Aspen started to argue, but he just shook his head, telling her to drop it. He’d already resigned himself to a life alone without a mate.
“She’s leaving tomorrow,” he reminded her. “It’s for the best.”
“She doesn’t have to leave.” Aspen looked over her shoulder toward Isabell’s room. “I like her, Nash.”
“Go on home,” he grunted. He didn’t want to talk about Isabell anymore. “I’ll take care of shutting this place down.”
“Be good to her,” Aspen called out as she pushed through the front doors. He watched his sister as she walked toward her cabin, never taking his eyes off of her until she was safely inside.
Chapter 5
She finished her call with Mitch and closed her laptop. The article was on hold until she got home, and she wanted to head outside to try and get some shots of the moon before the snow storm brought in clouds.
“Did you get enough to eat?” he asked. She felt the need to tell him everything and do as he asked of her, but she shook herself. She’d never needed a man before. So, why did she want to do everything he said?
“I did, thank you,” she replied.
His amazing scent overwhelmed her when she exited the room, and she stifled a moan from the way it made her insides burn with need. She held her camera in her hand, tightening her hold. She needed something to ground her when she was around him, and reaching for him was out of the question.
“I thought about getting some photos of the northern lights,” she blurted. “Would you mind if I walked out to the runway?”
“Actually,” he replied in his gruff tone, “I know a better place. I’ll take you.”
The night was getting colder, and thankfully, the clouds hadn’t come in over the mountains, yet. Isabell followed him across the parking lot to the hill that led to the cabins where they all lived. The couple, Harper and Fury, were carrying armfuls of wood into their cabin when they passed. Fury gave Nash a nod and disappeared after his wife.
At the top of the hill, a slightly larger cabin was tucked behind several trees. It was made to blend into the forest around it, and she immediately fell in love.
“This is my place,” he replied. “I have a trail out the back that leads to a meadow. The lights from the main building won’t hinder your photos.”
“Thank you, Nash. That’s very sweet of you.”
“I’m not sweet,” he mumbled, but she heard every word.
“Okay,” she chuckled. “Just show me the path, and I’ll check it out for myself. You don’t have to go with me.”
The moment she talked of going on her own, his eyes flashed a hazy yellow just like she’d seen in the airplane, but this time, she couldn’t mistake it for the sun. There was something odd about Nash and his family, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.
“I’ll walk with you,” he said, tucking his hands into his jacket pockets. He started walking, keeping his head held high, looking off into the darkened forest like he could see if anything was coming.
“I have bear spray in my pocket should we need it,” she offered.
“That stuff doesn’t work on all of them,” he grunted. “Some bears are immune.”
“What?” she gasped. “I’ve never heard of that. Everyone I know who’s had to use it says this brand is the best.” She removed the tube from her pocket and gave it a little shake, frowning at the label.
“Just stay with me,” he replied, never looking over his shoulder. “I’ll protect you if we see one.”
She didn’t know how the hell he was going to protect her from a damn grizzly. He didn’t have a shotgun or a rifle with him, and from what she knew, handguns didn’t work on them. It just pissed them off.
Their trek through the woods finally opened up to a meadow, just like he’d promised. The area was small, maybe twenty feet in diameter, but it was all she needed. The Aurora Borealis were shimmering their bluish-green waves directly overhead. The tops of the pines and spruce trees gave it the perfect setting for her images.
She removed her camera from the bag; thankful she’d preset everything for the nighttime shoot. With a click, the shutter sounded and she pulled the camera back to look at the preview on the little screen. She smiled and held it up for Nash to see. “This is the perfect spot.”
“It’s beautiful, Isabell,” he admitted, his voice soft. And the way he said her name…it made the feeling in her lower belly turn into a full-on heat between her legs.
She swallowed hard and raised her camera, backing up to get a different angle. With each shutter click, she moved around the small meadow. Settling back at Nash’s side, she held up the screen and scrolled through the images.
“You are very talented,” he praised. “I’ve been so used to seeing them that I don’t ever look at the sky anymore.”
“You should take in the beauty we have here,” she said, holding her hand out as she waved toward the woods and sky. “My grandfather taught me the importance of respecting nature and all it has to give us.”
“He sounds like a very smart man,” he replied.
“He’s no longer with us,” she said without crying. She didn’t want to look weak in front of Nash. Not because she was being a girl. No, it was something else. Isabell wanted to show him how well she knew to care for herself by being the strong, independent one. Tears didn’t make life better. It only made you snotty.
“I’m so sorry, Isabell,” he whispered, taking a step toward her. His eyes flashed the hazy yellow again, but before she could ask, he closed them and shook his head.
She ignored him, but she wondered why his eyes changed. Her need for answers was rude, and she had to remind herself not to blurt out a question about them. Instead, she sat on her ass, laying back on the grass. Raising the camera to her eye, she adjusted the lens and clicked the button. The shot she wanted would have the tips of the trees in it as a frame. She tried her hardest to bring the real life to paper with her images, but there was nothing like being there in person.
Once she was satisfied with her shot, she set the camera on her stomach and just looked up, absorbing the beauty. “I could stay here forever.”
“Why do you like the forest so much?”
“I told you,” she frowned, turning her head to look at him. He was standing over her; large and menacing…but his face was soft and his eyes were heavy. She scented him again, and the ache between her legs built. “My grandfather raised me out here.”
“No.” Nash shook his head, finally taking a seat next to her. He kept his distance. “There’s something else about being out here that you’re not admitting. Something I don’t think you are even admitting to yourself.”
She returned her gaze to the sky, fighting the urge to cry. He was right. She was hiding a lot. There were so many reasons why she loved the outdoors. “I didn’t have the greatest upbringing.”
Nash didn’t respond. He just let her lay there for the longest time, staring at the sky. In a way, she wanted to thank him for not being that person who always wanted the gory details. Most people were quick to beg for information.
It warmed her heart, realizing he wasn’t going to be one of those people. In fact, she wanted to tell him everything.
“My father was an alcoholic and an abuser.” She paused to fight back tears. “He killed himself and my mother one night when he was in an alcohol induced rage. I was nine…and I saw everything.”
“Oh, Isabell,” he breathed. The scent he gave off thickened around her, and she crossed her arms over her belly to stop the instant ache it caused. “I’m so sorry.”
“My grandparents got custody of me,” she said with a smile. “They raised me with values and integrity.”
She didn’t wait for him to reply, sitting up so she could look off into the woods. “When my grandfather took me out on my first hike, I was hooked. I saw wildlife in their natural habitat, and I learned how to live off the land. I’d never felt more free…more alive than I did when I was away from other people.�
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“Nature is a beautiful thing,” he said from behind her. She glanced over her shoulder and noticed Nash had moved closer. His large body was so close, and that scent…
“It’s my life,” she admitted. “My grandparents left me a cabin outside of Anchorage. It’s perfect for me; off-grid and on a small patch of land. It gives me the peace I want, but it keeps me close to town so I don’t have to go at it completely on my own.”
“You don’t look like you’re happy about that,” he noted.
“I’d love to have what you have here,” she admitted, feeling a bit of heat redden her cheeks. “I want to live out here. I yearn to see these lights every single night. I need to be among the wild animals to hunt and gather my own food. I want to fish and farm. I’d rather have a pack of dogs as my friends than human beings.”
When she glanced at Nash again, his golden eyes were wide and he bit down on his bottom lip like he was forcing his mouth to stay closed. “What?”
“I think you should go back now. I have a flight in the morning.” Nash changed in that moment. He tucked his chin and stood, giving her his back. She heard a rumble coming from his chest, but like his eye color, she didn’t want to bring it up. Not when he was in a mood again.
“Okay,” she breathed, catching his scent. “I’ll head back.”
She started for the trail, but a branch cracking stopped both of them in their tracks. Another growl rumbled in Nash’s chest, but this time the sound was different…a lot different. “Don’t move, Isabell.”
He crouched low, peering into the night. Just up the trail, an animal…a big animal moved slowly. She couldn’t tell if it was a bear or a moose, but whatever it was, it was coming straight for them.
“Whatever happens,” Nash whispered, “when the trail is clear, you run. Yell for my brother or Fury when you get close. They’ll hear you, and do not stop until you get to Aspen’s cabin. Stay with her until I come get you.”
“Nash, it’s just a bear,” she scoffed. He was acting like aliens were about to land. When he turned his head, she saw it…she saw his eyes. There was a hazy glow to them that reminded her of the wolf she’d seen a few nights prior.
“It could be anything, Isabell,” he lowered his voice. He kept his chin down, gritting his teeth. “When I tell you to run, you run.”
“Okay,” she nodded, hearing another closer crack. “Okay, Nash.”
“And promise me something?” he asked.
Isabell frowned, “Anything.”
“Whatever you see here tonight, please, give me time to explain…” he began, but didn’t finish his sentence before two large bears came crashing into the meadow. His hand reached for hers, and he clamped onto her fingers, pulling her body behind his. He released her and spun around, facing off with the bears, but not before she felt it.
A tingle, almost electric, raced up her arm, settling in her chest. The need to protect him and to be protected by him burned at her soul. Her eyes widened as he glanced at her with a sorrowful gaze; his mouth open wide. A flash of white teeth was the only thing she saw before a mighty roar sounded from Nash’s throat.
The clouds were coming in, covering the almost full moon. The clear sky from just moments ago was gone, but she could see everything.
“Nash?” she called out, still feeling something strange inside her body. She ached to touch him again. She’d felt his warmth where he’d touched her. Her body relaxed, and her arousal hit her full force, causing the previous ache between her legs to become a raging fire.
The wind picked up as the sound of the animals huffing reached her. She could just make out the silhouettes of the bears as they approached, growling and sending out their warnings. As the clouds moved across the sky, revealing the bright moon again, Isabell screamed.
And that’s when she saw it…something she couldn’t immediately believe.
Nash’s clothes ripped to tiny shreds as his body raised in the air, shifting…changing into a white wolf. The same wolf from that night at her camp.
Her first instinct was to run, and that was exactly what she did when the way to the small trail was clear. She used the flashlight in her pocket to light the way, and the moment she saw a small amount of light coming from the Wards’ compound, she starting yelling.
“Fury!”
“Mason!”
“Help!” she screamed until she couldn’t anymore. Then, her screams turned into tears.
Shock…she was in shock at what she’d seen. Nash was a wolf. A shapeshifter…just like the movies. Oh God! What had she gotten herself into with coming there? Why was she scared? Why am I worried for him?
She didn’t have to wait long. Harper, Fury, Mason, and Aspen appeared out of nowhere, and when she looked up into their eyes, they were the same hazy, glowing yellow as Nash’s had been.
“Get away from me!” Isabell scrambled backward, falling on her ass. Her hand sank into the muddy ground as she tried to get away. She pushed away the two women when they reached out to help her to her feet.
“What’s going on? Where’s Nash?” Aspen gasped, reaching for Isabell’s arm again, but she jerked it away.
Fury turned toward his wife. “Get her back to the cabin and lock yourselves in. Now, Harper!”
The two other women grabbed Isabell by the arm, hoisting her up as if she weighed nothing. Fury and Mason took off down the trail, and Isabell was frozen in her spot as the two women stood over her. Their eyes never changed, and when Harper opened her mouth to speak, her fangs were thick in her mouth.
“What happened, Isabell? Tell me!”
“Wh…what are you?” she finally asked after sucking in a much-needed breath. “I saw him. I watched as your brother…changed. He’s a... oh, god, I can’t even believe I’m saying this.”
“He’s a wolf,” Aspen sighed, crossing her arms over her chest as if it was no big deal. It’s a big fucking deal! “Isabell, it’s okay. Nash is a good guy. We all are. What happened out there so I can answer your questions?”
“Bears,” she blurted, moving further away from the two women. They were wolves, too? That would explain the crazy eye colors, wouldn’t it? Damn it! She was so confused.
“How many?” Harper barked, her eyes still glowing. They were so hazy, Isabell couldn’t see her iris clearly, and that was just…weird. “Isabell?”
“Two,” she replied, holding her hands out in front of her when Aspen tried to get closer. “Nash panicked and he went after them. I’m…I’m sorry. I have to go. I can’t stay here.”
“No! Isabell, you can’t go,” Aspen barked. “You need to stay and talk to Nash when he comes back.”
“The fuck I can’t leave!” Isabell argued. Adrenalin spiked in her veins and she pushed past the two women. When she reached the door, both of them let out a deathly growl that sent her feet moving. She ran out the door and across the parking lot, jamming her key into the lock on the hotel room door. She didn’t even worry with her toiletries, grabbing her backpack and heading for her car.
She had to get out of there, and when she hit the main highway, she pressed down the accelerator as the weather radio alerted her to snow falling on the mountain pass she had to cross to get back to Anchorage.
Nash fought the bears, seeing Isabell in his mind. His mate. The one he was destined to be with for the rest of his life was scared of him. He knew it, because he saw it in her face when he shifted to protect her.
The wolf growled and snarled, lunging for the natural bears. The warning should’ve made them run away, but they were hungry and looking for food. He tried to calm his wolf, begging it to back away and leave them to pass, but the danger they could’ve put his mate in sent his wolf into a fighting frenzy.
His wolf had panicked when they barreled into the clearing. His first thought was a flashback of the night his pack had been killed, and the beast immediately went into protective mode because of Isabell.
A howl echoed in the clearing when his brother and cousin-in-law came to his sid
e, snapping and snarling at the bears. Once they realized they were outnumbered, the bears backed away, disappearing into the woods.
“What the fuck happened?” Mason snarled the moment he shifted. Nash followed quickly after, and Fury remained in his wolf form.
“I panicked when they came into the clearing,” Nash admitted. Being a young alpha with hardly any training came with consequences. “I thought they were shifters.”
“They weren’t,” Mason assured him. “But Isabell is freaking out because you showed your wolf.”
“I have to find her,” he gasped, taking off toward his home as he called out over his shoulder. “Check on the females.”
Mason and Fury ran behind him, and Nash only stopped to grab a set of clothes from his room before heading over to Aspen’s place. The moment he stepped on the porch, her door flew open and both females were crying.
“What happened? Where’s Isabell?” he snarled, feeling his alpha powers swell.
“She left,” Aspen admitted, stepping back when Nash flashed his canines at her. “She wouldn’t stay. I tried, but she ran off, Nash. You have to find her.”
“Fuck!” he roared. “Get to the office and find her address. There is snow falling between here and Anchorage.”
She could crash her car going home, and if she was in distress, it would be a reality. Nash kicked himself for shifting when the bears had surprised him, but his only concern had been protecting Isabell. His wolf was better suited to keep her from getting hurt, and the animal burst from his body without being called forward. That was irresponsible and could get them killed if she told someone.
Aspen ran to the office while he and Mason grabbed more clothes. They were in the truck and heading south toward Anchorage in less than five minutes.
“Watch the ditches and guardrails,” Nash blurted as the snow fell harder the higher the elevation climbed.
His Lost Mate (The Ward Wolf Pack Novella Series, Book 1) Page 4
