by Rayna Tyler
“Could you be more specific on the ‘that’ part of your question?” I swept my fingers through the tips of my short hair, flashing an innocent smile, a technique I’d used during my old man’s countless interrogations. Funny how the conditioned response wasn’t working on Berkley any more than it had on my father. But hey, it was still worth a try.
“You couldn’t get out of Reese’s office fast enough.” There was an overprotective edge in her voice—typical dominant shifter behavior.
Since the cutesy thing wasn’t working, I tried misdirection. “He seemed pretty busy, and you know me, I’m not big on intruding or overstaying my welcome.”
“Uh-huh, since when?” She pursed her lips and did the skeptical scrutinizing thing that would make any human cringe.
Lucky for me, I wasn’t human, nor did I cower easily, if ever. I crossed my arms, returning her glare with a pleasant smile, intent on waiting her out. After a few tense seconds, she pushed away from the vehicle, then reached for one of my suitcases. I hoped I was wrong, that the wariness teasing my nerve endings, a direct result of her compliant behavior, was unwarranted.
“Come on, I’ll show you where you’ll be staying,” Berkley said.
“Can’t wait.” I mustered the enthusiasm I didn’t feel as I picked up my other suitcase, then followed her back to the lodge’s entrance.
“This place has a private area designed for the owner and the employees.” She held the door open allowing me to enter first, then directed me toward the same hall we’d used when we’d gone to her brother’s office.
I’d hoped to avoid running into him so soon after our first meeting and was thankful when she turned left, then headed down a corridor in the opposite direction.
“You’ll be staying in my old room. It’s right next to Reese’s.”
She matched her longer stride to my shorter one and kept pace beside me. She continued to list the lodge’s other attributes, but I’d stopped paying close attention as soon as she mentioned that my room was next to her brother’s.
“The room has a great view and a patio with easy outdoor access. Later, I’ll show you the area we’ve designated for runs,” Berkley said.
There was an unspoken rule about keeping our existence secret from humans, and I assumed the area she was referring to was meant for shifters only.
Berkley turned a corner that led to a shorter hallway with two rooms right next to each other. “Preston and I are on the other end of the main hall. That’s Reese’s room.” She pointed at the wooden door to her left. “He doesn’t snore, at least not that I’m aware of, so you shouldn’t have any trouble sleeping.”
Why did I have to promise? There was no way I’d be able to stay away from him until after the wedding, not if we were practically roommates. A fact my cat was smugly enjoying. Unlike me, the irritating feline couldn’t care less about the rules I’d made for myself. She was thrilled with the prospect of being close to her mate.
With a commitment I couldn’t get out of, the dread of disappointing Berkley clinging to me tighter than my favorite pair of shorts, and my cat insistently urging me to find Reese, I was back to plotting a way to get even with the divine shifter matchmaker.
“And this is your new home.” She smiled, unlocked the door, then handed me the key. Once we were inside, she set the suitcase she’d been carrying near the end of the bed.
“I need to check on a few things in the restaurant. Why don’t I give you about a half hour to settle in, then I’ll take you down to meet Nick and Mandy.”
From the few phone conversations we’d had before I’d arrived, I knew Berkley’s role in running the resort had many facets and kept her busy. I was an independent person and didn’t require any special attention. Besides, I needed a few minutes to myself so I could figure out how to turn down Reese without making him feel rejected.
“Sounds great.” I set my suitcase on the floor next to the other one, then placed my camera bag on the bed.
“Great, I’ll be back soon,” Berkley said as she closed the door behind her.
Now that I was alone, taking time to relax and appreciate my new surroundings won out over unpacking. The room had a rustic feel and was quite welcoming. The walls were finished with light oak wooden planks sealed with a clear stain. From the brief glimpses I’d gotten of the lodge’s interior, when I wasn’t plotting fate’s demise, I’d noticed a similar construction throughout the building.
The furniture was made of a darker wood and consisted of a queen-sized bed with a headboard, a small dresser tucked in one corner, and a longer dresser with a mirror. Off to the right on the same wall was the entrance to a decent-sized bathroom. After running my fingertips along the dresser and taking a moment to admire the craftsmanship, I walked over to the wide patio doors and pulled back the blinds.
I was greeted by a brilliant cloudless blue sky, a wall of tall aspens, the ground covered with old pine needles and the occasional cone. The charm and serenity of the view was enchanting, and once again, I was instilled with a sense of belonging, of knowing I could be happy and make a new life here.
As quickly as the feeling swept over me, it was gone, replaced by a gnawing ache and the reality of knowing I wasn’t going to be able to stay.
Chapter Three
JAC
As promised, Berkley arrived a half hour later. Instead of heading back into the lodge, she showed me the employees’ private kitchen area, then led me outside onto a deck and a path that cut through the trees.
“Why don’t Mandy and Nick live in the lodge?” I knew it was none of my business, but curiosity was one of my biggest flaws. It came with being a feline, or so I’d been told. A psychologist would probably say it was the reason I had a rebellious nature and lacked any self-protective responses when it came to engaging in dangerous situations. Not that I was willing to make an appointment to find out.
Personally, I thought I’d perfected the skill as a means to annoy my father. Bradford Dubois, my only living relative, was a harsh man with little tolerance for his daughter. He was, of course, the person who took pleasure in pointing out my failings. The biggest one being that his only child wasn’t a male, which he quickly followed up with constant reminders that I had issues with my cat. Issues that made me feel inadequate whenever he brought them to my attention. Issues that bothered him way more than they did me.
“He’s part wild wolf.” Berkley grinned and ducked beneath a low-hanging branch. She was one of the few people who didn’t seem to mind my “speak first, then think about what I’d asked later” way of dealing with life. One of the many reasons we entertained a lasting friendship.
I followed her under the same branch without having to duck. “Wow, that is so cool. Does he get all wolfy without provocation? Is that why he lives out here?” I knew wild wolves existed, but I’d never met one, part or otherwise. They had a reputation for being loners because their animals had a tendency to go feral. “He doesn’t have a problem with cats, does he?”
“No, he’s...”
I wasn’t sure if she was wrinkling her nose because she was thinking how best to answer my question or if I’d touched on a personal topic that was off-limits. “It’s okay, you don’t need to explain. In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m still working on the overly curious thing.” Berkley and I had talked about my bad habit on more than one occasion, usually after it had gotten me into trouble and she’d stepped in to help.
“Curious about what?” A guy appeared from behind a tree.
After hissing and scaling the nearest tree, I crouched on a thick branch and stared at the male who’d startled me. He was tall and broadly built, with a killer grin, and scented of wolf. Wolf that leaned toward the wild side if my finely honed cat senses were correct. And they usually were.
“Damn it, Nick.” Berkley punched him in the shoulder. “Would it kill you to snap some twigs or something instead of showing up out of nowhere?”
“Wouldn’t be any fun if I did that.” He laughe
d and teasingly nudged her with his shoulder.
“Well, if you want the best photographer I know to take pictures of your wedding, then you’ll stop scaring Jac into trees.” Berkley’s admonishing glare didn’t stop the amusement from reaching her lips.
“Apologies, Jac.” Nick’s grin didn’t waver, and he didn’t sound sorry. “How can I make it up to you so my sister doesn’t leave claw marks on my ass?”
“Really.” Berkley snorted and shook her head.
Watching their antics was fun, and I couldn’t stop from giggling even if I’d wanted to. There weren’t many people who were brave enough to tease Berkley without fear of retribution. I found myself admiring Nick and his ability to handle his sister.
“Apology accepted.” I pushed off the branch and landed on my feet next to Nick. Being part feline had its perks, especially when I needed to deal with heights without hurting myself. “I’ve never seen a wild wolf before and would love to see what yours looks like.”
His furrowed brow had me holding up my hand and adding, “No pictures, I promise.” Being a photographer who’d traveled extensively, I’d had the opportunity to observe many shifters in their transformed state. Their animals were larger than their natural counterparts, something a human would notice. I took protecting the secrecy of our existence seriously and would never take someone’s picture without their permission.
“His wolf is beautiful.” A slender woman with honey-blonde hair appeared from between two trees and strolled toward us. She slipped an arm around Nick’s waist, and immediately received a kiss on the top of her head.
With his silky black hair and those slate-gray eyes, I’d bet the woman, who I assumed was his mate Mandy, knew what she was talking about. Other than the height and broad-shouldered frame, Nick’s appearance was a contrast to his brother’s. My mind immediately conjured an image of Reese, his amazing smile, and the way his dark brown eyes had taken on a glowing amber hue during our memorable handshake. I had no doubt Reese’s wolf was a spectacular sight, though I didn’t plan to be here long enough to see it for myself.
“Jac, in case you hadn’t already guessed, this is my brother, Nick, and his mate, Mandy.”
“And who’s this?” I reached down to scratch behind the ears of the dog who’d arrived with Mandy and was happily sniffing my ankle.
“That’s Nick’s dog, Bear. We found him living under one of the cabin porches,” Mandy said.
“He’s adorable.” I squatted, then held out my hand so he could sniff it. Instead of performing a cautious inspection, he lunged at my chest with his front paws, knocked me on my rear, then proceeded to lick my face.
“Bear, not cool.” Nick pulled his pet off me, his tone far from scolding. “We’re still trying to teach him manners.” He held out his hand and helped me off the ground.
“I’m really sorry.” Mandy pulled a tissue out of her jacket pocket and handed it to me. “He’s usually pretty mellow, even with strangers.”
I wiped the drool off my face. “Maybe it’s a dog-cat thing.”
Mandy frowned. “Are you sure? Because he doesn’t act like that with Preston.”
“Bear knows better than to mess with my mate. He has way bigger claws.” Berkley laughed, then tucked her arm through mine. “Come on, I’ll show you where we’re going to have the ceremony.”
Chapter Four
REESE
I’d been on edge, my wolf growling and pacing, ever since Jac left my office. Now that I’d found my mate, the urge to be with her, to claim her was overwhelming. Some of the tension straining my body eased when Berkley told me Jac would be staying. The news that my sister had given her the room next to mine helped soothe my agitated animal.
The fact that Jac hadn’t acknowledged our connection still bothered me. And as much as I wanted answers, I’d never been one to overreact or address a situation without giving it some thought first. I’d remained in my office with the intention of getting some paperwork done and giving her time to get settled. All I could think about was Jac and coming up with the best way to approach the subject of us being mates.
After staring at the same file filled with purchase receipts for over an hour, I’d decided to track her down. Finding the elusive minx hadn’t been easy. She was no longer tagging along with Berkley when I found my sister in the restaurant and Nina, our registration clerk, hadn’t seen her since she’d arrived.
I was headed out the private entrance to the employee kitchen on my way to see Nick and Mandy, when I found Jac sitting on the railing of the deck. I wasn’t sure why she was straddling the wooden beam with her back braced against the side of the building when there were perfectly good, and comfortable, lounging chairs available.
I’d rehearsed what I wanted to say several times in my mind, but the pleasantries I’d planned to start with were overruled by my need for answers. “Jac, we need to talk.”
“I’m pretty sure we don’t.” She lifted her right leg, then slid to her feet before leaning against the railing. “But go ahead, I’m listening.”
“You do realize we have a connection, right?” I needed to hear her confirmation, to know I hadn’t imagined the heated sensation that had passed between us, that the lingering effects were real.
“Yeah, and?”
What does she mean yeah, and? Being mates was a monumental deal, and that was all she had to say. I stuck my hands in the front pockets of my jeans to keep from clenching them into fists. Didn’t she understand how important this was, how important she was—to me? This wasn’t like a human’s love-at-first-sight notion where the relationship might or might not last. This was special, a rare bond, one that would develop into a deep caring and endure a lifetime.
Most of the shifters I knew dreamed of the day they’d discover the identity of their perfect match. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a simple task, and many of them spent their lives searching and never finding their fated mate. At some point, the human side of our natures wanted to settle down, to have a family, to find some form of happiness.
Though my parents fell into the nonmate category and their marriage had ended badly, I hadn’t let the experience sway my decision in either direction. Not until recently, when Nick and Berkley found their mates. I’d be lying to myself if I said I didn’t envy the bond they shared, and though I wouldn’t admit it out loud, I’d secretly longed for the same thing. Now here she was, the answer to my unfulfilled dreams, sounding indifferent and acting as if being together didn’t mean anything.
I tried to figure out why she was treating our meeting as an everyday occurrence, a meeting that bored her. Was it because I was a wolf? I quickly dismissed the thought. She wouldn’t be friends with Berkley if she had a problem with other animals.
Maybe she was disappointed by my appearance? I’d had plenty of interested females over the years and didn’t believe I was a bad-looking guy. She was an adorably petite thing. Though I hadn’t scented any fear or noticed her cringe when we met, I wondered if she was intimidated by my height. Or maybe her cat didn’t like dominant males.
I could spend all day speculating, but it wasn’t getting me any closer to the answers I needed.
Jac must have sensed my dilemma. “Look, I get the whole you-found-me-and-now-you-want-to-make-me-your-mate thing. I really do. But I also believe the great shifter matchmaker in the sky is capable of making mistakes, so I’m going to make this easy for you.” She pushed off the railing and stepped closer. “I’m sure you’re a great guy, and I want you to know my decision has more to do with me than you.”
What decision? This conversation wasn’t going the way I’d visualized it in my mind when I’d set off to find her.
“I know you’re my mate, but I don’t think it’s going to work.”
Not going to work. How could she make that kind of assessment without getting to know me first? “If you’ll just give me...”
She held up her hand and shook her head. “Unlike you, I have a problem with authority, and I’m the opposite
of organized. I was a military brat, and my father was, or I should say is, a colonel. I understand the need to be dedicated to your job and how it comes before anything else in your life.”
She pressed her palm against my chest, the warmth seeping through my shirt, calling to my wolf and stirring yearnings I’d never felt for another female before. I reached for her hips intent upon pulling her closer. Jac moved fast, so fast that she evaded my grasp and was standing near the sliding glass door.
“I’m also impulsive and like to have fun.” She winked, then walked inside, leaving the door open behind her.
“I know how to have fun,” I mumbled, not happy with her insinuation or the lack of conviction I heard in my own voice. I followed her as far as the hallway, watching her saunter toward the lobby without a single glance in my direction, adding further injury to my severely wounded ego.
Chapter Five
REESE
Preston gave the door a single rap, then walked into my office. Besides being the resort’s head of security, he was my closest friend and my sister’s mate. “Everything okay? I thought you’d already be out inspecting the sites.” Preston said, then eased into the chair across from my desk with his usual feline grace, then settled in comfortably by stretching out his legs and crossing them at his ankles.
No, everything isn’t okay. “Something came up.” I groaned, wishing I’d locked the door for the first time since I’d taken over this office. Any other time, I wouldn’t mind the interruption, but today I was preoccupied with Jac and the way she’d nonchalantly dismissed me as her mate.
“By something, do you mean our cute new photographer?” Preston’s wide grin produced dimples.
I usually ignored his all-knowing smug attitude, but today it was annoying. If I didn’t think my sister would have a problem with me maiming him, I’d punch him for the cute comment.