by L. P. Dover
“Hey,” I answer.
“Good. You’re awake.” There’s concern in her voice.
I sit down on the bed. “What’s wrong?”
She sighs. “Well, I guess it’s all in how you look at it. Cedric and I went to the donut shop this morning because you know the baby wanted a glazed cream-filled one …”
I can’t help but laugh. “Yeah, okay. You expect me to believe it’s all the baby.”
“Oh, whatever. It’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. Anyway, we were out and about, and I felt Tia’s magic. Since I know what Killian looks like, I was able to spot him. He’s still here, which means he’s definitely not near you.”
You would think it’d give me relief to know he’s not on my trail, but he’s still too close to my pack. “Did you tell the others?”
“Cedric’s on the phone with Ryker now. I wouldn’t let him confront Killian alone, even though I know he wanted to. I don’t know what they’ll do. This is the first time I’ve felt Tia’s magic since you left.”
“Do me a favor and stay safe. I worry about you guys.”
She snorts. “We’ll be fine.”
I have no doubt. “Keep me updated on what’s going on, okay?”
“Will do. How’s it going with Tate?”
I can hear him rummaging around in the kitchen. The smell of fresh-brewed coffee sneaks its way up to my room. “Good,” I whisper, breathing in the scent. “I’m a little embarrassed to face him this morning.”
She giggles. “Why? What’d you do?”
I rub a hand over my chest. “I don’t know what came over me, but my heart started racing the second I saw him. I have no doubt he heard it. That didn’t happen when I met him at your party.”
“Interesting. Did you feel anything like that with Chase?”
“No. Tate’s the only one.”
“Well, it could be because he’s an incredibly attractive man. Don’t you dare tell Cedric I said that.”
“I won’t,” I laugh. “And yes, Tate’s ridiculously hot, but so is Chase.”
“Who knows, Faith. He could be the one. Do you have any other types of feelings? Have you touched him?”
I made a point to touch him last night, wondering if I’d feel something. “Yes,” I answer. “Nothing happened.”
“Bummer. You’re probably just attracted to him. You’ll know when your mate is close.”
So I’ve been told. “Thanks for calling Laila. I’ll let Tate know that Killian is still in Wyoming.”
“I’ll call you if anything changes.”
We say our goodbyes, and I head downstairs to the kitchen. Tate is standing by the kitchen counter with the newspaper spread open. There’s an extra cup of coffee off to the side, along with a plate of blueberry muffins. He looks up at me and smiles a little unsurely. “Morning. I didn’t know if you drank coffee, but I poured you some. Also, Kami stopped by and dropped off the muffins. She wanted to make sure you had breakfast. I was fully prepared to present you with a bowl of cereal.”
Laughing, I grab one of the muffins. “Thanks. I’ll take both. And a bowl of cereal would’ve been completely fine with me. Frosted flakes are my favorite.”
Tate winks. “Mine too. I have two boxes in the pantry.”
“Perfect. We can eat cereal tomorrow.” I take a bite of the muffin, replaying all of the things Laila just told me on the phone.
Tate’s brows furrow. “Everything okay?”
I pick up my coffee and blow off the steam. “For the moment, yes. Laila called and said she and Cedric spotted Killian this morning. The good thing is that he’s nowhere near here. The bad is that he’s still lurking around my town.”
Tate blows out a sigh. “He must really want you.”
“He didn’t say he wanted me for himself.”
He looks at me as if I’ve lost my mind. “It doesn’t have to be said, Faith. He’s an unmated male, and he made a move on your pack. That right there is all you need to know.”
“What about the others? Why would two other unmated alphas help Killian take me?”
His jaw clenches as he brings his cup of coffee to his lips. “I don’t think you want to hear my answer to that.”
I’m starting to think I don’t. I’ve had my own theories, and none of them are good. Tate’s thoughts are most likely in line with my own. I can’t imagine all three of them are willing to pass me around, but nothing in my world surprises me anymore.
To change the subject, I glance over to the microwave clock. “What time do we need to leave?”
He finishes his coffee and places the cup in the sink. “Whenever you’re ready, we’ll go. I’ll be outside loading things into the truck.”
I take a bite of the muffin and nod. Tate smiles and walks out of the room. While he’s gone, I finish the muffin and head toward the door, but stop when I notice the pictures on his fireplace mantle. I glance out the window to make sure Tate can’t see me looking at them. The first picture I notice is one of him and what I assume is his dad. They look exactly alike. Tate is in a green cap and gown, holding his high school diploma. The next picture is Tate with Kami at her high school graduation, wearing the same school colors. I move on to the last image of Tate, Kami, and their parents, all posing for the picture with smiles on their faces. My eyes burn, and I look away. I didn’t realize Tate had come inside until I can feel him behind me.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I got a little sidetracked looking at your photos.” I glance at him over my shoulder, and his gaze saddens.
“It’s okay. I know what happened to you and your family. I can’t imagine having all of that taken away at such a young age.”
I turn back to his photos. “It wasn’t easy. I didn’t get to graduate or have happy family photos. All I had was Micah and my memories. There are so many out there who think being a royal is the best thing ever. I wish they knew how screwed up it actually is. All my family has seen is war. We have to look over our shoulders and wonder what’s coming at us next. Even your sister got drug into a fight because of us.”
Back when the Yukon pack took Bailey, Kami had been put in the crossfire and kidnapped as well. She came out battered and bruised, but she fought through it.
Anger flashes in Tate’s eyes. “As much as I hate what happened to her, in the end, she came out stronger.”
“I wonder if it’ll ever end. Will there ever be a time when I don’t have to hide?” With people thinking I’m the last full-blooded royal arctic female, it helps the others not have a target on their heads. I trust Tate, but that knowledge is something I’ll keep to myself for as long as I have to.
Tate stands next to me but keeps his distance. “It won’t be like that forever, Faith. Look at your sister and Ryker, Cedric and Laila, and Tyla and Sebastian. They’re happy and moving on with their lives. You’ll get that chance one day.”
By the way things are going, I doubt it. “I hope so,” I say, trying to be positive. Taking a deep breath, I let it out slow and smile. “Shall we get to work? I’m ready to paint.”
He nods toward the door. “Let’s go.”
We get in his truck and head on our way down his long, winding driveway. I look out the window toward the sun, loving the heat on my face. There’s not a single cloud in the sky.
“Cedric tells me you and Micah started up your own landscaping business. How’s that going?”
“Pretty good while it lasted,” I say, looking over at him. “Right now, he’s on his own. I would do the garden work while he cut the grass.”
He chuckles. “Planting flowers, huh? Most women I know don’t like to get dirty.”
He glances at me, and I shrug. “I don’t mind it. Then again, I’ve trained with Micah my entire life. There were plenty of times I was thrown in the mud. Also, my mother was big into gardening. It’s one of the things I remember about her. She was a Biology professor, so science was her life.”
“And your dad? What did he do?” We turn onto the main road toward the small,
quaint town of River Valley. It had an Old West feel to it when Colin and I drove through.
Thinking about him brings a smile to my face. “He was a doctor. The man was smarter than any person I know. I’m pretty sure he wanted me and my siblings to follow in his footsteps, but none of us got the chance.”
“My dad’s not a doctor, but I’m proud of everything he accomplished. The man can do just about anything.”
I’ve heard stories about how his father stepped down as alpha so he could take his place. There are other packs out there that don’t work like that. You have to fight for the right, even if it means taking out a family member.
We turn down a gravel road, and I can see a bright yellow country house in the distance. It reminds me of the yellow cottage Micah and I lived in. “How did your pack handle him stepping down and giving the position to you?” I ask.
Tate parks right in front of the house and looks over at me. “The Graysons have led the Great Plains pack for generations. It’s how it’s always been. No other families have challenged us.”
Yet. I can’t help but think that in my mind. Loyalty can be swayed if the price is right. Maybe I’m just jaded after everything my family’s been through. It’s better to expect the worst than to get blind-sided.
I nod toward the house. “This place is cute. Are the owners like us?”
We get out of the truck, and he shakes his head. “No, they’re human. Recently married with a kid on the way. I was friends with them in high school, but they were a couple of years younger. They dated back then but broke up during college. As luck would have it, they recently found their way back to each other.” He reaches into the back to grab some of the paint cans, and I help him by fetching the pans and brushes.
“That’s a true love story there. Have many people in your pack found their mates?” I ask, following behind him up to the porch.
He slips the key into the lock. “Several have. I’m happy for them.”
“What about you? Has anything happened between you and a female in your pack?” Yes, my curiosity has gotten the better of me. It shocks me that men like Chase and Tate haven’t been claimed yet. There have to be tons of women who want them.
The door opens and he smirks. “Not yet. All of the women around my age in the pack are ones I grew up with. You’d think the mating signs would’ve already appeared.”
“You never know,” I say with a shrug. “Nothing about our kind makes sense. Things are always changing.”
“That’s for damn sure.” He flourishes a hand inside, and I walk in. The house is light and airy with its cream-colored living room walls and country feel; it’s perfect for a small family. “Anson and I painted the living room, the kitchen, and one of the bedrooms, but we still have one other bedroom and the nursery to finish.”
As soon as the word nursery leaves his lips, that’s where I want to go. “Which one is the nursery?”
Tate points down the small hallway. “It’s the last room.”
I’ve had so many ideas on decorating Cedric and Laila’s nursery, but I didn’t want to overstep. It’s their baby’s room and their house. When I get into the small bedroom, I look around at the navy-blue walls.
Tate leans against the doorframe with his arms crossed. “Jason and Anna are having a girl. They want this room light pink.” When I think of little girls, I think of fairy gardens and magic.
An idea comes to mind, and I smile. “Since you’re friends with this couple, how adventurous do you think they are?”
His brows furrowed with curiosity. “What do you have in mind?”
I glance around the room. “It’s just an idea, but you have to trust me. Do you mind if I talk to them?”
Tate pulls out his cell and laughs. “Don’t get me fired, Faith.” He scrolls through his contacts and hands me the phone.
I press the call button and wink at him. “I won’t. I promise.”
Chapter 11
Faith
Anna was excited about my idea, but Tate has no clue what I’m doing. He took me to a local craft shop so we could purchase the supplies I needed. The hours went by quickly, but I was able to get the pink on the walls. Now it’s ready for the fun stuff. I’m going to start on it first thing tomorrow when we go back to the house.
While Tate’s outside on the phone talking to a client, I search through his refrigerator and cabinets and find that he has everything I need to make spaghetti. He also has all the ingredients I need for chocolate-covered peanut butter balls too, but I’ll have to do them another time.
By the time Tate gets inside the house, the spaghetti sauce is done, and the noodles are almost ready. He walks into the kitchen with a shocked expression on his face. “Was I on the phone that long?”
I open one of the wine bottles Chase sent me for me. “Yep. But don’t worry, I was going to eat without you.”
Tate chuckles. “Hey, I’m fine with that. I appreciate you cooking.”
“No problem,” I say, taking a sip of the wine. “You sure do have a lot of food in your refrigerator.” His eyes twinkle mischievously at my comment. Pursing my lips, I stare at him, wondering what’s going on in his mind. “Do you secretly know how to cook, and you’re not telling me?”
He shrugs. “Maybe. I just never really have the time. I’m usually working from sunrise to sundown. Today is the first day I worked normal hours.”
“Why do you work so much? Is it because you’re bombarded with projects?”
His eyes freeze on mine, almost as if I caught him off guard with my question. He leans against the counter and looks away. “I guess it’s because it’s all I have. Besides the pack, work is my life.”
There’s a sadness to his tone, but what I can really sense is his need. He’s trying to hold it back. Unmated males, especially alphas, feel the need a lot more than others. When it gets really bad, it’s called the rage. Some wolves lose their minds from not finding their mates, and some get so violent there’s no other choice but for them to be put down. I don’t want to see that happen to Tate.
The noodles are done, so I drain them and put some on our plates. “I understand that, but you need to enjoy life. You have the whole world at your fingertips. I’d give anything to have the freedom you have.”
I pour the meat sauce over his noodles and hand it to him. He nods toward the back door. “Want to eat outside on the patio?” He goes to the refrigerator and pulls out a beer.
“Sure.” I fix my plate, and he opens the door for me. His backyard is gorgeous with a brick patio and pool, surrounded by twinkling lights.
“Kami put up the lights,” he informs me with a laugh. “I couldn’t say no to her.”
Grinning, I glance back at him. “I had a feeling. I do love the lights though. It’s something I would’ve done too.”
We set our plates down on the patio table. Tate waves a hand around his yard. “What else would you do out here? You’re the landscaping expert.”
I roll my eyes. “Oh, whatever. I’m not an expert. However, I do love color, and that’s what you’re missing.” His patio and pool are just there with nothing around them, no shrubberies or trees for privacy. He already has privacy with him living alone on the mountaintop, but aesthetically, his yard could use more. I get up and walk around the pool. “To create a barrier around the pool, I could plant some zebra grass. It comes in a variety of colors, so it’ll be a good contrast with the water.”
Tate leans back in his chair. “I like that. What else?”
“You could always add some Crassula and Yucca as well. They have a rich, green color, and they’re good for filling in the spaces.”
His grin widens, and it makes my heart race. “When do you want to get started?”
I walk back over to him. “You’re hiring me?”
Chuckling, he opens his beer. “If you want the job.”
“I guess it depends on if I have time,” I say, laughing. “I’m kind of busy on another job.”
He turns up his beer
and sighs. “True. And you only have six days left here. It might have to wait until you come back.”
It makes me wonder if I will. There’s no telling what’s going to happen between now and the next few weeks. I focus on my spaghetti and twirl the noodles around my fork. “If I don’t get to come back, I can always tell you what you need. It’s pretty simple.” I look out at the pool. “Besides the zebra grass and the others, you could add some hydrangeas and maybe some small dwarf-sized fruit trees. That way, you’ll get fruit and color added to your yard.” I eat my bite of spaghetti, wondering what else could be done.
Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Tate staring at me. The blood races through my body, and I can feel the heat in my cheeks. When I look at him, his lips pull back slowly into a sexy smirk. “I’m glad you’re here, Faith. I’ve really enjoyed your company.”
“Likewise.”
“Where do you go next?”
I blow out a sigh. “To Ian’s.”
His smile disappears, and he looks away. “Randale’s a good guy.”
“He’s a little intense,” I say, wondering if he’ll say more. “He doesn’t seem to be as playful-natured as you and Chase.”
He snorts. “That’s because he’s not. Ian’s had to fight hard for what he has. When he was eight years old, he watched his father get defeated in combat by another wolf who became their pack's alpha. By the time he was fifteen, he’d had enough. He defeated the alpha, and no one has challenged him since.” Tate brings the beer to his lips. “I can see why he is the way he is.”
I can see it too. “I’m curious to see what it’ll be like with him next week.”
Tate sets his beer down, his gaze serious. “How did you come up with your plan anyway? Honestly, I’m shocked it’s even something you would do.”
“Why is that?”
He shrugs. “You’re an unmated royal female, Faith. Yes, Ian, Colton, Chase, and I are allies to the Teton pack, but we’re still men. You know the troubles we face, and yet, you’re here.”