“Saywhat?” Somehow, her eyes went even wider.
I’d never told her what had happened that in the woods. It had been so ethereal, like a dream, that I sometimes had a hard time believing it was real. Late at night, when I was alone in bed, I’d think about the man who’d come from the forest like some kind of ghost and wonder who he really was. He’d said he was from a neighboring pack, but there had been something ancient about him, some intense power that had radiated from him.
Even now, my lips tingled at the memory of his kiss. It had been a simple gesture of kindness, though there had been an intensity toward the end that had taken my breath away. He’d been like a genie summoned to grant a wish, and he’d done so. HewasLeviathan Cross, I was almost certain of it, and if he’d granted me one wish back then, maybe he’d grant me another now.
“I’ve seen him. I’ve met him. I…uh…well…I kissed him once,” I muttered.
Beatrice’s face went slack as if she was a robot and someone had unplugged her. Finally, she managed a couple of croaking words. “Holy shit.”
4
LEVIATHAN
Hidden Grove was still in the early morning light of winter. Standing at my window, I stared out at it while sipping a cup of coffee. Heavy frost lay on the bare limbs of the trees outside, as well as on the roofs of the surrounding cabins. My skin tingled with longing to go back to my wolf form. Over the past few years, I’d begun spending evenmoretime as my wolf than I had in the last century. It helped prolong my life, but it also separated me from the people of my pack in a way I couldn’t quite articulate.
Remaining in wolf form for so long wasn’t natural. It made me more temperamental, less willing to mingle and interact with my makeshift pack. Deep down, I knew it wasn’t healthy, but it had become an addiction. Each day that went by pushed me further. Each year thatshedidn’t return to me made it harder to keep going.
A knock sounded at the door. Turning, I growled low in my chest. Who the hell would be here this early? The sun wasn’t even fully up yet. Setting the cup down, I headed to the door and opened it. Rainier stood on the porch.
My beta was one of the few other males in the pack, my right hand, and the one who managed things when I was off running in the woods, coasting through history in hopes of finding the one thing I’d lost all those years ago.
I’d found him in the forest nearly ten years ago after a small pack to the north, that had in recent years been absorbed into the Black Creek pack, had rejected him. He’d been trying to cut across the forest to reach the south. His original plan was to keep going until he hit Mexico and restart his life as far from home as possible. I’d talked him into staying and helping me with Hidden Grove.
From the moment I met him, he’d become one of my best people, and my best—and only—friend. He never let me get away with shit. Rainier was the only person I allowed to push back on anything I did or said. He understood life better than I did at this point, and as annoying as he could be, I trusted his opinion.
“What?”
He grimaced and stepped inside, ignoring me. A fresh gust of frosty wind slipped in, and I slammed the door before the cabin grew too chilled. Without a word, he strode to the small kitchen, leaving his thick leather coat on, and poured himself a cup of coffee. Hidden Grove wasn’tquitewhat I’d call a modern town. In fact, it was closer to the way things had been when I was a kid over a hundred years ago. It was a reminder of a simpler time and exactly how I liked it. The smattering of houses up here were all simple log cabins, but I had acquiesced to the members and had worked with Rainier to run hidden power lines up to our little enclave. We had electricity and indoor plumbing, though I’d argued that was more a want than a need. My mainly female pack had argued the opposite. Still, it felt strange to be standing here, in an insulated cabin, with electric lights overhead, watching my friend drink coffee made from water thatcame from an indoor kitchen faucet. Things kept moving while I stayed basically the same.
“What?” I repeated.
Rainier glanced around, frowning. “You got any sugar or cream?”
“What kind of pansy do I look like? Of course not. Now, are you going to tell me why you’re here so early? Or do I need to kick your ass out?”
Rainier took another drink and winced. “We need to talk. You said we’d discuss it a month ago, and you’ve been off running the forests since then. I figured I’d catch you here before you slip out on four legs to chase deer or whatever the fuck it is you do out there.”
My hackles went up, and I had to suppress another growl of impatience. Yes, I knew what he was here for. And I didn’t want to have this discussion.
“This can wait,” I said. “I’ve got stuff to do today. We can do this another time.”
Rainier glared at me, his face almost completely obscured by his bushy black beard and long hair. He was built like a fireplug with thick muscle and heavy-knuckled hands. If you didn’t know him, you’d think he was some hulking, savage Viking. In reality, he was kind, quiet, well read, and patient to a fault. Theexactperson who should be in charge of Hidden Grove. I’d told him that one, but he’d waved the idea off immediately.
“For one, I’m not an alpha. Also, I’m not the reason everyone is here.I’mnot the one who saved these people and gave them a home. If I was in charge, the place would fall apart in a couple months,” he’d said when I’d brought it up one day.
Now, instead of giving me that professorial look he tended to use, he gave me a stern glare. “It’s getting worse.”
I didn’t have to ask what he meant.
“Yes, well, my attitude is none of your concern, nor is it the concern of anyone else,” I grumbled, walking over to retrieve my own cup of coffee.
Rainier sighed heavily and shook his head. “My man, you can’t live eighty percent of your life as your wolf and not expect your mental health to stay in tact. It goes both ways. If you never shifted, you know how antsy and anxious you’d be. And if you always shift, you get temperamental and pissy. People are starting to notice.”
“No one notices,” I argued, staring out the window.
“Everyonenotices.” He joined me at the window and gestured at the world outside. “You aren’t in a great state, Levi. You’re not very compassionate when it comes to issues, you’re always gone when people need your advice, and the ladies have been talking about how sullen and pissed off you’ve been. It’s time we talk about you taking a mate.”
The word slammed into me, almost making me flinch. Rather than an angry outburst, I gave a low sigh and drank my coffee.
