Niall slid a glance at Suzie.Millicent hadn’t been his mate, but he’d liked her a lot, and his brother’s malicious seduction had torn him apart.He had problems with trust now.He understood that and owned it.His brothers’ actions and Millicent’s defection had been the last push required to get him to summon his bravery and leave.A new life.One where he made decisions and took responsibility for them.One where he didn’t have a family.One where people respected him because of his achievements.
And now Euan and Colin had made an unexpected appearance, their timing impeccable and enough to set his warning antenna blaring, especially with the invasion of his property.
He forced himself to smile, and Suzie smiled back with warmth and openness, even after how he’d treated her.Guilt tangoed in his gut and echoed in his mind.
“Mine.Mine.Mine!” The chant sounded so demanding that part of him wondered if it had been audible to Suzie.When she didn’t react, his grip on the wheel eased.
“The castle,” she prompted.
“I inherited it,” he said, pushing aside the memories crowding his mind.
“You did?”Lively curiosity pooled in her expression.
“An elderly man owned the castle.I answered an advertisement for a gardening job.He was a cranky old bachelor, but he saw something in me.His hobby was making honey, and since I’m a bear, I have a greater-than-normal interest in the substance.I found the process interesting and had a knack for it.I enjoyed working in the gardens and learning about the different plants.He gave me the use of a cottage, and our friendship started from there.He was a bit of a curmudgeon.”Niall felt the smile that curved his lips.Cameron Glenkirk had possessed a cranky demeanor.He’d been a lonely man, while Niall had hungered for any relationship not tainted by his family or his association with them.
“We were an unlikely pair, but I lived and worked here for almost six years before Cameron died.He left me and Angus everything, along with a decent amount of money.We’d always talked about upping our honey production but hadn’t done more than sell it at local markets and a stall at the gate.After Cameron died, I made it my mission to make his dream come true.”
“Wow,” Suzie said.“That is amazing.Did you know he intended to leave you the castle?”
“No, it was a hell of a shock.I would’ve panicked if Cameron had told me before his death.He left me a letter explaining everything and telling me what he hoped for my future and our honey.His belief helped me steady my nerves and plan.He’d enjoy hearing about the castle rental and the honey’s success.According to Cameron, the place lacked vitality and people.
“You should call your new honey after him,” Suzie said.“Call it Cameron’s Gold or something similar.Honey, unlike wine, lacks a name.Give it a vintage and a personalized name.Make it special.And if you experiment in the future with different varieties of the same, you could give them associated names.”
Excitement burst in Niall.“That’s an excellent idea.We’ll brainstorm names later.”He didn’t want this outing to end.“Why don’t we have an early dinner at the local pub?”
“I’d enjoy that.I’ve fallen in love with their steak and kidney pie,” Suzie said.
Niall pulled up in the gravel lot and parked.“I’m glad I thought of this.It’s been too long since I walked for the pleasure of it and enjoyed the forest.”He climbed out of the car and hot-footed it to the passenger side.Suzie had already opened the door, but he waited for her to descend before locking the vehicle with the remote.
Suzie inhaled, her expression relaxed and a gentle smile playing on her lips.“Are the bluebells finished blooming?”
“We might sight a stray flower, but a spring visit displays the full beauty of the spectacle.”
“Is there much wildlife around?”
“Squirrels and the occasional badger.Most of the shifters here are wolves and run on their private lands.This area has too many wandering humans to appeal to shifters.”
“Where do you go when you shift?”
“I’m lucky to have hundreds of acres attached to the castle property.With me, it’s more a problem of finding the time to shift because I’m busy.Lots of balls to juggle.”
“Is that why you’re cranky?You don’t let your bear out to play.”
Niall spluttered while his bear preened like a giddy child.“Mine,” he said in a firm voice.Niall needed a shift of subject before his bear pushed him into embarrassment.He hated to disappoint this woman.No, he wanted to impress her, a sentiment he hadn’t felt since Millicent.
“Tell me about Middlemarch,” he said.“Saber Mitchell intrigued me during our talk.I thought he might declare war on me for ah…”
“Kidnapping me?Holding me captive?”she asked in a deceptively sweet voice.
“Hmm,” he said, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
“Middlemarch is a small country town.When I was young, it was all black leopard shifters living secretly among the humans.Since Saber Mitchell became head of the council, things have changed.Wolves have moved into Middlemarch, but there is no animosity between the two species.We participate in the same events and work toward making Middlemarch a great town.”
“I’d never heard of the place.”
“It is small.”
The gravel and leaves crunched under their feet as they entered the welcome shade of the forest.Oak and birch trees allowed dappled sunlight to reach the forest floor.Niall sucked in a deep breath and savored the crisp air tinted with greenery and bark.He caught a hint of deer musk, and a squirrel ran out on a branch above them, chittering at the interruption.
