by Brea Viragh
“There are a lot of people saying that to me lately.”
“I can make it up to you. Let me help you find a place to stay for the night.”
“No way I’m going home with you.” She hesitated to call him a freak, even though it was the first thought to pop into her head. An instant flash of remorse welled up in its wake. “I don’t care how many times you offer to help me out. You’re a stranger. And it seems like bad luck follows you wherever you go.”
The glance she spared in his direction showed her a scowl marring his face. Still handsome, though. “You weren’t saying that earlier this week. You were calling me your good luck charm.”
Oh. Right. She’d forgotten. He’d heard everything. She stood up straight, her spine snapping into a line. Oh God, he’d heard everything she’d said this week. From her whispered ramblings on getting the perfect angle to her gripes about her boss and a million things in between. She thought she’d been talking quietly to put the animal at ease so he wouldn’t run off.
Boy, this was fifty shades of wrong.
“I had it backward,” Farris fumbled to say. “You are the opposite of a good luck charm. I wouldn’t be in this mess if it weren’t for you. I’d be in bed right now, snuggled up with my pillow instead of…of…”
“As I said, I want to help,” Lakota insisted.
“You can help by leaving me alone. Go back to your girlfriend over there.” She hiked a thumb over her shoulder.
“She’s not my girlfriend. We went on two dates in high school which didn’t turn out well and she’s spent the better part of the last ten years making me miserable for it. Her poor husband deserves a medal for putting up with her.” The last part of his statement was said in an overly loud tone to make sure Susan heard every word.
“I’m not buying it.”
He reached for her and ducked when she swung her bag up high to loop it over her shoulder. “Farris, I’m telling you. I can help you. Please. I feel bad.”
“I’m just going to spend the night in my car and head out to my next location early.” The plan came to her in blinding simplicity. “I’m sure they’d be willing to accommodate me.”
“Where are you going?”
Her next scoff turned into a laugh as she strode toward the door. “I’m not telling you.”
“I know this area better than anyone else. I can help you find the best scenery for your calendar photos. And I can be a better guide than whatever you came up with through Google. Please.”
It wasn’t like her to enjoy a man begging. However, given the night she’d been having—and the day as well—she was not above asking him to get on his knees. Another first for her. Usually, she was the one begging. Don’t leave me. Don’t fire me. Don’t do this, don’t do that.
There was something about Lakota, obviously. It brought out a wild side to her she hadn’t known existed.
“It wasn’t Google. It was another site,” she said to be obnoxious.
Lakota followed her out to her rental and, when she glanced back at him, noticed he had her purse in his hand. Rats, had she really forgotten it? She was more rattled than originally estimated.
She stopped on the street and drew in night air cold enough to form ice crystals on her insides. “This is just too weird for me. Do you understand? I’m here for one reason and that’s to save the magazine I started. Even when I seem to be the only one who cares. Now you show up and you’re like a wart on my ass.”
Lakota blinked. “A wart on your ass? I’m too pretty.”
“You are, but that’s not the point!” She reached out to take the purse, lips forming a line when he held it out of her reach. “I don’t understand why you’re following me around and why you’re helping me.” There had to be a reason. A price. There was always a price. “What do you want from me?”
It was too much to handle. Too much for her overworked brain to process. Not to mention she was still trying to keep her emotions under control from learning about shifters. It was a whole new world…one she’d deal with later. When she had time. After a good night’s sleep.
“There’s no way to make you understand. I just want to help. There are no strings attached.”
“There are never no strings attached. If you’re going to keep showing up then at least be honest with me. Maybe I’ll have the cops come in and start the paperwork on a restraining order.” The threat was empty and they both knew it. The pretenses were fading under the weight of her stress.
Lakota simply stared at her. Through her. And although Farris could tell there was something he hid from her, even bigger than the secret of his nature, he wasn’t about to let her in on it.
“Just let me help you. I can make this better if you lean on me.”
She finally snatched her bag out of his hand. “I don’t lean on anyone, champ. Least of all you.”
Chapter 4
Lakota could have strangled Susan. He could picture his hands coming around her neck while she turned a lovely shade of purple that would contrast nicely with her hair. They were complimentary colors after all. Whatever she’d done to Farris had been out of pure spite, odious and malicious, all because she had the power to do what she wanted with one click of her manicured nails.
It wasn’t like he had any sort of sway with the hostel owner, either. The guy was a human and outside pack law.
Susan, on the other hand… If Lakota were into revenge—and he was suddenly developing a taste for it—he might go to the pack elders and let them know what she’d done. Then again, Susan had no idea that Farris was his mate.
When the realization came to light, it might be enough of a revenge on its own. He’d have to wait and see how the situation unfolded.
And there was poor Farris, looking drained, standing in the moonlight with the quiet street at her back. A protectiveness he hadn’t known he possessed welled up and he wanted nothing more than to gather her close and tell her it would be all right. Which it would be if she’d let him handle the situation.
One look at her and he knew this wasn’t going to be an easy road. She didn’t trust him. He didn’t blame her for it, not a bit, but it would be easier to keep her safe if she let down her guard a little.
Instead of getting frustrated with her and forcing her to listen, which his instincts were telling him was the right thing to do, he slowed his heart and fixed her with a look. “Who hurt you?” he asked. “Who told you that you can’t trust anyone?”
“Life,” she said before turning away.
Oh yeah, there was no way this would be easy. Lakota followed her down the block to where she’d parked her rental.
After making sure she found her way off the trail, he’d followed her to the hostel on a whim. Glad that he did, because otherwise he wouldn’t have found out about Susan’s nasty deed.
There was no way he’d let Farris go off on her own. Call it overprotective, but she was his. Without knowing it or asking for it, she had his help and his devotion until the end of their days. Now to convince her of his sincerity.
“I have the police on speed dial,” she postured. Her eyes stayed on the sidewalk while she juggled her bags, though she raised her voice to be overheard.
He had his hands clasped behind him, lips pursed in a picture of forced nonchalance. “I’m sure you do. Call me a concerned citizen, but I want to walk you to your car. Are you sure you don’t want me to help you with your luggage?”
“I’ve got it, thanks.”
“I really don’t like the idea of you sleeping outside. I can’t help but feel responsible.”
“You are responsible.”
“Then let me call a few people I know in the area. One of them will have space available for you. Or I can find something rentable if you’d rather,” he offered.
When she spoke again, he could taste the hurt. “I don’t have enough money. Okay? I used the last of my savings to book all my stays in advance for this trip. And I’m not going to fall on your pity. Just let me do what I need to
do and tomorrow I’ll start fresh in my next location. I’m going to Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park.”
It warmed his heart. “I know the park well, actually.” He also lived close by, about twenty minutes outside the park border. It was all lynx territory. “There are some great views and the lakes are beautiful in the summer.”
“Peed on your fair share of bushes, have you?”
“Low blow.” He watched her pull open the back door and shove her bags into the seat. “Why are you so averse to my help?”
Farris slammed the car door, turning to him. “Because. This is ridiculous! You aren’t supposed to exist but you show up like some knight prepared to rescue a stranger? I don’t buy it, Lakota. You’re after something. I need to figure out what it is. Or, you know what? I don’t, because it’s none of my business.”
He held up his hands. “Fine. Sleep in your car. But I’ll follow you on your drive tomorrow and show up anyway to make sure you’re fine. On my own time, of course. I don’t want to waste any more of yours trying to convince you I’m a nice guy.”
Which he was, he thought. At least, he was some of the time. His family and exes would probably have a lot more to say on the matter. They’d talk about his impulsiveness and rash nature. How he frequently overextended himself with promises and then failed to keep them. How he went after young ladies only to find they weren’t right and bailed on them within weeks if not days.
He wanted to be better, he realized with a jolt. He wanted to be better for her. Which meant he refused to give up. Because this time? It mattered.
It was clear the moment she decided to cave. Her shoulders hunched and she fell against the vehicle with a sigh. “Do you really know the best spots? Where I can get shots no one else can?”
Lakota nodded. “I do, yes. And there are some fabulous spots in the park that are off the main trails.”
“I’m sleeping in the car,” she insisted. “It’s late and I don’t feel like trying to find my way in the dark.”
“There’s a gas station two blocks over. I know the owners. They won’t ask questions if you decide to park on their lot for the night.”
She pushed her hair out of her face as though the gesture cost the last of her energy. “Sure you do. Then in the morning, I’ll start fresh and I can meet you over by the entrance to the park. From what the maps told me it’s a little less than three hours to drive there. I’ll probably get there around ten. Does that work?”
If it was the best she could do then he would take it, for the moment. There was ample time to push her later. Push her right out of her comfort zone and into his arms. His face melted into a smile. “Of course.”
They ended the conversation on a high note, and despite everything, Lakota stayed to watch her. In his lynx form, of course. He curled up behind her front tires and settled in for a rather uncomfortable night. It was better than letting her fend for herself with the motor running to keep the heat on.
Just before dawn, his internal clock pinging, he rose stiffly and moved into the lightening shadows to change back into a human. His bones cracked and his ligaments stretched. Transforming across species boundaries in a seamless change he’d learned to perfect in puberty. He came from a long line of naturally born shifters, which was probably why the cold didn’t bother him as much when he was himself instead of his animal.
He got in his Jeep and drove off toward the state park before sunrise to beat Farris there. And maybe along the way he’d have time to stop at his cabin and brush his damn teeth. He couldn’t make a good impression on his mate feeling like he had something fuzzy stuck to his gums.
The radio on his dashboard crackled. Despite the hour, he had a sneaking suspicion he knew who was on the other end. And they weren’t going to be happy with him.
“Boy, you have some explaining to do.”
Lakota grabbed hold of the microphone and pressed a button to respond, keeping his eyes on the road. “I’m sorry, Dad. I didn’t mean to miss work yesterday. It won’t happen again.” He flinched. “Actually, yes it will. I can’t come in today.”
Guilt seeped into his veins like someone had injected hot lava.
His family ran a sawmill and supplied lumber to a number of large companies. His father, the eldest Linden, took great pride in his work, teaching his three sons the secrets of the trade and expecting them to follow in his footsteps.
“This can’t keep happening, Lakota. I am sick and tired of having to pull men in to cover for you. What is it this time? Some more stupid nonsense about wanting to learn how to surf?” The way Bruce Linden said it, Lakota knew there was no respect for his son’s dream. Absolutely zero. “Do you know who you are? Do you know where you are? Get your head out of your ass. There are people here who need you.”
“I know. I really am sorry but I’m not able to come in.” He felt like shit saying it because he knew Bruce was right. There were people counting on him, and the men his father pulled in to cover his shift were more than likely going into overtime. Because of him. “You can’t understand now, I know, but this is important. I’ll explain it to you later.”
His turn was coming up and he tried to slow down in time to not slip on whatever black ice lurked on the edges of the asphalt. Damn snow. He downshifted to first gear and slowed his Jeep to a crawl. His eyes strained. Only another hour to go and he’d be there.
His father sighed, unable to believe a child of his would be that reckless. That negligent. “I’m not covering for you again. Come in or I’m going to give your position to Derrick.”
Lakota started and his hands tightened on the wheel. His younger brother? “You wouldn’t. What a joke! You can’t expect him to handle the increased responsibilities.”
“I would and I am. The promise has been made, son.” That was one difference between them. Whenever Bruce made a promise, he stuck to it. Period.
Then Lakota thought about Farris and how he’d given her his word about guiding her. He wanted to be a better man for her? Maybe it started here. “I promise you, Dad, what I’m doing is important. I’ll be there tomorrow bright and early. Bear with me for one more day.”
Instead of an answer, Bruce clicked off the radio and his middle son was left with silence.
Sure, silence. Because it was better than having an actual adult conversation. No wonder he had issues.
Lakota forced his father out of his mind. He forced every thought related to work or family or life without Farris out of his mind. Everything not related to the immediate situation was forced out. He was here to focus on a single person: his mate. And she needed a lot of help.
Stomach rumbling, he pulled into the road leading to the park and found a place to stop, reaching into the back for a snack. There must be something there. Otherwise, he’d be forced to go out looking for something to eat, and he really didn’t want to take away food for the natural-born lynx and predators. Or so he told himself. In reality, he’d never acquired a taste for raw meat.
A few hours later and there she was. Right on schedule. His heart lifted when her rental parked next to him. Lakota felt a strange flipping in the center of his chest and took a moment to marvel at the feeling. Like nothing he’d experienced before. His father wouldn’t understand, he thought, trying not to let it bring him down. His parents’ union had been an arranged marriage between two shifter tribes in the north, one from the United States and the other from Canada. It was pure luck that had them liking each other enough to stay together for thirty years.
Their numbers were so few and far between it was difficult to find a mate at all, let alone a true mate. Those types of things were beginning to be relegated to fairy tale territory.
What luck, what pure happenstance, that Lakota should almost fall over his own mate in the middle of the woods.
He would do anything in his power to keep her. He was a changed man, he mused, his lips curving in a secret smile.
Farris got out of the vehicle and stalked toward him with a serious case of bed head. O
r in this case, no-bed head. There were bags under her eyes, lines on her face, and some kind of food stain on the front of her jacket. Was there a more perfect woman ever made?
“I don’t know why you’re so happy,” she griped. “Why are you smiling?”
“A man can’t smile in appreciation of a beautiful lady?” he posed innocently. Forgetting that he’d forgotten to brush his teeth.
“Dream on. I feel like something the dog dug up. Stop complimenting me when you don’t mean it.” Stated to mean that, in this case, he couldn’t possibly mean it.
“Are you going to be okay with going out today? I mean, the trails aren’t going to be easy. Did you have enough to eat?”
“I’ll be fine. I have to be,” she insisted. “There’s a lot riding on this.”
“I know, you told me,” he said.
She made a face and moved past him with her camera bag over her shoulder, boots stomping along the frozen parking lot. “I keep forgetting you were eavesdropping on me.”
He held up his hands in the picture of male incorruptibility. “Hey, don’t blame me. You offered the conversation and I lent you an ear.”
“Yeah, a furry one.”
“Don’t knock the ears, missy. They hear more than you think.” Like the things she hadn’t said during their one-sided conversations.
Farris stopped at the trailhead and sighed. It made him want to sweep her into his arms and take her far away. Care for her. There was no way she’d let him touch her without good cause. “What’s the matter?” he asked instead.
She shook her head. “I’m not looking forward to another trip with these snowshoes.” She had them strapped to her back. “I’m not sure I’m up for it.”
“Well, I have bad news. These trails are closed.” He’d had time before she arrived to scope out the scenery. She’d picked the worst time of year for hiking. Good for a photo, certainly, but most of the mountain trails were weather dependent. He’d gotten so caught up in teasing her that he’d forgotten to tell her about the last-minute change of plans.
