After arriving in Miracle, Draco had taken Ryland to their home, which consisted of a farm with more falling down buildings than ones that actually stood.  “I hope you meant it when you said you prefer to camp out,” Chadwick joked.

Except, he wasn’t exactly joking.  The only structure that looked like it might not fall over in a stiff wind was the barn and that was only because someone had obviously been rebuilding it.

“As long as Draco doesn’t mind, I’d love to camp out,” Ryland said with a shrug.  It made no difference to him, other than it was a bit cold.  Then again, that would just mean they would need to cuddle to keep warm, so Ryland was good.

Chadwick rolled his eyes, clearly expecting a different answer.  “You are out of your mind,” he said as he climbed aboard a motorcycle.

“At least I’m not stupid enough to ride a motorcycle,” Ryland said.  “You know those things are death machines, right?”

A broad grin covered Chadwick’s face.  “You know I like to live on the edge.”  The motor started and in the next instant Chadwick was heading away from the farm, to the town they had just come from.

Well, town might have been a bit of an overstatement considering it only contained a diner, a bar, and a general store.  Still, it had a lot of charm, at least the parts that were still standing, which admittedly weren’t many.

Strong arms wrapped around him from behind and warm lips pressed a kiss against his mating mark, causing Ryland to shiver.  “Are you sure you’re okay with camping?”

Ryland leaned back against that hard body, loving how Draco’s much larger frame seemed to envelop him.  “On one condition.”

Draco turned him so they were facing each other.  His eyebrow was raised as those blue eyes looked at him questioningly.  “And what’s that?”

“That you promise to keep me warm all night long,” he said with a wink.

As if they were reading each other’s minds, they both leaned in and kissed.  It was as natural as breathing.  Before it went too far, Draco pulled back.  “As much as I would like to stay here all day, making love to you, if we plan on camping out, we’re going to need to go into town to get a tent.”

Furrowing his brows, Ryland wasn’t so sure Miracle was the place they should go.  “Are you sure they even have tents?  I mean, there is only the general store and it isn’t that big.”

His mate grinned.  “Not to worry, gràdh.  If there is one thing I’ve learned about Iniko, that mouse shifter is always prepared.”

Ryland didn’t know who Iniko was but he figured there was no harm in going into town.  If Miracle didn’t have tents, they would need to head to the next town over, which was nearly an hour away.  With it still being late morning, they had plenty of time.

The farm Saber had bought when he and his pack had decided to move into Miracle was only a twenty-minute drive.  It should have been more like twelve but the ruts in the dirt driveway were so deep, Draco had to inch his pickup along in order not to cause any damage to the vehicle.

“You know, Saber should really think about fixing this road from hell,” Ryland grumbled when Draco was forced to go over an especially deep rut. Good thing he’d had on his seat belt or Ryland would have been thrown from the truck.

“Chadwick put it last on the list, claiming it added a degree of difficulty for anyone who tries to attack us,” Draco grumbled as he inched his way over yet another dip that Ryland swore was as big as the Grand Canyon.

By the time they had reached Miracle, Ryland had been praying for one to get them through that driveway.  His muscles were killing him from trying not to get tossed around the truck like a ragdoll.

“I need an aspirin,” he complained as he got out of the truck with one hand pressed against his temple that had been knocked against the window.   He’d been surprised the window hadn’t cracked when he’d hit.  Apparently the glass was stronger than his head, for it clearly had been his head that had suffered the most damage.

Draco was there at his side in an instant, his arms around Ryland as he cradled Ryland to his body.  “Do you need me to take you to Nole, the doctor?”

Ryland groaned just thinking about getting in that truck again.  “Not if it means another drive.  I just pray you are right about there being tents here because there is no way I’m getting in that truck again.”

Draco bit his lip as if to stop himself from smiling.  “How do you think we’re getting home?”

If the thought of having to ride in a vehicle again was bad, it was a million times worse to imagine going over that driveway.  “I’ll walk,” he said.

He smacked his mate on the chest when Draco chuckled at his declaration.  “It’s not funny,” he insisted.

Draco kissed his sore temple.  “You’re right, gràdh.  It isn’t.”  He then took Ryland’s hand in his and led him to the General Store.  “Come on.  Let me introduce you to Iniko.”

They walked inside and he had to admit he was impressed.  The store didn’t look that big from outside but it was quite spacious.  He’d assumed when they’d driven up that the second story would have been storage, but instead, Iniko had created a grocery store on the first level, with everything else upstairs.

As they made their way up the steps, he couldn’t believe just how much fit inside.  Half of the upstairs was camping gear.  The other half, home goods.  The man clearly had been thinking when he’d opened this store.  Everyone in town was either camping as they built homes for them to live in, or they were having to furnish the homes they’d just built.

“Draco, good to see you,” A small man practically bounced over to them with a smile on his face.  “Jari mentioned you all were back.  Do you happen to know where Chadwick is?  I’m putting in an order and he wanted me to add another load of lumber, but I’m not sure what he needs.”

“He left the farm before we did but, if I had to guess, he went to check in with Edrick,” Draco told him.

It still seemed a little weird that there was more than one Alpha in Miracle.  Edrick was the Alpha of the town, having been the one to buy it with his friends when they’d run from their previous pack for being gay.  From what Draco had told him, there were more than just Edrick and Saber who were alphas that lived here, but they didn’t have a problem deferring to Edrick when it came to running the town.

Even Saber had told Ryland he didn’t have any issues with Edrick leading the town and those who lived there.  Although, that might have something to do with Saber having a full platter now that he was Chief of the Shifter Council.  Ryland couldn’t imagine that could be an easy job.

Iniko stuck his hand out to Ryland.  “I’m Iniko.  I run this place.  If I don’t have something you’re looking for, just let me know and I’ll get it in for you.  Well, unless it’s a mate, because no matter how many men I’ve met, I have yet to find my mate.”

Ryland wasn’t quite sure how to respond to that.  He shook the man’s hand and said, “Uhm, thanks.”

Draco wrapped his arm around Ryland.  “Actually, we’ve just mated.”

Iniko sighed.  “Figures.”  Then he sniffed the air.  “Wait.”  He cocked his head and sniffed again.  “Aren’t you human?” he asked, his gaze pinning Ryland as if he had somehow lied to Iniko.

Not about to apologize for who he was, Ryland arched a brow at Iniko.  “Yes, I am.  Is that going to be a problem for you?”

Not that he gave a damn if it was.  This town will have to deal with the fact that he was a human in a town of shifters because Ryland was done allowing anyone to treat him like he was somehow inferior.

But instead of Iniko telling him it was a problem, the man grinned like he’d just discovered the most interesting thing in the world.  “No.  In fact, if you have time, I’d like to take you to lunch at the Mouse Trap.”

Ryland had no idea why Iniko wanted to do that, but he wasn’t one to turn down a free meal, especially since he had no money.  Being a slave for the past eight years tended to leave a person broke when he finally was freed.  “Sounds good.  Now, what do you have for tents?”

An hour later, Iniko locked the front door and flipped the sign that said he would be back in an hour while Draco put their tent, bed rolls, and the few cooking utensils they’d purchased in the back of his truck.

He hadn’t known what to expect, but the small man with the big attitude hadn’t been it. The longer Ryland was around Iniko, the more he liked the man.  Some of the most outrageous things came out of his mouth, but it reminded Ryland of the person he had once been and was working to become again.

Once Draco joined them again, they walked to the next store and entered the town’s one restaurant, Mouse Trap.  It was a small café and Iniko assured him his friend Jari made the most delicious food.

Iniko opened the door and shouted, “Jari, you owe me a free meal.”

Another man, nearly as short as Iniko, came out of the kitchen wiping his hands on a towel.  “Did you hit your head on something again, Iniko?  Because there is no way you are conning me out of a free meal.”

Ryland already liked this Jari guy.  The man wasn’t being malicious but he also wasn’t taking any crap.  That was Ryland’s kind of friend.

“Your mate bet me that there weren’t any human mates.”  With a flourish Iniko waved his arms at Ryland.  “Let me introduce you to Draco’s mate, Ryland.”  Iniko smirked at Jari.  “And he happens to be human. Boo-yah.”

Then he started to shake his ass and dance to the music that was playing on the old fashioned jukebox.  “I get a free meal.  I get a free meal.”

Ryland, Draco, and Jari were all staring at Iniko’s antics for at least a full minute.  But then Jari burst his little bubble.  “Sorry to tell you, but that bet was with Lucca.  Take it up with him.  And since he’s not here to buy your meal, if you want to eat, you’re paying.”

Iniko stopped mid shake.  His mouth dropping open in dismay.  “But, you’re his mate.”

“I’m still not settling his bets.”  Then Jari walked over to Ryland and stuck his hand out.  “I’m Jari, by the way.  It’s nice to meet you.”  Then he looked over at Draco.  “Congratulations to you both on your mating.”

“Thank you, Jari.”  Draco once more put his arm around Ryland’s waist, something Ryland was beginning to crave.

It wasn’t that he had to have Draco touching him, but Ryland did feel more...settled?... No, that wasn’t quite the word.  If he had to pick one, he guessed it would be peaceful, whenever Draco was simply touching him.

Draco had tried to warn him what it would be like, but Ryland hadn’t really believed him.  Yet, even being in the same room wasn’t close enough.  There were times when they were across the room, talking to other people, and Ryland had to stop himself from running over to Draco just to touch him.

“Why don’t you have a seat,” Jari suggested.  There was only a half dozen tables with customers at them.  “Fortunately, the lunch rush just finished, although there will be a second rush soon, so make sure to order quickly.”

When Jari returned to the kitchen, a waiter came over and handed them menus.  The man’s nametag said Jude.  He blushed as he took their order.  Why Jude decided to become a waiter when he was clearly shy, was anyone’s guess.

Jari had been right, by the time their food had arrived every table was once more full, even the seats at the counter were taken.  Since this was the only restaurant, that wasn’t exactly a surprise, but it was when he took a bit of his Philly cheesesteak that Ryland understood why this place was full.

“I told you it was good,” Iniko said with a grin as he took a bite of his Reuben.

Ryland had to admit to being worried when he’d seen just how small the town actually was, but Draco was right, they had everything a person could need.  Plus, he’d made friends.  As far as Ryland was concerned the name fit.  This place really was a Miracle.