by Marilu Mann
Pulling the duvet back, he crawled into the custom-made bed. At six foot six he needed something that let him stretch out fully so he could sleep comfortably. Many cramped nights in small hotel beds while on surveillance made this a luxury he craved. Lying back, he studied the shadows on the ceiling.
Just as he started to drift off, he thought he heard the buzzer from the front door. Debating on getting up and dragging on some jeans, he waited a few minutes but the bell on the desk never rang. Figuring he must be hearing things, he settled back down on the bed. If it was guests checking in, they’d have rung the bell. If it was Gareth, he’d obviously just forgotten something and would let himself back out. If it wasn’t either of those two things, he had to have been hearing things.
He smiled in the darkness and rolled onto his side. As tired as he was, he couldn’t sleep now. Thoughts of the new shifter directly under him promised to make the next few weeks very interesting. His body reacted to her presence instinctively. Getting back out of the bed, Micah walked over to the sliding glass doors that led to his private balcony.
A glance at the digital clock on his bedside table showed it to be nearly three in the morning. The snow still swirled around outside as the wind howled. He reached up over his head, grimacing at the pops from his back. Yes, maybe the time had come to leave the bounty hunting to the younger ones who didn’t have as much to lose. I need to be here.
Sliding the door open, Micah shivered at the cold, his toes curling. Stepping out farther onto the balcony, he looked around. Despite the cold, it was prime time for a run.
Raising his arms again and tilting his face up to the sky, Micah willed the change to begin. His skin felt tight as his bones began to realign.
Fur sprouted over his body. His ears and nose elongated. His hands curled under to form paws and his body shrank. Where a man had been now stood a large timber wolf. His gray, black and white coat blended easily with his surroundings when he was in the woods, but here it stuck out.
With pure joy in his heart, he dove off the balcony with a low yip. Falling through the cold air made him wish he could fly but this was the closest he came to that sensation. Micah hit the ground hard, his front legs absorbing most of the shock, but he still felt it all the way to his tail. It wasn’t painful but it definitely rattled his bones.
Loping toward the woods gave him a sense of freedom like no other. The wind still blew, shaking snow from the treetops to land in wet clumps all around him, but this coat kept him warmer than the wool one ever could. When one of those clumps hit him near the base of his tail, Micah spun around, teeth bared, ready to fight. Realizing what had happened, his human side laughed.
Trotting easily through the darkness, Micah reached the edge of the lake that bordered his property. He knew the base would be hard frozen at this time of year, at least three feet thick. It would stay that way for some time.
There were a few ice-fishing houses out in the very middle of the lake. He paused before stepping out into the moonlight. No sense in annoying any late-night fishermen. Twitching his ears and nose, his quick sensory survey of the area let him know the fishing shacks were unoccupied.
Running along the edge of the lake, he bit at the snow, slaking his thirst, and as different scents caught his attention, he stopped from time to time to mark his territory. Finally, he flopped full-length into a snowbank. Micah rolled in the snow until the powdery stuff covered him from nose to tail. Getting back to his feet, he shook vigorously. Snow flew all around him as he jumped into the air in sheer enjoyment at being alive, whole and home again.
After he’d run the entire perimeter of his property and assured himself that everything was as he’d left it, Micah turned back toward the lodge and his waiting bed.
He noted fresh tracks. Plunging his nose into the snow around them, he picked up that oranges and female smell again. His ruff raised in anticipation of meeting her. The snow had stopped now and he sensed that it wouldn’t be very long before the sun started to rise.
Just as he reached the clearing by the lodge, he stopped. An unfamiliar feeling washed over him. It took him a moment to identify it. Someone watched him. He stood in the soft light, staring at the main lodge. A light burned on the third floor in his apartment but the rest of the lodge remained dark. So where?
Movement on the second floor alerted him. A silhouette against the curtains in one of the guestrooms. He lifted his head, staring at the window, nearly willing her to move. The female shifter, the woman known as Olivia Decatur, watched him. He wondered if she stood naked at the window or if she gave in to the human notion of sleeping in clothes. Now he wanted her to acknowledge his presence.
In spite of the fact that he’d never had to work to attract any female, Micah started to jump through the snowdrifts. He felt quite sure he looked like an idiot, but he wanted her attention. He wanted her to open the curtain and watch him. Hell, he wanted her to come outside and play with him in the snow.
For nearly thirty minutes he frolicked. He did what any male would do in the presence of a female he wanted to impress. He showed off.
When she didn’t move or show any sign of coming out to join him, Micah gave up…for now. His jaw dropped into a grin. The possibility that she might already be mated flitted through his mind, but he shook it away. Her scent had been pure female, no blending with another’s mark.
His belly tightened at the memory of that sweet female fragrance. He moved into the shadows near the lodge and around the corner toward his private entrance. Shifting at the base of the hidden staircase, he ran quickly up the stairs, entering his living room before the chill could reach his bones.
Grabbing a fleece blanket off the couch, Micah settled in front of the fireplace, poking at the embers before placing another log on the fire. His blood still ran with the warmth of the South he’d left behind. Soon he’d have no need of the blanket, but he knew he’d always seek out the sensual feeling of the soft material on his naked skin.
No longer a mystery, he had the scent of this unknown female in his head. And the Great Spirit had smiled on him by putting her in his home. For just a moment he thought about getting dressed and going to introduce himself. Then he remembered the time.
Though he knew she roamed her room below him, it didn’t seem prudent or good business to go knocking on his guest’s door this close to sunrise. He’d just nap, wait until breakfast and introduce himself then.
Chapter Two
Olivia glanced back at the window even as she pulled her robe closed. The massive wolf had intrigued her, jumping around in the snow like that. She’d awakened from another of those disturbing dreams just after two. Once again she’d dreamed of running, of chasing something small and fast, of warm blood and the scent of fear in the air.
Odder still, she’d awakened naked, though she knew she hadn’t gone to bed that way. The door to her room had also been unlocked, though she distinctly remembered locking it before getting into bed. And why on earth had her sheets been slightly damp as though she’d lain down wet from a shower?
She banished the random thoughts and poked at the fire. Such a luxury, having a fireplace in the room. Putting the poker away, Olivia wandered around, enjoying the forced air system under the floorboards that kept her bare feet warm without socks or slippers.
Having never been a real fan of winter sports, or even winter for that matter, staying in a lodge like this one was a whole new experience for her. Still, this had to be one of the nicest places she’d been in since starting her career as a photojournalist. The bed was huge. The mattress was one of those air-filled ones that could be adjusted to the individual’s preference for firmness.
The bathroom boasted a huge garden tub as well as a separate shower stall with three strategically placed showerheads. There was a double sink and a vanity area complete with soft lighting, perfect for someone to sit and put makeup on. Olivia smiled at that thought. Her makeup routine usually consisted of a mildly tinted moisturizer and a quick sweep of l
ip gloss.
The whole lodge boasted the most comfortable hotel furniture she’d ever sat on. The main room with its array of comfortable couches and chairs scattered about in a welcoming pattern held a huge fireplace that cut through the wall to also grace the dining room on the other side.
Small and intimate, the dining room only seated twenty people at a time. She’d been told it was reserved mainly for guests of the lodge and that the townsfolk didn’t come out this far just for dinner. Seeing as how the nearest town was about twenty miles of frozen road away, she hadn’t been surprised. As the only guest staying in the lodge proper at the moment, she’d been assured that the place would be filled in a few weeks. Olivia tapped her lips reflectively.
For her story to really pan out the way she envisioned it, she needed more people. And she needed the owner of the lodge to show up. She gave an exasperated sigh. He’d agreed to her visit several months ago during an email exchange, so she’d thought he would be here to meet her.
Even without the owner, her requested tour of the grounds had surprised her. The seven private cabins for those who didn’t want to stay in the main lodge had individual style and flair. Some could sleep as many as six while others were more intimate-obviously made for couples.
The main lodge also housed a state-of-the-art exercise room not to mention a sauna and whirlpool. The brochure in the room explained that the lodge conformed to the old Norwegian tradition of a “family-style” sauna, meaning both sexes shared the room.
Sighing, she moved back behind the desk and flipped open her laptop. The email from her editor blinked accusingly at her. She’d been here three days and hadn’t sent a word. Usually by this time she’d have at least sent an outline of her current story. Biting the bullet, Olivia sat down. She smiled again as she thought about the wolf playing in the snow.
That settles it, if a wolf can enjoy it, so can I. Tomorrow I’ll ask Gareth to take me out on one of the dogsleds or teach me to walk on snowshoes, or heck, even ice fish! Anything to get out of this blue funk. The walk she’d taken in the woods yesterday hadn’t helped much but then again, it was so bloody cold out there. It hadn’t seemed to help her insomnia, either.
This was a fairly new development, only occurring in the last few weeks. She’d be sound asleep one minute and wide awake the next with no hope of getting back to sleep. Olivia had sleeping pills, prescribed by the psychiatrist her editor had insisted she see, but she hated the fuzzy feeling they left her with.
And the other pills-the so-called mood-stabilizer ones-she detested. She slept but never a peaceful sound sleep. The dreams stayed the same no matter which pill she took.
Running through city streets if she was at home or running through snowy forests here. She could pour herself a glass of wine from the minibar in her room, but she didn’t really want that either.
Shaking off those thoughts, tucking her feet up under her in the chair, Olivia spent the next few hours working on an outline dealing with winter sports and the people who enjoyed them. She heard the floor creak above her and glanced up.
It had to be the owner, one Micah Keeps Vigil. She hadn’t been able to find a picture of him in her search, but she’d found plenty of information for an article. He’d only owned the lodge for the last ten years and he’d made it one of the premier spots for winter sports enthusiasts. The lodge offered ice fishing, skiing, skating, snowmobile rides, dogsledding, winter survival training, winter camping and many other outdoor activities that some people enjoyed.
Born and reared in Florida and having just moved to New York, she didn’t know much at all about real winter weather other than that it was really cold. Northern Wisconsin in January was quite different from southern Florida in the same month. She wasn’t sure she’d ever be truly warm again.
Olivia dragged herself back to bed just after the sun started to rise. Breakfast had never been her favorite meal of the day anyway so she figured she’d just skip it. Besides, if she didn’t show up in the intimate little restaurant downstairs, Gareth wouldn’t feel obligated to cook and Lord knows they would both probably appreciate that.
He had freely admitted when she first arrived that he wasn’t the best cook and that it wasn’t normally his job, but that the other couple who helped out were away with a family emergency.
Seems Mr. Keeps Vigil hadn’t mentioned her arrival and the newlywed couple in the only occupied cabin were making their own meals. She’d definitely have to find out more about his name. Micah Keeps Vigil, different, very different.
Olivia smiled as she snuggled into the huge bed. The flannel sheets and down comforter combined to make a nice soft nest. She closed her eyes on a deep sigh then groaned when they popped open again. No use. Instead of trying to sleep, she might as well try out the whirlpool tub in that massive bathroom.
Tossing the covers back, Olivia went into the decadent room to start the tub. She dug her favorite scented oil out of the dresser drawer and poured a few precious drops into the water. The scent of vanilla and cinnamon rose as the oil heated with the water. She went back into the bedroom and started pawing through her clothes to find something appropriate to wear.
Warmth would be the main draw. Her matching lingerie looked good, but it did nothing to block the cold. Tights and a long-sleeved t-shirt under a sweater and her favorite jeans might be enough with her jacket. She’d ask about gloves, a hat and a scarf.
With the tub full, Olivia turned off the taps, removed her robe and gown and then stepped into the tub. She started the whirlpool jets and leaned back. The soothing pulses of water hit just the right pressure points in her tired body, lulling her into a relaxed state. Her mind began to wander, dwelling on the article she would write.
Interviewing the owner of the lodge would be first on her agenda for the day, then something outdoors to get her in the spirit of things. Maybe the activity outside would also kick her insomnia in the teeth long enough for her to get a good night’s sleep.
Rolling over, Micah opened his eyes. He’d dragged his body back to bed and dozed without even realizing he’d done so. The female’s scent reached him, even this far away. She had to be doing something to make her scent stronger. Bathing? Exercising in her room? Either way, it had been her scent that pulled him out of sleep.
Just like Gareth to put an unmated female close enough for him to smell her when he first woke. Shaking his head at his friend’s eternal matchmaking, Micah chuckled. Gareth might not have been sure she was one of them, but he hadn’t hesitated in trying to capture Micah’s interest in the female. He also didn’t seem too worried about finding a mate of his own.
Micah sobered then, knowing that Gareth didn’t believe any female would want him. He’d been one of the first victims of his former Alpha’s illness. Curtis had allowed a “first blood” challenge to get out of hand. As a result, Gareth had been permanently blinded in his right eye and had scarring on the right side of his face.
Micah had offered to send him to a plastic surgeon though Gareth had refused everything but the offer of a job at the lodge. He wore a patch over his sightless eye when there were human guests at the lodge. When the guests were mostly shifters, he simply disappeared to his own cabin.
Micah stretched, feeling his muscles and sinews protesting slightly after his midnight romp. It felt good. Throwing back the lightweight fleece blanket on his bed, he got to his feet. Stretching again, he raised his hands high over his head, feeling his shoulders and spine pop. He dropped his arms, shaking them as he padded naked into the bathroom.
Stepping into his shower, he turned the water on fully. The blast of cold water caused him to inhale sharply and he exhaled in relief as the water heated. When he felt sufficiently clean and awake, he shut off the water, wrapping a towel around his waist before flipping the weather radio in the bathroom on. He listened with rapt attention as he dried off and combed through his hair.
The forecast called for more snow later in the afternoon with blowing gusts and wind chills of at
least ten below zero. Being prepared for the weather wasn’t just good business, it could mean survival. Micah thought about the white world outside as he braided his hair.
Dressing casually in a pair of well broken-in polypropylene long johns and comfortably faded jeans, Micah shoved his feet into his ancient moccasins before pulling on a formfitting long-sleeved polypropylene shirt. He planned to go outside after breakfast so the shirt and long johns would be the first layer. Flipping his braid over his shoulder, he started down the back stairs.
Gareth looked up from the newspaper and his seat at the counter as Micah entered the kitchen. The coffee had just finished, so Micah poured for both of them. Taking a bracing sip, Micah started pulling things out of the industrial-sized refrigerator, glancing at Gareth when he cleared his throat.
“I called Luke from the rez this morning and we picked up the truck and your tarp. The truck’s in the big garage.” Gareth paused briefly then continued. “Listen, if you don’t need me I thought I’d take off and do some ice fishing.”
“Sure. I’m not planning any runs in the immediate future. In fact, I’m hoping not to do any ever again.” Micah turned, sensing that Gareth studied him closely.
“You’re serious about quitting? About being here full time?”
“I’m totally serious. I’m tired of being a hunter. I’d rather kick back here. When do you plan to take off?”
“Probably later this week. Thanks, Micah. I won’t be gone more than a few days.”
Gareth wouldn’t meet his eyes. Micah wondered if he was really going fishing or if there was something else going on in his friend’s head. He’d heard rumors the last time he’d been home about Gareth crossing the Canadian border, meeting with Packs there. There had also been reports of new wolf activity in that area-wolves of the canine variety, not shifters.
