Trust by Viola Rivard

stomach had been growling all day. Each time he offered the rest of the beef jerky she refused it, willfully allowing herself to starve.
    She wasn’t his mate, not yet. Nothing had been consummated between them, but their close contact during the past few days, coupled with the night they’d lain next to one another, had led to her bearing his scent. As far as his wolf was concerned, she was his female and it was his responsibility to ensure she was provided for. That was why her refusal of the beef was so maddening.
    “You need to eat,” Alder insisted, pushing his hand forward again.
    They had only just reached the summit of the mountain. At this pace, they would arrive in his territory by early morning. During the past few hours, he’d given a lot of thought to how he would tell Taylor the truth about what he was.
    Barring any inconvenient run-ins with the Whiteriver pack, he decided the best thing to do would be to get her settled into the cabin for a few days. He’d instruct the rest of the pack to steer clear of her, and once she was comfortable and felt safe, he would ease her into his world.
    “I’m not gonna starve,” Taylor said, trying to push his hand away again. “You know, the human body can survive for weeks without eating. I once saw this documentary where this guy—”
    “Just eat it,” he said impatiently.
    “It’s a byproduct of the subjugation of animals,” she said, hopping over a fallen tree. Alder noticed her wince when she landed, but she continued walking without further signs of discomfort. “Do you know what they do to those cows?”
    “Season them?” he offered.
    She shot him a glare, but it vanished almost immediately. Her eyes widened as she pointed at something behind him. “Whoa, look at that!”
    Alder turned, already knowing what she was looking at. The mountain dropped off in this area, forming a steep bluff that gave an excellent view of his territory.
    Halcyon Mountain and the valley that rested at its foot were the most coveted stretch of land in the Carolinian region. Mount Ezra provided a natural barrier between the valley and the human states, ensuring that their territory remained safe and isolated. The twin lakes in the valley drew wildlife from miles away, providing a steady stream of prey for his pack.
    From a distance the massive lakes looked like puddles at the foot of a hill. Alder pointed towards the one on the left.
    “The cabin is by that lake,” he told her. “It’s small and in need of a few repairs, but we’ll have it fixed up for you in no time.”
    Staring down over his territory with Taylor at his side, Alder felt a rush of pride. Earning such a prized piece of land had been no easy feat, and he looked forward to telling her about the battles he’d fought to secure the mountain valley for his pack.
    The salty smell of tears drew his attention to Taylor, who quickly swiped at her eyes self-consciously. Before he could question her she turned and wrapped her arms around him, enveloping him in a tight embrace.
    “Thank you,” she whispered into his chest. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
    Alder was torn between confusion at her strange reaction and pleasure at her touch. Deciding not to waste the moment, he returned her embrace, encircling his arms around her slight form. Only a day before, he’d had her body pinned against a tree, his tongue in her mouth and her breast in his hand. Somehow, this seemed far more intimate to him.
    As the sun started to sink behind the western mountain, Alder reluctantly pulled Taylor back. He leaned down, placing his forehead against hers.
    “Going down will be much faster, but we have to get going,” he told her.
    She nodded. “Okay.”
----
    N ight fell over the mountainside like a black sheet. The moon was full, but its light was obscured by the forest canopy. Taylor held on tightly to Alder’s hand, as if his touch could ward away all the dangers that were concealed by the darkness.
    The animal