Heather had lost her favorite pink mittens. When he’d first spotted the delicate things, he’d suggested she wear hardier gloves to protect her sensitive skin. Werewolf or not, the human form was vulnerable, and the wind up here was unforgivingly cold. Heather had opted to follow his advice, but instead of leaving her own mittens at the cabin, she tucked them in her back pocket. When he’d finally herded her to the cabin, she discovered they’d fallen out.
She cried.
Over pink mittens.
The goddamn daughter of the Sapphire Wolf Pack sniffled over winter attire.
If he hadn’t already known, that moment would’ve confirmed no future existed between them. Even if his father hadn’t gloated about Eric’s “formidable tracking skills,” he still would’ve leapt at the chance to retrieve the stupid mittens. Anything to escape the small cabin and get away from his meddling parents. He left first thing in the morning with the storm still raging.
Now, he raced around as the snowstorm really set in, with no real intent to find any pink accessories, and enjoyed a few moments of freedom without the incessant nagging of his mom, or bragging of his father. As the conditions worsened, however, he cursed his own stupidity along with his parents.
He shouldn’t have taken the route passing the Jones’ cabin. Of course, Brenna wouldn’t be there. Although her parents and brother visited the vacation cabin often, Brenna rarely returned since the summer after high school graduation.
Brenna Jones.
Mate, Brutus whined.
He shook his head.Not anymore.
An image of light elfin eyes framed with white hair flashed across his mind.
Ten years later and he still thought about her. As a null wolf from a small pack, Brenna had to deal with a lot of crap growing up, and he’d added to it. All through school, he’d liked her, but he also resented her for it. As the heir to the Topaz Mountain Pack, he shouldn’t have been drawn to a weak null. He had a position to maintain, and his training focused on strength, confidence and control.
Yet, like a bee to honey, he was intensely attracted to Brenna despite all his efforts not to be and he had no idea how to deal with the feels.
Apparently, his default mode was douchebag.
He’d behaved like a boy with a crush—not the love-sick puppy kind, but the kick-her-shins type. He had no delusions of what Brenna thought of him. She hated him and told him so the summer before she left for university.
The summer he’d had his chance to make things right.
The summer he turned eighteen and realized Brenna was his true mate.
And the summer he’d ruined his chances forever.
More snow drifts moved across his path and blurred his vision. The cold numbed his nose and with the howling wind, his ears couldn’t pick up much from his surroundings, essentially rendering him triple-blind. He slowed. The storm, now almost a full-white out, showed no signs of letting up.
Maybe he should turn around and stay at the Jones’ cabin. He might not make it back to his parents’ place and a cabin was preferable to braving the storm in wolf form.
A strong gust of wind parted the curtain of white and cleared a path ahead. Something red bobbed through the drifts of snow.
What the hell was that?
Eric leaned forward, trying to pick up a scent. Upwind with a strong wind meant he got nothing. Something red and black moved through the snow.
A backpack?
The wind blew hard again, forcing another break in the whiteness, and revealing a solitary figure struggling through the snow drifts with a heavy pack. Who the hell would be out in this crap?
Wolves howled. Not his wolves, not pack. The animals from the forest. They must’ve caught the hiker’s scent. The calls came from both sides of the forest as they closed in on their prey.
Eric snarled and charged forward.
Chapter 3
Brenna pushed forward, leg muscles screaming, head pounding and back aching as if one giant bruise covered it. Why on earth had she decided to come to a place where the air hurt her face?
The wolves had caught her scent. She kept moving forward, hoping to lose them with the harsh conditions, but once they got close enough, that plan flew out the window. She hefted her backpack and pressed on. If only she could stall them until she made it to the cabin. She couldn’t be too far now.
