Chapter 7 Indigo
SEVEN
INDIGO
Christmas Eve.
The words felt strange and disconnected from reality. Had I really been here for nearly three weeks? The time had passed in a blur of snowfall, kisses, and making love. But also quiet moments with Riven where neither of us spoke and I was content to be alone with my thoughts.
In the last few days, the lodge had transformed, with evergreen garlands wrapped with tiny white lights, arrangements of pinecones and red berries and sprigs of mistletoe in doorways.
Unlike the city where they put up decorations in November, the lodge did it quietly, little by little, so it snuck up on you.
The staff had delivered a small tree to our cabin yesterday, along with a box of ornaments and Riven's family's traditional wooden star for the top.
Our cabin.
I pushed my anxiety down at the thought of leaving in a week.
He explained that in his family, they decorated their trees either the day before Christmas Eve or on the eve itself.
“It’s our tradition.”
That was why there’d been no tree in the lobby when I arrived.
Riven's arms slipped around my waist, and he rested his chin on my shoulder. I nuzzled him, and we stood like that, not saying anything, our breathing the only sound in the cabin.
“We should finish decorating the tree.” His voice brought me back to the present. “Antonia’s expecting us at the lodge party tonight.”
“Do we have to go?” I wasn't eager to trade our cocoon for the curious eyes of the lodge staff.
“It's tradition.” He brushed a strand of hair from my face. “Plus, I want to show off my date.”
“Your date, huh?” I couldn't help smiling. “Is that what I am?”
“Among other things.” His eyes darkened. “Come on. Tree first, then party, and we come back here for our own private celebration.” He tweaked my butt, leaving me in no doubt about how we’d celebrate.
We spent the afternoon decorating, and Riven shared stories of the ornaments. There was a wooden angel carved by his grandfather and the small wolf figurine that had been his first attempt at woodworking. I fingered the tiny wolf.
“I love the history of you, your family, and this place.”
We both reached for the same ornament, and he grabbed my hand. “You could be part of the history. Here with me.”
Tears pricked my eyes ‘cause my witness protection would end soon and I’d go back to my regular life, though I no longer had a job, as my boss, Marty Fitzgerald, would likely be in prison.
“Maybe.” I placed an ornament on the tree. “It's not that simple.”
It sounded so easy, but did I want it to continue? More than anything, I didn't know how to make that happen.
“It could be, if you wanted it.”
He had to clarify what he was saying, because if this was a proposal, I needed it in black and white. Maybe not in writing but in words.
“I want you to stay with me permanently.” His words came out in a rush. “After your witness protection ends.”
Okay, that was clear. I’d asked for black and white, and I got it.
My heart was thudding so loudly I expected Riven to comment on it, but he told me to think about it.
It was a huge decision and one I couldn’t make on a whim.
I was tempted to fling myself into his arms, yelling yes, but I held back.
I could tell him tomorrow, or this evening, or maybe in five minutes.
But he reminded me of tonight’s celebration, so I crossed off five minutes and made it five hours. Damn!
Little elves had been hard at work putting up more decorations in the lodge. Strings of white lights created a canopy overhead, reminding me of tonight’s sky as the light reflected off mirrors and the crystal chandeliers.
Staff and guests mingled, drinking mulled wine and chatting, and holiday music played, though not blaring Christmas favorites, thank gods.
As we entered, heads turned and people paused their conversations. After nearly three weeks, everyone still stared at me.
“Ignore them,” Riven whispered. His hand was at the small of my back, and his touch gave me confidence that this was where I was supposed to be. “They're not used to seeing me with someone.”
Were some of them jealous that I was with the heir to this place? I ignored that idea because it was Christmas Eve and we were celebrating. Riven led me through the crowd, introducing me to people I hadn't yet met. Lionel followed us from across the room, and when our eyes met, he raised his glass.
A group of newcomers burst into the huge room.
“My cousins.” Riven's face brightened. “They made it.”
I drew back, ready for another round of staring, but Riven brought me into the circle.
“Everyone, this is Indigo. Indigo, my extended family.”
“You're the one who's got our Riven all tied up in knots,” Bryce noted.
His words didn’t carry any weird undertone, and he seemed pleased at our relationship.
“We were starting to think he'd never find—”
“Bryce!” Riven glared at him.
Bryce poked out his tongue. “Relax, Alpha Apparent.” He stressed the last word. “I’m just making conversation.”
There was that title some of the staff had used. Alpha Apparent. But Bryce was Riven’s cousin, though he was playful, and they joked and teased one another throughout the rest of the evening.
When midnight approached, Riven apologized. “I need to step out for a bit. Family tradition. We do a midnight run through the woods on Christmas Eve.”
“In the dark? With all that snow?” If he expected me to join them, he was going to be disappointed.
“We're used to it. It won't take long.” He brushed a kiss against my cheek.
“I'll be fine.” I plonked myself in an armchair. “Go do your family thing.”
Riven hesitated. “I wish you could—” He stopped, and I put a finger to his lips.
“Go, and no, I won’t be watching.”
He and his cousins swept through the large doors, laughing and chatting.
Antonia approached, asking if I wanted more wine.
“No. I'm going to head back to the cabin.” I set down my empty glass.
She placed a hand on my arm. “Alone? Are you sure? The paths can be tricky at night, especially after wine.”
“I'll be fine,” I assured her. “I know the way.”
“Let me have someone escort you.”
“No. Let them enjoy the remainder of the night.” I put on my jacket. “Tell Riven I went home… ummm, back.”
With a wave, I slipped out into the night. The cold air cleared my head, and the moon guided me along the path I’d taken every day since I arrived.
A howl broke the stillness. A second joined it, and a third. They reminded me of a chorus. I hugged myself against the cold and picked out dark shapes moving through the trees.
Wolves! I counted at least seven of them running together in the moonlight. I gulped. Riven had assured me no wolf would attack a person, but I was by myself, with no one to protect me. I told my legs to run, but they didn’t get the message.
Damn. Move! They didn’t listen.
As I squinted into the darkness, one of the wolves broke from the group and veered in my direction. Stay away. Go back to your friends or family.
As the wolf approached the edge of the trees, my heart thumped loudly, and I thought it might have scared the wolf away.
But as the animal came closer, its shape blurred and changed…
no, morphed into something else. I blinked.
This was a trick. Riven’s family must do this to unsuspecting guests.
But as I stared, the wolf's body elongated, and it rose up on hind legs.
Skin replaced fur, and paws evolved into hands and feet.
Riven.
I must have screamed because his head snapped up, and his eyes widened as they met mine. We stared at each other across the snow. Him naked, but still with a tail and half covered in fur.
“Indigo. Wait!”
I ran, not caring if I slipped and cracked my skull. I had to reach the cabin or get the heck out of here. Behind me, he called my name again, but I didn't slow down.
I reached our cabin. No, not our cabin, the cabin.
Not ours, not anymore, if it ever was. Shit, what the freaking fuck?
The porch was adorned with mistletoe. Not the wild kind but the pretty stuff we had in the city.
I yanked at it before fumbling with the door, and when I got inside, I slammed the lock into place and slid to the floor, my back against the door.
Riven was a wolf. How was that possible? But I'd witnessed it.
Suddenly, the little things that niggled me formed a list in my head. First it was people calling him “Alpha Apparent.” The second was the strange books in the library, along with the wolf ornaments and his heated body, even in freezing temperatures.
A knock made me jump.
“Indigo. Please open the door. Let me explain.”
“Explain what?” My voice came out at shriek level ten. “That you're some kind of… I don’t know. An animal?”
“Please, let me in so we can talk.”
“I don't think so.” I backed away from the door. “I don't know what you are, but you’re not human.”
“I'm still the Riven you lo… you care for.” There was a thump on the door as though he’d bashed his head on it.
“The Riven I knew was… human.” How had I shared a cabin, had sex with, and fallen for someone that wasn’t human?
“I'm a shifter,” he explained. “My kind can change forms between human and wolf. It’s not a curse or whatever you're thinking.”
The jigsaw pieces fell into place. “And everyone here? At the lodge?”
“The same. We're a pack.” He paused. “And they’re my family.”
I sank onto the couch, my legs like jelly. “Why didn't you tell me?” The betrayal cut deeper than the shock. “All this time... why keep lying?”
“I was going to tell you.” The door separated us, but I imagined him running a hand through his hair as he often did. “Tonight. I had it all planned.”
“How convenient.” I couldn’t keep the bitterness out of my voice.
“It wasn't like that. This isn't something you just drop on someone. I needed to be sure you'd—”
“That I'd what? Not run screaming? Too late for that.” My voice was so brittle I expected it to snap.
“There's more to this than just me being a shifter. There's something special about our connection.”
“Our connection,” I spat out. “Was any of it real? Or was I just a toy for your amusement?”
“Of course it was real.” The hurt in his voice might have moved me if I weren't so overwhelmed with fear and pain.
“I need... I need space.” I made a decision. “I want to move to another cabin. Now.”
There was a pause and eventually he said, “I’ll have Antonia arrange it.”
I grabbed my things, stuffing them into the suitcase while my tears dripped on fabric, leather, and plastic. He was standing on the porch when I opened the door, no longer naked.
“You don't have to go. I can stay elsewhere.”
“No.” I crossed my arms, needing to protect myself from him. “I can’t be here anymore.”
He spoke into the phone and said someone was coming to escort me to another cabin.
“Fine,” I replied in a monotone.
“Indigo.” He took a step toward me, but stopped when I flinched. “I never meant to hurt you.”
“Save it.” I couldn't deal with lies.
His face crumpled. “As you wish.”
The Christmas tree we'd decorated reflected in the cabin window, and I wanted to smash the twinkling lights that were mocking me. There was no Christmas magic that could fix us.