Page 7 of Rescued by the Alpha

“Was it a mutual break-up, if you don’t mind my asking?”

Elam blinked a few times, then sighed. “No. He wanted us to stay together as long as I didn’t mind all the guys he was seeing on the side.”

Nic’s wolf hackles rose. “Asshole. How dare he do that to you.”

A slow grin spread across Elam’s face. “Funny. That’s how I felt about it too.”

They both chuckled for a bit then Nic gestured for Elam to eat. While Elam sipped the broth from his spoon, occasionally dipping the corner of his bread in the liquid before taking a bite, he talked a bit about his work as a nature photographer. Nic could imagine the long, lanky man with shaggy auburn hair skimming his shoulders, those amber eyes framing a patrician nose that sported a slight bump as if it had once been broken, and a mouth that split into a wide smile that showcased straight, white teeth—could envision him in the wild with a camera in his hand. Nic examined him further. Elam’s jaw and upper lip carried at least a few days of stubble and it looked damn sexy on him. A smattering of freckles decorated his nose and forehead, and even though he was light-skinned, Nic didn’t doubt those freckles would show up stronger when Elam was outdoors for any length of time.

“What made you choose Alaska, or should I say, this neck of the woods?” Nic snorted. “There’s plenty of nature to photograph, but not much else.”

Elam wiped his lips then set the napkin down next to his bowl. “Which is perfect.” He scrunched his brow and folded his arms, leaning on the table. Elam seemed to be carefully considering what he was about to say. “I needed to get away from Seattle, the city in particular. Yeah,

Andy was a big part of that, but I’ve never liked living in any city. It’s not my thing. I wanted it to work with him, so I convinced myself I could enjoy the outdoors on my weekend hikes or on assignment, so he could live in the type of environment he preferred.” Elam rolled his eyes. “What he was really enjoying was the buffet of men available.”

Nic wanted to punch Andy. “So… you’re not going back to Seattle at the end of your stay?”

That was subtle. But he had to know.

Elam gave a one-shouldered shrug. “Not for good, if I go at all. I don’t have a place there anymore and I stuck my bigger things in storage, but that’s it.” Elam sighed. “No, wherever I end up, it’ll be because I want to be there.”

Nic had to fight himself to keep from prodding Elam some more—especially since he wasn’t sure he’d ever reveal who he truly was to him. If I ever take things beyond having met my mateonce before I die.

Elam tilted his head. “What about you? Have you lived here long?”

It was time to fall back on his ‘safe for public consumption’ history. “My whole life. My family’s not too far away, but I like being out here on my own.”

At Elam’s puzzled expression, he realized how that might have sounded.

“I meant my father, brother, sister, niece and nephew. That family. I’m not…” Nic carded his fingers through his close-cropped hair. “I’m not with anybody.” He tried not to cringe.

Elam lowered his eyes, ducking his chin, a tendril of hair drifting across one eye and Nic wondered how long he could hold out before jumping his mate. Taking him in the way I know heneeds it. Nic swallowed down a predatory growl before it could escape.

“You must really love it here.” Elam fiddled with the crumpled napkin, his movements speaking of his nervousness. “I know I would. I searched through a lot of listings and areas before I decided on this one. I wanted somewhere as close to paradise as possible, so I could have a clear head while I started fresh.” He straightened, a smile dancing on his lips. “I can’t wait to see it when the storm is over. I bet it’s majestic.”

Nic smiled back. “Majestic. Yeah, that’s a great way to describe it. We seem to be on the same page.”

Maybe in more ways than one?

Chapter Three

Elam regarded himself in the small bathroom mirror, wincing as he carefully trailed his fingers over the big knot on the back of his head. Good one, idiot. Excellent way to start off his year, the grand year he’d been building up in his mind for the past month. Plotting and planning and dreaming of making everything perfect. A perfect mess.

He hated that he looked so bedraggled too. Why it should matter, he wasn’t sure. Liar. Elam huffed out a low curse, chastising himself over how foolish he was being. After meticulously planning a safe space to be alone with his thoughts, to consider his future without the influence of a man or any romantic involvement—what did he find himself doing? Fantasizing over the smoldering sexiness that was Nic. My rescuer.

Not continuously staring at Nic had been a challenge, but not blushing around him had been a total fail. God, what the hell is wrong with me? He’d blame it on hitting his head, but he knew better.

When Nic moved around the cabin in his snug jeans that showcased his muscular, round ass, when he’d crouch in front of the fireplace, reach into the bin to retrieve a piece of wood to add to the fire and his biceps flexed—his corded muscles moving beneath his almost porcelain skin—Elam’s dick had had the nerve to get hard as if he hadn’t just suffered an injury and should be thinking of anything but some hot guy.

Elam finger-combed the tangles from his hair as he tried to make sense of the compelling attraction he had to Nic. Sure, smokin’ hot guy and all, but Elam wasn’t prone to being taken in by a pretty face and hunky bod so quickly—let alone to the point where he ached to kiss and touch him, to be close to him, be held by him as if they were meant for each other. To gaze into his ice blue eyes for hours as if they could reveal the inner workings of his soul. He snorted. Ridiculous.

Elam glanced up at his reflection and decided he’d done the best he could under the circumstances. The suitcase Nic had retrieved wasn’t the one with his grooming case and even though the storm still raged, Nic had offered to get it for him. When Elam had protested out of concern for his wellbeing, he’d noted the confusion crossing his features, as if he’d been surprised at how adamant Elam had been.

It was rather silly. After all, as Nic had said, he’d lived in the area his whole life—the last ten years of it alone at the cabin—and was obviously more than capable of taking care of himself. The

‘alone for ten years’ part had perked up Elam’s ears too, but he wasn’t sure Nic realized what his off-hand comment had revealed about his circumstances. In the end, Nic had instead given him a spare toothbrush.

And he’s quite gifted. Elam had been shocked to discover that Nic had not only built the beautiful open-beam log cabin himself but had crafted the pine dining table along with several other pieces. Apparently, he sold many of his creations in a pricey furniture store with outlets in the larger towns. He’d even had work commissioned by tourists who wanted the one-of-a-kind items Nic created to be shipped to their homes. Nic’s workshop was separate from the cabin, but due to the weather conditions, Elam had barely been able to make out the structure.