Chapter Five

Wyatt stared out the picture window that ran the expanse of the breakfast room at the back of his house. The view of the mountains still covered with snow even this late in the season was nothing less than breathtaking. It was the reason he’d built his home facing this direction, and the reason he’d had this floor to ceiling window put in. It cost a fortune to get the glass up the mountain, but he didn’t give a fuck.

He leaned one elbow against the window, his fingers drumming a tattoo above his head while he ran his other hand through his hair. He needed a cut. He’d needed a cut for weeks. Hell, he’d needed a cut longer than that. He simply didn’t often care. The thick waves were hanging over his forehead, but it was curly enough not to get in his eyes, and that’s what mattered most. As soon as it started hitting his eyes, he always headed for a barber.

The sun was bright this morning, glistening off the melting snow so that every blade of grass and pine needle in his backyard shone with drops of water. If he stepped outside, he would be pleasantly assaulted with the scent of evergreen that stood out in the spring.

On an ordinary Sunday afternoon, he would already be at his parents’ home a few miles down the road to spend some time with them outside of work. But today was not ordinary. Today was the day Paige Osborn was moving into town to spend the summer making his life a living hell.

He’d spoken to his sister, Joselyn, several times in the past week. He knew all the details. Not only was Paige subleasing Alton’s abandoned apartment, but she was bringing her damn human boyfriend with her. Whatever the hell was up with that eluded him. It made no sense from so many different perspectives.

For one thing, the guy was not a shifter. It wasn’t that grizzlies didn’t date humans. They did. All the time. But rarely did things get serious. Especially because it was forbidden to tell any human about their existence for any reason. At least intentionally. According to Joselyn, Gavin Wright knew all about their species. Interesting.

Secondly, it was even rarer for a shifter to actually remain with a human for life. It could be done. But there was no way to bind to a human. Binding would require biting one’s mate and letting the serum from one grizzly enter the bloodstream of the other.

It wasn’t impossible. Paige could bind Gavin to her by doing just that. However, it was illegal among their people. Arcadian law strictly prohibited changing a human. A bite that forced the level of connections only capable of shifters would cause the human to become a grizzly shifter themselves. If anyone intentionally caused that change, they would be sent to prison in the Northwest Territories for life. Which meant, any shifter wanting to marry a human in the traditional sense would be giving up their ability to bind.

It happened. Not often. But it happened. No hard and fast rule said a shifter had to bind to another in life. Some never did. Just like some humans never married. But it was sort of sad to forfeit that ability and miss out on all it entailed—namely the incredible bond that strengthened a relationship and created a lifelong connection that was apparently indescribable.

Unbound himself, Wyatt didn’t know firsthand, but his sister, his brother, and many friends were bound to another, so he would take their word for it.

More important than all that was the fact that Wyatt felt an overwhelming draw to Paige himself. He was thirty-two years old, and he’d never once had the oxygen sucked out of his body the way his had the night she walked into her parents’ home and took his breath away.

No matter how he might feel about Fate or Nature’s interference with mates, there was no denying the instant attraction to Paige Osborn. The scent of her pheromones was burned into his mind. Every detail about her was easily conjured behind his eyelids. The way her blonde hair bounced down her back like a river of gold. The way her flawless, pale skin contrasted against his both times he’d touched her fingers. The way her big blue eyes told a story of deep personal sadness.

He closed his eyes, remembering the deep blue of hers. So much sorrow. Maybe others couldn’t see it. But he did. As if he could see into her soul through those translucent orbs. It hurt him every time he thought about it. He wanted to erase whatever happened to her to bring that sorrow to her life and replace it with something happy. New.

Me.

But that wasn’t in the cards. At least not yet. Not while she insisted on this insane farce of a relationship with the skinny human guy who was barely taller than her and most assuredly not hers. What was she playing at?

What Wyatt knew for a fact was that his hands were tied. There was nothing he could do but politely wait his turn. If he forced the issue, he could chase her off and ruin whatever burned between them for life.

His sister knew about his attraction. There had been no way to mask it that first night when Paige fled the house as if she’d seen a ghost. However, Wyatt hadn’t told his parents yet, nor his brother, Isaiah. He needed to do so. Soon. Now that Paige was in town for some sort of research project, he would run into her. His parents were likely to invite her to dinner. No sense blindsiding them.

He’d put off verbalizing his plight for three months. He hadn’t permitted Joselyn to mention it to anyone. He’d been waiting. And waiting.

With a deep breath, he shoved off the window, took a last long look at his view, and grabbed his jacket from the back of a kitchen chair. He needed to get to his parents’. He’d stalled long enough.

»»•««

Rosanne Arthur grinned the hugest smile Wyatt had ever seen.

“Mom,” he groaned. “Please. Don’t make this into something.”

She lifted a brow. “Don’t make this into something? You’re my oldest child. The only one not bound to another. I’m so excited I’m about to do a dance.”

“Did you hear a word I said?” he asked, glancing at his father.

Bernard Arthur pursed his lips, fighting an unmistakable grin.

“I heard you.”

“She’s here for some sort of internship. And she’s with her boyfriend.”

“Her human boyfriend,” his mother pointed out as if he weren’t aware of the fact. She set her elbows on the kitchen table where she sat across from him and steepled her fingers. Plotting. Planning. Making him insane.

“Mom. Stop it. I didn’t tell you this so you could start naming grandchildren. I’m telling you this so you can help keep her away from me.”

She dropped her hands so that her palms slapped the table, her eyes wide. “Why would I do that?”

“Because I don’t want to be around her.”

“That’s crazy.”

“Mom. She’s with another guy. I have to wait my turn.”

Rosanne shook her head. “No way. It doesn’t work like that. There’re no guarantees in this life. You have to get in there and make yourself clear. If you don’t, you might regret your decision to wait and see for the rest of your life.”

Wyatt moaned. “Mom…”

“Your mother’s right,” his father interrupted, pushing off the sliding glass door where he’d been leaning a few feet away. “Don’t be so lackadaisical about this. Don’t hide and wait. Get in her space every chance you can get. Befriend her. I’m not saying you should say anything about how you feel just yet. I’m suggesting you make it difficult for her to ignore the connection.”

Wyatt sighed. “I was afraid you’d say that.”

“And I’m right. Trust me.”

Wyatt ran his hands through his hair, pulling it off his forehead and then releasing it.

“And maybe get a haircut,” his mother suggested.

He groaned again. “Mom, I’m a grown man. I’ll do whatever I want with my hair.”

She shrugged. “Just sayin’.” And then she jumped up and headed for the fridge. “I think this calls for a beer.”

He chuckled. “Everything calls for a beer in this family.”

“Yep. Today is no exception.”

»»•««

“Beer?”

Paige stared at Gavin’s back where he leaned into their freshly stocked refrigerator. “Gross.” He didn’t drink beer, either, so she had no idea why he insisted on buying it.

He spun around, opening a bottle and glancing at the label. “This one’s from Mountain Peak Brewery. That’s the Tarben family, right?”

“Yes. But that doesn’t make it more palatable.”

He smirked. “I bet it’s an acquired taste. When in Rome and all.”

“You gonna take up hiking? Or skiing? Both of those are popular around here.”

“Fuck no. Those both require too much exercise. The altitude here is going to kill me by the end of the summer. I’m just going to try the beer for now.” He took a sip and curled up his nose. “Definitely an acquired taste.” He plopped down on the couch next to her and set the bottle on the coffee table. “You sure your sister’s guy doesn’t care if I add some color to this place? I mean, I know it’s only three months, but I don’t think I can handle even three months in this apartment totally done in sepia.”

She giggled. “Alton said to do whatever you want. He paid no attention to the apartment at all.”

“He lived here two years.”

“He was in love.”

Gavin rolled his eyes and made a gagging noise.

Paige swatted his arm. “I can’t wait until you meet the one. I’m so gonna laugh.”

He grabbed her arm to stop her, his face sobering. “I’ll be the first one laughing.”

She tugged her arm free. “Don’t count on it.”

Suddenly, a knock at the door had her jumping to attention. “Damn, I’m out of practice.” She rounded the couch and headed for the door.

“Out of practice about what?”

She turned to face him, hand on the knob, inhaling slowly. “Scenting other shifters. I should have noticed someone approaching.” Without explaining further, she opened the door to the unknown scent.

The woman at the door surprised Paige, mostly because she was about an inch shorter than Paige, rare for a grizzly female. Paige pegged her at a few years younger too. Her long, thick brown hair and deep brown eyes were mesmerizing. “Hi. I’m Adriana Tarben. Alton’s my brother. I just thought I’d come by and welcome you to Silvertip and see if you need anything.”

Paige pulled the door open wider and stepped back. “Come in.” She was taken aback. For most of her life, she hadn’t been around many shifters. Not many lived in Calgary, and when she scented one in the city, she usually ignored them.

Adriana smiled at Paige, staring with wide eyes.

“What?” Paige glanced down at herself, thinking she had spilled something on her shirt.

Adriana shook her head. “Nothing. Sorry. My brother told me you were…gorgeous. He wasn’t wrong.”

Paige blushed, unable to speak as she shut the door. Her face heated. She wasn’t used to such blatant compliments in recent years. She did her best to hide her looks, and by this age, people usually didn’t say much.

“God, I’m sorry. That just slipped out.” She turned toward the couch. “You must be Gavin.”

Gavin was already standing, and he rounded the couch, hand lifted. “I am. Nice to meet you.”

Adriana shook his hand and then turned back toward Paige. “I didn’t mean to bother you. I just thought you might like to have a friendly face in town.”

“That’s so kind of you. Please. Sit.” Paige pointed at the only other chair in the room that sat at an angle from the couch.

“Wow. This place is awful.”

Paige cocked her head. “It’s your brother’s apartment. Haven’t you ever been here?”

“Not often. And not for a long time. It’s so small. He mostly came to our parents’ home to visit. I didn’t remember it being so…” Her voice trailed off.

“Boring?” Gavin provided.

Adriana giggled. “Yep. That’s it. I hope he gave you free rein to fix it up.”

“He did.” Gavin jumped up from the couch as Paige sat. “You want a beer? We went to the store and got a selection from both breweries.”

Adriana shook her head. “No. Thanks. I’m good.”

“Do you work at your family’s brewery?” Paige asked. “I heard nearly everyone does.”

“Yeah. I graduated last month with a computer science degree from Athabasca University. I’ve been working and studying from home since high school, though. My responsibilities are about to kick up a notch.” She sighed. “Not sure that’s a good thing.” She smiled. Her smiles were infectious.

Paige liked her. She had the same shade of thick brown hair as Alton and the same dark eyes. She wondered if everyone in the family resembled the two she’d met.

“So, what is there to do in Silvertip?” Gavin asked, settling on the couch and setting his arm behind Paige on the back of the sofa. It was a practiced stance they always took. After years of perfecting it, they were masters at pretending to be an established couple.

“Not much, I’m sorry to say. It’s not that big. There’s one local bar—Tipsy’s. It’s not exciting, but it’s the only place to dance in town. One theater. Several restaurants that are good, though.” She turned her gaze toward Paige. “I heard you’re doing research for your masters?”

“Yes.” Paige smirked. “Such as it is. I imagine most people in town are going to lift an eyebrow at my studies. But it can’t be helped. I needed an internship for the summer, and the university assigned me to Silvertip.”

“To do what?”

Paige sat up straighter and mocked herself. “Figure out what makes the citizens of this small, quiet town tucked away in the mountains so healthy and large.”

Adriana laughed. “For real?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, Lord. I’m so glad I’m not you.”

“Surprised you haven’t heard about it.”

“Nope. I just heard you were doing research. Alton didn’t say anything else.”

Paige wondered if Alton had also kept his thoughts about Wyatt Arthur to himself or if Adriana was humoring Paige the same as her brother and his mate. “Twelve weeks. I start tomorrow.”

“So, you’re gonna interview people and stuff like that?”

“Yep.”

Adriana giggled again. “This will be so much fun. At least you’ll meet everyone in town. By the end of the summer, you’ll be like an honorary citizen.”

That’s what I’m afraid of.