Chapter 4
FOUR
RIVEN
I slipped out of the cabin before dawn while Indigo was sleeping. My wolf wanted to shift, but I kept my human form in case Indigo woke up. I pounded along the trail, trying not to think about him, the future, and everything in between.
I trawled through my memories of shifters, particularly wolves, whose fated mates were humans.
Few came to mind, some of which ended in disaster, and only one couple mated that I was aware of and were together long-term.
It brought on a world of pain for the shifter when their mate left or couldn’t balance the human/shifter divide.
But Indigo had walked into my life, and he was all I could think about. I couldn’t escape him because his scent clung to me and that had my wolf pacing restlessly within me, wanting us to mate.
Not yet. I didn’t add, “Maybe not ever.”
He still didn't know what I was, so how could I expect him to understand he was my fate?
“Thought I'd find you brooding up here.”
I didn't turn at Taylor’s voice and waited for him to bring up Indigo.
“I'm not brooding.” I squinted against the rising sun. “I'm thinking.”
He shoulder-bumped me. “Thinking about your mate?”
I ignored his teasing smile. “Word travels fast.”
“Small pack, big news.” He side-eyed me. “He's cute. For a human.”
“He's more than cute.”
Taylor's smile widened. “Oh? Do tell.”
If he expected me to provide intimate details, he was out of luck. Not that there were any to share. I kicked a clump of snow. “What am I going to do?”
“You have one option. Tell him the truth.” He shrugged as if it was easy. “He's your mate. He's going to find out eventually.”
Not if I never told him and I let him return to his real life while I pined for him until I went to the goddess.
Antonia joined us.
“And how do you suggest I start that conversation?
'By the way, Indigo, I'm a wolf shifter, most of the lodge staff are part of my pack, and oh, you're my soulmate'?” He would run back to the city, witness protection be damned.
“Physical attraction isn't the same as accepting that your partner turns furry.”
“So there is physical attraction on his part.” That was Antonia.
“That was what you got from my spiel?”
Taylor left, saying he had to work, and Antonia said, “You need to shift. Run with the pack tonight. That’s an order.”
She was joking because as the next-in-line Alpha, she couldn’t give me orders, though she was pretty good at bossing me around.
“He'll be fine for a few hours without you hovering. The cabins are secure, and the perimeter is patrolled.”
“I don't hover.”
“You do.” Her smile faded. “The council met last night.”
I tensed. “And?” I hadn’t been informed, but it was expected after Indigo’s arrival.
“They're… ummm, concerned. A human omega mate for the future Alpha isn't the norm.” She picked up a pinecone. “But they're not entirely opposed. Half the younger pack members have human friends. We can't stay isolated forever.”
“Uncle Lionel was very stiff and formal when he met Indigo.”
“He’s old-school.” Antonia tossed the pinecone into the snow. “But he’ll come around.”
I wish I was as positive.
She asked about my plans. It was still too soon to dump everything on Indigo, but I had a few weeks, though there was no rule book or step-by-step guide to introducing a human to the paranormal world. First, we had to get to know one another better.
“Dinner tonight at the cabin where there are no curious pack members staring at him.”
She squeed. “So romantic. Need any help setting the mood? I could loan you some candles or maybe some rose petals for the bed.”
I rolled my eyes. “I'm trying to have a conversation with him, not seduce him.”
“Why not both? You can't tell me you haven't thought about it.”
Of course I'd thought about it. I'd thought about little else since the moment Indigo's scent had first hit me. But acting on that while keeping secrets from him was wrong and not how to start a relationship.
“Go.” I shooed her away and returned to the cabin where I found Indigo in one of the armchairs reading and sipping coffee.
“Another run.” He closed the book.
I shrugged out of my jacket. “Jogging gives me time to think. Besides, the sunrise is worth it. You could come with me tomorrow.”
“I'll take your word for it.” He gulped more coffee. “I'm more of a ‘see the sunset but sleep through the sunrise’ kinda guy.”
“The mountains are different in the early morning. Quieter. More honest, somehow.”
Indigo cocked his head. “How?”
Now he’d put me on the spot and I had to dig deep. “First thing in the morning, they’re cloaked in shadows, whereas in the middle of the day with the sun shining on them, they’re bold and brash, and at twilight, they’re drama queens, with the orange and pink light on them.”
“Wow. I’ll never look at mountains in the same way.”
I bowed, pleased he was impressed with my performance.
My beast clapped but thought I’d gone overboard in my description. They’re just mountains.
While I had his attention, I suggested to Indigo that we go for a short hike this morning. He screwed up his face, but I added, “There’ll be hot chocolate at the end.”
“You should have led with that.” He leaped up, and I caught a whiff of his scent.
My wolf lay on his back inside me and kicked up his legs. He was like a kid.
Please, I’m a pup.
An hour later, we were on the trail. Indigo asked questions about the trees, mountains, and animal tracks, none of which were wolves.
I’d spent most of my life here, and my wolf and I had explored every inch of our land.
Talking to him kept me focused on the answers and not his enticing scent, and not how he skipped along the path, or oohed and ahhed at the patterns in the snow.
“Almost there.”
We rounded a bend, and the length of the valley lay before us. It was one of my favorite places on pack land.
He surveyed the scene. “It’s beautiful and reminds me of a postcard.”
“We have those in the lodge lobby. Remind me to grab you some.”
We sat on a log, and I pulled a thermos from my pack and poured the hot chocolate.
“Yum.” Indigo looked out over the valley. “You’re so lucky to live here.”
I hoped he’d grow to love the place as much as I did.
“What do your days look like when you’re not here?” I asked.
He made a face and rambled on about alarms, commuting, and spreadsheets.
It sounded dreary, but I kept that to myself.
“But sitting here makes me wonder if I’ve been missing out. Perhaps there’s more to life than tax returns.” Indio drained his cup. He turned it around, studied his boots, and looked everywhere but at me. “Are you living the life you want?”
“This land is in my blood, and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.” I wanted to be as honest as I could. “But I’d love to have someone to share it with.”
Pink spots dotted Indigo’s cheeks. “Whoever they are, they’ll be very lucky. Not everyone gets a guy who can be a personal security guard, chef, and a mountain guide who serves hot chocolate.”
“I'll add it to my dating profile.”
“You have a dating profile?” His high-pitched voice was telling me something, but I wasn’t clear what.
“No.” I laughed. “Dating options are limited around here.”
“Oh.”
Was he relieved that I didn’t date? I hoped so.
Branches behind us cracked and broke the spell, and Indigo slid over the log toward me so our thighs were touching.
“W-Wolves?” He picked up the metal cup, but he didn’t scream or cry.
I scanned the trees and sniffed, but it was a deer, not one of my relatives eavesdropping, though I wouldn’t put it past them to sneak up on us.
“Nothing to worry about.” I took his hand, and he didn’t pull away.
“Not when you’re here.”
Those words hung in the air. He had no idea how true they were. I’d protect him until my last breath.
Me too, my wolf piped up.
He didn’t pull away, but I picked up his heartbeat speeding as if it was dashing to a finish line. I so wanted to kiss him, and I leaned forward but jerked back. Being intimate wasn’t fair to him. It was too fast.
“I have a surprise for you.”
He shaded his eyes and glanced up at me.
“I’m going to cook tonight. Something special.”
“Is this going to be a daily occurrence? I’m being so spoiled I’ll never want to leave.”
“Maybe.” I’d spoil him every day if he stayed and we mated.
He can’t leave. My beast refused to believe that Indigo might not accept us.
On our walk back, his arm brushed against mine, sending goosebumps scurrying over my skin.
Tonight would be about establishing a friendship and learning more about one another.
There’d be no shifting, pack talk, or any mention of mates.
Or kissing. I had to tread slowly, but Indigo was worth waiting for.