Chapter Nine
Poppy woke up as the sun rose. She wanted to take more pictures of all the beauty around her. Even though she’d hated her job and the financial struggle, photography was still her passion. After pulling on one of Wilder’s oversized sweaters, she grabbed her camera and headed out the back door.
She took a deep breath of the fresh mountain air. This was paradise.
Poppy settled carefully on her stomach near a big wood pile at the edge of the forest. She zoomed in on a spiderweb, intricately decorated with morning dew. The pictures would turn out amazing. Then she took some shots of wild mushrooms with the perfect shades of light from the rising sun.
The songs of birds grew louder as time passed.
She shifted up into a sitting position and crossed her legs.
Maybe if she was quiet enough, she’d get some pics of the wild birds around them.
There were so many colorful species. As she scanned the trees with her zoom lens, she froze.
Poppy lowered her camera and looked toward the trees to her right.
It was him.
Wilder.
He was squatting there, watching her, a look a pure adoration on his face. She’d never felt so special or wanted at that moment.
“Were you spying on me?” she teased.
He stood up and started walking toward her.
“The forest likes you.”
She smiled when he offered her a hand, then helped her to her feet.
“We’re getting to know each other,” she said.
When she left in the morning, he’d been sound asleep beside her in the bed—or so she’d thought.
“You have so much passion for the land I love.”
“How could I not?” she said. “Everything I look at amazes me.”
“And you like to take pictures.” He nodded to her camera.
“I don’t know why. When I see beauty, I want to capture it forever. I always see things through the eyes of my lens.”
He used a finger under her chin to tilt her head up.
“What I’m looking at is even more beautiful than the rarest wildflower.”
Why was she blushing? Especially after everything they’d done together the past couple of days. She wanted to tell him he was blind, but she wasn’t going to put herself down anymore. So, she kept quiet, savoring the way he looked at her. Although she was hoping for a kiss, he didn’t make a move.
“There are so many things I want to show you,” he said. “Beautiful things I think you’d love as much as I do.”
“I’d love to see them.”
“Are you okay hiking?”
She shrugged. All she could remember was the terrifying hike to escape the poachers, but she was up for creating better memories. “I think I can handle it.”
“We should leave right away. The views are better in the early morning.”
They spent the next little while getting dressed and packed some food in a backpack Wilder wore. He’d fashioned her a walking stick perfect for her height.
She followed him out the back door, and he had to tell Fester not to follow them.
As always, the dog obeyed him without fuss.
There was still dew on the long grass, leaving wet marks on her boots.
As they entered the forest, it was like stepping into a different world.
The light filtering down from the forest canopy cast shades of green over everything.
If felt like walking into a fairy tale. He wasn’t moving fast like that first day. It was more leisurely and enjoyable.
“How far is it?” she asked.
“Not too far. Just at the ridge ahead.”
She asked to stop a few times to take pictures, and he was always patient, waiting until she was ready to continue.
Once they got to the ridge, she saw exactly what he was talking about. The valley below stretched out for what seemed like forever, a blanket of green forest with a lingering mist giving it an ethereal glow.
“I feel so small,” she said.
Everything was put into perspective with views like this.
He chuckled. “This is ancient shif—. This is ancient land. It must always be protected.”
“Like you protect the animals.”
“From those who would harm them.”
“The humans,” she added because she knew it was what he was thinking.
“The poachers,” he said. “Not all humans are bad.”
He put his arm around her, pulling her close. Wilder leaned down, brushing his lips against hers. Nothing else, just a quiet intimate moment. “Aren’t you going to take your pictures?”
Honestly, all she could think about was the warmth of his arm and how she was falling in love with him. She never wanted to leave this place. It felt like a completely different world from the one she’d left behind.
She smiled against his lips. “I’ll be taking a lot.”
Wilder suddenly froze, his head turning to the forest.
“What is it?” she whispered.
“Nothing. Take your pictures.”
Poppy looked to the trees but saw nothing, so she got her camera ready and headed over to the edge of the ridge where she got to her knees to take photos.
It was too bad there was no money in nature pictures because all of these were going to be breathtaking.
People only wanted drama, gossip, and the next big thing.
She took so many pics, loving the way the mist lazily passed over the valley. Sometimes an eagle would glide across, so she waited to get that perfect shot. When she got an exceptionally good one, she got up to tell Wilder. He always seemed interested in everything she had to say.
But she stopped dead in her tracks.
A massive grizzly was standing on the edge of the forest watching her. There was nowhere for her to go except over the cliff. The bear raised its nose and sniffed the air, then turned and disappeared into the underbrush of the forest.
She exhaled the breath she’d been holding, feeling dizzy for a minute. Poppy was still on edge. The bear could come back any minute. She was just wondering where Wilder was when he came out of the forest next to her.
“Wilder, there was a giant grizzly over there a minute ago.” She pointed to where it had disappeared. “I think it could be the one I was trying to photograph. It was huge. We should get out of here before it comes back.”
“It wouldn’t hurt you,” he said.
“How do you know?”
“Just a hunch.”
She narrowed her eyes. Most people would be afraid of a bear that close. Wasn’t he afraid of anything?
****
That night, Wilder made a firepit, adding enough wood to get it roaring. He had a bench near the pit that he’d made himself years ago. Poppy wanted to roast some honey marshmallows, so he’d carved some twigs she could use.
They sat together on the bench, a large old patchwork blanket over their shoulders. Her childlike wonder and awe only made him fall deeper in love with her. He wanted to give her everything, make all her dreams come true. Only life was never so simple.
He knew the poachers were still here. On his land.
If they didn’t give up on Poppy, he’d kill every last one of them.
Until the hunters were back in their human world, he wouldn’t be able to rest or enjoy the simple pleasures without that constant unease hanging over him.
Until Poppy was safe and could wander their land without fear of man, he’d be on guard.
She giggled as her marshmallow caught fire, bringing it close to blow out. “I managed to ruin my marshmallow,” she said.
“No,” Wilder said, carefully pulling it off the end of the twig. He blew on it for a few seconds then offered it to Poppy. She opened her mouth and took a big bite. “The burn brings out the taste.”
“You’re right.” She smiled, wiping the edge of her lip.
He ate the other half, and out of nowhere they were kissing. The sweet taste lingered between them. Her heat was strong, an aphrodisiac he couldn’t resist. He combed a hand into her hair, holding her head as their kiss deepened.
With the sound of branches cracking, she broke the kiss. Through the dancing flames, he could make out the shapes of several coyotes on the other side of the fire. Poppy nearly fell backward off the bench to get away from them, but he grabbed her before she could fall.
“Wilder!”
He hushed, holding her close. “They’re just warming up by the fire.”
“What?”
“It’s okay. They won’t hurt you.”
She pressed herself as close to him as possible, nearly disappearing under the blanket. “How? How is that possible? Why aren’t they afraid? Why aren’t you afraid?”
“They’re just curious.”
“About us?” she asked.
“About you.”
She looked up at him, pausing.
“Don’t worry, Poppy. Coyotes are smart. They don’t pick fights they can’t win.”
“So, you’re saying you’re scarier than a coyote?”
“I didn’t say that.”
He was getting uncomfortable. One day she’d find out the truth about him and everything between them would fall apart.
What human woman wanted to mate with an animal?
He’d lose her, and he couldn’t let that happen.
The only way he could keep her was to hide his shifter side forever.
It wouldn’t be easy, but she was worth the effort.
There was no way she’d love him for what he truly was.
After a while, the coyotes returned to the forest. Poppy visibly relaxed more once they weren’t watching her. She was never at risk because they knew she was under his protection. Out here, everything claimed territory, and Poppy belonged to him.
“I still can’t imagine you living out here alone as a boy.”
“That was a long time ago,” he said.
“I know, but how? Didn’t you try to hike out of here? Did people never pass by?”
“Once I accepted I was alone, I survived. There was no other choice. As the months and years passed, the forest became who I am.”
She made an exasperated sound.
“There should be a movie made of your life. Seriously.”
“No, it would be too boring. I sleep, eat, and chop wood. Nobody wants to watch that.”
She swatted him. He got up and scooped her and the blanket into his arms. Poppy squealed and held him tight around the neck.
“How do you do that?”
He had to remember to hide his strength from her. He was getting too sloppy.
“Years of chopping wood.”
He carried her back to the house. Before he went to bed, he’d put out the fire and make sure it wasn’t smoldering.
Tonight, he’d also check on those trespassers.
He’d heard their UTV miles away earlier, so they’d gotten it working.
Nobody came out this far, and having those murderers so close to home didn’t sit well with him.
“I want to know more about you growing up in the wilderness,” she said. “I have so many questions.”
“Later, Poppy.”
She made cute sounds of protest, but he ignored them.
Once back in the house, he set her down to her feet. She draped the blanket back on the sofa and undid her sweater.
“Thank you,” she said.
“For what?”
“Today.”
He sat down on the sofa. “You had a good day?”
“It was perfect. Well, except for the bear and coyotes.” She straddled his lap and he held her waist. She ran her fingertips over his stubble.
“They didn’t hurt you.”
“Still. It was scary. One day I might not be so lucky.”
He groaned as she wiggled her hips over his cock slightly.
“You don’t need luck.”
“No?”
“Not while you’re with me.”
She searched his face. “How can you say that like it’s a fact?”
He hesitated for too long, always working to keep his secret. It was getting harder each day.
“I know these woods, and the animals. If anyone can keep you safe out here, it’s me.”
He didn’t tell her he was king of this ancient shifter forest. Predators cowered in fear when his bear was nearby.
The forest animals knew the difference between a hunter and a killer.
There was a system of respect and hierarchy that had been in place since he could remember.
Poppy didn’t realize that the safest place in the forest was by his side. He could protect her from any threat.
Except his parents weren’t a match for the human weapons.
His hate for man bubbled up, but it faded away again when he looked in her eyes.
She was nothing like them. And he’d stop at nothing to protect his little human mate.