Arctic Bound (4 page)

“Why are you so rude to me?” Victor found himself asking.

“I'm not. I'm just trying to keep things light and simple. I see the way you stare at me and I have to tell you, it's creepy and makes me uncomfortable.”

She was lying.

It made her uncomfortable but that was it. He could smell the light scent of her arousal. She was just as attracted to him as he was to her. Victor watched her retreat to her room and took that moment to speak with Demon.

“Is she a Hunter?”

“No.”

“Well, who is she then?”

“She's someone who needs our help.”

“Help? She looks far from helpless Demon. Why are you so damn protective of her? You didn't ever get this way over Lizz.”
Demon cocked his head to the side and strode in front of Victor.

“I asked you a question, do you know anything about her, or are you just a tired old fart?”

Demon snarled showing his teeth.

“Show some fucking respect, wolf. I don't have to give you any information if I choose not to. Your rules don't apply to me or to Daar. Let Nerina tell you when she's ready.”

Nerina walked out of her room in a pair of jeans and a heavy sweater, she stopped when she noticed he was still in her living room.

“Thought I was clear that I would meet you outside?”

“You were, I just don't appreciate being told what to do by a woman.”

“There's a first time for everything.”

Nerina walked out into the cold and waited for Victor to follow her out. Walking over to her snowmobile he checked the engine and gas tank. One of her wires had come unplugged. He plugged it in and then asked her to go and get the keys. He'd brought gas up just in case she needed some for her generator. Stepping back, he was able to take a better look at her machine. It was an 800 Dragon RMK 163, she'd spent her money well. He and his brothers had theirs special made, and it looked like she had hers geared up as well. A magnesium chain case with a lightweight front end, streamlined. She'd have no problem steering, her spindles were still in good condition as were the disc scratchers. She even had the race bred brakes. He was impressed. None of the women back in town would have thought to ride or buy a machine this sporty.

“So what's wrong with her?” Nerina asked tossing him the keys.

“Her?”

“Yeah, my sled, what's wrong with her? I want to take her out this week before the storm and get a lay of the property. Decide how I'm going to expand.”

She walked two steps in his direction and he had to take two step backs. He felt his beast rise up to the challenge she was presenting by getting in his personal space. There was something about her that screamed trouble. Nerina passed him, bending close to the hood of the snowmobile before turning to look back at him.

“You gonna tell me what's wrong with my sled or am I supposed to be telepathic?”

She straightened and then backed away from the sled.

“No, I was just wondering what a girl like you is doing with such a contraption. Are you sure you can ride this thing?” He looked her over from head to toe, she wasn't short, but she wasn't tall either. Victor opened his senses. He wanted to really gage her. Figure out what it was about her that made him excited and leery at the same time. Maybe she was wearing some type of masking fragrance that was meant to confuse him. Hunters had that too. They were getting smarter and smarter. Most people didn't realize that the neck, hands, and arms threw off the strongest scent and he was close enough to her that he could discern more now that her smell was stronger from working out.

Taking a deep breath he tried to separate all the emotions coming off her. What he got totally confused him. She smelled tropical, almost fruity, but there was a hint of spice there. She smelled like home cooking and sweet rolls. Why he associated her with baking was beyond him. The only person who smelled like home to him was his mother. Victor tucked that information in the back of his mind and continued to sift through her smells. She had no fear, and was completely comfortable with her surroundings. She was agitated but it was clearly because of his presence and nothing more. He took a step toward her when he picked up the faint tang of her arousal and noted that she was passing her fertile stage. The other thing he could smell was the gun in her boot. Demon was sure she wasn't a Hunter, but she was definitely something.

 



 

Nerina eyed him suspiciously, why was he standing so close to her and why did it look like he was sniffing her?

Freak.

She took a step back and his entire body seemed to move with her. She had her small gun in her boot. She didn't feel threatened by him, but just in case, she was on guard.

“You got something you need to say to me?”

She watched closely as Victor eyed her. His eyes were on her face, then her boot where the gun was concealed. He couldn't possibly know she was carrying.

“Somebody after you, or do you always carry a gun on you?”

Nerina backed up and was happy to know Demon was there at her back. His hackles rose as he growled at Victor.

“I don't know what you're talking about, but if you don't need to do anything else to my ride, you can leave now.”

“If I don't?”

Then she was going to let Demon have him for dinner, that's what.

“I don't want any trouble. I just want you to leave. It's getting cold and I need to go back inside.”

He stepped closer. Leaving no room for even the air to flow between them. His breath hot on her face as he looked down at her.

“If I find out you're here to cause trouble, you're going to need more than that little piece of shit gun to stop me.”

Mountain men truly sucked. Even if this particular mountain man was hot.

“I asked you to leave.” Nerina said again, this time firmer.

He stood there unmoving, eyeing her intently until whatever he was looking for became evident only to him. Turning to leave, he mounted his snowmobile and backed out of her drive, taking off into the night. Letting go of the breath she was holding, Nerina went back into the house. How the hell did he know she had a gun?

The music still played inside and the beat of Sade whispered softy against the walls as she sang about lost love. The supplies left on her table were quickly put away and dinner was cooking by the time Nerina was able to sit down and put her feet up. The dogs sprawled in front of the fire both sleeping. Demon snored loud making Nerina smile. This was her life, as strange as it seemed, she now lived in Alaska. If anyone would've asked her if she would ever move here two years ago, the answer would have been hell no. But what a difference two years made.

Chapter 4

 

“Victor, what took you so long? Sasha and her parents have been here for over fifteen minutes.”

Wide eyed, he looked around the corner and sure enough Sasha, her father Eric, and her mother Elaine were standing in the main room. They were early. Days early. He hadn't been expecting them until after the storm.

Kissing his mother on the forehead he walked to the back of the house to wash up and change into more suitable attire. As he dressed he thought of Nerina. She was up in her cabin, alone.

Demon and Daar are with her.

He knew the wolves would be able to keep an eye on her but Demon was past his prime now, and Daar was too stuck in her head to notice much of anything. She had no business being out there alone in that cabin. Ms. Raines had stayed only for a few years after her mate died. No one had bothered the old woman because she was considered Pack. Nerina wasn't. Victor chose a black cashmere sweater and grey slacks and slid into a pair of Cole Haan's.

Showtime.

Mental pep talk complete, he made his way out into the great room where everyone was waiting.

“Victor,” Sasha purred pulling him into a hug. She was definitely clingy. Overly so in a way that made him feel very uncomfortable. Clingy mates could be dangerous. Even after they were mated, it wasn't unheard of for an Alpha to add a third to the relationship. He and his brother Colin had considered doing this after he was mated to Sasha, but with her need to always have him near, it was highly unlikely she'd accept another male in their bed, or welcome a second mate.

Welcome to the life of the mated, and bored.

She was still wrapped around him. Victor gently tried untangling himself. When she wouldn't let go he growled. She let go then.

“Sorry baby, I didn't know that it bothered you.” She straightened and walked over to sit on a love seat by the fire, patting the side next to her for him to join.

“Sasha.” Victor said in warning. Instead of sitting next to her, he walked over to the bar and poured himself a glass of Crown. He was not some young pup to be led around by his dick. The amber liquid reminded him of the human up on the hill. Her eyes were the exact color of his drink.

“How's everyone this evening? I thought you were due in after the storm.”

“Best practice is to keep everyone on their toes.” Eric remarked, taking a sip of his bourbon.

“Son, you already know how my day went, but more important how did yours go?”

His father always knew how to bring the testosterone levels down a notch. Thorn was a level-headed Alpha. He didn't make brass decisions and was never quick to react. It was something Victor himself was still learning.

“My day was fine. I went up the hill, fixed her sled, which happens to be—” he never got the chance to finish his sentence, because Sasha took that moment to interrupt him.

“Her? Who's her up on the hill?” She twisted in her chair to get a better look at him. She was already acting as if they were mated. He still had bedding rights dammit, and until this moment he hadn't been sure he was going to take advantage. But if her annoying ass voice and nagging was a glimpse into their future, he needed to get laid as much as possible and shore up all the good memories he could.

“You mean the human up on the hill?” Eric asked, now interested.

So much for a change of topic.

“Yes, the human up on the hill. As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted by Sasha.” Victor scowled in her direction. “She has a 800 Dragon RMK 163, and I know for a fact she was packing a gun when she was outside with me earlier. Smelled it in her boot.”

“She obviously comes from money son. She gets a special items about once a month and she's adding on to her land. Earlier today she was speaking perfect Italian.”

Well, that explained the exotic look about her.

“Why is she here?” Eric asked.

“She shouldn't be. Thorn, you should ask her to leave.” Sasha's mother, Elaine commented.

“Yeah, it's not safe for a woman to be up there all alone with no one to watch out for her, she could get hurt. Stumble onto one of the Pack members mid-change. That could get ugly.”

Victor found himself defending her.

“She's not bothering anyone, and she sticks to herself, besides, I'd be more worried about someone happening upon her. She's had military training.”

“How do you know she's not a Hunter?” Sasha questioned, the disdain in her voice clear.

“Demon would have alerted us if she were.”

“Sasha's right, and Demon is old.” Her father grunted, peering at him over the glass of his bourbon.

“Eric, we don't like to be discriminated against and as much as I hate to admit it, she has every right to be here. She's not going to be a problem.” Thorn said, halting all further conversation.

Sasha's father growled at Thorn, and Victor found himself standing, rumblings of a growl starting in his chest.

His mother chose that exact moment to pop in and declare that dinner was ready.

“Thorn, I think you should reconsider,” Eric suggested.

“My father has already given you his opinion. You're in his house, on his land. What my father says goes until I'm Alpha, and if he's okay with her up on the hill, I am too.”

 



 

Nerina sat at her computer looking over her inbox. She always made sure her accounts were all in order and running smoothly. She stared blankly into the screen, not really paying attention. Her thoughts were still with the arrogant Victor Canidae. Damn men were always fucking up her stride. He wasn't even her type. Not by a long shot.

What is your type?
Two years ago she could have pictured her type exactly. Had been dating who she thought was
the one
. But after the fire, not only did he not want anything to do with her, he'd made it perfectly clear that if her uncle was looking for her, he'd turn her over to him.
Bastard.
Nerina thought back to her encounter with Victor outside and shivered involuntary. His eyes were like emeralds, a dark green that was fathomless, unlike his shallow arrogance. He was cocky. She didn't do cocky.

Since when?
Since two years ago, that's when.

Demon walked up to her and nudged her chair. He always wanted something from her. From the moment she met both animals they seemed to know what the other wanted, and together the three of them made the perfect team.

“What's up?”

Demon cocked his head to the side staring at her. He walked over to the front door and sat. He was big enough he could have taken the door down. She wasn't going to let her pet know that his size was a bit bolstering at times.

“We're not going out till morning and that's that.”

Demon butted the door with his head, pushing his entire weight until Nerina had no choice but to get up and go to the door. He would have broken it for sure with his weight. When she got closer, she noticed the door wasn't locked.

Damn.

“You trying to tell me I forgot to lock the door?”

Demon walked to the other side of the room by the fire where Daar was laying and flopped to the floor, resting his big head on his equally large paws.