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“Hey, Jake,” he said into the mic.
There was a burst of static, and the other ranger, Jake, greeted him.
“Yeah,” Jake said. “I’m here. Did you get the cat?”
“I did, but you’re gonna have to come grab the carcass. We don’t want any other animals eating the rabid meat.”
“Where at?”
“Trace Rabbit Trail, marker two,” he said. “About thirty yards into the tree line. I’m sure your nose can lead you the rest of the way.”
“Yep. Hey, you coming to Benedict’s tonight?”
Everett glanced at Brinnah, who had her head down. “Nah, not tonight. Got something else to do.”
Brinnah jerked her head up to look at him. He winked at her and pink stole across the tops her cheeks. Damn, she was beautiful. He took another deep breath, breathing in her scent, and it suddenly hit him.
She was his moon-fated mate.
Holy. Shit.
Chapter Two
Brinnah stared out of the side window as the forest gave way to a picturesque town. Chalet-style buildings lined a main street. Pitched roofs with front gables, and wide eaves supported by decorative brackets. The upper floor windows had flower beds with a variety of colors spilling over. Souvenir shops rested between clothing stores, hiking stores, various others, with a hardware and DIY store thrown in the mix. People buzzed up and down the sidewalk, greeting others who smiled and waved. Women walked without a care in the world, holding bags as they shopped.
She’d never seen anything like it. Her pack in Canada was extremely conservative. They believed in taking the pack back to the dens, to a time when the strict hierarchy of male domination was observed. Women weren’t allowed to go anywhere, and if they needed to, a male had to accompany them. According to the alpha, women were only meant to breed and clean.
The pack kept to themselves, only trading with other like-minded packs. No one ventured into human territory, preferring to shun the outside world. Unmated females were given the task of taking care of everyone else, and in return they were given a stipend of food and other necessities. Brinnah had taken to foraging in the woods, finding anything that would make her life and those of other unmated females, a little easier. Willow bark for inflammation. Bearberry to help with gout or urinary tract infections. Omega wolves were slow to heal, so herbs had become her specialty.
“Are you hungry?” Everett asked.
She turned her head to look at his profile. “Yes.”
“Esmeralda owns that diner,” he said, pointing. Brinnah glanced at it, noting the full parking lot. “After the healer, we’ll go there. You can eat while you talk to her.”
“Okay,” she said.
A few minutes later, Everett pulled into a parking lot of a small building with a sign in front of it that stated it was a clinic. He parked and turned off the engine.
“Stay there,” he ordered. “I think there’s a puddle outside your door.”
She nodded and he hopped out and hurried around to her door, opening it, and helping to lift her over the water. With his arms banded around her hips, she was about a foot taller than Everett. She looked down, he looked up, and their gazes met and locked. Hazel eyes traced her features. His thick, dark hair lay short on his nape, and she resisted the urge to run her fingers through the dark locks. Her heart rate accelerated, thumping quickly in her chest. Butterflies fluttered low in her belly. What was happening to her? She’d never had such a visceral reaction to a male before. Certainly not to her unwanted moon-fated mate. She never experienced any type of attraction to Vadin, not even after the bond snapped between them. Vadin was a harsh, unpleasant man, and she couldn’t believe that out of all the men in her pack, he was what the High Luna bestowed on her.
Truth be known, Brinnah had been glad when Vadin rejected her, even if a dull throb still lurked in the area where her ribs met. Why couldn’t Everett be her moon-fated mate? There was kindness in his eyes, and little laugh lines radiating outward from smiling. Although she didn’t really know him, she sensed the goodness in his soul. The gentle brush of his fingers only confirmed that this man was nothing like Vadin at all.
Once away from the puddle, Everett slowly lowered her down until her feet touched the ground once more. However, they didn’t move apart, studying each other. Hands down, Everett was the most handsome man she’d ever met, and she had the strongest urge to kiss him. Shocked, she stepped back and turned. Everything was a mess with one man, and there was no way she would drag Everett into it.
He gently grabbed her arm, halting her retreat.
“Hey,” he said. “Look at me.”
When she turned, he cupped her face. She had the urge to lean into his touch.
“Do you feel it?” he asked softly. “This pull between you and me?”
She bit her lip and gave a slow nod. He let out a sigh of relief and smiled.
“I knew I wasn’t crazy. I want so badly to kiss you, but I know we just met. I don’t want you to feel like you can’t trust me.”
