Fire Wolf: CINAED (New Scotia Pack Book 3) (12 page)

“You’re saying that, if I help this wolf, you will…”

“We’ll try to find you a mate.”

Hope sprang into Brand’s eyes and shone brightly even though it was mixed with suspicion and mistrust.

Ken was holding his side where his ribs were broken.

“Won’t we, Cinaed?” she said.

Ken looked at Star. Brandish was clearly waiting to see what the male wolf would say. “Aye. We’ll try to find ye a mate. Of yer
own
species,” he added.

Brand looked at Star. “Was that a yes?”

She huffed, losing patience with the lion. “Do not pretend that you don’t understand him. That’s childish. Yes. That was a yes.”

After a minute of consideration, Brandish waved at the bed. “Very well. Let him lie down. I’ll make something to eat.”

Brand pulled on his doeskin pants and hemp shirt, but remained barefoot.

They had left the door standing open for the duration of the discussion on otherworldly mating. So every bit of the warmth had left the den. Brand closed the door and built the fire up high to restore the warmth.

“You came back for me,” Star whispered as she pulled covers over Ken.

“Aye. Ye’re mine,” he said with hooded eyes as if it had been said many times and she should know it.

Her breath caught and her heart almost stopped in her chest, hearing the pronouncement she thought would never happen. Perhaps she’d told herself the truth when she’d thought that he was her mate and just didn’t know it yet.

“Is that a proposal?”

His eyes were closed. He smiled broadly hearing the hope in her voice, but didn’t answer and didn’t open his eyes.

Like all shifters, Ken healed quickly once he was able to rest and eat. Over the two days he’d slept and healed, Starfire had sat by the fire and talked quietly with Brand about what he would hope his mate would be like. He said that, if he had his druthers, he would like a female who enjoyed playing in feline form and snuggling in human form. He hoped to find someone who wanted a mate as badly as he did, someone loyal and attentive.

It only took those two short days for Ken to feel well enough to travel. His bruises were faded and his ribs were knitted together well enough for him to start homeward. Starfire was completely recovered and eager to be away from Brandish before he changed his mind about letting her go.

“’
Tis a risk I do no’ like. Takin’ you through the wilderness without a pack for company and protection. There are bears and…” He looked at Brand suspiciously. “And no tellin’ what else.”

“But you came alone,” Star reminded him.

His expression softened as he looked down at her. “I had a powerful motivation.”

Her answering smile made every painful twinge worth it.

“I will accompany you part of the way,” Brand offered.

“It’s very nice of you to offer, Brand,” Star replied before Ken had the chance to say something hasty and off-putting. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I would like to know how long you think it may be before I have the opportunity to…”

“Date?” Star asked.

“What is date?”

“It’s testing the waters of courtship,” she said thoughtfully while studiously avoiding Ken’s eyes.

“Ah, yes. I’m eager to date,” Brand said.

She laughed. “Aren’t we all?”

Ken raised an eyebrow at that. “I know I am.”

Star felt her skin flush in a way that was definitely more human than werewolf because there was unmistakable innuendo in his words and the spark of amusement that twinkled in his eyes.

“I don’t date wolves who aren’t picky about partners.” She sniffed.

“Seems that in the past few months I’ve grown so picky that there’re none save one who rises to my revised standard.”

She raised her chin and studied him to see if he was joking or communicating something important. “Truth?”

“Would no’ lie about somethin’ so excruciatingly crucial.”

Her smile was so full of promise that he had to quickly shift to wolf form to hide the erection that would be embarrassing as a human.

“
I guess he’s ready to go,” she said to Brand.

“Will you be able to find your way back here with my date?”

“I don’t know the way because I was unconscious when you brought me here, but Cinaed will know how to come.”

“I don’t like him.”

Ken growled at Brand and Star laughed. “I don’t think he likes you either, but I like you. As long as you’re not trying to force me into mating with you.”

Just after Brand shifted he sneezed. Star had to look away while smothering a laugh because the sight and sound of a big cat sneezing was comical, but she knew enough about felines to know they are sensitive about being laughed at.

Ken paid careful attention to the route Brandish took toward the west. It wasn’t the way Ken had come. The creek was running even faster from more snow melt, but Brandish knew a place where the creek bed widened that also had a series of flat rocks suitable for crossing. He soon found himself wishing that he’d turned south from the ledge where Starfire went over instead of north, because Brand took them straight to a series of switchback ledges, naturally formed, that made the climb comparatively easy.

When they reached the location of their battle with the bear, Brand shifted.

“I don’t sense any predators in the vicinity who might challenge wolves. Well,” he gave Ken a wicked smile, “assuming you’re not counting me.” He looked at Starfire, who shifted to human form. “I think you can make your way safely from here.”

Brand was startled when Starfire rushed him and gave him a hug. It was the first time he’d felt affectionate touch in centuries. He was also delighted when Ken glowered and growled at him. He taunted the wolf by grinning and hugging Star tighter.

“Thank you, Brand. For everything,” Star said, oblivious to the challenge taking place between the two males. “We’ll be back soon. Count on it.”

“I am counting on it. If you don’t return, expect raids on your sheep folds. Or maybe I’ll come to the flatland to collect you. I still think we’d make a good pair.”

“No need for threats. We keep our word.” She looked and felt offended at his suggestion that she might go away and forget the whole thing. “What makes you think we have sheep?”

Brandish looked down his nose at her. “I know all about life to the west of the mountains.”

“I see. Well, I guess we’re going.”

Brand dissolved into his beautiful lion form and twitched his tail back and forth, watching as Cinaed and Starfire trotted away.

When darkness fell, they found a natural rock alcove out of the wind and curled up against each other to sleep with Ken on the outside. He lifted his muzzle, rested his head on her neck and sighed. They were tired and cold, but a sense of peace had settled around his heart and it made him feel complete. The word Starfire used to describe the phenomenon of mating had been ‘content’. That was how he felt snuggled next to her warm body, nose full of her intoxicating scent.

The next day was cloudless, sunny and warmer. They made good time and reached a flat expanse at the summit of the second range just as the sun was setting. That was when they saw a pack of wolves. At first they thought they were seeing wild naturals approach, but when the wolves broke into a sprint, barking happily, they were able to see that it was Grey, Win, Cloud and a few others.

After a flurry of happy nuzzles, licks and joyful whines, they shifted into human form. Cloud was crying happy tears, but no one was happier to see them than Loper.

“I was so afraid I’d never see you alive again,” Cloud said.

“You wouldn’t if it wasn’t for Cinaed.” Her aunt didn’t miss the fact that she looked at Ken adoringly. “We have so much to tell you.”

They gathered wood for a fire. There was nothing to eat, but they were glad to be reunited and knew they could feast when they returned home.

Star and Ken told the others the news about the lion shifter. Then, to Ken’s amazement, Star topped that by relating everything she’d learned from Brandish about humans and shifters living together on the eastern side of the multiple ranges.

Grey seemed troubled by the news. “We thought there were no humans in this world.”

Ken nodded. “’Tis no’ a worry for now. The mountains that separate us are formidable.”

That didn’t seem to ease the king’s concern, but he said no more about it.

When the party returned to New Elk Mountain, they were greeted with cheers and an atmosphere of celebration. Ken and Star took baths and put on clean clothes while Luna oversaw preparation of dinner.

They laughed and drank and ate to their hearts’ content. Afterward, Ken said to Grey, “Uncle. Starfire and I are sleepin’ in the guesthouse tonight.”

“Oh?” Grey said, raising an eyebrow.

“Aye. We’re ‘datin’ and do no’ want to be disturbed.” Ken smiled at Star as he pulled her toward the front door. “We have some things to work out.”

She laughed. “Uncle Win, I’m taking the day off tomorrow.”

The guesthouse was on the outskirts of the settlement at the opposite end of the king’s house. That was why Ken had picked it, for reasons of privacy. He held her hand all the way there, but neither of them said a word on the way, which only made her anxiety grow. She wasn’t shy about sex at all, but was emotionally invested in Ken and a little confused about the fact that he’d said they were ‘dating’.

He let go of her hand to open the door. It creaked badly as it swung inward. Neither of them had seen the interior of the guesthouse, but Star was sure it was kept in immaculate condition, because New Elk Mountain would always want to make a nice impression on guests, regardless of the creaky hinge.

Ken struck a match, and located the oil lamp sitting on a table next to a large vase of fresh wildflowers. He lit the lamp and hissed as the match burned down to his fingers. He waved it through the air quickly to put it out the rest of the way and smiled at Star.

“I’ll start a fire. May be spring, but ‘tis a little cool and I still have the chill of the mountains in my bones.” He stalked toward her slowly and stood so close that barely a breath of air existed in the space between their bodies. His voice seemed to drop an octave lower when he said, “Besides. I want enough light to see what I’m doin’.”

Starfire shivered at that, which delighted Ken, but he suppressed a chuckle. He didn’t want to take the chance that she might think he was laughing at her.

While he went about starting a fire and looked around the cabin, she stood in the same place with questions bouncing back and forth inside her head. When the blaze began to crackle the wind caught the smoke from the chimney above and made an inconstant sound almost like the rhythm of ocean waves.

Firelight made the room feel warmer and friendlier as well. Ken filled a kettle with water and set it on the hearth by the fire. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out two small burlap bags tied with twine.

“Mulled wine,” he said. “Snagged it from the kitchen.”

“What changed?” she asked, still standing in the same spot by the door.

He frowned at her question. “Come and sit with me by the fire.” When Star didn’t move, he said, “Ye’re no’ afraid of me, surely?”

“Of course not.”

“Well then?” He raised both eyebrows in a challenge then sat on the rug in front of the fire with his back resting against a daybed that could potentially double as a couch.

“I’ll sit, but I still want an answer to my question.”

As she eased down next to him, he rested his elbow on the daybed mattress behind her head and began playing with strands of her hair, like he was fascinated by the texture.

“What question was that?”

“What. Changed?” She enunciated clearly enough to make the point that she meant business.

He debated playing dumb, but concluded that she was too smart for that. With a sigh he turned to face the fire.