He understood that, as an Alpha, his role was to guide the energy from their land to his pack members, and he had been trained and guided by the Red River Alphas since childhood to understand how to do that job. But he operated by instinct and education, he didn’t literally hear or smell Mother Nature or her gifts and he didn’t have some other unnamed sense. Keith truly was like Jobe. He was special. Confusing, but special.
“The water’s ready for you.” Keith squatted and then looked up at Brian. “Shift into your wolf. It’ll be easier to drink that way.” When Brian didn’t move, he furrowed his brow and said, “I scented it. It’s safe and clean. I promise. Here, I’ll go first.”
Once again faster than his eyes could track, Keith’s large, silver-white wolf stood before him. He darted his tongue into the water a couple of times and then looked up at him expectantly. His beautiful eyes were as wide and trusting in this form as his other. Keith had suffered more in his life than anyone Brian knew, and yet he remained pure and hopeful, albeit in an unconventional way.
Brian lowered himself to the ground and ran his palm over his mate’s fur, forgetting about everything other than the special, precious shifter beside him. “I'm sorry you went through all of that in your youth.” He tried to reconcile the bubbly, chatty, upbeat man he knew with the version of Keith who had lived like a recluse and embraced what he had anticipated would be imminent death. “I’m so glad I found you.” He wondered if Keith would have survived if he’d made the trip to Purple Sky even a day later. “You’re safe now. I promise, I won’t let anyone hurt you again.” Especially not the Green Field Alphas who had done nothing to comfort a hurting teenager to the point that he had preferred living on his own to being with his pack. “I’ll dedicate my life to protecting you.”
“You won’t be able to do that if you’re dehydrated. Drink.”
“How do you do that so quickly?” Brian asked.
“Do what?”
“Shift.”
“Same way I survived long enough to meet you.”
Brian furrowed his brow in confusion.
“Should I tell you I’m more powerful than I look again or are you sick of hearing that line by now?” Keith winked and then tipped his head toward the water. “Drink, mate. I want to keep running with you. We’re having fun.”
Brian skated his hand over his mate’s warm skin and drew in a deep, soothing breath. Fun was something Keith hadn’t had enough of in his life. He’d make sure that changed. “Alright.” He leaned forward and kissed Keith’s forehead. “I’ll drink and then we’ll have more fun.”
The morning spent frolicking with his mate was the best of Brian’s life, but he had a pack to lead and that meant responsibilities, so he helped Keith get comfortable in the bathtub and then went downstairs to catch up on work. He was doing a deep dive into their finances, trying to determine how he could increase their earnings enough to acquire the river land when his phone rang. He flicked his gaze to the screen, accepted the call, and looked back at the computer monitor. “Hi, Steve.”
“Hello, Alpha. I’m on patrol duty today and I came across an unannounced visitor.”
“Who are they visiting?”
“You.”
“Me?” He furrowed his brow and picked up his phone. “I’m not expecting any visitors. Who is it?”
“She says her name’s Claire.”
He considered the name. “I don’t know a Claire. Why does she want to see me?”
“She won’t say but she seems anxious or scared or something. She’s weirdly jittery.”
“That’s strange. Bring her over. I’ll talk to her and get to the bottom of it.”
“On it, Alpha.”
He thought about his vulnerable mate upstairs having a rare and well-earned rest. “Oh, and Steve?”
“Yes, Alpha?”
“I’ll speak with her on the porch. I don’t want people near my mate.”
“Uh, sure, okay. I’ll bring her over and wait with her outside.”
He ended the call and rose from his chair. Keith was probably thirsty and hungry and he wouldn’t remember to care for himself. Brian hustled to the kitchen, cut up some cucumbers, peppers, and carrots, and filled a bottle with ice and water. That should tide Keith over until he was done dealing with the unexpected visitor. He hurriedly made his way upstairs and over to his bathroom. He walked through the open door and stopped in his tracks at the sight that greeted him.
His mate was stretched across the tub, head reclined on a folded towel, and eyes closed. He looked completely at peace, which satisfied Brian on a soul-deep level. He was also gorgeous. His skin firm and smooth, his muscles lean but carved, his jaw sharp as a knife.
“Don’t forget to breathe,” Keith said, his voice quiet and unexpected.
Brian sucked in a gulp of air and shook his head to clear his mind. He hadn’t realized he was holding his breath. “I thought you were sleeping.”
