A sound suddenly reached him—subtle, almost lost in the wind’s howl, but his enhanced hearing caught it. The mechanical groan of metal under stress, too rhythmic to be natural ice settlement. His polar bear surged to alertness, every sense sharpening as he altered course toward the source.
Then the scent hit him.
Female. Human. But underneath the expected notes of soap and perfume was something that caused his polar bear to sit up and take notice—something sweet and complex that bypassedhis rational mind and spoke directly to instincts he’d spent years suppressing. His heart kicked against his ribs like a caged animal, and for a moment the carefully controlled world he’d built tilted on its axis.
No.The thought was immediate and visceral.
Whatever this was, whoever this was, he couldn’t afford it. Wouldn’t allow it.
But his feet carried him forward anyway, following the trail with the inexorable pull of gravity. The scent grew stronger, layered now with the chemical tang of gasoline and synthetic materials—a snowmobile, his mind cataloged automatically. And beneath that, something floral and distinctly calling to his polar bear, making his teeth ache with the need to claim, to mark, to protect.
The research outpost materialized through the swirling snow, its utilitarian bulk a familiar sight that should have been reassuring. But everything felt different now, charged with potential that set his nerves on edge. Movement near the entrance caught his attention—three figures, two of them unfamiliar.
Dr. Ellie Frost he recognized immediately, her red hair bright against the white landscape as she helped unload luggage from the snowmobile’s sidecar. The other two women were strangers, and every instinct screamed that their presence here was significant in ways he wasn’t prepared to handle.
The smaller woman—barely reaching his chest, he estimated—moved with brisk efficiency and strange familiarity, her white hair catching the pale light. But it was the taller figure that held his attention and made his polar bear pace restlessly beneath his skin. Even bundled in Arctic gear, he could see the fluid lines of her movement, and the way she carried herself with unconscious grace despite the harsh environment.
And that scent. God, that scent was driving him to distraction, making it hard to think past the primitive urge to stride over there and announce his claim. Which was exactly the kind of thing that got people killed in his world.
“Ellie’s got visitors today,” he murmured to himself. “Unannounced visitors.”
His jaw tightened. In his territory, surprises were rarely welcome, and never coincidental. Someone had brought these women here, and he needed to know who and why. The timing felt deliberate—storm season approaching, when travel became treacherous and communication unreliable. Perfect conditions for someone trying to hide.
The polar bear in him growled low, a sound of possession and protection that he ruthlessly suppressed. Whatever was happening here, whoever these women were, he would handle it with the same cold precision that had kept his clan safe for eighteen years.
Korrak closed the distance with the measured stride of a predator assessing potential threats. Each step brought that intoxicating scent stronger, until it wrapped around his senses like a physical force. His polar bear prowled restlessly, recognition sparking through every nerve ending. Korrak felt his careful composure and hardened resolve crumbling the closer he got to the research outpost.
When he drew close enough to see the petite woman’s face clearly beneath her hood, understanding hit him like a physical blow. The sharp cheekbones, the knowing eyes that seemed to catalog every micro-expression on his face, and the way she carried herself with absolute confidence despite being dwarfed by the Arctic landscape.
Gerri Wilder.
He’d never met the infamous matchmaker in person, but every shifter worth his salt had heard the stories. Where Gerriwent, fated mates followed with the inevitability of sunrise. The woman was a force of nature disguised in designer clothes and sass, and her presence in his territory meant his carefully ordered world was about to implode.
“Ah, Korrak.” Gerri’s voice carried the warm authority of someone who’d never doubted her welcome anywhere. “Nice to finally meet the infamous town leader of Northland Bay. Sorry to intrude without ample notice. We were trying to beat the storm.”
Her eyes sparkled with mischief beneath her hood, and Korrak felt the distinct sensation of being outmaneuvered by someone who’d been playing this game far longer than he’d been alive.
“Meet Winslet Ward,” Gerri continued smoothly, gesturing toward the taller woman. “She’ll be helping Ellie with logistics and caretaker responsibilities. Temporary, of course.” Her smile turned decidedly feline. “I promise she will stay out of your way.”
Korrak’s jaw clenched as his gaze shifted to the woman in question. Even bundled in Arctic gear, he could see the elegant lines of her face, and the way her dark hair escaped from her hood to frame features that belonged in a city boardroom, not the frozen wasteland of his territory. Her green eyes met his with a wariness that spoke of someone who’d learned to evaluate threats too quickly.
Gerri’s meddling again, no doubt,he thought grimly.Dragging a potential mate into my territory just to rile me up.
“But you know,” Gerri added with theatrical innocence, “a stranger doesn’t always mean a threat.”
The suggestion hung in the frigid air like a challenge. Korrak studied Winslet’s face, noting the way her breathing had quickened slightly, and the almost imperceptible tension in her shoulders. She was afraid of him—a reaction that should have satisfied his need for territorial dominance but instead twisted something uncomfortable in his chest.
“I’m not thrilled about this intrusion,” he said firmly. “But I’ll allow it. Temporary basis only. If Miss Ward causes issues, she’ll be removed.”
Winslet’s sharp intake of breath was audible, and something that might have been terror flickered across her features. The sight of it hit him like a punch to the gut, his polar bear snarling at the idea that he’d caused her distress.
What the hell is wrong with me?
“Let me rephrase that,” he said, softening his tone with visible effort. “I’ll help you acclimate so you’ll fit in properly. This territory can be unforgiving to those who don’t understand its rules.”
He extended his hand toward her, a gesture of welcome that felt both necessary and dangerous. “It’s a pleasure to have you here, helping our community.”
The moment her gloved fingers touched his, the world tilted sideways.
