Winter Secrets

by Melissa Limoges

  First things first—she desperately needed a shower. Kate jumped from the sofa and marched down the hall to the bathroom. She caught sight of herself in the mirror over the sink and grimaced.

  Her tangled hair stuck out at angles and huge bags puffed beneath her swollen eyes. She glanced down at her stained baggy T-shirt and sweatpants. If she was completely honest with herself, she might admit she smelled, too. No wonder Jace had wrinkled his nose at her. She looked demented.

  Enough was enough. It was far past time she picked her self-respect up off the floor. She was a strong, capable woman, so she’d better start acting like one.

  Shrugging out of her clothes, she stepped into the shower and twisted on the water, adjusting the temperature. Her hands on the tiles in front of her, she closed her eyes and let the hot spray soak into her skin while the conversation with her brother continued to tumble around in her head. She’d meant what she’d said to Jace.

  Stephen was her world.

  Without him as a constant force in her life, she very well might’ve self-destructed. He’d given her years of patience and love, waiting for her to understand what was between them, but she’d been too blind to see what was right in front of her face. Even after they formed a bond, she still coasted along in their relationship, oblivious to her mate’s needs when he’d given her everything of himself.

  For God’s sake, her kind, loving mate had remodeled a house for her, to build a future with her, and she still hadn’t given him the one thing she knew, deep down, he desired most.

  Kate stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around her. She moved to the sink, studying the image reflected in the mirror. There was far more to her than the human staring back at her, but she stubbornly refused to dig deep and find that other side of herself. The side of herself her mate wanted—no, needed—for their bond to thrive.

  Her Wolf, the missing link to her and Stephen’s waning connection.

  She’d never been able to sense his emotions or read him as he had her. Simply because she’d allowed her doubts to push away the animal inhabiting her body. Was it any wonder her Wolf never spoke to her like other shifters? Why should the beast when she neglected her instincts and buried them deep in the recesses of her mind?

  Kate blew out a long breath, met her own gaze in the mirror, and, however silly it might seem, she spoke. “I know you can hear me. You might not want to, but I want you to know I’m sorry. You needed me as much as I needed you. We’re supposed to be a team, and I let you down. I hope one day you can forgive me.”

  She stared expectantly in the mirror, as though some miracle was about to take place, but when nothing happened, she dropped her gaze. God, how lame was she? Shaking her head, she pushed away from the sink but froze in shock when she felt a slight nudge inside her mind.

  Closing her eyes, she opened her senses and appealed to her Wolf. Please, I need you. Our mate needs you.

  A chill raced over her skin, and Kate shivered as goose bumps rose over her arms and legs. Focused on her surroundings, she dug deep, reaching for the connection. Suddenly, the faint drip from the faucet rang in startling clarity, and the lavender-scented body wash she used grew in potency. The hairs along her arms rose as though tiny electric currents raced over her skin. She felt the shift inside her before her body morphed from human to animal.

  Picturing her Wolf in her mind, she welcomed the frisson of energy cascading through her body as her Wolf awakened from a long, imposed slumber.

  Chapter Seven

  The long bay of a wolf intruded on Stephen’s illicit dream of Kate. He strained to hang onto the bare threads of unconsciousness. Wrapped around her writhing body, he palmed her soft breasts and lined the head of his cock at her wet entrance. As his mate breathed a sexy moan, another prolonged howl obliterated the sound. Slowly, the fantasy sifted through his fingers and retreated to his subconscious, tugging him into awareness. Hazy and frustrated, he cracked open his bleary eyes and lifted his head to glance at the painful erection tenting his jeans.

  Shit.

  Scrubbing a hand over his scruffy face, he sat upright on the pallet he’d made on the floor and peered around the living room, finding nothing out of place. There wasn’t too much in place to begin with. Aside from his makeshift bed, a chair, ladder, some paint cans and tools, the room was bare. Would be, until the furniture Emily ordered for him arrived after the Solstice.

  Didn’t matter anyway. Without Kate, what was the point? He could pack the entire house with high-dollar furniture, fancy appliances, and whatever-the-hell other crap but without his mate, it’d never be a home.

  A fucking week had passed, and she hadn’t bothered to contact him once. Stephen wasn’t too big a man to admit her silence stung. For some stupid reason, he’d imagined she’d show up on his doorstep the same day, begging for forgiveness and professing her love. But when one day passed, then another, and another, the void in his chest grew into a black hole, sucking the will to care right out of him. He couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep. Hell, when he did, his dreams taunted him with explicit images of her.

  Shit, he was pathetic. He knew it. His Wolf knew it. His friends knew it. His entire fucking pack knew it. But what was he supposed to do?

  He’d made a decision and, Goddammit, he couldn’t back down now. For once, she was going to have to come to him. Otherwise, he’d spend the rest of his life fighting her battles and chasing after her, while she’d continue to hold shit back from him. Until she learned to deal with her insecurities and trust him implicitly, he would never have her whole heart.

  A lingering, mournful howl carried on the wind, scattering his disheartening thoughts and awakening his Wolf. Unfamiliar with the call’s owner, he hoisted himself off the floor and padded barefoot to the front door to investigate. If there was a new wolf in Black Hills territory, he needed to find out who and why for the sake of his pack.

  Cautious, he stepped out onto the porch, his eyes immediately adjusting to the dimness. The crisp winter wind slammed into his body and he shivered. His short-sleeve T-shirt useless against the chill, he crossed his arms and burrowed into himself for warmth as he searched the front yard. Faint traces of another wolf drifted up his nostrils. Odd, he couldn’t place the other shifter right off, but the scent felt familiar, as if he’d known it his entire life.

  Moonlight hung low over the treetops, illuminating his stretch of land to the forest beyond. For several minutes, he peered through the thick scrub and trees, but there was no sign of movement. He paced to the other side of the wraparound porch and surveyed the gravel drive leading to the highway. At once, his pulse quickened. In the middle of his driveway sat a beautiful brown wolf with distinct white facial markings he’d recognize anywhere—Kate.

  Stunned, he merely gawked at her in awe. He couldn’t help it. He’d nearly given up hope of her ever shifting in front of him again.

  Maybe it was because she’d been unable to shift before their mating, but he knew she still harbored doubts about the change. So much so, she’d concealed the truth from him for months. He’d striven for patience, never pushing her to shift and run with him, hoping against hope she might come around in her own time, but then she never did. Instead, their bond had suffered in her Wolf’s absence.

  When their pack leader, Drew, and his mate, Betty, announced their plans for a pack run during the Solstice, Stephen hoped the celebration might be the push Kate needed. Los Lobos hadn’t held a Solstice run in years because their old ass of a leader had been too fucked in the head and destructive to care about his pack. The new Alpha wanted to bring their pack together to celebrate the holidays and breathe life into their pack again. Of course, the hope Stephen held onto quickly diminished once Kate refused to attend.

  But she was here now, in the fur, and as gorgeous as ever, her pretty hazel eyes fastened on him. Her actions spoke louder than words ever could. Shit, he almost gave into his Wolf’s urging to shift and leap off the porch after her.
<
br />   Rather than make a fool of himself, he stood rooted to newly built wooden floorboards of the porch while she sat thirty yards away. Didn’t matter he was freezing his ass off; he couldn’t look away from her. Frigid wind gusts howled between them, ruffling her thick coat and dragging another shiver from him.

  She rose on four paws and yipped, the sound music to his ears.

  “Do you want to come inside?” The wind carried his raspy voice across the distance.

  Pawing at the ground, she shook her furry head and yipped again. They continued to peer at each other a few moments longer before she sprinted toward the tree line and darkness swallowed her whole. Every instinct in his body pressed him to shift and chase after her, but he resisted the compulsion.

  When he couldn’t bear the cold any longer, he turned to retreat indoors but paused near the front door. Beside an old rocker he’d sanded and repainted lay a grocery bag he hadn’t spotted on his way out. Curious, he grabbed the sack to examine its contents. Inside was a plastic container filled with homemade brownies and chocolate chip cookies. Below the dish was a package of thick socks with a scrap of paper pinned on top.

  Stay warm. Love you.

  Stephen wasn’t entirely sure how she’d managed to carry the bag in wolf form, or place it on the porch without his notice, but the gesture went a long way in mending the gaping hole in his chest. For the first time in almost a week, his lips curled into a smile.

  He mumbled beneath his breath. “Love you too, Sunshine.”

  ***

  Kate swallowed down her latest bout of nerves and grabbed the ornate door handle to step inside Webb Interior Design in Collins. It was time to commence with phase two of Operation Wolfman. With the soft tinkle of a bell over the door to announce her arrival, she crossed the threshold into the spruce-scented, stylish boutique.

  “I’ll be with you in a minute,” a high-pitched feminine voiced called from a back room.

  Kate took the opportunity to browse over the beautiful woodwork and furniture as she strolled to the counter. No wonder Stephen had asked the woman for help decorating. Each piece had been carefully constructed and shaped with sharp precision. The craftsmanship and attention to detail was nothing short of amazing.

  “I’m sorry to keep you waiting.” The small redhead stepped from the back room, brushing her hands on her apron. When she noticed Kate, her steps faltered, and her kind smile faded.

  With measured steps, Kate paced closer, careful not to send Emily into fight or flight mode. She couldn’t blame the poor woman. She hadn’t been particularly hospitable the last time they’d met.

  “I wanted to come by and apologize for my behavior the other day.”

  Wary, Emily regarded her in silence.

  Kate continued, “I don’t expect you to forgive me, but I wanted you to know how truly sorry I am. You didn’t deserve the way I treated you. Especially after you’ve been nothing but kind.”

  As though weighing the measure of Kate’s sincerity, the petite redhead bit her lip and shrugged. “If I’d have thought my boyfriend was cheating on me, I’m pretty sure I would’ve reacted the same.” She cracked a grin that lit up her pretty face. “You didn’t have to come here to apologize, but I’m glad you did. I accept your apology.”

  She extended her small, fine-boned hand for a handshake, which Kate readily accepted. Immediate relief washed over her at the other woman’s understanding nature. “I also want to thank you for taking the time to help Stephen out.”

  “It’s no trouble at all.” Emily snorted softly. “Hey, I’m happy to have a paying customer for a change.”

  “Are you serious? How are you not busy all the time? Your work is gorgeous.”

  “Thank you. I’m glad you like it.” The redhead beamed a bright smile. “You know how it is, small town and all. There’s not really a high demand for handcrafted furniture.”

  Somehow, the news bothered Kate. Perhaps she might drum up some business for Emily. Maybe she could drive to surrounding towns and advertise for the woman. Spreading the word was the least she could do to help her out.

  “Well, I can think of a few other pieces I’d love for you to make…if you have time.”

  “Of course I do.” Emily eagerly accepted. “What did you have in mind?”

  Oh, you know, a crib. “Tell you what…how about we discuss it over a cup of coffee at the diner?” she suggested.

  “Actually I made a fresh pot in the back. If you want, you could join me while I finish the piece I’m working on for Stephen.”

  Kate offered the other woman a sincere smile. “Thanks, I’d love to.”

  The faint bell over the door chimed and they both glanced at the entrance. Scowling as usual, Wes stalked inside, his burning gaze locked on Emily. “Everything all right?”

  Emily frowned. “Yes, why wouldn’t it be?”

  “She’s not giving you any trouble, is she?”

  “Hey, I’m right here,” Kate exclaimed.

  “No, of course not. We were about to have coffee.” Emily’s spine straightened. “What are you doing here? I didn’t expect you for another couple of days. Stephen’s order won’t be finished until then.”

  Kate glanced at Emily in question. The poor woman looked rattled, for God’s sake.

  The short redhead waved her hand, explaining. “Wes has been picking up all of Stephen’s orders lately.”

  How interesting. She peered back and forth from Emily to Wes, surprised by the tense undercurrent in the air. Had something happened between the two of them? Judging by Wes’s intense stare and Emily’s red cheeks, there had to be something going on.

  Wes craned his neck, meeting Kate’s inquisitive gaze. “I need a word with you. Outside.”

  Please? “O-kay.”

  “It’s freezing outside.” Emily grabbed her arm and lifted her chin defiantly at Wes. “You can say what you need to here. As long as Kate doesn’t mind, then neither do I.”

  Warmed by Emily’s quick defense, she grinned at her new ally. “It’s okay. This’ll only take a minute. Then we’ll have our coffee and talk furniture. I can’t wait to see what you’ve made for Stephen.”

  Wes strode to the entrance at a clipped rate while Kate trailed close behind. As soon as she stepped out onto the sidewalk, he spun around and got in her face. “You’d better not be stirring up more shit.”

  Her best guess was the Wolf had issues, but he’d never been an outright dick to her before. “I’m not stirring up anything.”

  “Then what the hell are you doing here?” he barked out.

  “If you must know, I stopped by to apologize to Emily.”

  Skeptical, he grunted. “You needed to.”

  “I know, and so I did.” She blew out an irritated breath. “What’s the deal with you and Emily?”

  He crossed his thick arms. “What’s the deal with you and Stephen?”

  “That’s between me and my mate.” She mirrored his stance.

  “Fine. Then when the shit are you two getting back together?”

  Kate lifted a brow. “Did you have to get in my face to ask?”

  The question caught Wes off guard, and he backed off with a mumbled sorry. Surprised he’d apologized, Kate almost asked him to repeat himself. “Since you asked, I’m working on making things right with him.”

  After she and her Wolf had come to an understanding, she’d devised a plan to win back her mate, with the help of her beast. The past few evenings and mornings, she’d left care packages outside his door. Lugging a plastic bag in her mouth while in her Wolf form wasn’t quite as easy as she’d imagined, but it was worth the effort to see the happiness on his face each time she brought a new surprise. Not to mention, she needed practice shifting if she planned to run with Stephen during the Solstice in a couple of days. She wanted to make him proud and prove she could be the supportive mate he deserved.

  Speaking of her and Stephen getting back together…. “You know, I
could actually use your help.”

  “With what?” Wes narrowed his eyes, suspicious of the request.

  “Will Stephen be out running borders for the pack again tonight?”

  He hesitated before answering. “Maybe…why?”

  “I need you to help me move a few things while he’s out.”

  “To his house?” He crinkled his nose. “Are you sure he won’t get pissed off?”

  “No, I don’t think so.” At least, she hoped not. Thanks, Wes, for planting the seed of doubt, you ass.

  The Wolf blew out a huge gust of air. “Christ, I’ll do it. When?”

  She couldn’t believe he agreed. “Great. I’ll be home in an hour.”

  “Yeah, great.” Wes rolled his eyes.

  “Hey, don’t look so put out.”

  “What do you expect? I am being put out.” He shook his head and turned to walk away. “I’ll meet you at your house in an hour.”

  Kate called after him. “Wait…can you do me one more favor?”

  Annoyed, he shifted to face her, walking backward. “What is it now?”

  “Pick me up a Christmas tree from somewhere.”

  “A Christmas tree?” He almost stumbled over his feet and fell on his ass. “Are you fucking serious?”

  She stifled her laughter. “As a heart attack. See you in an hour.”

  Not giving him a chance to argue, Kate rushed out of the cold into Emily’s store, pleased phase three of Operation Wolfman was underway.

  Chapter Eight

  It was past two in the morning when Stephen trudged up the back porch steps to his house. Every muscle in his body ached, and his mind was complete mush. Between his day job, helping out with the Solstice celebration, finishing up with the house, and too little sleep, he was abso-fucking-lutely beat.

  He searched around the porch, hoping to find one of Kate’s care packages waiting for him, but no such luck this time. Disappointed, he unlocked the back door and stepped inside, shaking off the cold. Even though he’d spent the last few nights running borders, he still wasn’t accustomed to the freezing temperatures. Go figure. Gee had predicted snow during the Solstice, and the damn bear was never wrong. Toeing the door closed with his boot, he flicked on the kitchen light and froze.