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I don’t get the chance to think about it. Slater tugs my hand, pulling me toward the bedroom door. We enter the hallway, and I take in my surroundings. Dozens of framed photos line the wall, and I can’t stop myself from wanting to look at them. They’re all of people and animals, unlike anything I’ve seen before. It all seems so normal, yet completely absurd. I didn’t even know this place had cameras. Electricity. When he said a den, I expected it to be a cave or something. Not this well-built cabin on the side of a snowy mountain.
Murmurs hum through the air, and Slater guides me past an open door. I spot a couple of men sitting in what looks like a library. They all gaze up at me from their books, and I avert my eyes, afraid of seeing anything in their eyes that I might not like. We pass the arched entrance of a grand dining room with two long bench-style tables. Pretty blue tablecloths drape over them, and at least four dozen place sets decorate the expansive eating area. It definitely has a feminine touch, and I wonder if it was done by Slater’s supposed cousin.
Forcing me along, Slater keeps up his brisk pace as if he just wants to hurry with everything. Why the rush? I have no idea. It’s as if he has something he has to do, but he wants to make time to ensure I’m okay. It’s the strangest thing. As long as he’s not trying to force me into my wolf and demand that I bow to him, I’m good. I’m more curious than ever.
We pass a brightly lit kitchen with white cabinetry and stainless-steel appliances. Two men stand in front of a stove, stirring giant pots of something, and the hardy scent strikes me right in the stomach, triggering my hunger even more. I clutch my torso and glance at Slater. My cheeks now burn because I’m pretty sure the whole cabin heard my starvation screaming.
“Prepare a bowl of the stew and have it ready in a couple of minutes,” Slater says, pausing in the doorway to the kitchen. “Set up everything I need to make my specialty for our guest. She’s going to need a ten-course meal after everything she’s been through.”
I blink a few times, flicking my gaze to the men at the stove then at Slater before training my eyes on the floor. I don’t understand any of this. He treats me as his guest, but why? What does he plan on doing? No one is this nice without wanting something in return. Not when they don’t know me.
“Yes, sir. Hal even made a couple pies,” the taller of the two men says.
Pie? Fuck. I can’t even remember the last time I had a pie.
Focus. I have to focus. It’s as if Slater purposely walked me by the kitchen in an attempt to distract me from wanting to see Tristan.
I step forward and pull on his hand, making him walk this time instead of the other way around. I have no idea where the hell we’re going, but at the end of the hallway is a set of stairs. This cabin is a lot bigger than I expected, two of the levels crawling down the side of the mountain. I would consider it a mansion. There are so many scents wafting around, I bet the entire pack lives under this roof.
Slowing down, Slater stops at a window. He slowly pulls back the curtain, revealing the beautiful winter wonderland outside the cabin. I spot several wolves rolling around in the snow, barking playfully, including what looks to be young puppies. My heart warms at the sight of the baby lykoswulves, and I practically press my nose to the fogging glass.
Tristan barrels across the expansive snow-covered lawn, his blond fur frozen with tufts of ice. I hadn’t had much of a chance to see him in his wolf form, and he’s so mesmerizing. Stunning.
My heart aches as I drink in the sight of how happy he looks and wonder if he has even thought of me or the others.
Slater grabs my shoulder, squeezing it to steal my attention. Without having him say anything, I know he just heard my thoughts. His eyes sparkle in the light of day shining in from the window, making it look warm outside despite the snow. His jade eyes shift, and he stares at my features, his gaze trailing down to my nose and then my lips, dropping even lower as he takes in the rest of my body.
“What? If you have something to say, just say it. I know you heard what I was thinking about.” I press my lips together.
“You told me not to. If you keep changing your mind, I will suffer a case of whiplash. You either allow me to speak freely, or don’t expect me to comment at all.” Slater captures me with his eyes again. “I’d like to speak freely, though. You’re allowed to do as much with me, after all. Seems only fair.”
I don’t even know how to respond. He is unlike any of the other alphas I’ve had the displeasure of meeting. I still feel as if he will suddenly change on me. What if he’s only acting this way to gain my trust so he can betray me later? I hate feeling so confused.
“Do you know what? Whatever. This is all complicated. I don’t trust you, Slater. This seems way too good to be true. I can’t honestly believe that you are that different from the other alphas. I mean, you did bite Tristan after all. If you were a good man, you wouldn’t have risked his life like that.” I turn away from him, staring outside again.
“If I hadn’t, someone else would have. We must all take a chance to grow our pack when possible. We needed new blood. We need more people to protect what is important. You will understand that soon enough.” Slater grabs my hand again, trying to tug me away from the window.
I resist, yanking my hand away from him. Suddenly, the idea of stepping away and putting more space between me and Tristan sets me off. I don’t want to leave this spot. I want to watch him as a wolf for as long as I can. I want to see him in his human form. I need to talk to him. To hug him. To make sure he’s here and real.
“I told you that you can see him after you take care of yourself first. He is busy training right now, and he doesn’t need you as a distraction.” Slater tightens his hand more firmly around me, yanking me away from the window when I’m not quick to move.
Anger rushes through me. “A distraction? Are you kidding me? I have been so worried about him, and now you’re keeping him from me.”
He sighs. “Eliana—”
It’s as if my wolf takes control of my mind, and I transform in front of him, my muscles spasming and my mind spinning. I can’t control it, and I can’t stop it.
“Eliana,” Slater repeats. “Let me help you change back. I can tell that no one has taught you how to control the shifting.”
I growl at him, baring my teeth. It’s as if I can’t control anything. My wolf wants one thing: Tristan.
Without thinking, I jump up, shattering the window to escape. I land in the snow, cutting my paws on the shards of glass from the broken window.
“Eliana?” Tristan’s voice sounds through my mind.
The wolves around him react, growling and baring their teeth. My body freezes as a dozen voices crowd my thoughts.
The wolves think they’re under attack, and a monstrous beast of a lykoswulf launches at me. Landing on top of me, the wolf pins me down.
