Chapter Eight – Nevis

They had spent the whole day and some of the night indulging in sex. Lots and lots of amazing sex. At least it was amazing for him. He truly hoped his mate had enjoyed herself.

Nevis turned and looked at Chrysi. She was everything he could have wished for, and so much more. If he could only work things out with his father, life would be perfect. He sighed. One thing he knew for sure: now that he had met his mate, there was no way he could avoid his father.

Chrysi was right, Nevis needed to go and visit his father, if for no other reason than that he wanted the rest of his family to meet his mate. It wouldn’t be right if they kept away. If he somehow managed to resolve the issue over Nevis joining the family business at the same time, that would make his happiness complete.

Even if the resolution means us working in an office? his bear asked.

Let’s see what happens, Nevis answered.

Leaving Chrysi to sleep, Nevis got out of bed and padded on bare feet to the window. The snow had stopped, but it was piled high, with drifts of several feet in places. If they were lucky, it would be easier to walk under the trees, and when they got to the lower slopes, the snowfall would likely have been lighter, making the journey easier.

The cabin was stocked up for all weather; there were several pairs of snowshoes hanging up outside. There was also plenty of warm clothing, and a two-person all-season tent they could squeeze into tonight. One night on the mountain, that was all they would have to survive before they got down to Bear Creek.

As he mentally finished his list of things they needed to do and items they needed to take with them, Nevis turned his thoughts to Ross and Bart. Ideally, Nevis should make some kind of citizen’s arrest, but that would mean either staying up here with them until Brad could come get them with the mountain rescue team, or else he would have to drag their sorry asses down the mountain. This could potentially put Chrysi’s life in danger. A risk he would not take.

The third option was to go up there, get their satellite phone, and maybe their boots, and then leave them stranded while he and Chrysi made their way down the mountain. They could use the phone to call Brad and get him to come get them. The question Nevis had no answer to was whether Bart had made the call to Chrysi’s dad and demanded a ransom. If he had, Brad could charge them with extortion. If they hadn’t, would there be any crime to answer to? It would likely come down to Chrysi’s word against theirs. If Ross had any sense, he would argue Chrysi ran off after an argument.

“Hey, you look as if you have the weight of the world on your shoulders.” Chrysi slipped out of bed and padded over to him, putting her arms around his waist and resting her head on his back. “Are we leaving today?”

“I think we have to. I’m worried about your father. If Bart got through to him on the phone and demanded a ransom, then we need to stop the transaction as soon as possible.”

“If Bart made the call, Harlan is going to be worried. But I don’t know if he will hand over any money for me without proof.”

“I’m going to go up to the cave and see what I can find out.” Nevis had made up his mind. “I’ll go as a bear. Scare them into telling me.”

“You know, I have a better idea.” Chrysi moved to stand in front of him, her hands on his chest. “You know, I have always wondered what it would be like to have a pet bear.”

“Really?” He frowned, trying to figure out where this was going.

“Yes. The kind of bear who would do anything I asked. The kind of bear I could train.”

“You want me to be that bear?” Nevis asked.

“I thought we could go up there and pay them a visit. We go in, you look all fierce, and I convey in the simplest of terms, that they need to hand over the satellite phone, and then stay put until the authorities arrive.”

“And you think they will do as they are told?” Nevis asked.

“They will if I tell them you are waiting outside. That if they so much as step out of the cave, you will tear their heads off.”

“That is kind of brilliant. Except I won’t be there. I’m not leaving you to come down off the mountain alone.”

“If I know Ross, as soon as we leave, he will be testing the boundaries of those orders. We simply hang around long enough to make sure they get the fright of their lives if they poke their heads outside.”

“That is brilliant, and cruel. I like it.” He ducked his head and looked up at the sky. “As long as we don’t have to wait around too long. I don’t think we will get any more snow today, but the day will be short.”

“So we walk at night. Bears can see in the dark, right?”

“Not exactly see in the dark, but I can find my way in the dark.”

“That’s settled, then.” Looking pleased with herself, Chrysi went to the bathroom, and it was all Nevis could do to stop himself from following her. Surely there was time for them to make love once more?

He mentally threw a bucket of snow over himself before getting dressed. He raided Caroline’s closet for some warm clothes for Chrysi and set them out on the bed.

“I’ll be glad to get home and have a shower.” Chrysi came out of the bathroom. “Thanks for the clothes. Are you sure Caroline won’t mind?”

“Not at all.” He went to her, put his arms around her, and pulled her close. “When you say home, what home do you mean?” He kissed her lips. “I’m not sure I want to be parted from you for a single day.”

Chrysi laid her head on his chest. “Once we get back to civilization, this is all going to seem like a dream.”

“I’ll pinch you every morning when we wake up to make sure you know it’s real,” he offered.

“My hero,” she purred. “But seriously. How do our lives fit together?”

“That we work out as we go.” He kissed the top of her head. “You aren’t going to run out on me, are you?”

Chrysi stepped back and lifted her hands to cup his face. “Harlan always told me true mates were forever. I believe you when you say we are true mates. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make this go from fairy-tale romance to a real-life happy ever after.”

He kissed her lips, and she savored every moment of it. Chrysi could see why someone would come here to a cabin in the wilderness to escape their lives. Part of her wished the two of them could live here, cocooned from the outside world, for a while longer. They could learn about each other and consolidate their relationship before the pressures of the outside world set in.

However, they had to deal with Ross and Bart. More importantly, she had to tell her dad that she was safe.

“Breakfast, then we get ready to go,” Nevis said, as if reading her mind.

“I’m sorry to make you leave the mountain.” Chrysi smiled shyly at him. “I was going to say I bet you wished I never walked into your life.”

He pulled her back toward him fiercely. “You know that is not true. Maybe this is why I came to the mountain. Fate knew you were here, and now that I have you, the rest means nothing. I’ll make peace with my dad, we’ll get married and grow a family.”

“I like the sound of that.” She put her forehead on his chest, hiding her face from him. “I keep thinking I’m going to open my eyes and be out there on the mountain in the snow, half frozen and delirious.”

“Maybe breakfast will make you believe in me.” He took her hand and pulled her out of the room. She followed, shivering in the cold kitchen until he’d stoked the stove. The room quickly filled with heat.

Shuffling closer to the warmth, Chrysi asked, “What’s the plan?”

“The immediate plan, or the long-term plan?” Nevis was filling the kettle, small pieces of ice jingled into it like sleigh bells.

“The plan for today. We are going to pay Ross and Bart a visit?”

“Oh yes. I like the idea of going into their cave and making them think you have tamed a bear.”

“Technically, it’s the truth,” Chrysi said mildly.

“Technically, it is. Although my bear will likely try to convince you otherwise.” Nevis grinned. “I’ve told him there is no biting allowed unless severely provoked. You may have to remind him of that fact, though.”

“I will. Although maybe a nip or two would serve as a reminder.”

Nevis shook his head. “I’m not sure sending you two together is the right thing to do.”

“Tough. I want to meet your bear, and I want to get that satellite phone from them. The sooner we contact my father, and the sheriff, the happier I’ll be.”

“And I was born to make you happy.” He kissed her while the ice water in the kettle melted and then came to a boil. Reluctantly letting her go, he made breakfast while she made coffee.

“Perfect,” Chrysi said. “It might not be the best ground coffee Harlan insists on serving, but it is just what I needed.”

“Boil some more water, there is a flask we can take with us. It’s going to be a long day,” Nevis warned.

“I’m more than ready,” Chrysi replied.

After they ate, Nevis found what they needed, giving her instructions on what to pack where.

“You’ve done this before,” Chrysi commented.

“Many times. I’ve traveled all over the world with my camera.” He held up his most prized possession. “My last long trip was to the top of Everest.”

Chrysi looked suitably impressed. “Wow. Now I see why you don’t want to settle for the corporate life.”

“Those days are behind me.” He rolled his clothes up tightly and placed them in his pack. If you were well organized and careful, it was possible to pack a lot of stuff in a single backpack.

“Why?” she asked.

“I have a mate.”

“And can’t this mate come with you?”

Nevis stopped and looked at her, feeling a rush of appreciation and love unfurl inside him. “You would want to?”

Chrysi cocked her head on one side and thought for a moment. “Why not? I’ve done things a little differently than you. I built my business, and now I’m relatively free. But coming up here, hiking deep into the mountains… It’s given me a sense of freedom I’d never known.”

“You get why I don’t want the life my dad wants me to have?”

“Of course I do. But you need to settle this with him, for your sake and the sake of your family. See if there is a point you can meet him. Halfway, a quarter of the way… Family is important. Take it from one who lost hers.”

“First we settle things with Ross and Bart.” Nevis pulled the drawstring on the packs tight and then buckled them up. “I just have to make sure all the fires are out, and then we are good to go.”

“Great,” Chrysi said enthusiastically. “Let’s go get them.”

He grinned. “I hope you feel the same way when we get out in the snow.”

“I love snow,” she stated firmly.

“Good, there is going to be a lot of it.” He heaved the pack onto his shoulder and did one final check of the cabin before they went outside.