Outside, the wind had died down. Through the opening of the cave, I could see the white world beyond. Pine trees bent under the weight of snow. From what I could see, at least a foothad fallen, if not more. Not a full blizzard, but enough that I had no question that Juniper would be dead right now had I not stumbled across her. Finding her like that, among a thousand acres of forest, at the exact right time? Thathadto be fate, didn’t it? The same way I found her all those years ago. Were these signs?
“I’ll help you,” I said before I could stop myself.
“Youwill?” She leaned forward, surprise and delight written all over her face.
Unable to help myself, I let my gaze wander down her body. Initially, I’d been too concerned to keep her alive totrulytake her in. The curves and angles of her body made something long dormant stir within me.
I cleared my mind of those thoughts before they could get me into trouble. “Yes, I’ll help. I can’t guarantee it’ll work, but we can try. First question, do you have any idea why you can’t access your inner wolf?”
June chewed at the inside of her cheek. “I’m…uh, well, I don’t know if this is the exact reason, but I’m not a full-blooded shifter. My mother was human.”
“Oh,” I said, unable to keep the surprise from my voice.
Human and shifter romances weren’t unheard of, but it didn’t happen a lot, especially not in this area. We were tucked away fairly far from most human towns and cities.
“She was a photographer,” June explained. “She met my father when she came up here to shoot the scenery for a nature magazine. He was her guide into the woods, and over the course of the week they were gone, they fell in love.”
I leaned around the fire, adjusting her clothes so they would continue drying. “You talked about going back to your grandparents but not to your parents. I assume that means?—”
“They’re dead,” Juniper said, her voice completely devoid of emotion. “My mother was on assignment, and my father wentwith her. They were out in California, getting action shots of the forest firefighters. It was for a story in a big publication, something that wasreallygoing to get my mom’s name out there. They got caught in a forest fire…” She shrugged. “I was nine months old. I’ve been with my grandparents ever since.”
“Did the people in town have anything to say about this relationship?” I asked. “I haven’t been around the shifter towns much the last few decades, but from what I remember, they were pretty traditional.”
Juniper snorted. “You could say that. My dad was the alpha of the pack for a few years. When he fell for my mother, he gave up the role to be with her. Apparently, that was a huge scandal. I think it’s part of the reason some people in town look down on me. Not only am I a half-breed who can’t shift, but the pack lost their alpha because of my mother. Honestly, if it wasn’t for how respected my grandparents are, it might have been even worse for me growing up.”
“If your dad was an alpha, your bloodline is strong. Even with a human mother, there should be inherent power within you. If that wolf is in there and ready to come out, it might make things easier.”
“You think so?” The hopeful note in her voice made my heart ache. I’d never been much of the caring kind. Since losing Naphele, I’d chosen to remain stoic and detached from most relationships as I bided my time looking for her reborn form. Sure, I was close to my pack in Hidden Grove, but I still kept my distance, unwilling to grow too close. It was strange for things so long dormant to suddenly rise to the surface.
“I do.” I gestured to her clothes. “Those look dry enough, and the snow’s stopped. Get dressed. I’ll take you to Hidden Grove.”
June grabbed her clothes and tugged her pants on. “What’s Hidden Grove?”
I chuckled. “What you told me… The rumors about me. Does everyone think I kill and eat anyone who ventures into my forest?”
June gave me an embarrassed smile. “Sometimes. Or that you, uh, take the women to be part of a harem or something.”
The laugh that came belting out of my lungs nearly doubled me over. When I recovered, all I could do was shake my head.
“Fortunately, neither is true,” I said. “It’s where my pack lives.”
“You have apack?” The look of confusion on her face almost had me laughing again.
“You’ll see what I mean soon.”
Once she was dressed, I doused the fire, and we walked to the entrance of the cave. The forest was blanketed in the muffled stillness that always came after the snow.
“How far away is this place?” June asked.
“Couple miles,” I said, stepping out into the snow.
“A couplemiles?” She gaped at me.
“Don’t worry. We’ll get there fast as long as you aren’t opposed to riding.”
Before she could question me, I shifted into my wolf.
Her eyes went round in surprise. My wolf was much larger than average, hulking and muscled in a way few other alphas were. More than large enough for a woman Juniper’s size to ride upon.
