by Alicia White
Beth didn’t know why she was telling a virtual stranger anything or answering his questions for that matter. It seemed that Emma had a man in her life who wanted to make sure that she wouldn’t cause his woman any heartache. It was sweet, but she hated feeling like the bad guy. She already assumed that Emma wouldn’t welcome her with open arms, but she was really hoping that she would at least want to see her.
“I’ll get Emma.” She heard him walking and waited patiently to hear her cousin’s sweet voice.
Would Emma want her in Alaska, or would she tell her to turn around and go home? Fear made Beth’s heart skip a beat. What if Emma didn’t want anything to do with her? She stared out the windshield and thought of her options. She had a car, cash, and clothes. She wouldn’t have to live on the street and she could stay someplace nice until she did find a job. It didn’t matter where she worked. As long as it paid the rent she didn’t need anything else. Hell, she could get an air mattress and a tent if all else failed.
Going back to Seattle was out of the question. She wouldn’t sell herself short ever again. She was worth more than being married to a man that only had meaningless sex and his own selfish agenda on the brain. He’d won her over in the beginning by spoiling her and making her feel loved and special. After they were married, it became all about him and his needs. She no longer mattered. She didn’t need a man, conditional love, or gifts. She would find herself again and be the woman buried inside, screaming to get out.
“Hello?” Emma’s voice was cautious when she spoke, and Beth felt her eyes fill with tears.
This was her chance. She needed to say the right thing. She wanted to make up with her cousin and apologize for all the pain she’d caused from the bitterness over the past. The three of them had been young, drinking, and not thinking clearly. They had all believed they were invincible. She wanted her friend back, and now more than ever, she needed a shoulder and a hug.
“Hi, Emma. Thank you for taking my call.”
“I’ll always take your call, Beth. You know that. Are you okay? You sound like you’re crying.” That was Emma, always so caring and forgiving.
Tears spilled over when she realized that Emma would welcome her. She wasn’t completely alone in the world.
“I…” She didn’t want to tell her about Kirk or the sins that lay at her feet. She didn’t want Emma to think badly of her for sleeping with other men, even if her husband had wanted her to. It all sounded so sick. “I left Seattle, hoping for a fresh start. I know we haven’t seen each other in ten years. God, that’s a long time, but I need you…Em.” Cradling the phone between her shoulder and ear, Beth wiped her eyes. “I’m hoping that you’ll let me see you. I don’t need to stay with you or anything. I have money and I can get a hotel or something. I just need a temporary destination.”
“Beth, you can always come and see me. I miss you too. I don’t live in Anchorage anymore. I moved to the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. There’s a small community of people here. It’s about four hours from Anchorage. Are you driving?”
“Thank you, Emma. I really mean that and I’m so sorry for the way things happened. Losing you was almost harder than the accident itself. And it was an accident.” She was so grateful for Emma’s forgiving nature in that moment.
“It’s going to be okay, Beth. We were both in a lot of pain and our parents didn’t help any. How about we let go of the past and concentrate on the future. Where are you right now?”
“I left Seattle yesterday and made it to Williams Lake in Canada, drove eight hours straight. I’m on the road heading toward you now or Anchorage actually, but if you give me the address I’ll put it into my GPS.”
Beth pulled to the side of the highway and typed in the address that Emma rattled off into her GPS. She added almost another four hours onto her drive time, but she didn’t care. At least she had a destination. She felt a heck of a lot better when she finally hung up with Emma and pulled back onto the road. A spark of hope unfurled in her chest and warmed her inside. She let her head fall back against the seat rest and allowed some of the tension to ease from her shoulders.
For the first time, in a very long time, Beth smiled. Her heart didn’t ache so much any longer as her stress level went down. She could do this, it was time for Beth Steele to shine and start her life over again.
“I’m going to be okay. Everything is going to be all right. You’re going to get a job, find someplace to live and move forward with your life.” The pep-talk made her feel better.
Beth pushed the gas petal down, wanting to get to Alaska faster. Now that she’d spoken with Emma, she was feeling a lot better about her current predicament.
* * * *
Kaden “Kade” Schiller leaned back in his chair, placing his booted feet up as he enjoyed the view from the patio. Summertime in Alaska couldn’t get any better. There was still a slight chill in the air whenever the wind blew, but the sun was out shining high in the sky. He loved days like these, when the sun beat down, giving them daylight more than darkness.
The Wrangell-St. Elias National Park had been his home since he was a cub. He could still remember running through the trees with his younger brother and parents. He had so many wonderful memories. Now, sitting alone and sipping a beer, he breathed in and enjoyed the fresh air. Jason, his younger brother, was gone and he was feeling a tad lonely in all the silence. Although it had only been a week, Jason had left in search of their mate.
They two of them had been watching all their friends find their mates, fall in love, and settle down. That’s what he and Jason had been wanting as well. The final straw for him was the night he’d been playing pool with his buddy, Chayton Youngblood. The man had just knocked in one of his striped balls when the door opened and the breeze blew over a delectable scent. Kade watched as Chayton’s demeanor changed within seconds and he whispered the one word that changed his life forever. Mate.
Kaden really was happy for his friends Chayton, Takoda, and Mahkah. The three men were so content with their mate, Emma. Each and every time he saw his friends, his heart ached with emptiness. He’d been craving his mate for many years. After a long talk with Jason, his brother had decided to travel down to Washington and into Oregon. That was the youngest brother’s job in their clan, to go out and find their mate and bring her home to be shared.
Jason only planned to be gone about a month, but already Kade felt part of himself missing. Compared to all the friends he had, nobody was closer to him than his own brother. With him gone, Kaden felt alone even though his parents and other clan members lived fairly close. Slamming his feet down, Kade stood up and went inside their small three-bedroom cabin. He needed to get out of the house for a bit. The walls seemed to be closing in on him and he really didn’t like the silence that surrounded him.
Grabbing his cell phone, he scrolled through until he found Jase’s number. Kaden clicked the call button. While the phone rang, he walked to the fridge and pulled out a beer before going into the living room and sitting down in his favorite recliner.
“Hey, Kade. How are you?”
“Bored.” He laughed. “Any luck?” He knew that question wasn’t necessary. If Jason had found their mate, he’d call right away.
“Not yet, but I’m not giving up. I feel a little silly going to malls, farmers’ markets, hell, any public place, and scenting the air. I feel like I’m sniffing up a storm through Washington. I’m going to spend another week here before moving onto Oregon. Not sure if I can stay gone a whole month though. Alpha Adam called, he needs some work done.”
“The summer months are the best time to work. I’ll give him a call and see what I can do in your place. I don’t know that much about electrical work and plumbing, but I’m sure I can figure it out if it’s simple stuff.” Kaden had a law degree. He took care of any legal issues that arose in their clan. He knew how to do the construction stuff because of Jason. He helped his brother whenever he could.
“Thank you. I’m sure that Adam will be h
appy to hear from you. I have to say that driving in this truck alone really sucks. It makes me wonder how long it took Conner and those other guys to find their mates. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not losing hope or anything. It would just be so much easier if she would show up at our doorstep.”
“Yeah, that would make things a hell of a lot easier.” Kade chuckled and took a sip of his beer.
The doorbell rang, startling him and Kade jerked up, spitting out his beer, and gasped. His jaw dropped as he stared at the door. No way. That would be way too easy, but what if their mate was standing outside at this very moment. His stomach cramped up, an uncomfortable feeling whenever he became anxious.
“Get the door, Kade!” Jason bellowed.
Jumping up, Kaden stumbled to the door, holding his breath. He tightened his hold as he turned the handle and pulled it open. Instead of seeing a woman though, he was greeted by Chayton’s face. Kade shook his head and laughed humorlessly. Of course it wouldn’t be that easy.
“Who is it?” Jason was breathless at the other end, and Kade felt bad for making him wait.
“It’s just Chayton, Jase. Drive safe. I’ll call you later.” Kade opened the door and stepped out onto the patio, joining his friend.
“Don’t forget to give the Alpha a call as well.”
“I won’t.” Kade clicked the end button and shoved his phone into his pocket. “What can I do for you today?” He turned toward Chayton.
“I came by to talk about the cabin expansion project. When is Jason coming back to town? We really need his electrical and plumbing expertise.”
“He’s only been gone a week.” Kaden shook his head. His brother’s knowledge was always in demand. “We need time to find our mate, but Jase said he’d be coming back before the month was up. Adam called him, and the summer months are definitely the best time to build.” It was much harder to do anything in Alaska during the winter months. The ground stayed frozen and even when using heavy equipment, it was hard to get under the ice.
“I know how important it is to find your mate. I’m sorry that he’ll have to cut this trip short. Hell, before Emma…all I wanted was a mate. We have six cabins practically complete, only need the plumbing and electrical installed before the walls can be closed up and finishing touches can be made. With all the new folks coming into town, we need to get this project moving a bit quicker.”
Kaden understood that. The people in their community were a priority. Nobody went without shelter or food. They all helped each other out. That was one of the things he liked about his clan, they looked out of each other.
“I’m not an expert, but I can do the electrical and plumbing.” Normally, Kaden laid the foundations and worked the heavy equipment when he wasn’t looking over legal documents. His lawyer skills weren’t needed often.
Each man had a particular job in their clan. With Jason gone hunting for their mate, the least Kade could do was pick up the slack. That might give Jase more time. With luck, they would have their mate safe and secure inside their home by the time winter came around.
“That sounds good. I’ll give you a call in the morning and we can head out. With the two of us working, maybe we can knock all six cabins out this week before laying down more foundations. If only summer lasted a good six to eight months, we’d have more time.”
“No kidding.” Kade smiled, shaking his head. The Alphas, Adam and Brandon sure had them all on a tight schedule.
“Have a good night. I’m heading home. Emma’s waiting.”
“Can’t keep your mate waiting.” Kaden chuckled. “I’ll call you in the morning.”
He watched as Chayton stepped off the porch and headed toward his truck. The sun was still high in the sky even though it was already dinner time. Rubbing his stomach, Kade headed back inside and grabbed his keys. He usually didn’t mind cooking, but he preferred not to eat alone.
Kade didn’t bother locking the front door as he left. He knew that nobody would break in or steal anything. Leaving the house, Kaden pointed his truck toward Mack’s Bar and Grill.
Chapter 4
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Beth had been on the road, driving a total of forty-seven hours. She’d stopped along the way, sleeping at different hotel rooms after the long days. Sitting in the driver’s seat for eight to ten hours straight tended to be incredibly exhausting. Her back ached and her muscles were tighter than they’d ever been before. When she saw the bright sign that read Mack’s, she pulled into the parking lot.
Parking, she turned off the ignition and climbed out of her SUV. Her body rejected the movement, tensing up. She stood there leaning against her vehicle, feeling the blood rush to places she hadn’t used for a while. Her fanny felt numb, and she wanted to giggle. Should she start massaging herself right here in the parking lot? Would that be inappropriate? Beth did a few stretches before gathering her things and heading toward the front door or Mack’s.
A Help Wanted sign caught her attention and Beth wondered if she should apply. Would it be possible to find a job on her first day in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park? She should probably wait to see Emma before even thinking about asking about a job. She shouldn’t make the decision to stay based solely on her cousin, but she wouldn’t stay somewhere she wasn’t wanted.
Pulling the door open, Beth walked inside. She wiped her feet on the mat as she peered around at the place. It was cozy looking, and she could smell the wood cleaner that hung in the air. To the right, there were tables, chairs, and booths set up, ready for customers to come and eat. To the left, there was a long bar with tall stools. Toward the back, she spotted a couple of pool tables, big screen TVs, and various other games set up for the patrons.
She was only standing in the doorway for a couple of minutes when the door opened behind her. Stepping to the side, Beth peered over her shoulder and watched as three men strode in. They all looked exactly alike. Actually, two of the men were twins. The only thing that differentiated them was their hair length. She’d never seen grown men that looked so handsome. It was obvious that they had some Native American heritage. Just when she was about to turn back and look for Emma, she appeared behind the men.
“Hi, Beth,” Emma shrieked as she slid in between the large men and practically ran toward her with a huge smile on her face.
Beth opened her arms and embraced her cousin. It felt good to finally be hugging her friend after all the years they’d spent apart. The two of them had barely spoken over the last ten years, and now to be standing here with Emma in her arms, it felt like they’d never been separated. Beth’s eyes filled with tears as a lump formed in her throat. So much wasted time and for what? The past melted away and all that remained was her cousin.
“God, I missed you.” Beth rubbed her eyes against Emma’s shoulder. She didn’t want to spend all their time reconnecting a blubbering mess, but after her drive from Seattle and the nonstop calls from Kirk she was exhausted.
Emma leaned back slightly and touched her face. “I missed you, too. The scar…it’s gone.” Her voice was filled with relief and Beth was glad that it didn’t grace her face for Emma’s benefit.
When she had woken up in the hospital, she’d felt as if the scar was her punishment for drinking and partying. Today, she was glad that Emma didn’t have to see a reminder of that night. Maybe the two of them could start fresh.
“Ciqala, are you going to introduce us to your cousin?”
“Of course…Beth, I want you to meet my husbands.” She emphasized the last word. “This is Chayton, Takoda, and Mahkah.” Emma smiled brightly and Beth felt as if the wind was knocked out of her.
Schooling her facial features, she shook hands with each man hoping that she appeared calm and unfazed by Emma’s announcement. She didn’t want Emma or her men to think that she was being judgmental. She had no right to express her personal opinions considering all the things in her past she wasn’t proud of. In fact, the last thing she wanted was for her cousin to judge her past misdeeds
.
The thing that surprised her was that these three men were obviously related. Was it some kind of kink that brought the four of them together? Was her cousin really okay with being shared? Did they both attract the sort of men that couldn’t seem to get enough sex? She had so many questions, but she kept her mouth shut. It wasn’t any of her business unless of course Emma brought something up to discuss.
“Are you hungry?” Emma asked her, a big grin on her face as the three men surrounded her, seeming to protect her in a bubble of their masculinity.
“Starved, actually. I didn’t want to stop for lunch because I didn’t want to run behind schedule.”
“You could’ve stopped and called me. I wouldn’t have minded changing our meeting time.” Emma looked concerned, but her smile remained intact.
“No, I really wanted to get here.” Wasn’t that the truth? She’d wanted to be as far from Seattle as possible, and now that she was here, she felt a little better. Now, if that jerk would stop calling, she could heal and move on with her life.
“Let’s take one of the big booths, ladies, and we can order,” Mahkah, the oldest brother, said as he led them toward the back of the place.
Beth stayed at Emma’s side, their arms intertwined. It felt good to finally be here. She couldn’t believe how happy Emma looked. The woman was positively glowing, but with three capable men, she’d better be. Beth had to bite her lip to keep from laughing aloud. Emma had introduced the men by saying they were her husbands, not lovers or boyfriends. That meant commitment.
At least, she hoped it did, for Emma’s sake. Hell, Beth only had one husband and the man was never satisfied. He didn’t know what loyalty, honesty, and commitment meant. The two of them were only married three years, and Kirk was always on the prowl. He spent so much time on the internet searching for single women, men, and married folks to play with. Beth had even found Kirk’s profile up on at least a half-dozen sites looking for a quick lay. Shaking her head, she pushed all thoughts of him away. She didn’t want to think of him anymore, she wanted to leave him and Seattle in the past.