Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4
E very day that followed felt like it had a ticking clock. Soon I'd start to shift, and I wouldn't be allowed out of pack territory. I understood why. It would be dangerous if the world ever realized wolf shifters lived amongst them.
I wanted to save every dollar I could, so I kept going to work, but I cut my hours down so I could spend a few furtive hours with Brennan before I had to go home. He took me for a motorcycle ride every day, because that was the one place we could be free, out on the open road between my pack and his.
At least, that was the case for a while.
"You're getting good at driving the bike," he told me one day. "You should get your own."
"I'd like that. Maybe one day."
"Your first priority is..." He watched me carefully, but then Brennan always looked at me like that, as if every word I said was precious and he didn't want to miss anything.
"A home," I said. "Someplace safe for my siblings and I if we ever need to leave our pack."
The words came out in a rush, and I regretted them even as they tumbled out of my mouth. They were too much to tell him. But he just watched me compassionately.
"There are things you don't want to tell me about yet. But you will, one day?"
I shrugged. "We can't make any promises to each other, right? Except for a fun ride."
He nodded. "I have one other promise for you for today, Amelia."
"What's that?"
“Let me show you.”
He led me out of town. We drove through the forest, and it was beautiful, the sun filtering through the trees. But there was something else here, something I couldn't put my finger on.
I turned to look at him. "What’s going on here?”
"I want you to see something," he said.
I looked out over the vast woods, and the clear blue of a mountain lake rippled into view. It was a breathtaking view, and I didn't understand how I missed it before.
"Is there a cabin up here?"
"Yes," he said. "But there's no one else up here right now."
"Is this..."
"Neutral territory. I wouldn't risk taking you to my pack, Amelia. Not until..." He trailed off.
"You want me to leave my pack and join yours?" I asked. "Would your alpha let me do that?"
They arranged intermarriages between packs. But not between packs who hated each other like the Steeles and the Longroads.
"Would you consider it?"
"Brennan... it would mean leaving behind my family. Never going back."
"I understand. It's a big thing to ask."
I could’ve asked him why he couldn't join my pack, but I didn't want to stay there anyway. The memory of Nathan's intense gaze rose in the back of my mind, accompanied by a shiver.
"Let's go swimming," he said.
“I don’t have a suit.”
Brennan just grinned, then pulled his t-shirt over his head. I forced my eyes away from the chiseled planes of his body, every muscle defined; my hands wanted to explore the hard curves.
He dove into the water, and I hesitated before deciding to undress too. I would normally have gone in slowly, clutching my arms over my breasts to protect them from the chill, but not now. I flung myself in before he could see me, and once I’d splashed into the water, he turned with a grin. I let out a shriek at the sudden shock of cold.
He reached for me, and I floated forward into his arms. His body felt comfortingly warm, and within seconds, the cold faded and all that remained was the sensation of his smooth shoulders under my palms, of the two of us bobbing in the water so close together.
I kissed him before I even knew what I was doing, and he kissed me back. I finally let myself touch him, exploring the hard ridges of his abs, the tattoo on his chest. He put his hand over mine on his chest and said, “This is where I think my mate mark will be one day.”
“In my pack, only men mark the women,” I said.
“That seems odd. Just as much as I want to mark the right woman myself, I want to carry her mark, too.”
I touched the unmarked skin of my shoulder absently. I couldn’t help but think of what it would be like to wear Brennan’s mark. Then I decided not to worry about it today and instead kissed him again.
The water was ice cold, but his hands on my body felt hot enough to brand my skin.
“I’m glad you brought me here,” I told him. “Is this everything you wanted to show me?”
He grinned at me, then he dived under the water. I followed, going deeper and deeper until the water pressed against my face. Then I burst through the surface, gasping for air, exhilarated by the cold.
When I dove again, I caught a glimpse of his lean, graceful body undulating smoothly underwater, and I followed him. When he came up for air, I joined him. His eyes were shining. I was breathing hard, both from the cold and from watching him, and his chest heaved too. He caught my hand, drawing me through the water until our bodies touched—just faintly—then we drifted apart. The second of his chest pressing my nipples, of his cock brushing against my thigh, sent an electric thrill through my body that didn’t fade as we treaded water.
I wanted more of him.
"There’s something else I wanted to show you,” he said. “If you can keep up.”
I dove under the water, following the trail of the bubbles as he kicked. It was strange to think that some day soon, we could both run as wolves. But I wasn’t sure if we would still be meeting then. I wasn’t sure there was any future for Brennan and me.
In that moment, I didn't care. I’d take the brief, delicious present for all it was worth.
When I broke through the surface, he hugged me, the water coming up to our chins. His lips met mine, and my body soldered to his. I wrapped my thighs around his waist and the two of us bobbed in the water as he held me up. Kissing him felt so right.
Because we were mates.
I didn’t want to admit it, but deep down, I knew it was true.
And I couldn’t imagine losing him.
"Come on," he said. "You're cold, but I have a fire waiting."
"There's another surprise?"
He flashed me a grin over his shoulder. After the two of us dressed, we walked up the hill to the cabin that overlooked the lake. Dusk was falling, and light glowed through the cabin's windows, making it seem cozy.
He took me up to a cabin where a fire glowed brightly in the fireplace. The smell of smoke and wood was comforting. He’d made a bed on the floor near the fire. It was covered in quilts and furs, making it seem like a refuge from the harshness of winter outside. He had stacked some logs in one corner and there were candles burning at intervals around the room. Clearly, he had been here before, setting up his own little nest.
"Come on," he said, showing me around. "I want you to stay here with me for as long as you can today."
The cabin had one large room with an old but comfortable sofa against one wall facing the fire, a table and a few chairs. There was also a small kitchen with shelves stocked full of canned goods and jars of spices, and against the wall stood a bookcase with a handful of books. The place was cozy, like something out of a storybook. I felt instantly at home.
But I pushed that thought out of my mind. Fairy tales weren’t real, no matter how I felt when Brennan and I were together.
And yet, I still felt giddy. I was tempted to sit on his lap, but I didn't know if that was the right thing to do. I felt shy.
"You bought a place for yourself in neutral territory?" I asked. “Or does this belong to someone else?”
"I bought a place for us," he corrected. "Well... really... for you. As long as I'm alive, you'll always have a home where you can feel safe."
I stared around in wonder, then turned back to him to see him holding a key up on a chain.
"It's yours.” He took my hand and pressed the key into my palm. Like every time he touched me, I was too keenly aware of how he towered over me, how safe I felt with him. "If you decide this entire situation... with our packs, with me, is too much... I'll never come back up here. You have the power here, Amelia."
I swallowed. It was so close to our own pack territory that if I'd had my own way of riding up here, I'd have been able to leave our pack territory, cross the highway, and I'd be here. Safe.
And on the other side of neutral territory lay his pack.
"This is too much," I said quietly. "You can't give me such a big gift."
"I can," he said, his voice slightly stern in a way that just made me feel safe and protected. "You know what we are to each other, Amelia. And even if it turns out we can't quite make it work... I want to protect you more than anything."
My eyes flooded with sudden tears. "Thank you."
His hand wrapped mine, folding my fist shut with the key held inside, as if he worried I would try to give it back. Then he leaned in and kissed me, soft and slow. I was the one who deepened the kiss greedily, and he smiled against my lips before he gave in.
The two of us collapsed on the little nest in front of the fire, trading kisses. Every time I threw my leg over his, I could feel his cock stiff against my thigh, but he just wrapped his arm around my waist and traded kisses with me.
Until it was time to go back to our separate worlds.