Outside the snow began to fall, blanketing the world in white. The next few weeks were going to be interesting.
TWO
RIVEN
I knew something wasn’t right when I met Antonia’s panicked eyes.
The lodge had been preparing to receive a wolf shifter witness who'd helped the feds bring down a corrupt Alpha. Instead, I caught the scent of sunshine and fresh mint, and my wolf was on high alert.
He’s human. He was begging me to let him out, but I refused.
I’m aware.
And he’s our mate.
Yes.
One heartbeat coupled with one whiff of his scent and my life would never be the same. But whether I’d be beyond happy or suffering with a sadness I’d never shake off, I couldn’t say.
“Riven Morris.” I forced my voice to remain calm, though my heart was trying out for the Olympics 100-meter dash while I resisted burying my nose at the base of his throat.
After explaining my role, I could almost see the wheels turning in his head. Not that they were headed in the right direction, which was that he was my one and only.
The walk to the cabin, one I’d done hundreds of times, involved me tamping down the urge to wrap my arms around him. Our elbows bumped once and my wolf got excited, thinking we were about to mate. We’d never mated, but my wolf and I both understood what would happen if we met our fated.
But with Indigo being human, I wasn’t prepared for how we got from A to B, let alone A to Z.
He was shivering when we reached the cabin, but the fire I’d lit earlier was blazing, and I started dinner. As I prepared the food and we ate, Indigo told me about his life in the city and his job. He skirted around the details of what led him here, but there was no need for concern. No human would get past our security.
But a human did get through.It was Indigo himself. My beast was pointing out the failure of our system.
Yes, but he wasn’t intent on hurting anyone. This is where he’s meant to be.
“So.” Indigo shoved aside his empty plate. “What happens now?”
His question brought me back to the present because I’d been lost in thought, musing over the conversion I had to have with Antonia and the pack elders regarding how Indigo ended up here.
“Now?” I repeated, buying time.
“Yeah. Is there a routine to follow? Do I check in every hour with you? Will you teach me self-defense?”
He punched the air, and I hid my grin behind my hand. He was adorable, and he wouldn’t win a fist fight with a toddler.
“Or do I hang out in this gorgeous cabin until my boss's trial?”
Ahhh, he’d given a hint about the reason for escaping the city. I guessed he had to testify about his boss. The lodge did occasionally serve as a safe house, though shifters in trouble were our usual clients.
“It's more easygoing than that.” I had to choose my words carefully. “The location is secure, it’s not on the regular tourist trail. We’re more exclusive. And we have regular patrols.” I didn't mention these patrols were conducted by wolves. “Everyone who works at the lodge is trained in security protocols.” Again, I left out that our beasts would be providing that security.
“Oh.” He stabbed a tiny piece of pancetta on his plate.
I explained that he did have a responsibility and that was to sleep, enjoy the fresh air, go on hikes, visit the lodge library, and eat good food.
He asked for my story, wondering how I got my job as a quasi security guy. Not that he used that word, but he waved his hand around and skipped over an adjective to describe my job.
“I was born on this land. It belonged to my grandfather,and now as well as paying guests, it’s a place where the community can come together.”
“Have you always lived here?”
