by Zoe Chant
“I see.” She nodded, still seeming troubled. “And can you tell about other shifters? What type they are?”
Gage stopped outside the door to his suite, frowning. He was beginning to have an idea what Alison was worried about. “Yes, usually. You’re wondering whether your stalker is also a bear shifter, is that right?”
She flushed, gaze dropping. Her hands wrung together. “I know it’s not rational, I just—”
“It’s all right. You don’t have to be rational about something like this. Not right after a run-in as frightening as this morning. It makes sense to be cautious.”
Alison’s shoulders relaxed slightly.
“And no, I believe our suspect is a wolf shifter. Though to be honest, the animal doesn’t matter so much outside of a full shift,” Gage continued, unsure how much to reveal at this stage. It was more important to him that Alison feel secure than understand the intricacies of shifter culture. “But bear shifters are very calm. My clan is well trained. You’ll always be safe here.”
She nodded, her fingers unknotting as she took a deep breath. “Okay. Thank you.”
Gage wanted to take her hands in his larger ones and hold her close. It was a mate’s instinct to comfort, to keep her tight against his chest until her heartbeat slowed to match his own. But Alison might not welcome that right now. It was too soon for him to assume the right to do something so intimate. The best he could do was offer her a hot bath, a soft place to sleep, and a homemade breakfast. Though he ached for more, that would have to be enough for now.
He drew open the door to his master suite.
Chapter Seven
Alison sank back into the huge jacuzzi tub that dominated one end of Gage’s master bath. The hot, swirling water soothed her nerves and loosened tense muscles, while the scent of sandalwood calmed her busy mind. A molded pillow gently cradled her neck and head. Ahead of her, a wall of windows opened up onto the rolling hills of Gage’s land. Before he left her, he had cracked open a few of them, so she could hear the trills of birdsong and breathe in the sweet-scented fresh air.
She sighed, eyes at half-mast, and let the jets pummel her shoulders and the warmth seep back into her fingers and toes. It felt glorious. She could live this way forever.
As soon as she processed the thought, her eyes tracked to the door, as though Gage could hear her ridiculous, embarrassing wish. He wasn’t out there, she knew. But he’d told her to call if she needed anything, that he would hear her from the kitchen downstairs.
Could he hear me if I...? Her thighs tightened, tensed around the place she ached to touch when she thought of him. Her fingers trailed absently over her breasts, skin wet and soft. Her body arched gently, teasing her nipples in and out of the hot water. She licked her lips, watching the tips pucker. Imagining Gage watching her like this, that dark look in his eyes.
It was such a large tub that he could just strip off his own clothes and slide right in with her. She imagined him, naked and strong, his warm tanned skin begging for her to touch him. She could stroke his cock to hardness. She could climb onto his lap and ride him in front of the huge windows, open to the sky. If she called out to him right now—
Alison gasped and swiftly dunked her head under the water, as if to wash the thought out of it. Gage wanted to keep things professional. She couldn’t keep having these fantasies about the future.
Alison sighed and reached for a pump of shampoo. Gage’s scent wafted from the bottle and she closed her eyes as she worked it through her hair, breathing it in. The woodsy, spicy notes were warm and smooth, calming her as she washed the long day off her body.
When she finished, she found a Turkish towel waiting for her on a heater. Wrapping it around her damp skin felt like diving into a pile of fresh, warm laundry— comforting and safe. She wrapped another around her head, squeezing out her hair into the turban.
Raising her head and catching a glimpse of herself in the large mirror, she couldn’t help laughing at the bizarre situation. Gage’s suite felt like some kind of fancy spa, an incredible luxury, and being pampered and catered to was a totally foreign experience for Alison. She’d never once set foot in a spa, but she imagined they must have Turkish towels and heated floors like Gage did. And it was fun to pretend for a moment that all this was meant for her— goofy, unglamorous Alison.
“Mademoiselle,” she bowed to herself, giggling. As she bent, her turban unwound itself and damp curls fell about her shoulders, wild and messy. “Oh, what lovely tangles you have,” she continued, combing her fingers through them. “Very alluring, if I may say so. And how would Mademoiselle like to dress for breakfast?”
Still snickering at herself, Alison cracked open the bathroom door and peeked out. Gage had said he’d leave clothes for her on the bed, where she could take a nap. Sure enough, a pair of soft navy sweatpants and a worn gray t-shirt waited at the foot of the king size bed. Alison held them up to herself, realizing that they were clearly Gage’s. The sweats fit her hips all right, but she had to roll up the waistband several times to avoid tripping. The shirt, she could’ve worn as a mini dress. As she pulled it over her head, a concentrated shot of Gage’s scent hit her and her knees almost gave way.
She sank down onto the bed, enthralled. The shirt’s neck gaped and slid over her shoulder, but she tugged it up and buried her nose inside, where the scent lingered. Glancing guiltily at the suite door, Alison breathed deeply, pulling the comforting, arousing essence of Gage into her chest.
You’re a creep, Lawrence, she told herself.
He left the shirt for you, her hindbrain argued, luxuriating in the smell of— she wasn’t quite sure. What was it about Gage that made that distant, silent part of her brain light up? Whatever it was, it filled her with a sudden strong urge to find Gage, to see his face, to be near him. Sleeping no longer seemed like the most urgent priority, not while Gage was downstairs making her breakfast. Taking care of her, again.
Alison rose and swiftly crossed to the door, eagerly taking the stairs down two at a time, barefoot. In the front hall, she paused, staring at the wide entry into the house proper. Where am I going? She came back to herself slightly. This is his clan’s home. She didn’t know where the kitchen was. She didn’t know who else was there with Gage. She didn’t know whether she was ready to meet his clan. Anxiety snaked its way back into her stomach.
“Looking for Gage?” a friendly voice inquired from just around the doorway.
Alison clamped down on a gasp. Cautiously, she poked her head around the rich walnut door casing. It was a library. Or, maybe a living room, but lined entirely in floor to ceiling bookcases. Amazing.
“You must be Alison.” The voice came from a man whose face was upside down. He sat with his back to her, head craned backward over the top of the couch to meet her eyes.
Alison came closer, amused in spite of herself.
He was reading a large book, cradled in his hands. His sandy hair fell over his brow as he righted himself, and he smiled pleasantly at her, brown eyes crinkling.
Alison couldn’t help smiling back, feeling slightly ridiculous swimming in Gage’s pajamas. “Yeah, I’m Alison,” she answered. “You’re...?”
“I’m Henry. I’m the welcome wagon.” He rolled his eyes and laughed. “Gage assigned me the post. He said the most personable one of us should meet you first. Well, really he said the least intimidating one, but I prefer to play to my strengths.”
Alison laughed, relaxing slightly. Henry definitely didn’t seem intimidating, that much was true. It was sweet of Gage to think of it. Only half-joking, she asked, “So, there are intimidating ones?”
Henry waved his hand. “For you? We’re all tame little cubs, don’t worry. Gage wouldn’t put up with anything else.”
Alison considered this. “So, is Gage like... the head of the clan, then?”
“The alpha.” Henry nodded, face turning serious. “He’s the most powerful shifter, so you really don’t need to worry about any of the rest of us. Even if we
did lose control somehow.”
Alison blushed, toes digging into the plush carpet in embarrassment. You are not subtle, Lawrence. He’s being really patient with your rudeness. Get it together.
“Okay,” she attempted to start over more politely. “I’m glad to meet you, Henry. Thanks for waiting for me. If you’re hungry, maybe we could go find breakfast?”
Henry tossed his book down next to him and rose in an amazingly fluid motion. “Right this way,” he indicated, tilting his head.
If Alison didn’t know he was a bear shifter, she would think he was some kind of giant cat, watching his rangy form move ahead of her down the hallway. Maybe Gage was right. Maybe what kind of shifter you were mattered less than what kind of personality you had.
“I brought you a present, Gage,” Henry called, rounding the corner into the kitchen.
“Your continued good behavior?” Alison heard Gage ask sardonically.
“See, I told you I’d be gentle! You didn’t have to eavesdrop!”
Alison stepped into the kitchen. It was a wide, long space with old dark wooden floors and ceiling beams, which contrasted with the modern white marble counters and sleek black appliances. The farmhouse style dining table could have fit twelve people, and Alison suddenly wondered exactly how large Gage’s clan was.
Two women stood at the far end of the counter. The taller one had short, sharply undercut brown hair and she was pushing down on an Aeropress. The shorter woman had a twist of black braids and was going even harder at a juicer. They both looked very buff, but aside from the intensity of their competitive drink making, they didn’t seem too intimidating.
See? Alison reassured herself. Nothing to be afraid of here.
“How did you sleep?” Gage’s concerned tone reoriented Alison like a magnet.
He leaned next to the stove, kind eyes smiling at her. He’d taken off his overshirt to cook and his white t-shirt hugged thick biceps.
Alison’s chest tightened with longing. This was why she’d come down in such a rush— the urge to feel those strong arms wrap her up, hold her against his warmth and comforting scent.
“I wasn’t really tired after my bath,” she hedged. “So I thought I’d just...” She trailed off, noticing Gage’s spatula and the sizzling of the pancake griddle. Golden circles of batter bubbled and rose, their scent buttery and delicious. She grinned in delight. “You made pancakes!”
Gage shrugged and seemed to flush, tan skin warming. “You wanted them. It’s no trouble.”
Alison wanted to run and throw her arms around him. Her heart felt like it was tugging her forward to where she should be, tucked against his chest. She took a few steps haltingly, then realized how ridiculous she must look to them. “Oh God, I’m sorry. I meant to dress.” Her hands fiddled at the dipping neck of Gage’s borrowed shirt.
His eyes tracked her fingers and he breathed in deeply, then let out a barely audible rumble. “Don’t worry about it.” His voice deepened. “You look just perfect.”
Alison flushed awkwardly, aware of his clan mates’ amused glances.
Gage seemed to notice as well, and cleared his throat, casting a look around the kitchen. “Uh, you met Henry. And this is Vanessa and Sammy.” He indicated the women at the end of the counter.
Alison smiled tentatively. They smiled brightly back and Sammy, with the Aeropress, offered, “Coffee?”
“Is it ‘meet the mate’ time yet?” A gruff voice interjected as a large, tough-looking man entered the kitchen through the back door. He stamped his feet on the mud mat and then looked up at them all.
Vanessa gave him a hard glance. “Don’t joke about that, Rob.”
“We have a guest,” Sammy added pointedly. “Gage’s new client.”
Rob turned to take a look at Alison, head to toe and back up again. “Looks like it,” was all he said.
Alison bristled slightly. What did that mean? She could hear Henry coughing a laugh behind her.
Gage shot Rob a knife-sharp look, growling, “Long night? You’re forgetting your manners.”
Rob stared at him for a brief second, then sighed and pulled off his motorcycle jacket. He sank into a chair, scrubbed a hand through his wild hair, and smiled wanly at Alison. “Excuse me. I was out tracking all night. I’m just pissed I didn’t get anywhere with my case. I’m sorry for taking it out on you.”
Alison eyed him, still feeling off-balance, and nodded.
Gage turned to smile reassuringly at her, but he looked embarrassed by his clan mate’s behavior. “Rob’s my oldest friend,” he explained. “He forgets what a jackass he is sometimes, but I promise he’s harmless.”
“Hey,” Rob defended himself, smile biting at the edges of his mouth. “We started this business together. Just because you’re the alpha doesn’t mean you get to boss me around.”
“Uh, that’s exactly what it means,” Henry teased, setting plates around the table.
Vanessa rolled her eyes and went to grab glasses from a cabinet, while Sammy helped Gage serve up breakfast.
Alison hovered for a moment, unsure whether to help, but when Henry patted a chair, she sat. Within moments, mountainous platters of food covered the long table, as well as carafes of fresh orange juice and espresso. The clan appeared to eat family-style, so Alison joined in, plating up buttery eggs, crisp bacon, and fluffy pancakes. She accepted juice and coffee from Vanessa, and once everyone was served, they dug in with appreciative noises.
Alison watched the clan covertly as she cut up her pancakes. Rob shoveled food like he hadn’t eaten in days, and even Vanessa was quick to reach for a second helping. Gage hadn’t been lying. Shifters really did eat a lot.
Truthfully, the food was absolutely delicious. Alison had forgotten how hungry she was. As she ate, it struck her how surprisingly nice it was to sit with Gage’s clan in temporary quiet, enjoying homemade comfort food. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this strong sense of communal warmth and nourishment. Probably the last Thanksgiving Jess had hosted, two years ago. Alison hadn’t even realized she’d been missing this feeling.
Maybe being part of a clan could be nice. The mate thing, though... She wasn’t convinced about that one.
Chapter Eight
Gage covertly watched Alison enjoying her breakfast, his chest filled with contentment. His clan and his mate, sharing a meal together. A meal he, as the alpha, had provided for them. He never could’ve dreamed how fulfilling it felt, or how right. He didn’t know how he would do it, but he vowed to make this work— once he caught Alison’s stalker. He didn’t want to lose this feeling; he couldn’t stand it if he did.
He would do anything to win Alison, to calm her fears and help her see what he and his clan could offer her. How could he make it clear? Tell her about their work, maybe, and show her how secure she would be with them.
“So,” Alison interrupted his thoughts. “Rob?” She fixed Gage’s clan mate with a cautious yet determined look.
Rob swallowed his mouthful in surprise, giving her his attention. Worry tugged at Gage’s stomach.
Alison tilted her head curiously. “When you came in you said something about meeting mates. What did you mean?”
Gage froze, panic coursing through his veins. He glared hard at Rob, willing him not to say anything more revealing. Rob never thought before he opened his mouth. Thank God Sammy and Vanessa had run interference earlier, but now—
“Umm,” Rob began, clearing his throat, glancing around the table. It was obvious he had no cover story for his thoughtless comment. Gage opened his mouth to stammer something, anything.
“He meant us,” Vanessa interrupted calmly, gesturing between Sammy and herself. “He thinks it’s funny to tease us.” She cast Rob a long-suffering look, then smiled at Alison.
Alison’s brows drew together in confusion. “Tease you? About...”
“We’re mates,” Sammy put in, placing her hand over Vanessa’s on the tabletop.
“Oh.” Alison nodded in surprise
. “I didn’t realize.”
Gage let out a long, silent breath of relief. “Sorry, my fault,” he admitted, trying to gain control of the situation. “I didn’t introduce everyone properly.” It embarrassed him that he’d been so distracted by Alison, but he was grateful that his clan mates always had his back anyway. Except Rob, who needed to use his brain more often. He shot Rob a fondly exasperated look.
Rob ducked his head in apology, clearly realizing how badly he’d almost messed everything up.
“Sammy and Vanessa are our resident role models,” Henry told Alison, shooting a playful grin at the pair of mates.
Sammy snorted. “As if you’re mature enough to want a mate. You can’t even commit to watching one movie.”
Henry shrugged, laughing. “You never know. I might stumble across my mate one day and come home all in a tizzy, talking everyone’s ear off about her voice, her scent, her beauty, blah, blah, blah.” His voice rose, mocking.
Gage choked. He had not done that.
Henry smirked at him.
Alison looked intrigued. “Is that what it’s like? A... spell or something?”
Vanessa shook her head in amusement. “Not at all. It’s perfectly normal for shifters, nothing magical about it. And nothing wrong with it,” she addressed Henry firmly.
“But isn’t it a little... intense?” Alison asked. “Is it really healthy to feel that possessive about someone?”
Gage’s heart felt bruised at her question, his bear defiant, but he understood her fear. He kept his mouth shut and reminded himself to let his clan help him out, like they’d promised.
“It’s complicated,” Sammy admitted. “But all kinds of relationships are. Love is.” She smiled quietly at Vanessa and they shared a secret look.
Alison watched them carefully, questioningly. She seemed to be studying their interactions and Gage hoped that she could see what a perfect fit his clan mates made.
