Page 116 of Hunter

It had been a week since she’d been accepted into Teton Wolves. Willa had privately funded the construction of a new clinic and had arranged for another doctor to take her place in Guatemala.

Hunter spent the week individually visiting all his wolves, reassuring them of his protection. Kade Issacson had sent one of his employees, a vampire, Xavier, to create a new blood club and arrange for proper management.

This morning, her Alpha had left a sealed invitation on her pillow. A date. It had been so long, Willa couldn’t remember what it was like to simply have fun. Laugh. Watch a movie. To be wonderfully boring, settled and happy. It had been a dream for so long she’d forgotten it existed. Until Hunter.

Exhilarated, Willa ran with her mate under the light of the full moon. Learning the trails, she followed the Alpha, playfully weaving between the trees. They’d watched from afar as a mama bear nursed her cubs. Willa gave a cheerful scream as they finally reached Old Faithful, shifting to their human forms.

“Yes!” She jumped up and down, the night air cooling her skin. “That was amazing!”

“It’s why I moved here. Don’t get me wrong. I love New Orleans, but the open space of the west drew me like a moth to a flame. Nothing like it.”

“It’s quiet but it’s not. All the animals.”

“You still get contact when you go into town but out here? It’s nothing but animals, wildlife.”

“It’s incredible.”

“In the winter it’s brutally cold for the humans, but it’s perfect for my wolves. You’ll see a few of the die-hards stay wolf for days, not shifting back. You can be as wild as you want. Run wherever you want. Whenever you want.”

“That’s how it was in the jungle. Aside from the village, I could run wherever I wanted.” Willa took a deep breath, smiling. “I can’t wait until it snows.”

“We’d better get going. The humans are going to see us if we stay out here long enough.” Hunter laughed. “And then I’m gonna hear it from the rangers.”

“Where’re we headed?” she asked.

“Follow me. It’s a surprise.”

Before she had a chance to question further, he transformed, barking for her to follow suit. Willa laughed, filled with happiness and love. Her spectacular Alpha ran a circle around her, urging her to shift. Releasing her magick, her beast emerged, and she chased after him.

As they ran through the thick forest, the leaves crunched under their paws. In the distance the delicious scent of food grew stronger. As the enormous white tent came into view, she transformed into her human form.

“You did this?” Willa smiled at the sight of the strands of white lights strung over the trees. “How? What is this?”

Hunter laughed as he shifted. “It’s a proper date, remember?”

“How did you do this?”

“Ah, it’s a secret, my queen.” He reached for her hand and led her towards the tent.

Willa gasped as she stepped inside and took in the sight of her surroundings. The enormous room had a king-sized bed in the corner. Steam billowed out of a wooden tub sitting across from it. Two plates covered with gold domes sat upon a romantic candlelit table. The gentle rhythm of blues played over speakers. “How did you get all this in here?”

“It’s a secret.” He winked and reached for a bottle wedged into an ice bucket.

“Did Viktor do this?” she asked.

“Vik has his hands full. But you’re close. Quint owed me a favor.” A loud pop sounded as he uncorked the champagne.

“Any word on Rafe?” Willa asked, accepting a glass.

“Vik says he’s alive. But he said it’s taking a while to get him better.”

“It’s a miracle he saved him. I can’t help but wonder what he did, though.”

“I can say with certainty he didn’t use demon or fae magick, that’s for damn sure.”

“What did he do?”

“Says he used his own blood but if I’m honest, something doesn’t feel right. Cagey bastard won’t tell me what he did.”