have a difficult timedoing the latter, but I liked my name and wasn’t willing to hand it out to those I didn’t know.
“Oh!” he said, the sound half surprised and half recognition.
He sniffed the air, and I fought off the urge to roll my eyes.
“Yeah, I’m an alpha. Your nose isn’t lying,” I said and took a few steps past him to ensure he wasn’t trying to block my way. I didn’t want to turn the little wolf into an ice statue so far from my garden but would if I had to.
“That’s fine,” Mori said and followed me. “Are they expecting you? Usually, Dad sends someone out to meet new arrivals. Especially in the winter.”
“They offered. I said I’d manage,” I shrugged.
He sniffed again. What was he doing? Seeing if I was a bear? Was it my appearance again? Was it because I wasn’t bundled up like he was? Was this little omega wolf about to ask me if I wanted his hat or something?
