A Lady's Heart (Takhini Shifters Book 3)

by Vivian Arend

  No, wait. He better feed her first because once he got her into bed he wasn’t letting her up. They’d need their strength. “I know just the place.”

  He untangled from her reluctantly, keeping a tight grip on her fingers to guide her down the street to the pub.

  Mandy paused, tilting her head back to check out the nameplate above the window. “Northern Lights Theater?”

  “NLT is the place in Chicken,” he promised.

  It took a second for his eyes to adjust from the bright daylight outside to the dimmer lighting in what had been an old theater lobby.

  Mandy blinked hard, glancing in open-mouthed wonder at the majestic trappings decorating the walls and painted ceiling as Justin guided her toward the seating area at the bar mostly on memory. He didn’t think twice before catching hold of her hips and once again lifting her into the air, placing her on one of the tall gilded chairs in front of the bar counter.

  She tilted her head and gave him a warning look, but when she didn’t say anything, he settled himself in, lightly resting an arm along the back of her chair.

  Mandy leaned forward to admire the bar top, which was a sheet of glass laid over a collection of memorabilia, when a familiar silver-blonde head popped up from behind the counter like a jack-in-the-box. The beautiful young shifter leaned on one elbow and looked them over intently, her gaze lingering on Mandy before she turned toward Justin.

  “Look who just dropped into my gin joint. A bear I haven’t seen in a couple months, and another familiar face who’s got trouble written all over her.” Nadia set two menus in front of him and Mandy, then in a whirlwind of motion, she spun away. She expertly picked up a loaded tray from the narrow window behind her and lifted it overhead.

  She was out from behind the bar area and headed to the nearest table like a brightly coloured hurricane.

  The group of burly men she approached had been getting louder and louder, shouted complaints giving way to swinging arms and outright snarling. But with Nadia’s arrival, instead of being one second away from what seemed to be bloodshed, they all shot to their feet. They waited politely in silence for the petite blonde to put down their food before resettling into their chairs, their loud conversation now controlled as she twirled away to talk to other customers.

  He didn’t realize he’d been staring until he felt a tug on his sleeve, and turned back to see Mandy watching Nadia’s progress through the bar with equal fascination.

  “What kind of shifter is she, and why does she look familiar?”

  “Nadia is a lynx. She was in Whitehorse during the bear conclave—at the swimming pool, if you remember.”

  “Oh.” Her face twisted at the unhappy memories the mention of that day must have brought back. “I think I saw her, but that whole day is a bit of a blur.”

  “Makes sense. There was lot going on at that time.” He thought back a little harder. It was no wonder the lynx wasn’t instantly recognizable—Mandy had been quickly ensconced in the Takhini pack house while her abusive ex-husband was being dealt with. “Don’t worry, she won’t be offended you don’t remember her.”

  Nadia moved decisively through the room for a moment before Mandy spoke again. “She’s good at her job.”

  “She is,” Justin agreed. “She owns the place, and it’s pretty much the place in town. Although she has a few advantages not all of us enjoy.”

  Mandy waited expectantly, but Justin shook his head. “I’ll explain, but we should eat first,” he insisted.

  Another waitress took their order, and their food arrived in quick order. The entire time they ate, Mandy’s gaze kept darting around the room, following Nadia.

  He expected her to demand an answer far sooner than she actually did, turning to him as if she’d partially solved a mystery.

  “There’s something more to the story, isn’t there? Other than she owns this bar.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  Mandy pointed around the room at different groups of diners. “Bear. Wolf. Wolverine. Fox. And at least three other shifters I can’t identify without getting closer. But there’s no growling or posturing going on. In fact, the oddest thing is they’re all acting as if they actually like each other, not that they’re barely holding it together.”

  He was pretty damn proud that she’d figured it out. “Smart lady. Nadia’s an Omega. A special one.”

  That was enough for the moment as he paid the bill then guided Mandy toward the door. She was still distracted, staring over her shoulder at the lynx as they left.

  Her expression said she was thinking hard, so Justin remained extra alert as he headed them toward their destination. His heart leapt when she slipped her fingers around his arm and snuggled up against him as if she belonged there.

  Which she totally did…as far as he was concerned.

  Finally even his pleasure at her unconscious act was overruled as his curiosity got the better of him. “What’s on your mind, darling?”

  “Nadia. NLT. That’s a big place for her to run, and yet you said she’s doing well. I’m impressed—she doesn’t look as if she’s strong enough to handle dealing with hard-headed shifters.”

  “The size of the person doesn’t dictate their skills,” Justin pointed out. “I don’t judge you by the fact you could fit into my pocket. Also—I told you. She’s an Omega. Doesn’t take away from her skills in running a profitable business, but it helps stop her clientele from burning it to the ground.”

  “I didn’t see a single lynx in there, so I don’t know what good her being an Omega is,” Mandy argued.

  “For some reason the Omega woo-woo that makes people happy and settle down from their emotional outbursts doesn’t just work on her kind, but on all shifters.”

  Mandy jerked to a complete stop in the middle of the street. “That’s not possible. Omegas can only control their own kind.”

  “Right, it’s not possible,” he agreed, drawing her with him to the safety of the other side of the street. “Still true, though.”

  She shook her head. “I’ve never heard of such a thing, but I guess that explains why she showed up when things got out of control at the bear conclave.”

  “The wolves arranged it. More specifically, Tyler’s wife, if I remember correctly.”

  A small laugh escaped her. “Caroline?”

  “Yup.”

  Mandy leaned in closer and spoke quietly as if sharing state secrets. “She’s one scary human. I mean, I like her, and she was very kind to me, but I’d prefer to get on the bad side of a wolverine shifter before pissing her off.”

  “You and me, both.” Justin tucked a loose strand of hair behind Mandy’s ear, desperate to touch her, and using the only small gesture he could right now.

  Claim her.

  He couldn’t even blame the thought on his bear. They both wanted the same thing. Not just her body, but all of her, and the thought increased his impatience even while reminding him why they had to go slow.

  I set the speed, she’d said.

  The moment stretched between them, Mandy’s smile softening as her gaze drifted over him. He could swear he saw hunger in her eyes, and he was about to burst out and say something inappropriate when she pulled back.

  She widened her stance and planted her fists on her hips, becoming all fiery and indignant.

  “I’ll have you know I’m not that tiny.” She huffed and drew herself to her full height, which meant he was looking down at the top of her head. “Fit into your pocket, ha.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I stand corrected. You’re a veritable Amazon.”

  “Damn, right.” Mandy grinned, then took his hand and marched boldly at his side. “And don’t you forget it.”

  “I won’t.”

  Justin stopped them outside their destination, Wolf Brothers Wild Adventures, opening the door and gesturing her in.

  He paused before following her. He took a final glance up and down the street, uncertain what had caused him to hesitate, but nothing seemed out of p
lace. A few people wandered on the boardwalk, but everything was quiet, and he stepped slowly into the shop, the sense of foreboding like a lingering cloud of mist. Uncertain and unclear.

  Chapter Seven

  Joy and frustration whirled in Mandy’s gut.

  Justin had been nothing but carefully attentive, giving her the space that she’d demanded. She had nothing at all to complain about in his behavior.

  So why did she feel all tangled up inside?

  Some of her confusion made sense. She hadn’t come to any answers regarding her family situation. Her email remained unanswered, and until her family on the island made contact, her hands were tied. And someone out there had broken into her home, and she still didn’t know who.

  But the good things were good—and as she peeked around the outdoor-equipment shop, a warm thrill of anticipation shoved all her concerns aside.

  The wolf shifter who greeted them was a handsome man with dark hair and a layer of scruff on his chin. “Hi. I’m Caden—I’ve been waiting for you. Everything is laid out. Safety helmet, winter gear. If you need any different sizes we’ve got them in the back. Come with me.”

  Justin nodded his approval, grabbing both their piles of supplies off the counter and following her into the back room where a row of lockers stood for them to store their belongings. On the opposite wall they’d opened the shop doors, two huge garage doors letting in the cool air and offering an amazing view of the scenery.

  Mandy slipped on the snowsuit, but her gaze kept returning to the horizon. It was impossible to stop smiling. “I take it we’re going out on that beautiful snowy ridge.”

  “There’s plenty of time before sunset. Caden here is going to be our guide. He and his brother Cole are a couple of the best backcountry men I know,” Justin offered.

  “Compliment willingly accepted,” Caden teased. “I’m still charging you full price. Your boss can afford it.”

  Justin made a rude noise. “My boss owns your ass, and you know it.”

  “Nothing of the kind.” The proclamation spouted from an identical face to Caden’s as the second wolf entered the room. “Caden’s mate owns his ass. The rest of us just borrow it so we can kick it every now and then.”

  The brothers pounded each other on the shoulders good-naturedly before turning to help Justin and Mandy pull on the rest of their winter gear.

  When all four of them were dressed, they marched into the yard behind the shop where row upon row of skidoos were lined up. Three machines had been brought forward for them to use, two large and one smaller. Although using those words to describe the sleds were understatements—ginormous and extra-large were probably more accurate.

  Now that they were actually there, Mandy felt a stir of anxiety at what she was about to attempt.

  Caden leaned down to look her in the eye. “What’s wrong?”

  She answered honestly. “I like the idea of sledding, but I’m going to guess these are pretty powerful machines.”

  It was too hard to admit she wasn’t confident she’d be able to control them. Struck too close to Justin’s comment about her being tiny.

  Only Caden patted her on the shoulder. “You can control big, powerful beasts better than you know.”

  A snicker escaped in the background, and she glanced to her right to see Justin glaring at Cole. She turned her face away quickly, hiding her smile before Justin could see.

  Caden explained where to find the controls, Mandy nodding as she laid her hands on the grips and tried to commit it to memory. “Excuse me if I drive like a two-year-old.”

  “Nah, you’ll do great. We’ve got a special training method, as long as you and Justin are okay with it.” The wolf turned to the bear who had just settled onto one of the oversized sleds. “I know you guys don’t do mates and such, but I don’t want to get on the wrong side of a pissed-off bear. Are you okay if I ride along with Mandy for the first while to show her the ropes?”

  Justin’s forehead furled instantly, then his gaze darted back and forth between the wolf and Mandy before he spoke. “Up to Mandy.”

  A skip of satisfaction warmed her inside. That wasn’t what he had wanted to say—she knew that—but it was the right answer.

  It was also silly. She turned to face the wolf, raising a brow. “Considering your mate would rip your ears off if you did anything untoward, of course I’m okay with it.”

  Cole snickered again. Justin looked uncomfortable for a moment as if he’d just realized how foolish his magnanimous gesture was.

  With a laugh Caden was behind her, his lithe wolf body tucked against her as he placed his hands on top of hers on the controls. “Well played, my lady,” he murmured. “Let’s get you comfortable driving, shall we?”

  She moved her hands with his as he reminded her of the commands quietly a second before making the motion. Instantly they were out the gate and shooting up the snowy road to a trail behind the shop that led to the outskirts of town and into the wilderness.

  At the beginning, Mandy had to concentrate so hard on driving she was barely aware of their surroundings. She was barely aware of anything but the controls, and Caden’s continued instruction.

  Slowly, though, other sensations broke through. The cool air turned to cold as the sled moved quicker, a rush of current against her cheeks like a winter day’s wind. The sunshine on her shoulders fought valiantly to offer a cloak of warmth, but the changing seasons were more advanced here in the north than they’d been in Whitehorse. The brilliant light was pretty but a feeble opponent against the encroaching chill.

  She was feeling more confident by the time Caden directed her to bring them to a stop at a lookout point above the town. The neatly laid-out streets were bright-coloured dashes against the white surroundings, the Top of the World Highway stretching like a ribbon from north to south.

  Caden stopped the motor. The sudden quiet as the others joined them left her ears echoing for a second before they adjusted to the quieter sounds of nature. In the wilderness there were always living, moving things.

  Even the wind was alive as they stood and soaked it all in for a moment.

  Suddenly Cole was stripping down. “Sorry, guys, but I need a little time in my fur. You’re welcome to join me, or I’ll just run alongside the rest of you from here on.”

  Mandy was tempted, but she wasn’t sure what the protocol was. She glanced up to Justin to see what he thought.

  He shrugged. “Let’s go for it. Two of us, two wolves. Pretty sure we can outrun their asses.”

  Caden stuck out his tongue while he ditched his clothing into the bag on the back of his sled. “You have some sort of fascination with my ass,” he drawled. “I don’t think that’s healthy.”

  Mandy hid her amusement. Out of consideration for Justin’s possessive instincts, she turned her back on the others so she could quickly get naked and shift to her fur.

  The sensation was amazing, as always, as she changed to the one part of her nature that she’d never fought against or argued with. Her bear was her while being something more. More in touch with her surroundings, more willing to take control.

  What had been a cool wind a moment earlier was now balmy, and she stretched, catlike, taking a deep breath and lifting her face to the sun.

  Justin had shifted as well, an enormous grizzly on the extreme end of the big spectrum as much as she was on the far side of small. He plopped in front of her, resting his chin on his paws and offering a bearish grunt.

  “Whoa, you’re…you. Wow.” Caden paused, bare feet planted in the snow beside her. He seemed to forget he was naked as he remained in human form and stared at Mandy. “I had no idea. Excuse me while I fall all over myself. I’ve never seen a shifter like you before.”

  Justin rolled over just far enough to bump Caden in the ankles and send him sprawling to the ground.

  The man laughed good-naturedly. “Okay, okay. I’ll stop ogling, but that doesn’t mean I’m not impressed.”

  Discomfort slipped in for a mome
nt, and once again she turned her focus to Justin, hoping for a clue of how to deal with Caden’s unexpected admiration.

  He’d rolled to his back and was scratching on the ground happily, totally uncaring about the dignity of his position.

  Perfect. Mandy followed his example, rolling to the ground and giving herself a firm squirm against the hard-packed snow. The sensation was delicious, and she gave an extra wiggle.

  She only felt a little guilty that she hadn’t timed her roll very well when she knocked into Caden’s feet, and the wolf ended up on his back again.

  He lifted a hand in the air. “Enough, you two. I give up,”

  He shifted on the spot, he and his brother changing into large Arctic wolves, black fur with white markings, Caden with a black muzzle, Cole’s white.

  The four of them exchanged a glance before Cole threw back his head and let loose a howl of happiness. Like a starter gun going off, his cry triggered motion, Caden breaking to the right, Mandy following Justin to the left.

  They ran. The snow under their feet shook, echoing with low thumps as they moved over the hills wind-like, drifting in one direction before following the contours of the land in another until Mandy’s blood was pumping, and she felt more alive than she had for a long time.

  They stopped often, just for a few seconds to look into the next valley or back over the town. It was wonderful and exciting, and she never wanted to stop running, even as she was eager to get back to the snowmobile to try to drive it all over.

  The new experience was like a drug on her senses, joy rising that she was there. That Justin was there, and that together they were free to enjoy.

  The sky lit up with the colours of sunset as the shortening day of the northern hemisphere slipped toward night. The sun sank slowly behind the western range, fingers of red and gold painting the hills with streaks from the brush of a wild artist.

  She noticed another couple of sleds leaving town, following their recent tracks up the mountains. Probably more customers, although it seemed a little late to just be starting out. She didn’t think anything more of it until the wolves took off without another word, racing away and leaving her and Justin behind.