by L. P. Dover
He smirks. “Deal.”
It’s dark by the time we pull down the dark gravel road toward the cabin. When we get there, it’s not at all like I expected; it’s even better. The place is small and quaint, with rocking chairs on the front porch. Tate reaches into the backseat and grabs our bags.
“You ready?”
I nod and get out of the truck. When we go inside, it’s rustic but with a lot of charm. Tate nods toward the hallway where there are two bedrooms and one bathroom. He opens the door to one of the bedrooms and sets my bag on the queen-sized bed.
“How often do you come up here?” I ask.
Tate sighs and peers around the room. “It’s been a while. You should’ve seen this place when we bought it. It was a disaster. My dad and I redid everything.” I love how involved he is with his family. I’d give anything to have that kind of time with mine.
“I’d love to meet your parents.”
His smile makes everything inside of me tighten. “I’m sure they’d love that.” He turns to the window and nods. “Ready for that run?”
There’s a new moon tonight. Only royals and the strongest of our kind can shift when the sky is black. He’s never told me if he’s one of the ones who can or not. I’m curious to find out.
“Let’s go.” Sliding a hand over my pocket, I can feel the stone safely tucked inside. Tate opens the front door, and I slip past him onto the porch. “So which way is the lake? I have to know since I’ll be in the lead,” I say, giggling at my joke.
Tate takes off his shirt and points toward the north. “We’ll go straight through that way, and when we get to the small waterfall, veer left. The lake will be a half-mile further.”
Bending down, I stretch my leg muscles and watch him curiously as he unzips his jeans. “Are you shifting tonight?”
His eyes flash, and he gives me a wolfish grin. “Should I not?”
I look up at the sky. “There’s no moon tonight.”
Chuckling, he drops his jeans to the ground, showing off his magnificent bare body. “That’s never stopped me.”
“Oh yeah? I’d like to see this.”
He stalks toward me. “Do you not think I’m strong enough.”
The breath hitches in my lungs as his power unleashes all around me. It almost knocks me off my feet. I’ve never felt that kind of strength from him before. Yes, he’s an alpha, but it’s like he kept this wilder, stronger side of him a secret.
“What is this?” I say, my voice breathless.
His eyes glow as he stares into mine. “I’m showing you who I really am.”
I fight the urge to touch him. “You’re a lot stronger than you let on. Why do you hide it?”
He smirks. “I like it that way; it gives me an advantage.”
“A modest wolf. I’m not surprised in the least.” Tate has never been one to flaunt anything. That’s what I liked about him from the very beginning. He’s not arrogant. I step out of his way and flourish a hand toward the woods. “Are we ready?” His grin widens, and he closes his eyes as his body shimmers, transforming him into his wolf. Alphas are always larger than the rest of his pack, and Tate is a massive gray. My wolf grows restless inside of me, desperate for a run. I’ll be glad when I don’t have to hide anymore.
Tate shakes out his fur and stretches. It’s cute, and I can’t help but smile. When he growls, I throw my hands up and laugh. “Sorry. I’ve never seen you like this before.” I stretch my arms over my head and crack my neck. “I’m ready when you are.” He stands next to me, but I keep my eyes on the direction I have to go. “On three. One. Two. Three.” We both take off at the same time, dodging through the trees in a blur. The warm forest floor feels sensational against my bare feet, but it makes me miss being a wolf even more. I breathe in the scent of the woods, the air, and everything all around me; it’s heaven.
The sound of rushing water grows closer, and up ahead, I see the small waterfall. I veer off to the left and push my legs as fast as they can go. Tate’s right beside me, but I refuse to let him beat me. I may not be strong enough to outmatch him or any other alpha in combat, but I can do some damage. As far as running, there’s no doubt about it … I’m faster.
The lake is up ahead, and I push myself harder than I’ve ever done in my life. Tate showed me his true self, and it’s time I show him what I’m capable of. I shoot past him, my muscles burning like fire. He huffs and puffs to catch up to me, but it’s no use. I won.
When I get to the lake, my feet slide against the sand, and I fall onto my back, my chest rising and falling with my rapid breaths. Tate hovers over me and growls, and all I do is laugh.
“I won. Bet you didn’t think I was that fast, huh?” He sits down on his haunches beside me, giving me a wolfish grin with his tongue lolling out to the side. I sit up and gaze out at the lake. “If there’s one thing Micah taught me, it was to be fast; to push my body to the limits. I might not be able to win a fight against a stronger wolf, but if I can outrun him, that’s all that matters.”
Tate’s wolf shimmers away as he takes his human form. “You’re right. I’m impressed with how fast you are. Micah trained you well. I think Kami could use that kind of help.”
I get to my feet and walk over to the water’s edge. An idea pops into my head. “What if I were to train her?” I say.
Tate’s eyes widen. “You’d do that?”
When I look at him, my eyes instantly wander down to a certain appendage between his legs. “I, uh …” So many things run through my mind, most of them involving a dream I had of us together in bed, his body draped over mine. I lift my gaze to his, and by the devilish smirk on his face, it’s like he knows what I’m thinking.
Tate chuckles and gets to his feet. “What’s wrong? Tongue-tied?”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I glare at him. “Smart ass. But yes, I’d be happy to train Kami. I don’t know how or when, but we’ll make it happen.”
He takes a step toward me, and I walk back into the water. “What’s on your mind, Faith? I want to hear it.” There’s nothing but seriousness on his face, and it makes me tremble. Maybe I should come right out and tell him how much I want him. It doesn’t change the fact that we’re not mates.
Heart racing, I can feel the heat rise to my cheeks. I take another step into the water, and my foot slides across a rock, making me lose balance. Tate reaches out to help, but he gets sucked in and plunges into the water with me. We both burst out laughing, and he takes my hands to help me up.
Instead of letting me go, he pulls me in close to his body. All playfulness aside, he stares down at me, his gaze heat-filled and raw. His cock hardens between his legs, and he presses it against me. “I know I shouldn’t, but I want you so fucking bad. It kills me to let you go to another man.”
I slide my hands out of his and glide them up to his wet chest. “I don’t want to go either.”
He cups my cheeks. “Then stay with me. We should be able to decide our fate. If you want to be with me and me with you, I say to hell with everything else. Let’s do what we want.”
“Is it really that simple?” I clasp my arms around his neck.
He tilts his head down, his lips so achingly close to mine. “We can make it so.”
The second our lips touch, it’s like a blast of electricity bolts through my body. Every single passion and desire I had for Tate explodes tenfold. My wolf stirs inside of me, and there’s only one word that comes to mind. Mate. I break away from the kiss, gasping for air.
Tate grips onto my arms, his breaths hard and quick. “Did that just happen?”
When I look into his eyes, it’s different. It’s like I can see into his soul and feel what he’s feeling. The connection we had before is much deeper now. I can feel it coursing through every fiber of my being.
“It’s you,” I whisper. “After all this time, it’s been you all along.”
Tate slides his hands down to mine. “At least we know our feelings are real. I fell for you long before to
night.”
I rest my head against his chest. “Same.”
“Now, all we have to do is wait for the full moon.” As soon as he says the words, I gasp and look up at him. I want to bond with him, but that’s not the problem. The full moon is still fifteen days away. Our situation just became that much direr. “Faith, what’s wrong?”
“You,” I murmur sadly.
His gaze narrows. “Me? What do you mean?”
“If word gets out about this, you’ll be a target. As long as I’m unmated, I’m still fair game. If Killian and his men find out, they’ll hunt you down.”
Tate shakes his head. “They won’t find us, Faith.” He grabs my face and kisses me, my body melting against his. I open up to him and moan as he claims me with his lips. A low growl erupts from his chest as he tastes me. He sucks my bottom lip between his teeth and slowly lets me go. “We don’t have to tell anyone what happened tonight. We’ll move around until the full moon, and once we complete the bond, we’ll be untouchable.”
“Will it really be that easy?”
He shrugs. “It’s the only choice we have. I say we go back tonight, pack up our things for the next two weeks, and leave. We can go somewhere Killian, and his men won’t think to find us.”
An idea comes to mind and I smile. “I know the perfect place.”
We ran back to the cabin and changed clothes before leaving Yellowstone behind. A part of me wanted to stay, to be alone with Tate for the first time as his mate, but it’s not in the cards for us yet. As soon as we got to Tate’s house, I gathered up all my bags and set them by the front door. I know where I want to go, but the problem is getting there quickly and unnoticed.
Dawn soon approaches, and the sun shines its warm rays through the windows. Tate’s been on the phone for the past hour, and I’ve stared at mine, knowing I should call Micah.
Taking a deep breath, I press on his name and listen to the line ring. He picks up quickly, and I can hear the concern in his voice. “Hey, you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I reply.
“You never call me this early.”
“I know, I’m sorry. There’s something I need you to do for me.”
“Of course. What’s up?”
He’s going to have a ton of questions. “Can you contact Ian Randale and tell him I won’t be coming next week? The same goes for Colton Redding.”
The line goes silent for a few seconds. “Do you mind telling me why?”
I bite my lip. “I can’t. The fewer people know, the better. You have to trust me.”
There are another few seconds of silence, but then he chuckles. “He’s your mate, isn’t he?” It kills me not to say it out loud. I just feel like the second I do, the whole world will know. “It’s okay. You don’t have to answer me. I’m sure you have your reasons for what you’re doing.”
“I do,” I assure him.
“Then, in that case, I’ll make the calls. Do me a favor and stay safe.”
“I will. I promise I’m in good hands.”
He snorts. “I’m sure you are.”
Rolling my eyes, I can’t help but laugh. “When this is all over, I’ll come home. I can’t wait to see everyone again.”
“We’ll be here.”
We say our goodbyes, and just as I put away my phone, Tate walks into the living room with his bags. “Good news. Chase’s private jet will be here in an hour to take us to Florida. We’ll land in Tampa and drive the rest of the way, just in case word gets around. If someone comes looking for us, they’ll have to search the whole state.”
“Oh, thank God,” I say, breathing a sigh of relief. I was afraid we’d have to drive the whole way there. The Florida Keys is a place I’ve wanted to visit for a long time. With nowhere to run free as wolves, it’s not a popular destination for shifters. Plus, it’s on the opposite side of the country. “Did you tell him about us?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “No, but I know he’s wondering. He didn’t come out and ask me.”
“Micah has his assumptions too,” I admit. “He said he’d call Ian and Colton to let them know I won’t be joining them.”
A mischievous smirk spreads across his face as he pulls me into his arms. “Is it bad I’m pleased about that?”
I giggle. “Nope. You got me all to yourself just like you wanted.”
His brows lift. “Didn’t you want it too?”
Lifting up on my tiptoes, I kiss him. “More than anything.”
“Good. You’re going to have me for a very long time.”
That’s what I’m looking forward to. “Did you call your parents?”
He nods. “They know we’re leaving and that I’ll tell them everything when we get back. I also called Anson and told him to take over for the next couple of weeks.”
Everything seems to be coming together. “Awesome. I guess we’re ready to go then.” The sound of a car draws closer, and I recognize the rumble as Kami’s Jeep. “Did you tell your sister?”
His brows furrow. “No. I don’t know what she’s doing here.”
Kami pulls up and grabs the covered bowl from her passenger’s seat before getting out. She runs up to the door, and I open it. “Good morning.”
She grabs her chest. “Good. You’re awake. I had the craziest dream last night. Afterward, I couldn’t go back to sleep, so I made you some blueberry muffins.” She hands me the bowl and my mouth waters. Tate and I haven’t eaten anything since we left Yellowstone. When she walks into the house, she notices Tate standing off to the side. “Good morning, brother.”
He chuckles. “Morning.” Then to me, he nods toward our bags. “I’m going to load up the truck.” He grabs some of the bags and heads outside.
Kami looks around in confusion. “Are you two going somewhere? Please tell me it’s to have some fun.”
I shrug. “Yes and no.” I’m hoping to have fun, but it’s mainly to keep him from getting killed.
Tate comes back in and fetches the rest of the bags. As soon as he’s gone, Kami glances curiously back and forth at us. “I had a strange dream last night.”
“Oh yeah? What was it about?”
Her grin widens. “You and my brother. He was your mate. I saw you two, so clearly it almost seemed real.”
Mouth gaping, I stare at her. “That is strange. Where were we?”
She closes her eyes. “It reminds me of the lake by my family’s cabin. You and Tate played around in the water, and I was on the shore, laughing with someone else. I don’t know who was with me, but I know he was my mate. I kept trying to see his face, but I couldn’t.”
Chill bumps run down my arms. “How do you know Tate was my mate in your dream?”
Her eyes open. “There was magic swirling around you. I was the only one who could see it.” I’m stunned into silence. Could it be a coincidence, or does she have special magical abilities?
“Have you had these kinds of dreams before?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “Not until you came into town. I’ve also dreamt about two other wolves in my pack. Wouldn’t it be crazy if they end up being mates?”
“It would,” I say, staring at her in awe. “Keep me updated if they do.”
“I will.” She laughs and looks around, clearly oblivious to the notion that she could have magical powers. “So, where are you and Tate going?” When I don’t answer, her face grows serious. “Wait, what’s going on? Did something happen?” It’s as if everything falls into place. Her eyes widen, and she gasps. “Tate’s your mate, isn’t he? I knew something was different about you two.”
I place a hand over her lips. “This is very important, Kami. You can’t say anything to anybody. Tate’s in danger, and I have to keep him safe. This is serious.”
She nods. “You’re scaring me, Faith. Should I be worried?”
“I hope not,” I say. “We just have to make it to the full moon without anybody finding us.”
“I can’t believe my dream was real. That’s crazy.”
“It is,” I agree. “If you have more like that, write them down. You may have developed some kind of shifter power no one has ever had before.”
Her eyes light up. “Wouldn’t that be something?” I look out the window at Tate, and so does Kami. “Are you going to wait until the full moon to be with each other?” My wolf stirs impatiently inside of me. There’s no way I can wait two weeks to make love to Tate. I want him now. A smile lights up my face, and she giggles. “Okay, I have my answer. What about the blood sharing?”
The thought of Tate biting me and vice versa so we can open our mental bond excites me. He’ll be able to hear my thoughts, and I can do the same with him. “I’m ready for it, Kami. What I love most is that Tate and I told each other how we felt before the signs even appeared. I know what we have is real.”
Tate walks into the house and leans against the doorframe. “So much for secrets.”
Kami runs over and hugs him. “I won’t say a word. Just know I’m happy for you.” She winks at me and steps out. “Have fun and be careful.”
I stand beside Tate, and he drapes an arm over my shoulder as we watch her leave. “How did she guess?”
“That’s the crazy thing. I’ll explain it to you later.”
“Can’t wait to hear this.”
I laugh. “It’ll blow your mind.”
Chapter 17
Tate
Faith is mine. Those words have replayed over in my mind the entire plane ride to Florida. There’s never a rhyme or reason why things happen when they do with our kind. I’m just glad the signs appeared before she left for Randale’s pack. The thought of her going to him or any other wolf pissed me off. Deep down, I guess I always had the feeling she belonged to me. Looking at her, with her blonde hair blowing in the wind and the sun on her face, I know there’s no one as beautiful as her in the world.
We landed in Tampa and decided to drive the six-and-a-half-hour distance to Sugarloaf Key where we have a small beach house waiting for us. It’s in a private area with its own secluded beach. There will still be other houses close by, so we won’t be able to shift without risking the chance of someone seeing us. For the most part, we’ll be alone, which is all that matters.