Grayson put his cider on the flat armrest and rubbed his temple. “That’s what I thought you’d say.”
“Why do you ask?”
“Because I’m in trouble,” Grayson admitted, his torment apparent through his tone. “I’m torn between what’s the right thing to do and what my wolf is telling me I can’t ignore.”
You can’t, his wolf insisted.
Damon cocked his head. “What is it exactly?”
Grayson propped his elbows on the armrests. He leaned his head into his hands. “I’ve found my mate.”
“That’s fantastic!” Damon patted Grayson on the back. “You’ve been searching for a long time.”
Grayson snorted and lifted his head. “I gave up on the search a while ago. And now I’ve found her. But it’s the worst possible time and in the worst possible situation.”
Damon blinked. His mouth formed an O. “Is it the witch?”
Grayson’s wolf moaned inside. He nodded. “Yes, it’s Aurora.”
Damon made a sound of acknowledgment before prodding, “And the problem is?”
“I have to ignore it, at least until the matter with the Sacco pack is resolved,” Grayson declared.
“Ah.” Damon drank some of his cider. “Does she know?” He peered out to the forests.
Grayson shook his head. “I can’t tell her. Not now.”
Damon fixed his stare on Grayson. “Be careful, Grayson. I almost lost everything by keeping things from Sophie.”
He released a slow exhale. “I don’t have much of a choice.”
“You do,” Damon countered. “Don’t repeat my mistake—be honest with your mate.”
Grayson suppressed a groan. It wasn’t that easy.
Aurora
What a difference between the heated sensuality in Grayson’s office to the cold response from the Sacco pack. Kane and Lars were no easier to deal with today than they were yesterday.
“They will not agree to the death of one of their pack mates,” Aurora continued after both had gone on a tirade about the Franconia pack. “And I have to confirm that it isn’t a reasonable request.”
“Why not?” Lars asked. “We lost one of our enforcers, so should they.”
“An eye-for-an-eye never satisfies anyone,” she explained. “It just spreads more grief.”
“Witch, maybe you don’t understand the way that a wolf pack functions.” Kane declared with contempt.
“I have worked with shifters of all kinds, including wolves.” She bit back the words on how they were notorious for being the most inflexible and troublesome to work with. “And my name is Aurora.” She heard the testiness in her voice and struggled to remain calm. “The Franconia pack has offered a generous settlement as well as an apology for Alex’s death.” She handed Lars the proposal.
It was more than a reasonable cash offer in her opinion. Yet, she also didn’t own a resort in the White Mountains. She didn’t own any property at all and still lived in her aunt’s house.
“No,” Kane declared.
“No?” she repeated.
“We’re not interested in their money.”
She pursed her lips before exhaling with a slow breath to stay steady. “What are you interested in?”
“We told you yesterday.”
Aurora visualized telling them that Damon and Sophie were long gone, so fat chance of that happening. “That’s not going to happen. That’s why I’m here with the counteroffer.”
Kane and Lars exchanged a look. “We will give you one other option to settle this dispute,” Lars said.
“What’s that?” She fought to keep the exasperation out of her voice. This gig was clearly wearing on her. She had to reconsider whether she wanted to continue with the Salem Supernatural Network in the future if she was growing testy listening to one of the parties, when she should have been able to distance herself as a neutral third party.
“They give us Franconia Mountain.”
She blinked. “The mountain?”
“Yes.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Surely, you don’t mean the entire mountain?”
“We do.”
“That’s not just land,” she pointed out. “There’s an entire operation that runs there, houses families, and that provides for them.”
“Yes,” Kane noted with impatience.
“That doesn’t seem to fit with what you’d mentioned about your pack’s more natural lifestyle.”
Kane snorted. “It does when we shut the operations down and get the humans out of there.”
Aurora spent several minutes trying to get them to scale back from less drastic demands, but they didn’t relent.
“It’s their choice—his head or the mountain,” Kane declared.
Lars added, “We have given them two options.”
“That will be all,” Kane dismissed her with an arrogant wave.
Aurora turned with a scowl and then once again, she tromped through the snow in her fur-lined boots back to Franconia territory. She huffed, frustrated about her lack of progress.
She pictured Grayson’s deep eyes as he implored her to help him save Damon’s life. What could she say? That she made zero headway with the Saccos? Worse, they suggested another horrifying option—that they give up their land and their livelihood?
The idea of disappointing him stung her, perhaps more than it should. After all, he was just a client. Sure, she wanted to make them all happy, but there was something about Grayson that affected her on a much deeper level.
Agitation stirred her emotions, pulsing out of her with small bursts of energy. Her magic funneled through the air, stirring up wispy snow drifts swirling around her like a miniature tornado.
Her pulse shot up and she gasped, staring at the swirling white funnel.
Stop. You can’t let anyone witness this.
Right, if any humans witnessed her manipulating the weather, it would lead to difficult questions, which wouldn’t be good for Grayson. She had to calm herself. Her affinity was with the air, and when her emotions grew intense, her magic grew stronger, and not always in a predictable way.
Like now.
Although she could call on the air to aid in her magic, she’d never seen it respond with such force. What was it about this situation that made things different? She’d felt that strange, restless stirring on the way up to the mountains, and since then, she’d met Grayson, having such an unexpected response to a wolf shifter. She never—never—thought she’d find one of the furry beasts attractive, and yet that was something she couldn’t deny.
Was it all somehow related?
Stop and ground yourself before you continue.
Yes, that was the best course of action to control her heated emotions. Aurora ceased stomping through the snow and stood still. She took a long, deep inhale, and then paused, counting to three before she exhaled. Breathing was the cornerstone to ground herself and she repeated that action twice more. While continuing the slow breaths, she closed her eyes and focused on her surroundings. The cool bite in the mountain air had a hint of moisture lingering. She took off her gloves and ran her hands through the air; it felt like a cool whisper along her fingertips.
She tipped her head back and the warmth of the morning sun caressed her face. After opening her mouth, she practically tasted the mountain air on her tongue. She pressed her lips together, tipped her head upright, and then listened. It was so quiet here. So different from the city along the shore with the rolling ocean. The occasional rustle of small creatures through the fallen twigs and leaves of the nearby forest pierced the otherwise serene silence.
Returning her focus to her breath, she turned her consciousness inward, seeking the energy within. She visualized a small light in the center of her chest and it growing to the size of a fist. Now it was time to ground herself. She pictured a small green tendril of energy curling from the bottom of her glowing light. This branch extended downward as it grew toward her feet. Once it extended from her into the snow and then th
e soil beneath, the branch thickened. It spread like a root in the soil, with shoots that spread and formed a foundation.
Aurora continued breathing through this energy transfer until she felt a solid connection to the earth. For the next few minutes, she visualized the excess energy flowing down and away from her and in turn drew on the earth to replenish her with more positive energy.
Calm. At last.
Once she felt refreshed, she thanked the earth and ended the connection. When she continued her walk back to Franconia territory, she was not as fraught by her emotions.
In front of the octagonal brown lodge where Grayson worked, adjacent to the main lodge where guests rented skis, signed up for lessons, and bought food, she sighed. Time to tell him the bad news. Sucking up her failure, she entered the lodge and walked up to Grayson’s office.
He had his phone up to his ear as he sat behind his desk.
Just seeing him there hit her with a wave of inappropriate awareness. His dark looks and muscular torso made it difficult not to stare. His movements, too, were magnetic. His confident bearing and smooth motions enticed her, especially in comparison to the rougher wolf shifters she’d just encountered.
When he saw her, he ended the call and invited her in.
“Hi.” Her voice came out breathy, and strange tingles warmed her cheeks.
Grayson smiled in a way that sent heat swirling all the way down to her toes.
“Aurora, you’re back sooner than I expected.” He tapped his strong chin. “Does that mean good news or bad?”
She pressed her lips together, wishing she could squash the reality. “I wish I could say it went great.”
As she summarized the unsuccessful talk, Grayson’s expression hardened.
She lowered her head. “I apologize. I know this isn’t what you want to hear.”
“No need to apologize for their unreasonable demands.” His voice was gentle. “I know what they’re like. My failure to make progress is what led me to reach out for your help.”
Despite his understanding sentiments, Aurora couldn’t help but feel useless thus far.
“Come on. We need to tell Rafe.”
In Rafe’s office, Grayson took on the unappetizing task and filled Rafe in on the situation.
“They are out of their minds to even think we would consider either one of those options,” Rafe bellowed. He narrowed his eyes and balled his hands into fists. “The head of an enforcer or the land and resort we have poured ourselves into building for the last decade?” He snorted and then banged one fist onto his desk, sending pens scattering. “Absolutely not.”
Rafe’s reaction fit with the temperamental picture she associated with alphas, and it made her appreciate Grayson’s calm nature all the more. In spite of the troublesome talks, he was considerate and never once blamed her, a reaction she’d encountered a handful of times by frustrated clients in the past.
“Is there anything else we can offer that they are more likely to reconsider?” she asked, struggling not to let Grayson down just yet.
Grayson’s eyes sparkled. “We could offer them another parcel of land, one of the undeveloped areas.”
“No,” Rafe barked, breathing through his flared nostrils.
“Think about it, Rafe,” Grayson suggested, his voice calm. “We’re asking them to negotiate, so we need to be willing to do so as well.”
Rafe snorted. “Why should we give them anything? They made this violent. They should be the ones coming to us with an offer.”
“To keep peace between our packs,” Grayson replied. “They’re our neighbors. If our enforcers are constantly on watch for signs of aggression, it will wear on them. They’re already a hair’s breadth away from fighting. The urge will grow even stronger as the full moon approaches. With the treaty in place for ten years, we’ve been able to prosper. If we turn our focus to war, everything we’ve built could be jeopardized. It’s better for all of us to find common ground.”
Rafe’s mouth twitched. A vein pulsed in his neck. He stared at the panoramic view of the mountain view outside, and Aurora was sure he would shoot down Grayson’s suggestion.
When he turned back to face them both, his face was tight, mouth grim. “Yes, you’re right, Grayson. Let’s look into options.”
Aurora blinked with surprise. How had Grayson managed to get the stubborn alpha to reconsider? His calmness throughout made her appreciate his quiet strength all the more.
“Will do,” Grayson declared with a solemn nod. “We’ll have to reconsider our plans for development in the coming years as we assess what we can propose, but it’s much better than either of their demands,” Grayson replied.
“Sounds good,” Aurora replied. “How long do you expect before you have a counteroffer for them?”
“A few days at least,” Grayson said. “Could you let them know we will respond by the end of the week?”
“Of course.”
After she and Grayson left Rafe’s office, he walked her downstairs and outside the lodge. “Thanks, Aurora. Would you mind staying up longer than the few days we originally discussed?”
“Not at all. It happens often.”
How different from her earlier urgency to get in and out of the mountains as quick as possible during the drive up from Salem. Of course, that was before she met Grayson. She was no longer itching to rush back home.
“I want you to know how much I appreciate having you here helping us.”
“My pleasure.”
He cocked his head. “Looks like you’ll have some time to kill over the next few days.”
She nodded. “True. I guess I’ll explore the area.”
“How about I suggest some options over dinner tonight?” The grin he flashed was mischievous, possibly flirtatious.
The one she returned was unmistakably so. “I’d like that, Grayson.”
Chapter 6
Aurora
At dinner, Grayson convinced Aurora to go skiing with him the next morning.
“I haven’t skied since middle school,” she protested.
“Great. You’re not a beginner.” He flashed a devilish smile. “You’ll pick it back up fast.”
She snorted. “I’m a little more skeptical about that happening.”
“Oh, but it will be the perfect day to get out there. Sunshine. Calm winds. You couldn’t ask for a better time to try it.” He cocked his head and gave her another one of those smiles that made her insides warm and tingly.
She shrugged one shoulder. “Maybe.”
“Since you’re only here for the week, you might as well take advantage while you can.” His voice was rich, decadent, irresistible…
“Fine, you convinced me to give it a go,” she replied. “You should be a mediator with your penchant at convincing people to try things—first, with Rafe earlier, and now with me.”
He laughed. “I made zero headway with the Saccos, though, which is why you’re here.”
In a way, she was glad. Otherwise, she never would have met Grayson.
Why was she thinking that way? She had to snap out of it. “Fine, I’ll go. Fair warning, I might end up with skis scattered all over the mountain.”
“Nonsense, you’ll be fine.” He raised his glass of white wine. “Besides, I’ll be right near you to pick up any pieces and take care of you, Aurora.”
The intense way he stared at her over the glass made her think he was talking about more than just skiing.
Late the next morning, Aurora met Grayson at the main lodge. When she spotted him in a light gray ski jacket and black ski pants, she had to admit he looked good. Few people could pull that off, but with Grayson’s muscular frame, he mastered it. He’d given her a pair of white ski pants, a light blue ski jacket, and a pair of ski gloves that he borrowed from one of his pack mates.
“How are things going with the proposal?” she asked.
“I have staff looking into different options,” he said. “While they do, we can head out for some fun.” He winked
at her. “Ready to get some skis?”
“I am.”
While they went downstairs to visit the ski rental area, she tried to shake off excited nerves. Each time she was near Grayson, her body heated, turning more volatile with a desire to get closer still. What was going on with this more fervent response?
She needed to distract herself by redirecting her attention. Think of skiing. Just focus on that.
After being fitted with boots and skis, they returned outside. The sunlight shone bright in a clear sky, which was promising for a pleasant day on the mountain. Grayson was right about it being the perfect day to ski. She could focus on her form rather than shivering under gray clouds and facing harsh winds, one of the not so pleasant memories of skiing in middle school. She hated the cold, but Grayson made sure she had the proper clothing and equipment.
She ambled forward on her skis in the fluffy snow. “Wow, I am definitely of practice.”
He gave her a confident nod. “Don’t worry, it’s just like riding a bike. We can start on the bunny hill to get you back in proper form.”
She slanted him a look accompanied by a smile that she admitted was somewhat flirtatious. “You don’t have any even smaller, maybe an ant hill?”
He laughed and brushed her arm. “Don’t worry, I’ll be right by your side, Aurora.”
Despite the lightness with his laugh, she sensed something more serious in his tone, reminding her of how he said he’d take care of her last night. Was she imagining it? Perhaps wanting it?
No, she was being silly.
A few minutes later, she leaned on a T-bar lift. How awkward it was to adjust to that position. She couldn’t put too much or too little weight on the bar. And she had to keep her skis planted in the tracks of those who’d skied up before her.
Although her balance was challenged more than once, and she thought she’d slip out of the track, Grayson reminded her to stay relaxed. He was behind her on the lift and would be a witness if she did something disastrous. She attempted breathing the tension out of her muscles. That brief calm didn’t last. The second she reached the end of the lift and skied off to the side, her muscles tightened. She lost her balance and fell, kicking up snow into her face.
The Wolf and His Forbidden Witch: A Howls Romance (White Mountain Shifters Book 2) Page 5
