Snow fell so furiously that it came down in a white haze outside the window. The temperatures had once again dipped below freezing with what Tamara suspected was the worst of the storm. Devin had even said he hadn’t seen this coming.

Fire crackled and danced in the fireplace. Every so often, a log would break apart, and the flames would spark and pop as it settled in place again. It reminded her of the sounds of Christmas alongside her family. Sitting here like this with Devin made her realize that she missed moments like those.

Tamara folded her legs under her and scooped up another spoonful of soup. The hearty combination of chicken, noodles, and vegetables filled her up and warmed her insides on this freezing cold night. She’d never met a man who could cook and always thought that finding one was like discovering a needle in a haystack. Was it just by happenstance that she’d finally come across one?

She stole another glance at Devin who sat beside her, bent over the coffee table peering at some complex drawings. Every so often, he would mumble something to himself.

“Does Montana get this much snow?” She didn’t want to seem like a nuisance, but hearing the casual sound of his voice always seemed to calm her.

He nodded. “A lot more than this. I’m quite used to it.”

She glanced down at the pencil drawings and shadings. “What are you drawing?”

“An idea for an expansion of this cabin. It’s outdated. Too small, and needs a lot of work.”

She glanced at every corner of the room. It was small, but for its size it served the purpose. “Outdated? Well, how old is it?”

“Thirty, maybe forty years old. It was my mother’s. She lived here for a very short time.” He didn’t look up from the drawing.

“Is your mother…Caedmon?”

“Was. She’s dead.”

There was no emotion in his voice, and she wondered if he’d suppressed them.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“She followed her mate to the grave.”

“Excuse me?” Had she heard him correctly?

“Wolves mate for life. In Caedmon culture, if the mating is a true one, when a wolf’s mate dies, the other soon follows.”

“From doing some research on wolf behavior in college, I learned that they mated for life. It’s romantic…and sad at the same time.”

“How many bathrooms?” He looked down at his sketch again.

His change of subject suddenly caught her off guard. “What?”

“How many bathrooms would you want in your dream home?”

Tamara smiled. “My dream home? Hmmm…never thought about it.” She set the bowl on the table and peered at the drawing with him. “A huge master bath with Jacuzzi tub, separate toilet and shower. The works. A half bathroom downstairs for guests. I’d want at least two bathrooms upstairs with one of the bedrooms having its own.”

“Uh-hmm.” He scribbled some notes on a separate notepad. “Sounds like five bedrooms total then?”

“Exactly. I’m not big on mansions, but I grew up in a family where we were taught to make people feel at home. My parents had dinner parties all the time. The guest list was always large.”

“And they don’t anymore?”

“If they were alive, they would. They were involved in a terrible boating accident.” At the time, they’d been on a month long vacation, and had died doing what they loved. The grieving process for her was long and difficult.

“That’s unfortunate.”

“Do you build homes all the time?”

“I make my living doing this. I have a construction business in Montana,” he said.

“How long have you lived in Montana?”

“Five years.” The muscles on his forearms moved lithely as he sketched on the pad.

It was long enough to call Montana home, yet she wondered what would make him return to Virginia after five years and refer to it as his home. Was it part of the Caedmon culture? Was he forced to return? What was at stake? Whatever business he needed to leave to tend to seemed serious enough.

“The other wolf…the one you were fighting with…is it Caedmon?”

“Yes.”

“Why did it want to kill me?” Had Devin not come when he did, she probably would not be alive.

“It didn’t want to kill you,” he said. “These forests are Caedmon territory. In its eyes, you were a trespasser…as well as an unaccompanied female.”

“Then, I really need to leave, huh? Before the other wolves find out. I don’t—”

“You will do no such thing,” he said quickly. “You are under my protection. You will find safety, but you will not find it alone.”

His declaration was firm, as if there was no room for discussion. He was no stranger to giving orders. It was the very thing she was running away from now. Devin had good intentions, but was this hint of dominance a glimpse into whom he really was?

“I don’t want to be a burden or the reason you receive reprimand from your pack, neither do I want to feel like a prisoner in your home,” she said, then picked up her empty bowl and walked to the kitchen.

She risked her life for the chance to make her own decisions again. There was no way in hell she would let yet another man make them for her. The reality was that a world of difference existed between Devin and Brad. She saw the honesty in Devin’s eyes, and the virtue in his demeanor. There should have been no comparison to Brad, but she had to be careful. Things weren’t always what they seemed. She’d been burned once before…

A heated body brushed across her side. The bowl slipped from Tamara’s fingers and hit the bottom of the sink. From the way her core warmed when he drew nearer, there was no mistake that it was Devin.

She held her breath, but did not turn around.

His hands came around her to grab the bowl in the sink, and he pressed his chest against her back. “Don’t fear me,” he whispered into her hair.

She shivered, but it wasn’t from fear or the cold.

Devin picked up the dishtowel and began to wash the bowl, leaving her no choice but to look. When he was done, he placed the dish on the drying rack. He took her hand and led her to turn around.

Her gaze was level with his chest, until he tilted her chin gently with a finger.

“Look at me, Tamara. Are you afraid of me?”

“No,” she whispered.

“The tension in your body tells me otherwise.”

How could she have forgotten they were pressed so closely together? His spicy scent drifted under her nose, mesmerizing her. It was familiar to her, yet it wasn’t a scent she’d known anywhere else but with him.

She shook her head. “I don’t know you.”

He closed his eyes. “Why do you smell so good?”

“Excuse me?”

“Your smell? Are you wearing perfume?”

She swallowed. “No, I don’t have any. Did you forget? You brought me here with only the clothes on my back.”

He took a deep breath and moved closer, positioning his nose against one side of her neck. At the same moment he brushed his face against her neck, her body became pliant in his arms.

“There is a strong urge to protect you,” he said.

“Devin…” she said in a husky voice, riddled with confusion.

Had the cabin not been so quiet, she probably would have missed the low growl he gave in answer. His gestures were affectionate. As he nuzzled the crevice of her neck, her legs turned to putty.

Suddenly, Devin broke away and this time he stared at her in confusion. His quick actions startled her and she clutched at the counters behind her for support.

“I must bring in more firewood.” He backed away. “I’ll go no further than the barn.”

And with that, he was gone, leaving her alone and puzzled in the cabin.

* * *

After pacing the cabin about a dozen times with Devin’s cell phone in hand, Tamara settled down on the couch and dialed her counselor.

The line rang four times before Selene picked up. “Selene speaking.”

“It’s Tamara.”

“Tam! No way.” There was rustling on the other end that sounded a lot like she was driving at top speed with the windows down. “You scared the bat shit out of me! Where are you? You’ve been reported missing by the police. Brad and his crew are in jail locked up. They have him held without bond on a half a dozen felony counts, a slew of misdemeanors, and a possible manslaughter charge. I’ve got my manager all over my ass for losing contact with you. Dude, are you okay? There’s a—”

“Whoa, Selene. I’m okay.” She laughed nervously into the phone. She’d always known Selene to have an entire conversation without taking one breath.

Selene exhaled loudly on the other end. “So glad to hear that. I’ve been worried sick. Give me your location. Where are you?”

“I can’t…” Tamara looked at the door where she knew Devin sat within earshot on the porch. “…I can’t give you my location.”

“What? Why not? Don’t do this again,” Selene said, firmly.

“I’m safe. I promise you that.”

“Are you sure? You sound unsure.”

“I only called to let you know that I was okay,” Tamara said.

“Who are you with? Family?”

Leave it to Selene to give the third degree. “No, I’m…with a friend.”

“A guy friend?”

When Tamara didn’t say anything, the counselor spoke again. “Look, Tamara, you don’t have to make big decisions now. We can help you. Remember what I told you about how we can create a new identity for you. There would be no charge to you. You don’t have to do this alone. There’s a fresh start waiting for you. You just have to act.”

A fresh start? Would that choice hold all the answers? It would ensure that Brad never made contact with her again, but would it erase the years of abuse? Would it give her back the civilized life that she used to have?

“I’m still weighing my options,” Tamara said. “I’ve found a place where I can lay low for a while.”

“There will be no charges against you. We work closely with the authorities. They know what kind of situation you were in.”

“It’s not that. I’d turn myself in if I have to. I just want a breather from all of this, you know?”

“How long have you known this guy friend?”

There was no reason to give this woman a heart attack by revealing to her that she’d only known Devin for less than a week. “Look, Selene, I’ve got to go.”

“Wait!”

“Yes?”

“The offer is always open. Keep in touch. Please.”

Tamara sighed.

“Okay? Okay? Say okay.”

“Okay.” She glanced out toward the door where Devin sat. “Thank you, Selene. For everything that you have done to help me. You were a true friend throughout the process, and will always be.”

“Tamara…”

Tamara ended the call before she changed her mind.

* * *

“The snow is clearing out again.” Devin joined her at the kitchen sink, where she washed the last of the dinner plates.

When the second snowstorm hit less than a day after the first one, it had caught him off guard. He should have sensed it coming, but his mind had been wandering on other distractions and problems.

Her movements grew slower as she raised her gaze to meet his. “And you have to leave soon…I know.”

Something akin to guilt filled his heart. It was an odd gut feeling that he hadn’t experienced in a long time. “Time is of essence.”

The eve of the Blue Moon was near. If he was not there to cast a vote against his cousin’s claim to take over the pack, he would be devastated if his lack of action led to their demise because of it.

When Devin received the letter mailed to him from one of the elders informing him of his half-brother’s untimely passing, he’d been saddened. Of all the offspring of the late Daniel Caedmon, his half-brother Damon was known among his people to be the wisest and most respected. It was prophesized by many elders that one such as Damon would lead his people for over a century, gaining new territories and strengthening the bloodlines through unity.

Only a year had gone by since they’d buried Daniel Caedmon, his estranged father. Now, his son followed, leaving the pack without an Alpha. The passing of these two leaders would only start a rivalry among the pack. It seemed that year after year, his people would endure some hardship that would yet again set them back in the quest to become a truly unified pack.

Small warm fingers brushed against his forearm. “I understand.”

The gesture calmed his raging headache. He took her hand, turned her palm up, and lifted it to his face. Her skin was soft and warm against his face, and her sweet scent grew stronger. Even when they were apart, the mesmerizing smell of her would not go away. The scent was in his clothes and on his bed sheets. Everywhere. Even the memory of it was engraved in his mind. Taunting him. It called to his wolf and stirred the longing for companionship—a mate.

Devin squeezed his eyes shut, and tried to drive out the lustful thoughts. Ever since he’d met Tamara, those attempts had been futile. The urges of the wolf were growing stronger, tired of playing second fiddle to his human side.

Her hand swept across his face and she ran her fingers through his hair. The gesture was innocent, but the feelings it awakened within him were carnal.

He opened his eyes slowly to admire her beautiful face. The fear and confusion in her gaze was something he needed to see gone. Her lips were slightly open as if she wanted to speak again. They were full, red, and inviting. When he moved closer to her and titled her chin, she made no move to stop him.

His mouth brushed against hers softly. Instant gratification flowed through his core in response to this intimate touch. He pressed a kiss gently to her lips. One taste was not enough and he kissed her again. The third time their lips met, he coaxed hers open, sliding his tongue along the seam. She was as delicious as she looked, and he became greedy for more.

The sound of footsteps approaching the porch and climbing up the steps pulled them apart. There was a rap at the door.

Devin turned and lifted his nose to the air. One sniff and he knew the person’s identity. Nick.

“Who is it?” Tamara whispered, holding onto his arm.

“It’s Nick. I asked him to bring clothes.”

Devin walked out onto the porch to greet his long-time friend. “That was quick.”

Nicholas Hyatt’s loyalty had been unwavering throughout the years. When Devin had broken off from the pack five years ago, Nick had followed without hesitation. They spent several months living on the road with little to no money, until they finally found their passion and a trade. Home building.

“I had just arrived in the city when you called,” Nick said, handing him a duffel bag of what he assumed were the clothes for Tamara and him.

“How much do I owe?” He pulled out his wallet.

Nick waved his hand in a gesture of indifference. “Don’t even worry about it. I owed you a favor.”

“Thank you.”

“Who is she?”

He couldn’t blame Nick for asking. “She ran into some trouble in the city. I’ve offered her a place to stay.”

“And…?”

“What do you mean…and?” he asked, irritatingly.

Nick grinned. “You withheld information.”

“I didn’t know I had to answer to you.”

“Can I at least come inside?”

Devin sensed the curiosity in the other wolf’s demeanor. Nick wanted to know whom the woman was inside, yet Devin’s wolf protested because Tamara was still unclaimed—not marked as his.

Devin reached into his back pocket and pulled out some keys. “There’s another log cabin less than a quarter of a mile from here. North. It’s yours.”

Nick chuckled. “Possessive, are we?”

Devin growled.

“I passed by the village before coming here. There was talk about you, and surprisingly, your guest. Did you have a brawl with Jonathan?”

Devin frowned. “He was on my land, threatening my guest.” It had taken him hours to recover from the fight in the snow with the other wolf that played dirty during their fight.

“As a result of the spar, they know about the woman. While traveling here, I came across two from Darius’ circle who were sent to keep tabs on you.”

Over the last few days, there was this feeling that he was being watched, but he’d shrugged it off as too much anticipation.

“What was I to do? Let them wolf-handle an innocent woman?” Devin balled his hands into fist. “What do they want?”

“Darius wants to rise as leader. You know that.” Nick eyed him seriously. “They want you out of the equation. His followers will do anything to see to it. That puts everyone near you in danger.”

Devin swallowed, and then opened the door. “Come inside.”

As Nick shed off his boots and jacket, Devin turned to glance at Tamara who appeared to be finishing up with the cleaning. He met her halfway and brought her to stand next to him. “Tamara, this is my good friend, Nick. He is like a brother to me.”

Nick smiled and held out his hand. “Pleasure meeting you, Tamara.”

Devin pressed his lips together, trying to shake the bit of jealousy at the sight of the other man touching Tamara.

“Nice to meet you,” she whispered.

“Where are you from?”

“A little of everywhere,” she answered.

Nick raised an eyebrow high in astonishment. “Sounds interesting. We’ll have to discuss more about that.”

Devin moved to sit on the sofa, and Nick took the hint and followed.

Tamara’s hand rested on his shoulders. “Would you like some coffee?”

He caressed her hand as it lay against his skin. “Rest. You’ve been up all evening in the kitchen.”

“I’m fine.” She turned to Nick. “Nick, would you like some coffee? I’m going to make some for Devin.”

Nick’s lips spread in an amusing grin as his gaze shot back and forth from him to Tamara. “Yes, I would. I’ve been traveling all day.”

“Are you hungry? I was going to put up the leftovers from dinner. We had salmon, wild rice, and asparagus. Would you like some?”

“I would. That’s nice of you to offer,” Nick said. “The coffee would go quite nicely with a good home-cooked meal.”

Tamara smiled before she turned. She’d offered out of the generosity of her heart and seemed happy to oblige his request. Her heart was pure and kind, but now he feared that he’d introduced her to a new world of danger, like Nick had said.

“She’s nice, and a pleasure to look at,” the other wolf drawled. “No wonder you fought for her.”

This time, Devin snarled.

Nick held up his hands, palms out. “Hey, man, sorry. I recognize a good woman when I see one.”

And so do I…

Devin knew that Tamara was still in earshot, so he lowered his voice and asked, “How many will be there to cast a vote?”

“Four. Two elders. The youngest son of Daniel. And the first and oldest living son of Daniel, you.”

“We are the only ones?” Devin shook his head in disbelief.

“The only ones who’ve come forward. Ironically, none of you have stood up against Darius to lead.”

“Darius is shady. He steps forward for his own gain. He’d rather see our people return to the old ways of repression and gain through senseless battles with rival packs. Those customs caused us to lose many Caedmon lives,” Devin said.

He’d never been so furious. It had been personal reasons that made him fall astray from the pack, but he still loved and cared about the family and the people that he left behind. Why would they stand for this? Why would no one else step forward to lead?

“You’re right. We can’t go back to those customs. You know what you have to do.”

“I will not lead.” Devin stared with exasperation at Nick.

“I don’t care what anyone says, brother,” Nick sat up in the chair and returned a serious glare. “Your father denied it. You deny it even to this day. The pack belongs to you now. You are our leader.”

Devin had no words. Whether Nick’s statement was the truth or simply just his speculation, he would never feel welcome among a pack that disowned him and cast out his mother so very long ago.

He would remain the bastard son of Daniel Caedmon.

Never to rise as any kind of Alpha.

The statement had been engrained in his mind ever since he could understand the words and the meaning behind them. They’d been spoken by his own father, and they were words that he would never forget.