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Marcus halted beside Ria as she gazed into a water-filled valley. The remnants of her cottage lay strewn on rocks, the rest presumably swept away with the surge of flood water.
Marcus shifted, but Ria didn’t follow suit. “Do you want to investigate the stream? We have enough food for two or three more days, but it might be best if we try to go to town. Saber says the town flooded, and they’ll need help.”
She sat on her haunches and stared at him, giving him a feline curl of lips.
Marcus thought quickly. She couldn’t continue living the way she had been. Surely, she understood that. Hers had been a lonely life, always, with the possibility of danger from the scientists scurrying through her mind.
He straightened his shoulders and took a risk. “You can remain here if you’re too frightened to go into town, but Rory and Anita won’t mind if we stay with them for a few days. They’ll help us with clothes and a disguise for you. You’ll be among my pack and my friends. I would trust any of them with my life.”
Ria shifted, and he waited patiently until she stood in her human form. “I do not wish to go to town.”
“You bit me.” He caressed the scar. “You claimed me, and you can’t undo this.”
“You didn’t claim me,” she shot back, and he would’ve sworn hurt lingered in her voice, although she hadn’t mentioned this earlier.
“I intend to, but I wanted to give you time. This is new to you, and I get you must take care. But I can’t live in isolation. Wolves are pack animals and do better with family and friends around.”
“I wouldn’t stop you from seeing your friends.”
He cupped her face, not sure how to make her understand. “A mating bond is the closest and tightest tie there is. When I mark you, I want you to join my pack and get to know my friends—the people I trust. This is a safe place, and not one of them would betray you.”
“Say you,” she said. “My brother sold me for hard cash. The scientists informed me of this.”
“We have more to lose than your brother because we’re shifters too. We’ll work out a better disguise for you, and you can come and go from town. I can even take you farther afield. Perhaps to Dunedin, which is our nearest city. Wouldn’t you like to explore more of the world?”
“Yes,” she said simply. “But if the scientists recapture me, you might suffer.”
“I would, but I’m trying to say that you no longer need to be alone. I stand at your side.”
Her expression suggested she didn’t believe him, but it was early days. Besides, no matter what she thought, she’d claimed him, and he wasn’t going anywhere.
“Let’s shift again and check out the stream. I bet I can beat you.”
Her eyes gleamed, and she started her shift. Marcus paused, congratulating himself because his mate was competitive. He grinned after her, admiring the flick of her tail and her agility as she raced away.
Marcus shifted and bolted along the ridge and down the hill after Ria. He slowly carved away at the distance between them and caught her as they approached the crossing.
Of the former bridge, there was no sign. Muddy water spilled over the bank in places, the surge of the stream full of broken branches and other debris. Ria’s sides heaved as she stood beside him, and unable to help himself, he leaned into her, savoring her scent and closeness. While the breadth was wider than usual here, farther along, the swift current had cut more deeply into the earth, and he thought they could leap over without difficulty.
Movement on the other side of the stream snared his attention. A wolf and a feline. Rory and Anita. And Toby, their adopted son, was with them too, hopping along on three legs. They trotted toward the water, and Ria tensed, halting. He wanted to tell her it was all right, but since he couldn’t speak to her right now, he leaned into her and guided her onward. She dug in her feet and fought him, but he used his greater strength.
Finally, he stopped and shifted and spoke to her. “This is my closest friend, Rory, his mate, Anita, and their son, Toby. We need to speak with them. Please.” He waited until the tension left her body before he walked to the bank.
“Rory!”
Rory shifted. “I was wondering how you were getting on. Who is with you? I thought Saber asked you to check on Mrs. Hunter.”
“I did and found something unexpected. This is Ria, my mate.” Rory’s mouth dropped open, and Marcus laughed. “We only have one, maybe two days of food left. How are your supplies?”
“Your mate?” His brow knit with confusion.
“Ria and I will jump the stream farther down.” He gestured to the left. “Can we stay with you? How is the town? Saber got a quick call through and mentioned the flood. I figured he could do with cleanup help.”
“You can stay with us. Anita did a big shop the day before the storm. We’ve been lucky and have escaped any damage. You?”
“Ria lost her house in a mudslide. I had a tree fall, but other than that, things are good at my place.” Marcus set his hand on Ria’s shoulder and squeezed lightly to snare her attention. “Are you okay? We’ll be safe with Rory and Anita. I promise you.”
Ria growled, but before they could speak further, another wolf and a cat appeared behind Rory.
