“You want me to…” she trailed off, pointing at me.
I gave her the best nod I could in my wolf form, then stared at her.
“Okay,” she said at last. “There’s a first time for everything, I guess.”
Her warm thighs pressed into my sides. How long had it been since a woman had been this close to me? In all my years ofleading wayward shifters to Hidden Grove, I’d never let anyone ride me before. It was a bizarre, yet pleasant, sensation.
Once her hands were clutching the fur around the scruff of my neck, I took off. My pace surprised her, and Juniper let out an almost childlike giggle as I picked up more speed, racing toward Hidden Grove.
9
JUNIPER
When I’d set out into the forest early that morning, I hadn’t expected to find myself riding on a wolf’s back, but I had to admit it was freaking amazing. Levi was huge, even by shifter standards, more like an ancient direwolf than the typical timber wolf. His speed and power shocked me. Even with my weight burdening him, we flew through the forest, my hair billowing in the icy breeze. It was all I could do to stay mounted and not slide off him.
The storm had moved on, revealing a cobalt sky and a bright sun. Lumps of snow fell from the tree branches as the heat of the sun warmed the surface.
My enjoyment of the experience faded when I noticed how deep into the forest we were. We had ventured farther than anyone had ever gone. The legend of Leviathan Cross had become so dark and terrifying that no one would dare come this far in, even in daylight. Levi didn’t seem to be the monster the stories made him out to be, but the fact that he was leading me deep into the forest gave me a moment of concern.
Then the trees opened up, and I gasped in surprise.
Levi slowed to a trot as we approached the small village. A few dozen cabins dotted the area, all surrounding a makeshift town center, with what looked like gardens around the outside. There were small paddocks with goats and chickens as well. A self-sufficient village, here in the depths of the forest. I never would have believed it if I weren’t seeing it with my own eyes.
What also startled me was the sheer number of people. At least twenty women, bundled up in coats and hats, had come out of their cabins. I’d always figured the stories of the Demon Wolf stealing and devouring unsuspecting women and children was bullshit, and this proved that I was right. There were somanywomen, though. A few kids here and there, but mostly women. Where had they all come from? And why did they live here with Levi?
One of the few men I could see—a tall, broad man with long black hair and a matching bushy beard—strode forward, grinning as he buttoned his coat.
“I was getting worried about you,” he said, his voice deep and booming.
Levi lowered himself so I could slip off his back, then shifted back to his human form.
“Storm rolled up out of nowhere,” Levi explained, resting his hand on my lower back. “Found this young lady half dead in the snow. Had to get her warm and dry first before coming back.”
The black-haired man stuck his hand out toward me. “Rainier Carmichael. Good to meet you.”
I shook the massive hand and gave him a hesitant smile. “Uh, Juniper Hollis. You can call me June, though.”
“June, then,” Rainier said with a nod. “Welcome to Hidden Grove.”
“And which pack do you come from?”
Turning from Levi and Rainier, I found a tall, wispy woman looking at me. Her blonde hair—so pale it was nearly white—was tugged back in a tight ponytail. She looked at me with dark brown eyes, and what I thought was some sort of aggression or irritation. Her gaze flicked over to Levi’s hand on my lower back before snapping back to my face.
“Uh, Idlewild,” I said, somewhat thrown by the woman’s intense gaze.
Rainier and Levi shared a look I couldn’t quite make out before Rainier spoke again. “This is Eugenia Rosdale; she’s been here a few years.”
“Hi,” I said, doing my best to smile. “I’m Juniper.”
Eugenia ignored me, instead turning her attention to Levi. “Why didn’t you tell anyone you were going out today? We were all worried when you didn’t come to breakfast.”
My cheeks flushed at how quickly she disregarded me. Levi, ever watchful, noticed it. He smiled at the other woman, but I saw the flash of anger in his eyes.
“I didn’t know I needed to tell anyone where I went, Eugenia,” Levi said, his voice light, but laced with meaning. “Iamthe alpha. Rainier knew I was going out. Had I gone around the whole village to tell everyone I was leaving, I may not have found Juniper in time to save her.”
Eugenia lowered her head. A few women stood close behind her, their eyes bouncing between Levi and me. I was being weighed and measured. Some weird political thing was going on right in front of me, and I was out of my depth.
“I’m sure she would have done well,” Eugenia said. “She looks strong and”—she glanced my way again—“capable.”
