Chasing Dawn (Black Mountain Mates #2)

Prologue

VANCE

The Gathering was meant to be an event that fell somewhere between a networking conference and a party, but my time here had definitely been more business than pleasure.

I’d finally managed to sneak out of the meeting between Alphas from the northern states, which was basically them just talking shit and reminiscing about the old days when you could still roam around in your animal skin and eat the odd human without repercussions.

Not my Alpha, of course, since he was a man of few words and strict morals.

He didn’t see humans as weaklings, or worse, food.

He knew firsthand that humans could either be trusted allies or terrible foes.

As Alpha-Heir, I had to sit through most of the meetings, but I could do without the trash talk.

I looked through the crowd for my best friends.

They were usually pretty easy to spot. Even as teenagers, they were tall and lanky, a head above everyone else.

Eventually, they would fill out, and they would be beasts that would be impossible to miss, but right now, they were just big enough to be a threat without the brawn to back it up.

Not to mention, Franklin had a mouth on him, Talbot too.

They were bound to get into trouble sooner or later, and I’d left them alone too long.

Luckily, I couldn’t hear the sounds of brawling just yet, which was actually a miracle at these events, so I let myself enjoy the atmosphere.

People moved out of my way, my Alpha presence enough to garner respect from other species of shifters too.

A pretty little shifter, some kind of big cat, smiled coyly at me, her gaze dropping respectfully, but the tug of her lips was mischievous.

It was an invitation, but still submissive to my Alpha’s dominance.

I winked at her but didn’t stop. I wasn’t here to chase tail, literally, but man, there was some serious tail to chase. My Alpha would kick my ass if I caused an interspecies incident by getting busted with my dick in someone I shouldn’t.

Everyone was a little touchy about that, and even more so about interspecies relations. Bigoted old fucks, like we weren’t all dying out at alarming rates. It was still more acceptable than marrying a human, but only just.

Momentarily distracted from my task of finding Franklin and Talbot by the scent of warm carrot cake, I walked over to the tent stall that housed a huge portable oven. They were actually baking cakes on the spot, and there was no way I could resist. Carrot cake was my weakness.

“Two slices of that one, please.” I pointed to the steaming cake resting on a rack beside the stall clerk.

“It’s too hot to ice, unfortunately. If you come back in an hour, it should be ready.”

I gave her my most persuasive smile. “I’ll buy the whole thing as is, if I can. You can’t beat warm carrot cake.”

The woman shook her head and grinned. “Fifteen.”

I pulled cash out of my wallet, wincing.

I was blowing most of my budgeted food money for the day, but it was worth it.

We weren’t a rich sleuth, but we were a good one.

We just needed to find a way to make money so we could all live happily and prosperously.

It was something I thought about often, and when it was my time to be Alpha, hopefully I’d have a solution.

The stallholder boxed up the cake, covering it with warm butter and cinnamon sugar.

My mouth actually watered. I took the box reverently, and she laughed.

“I packed a knife and fork in there too—a knife in case you want to share, and a fork in case you want to go find a tree somewhere and eat the whole thing yourself.”

Yeah, I knew which option I was choosing, unless I found Talbot and Franklin soon. I would always share with them. They were my brothers and best friends. One day soon, they’d be my betas.

The clearing in which we held the gathering was neutral territory in Colorado in a natural amphitheater.

It wasn’t exactly out of the way, but it was unlikely humans would stumble across it this weekend.

By Monday, the place would be cleared out, and there’d barely be any evidence we’d been here in the first place.

If we were unlucky and a hiker did happen to stumble across us this weekend, there were enough naked people who’d just shifted back to their human forms to deter anyone from venturing down to check it out. We looked like a nudist festival.

There were rows of stalls, some packs using the gathering to exchange goods and make a little cash amongst other shifters. Others used it as a time to find their mates. Some just liked to get out of their territory and have a party.

I walked between the stalls and spotted a familiar mop of shaggy brown hair. One of the twins was at a metalworking stall, and I snuck up on him. I covered his eyes and growled, “Give me all your lunch money.”

Talbot scoffed. “I spent my lunch money by breakfast time. I’m going to have to shake down someone else.

” He shook his head, and I dropped my hand.

I noticed there was jewelry in his hand and raised my eyebrows.

I thought he’d be looking at a knife or something.

It was a bear claw pendant on a long chain. “Uh, very pretty?”

Talbot turned his attention to me, and I finally noticed his goofy grin. “We met a girl.”

Okay, now my eyebrows really were going to fly off my face like a cartoon character. “Really? A bear?”

Talbot shook his head, picking up another pendant. “Nope, a wolf. An Omega wolf.”

I whistled between my teeth. That wasn’t good. “Talbot…”

He held up his hand. “I know what you’re going to say, but just hold it until you meet her.” He looked at the stallholder. “This one too. Thread them on the same chain, please.”

The man nodded, wandering over to his workbench. This seemed suspicious to me. “Where’d you meet an unmated Omega without her Alpha?”

Talbot frowned. “She hasn’t said anything, but I think her Alpha is a bit of a prick.

Franklin literally ran into her, you know what he’s like, and he knocked her on her ass, yet she apologized to him.

She looked freaking terrified, like he’d rip her head off or something, and we thought she was just scared because she’s an Omega, but I think it’s more than that. She seems too skinny and skittish.”

Anger made the hair on my neck bristle, but I kept my growl inside. “Guess you better introduce me to her then.”

Talbot grinned widely, paying the metalsmith a chunk of change. “You’re going to love her. She’s so fucking beautiful, like the sunshine. Her name is Dawn, and honestly, there isn’t a name that would suit her better.”

He strode through the crowd, and while they’d moved for me because of my Alphaness, they moved for Talbot because he barreled between them like a bowling ball. He’d mow you down if you didn’t hustle out of the way fast enough.

He led me out of the crowded market area and up toward a large, rocky outcropping. I saw Franklin first, sitting on a rock, his face bright and alive. He was smitten. I knew these guys as well as I knew myself. This girl must be someone special to have enamored both of them so quickly.

Franklin must have made a joke, because he was rolling on his back, laughing so loudly I could hear him from here.

Then I saw her.

Talbot hadn’t been exaggerating. She was beautiful. Her wide eyes were full of something—life maybe? Joy? Her hair was a blond mess, and somehow, it made her dainty face even more elfin.

Her scent hit me on the wind. My bear stirred, and I froze. Omega. Feelings burst inside my chest, sensations that scared the absolute shit out of me. I wanted to run closer, and at the same time, I wanted to run away. The Omega effect?

My feet stilled, and Talbot stopped with me.

He looked at me quizzically. “Franklin really likes her,” I murmured softly, and Talbot nodded. “She looks happy. The Alpha bullshit will just ruin her day.” I passed him the cake in my hand. “She looks skinny, feed her. I’ll see you guys at the campsite tonight.”

Talbot frowned, so I gave him a grin that was sincere enough to fool even my smart best friend.

“Remember your manners. Go slowly. If I hear you guys upset her or cause some kind of political incident by talking her into your camp beds, we’ll have trouble.

Remember, she’s an Omega first and foremost. There are rules. ”

Talbot rolled his eyes. “We’ll be gentlemen, Vance. You know that.”

I lifted my chin, shooing him away. He ran off, his footsteps loud enough to catch the attention of Franklin and the girl, Dawn.

She smiled at my best friend’s reappearance, then her eyes slid past him to me. Their blue depths caught mine, and I froze. I was trapped in her gaze, and when fear passed over her expression, I bowed low and respectfully.

As I turned and headed into the crowded gathering, I managed to convince myself I was doing the right thing. She was obviously fearful of Alphas. Yep, that was why I turned tail and ran like I was prey… for her wellbeing.

Not because she scared the shit out of me.