Chapter 10

A good day.

We hiked on, discussing our plans for building gardens up here and how we wanted to develop a seed program around native plants of the area. We thought it might be a way to earn a living as well as do something valuable to the earth. Liam pointed out various plants he thought we could incorporate into our program, and I appreciated once again how he had been able to pivot from the plans we’d had before to the ones we were building now.

“Maybe it was the stress we were under?” Liam posited. “Maybe that was why we were ready to be together?”

“Doubtful.” I bent to rub my fingers over a low-growing shrub to release its scent. “We’d been under that stress for months before we came up here. Don’t you think it might have been our wolves? They might have gotten tired of our hesitation.”

“Had yours ever pushed you in any way to speak out? To act on your feelings?”

I considered as we came to the top of the trail above the lake and began a switchback down to a high meadow. “No, actually I don’t think he has. If we never know the answer, will you be okay not knowing?”

“Probably. I mean, we’ll have to, won’t we?” The view was obscured by some fog that also swirled around our feet, meaning, we had to pay serious attention to where we placed our feet on the narrow trail. “This is fun.”

“No, it’s not.” Liam continued, sliding one foot in front of the other. “But it’s necessary. I was thinking that we might be able to make some real contributions to the pack with our garden. Food for all as well as a business that could help support us.”

“Yes, that’s the…hey!”

Pebbles showered around us and my feet skidded, one shooting over the edge of the trail.

“What’s going on?” Liam grabbed my arm just in time to keep me from falling at least to the next section of trail and maybe a lot farther. He tilted his head back, trying to see past through the fog above us. We were maybe halfway down, so there were several levels that could have generated the mini avalanche. “Who’s up there?”

Mia

“Who’s up there?” The words carried through the fog that masked the switchback trail I followed. It was just wide enough for maybe two people to walk side by side and had no comforting stone wall or fence, of course. Up here, there were no construction crews making things safe for klutzy tourists.

Oh hell. All my care in hanging back had been lost just because I stumbled and disturbed a few small rocks. The lovers from the night before were going in the same direction I was, a fact I’d figured out as soon as I rejoined the main trail. I was still of the opinion that not being discovered was a good plan. I wanted to run to catch up, apologize, and ask if they’d mind if I traveled with them, but that desire was totally silly.

They might even be on their honeymoon for all I knew. They’d certainly behaved as if they were. Confused by the whole experience, I stopped walking and pressed back against the rock wall. They couldn’t see me, anyway, not with all the thick fog, but somehow I still wanted to hide.

“We know you’re there,” came the other man’s voice. “And it’s okay, but can you please be careful? Those rocks hurt.”

I hurt them. Courtesy instilled in me by my mother when I was just a little girl forced the words, “I’m sorry. I’ll be careful,” from my lips.Damn.

“Aha! I knew I heard someone. Come down here and join us. That way you won’t be kicking pebbles over onto us.” The first man again.

“I still might kick rocks.”

“But you’ll be right here, and we won’t get a concussion.”

“That’s all right. I’ll stay put until you’re off the switchbacks.” I didn’t want to interrupt their romantic trip, and also, I totally did.

Mates.

Yes, we know they’re mates. What I don’t know is why I’m interested even though they are. I need to keep my distance.

Mates!

She was hopeless. My wolf seemed to be in love with love, enthralled with the romance between two people who would certainly not want us butting in where we had no business.

“I really think you should come down and join us.”

I screeched because this time, it was man number two, the one with less scruff, and he was standing directly beside me. “How did you get here?”

He grinned. “I walked up while you and my mate were shouting at one another. Come on down and join us. It will be safer for our heads and we can keep you from falling to your death.”

“Why would I do that? I’m like a mountain goat.” I tossed my head, less like a mountain goat and more like…maybe a dairy cow.

“Uh-huh. Then explain why your heel is even now hovering over oblivion?”

“I’m not…oh goddess!” I jumped away from the edge. “Just a minute ago I was by the wall. I don’t know what happened.”

“It’s the way this trail is. We’ve been on it a few times, going home for visits, and it’s got some weird twists. Just come walk with us.”

“Where is home?” I was starting to think I knew.

“Triple L Ranch. Have you heard of it?” He closed his hand over my elbow and was guiding me along while he spoke. “It’s about a day and a half away by foot.”

“Uh, yeah. To tell you the truth, that’s where I’m going. I was hoping to ask the alphas…never mind.”

“Ask the alphas what?” We rounded a curve and continued on the level below the one I’d been standing on while 98 percent of my attention was focused on the spot on my arm where he was touching me. It was through several layers of sweatshirts, but I could feel the heat anyway.

“Nothing. Where are you guys traveling from?”

“It’s a long story, but we’ve been away for a long time. We were both born at Triple L.”

“I hear it’s a good place to be.”

“Very good.” The other man came into sight. “Were you visiting someone?”

“No.” I didn’t see any reason to explain to them. “But I don’t mind walking with you two for a while if I’m not in the way.”

“It’s fine.” But nothing about his tone meant that. “I’m Liam and you’ve already met my…mate, Levi.”

Why the hesitation? “Not formally. I’m Mia and I promise to be careful and not to let any more rocks fall on you. Just go ahead and I will stand stock-still until you holler up that you’re not beneath me any longer.” Why on earth did that sound so naughty? “I mean until you get to the bottom of the switchbacks.”

“I don’t think so.” The man who’d led me down here shook his head. “Come on, Mia . Why are you headed to the ranch? You said you wanted to ask the alphas something?”

I didn’t want to tell him, but if I didn’t and then they saw me there, they might say something to the alphas about what a rude bitch I’d been and then he’d reject my request and I’d be on the trail with nowhere to go.

My former alpha had probably already stripped my home of all valuables, for what they were worth, and I couldn’t go back there anyway. If Triple L said no to my suit, I’d ask if there was another pack around that might accept me.

“I’m also going to Triple L to…to…” I sucked in a deep breath for courage. Maybe if these two liked me okay, they’d put in a good word. “I need a place to live.”

Jessica eyes widened, and Liam studied me as if he had never seen a specimen like me before. What were they thinking? Neither said a word, and finally I had to break the silence.

“Do you think they’ll accept me? I don’t mind working hard.”

Liam responded. “Luke and Tal are the best. As I told you, we’ve been away a long time, so we don’t know precisely what the pack policies are about new members, but we know that they will hear you out at least.” He looked at the other man who nodded. “Listen, it’s not good to be alone up here by yourself. You never know who you’ll run into.”

“I sensed that,” I told him. “But I don’t want to be any bother.”

“You won’t be.” Jessica offered me a wry smile. “And how do you think our alphas would react if we said we ran into a female on her way here and left her alone on the trail?”

“It doesn’t even make sense not to walk together,” Liam added.

“I can take of myself,” I protested. “But I appreciate the offer.”

Jessica shook his head. “Okay, we’re gonna have to come clean. If we walk away and leave you on the trail to make your way through fog and the storm we think is going to hit tonight, it’s not Luke and Tal we’ll be afraid to face.”

“No,” his mate finished for him. “It’s the alpha female, Analise. We’re born to the pack but we’d probably be thrown out. So, let’s stop the discussion that’s just going to keep us from getting home, and start walking.”

“Did you say there was going to be a storm?”

Liam pointed to the sky. “Beyond that fog are some nasty-looking clouds. We won’t get there tonight, no matter what we do, but the closer the better. There are some shelters just off the trail if we can get close enough.”

They’d presented some strong arguments, so I stopped arguing and started walking. Once we got to Triple L, I probably wouldn’t see them much and therefore wouldn’t have to listen to my wolf chanting,mate, mate, mate.