Dan was nowhere to be seen. But that was just as well. After the way we’d last parted, I didn’t want his negativity to ruin our send-off. Or upset anyone else either in my party or those who were so graciously bidding them farewell and telling them to have the best time ever.This trip had become less about a last single hurrah and more about thinking time for me.We shifted, helping one another with the harnesses to be sure we would be comfortable doing it along the route, and bounded away up the trail west. The ocean called, and the Triple L Ranch would be waiting when we returned. At the entrance to the pass, we stopped and looked back. Triple L lay stretched out below us, its pastures and woodlands stretching as far I could see. It was a beautiful place. My heart swelled with love for my home and pack mates, but right before I turned toward the west again, I caught site of one figure standing alone in the spot we’d said goodbye to everyone. I didn’t need anyone to tell me who he w
Sometimes I wondered why my mate even put up with me when I got this way. He deserved someone better, someone who understood his responsibilities and supported him unconditionally when—Beep! Beep!I flew to the window to see the Wrangler parked out in front. My mate was waving to me, and I grabbed two duffles and ran to toss them into the back of the car. “You took off the soft top,” I cheered. “Now I know we’re on vacation.”“If my wearing a Hawaiian shirt doesn’t do it, I guess the top off will?” He climbed out and came around to take the bags from me.“I didn’t even notice.” I’d been too excited that he was back. “But where did you get that thing?” It was a peach background with orange and blue birds of paradise all over it. “It looks vintage.” As in…worn a lot, well-loved.“Sam made me take it when I stopped by to make sure his leaky water heater had been taken care of before we go.” Sam was one of the oldest in the pack, and we all helped him out. So while I’d been getting grouc
We camped near an overlook, a jutting flat rock from which we could see the ocean below and in the distance. Just a sparkle, really, with the sun settling into it like a plump golden apricot. We cooked up some of the dehydrated meals over a small fire while planning our descent in the morning. “We’ll be at the beach before noon,” Lily said, her spoon scraping the last of the chili mac from her tin plate. Or maybe it wasn’t tin but some kind of metal camping plate anyway. “If we check into the motel right away, we can change and go for a swim.”“Or lunch.” Vivi wrinkled her nose, looking much like the animal she was named after. I’d wondered whether she’d done that as a baby right away, leading her mother to pick her name. “I would like something not raw and furry or barely rehydrated please. Maybe a shrimp salad or shrimp scampi or a shrimp cocktail.”“I’m sensing a theme here,” Lana said, rummaging through her pack. “I don’t have any shrimp, but I did bring this.” She held a bottle o
I looked outside to see he was right. I’d have thought we had at least an hour yet, but sometimes fog isn’t predictable. It had closed right in around the house, seeming to muffle everything from the beach, even the waves, but I’d swear I heard footsteps from the street side. “There’s someone out there.”“We’re a long way from anyone else here. The next house is at least a mile away. Maybe someone with car trouble?” He started for the door, but I cut him off.“I’ll answer it.”“You’re so overprotective, mate.” But he didn’t look upset. “What do you think is out there?”“Probably, as you said, a traveler with mechanical issues, but you never know. I’m not an overprotective mate, just the regular kind.” He didn’t protest further, and I’d known him long enough to be aware how much he truly liked it when I got all alpha. It would make our night a little better after I dealt with whoever was out there and sent them on their way.But when I opened the door, it was not a traveler with mechan
DanI ran my hands gently over the female’s limbs, uncovering them one at a time and gently checking for breaks or other serious injury before replacing them under the blanket and moving to the next. While I was not a healer, a pack alpha had to have a little bit of all kinds of knowledge to do their job. Part of that was recognizing certain types of illness or injury and knowing the basic treatment for them. Before I’d taken on the role, this was one thing I’d never learned a thing about, but I’d made it my business over the past year to learn as much as possible about every facet of the pack and how to keep it running well.So far, I’d seen a lot of bruises, some nasty road-rash-type scrapes, and at least one of her wrists was likely sprained. But most of that would heal when she shifted. If she shifted. Because I was getting the feeling she might not remember how to do that. Or that it was even a thing.My mate opened his mouth to respond to her, but I held up my hand. “You asked a
MiaHow did I know that? I could even remember the taste of jam made from alpine strawberries picked under the summer sun’s warmth. That was an awful lot of information for someone who didn’t know her own name or where she came from. Wait. Alpine strawberries.“Alpine means mountains, doesn’t it?” I asked the man, Liam—must be nice to know your own name.“Yes, why?” He bent and tested the water with his fingers. “Perfect.” He picked up a wooden box and opened it. “These are the salts that the alpha was talking about. They are good for aches and pains. The healer makes them.”Alpha? Healer? They weren’t terms I expected to be hearing, but just because I could say what kind jam I liked didn’t mean I remembered all the words I knew. I decided not to ask. For the moment. “Oh, I just was thinking of alpine strawberries made into jam and thought maybe I came from the mountains somewhere.”“Could be.” He stood up. “I don’t want to leave you alone while you bathe. Because you were dizzy, were
Mia We sat around the table talking as if we’d known one another forever, but I wasn’t relaxed, not really. My wolf was prowling around inside me as if we were on the trail of the most intriguing prey, and I was watching every spoonful of soup our guest lifted to her lips. The broth and noodles disappeared into her mouth, interspersed with bites of biscuits with butter and strawberry jam.I’d always gotten satisfaction out of feeding Liam. He did more of the cooking in our home because my duties kept me busy, but I had some recipes that he loved and I made them whenever I could find the time. “Is the soup good?” Not that it was homemade or anything, just one of those envelopes you added to boiling water, but it was better than the canned stuff.“Yes, and so are the biscuits. Thank you for making me dinner. I didn’t realize you hadn’t eaten yet. It’s awfully late, isn’t it?”“We did.”Liam reached for the butter knife. “But we didn’t want you to eat alone. Also, it smelled good.”“Well
I-m beyond confused, but okay.” Squeezing my eyes tight closed, I looked deep within myself, searching for what they claimed was inside me.All right, wolf. If you’re in there…can you speak to me? Everything is all topsy-turvy and makes no sense, but if you are there, and if you can, will you give me a sign?I opened my eyes. The room was not pitch dark; the fog outside the window seemed to glow and gave me enough light to see Dan’s face in front of me. “It’s not working. Maybe we should go to sleep? And figure it out in the morning.” That had, after all, been their suggestion to start with.“You’re so close. If you give me permission, I will ask my wolf to try to reach her.”“Let him, little female.” Liam nuzzled the side of my neck. “Usually wolves only communicate with one another once mating has taken place, and we’re not there yet. Alphas can do things the rest of us can’t.”They weren’t mated yet? They didn’t mean I—no. They couldn’t mean I was their mate, too. But I needed out o