by Milly Taiden
3
“Tevrik,” Frost said to him as he looked around the restaurant in Antler, Alaska, “having a mate is the best thing. You have no idea what you’re missing.”
Tevrik turned to his friend and cocked his head. “If I don’t know what I’m missing, then I’m happier that way. Let it go.” He really didn’t want to hear how great having a mate was. Soon, his thinking would turn to jealousy and the dragon would smell it coming off his wolf in droves. Best to not entertain that fucking idea. He’d had such shitty luck finding his mate anyway.
“Come on, man,” Frost smelled the sadness and anger coming from him and backed down.
Yes, Tevrik knew what his friend meant. But it didn’t decrease the pain or memories of the past. And that incident was why Tevrik didn’t consider himself worthy of having love. No, only strong, good alphas were allowed to be happy. He’d let people down. He didn’t deserve happiness. Not anymore.
“You know,” Frost said, looking down at his empty plate with food crumbs, “it was an accident. Someday you have to move on. You can’t let what happened keep you from going forward.”
“Yes, I can,” he said a bit louder than he wanted. Eyes from nearby tables glanced at him. He wiped a hand down his face. “Look, Frost, thanks for trying to help me, but I don’t need it. I’m happy where I am—”
“Away from your pack?” Frost said. “Wolves are not a solitary species, Tevrik—”
“This wolf is,” he shot back. Rehashing the same conversation they had every time wasn’t getting them anywhere. “Besides I have you and Ice when I want company. I don’t want or need anyone else. I can even come into town.”
Frost pulled out his phone and started typing. They sat quietly for a few seconds, Tevrik letting his emotions calm down. He’d let his anger come through and he knew Frost only wanted the best for him. He was a true friend. He blew out a breath. “Sorry, man.”
Frost nodded, still typing on his phone. “It’s fine. You know how Ice and I met Raven, right? Well, I just contacted her about setting you up.” He tapped the phone screen and laid it on the table.
Tevrik drew his brows down. Was he kidding? “What do you mean? Why would you do that?”
Frost shrugged. “She actually contacted me first. I was just replying to her.”
“No,” Tevrik said immediately, “I will not go on a date with anyone. I don’t need help.”
Frost lifted his hands in front of himself. “Calm down, dude. I’m not asking you to.” Tevrik eyed the phone turned down on the table and then glowered back at his soon-to-be ex-friend if some female with too heavy perfume and loaded with makeup walked in the door within ten minutes.
Marge approached the table, coffee pot in hand. “You guys want refills?”
Frost shook his head. “Nah, we’re good,” he said, glancing at Tevrik. Instead of going away, Marge stood there. After a few seconds, Tevrik looked up at her.
“How long has it been, Tev, since we saw you last?” she asked.
He sat back in his chair and rolled his eyes. “What does it matter, Marge? I come into town when I need to get stuff.”
She huffed. “Well, good thing you came in today. Make sure to get all your stuff before you leave. Snowstorm coming tomorrow. They said it was going to be a doozy for only being the start of November. You know we worry about you.”
He did know that. “Yeah, thanks, Marge. I’ll do that.” She gave him a serious nod and walked away. What she didn’t know was that he was prepared to survive the apocalypse if need be. Just because he lived secluded in the mountains didn’t mean he was a fucking idiot. His wolf smelled the storm coming days ago when the air pressure began to drop. He’d figured out a thing or two during the past several winters.
Frost glanced at his watch. “Speaking of doing,” his friend grinned at him and he smelled the beginnings of desire coming from him—fuck— “I’m meeting Ice and Raven at the house soon. Should probably stop at the general store on the way. We’re out of chocolate frosting.”
He smirked. “What? She bakes cakes all day for you?”
“No,” Frost said. “Our mate likes to lick frosting off Frost.” The dragon pointed to himself and waggled his brows. Tevrik was really going to puke up every bit of roast and potatoes he just ate. They tossed money on the table which included a nice tip for Marge and headed out.
A man at a table they past called to his friend. “Hey, Frost. You got a second?” Tevrik gave a nod indicating he’d wait outside.
The air in Antler was nippy, but it had been for several weeks. With a handful of hours of light, on its way down to a max of four hours in late December, the nights would only get longer and colder. Despite that, he wouldn’t need a coat for a couple weeks. One great thing about his wolf, body heat was not a problem in Alaska.
As he stepped onto the asphalt parking lot around the back of the restaurant, he heard one of the voices that had kept him away from his wolf pack all these years.
“Well, look who it is, Petey,” James Watson said. “Tevrik Awulf, wolf killer of the pack.”
His wolf rankled, anger shooting in his veins, and Tevrik fought to calm him. These guys weren’t worth his time. Petey and James were two idiots who hung out together when they were in school. James was the brains while Petey was the muscle. In fact, next to himself, Petey was the strongest kid. Though big, the boy never had the smarts to take down the alpha’s kid.
He ignored them and continued toward his truck.
“Hey,” Petey Mills said, “we’re talking to you.”
Tevrik ignored the jabs. His wolf wanted blood, but Tevrik knew that would only cause more drama. Shit, he was trying to avoid. He wasn’t talking to them.
“He’s leaving. Was it something we said?” one of the idiots mouthed off. “Don’t ever come back to the pack. We don’t want you there. Better off without you.”
The other said, “I heard the pack leaders talking about getting a new alpha. Sure as shit, the son of the current alpha won’t take over. He runs and hides. More of a failure than his alpha father.”
Tevrik stopped. They could call him names and talk about him behind his back. But no one fucked with his family. No one.
He spun around and stalked toward the men. The fear in their eyes was short lived as they realized the odds were two against one. Didn’t matter to Tevrik. He was taught an alpha keeps his cool and thinks before he reacts. He wanted their skin and blood on his claws. His self-pride might have been weak, but it wasn’t nonexistent.
His father was the best alpha the pack had ever had. He’d brought them out of the stone age and into the modern century. They had strong, warm homes instead of drafty huts to live in. They had modern medical facilities they could go to instead of shamans who doctored according to myths and the “old” ways. They could depend on food always being available at the grocery. No one went hungry. The pack prospered more than ever before. How many past alphas could boast that?
“Oh, no,” Petey chided, “wolf killer is pissed.” The asshole shook his arms. “I’m so scared.”
Well, he should’ve been. Tevrik marched up and swung so fast, it caught Petey off guard, tossing him flying. He landed a few feet away on his ass. James tried to attack when Tev was distracted, but when he threw a punch, Tevrik caught it with one hand.
When James popped out claws on his other hand, Tevrik’s wolf pushed at his skin to get out, but this fight would be over before it really started. Before the dickhead could do anything, Tevrik squeezed the fist in his palm and twisted James around and slammed his chest against their truck.
James hollered from the pain. He always was a pansy. Tev whispered into his captive audience’s ear, “Do not fuck with what belongs to me or those I care for. You will quickly find yourself pushing up daisies—”
Frost came around the corner of the building. “Hey!” he shouted. “What the hell is going on?” Tevrik released the asshole he smashed against the truck. “James Watson and Pete Mills? What the hell
are you stupid fucks doing?”
Neither guy replied to Frost, just dashed for their pickup truck and tore out of the lot, a shovel falling from the back when they fishtailed onto the street.
Tevrik shook his head and hurried to the road to remove the lane hazard before an unexpecting driver hit it. Though he didn’t have much to worry about. The shovel looked used enough to disintegrate on its own.
Frost stood behind him, looking at the tool. “Damn, I’ve never seen a shovel with the blade so bent and broken.”
Tevrik tossed it into the trash container sitting in the corner. “That’s typical for digging in the hills.”
“Digging for what?” Frost asked.
He shrugged. “Who knows? Gemstones, gold, rocks?”
“Gold?” Frost grunted. “Seriously? They think they’re going to find a gold mine?”
He shrugged again. “Knowing them, they’re searching for the lost stash of Kitty Kalloway.”
Frost stopped him with a hand on his chest. “Wait, what? Lost treasure? Do you believe that? If they were to find something, then what? You know they won’t share it with the pack.”
Tevrik laughed. The first time in a long time. “It’s only a story, a myth that’s not true.”
“All myths are based on some truth, so tell me anyway,” Frost said.
“All right.” He took a moment to remember back to when he heard the story as a child. “Back in the Alaskan gold rush years, a hundred thousand men and women came to Alaska to find their riches. Most didn’t, of course. But some did. One was a man named Kourvic Kalloway. He supposedly mined bags and bags of gold. A hundred pounds or something ridiculous.”
Tevrik glanced at Frost to see if he was still following along. He had to admit that he occasionally missed talking with his friends. Living in the mountains could get lonely. He’d forgotten how fun it was to spend time with people like Frost and Ice.
“Kourvic knew how much his wife, Kitty, like to spend money, so he thought he’d be smart and hide all the gold, keeping a small amount with him for when he wanted to buy something. Sneaking out to get more when he ran out. As usual, his wife got the truth out of him and when he refused to tell her where the hidden stash was, she killed him.”
He waited for Frost to say something. After a moment of silence, the dragon raised a brow. “What? That’s it?”
“Yeah,” he answered. “Not much to it.”
“Well, that’s pretty damn lame for a gold legend, man,” Frost said, frown on his face. Tevrik laughed.
Frost asked, “What happened to the wife? And why do those idiots think they can find the treasure with so little known about the couple?”
“I don’t know,” he shrugged. “It’s just a moral story about hiding things from your mate. Maybe they found more information. James was always pretty damn smart.”
At that second, Frost’s phone chimed. He pulled it from his pocket and read the message he received. A wide smile grew on his face.
“What?” Tevrik asked. “And if it has anything to do with licking frosting, I do not want to hear about it.”
“Nah, man,” Frost replied. “This is from Gerri Wilder.”
“Who?” Tevrik didn’t remember that name, it wasn’t anyone he knew.
“My friend I emailed when we were eating.” Oh, right. Tevrik recalled that. “And she has answered, sorta, my request for help.”
“Help?” he said. “Why didn’t you ask me for help if you need it.”
The dragon raised both brows. “The help is for you, wolf.”
Tevrik didn’t even want to know what this was about. He could only guess it involved a female, or several, who he wouldn’t like, would find boring, and he’d have to suffer dinner with. Nope. Not happening. He headed toward his truck. “I’ll catch you later—”
“No, wait. It’s not what you think.” Frost jogged up to him, handing him the phone. “Here, read for yourself.”
Tevrik put his hands up. “I don’t—”
“Read. It.” Frost set the phone against his chest, pushing the plastic corner into his sternum.
“Fine.” He snatched the device from his chest and looked at the screen.
Frost,
It’s great to hear from you again. I hope all is well with the both of you and Raven. You make such a lovely trio.
Concerning your friend Tevrik Awulf, I have just the thing for him. Tell him to meditate on the subject of a mate in his usual spot. Who knows? Maybe love will fall right into his lap.
Give Raven a big hug for me.
Love always,
Gerri
Tevrik handed the phone back. “Love will fall right into my lap? Right.” He shook his head. “You need to find better female friends, man.”
“Believe it, dude. She matched us up with Raven, and she owns the Paranormal Dating Agency. Even a hermit like you had to have heard of it.”
Shit! Of course, everyone had heard of the PDA. Hell, Frost and Ice mentioned using the agency to find a mate. He didn’t need her help and he really didn’t want it. All this mate talk was getting to him. “Look, Frost. Didn’t you need to go do your mate?”
Frost gave him the biggest shit-eating grin, but Tevrik also saw the love for the dragon’s mate in his eyes. “Yep, gotta go. Later.”
With that, his friend stripped down and shifted into his dragon. Luckily, no one was looking. Did having a mate make one that reckless? He hoped not. Being reckless would get someone killed where he lived.
Tevrik hopped into his snowcat, pushing aside the supplies from the general store he purchased before lunch and started the two-hour trek to his mountain cabin.
4
Damn, it was cold, and Juliet loved it. She stood next to her snow ATV and breathed in the fresh mountain air. Her co-workers thought she was crazy when she volunteered for the Book Mountain stat keeping duties. Who in their right mind wanted to hike up a mountain in subfreezing temperatures to record how deep a stick said the snow was, and any other experimentations? She would, but she wouldn’t comment on the “right mind” part of the question.
This was the last task for the day. The one she loved the most—being on the highest peak just south of the Arctic Circle.
She closed her eyes and let the gentle wind brush across her face, chilling her cheeks but making her feel alive. Her bright red snowsuit provided plenty of warmth to fight the coldness that could kill within minutes if exposed.
Overhead, a hawk screamed. She saw it corkscrewing in an air current not far from the peak. On occasion, she’d seen black bears, caribou, and mountain goats. And once, from a distance, she glanced at an elusive Canus Lupus Arcticus—the stunning snow-white arctic wolf.
She’d never forget that moment. The snowcat she’d rented for the journey up the mountainside stopped functioning halfway back to civilization after a routine stat count. Of course, there was no cell service in the middle of the tundra, so for all purposes, she was dead in the water. And she truly feared she would meet death soon. She couldn’t walk in the elements for any length of time. It took over two hours to drive from town to the mountain range. On foot would take all day.
As she sat in the vehicle, her eyes roamed the vast brown landscape. She had to admit, the Alaskan tundra wasn’t the prettiest place to die. But it was the place she’d want to be in her last hours. Where she felt the most at home, most in touch with nature and the earth.
Then in the far reaches of her eyesight, something moved. If it hadn’t been for the white color against the dirt-colored ground, she might’ve never seen it. Her eyes tracked its movement from the edge of the woods across the frozen land toward her. She wanted to step outside the vehicle to get closer, but figured she’d frighten away whatever it was.
Instead, she remained in the snowcat, watching, breathless. When the creature stopped and turned sideways, lifting its nose into the air, Juliet recognized the animal as an arctic wolf. It was massive, the biggest wolf she’d ever seen. Freakily massive, actually. But still b
eautiful with its pure white, thick coat and deep-set eyes.
And she swore those eyes locked onto hers even though it was fifty yards away. In that magic moment, a part of her she didn’t know existed came alive. Something primal and basic to life. Something she’d been missing until that moment. Her heart raced and lungs refused to take in air. What was happening to her?
Then, as if it was spooked, the wolf turned and tore across the ground, headed back toward the trees. A couple hours after that, a man from town who said he was just passing through hooked up the dead vehicle and towed her back in. She was fortunate that day. If not for the guy, she might’ve never seen her friends or family again.
After she’d returned home, that feeling of when she was with the wolf, the pure joy, calmness, openness, was gone and hadn’t returned. She never figured out what happened that special moment, but it was the most spiritual thing ever to happen to her.
Now, staring over the mountain cliff to the valley below was the closest she’d come to that feeling. Most of the hills and creeks were dry and brown since the snow season hadn’t started yet. Sure, the peaks always had snow, but thousands of feet below was permafrost.
And that reminded her she needed to get moving. A snowstorm was coming in tomorrow and the airport was closing early to prepare for it. If she didn’t make it back in time, she’d miss her connecting flight to Aruba. The damn beach. Why did she let her best friend talk her into vacationing there? That’s where the men were, but did she really want a man who was happy sitting on a beach?
Grabbing the binoculars and transmitting radio, she positioned herself in the usual spot where she could read the measurement of the snow-depth marker a hundred feet down the side of the incline. Propping her elbows on a boulder, she stared through the magnifying lenses and saw the stick marker had been pushed sideways into the snow.
Oh, come the fuck on. This was the second time that damn stick had fallen over in six months. Before she left NSIDC, a report came in about seismic activity in the Book Mountains. She didn’t believe there could be movement on the range. The Book was the most northern part of the American Rockies and the continental plate was as solid as the ground in the Midwest.