Hunter's Mate

by Becca Jameson

  Hunter’s Mate

  Canyon Springs, Book Two

  Becca Jameson

  Copyright © 2020 by Becca Jameson

  Cover Artist: Scott Carpenter

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. And resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Newsletter

  Acknowledgments

  About the Book

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Epilogue

  Also by Becca Jameson

  About the Author

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  Acknowledgments

  The first two books in this series were a challenge because the stories are parallel. I spent a number of hours slamming my head into a wall, wondering why on earth I thought this was a good idea. But I eventually came out the other side, and I love the finished product. I have to thank my amazing beta readers for reading these two books in random order and making sure I didn’t leave out any details! Susan, Tracy, Allison, Barbara, Melanie—you are the best!

  About the Book

  The small town of Canyon Springs, Colorado, is filled with warm, welcoming people and breathtaking views. Is that why visitors often decide to stay for the rest of their lives? Or is it something else?

  * * *

  Layla doesn’t believe any of the nonsense her grandmother filled her head with growing up. There’s no way shifters have the ability to entice humans into their world through some sort of coercion. The woman was simply prejudice. The concept is nonsense.

  * * *

  So, Layla isn’t concerned about making the trip to Canyon Springs to settle her estranged aunt’s estate. In fact, she’s hoping to meet her first shifter and find out if they really are larger, sexier, and more tempting. The truth is that Layla is a starving actress, and she needs a change.

  * * *

  She’s not, however, prepared to meet Hunter and put all her beliefs to the test. He’s everything she hoped for and then some. It would seem he’s also doing exactly what her grandmother warned her about—luring her into his lair. Her libido is on overdrive. Her heart is in danger.

  Prologue

  August 13, 1964

  * * *

  Dear Mabel,

  * * *

  It’s been three months since I last saw you. We’ve never been separated that long in our lives. Surely you don’t intend to hold this grudge forever. I know you’re angry. I know you thought we would marry brothers or best friends one day and live next door to each other and raise a dozen kids together.

  There’s no reason why that can’t still happen. If you would just come to Canyon Springs to visit, you never know, maybe you would meet a man here and find the same happiness I’ve found. Josiah has lots of friends. Even if you don’t meet someone here, at least you and I could catch up. Or you could write me.

  Mama says you got a job at the local elementary school teaching first grade. I’m so happy for you. I started my job teaching here in Canyon Springs. Kindergarten. It won’t be the same without you. I had always hoped we would teach in the same school. Share ideas.

  Please don’t cut me out of your life. I miss my twin. My other half. Please don’t blame me for falling in love. I’m so happy. I wish you could understand. The only thing that puts a damper on my life is your silence. I miss you.

  * * *

  Love, Marge

  Chapter 1

  Present day…

  * * *

  Layla glanced around her dingy apartment as she closed her suitcase and yanked it off her bed to land with a thud on the floor. It was a small, one-room, studio apartment in a not-so-great neighborhood in Los Angeles county. She’d been living there two years, ever since graduating from college.

  When she’d arrived with her brand-new theater degree, she’d had high aspirations of auditions and casting calls. She’d visualized finding an agent and pimping herself out all over the city until she got her big break.

  The idea of being on stage or in a studio dramatically pretending to be whatever the script called for had thrilled Layla from the time she was a young girl. The truth was, however, that she’d barely seen a glimpse of that action. The competition was stiff. It seemed like there were ten thousand people just like her in Los Angeles with the same degree and high hopes. All of them far more accomplished than she.

  Sure, she’d been in a few commercials and had some minor roles in the background of a movie or two, but she’d worked her ass off for two years, barely making ends meet and too embarrassed to admit defeat, even to her sister.

  Elena wasn’t just a sister. She was her identical twin. The two of them had been inseparable for their entire lives. They’d even gone to the same college. But their lives went in different directions, and though they’d promised to talk on the phone every day, their calls had gotten farther apart over the months.

  Elena had run off to Chicago with her degree in journalism, equally eager to take on the world and become the next famous writer. Layla knew her sister had hustled herself all over that city. She’d published a few articles in several local papers, but Layla figured there was a good chance Elena was just as disillusioned about her aspirations as Layla. Neither one of them was willing to verbally admit defeat. Thus the dwindling phone calls.

  The last time the two of them had seen each other was a year ago when Grandma Mabel died and they both went to their hometown to attend her funeral and settle her affairs. It had been a brief whirlwind visit, during which they realized, not shockingly, that Grandma Mabel hadn’t had any money to her name. Her estate came out close to even when all her bills were finally paid and everything was sold.

  Not only had Layla not been surprised, but she’d been humbled and grateful because Grandma Mabel had paid every cent of Layla’s and Elena’s college education. She and Grandpa George had saved everything they could from the moment the twins were born.

  Every time Layla thought about what her grandparents had sacrificed for the two of them, she felt overwhelming gratitude. Part of her felt sad that neither grandparent was living to see her sister and her succeed in life.

  Layla reminded herself how unsuccessful she’d been and shuddered, thanking God that neither grandparent was alive wondering where all their hard-earned money had gone.

  Layla glanced around at her silent, empty apartment as she grabbed her suitcase and purse and made her way toward the door. In six hours, Layla would once again be reunited with Elena. And once again, it would be for a funeral. This time, however, they wouldn’t be in serious mourning because this funeral was for their Great Aunt Marge whom neither of them had ever met.

  The more Layla thought about the circumstances, the more ridiculous it seemed that neither she nor her sister had ever gone to visit Aunt Marge. Granted, there was a reason. Mabel held a grudge against her sister for over fifty years, never forgivi
ng her, and making sure everyone around knew it.

  Marge’s crime: meeting a man in a town four hours away in Canyon Springs, Colorado, and staying in that town to marry him. Through Mabel’s eyes, the offense was so much more than that. After all, Canyon Springs was well known as a place with a large population of shifters.

  In Mabel’s mind, her sister never should have stopped in that town to get gas in the mid nineteen sixties in the first place. Ironically, although Grandma Mabel never seemed particularly racist or sexist or homophobic, she truly believed so-called “regular humans” should not mix with shifters.

  The lore, according to Mabel, was that shifters had some crazy ability to lure humans into their world and somehow use mind control to convince them to stay. Unfortunately, Mabel wasn’t the only person who believed that shit. Even though this was the twenty-first century and nobody cared much who married whom with regard to race or gender, society still had a stigma against shifters.

  For that reason, many shifters lived in smaller communities, preferring to stay off the radar as much as possible and not draw attention to themselves. Layla figured half the reason anyone believed all that gibberish about shifters having weird super powers was because they kept to themselves, adding to the mystery.

  Needless to say, Grandma Mabel had never forgiven her sister for meeting a man in Canyon Springs, marrying him, and staying there for the rest of her life. As far as Layla knew, the two sisters had never spoken again.

  The thought of never speaking to Elena again made Layla’s chest tighten. It was bad enough that they’d started separate lives in different states and had seen each other only once since graduation.

  Layla had been feeling nostalgic lately, missing Elena terribly. They were identical twins, just like their grandmother and great aunt. They shouldn’t be separated like this. It was time to make a change. Lord knew Layla was not making any headway in Los Angeles.

  In the last few days, Layla had made the rash decision to get out of her lease, put what few things she cared about in storage, and not return to Los Angeles. She hoped Elena wouldn’t mind if Layla headed with her to Chicago. At least then Layla could be broke without being alone.

  It wasn’t as if she couldn’t continue trying her luck at acting in Chicago. Maybe she could try out for some off-Broadway performances. Though lately, she’d begun to lose her passion for acting. Rejection would do that to a person.

  Layla’s latest real job that paid her rent had been as a waitress at a local pub. The owner barely flinched when Layla gave him three days’ notice. Starving artists were everywhere in Los Angeles. The man probably had a line of other wannabe actors and actresses needing rent money.

  Layla felt a bit lighter as she left her apartment and made her way downstairs. This chapter of her life was over. She was about to go on an adventure in Canyon Springs. Afterward she would try her hand at something new.

  She hadn’t told Elena she didn’t intend to return to Los Angeles. Pride still kept her from admitting defeat out loud, but by the end of the week, surely, the two of them would have spent enough evenings drinking several bottles of wine, catching up, and spilling secrets.

  In addition, Layla had to admit she wouldn’t be disappointed if there was some truth to the whispered rumors that shifters were freakishly fit, large, and sexy. She didn’t believe for a moment that they could actually use some sort of brainwashing to convince people to have sex with them. That was ridiculous. But hell, it had been a damn long time since Layla had gotten laid, and she wasn’t opposed to a one-night stand with some hunky shifter. Maybe a bear or a wolf.

  She laughed as she stepped out of the building for the last time and met her Uber. The woman glanced at Layla with an odd look while Layla continued to chuckle to herself as they headed to the airport. It wasn’t as if Layla was going to inform Pam the Uber driver that she was hoping to have sex with a shifter this week.

  Seriously though, what was Layla thinking? Canyon Springs was a small town. It would be rude to arrive and immediately start scouting out the men. People would expect them to be in mourning. Their aunt just died. A bit of reverence was in order.

  Gah. The only reason why Layla knew what the woman looked like was because Mabel was her identical twin. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to pick her aunt out of a lineup. Grandma Mabel hadn’t even kept childhood pictures of the two of them. At least not out for anyone to see.

  When Mabel passed away, Layla and Elena hadn’t been able to stay in their hometown of Hyde Park, Colorado, more than a few days. They’d given Mabel’s lawyer permission to hire someone to hold an estate sale. Layla knew there was a small storage unit in town, which held mementos and keepsakes, including old photo albums, but neither she nor Elena had gone back to pick anything up or even visit. They really should someday soon. It was only a few hours from Canyon Springs. If only life weren’t so darn complicated.

  Layla closed her eyes during the drive and took several cleansing breaths. No matter what, this was going to be an adventure, and she hoped to make the most out of it.

  She also hoped Elena would agree. They needed to reconnect. Have some fun. Laugh. Eat. Drink. And hey, if they also managed to meet some sexy hunks, Layla wasn’t about to turn down an opportunity.

  Chapter 2

  December 3, 1964

  * * *

  Dear Mabel,

  * * *

  I just got off the phone with Mom. She said you met someone! I’m so happy for you. She said his name is George. I bet he’s handsome and perfect. I hope if you marry him you’ll consider inviting me to the wedding.

  How is teaching going? My students are getting restless as we get closer to the holidays. There are still several weeks left before Christmas vacation, but you’d think it already started.

  It snowed six inches here last week. We were off school on Friday. I heard the storm missed Hyde Park almost entirely. That’s lucky for you, I guess. It’s pretty, but we’re in for a long winter at this rate.

  Stay safe. Write me about George. I want to hear all about him.

  * * *

  Love, Marge

  * * *

  Hunter’s legs were throbbing from lactic acid build up. Perhaps a five-mile run hadn’t been the best idea this evening. Or, maybe it had something to do with the fact that he didn’t run that hard or that far often enough.

  For the last few months, he’d been swamped at work. Luckily, it was looking like things would lighten up for a bit. He had even considered taking a few days off. Though he had yet to mention that to his best friend and partner, Caleb.

  Still sucking in deep breaths, he stood at the edge of a ridge staring into the distance. The view from this particular lookout point was beyond spectacular. His favorite in all of Canyon Springs. Years ago, he’d mapped out this particular route for his runs, making sure he ended up standing right here in the end where he could see for miles in every direction. The lush, green trees were life-affirming in the summer, and when they were capped with snow in the winter, the vision was postcard perfect.

  As Hunter lifted one arm to extend behind his head for a deep stretch, holding his elbow back with his other hand, he breathed in the clean scent of pine and nature. The ridge was only a half mile from his home, which gave him the perfect distance to cool down after his run.

  The sun would set in a few minutes, and he intended to watch it before heading back. Just as he was switching arms, he inhaled an unfamiliar scent. For a moment, he stood frozen, his mind swimming with the implication. He tried to absorb what was happening, but his brain kept firing random thoughts that were impossible to fully process.

  Luckily he managed to convince his feet to move, allowing him to spin around at the same moment the owner of the scent came jogging around the corner of the windy road.

  Hunter blinked, unable to breathe or speak or move another muscle. Was it possibly his mind was playing tricks on him, and the fucking amazing woman wasn’t real? He finally managed to draw in another br
eath, causing him to confirm what he already knew. The blond pixie with the bouncing ponytail was his mate.

  The woman was wearing workout clothes that left nothing to his imagination. She had on tight, black spandex pants, a black sports bra, and a fitted pink tank top. Her hair was so light that it surprised him that she had tanned skin.

  At first, her head was tipped toward the ground, but she must have sensed him because she suddenly jerked her gaze up, catching him staring at her. She flinched, probably from being startled. Or even scared. After all, she couldn’t have expected to run into another person on this ridge.

  Hunter had never seen her before, naturally. If he’d ever been even remotely close to her in the past, he would have known she was his mate and already claimed her.

  The sexy blonde lifted a hand to give him a brief polite wave and a slight smile, but she continued running around the corner across the street from him. He hadn’t missed her gorgeous brown eyes, though. They nearly brought him to his knees.

  Hunter watched her, dumbfounded, unable to take his gaze off her until she was completely out of sight. He couldn’t decide what to do. There was a distinct chance she had no idea who he was to her. If she had, she would have been in the same predicament as him, startled, mesmerized.