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Rome wrapped his arms around me and brushed a kiss against the top of my head. “My cabin is great, but your house is a lot nicer. And there’s a reason we’re called the Wilderness Pack. The nearest restaurant to our pack lands is about half an hour drive away, and it’s owned by humans who aren’t aware that shifters exist.”
“I’d still kick butt in the kitchen.” I leaned back to smile up at him. “Even if it was just an open flame in the backyard.”
“You’re an incredible chef and an amazing woman. I have no doubt that you’d be able to stomp through the forest to hunt up enough supplies to whip up a gourmet meal for the entire pack.” My heart warmed at his confidence in me. “But you love your job. You wouldn’t have the same kind of opportunities
“And you’re happy handling the Wilderness Pack’s finances,” I pointed out. “I asked Peppa about it, but Kace already has somebody who does that for him. So that wouldn’t be an option for you here.”
“Look at you being as sweet as you accuse me of being all the damn time.” He claimed my mouth in a passionate kiss that left me breathless when he lifted his head. “I don’t see Keane taking my role away from me. There isn’t anyone else in the Wilderness Pack who could do the job half as well as me, and I can manage the accounts as easily from here as there.”
“But would you be okay with living in Timber Ridge? Kace’s pack is a lot bigger than what you’re used to, and you’re not a fan of crowds.”
“I can handle being around people as long as you’re one of them.” His hold on me tightened. “Being here makes you happy.”
“I get to take care of you, too.” I nipped at his bottom lip, loving how his wolf flashed in his eyes in response. “Especially on the important stuff.”
“And you do an excellent job of it, pretty baby.” He brushed his lips against mine again. “How about a compromise?”
“What kind?”
He thought about it for a moment before suggesting, “I’ll talk to Keane and Kace about splitting my time between the two packs while you check with Peppa to see if she’d be okay with scheduling you four days on and three days off so we can spend a few days at a time at the cabin.”
It was the perfect compromise, at least as far as I was concerned. “I love that idea.”
“Then we’ll make it happen.”
9
ROME
Having my fated mate under the roof of the cabin where I’d lived for the past five years was even better than our time at her house. There was something about having her scent on my sheets and knowing only five other people were within fifteen miles of us that soothed my inner beast.
It also helped that we’d barely seen anyone since we got up here. Keane and Leyton, his younger brother and beta, had stopped by the first day to meet Thora, but they hadn’t stayed long. Booker, who used to be a part of the Timber Ridge Pack, had dropped off a hunk of venison after his wolf took down an elk. It was a great welcome present, and Thora had used it to back up her boast about being able to cook over an open fire. It tasted better than the elk they served at Timber Treasures, which was fucking delicious.
Garner had been on his way out of town for work when we arrived. His car had already been packed, so he said hello and offered his congratulations on our mating before he hit the road. Although he left his litter to join Keane’s pack a few years ago—which was a surprise since cougar shifters tended to be solitary animals with the exception of mated pairs and their offspring—he still worked for his parents’ construction company. They let him pick the jobs he took, and he was paid very well for the three-to-six-month stints he did out of town.
That only left Artemis, the sole dragon shifter in our pack who was a recluse. He rarely left the cave he’d claimed, and the news that I’d found my mate and brought her up here hadn’t been enough to lure him out. His cabin, which was directly to the right of mine, had remained empty since we arrived two and a half days ago.
I was kicked back on one of the chairs on my back deck, enjoying the sunrise and a cup of coffee, when Thora stumbled out of the cabin. My pretty little mate was not a morning person unless food was involved, but she loved to cuddle when she woke up. Since she was probably still full from the snack we’d had in the middle of the night, I figured it would take her longer than usual to wake up.
Setting my mug on the table next to me, I stretched out my arms so she could climb on my lap. Then I brushed a kiss against the top of her head and murmured, “Good morning, baby.”
“Morning,” she grunted as she leaned over to snag my coffee and take a sip. “Mmm, good.”
I normally took mine black, but this was my second cup, and I’d added some cream and sugar since I figured she’d be up soon. “Glad you like it.”
“Of course, I do. You made it perfect for me.”
She wiggled to get more comfortable, but I gripped her hips to hold her still. Although I’d just had her beneath me four hours ago, my cock was already hard again and having her body pressed against mine was too much temptation. “Careful, pretty baby, before you start something you’re not ready for yet this morning.”
My mate grinned at me over her shoulder, and I was so damn mesmerized by how pretty she was that I almost missed the scent of two human males creeping closer to our position. I hadn’t heard anyone drive up, which meant they were coming from the forest. None of the members of my pack had ever invited a human friend to camp on our lands, and they sure as fuck wouldn’t have decided to do so during my mate’s first visit here.
I didn’t know who the hell was trying to sneak up on us, but no way in hell was I going to let them get close to my woman. Jumping to my feet, I tossed Thora across the deck toward the door. “Get inside the cabin and barricade yourself in the bathroom, baby.”
“What?”
I hated hearing the fear and confusion in her voice, but I couldn’t have her out here if we were about to be attacked. “Now!”
She must have realized something was very wrong because she nodded and whispered, “Be safe,” before she yanked the door open and disappeared inside the cabin.
