danger of introducing our beloved to the pack.”
“They will benefit from seeing her. Even if we cannot claim her as mate, her presence will give them hope.”
I couldn’t say anything, so I called the magic to me, and shifted. The world dissolved and came into focus again, in sharp, colorful scents. The strongest of which— a blue fog edged with red and black—came from Samuel. Melancholy, tinged with despair.
“I do not like it anymore than you do,” Samuel said. “We will be at her side the whole time.”
As a wolf, I fixed my Alpha with a hurt stare, making clear without words that I wished we could keep our beloved safe in the cave with us forever.
Samuel nodded sadly. “As do I.”
A brief stint chasing rabbits did me good. I washed up in a mountain stream and shifted. By the time I returned to our quarters, Brenna had finished her washing. Her dress and a few furs lay on the rocks to dry, and she had entered the pool naked.
I stood in the cave of hot springs, watching her bathe. The waters filling the cavern were the reason we’d chosen to make this mountain our home. That and the rooms and tunnels crafted by dwarves long ago.
The water lapped at her reddened buttocks as she bathed. I admired the grace in her simple movements. From the first day we bought her, she had the poise and elegance of a queen.
When I had enough of watching I started into the water. She startled and whirled as if she had forgotten me. I grinned and waved a hand to see if she’d forgiven me for tanning her arse.
Her lips curved in scorn. She turned and set her back to me.
Chuckling, I settled on a rock to enjoy the view. She couldn’t stay in the water forever.
When she finished bathing, I called, “Come on out, lass. I have a gift for ye.”
She approached warily, and I was struck by the contrast between her pale skin, and her dark hair and fetching doe eyes. I couldn’t resist pulling her into my arms and pressing a kiss to her cold lips, and stroking her hair back from the white weal on her neck. Even her scar was lovely to me, because it was a part of her.
I showed her my peace offering: a cloth filled with berries I’d picked. They won me a smile, but she folded the cloth and set it aside on the rock. My lady took my hand and pulled me to standing. She reached up and traced my features, my nose, cheeks and brow. I knew what she saw, a man of indeterminate age, dark-haired with light eyes that turned gold when the magic was upon me. Years of hard living had turned my face rawboned and rugged, but the magic that allowed us to heal quickly also extended our lives. For all its faults, the beast kept us young.
“Samuel wants ye to meet the pack.” I told her. “We plan to take ye out tomorrow.”
I let her stroke the worry lines on my forehead away. The wolf sighed in contentment.
“I dinnae want to expose ye, Brenna. Tis not safe. We are not…” I struggled to explain. “We are not safe.”
She kept touching me. Her fingers traced my brows.
I shut my eyes, realizing then how on edge I’d been for the last few hours, waiting for her to accept or banish me. Her fingers soothed across my brow and cheeks, tracing gentle lines down to my chest. Every muscle in my body relaxed.
The wolf slept.
*
The next day, I helped her dress in her one remaining gunna, along with thick leather boots. “Samuel has requested ye dine with the pack. You’re to stay close to me or him at all times, and keep yer eyes lowered.”
I checked the torc around her neck. “This marks ye as ours,” I told her, “but there are limits to its protection.”
Her fingers stroked the silver collar, and I felt a surge of protective pride. I kissed her, then gripped her wrist. “Come, lass.”
I led her out of the cave, pausing in the entrance.
“Remember the rules, now. Dinnae look any of the pack in the eye. The wolf considers it a challenge.”
Her brow wrinkled.
“I’m serious, lass. Tis a grave offense. Keep yer eyes down
“They will benefit from seeing her. Even if we cannot claim her as mate, her presence will give them hope.”
I couldn’t say anything, so I called the magic to me, and shifted. The world dissolved and came into focus again, in sharp, colorful scents. The strongest of which— a blue fog edged with red and black—came from Samuel. Melancholy, tinged with despair.
“I do not like it anymore than you do,” Samuel said. “We will be at her side the whole time.”
As a wolf, I fixed my Alpha with a hurt stare, making clear without words that I wished we could keep our beloved safe in the cave with us forever.
Samuel nodded sadly. “As do I.”
A brief stint chasing rabbits did me good. I washed up in a mountain stream and shifted. By the time I returned to our quarters, Brenna had finished her washing. Her dress and a few furs lay on the rocks to dry, and she had entered the pool naked.
I stood in the cave of hot springs, watching her bathe. The waters filling the cavern were the reason we’d chosen to make this mountain our home. That and the rooms and tunnels crafted by dwarves long ago.
The water lapped at her reddened buttocks as she bathed. I admired the grace in her simple movements. From the first day we bought her, she had the poise and elegance of a queen.
When I had enough of watching I started into the water. She startled and whirled as if she had forgotten me. I grinned and waved a hand to see if she’d forgiven me for tanning her arse.
Her lips curved in scorn. She turned and set her back to me.
Chuckling, I settled on a rock to enjoy the view. She couldn’t stay in the water forever.
When she finished bathing, I called, “Come on out, lass. I have a gift for ye.”
She approached warily, and I was struck by the contrast between her pale skin, and her dark hair and fetching doe eyes. I couldn’t resist pulling her into my arms and pressing a kiss to her cold lips, and stroking her hair back from the white weal on her neck. Even her scar was lovely to me, because it was a part of her.
I showed her my peace offering: a cloth filled with berries I’d picked. They won me a smile, but she folded the cloth and set it aside on the rock. My lady took my hand and pulled me to standing. She reached up and traced my features, my nose, cheeks and brow. I knew what she saw, a man of indeterminate age, dark-haired with light eyes that turned gold when the magic was upon me. Years of hard living had turned my face rawboned and rugged, but the magic that allowed us to heal quickly also extended our lives. For all its faults, the beast kept us young.
“Samuel wants ye to meet the pack.” I told her. “We plan to take ye out tomorrow.”
I let her stroke the worry lines on my forehead away. The wolf sighed in contentment.
“I dinnae want to expose ye, Brenna. Tis not safe. We are not…” I struggled to explain. “We are not safe.”
She kept touching me. Her fingers traced my brows.
I shut my eyes, realizing then how on edge I’d been for the last few hours, waiting for her to accept or banish me. Her fingers soothed across my brow and cheeks, tracing gentle lines down to my chest. Every muscle in my body relaxed.
The wolf slept.
*
The next day, I helped her dress in her one remaining gunna, along with thick leather boots. “Samuel has requested ye dine with the pack. You’re to stay close to me or him at all times, and keep yer eyes lowered.”
I checked the torc around her neck. “This marks ye as ours,” I told her, “but there are limits to its protection.”
Her fingers stroked the silver collar, and I felt a surge of protective pride. I kissed her, then gripped her wrist. “Come, lass.”
I led her out of the cave, pausing in the entrance.
“Remember the rules, now. Dinnae look any of the pack in the eye. The wolf considers it a challenge.”
Her brow wrinkled.
“I’m serious, lass. Tis a grave offense. Keep yer eyes down
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