Chapter 61 Not Sated
Canyon dried off, pulled on his pants, and fastened his belt, just as Timber and Wulf returned to him. They’d been checking the perimeter of the property.
“We’re alone. No other houses nearby, no people, no nothing,” Timber said.
Canyon grunted, then stuck his feet in his boots and knelt to tie them.
Wulf wheeled next to one of the truck tires and stopped, his screen dark and pointing toward the house.
Timber jerked a thumb at the house. “Abigail White was following her.”
No shit?
“After you left, a truck came up fast. Wulf rolled out into the middle of the road like a crossing guard. The truck sped up to run him over, but somehow, Wulf was the victor. There was a flash like lightning, and a crash, and then they were stopped short with a huge dent in the fender.”
Canyon gave Wulf an impressed look. Dammmnnn, he said in ruhi.
Wulf’s screen flared.
“The passenger window opened but before I could see who was inside, the truck disappeared completely, which makes me think it was Abigail White. Wulf could still track the truck, but I couldn’t.
It blasted out of there and Wulf followed.
After we’d gone about a mile, Wulf pulled me off on a side road to a vehicle yard where your truck was. Someone towed it.”
Canyon growled deep in his throat.
“Chill, chill, it’s fine. I had Wulf inventory it on the drive over. Not one steak or wrench missing.” He motioned toward the house. “What about her? Is she your mate?”
Canyon stopped short, only then remembering that sexy female was a One True Mate.
Shit, she might be.
“Bro,” Timber whispered back, an amazed expression on his face.
She's hella sexy, Canyon said, stepping around Timber. He stared at the house, looking for any signs of Sage inside it.
“What if she’s working with the witch?”
Canyon leaned against a tree, his entire mated life flashing before his eyes. I can change her, he said, still searching for a sign of her through the windows.
Timber got between him and his view. “You had the reaction?”
Not yet, Canyon said. Gotta get closer.
“You gotta touch her,” Timber said. “Jaggar said it happens like a gunshot the first time you see her, but an explosion the first time you touch.”
Canyon stiff-armed his brother out of the way, left the forest and marched straight to the front door. Timber followed, laughing like always. He leaned on the railing while Canyon pounded on the door.
No answer. He pounded some more. Canyon opened his mouth to say something, when the door finally opened and the female stood there, hostile and angry, staring into his eyes.
Canyon faltered at the hostility but couldn’t help but smile.
She was gorgeous. He took a deep breath, enjoying her sweet glazed-orange scent.
Hi, he said in ruhi. You’re Sage White, right?
She didn’t respond, only stared at him, challenging him with her eyes.
Did she not speak ruhi? Or was she not answering him?
Canyon switched it up, saying “Miss White, I’m Canyon Wheeling.” He dug in his pocket and flashed his badge with a smile just for her. “We’ve got a situation.”
Her mouth dropped open. Her scent flared wildly.
She rushed him, and he was so dumbfounded that he didn’t defend himself.
She stood on her tiptoes and punched him right in the face—a roundhouse with all her weight behind it, then she whirled through the backswing, into her house and slammed the door.
Canyon smacked a hand to his face and turned around to look at his brother, shocked.
Timber looked as shocked as he felt, then he laughed. “That's your mate, all right.”
Canyon shook his head. No, she's not. No reaction at all.
Timber rushed to the door and shoved him out of the way. “She's my mate, then.”
Canyon allowed himself to be shoved, feeling a deep emptiness in his gut. He lumbered to the porch railing and took his turn leaning on it.
Timber pounded on the door. The porch light turned off, leaving them in darkness.
“Sage White,” Timber called, throwing his arms wide. “Come out and meet your destiny, woman!”
Canyon snickered. You're gonna be embarrassed if she's not your mate.
“I'm never embarrassed,” Timber said. He stepped away from the door and leaned against the railing next to Canyon. They mused for a minute.
“She's foxen, right?” Timber said.
She scents human.
“Maybe it's not her.”
It’s her.
“Okay, then. She's half-angel, and half-foxen but she scents all-human.”
Canyon shrugged.
“Sage White, you’re a One True Mate.” Timber shouted at the house. “You’re my mate, now come out here and lay a big fat one on me.” He made kissy noises.
The door didn't open. Canyon laughed but it felt hollow in his gut. Was that your only idea?
“Weird. That should have worked,” Timber said. “Females love that shit.”
A window opened near them and Sage said, “Tell Canyon to go away.”
Timber turned to Canyon. “You heard her. Scram.”
Canyon walked away, confused. The yard was dark, so he didn’t go far. He stopped just behind the car where he could still hear and see.
The door opened. Sage White crossed her arms over her chest, stared Timber down, and demanded, “What the hell do you want?”
Timber turned to Canyon and whispered in ruhi, I’m scared. She’s tiny but terrifying.
You're doing great, Canyon said. Is she your mate?
Timber turned back to look at Sage and she openly glowered at him.
“What seems to be your problem with Officer—” He turned around again and looked at Canyon.
“What's our last name?” he whispered loudly but Canyon wasn’t listening.
He was watching Sage. She moved strangely, like she was zonked out on something.
Slowly, she reached for Timber, touching him in the chest, then she ripped his name tag off its Velcro base and threw it in his face.
“It's Wheeling, dipshit,” she said, then she dropped the nametag on the ground between them.
Timber laughed. Sage’s face lost its hostility as she grinned at him.
“Did we just become BFFs?” Timber asked.
Sage rolled her eyes. “No.” She slammed the door.
Timber turned around and walked off the porch, his expression confused. Damn, she’s not my mate either, he said.