Chapter 1
Chapter One
As Amber knelt on the ceremonial pillow in the government building, a million questions ran through her mind. She’d met with Sienna two more times in the past week. Each time, she’d gathered more information. Each time, she’d felt more comforted by what was about to happen.
Now, she just had to pray to the heavens that Sienna’s visions were accurate.
If they weren’t, Amber wouldn’t even have any way to alert her new friend that she was simply hallucinating.
She wouldn’t see Sienna again for at least a month if not longer.
Or ever. There was no guarantee the visions had any validity.
There was also no guarantee Amber would ever see Sienna again.
She jolted when the door to the round room opened, keeping her head bowed as was expected of her. There was no mistaking the man who stepped in front of her was her mate. She didn’t need to see him to know that. She could scent him.
The connection was powerful and unexpected. No one had warned her about this. Her mother had told her many things about what it meant to be mated, but never once had she mentioned this intense attraction she already felt for a man she had not yet seen.
It was difficult to maintain her balance throughout the short ceremony. She kept her hands clasped at the small of her back and wobbled on her knees, beyond grateful when her mate set his hand on top of her head.
It was part of the ceremony, but it grounded her, helping calm her heart as well as keeping her from toppling to the side.
Amber couldn’t focus on the words. She didn’t care what her mate’s father was saying. She simply wanted this to be over with. She somehow managed to say her dutiful parts at the right times and breathed a sigh of relief when everyone but her mate departed.
In the silence, it seemed like her heart was beating so fast that he could surely hear it.
“They’re gone, Little mate,” he said, his voice deep and tender. He slid his hand around from the top of her head to cup her cheek, squatting down in front of her.
When she lifted her head, she drew in a deep breath. He certainly matched the man Sienna had described. Thick brown hair, brown eyes, about twice her age.
His age was intimidating. Sienna had told her that the Alpha Protectors appeared to be all different ages. She thought the man who was destined to be her own mate was in his late twenties. She believed Rylee’s mate was younger than his brother but still in his thirties.
So much information, and Amber shouldn’t have any of it. That’s not how this worked. Girls from the valley weren’t meant to know a single thing about their mates until this moment. And yet, Amber felt like she had a small window to the future.
She had a million questions, but she was afraid to ask them. She feared angering this man. He surely had no idea she’d learned so many things about him and several other Alpha Protectors.
She knew his name now. Isaac. She hadn’t learned anything like that from Sienna because Sienna only had visions without sound.
Isaac smiled at her warmly and took her hands. “You can’t be comfortable on your knees.” He rose, helping her stand at the same time.
As soon as they were on their feet, she realized how tall he was. At least a foot taller than her. She’d expected him to be larger than the average wolf shifter in the valley, but his size still stunned her.
He cupped her face with both hands, threading his fingers in her hair while he stroked her cheeks with his thumbs. “You’re stunning, Little one.” He dragged one hand through her long hair and lifted a lock of it. “I love these blond curls.”
Amber said the first thing that came to mind. “It’s an unruly pain.”
Isaac chuckled, the sound making her lean into him as his voice vibrated through her body. “Rylee told me you weren’t a huge fan of the curls.”
Amber gasped. So he did know Rylee. That was a relief in and of itself. “You know my friend?”
“Yes. She’s eager to see you. It’s customary for new mates to spend several weeks alone getting to know each other, but when we venture out, I promise you will reunite with your friend.”
She tipped her cheek more fully into the palm he still held against her. “Thank you.”
“I thought you’d be happy to hear that.” He slid both hands around behind her and pulled her closer to him. For long seconds, he held her gaze, staring into her eyes. His own eyes danced with what could only be described as happiness.
Her soul calmed more each second. The bond between them seemed to intensify. It was so odd. Why would she feel such a connection with this stranger just because they were now mated?
“It’s powerful, isn’t it, Little one?”
She nodded.
He slid one hand back to her face. “I want to kiss you. May I?”
She wanted that, too, and she leaned into him. “Yes.”
He bent at the knees to bring his mouth to hers and gently set his lips against hers. A soft moan escaped him. “You smell so good,” he muttered against her lips.
“You do, too,” she whispered, enjoying the little nibbles he rained down on her mouth. He was intoxicating, and her body was responding to him in ways she had not expected. Her breasts felt heavy. Her sex clenched down over and over. If she wasn’t mistaken, wetness was leaking out of her.
Isaac eventually leaned his head back and inhaled deeply. “Heavens… Your scent. I heard it would be powerful, but it’s so much more than I expected.”
She agreed. She hadn’t known what to expect at all. No one had told her. But she certainly agreed it was powerful.
“Shall we get out of here?” he asked.
She nodded.
“I’m going to carry you up the mountain to our home. Would you like me to sedate you so you won’t be frightened?”
She frowned. “No, Sir.”
“If you change your mind, you’ll let me know. I don’t want you to fret.”
“I’ll be fine.” She hadn’t known what to expect. It shocked her to learn he was going to carry her. She could see he was extremely fit and strong, plus that was a well-known fact about Alpha Protectors. But carry her?
Isaac lifted her off her feet and cradled her.
She gasped and wrapped both arms around his neck to hold on. Her ceremonial dress was floor length. The only parts of her skin that were visible were her feet in the gold sandals, her face, and her hands. Her mark was mostly covered by the lace sleeve.
Isaac exited the government building, and in no time at all, he was climbing effortlessly up the mountain.
Amber said nothing as he moved quickly. She kept her gaze forward, looking in the direction he traveled.
It didn’t take long for her to home in on everything in their path.
The beauty of the greenery and the snow-capped mountains in the distance had always been stunning, but this was her first time getting a closer look.
“Is that your home? The one with the wrap-around porch and the forest-green door?”
Isaac stopped moving and stared at her. “You can see that from here?”
Her breath hitched as she looked in that direction again. “Yes. Can’t you?”
He chuckled. “No, Little one, but I’m not surprised you can.”
“Why can’t you see it?” she asked in confusion. Did he have a visual impairment?
He kissed her neck before he started walking again.
“It’s too far away, Little one, and not in our direct line of sight.
Rylee warned me you would probably have a heightened visual ability.
What’s shocking is that it’s so honed already even before we’ve consummated our union.
Could you see that well before today, Little one? ”
Amber thought about it and shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t think so. No one has ever told me I was seeing things they could not.”
Isaac rubbed her back. “I suspect your vision is enhancing by the minute.”
Amber gasped. “Why?”
He smiled at her. “No one knows why, but many recent mates have discovered they have heightened abilities. I suspect your ability will be extraordinary vision.”
“Does Rylee have an ability?”
“She sure does. She has an incredible sense of smell.”
“Huh. She’s always been sensitive to scents.”
“And I bet you’ve always thought you could see better than other people.”
Amber leaned her head against his shoulder as he continued to move at an incredible speed up the mountain. He was right. She had always thought she could see better than others. She’d rarely mentioned it. Rylee had known, though. She’d apparently informed Isaac.
Amber loved the way he kept stroking her back. It calmed her. She wasn’t scared for her safety from their trip. She had every confidence he would not drop her. She was nervous about what would happen next.
The bottom line was she knew she would be expected to have sex with him. That’s what mates did. They consummated their union. No amount of pep-talking could soothe her nerves on that topic.
Keeping her gaze ahead, she examined his home and the surrounding area. When she shifted her attention to one side, she noticed another home. To the other side, another. They weren’t particularly close to each other, but she could see more and more of his community as they traveled.
Movement suddenly caught her eye, and she pushed herself up higher in Isaac’s arms. Wolves. Several of them. They were galloping through the trees in pairs.
Glancing all around, she realized they were all heading in the same direction—Isaac’s home. One of them was huge.
“What’s wrong, Little one?” Isaac asked, his voice tight.
“Wolves are heading to your house. Lots of them.”
Isaac stopped his ascent again and looked at her. “How many, Little one?” He didn’t doubt her. Not for a moment. It was so strange.
She turned her head to scan the area. “Six I think. One is huge.”
He nodded. “That’s Khloe.” He shifted her weight to one hip. It was awkward since she was wearing the long dress, but she held on tight while he pulled his phone out of his pocket.
He seemed to scroll through several screens. “Shit,” he muttered. “Hold on tight, Little one. I’m going to run faster.”