by Eve Langlais
Owen might have been at a loss, but his wolf knew exactly what to do. Find her scent. Run the forest and track her. Bring her back here and never let her leave again. He gave a violent shake of his head as though to dislodge the wolf from his thoughts. Mia was his mate, not his prisoner. He should have articulated the parameters of the mate bond to her better last night. It was obvious that all he’d managed to do was scare her off and he despaired he’d be able to repair the damage he’d done.
He needed to find her before the full moon. Otherwise, the wolf would have his way and there wouldn’t be a damn thing Owen could do about it.
“Devon’s lived in the area for about a year. Maybe she knows of some reclusive commune?”
Liam was grasping at straws and they both knew it. Devon had lived in Lowman, a town even smaller than Stanley that was about fifty miles north of them. She wouldn’t know of any reclusive groups of humans, let alone nymphs, in the area.
“We’re surrounded by thousands of square miles of wilderness. If we don’t know about nymphs living in the forest, there’s no way Devon knows.”
Liam shrugged. “It’s worth a shot.”
“Hell, what if her band doesn’t live anywhere near here?” A knot of anxiety twisted Owen’s stomach. “What if she’d been passing through on her way to somewhere else?” His wolf could easily track her across a three- or four-hundred-mile radius, but not even the wolf could hold on to her scent if she’d hopped in her car and driven that far. Fate was indeed a cruel motherfucker to allow him to find his mate only to rip her from him.
“If I don’t find her…” Gods, Owen could barely say the words. “I don’t want you to hesitate.”
Liam’s brow furrowed as he braced his arms on the countertop. He knew exactly what Owen was talking about. There was no need for Owen to elaborate. If he couldn’t find Mia, he didn’t want to live anyway. A wolf without his mate was volatile. Dangerous. His death would protect more than the pack. It would protect anyone and anything Owen might happen to come into contact with.
“That’s not going to happen.” Liam’s optimism was laughable. “You’re going to find her.”
Owen hoped so. But in the meantime, he knew it would be foolish not to prepare for the worst.
* * *
It would be at least a few days or so before Mia knew for sure whether or not Owen had managed to get her pregnant. She let out a derisive snort. Didn’t most females pray for the opposite outcome after a one-night stand? Instead, she was crossing her fingers that his superior werewolf sperm had managed to get the job done. Walking out of that bedroom last night had been one of the hardest things she’d ever done. Mia needed to do something—anything—to get Owen out of her head as soon as possible.
Easier said than done.
Mia climbed the rough-hewn wood steps to the door of her father’s yurt. Their band, like all wood nymphs, lived simply. They made their homes in remote wilderness areas; created small, self-sustaining communities; and remained isolated from the world at large. For centuries, they’d been believed to be the vengeful stewards of nature. In truth, they lived in tandem with nature but they were in no way protectors. Just like anyone, all they wanted was to be left alone to live their lives. At least, that’s what she’d always believed.
“Come in, Mia.”
Leave it to her father to invite her in before she even had a chance to knock. Mia rolled her eyes as she pushed open the door. She was already annoyed and they hadn’t even said two words to each other.
She stepped into the yurt and paused. “You wanted to see me?”
If this was going to be another lecture about pairing her off with some shifter or vampire, he could save his breath. Wood nymphs were unique in that they were the only supernatural creatures who couldn’t procreate with one of their own kind. And even more unique was the fact that no matter the coupling, their offspring were always wood nymphs. There were no hybrids, no chance of their children being born with attributes of their other parent. Their powers of seduction came in handy for the purpose of producing offspring. Especially if they weren’t interested in any entanglements. For centuries, Mia had rejected the notion of motherhood. She’d never wanted to be tied down in any way, shape, or form. A child would have stifled her freedom as much as a mate would have. But thanks to her father’s ultimatum, Mia had been forced to choose the lesser of two evils.
“Did you know that a werewolf pack has moved into the valley?”
As of last night she did, but she wasn’t about to let him in on that. James Russell Oliver painted quite the portrait as he regarded her from his makeshift throne at the far end of the circular tent. He fit the description of the egomaniacal commune overlord well with his flowing linen clothes, long dark hair, and wild beard. He could have passed for someone in his mid-thirties, but the truth of his age rested in the depths of his dark green eyes. He’d guided their band through the centuries, adhering to ancient doctrine and antiquated ways. Mia wanted more than to live suspended in time. She wanted to join the rest of the modern world. She wanted to move forward instead of remain inert. And the first step to achieving her goals was to produce an heir to their bloodline.
“I hadn’t heard.” No way was she going to show her hand. “Why do you care if a pack is in the area or not? Werewolves have never been a problem before.” Honestly, why would he even bother with a small pack of werewolves who didn’t want anything but to be left alone? Wasn’t that exactly what he wanted? “Live and let live.”
“You think it’s that easy?” His disdainful gaze made Mia want to scream. She’d endured his haughty, entitled attitude most of her life. Their kind wasn’t any more superior to any other creature that walked the earth. “We’ve occupied this territory for decades. We have a right to defend it from usurpers.”
Usurpers? He had to be joking. “We’re surrounded by thousands of square miles of wilderness,” Mia replied. “Are you seriously saying you’re not willing to share?”
“This is our territory.”
That wasn’t an answer. “Says who?” Mia was pretty sure the human governments—and a few private landowners—would have something to say about that. “We live here because we can get away with it without being detected. Do you think the U.S. Forest Service would be very happy to find our little community in the middle of one of their national forests?”
“They won’t find us and you know that, Mia.”
True. Wood nymphs—in groups—naturally deterred humans. Unlike the fae who could easily cast a glamour on their community to make it appear as though they weren’t even there, wood nymphs had the ability to produce a deterrent that made humans want to keep their distance from their encampments. Werewolves and other supernatural creatures, on the other hand, didn’t experience the sensation that they should turn away and run in the other direction. Owen’s pack could easily stumble on their community. But why did it matter?
“It’s not like nymphs and wolves are natural born foes. The only territoriality a werewolf would take issue with would be another pack in the area. I know for a fact there aren’t any other packs for at least a couple hundred miles. I’m not sure I understand why you care.”
Her father let out a soft chuff of laughter that grated on Mia’s ears. Gods, did he have to be so smug? “Werewolves are thugs. They’re base creatures who rely on their animal instincts to guide them. It won’t be long before they find us. And when they do, they’ll demand that we pack up and leave.”
That sounded a hell of a lot like paranoia to her. “And you know this how…?” Seriously, how in the hell had her father come to such a ridiculous conclusion?
“I don’t have to explain myself to you or to anyone else. This band is my responsibility. Our people look to me to keep them protected.”
Again … from what? Nymphs had no natural enemies because even the bulk of the supernatural community believed them to be creatures of myth. With hundreds—hell, thousands—of square miles of wilderness in Boise County alone, the
re was no chance of a territory dispute. Mia didn’t know much about Owen, but if the rest of his pack was anything like him, they were about as dangerous to their band as the actual wolf packs that roamed the area.
“What is this really about?” Mia knew her father. He didn’t do anything without good reason, and though he was usually an ambitious, power-hungry, selfish pain in her ass, she had to admit his calculating mind didn’t miss a beat. He had ulterior motives for wanting Owen’s pack gone. She just wished she knew what they were.
“Until you produce an heir, or you find an acceptable mate?” Her father cocked a brow as he studied her. “None of your business.”
Mia gave him look for look. With any luck, last night with Owen would prove fruitful and she’d finally be out from under her father’s thumb. What’s more, she might be in the know sooner than he thought.
CHAPTER 7
The best and worst thing about occupying the Stanley territory was the fact that it was a sparsely populated area. It’s not like Owen could ask around, see if he got a lead on any bands of wood nymphs hanging out in the forest. A werewolf’s greatest asset was his sense of smell, and in Owen’s case, a mated werewolf had the advantage in that his mate’s scent would carry to him over miles and stand out among all other scents. He couldn’t be sure if he’d be able to track Mia or not. She could have lived fifty or sixty miles away or five or six hundred miles away. It wouldn’t be difficult for any supernatural creature to cover that distance on foot in the space of a day. Mia could have driven to Stanley for all he knew. In which case, she could have been in another state by now.
Gods-dammit. He never should have let Liam talk him out of searching for her. Another day wasted. Another day for Mia to put too much distance between them.
Owen’s wolf let out an agitated growl in the recess of his psyche. The animal was tired of sitting around inert. Tired of waiting for their mate to return to them, because he knew better. She’d flown and wasn’t planning on coming back. What had her reason been for leaving? The whys plagued Owen more than anything. He wanted Mia back. Now. He wasn’t about to waste another second in his search for her.
It was either that or succumb to madness.
Owen brought his Toyota to a stop at the Bench Lakes trailhead. He had no idea why he’d chosen this location to begin his search, but the wilderness area surrounding Redfish Lake seemed to fit Mia’s personality. He could totally picture her living in the densely wooded area with easy access to the many high mountain lakes in the area. Maybe she bathed in the lakes in the summer, the early-morning sun reflecting off her sun-kissed skin …
Okay, so maybe that was a bit of a romantic notion, but Owen didn’t know enough about wood nymphs to do anything other than make assumptions. Maybe she lived in a mansion with all the amenities somewhere far from here. His wolf disagreed, though. Owen’s own animal instinct had guided him here and you could damn well bet he was going to heed it.
He got out of the pickup and grabbed his daypack from the backseat before locking the doors. He’d hike all day and all night too if that’s what it took to pick up on even a hint of her scent. Bench Lakes was a moderate hike and a good starting-off point. The least amount of time he had to spend battling the snow and brush, the better.
Mount Heyburn loomed in the distance and Owen took a sip from his water bottle before reaching back to stuff it in his pack. He stretched his neck from side to side as another wave of anxious energy danced over his skin. The wolf wanted supremacy. This was in his wheelhouse and that part of his nature obviously didn’t trust Owen in the driver’s seat. He could shift. Let the wolf take the lead and control of his body. The transition would be painful and in the long run it would weaken him. He couldn’t afford to risk being anything less than one hundred percent. His anxiety over finding Mia wasn’t the only thing tickling at the back of his mind.
Danger.
The wolf sensed it even when Owen didn’t. Even when neither of them knew exactly what to make of it. He wasn’t armed. Didn’t have so much as a pocketknife. That didn’t mean he couldn’t be deadly. If he ran into anything hostile, Owen could protect himself. He might have looked like an unassuming hiker, but he was every bit the animal.
Fresh snow covered the ground, masking the footprints of anyone who might have been in the area. His breath fogged the thirty-degree air and Owen pulled his beanie farther down on his head even though he didn’t need its warmth. He might have been decked out in full winter gear, but his preternatural metabolism made it nearly impossible for him to feel the harsh bite of the winter chill. He’d much rather be searching for his mate in the dead of summer. The snow made it harder to track scents, but Owen could work around that. Mia was his mate. He’d find her no matter the distance.
He had to.
Cold air filled Owen’s lungs as he took a deep breath through his nose and held it. Clean, crisp, the scent of snow and pine, but not his mate. That didn’t deter his wolf, however. Owen headed up the trail and though he wanted to go right, instinct urged him to go left. He changed course, heading higher up instead of down. His feet sank into the snow as he walked—the only disadvantage to being a werewolf was an above-normal body density—and he wished he’d had the good sense to pack a pair of snowshoes. The climb would be a workout, that was for sure.
The crunch of his feet busting through the crust of snow filled Owen’s ears as he hiked. His breath fogged the air and he paused as the breeze changed. Faint. So faint that he almost didn’t pick up on it at first. All of Owen’s senses fired at once as the wolf fought for supremacy in his psyche. He walked another ten feet, twenty, fifty … before he stopped and took in another deep breath through his nose.
Mia.
Unmistakable. A scent he would recognize anywhere at any time. Owen supposed it would stand to reason her band might choose to live higher rather than lower. Discoverability was no doubt a concern and the wood nymphs probably chose as difficult a location to find as possible to make their homes. Good thing werewolves weren’t easily deterred.
The wolf would have a better chance of tracking Mia from this point. The animal was more agile in the snow, his senses were keener. Owen knew that allowing a shift was the more logical choice. He didn’t have time to waste and the wolf was more than eager to be released from the confinement of their human form.
Fuck it. Owen was too damned desperate to find her at this point to play it safe.
He shucked his pack and tucked it into the bowl of a large pine tree. His coat was next, followed by his boots and the rest of his clothes. Cold air kissed his heated skin but Owen didn’t so much as shiver. The cold didn’t bother him. What was coming would cause him a hell of lot more discomfort that a little snow.
Owen’s jaw clamped down tight and he let out a low, painful groan as he went to his knees in the snow. Icy granules bit into his skin but he barely noticed as the transition took hold and his bones began to break and re-form. His mind clouded, his thought process shifted along with his body as the wolf pushed to the forefront of his mind. Owen let out a roar of anguish that transformed into a mournful howl that echoed off the surrounding mountains. The chill of winter disappeared completely thanks to the thick coat of fur that covered his body. He shifted as his paws settled into the snow, his weight displacement better under the weight of all four legs, rather than two.
Mia’s scent intensified, banishing the remnants of pain that clung to him. Owen gave a shake as he settled into his animal form completely and he let out a chuff of breath to clear his nostrils. She was closer than he’d initially thought. Twenty, maybe thirty miles.
His body ached, his muscles twitched from the severity of the shift. Full moon transitions were virtually trauma free in comparison and Owen had considerably weakened himself by shifting outside of the moon cycle. He took off at a lope, bounding through the snow rather than trudging through it. The sense of danger intensified, sending a shiver over his body. Whatever the omen was, he hoped it kept its distance until afte
r they found Mia. Otherwise, he might regret his decision to shift.
* * *
Mia stoked the fire in the small potbellied stove that occupied one end of her tiny yurt and added a small log before closing the heavy cast-iron door. A chill settled over the circular space, not enough for her to be uncomfortable, but she still grabbed a fluffy fleece blanket from her bed and wrapped it around her shoulders. Now that she was alone, she had too much time to think. Her thoughts inevitably led her to Owen. Dammit. What was supposed to have been a one-and-done had become a hell of a lot more complicated.
She needed to get him out of her head, ASAP. Especially after her father’s ominous warning. No doubt he was about to stir up a hornets’ nest of trouble with the werewolves. She couldn’t help but wonder how he’d react when he found out she’d taken one to bed and had managed to get pregnant by one of the very creatures he wanted to drive out of the area.
At least, she hoped she was pregnant. Mia wasn’t about to give up on her quest to circumvent her father’s ridiculous ultimatum.
The fire in the tiny woodstove began to burn in earnest and, in no time at all, managed to heat the confines of her yurt. The canvas structure might not have seemed like it would be enough to shelter anyone through a harsh winter, but the four-seasons yurt had been constructed for just that purpose. The green and tan canvas and heavy-duty rubberized roof blended in perfectly with their forest surroundings and the domed skylight at the peaked roof’s apex provided a gorgeous view of the moon when the weather permitted.
Mia didn’t own a cell phone. She didn’t have a TV nor did she spend hours searching for entertainment on social media. In fact, outside of their band, she had very little social interaction. Her night in Stanley had been the most exciting thing she’d done in months. Life within the structure of their band was very routine. Simple. She didn’t mind simplicity. She loved being surrounded by nature and she never felt any regret over her lack of technology or technological knowledge. But the world was slowly passing them by and soon they’d be as lost to the modern world as they were forgotten out in this forest. There were probably remote tribes in the middle of the rainforests of South America with less exposure to the modern world than Mia got. She should have considered herself lucky rather than feeling like she was missing out.