“Why are you telling us? Shouldn’t you be talking to her or Darian?” Errol asked Killian, his twin Ian nodding at his side.

Killian frowned at the two wondering why he’d selected them to tell first himself. “I am telling you because it is quite obvious that Darian hates Angeline at the moment, as do most of the pack but you two never really hate anyone.”

Ian laughs giving a small shake of his head. “Are you sure Angeline is your predestined mate? Maybe you’ve been without a woman for so long that infatuation feels like destiny?”

“I have done everything that I can to try and remember that she is despicable. I’ve pleaded with her twice to come forward and take the blame off Cara. She refuses. If I had any other choice at all I would take it.”

Errol and Ian both cocked their heads to the side but in opposite directions.

“What is it that makes you so sure she’s your predestined mate?” Errol asked.

“It’s like they tell us as soon as we shift. You know that story about how a few wolves will be blessed with a predestined mate and that it will be an undeniable bond. The scent will tell the shifter who she is and with each meeting, the bond will grow more and more.”

Errol nodded. “And you feel more and more bonded?”

“The first time I met her I could smell there was something different about her but I pushed it away. The second it was a stronger scent, one that was too pleasant for such a brash woman.”

Ian and Errol looked at each other then back to Killian. “Is it a medical cream you’re smelling?” Errol asked.

“Yeah, sort of a heavy dose of muscle relaxant gel?”

“No. Why?”

“Because that’s what she smells like to us. Like she’s always coating her hands and arms in some sort of medical cream.”

Killian shook his head. “I think I would notice if it were medical. She smells like the waterfall Everclear if it were doused with lavender and lilac. It’s intoxicating. I can smell her even now and she’s all the way in Freebasin.”

“So, she just smells good and now you’re stuck with a woman you don’t even like?” Ian asked scratching his blond head as he fought off a smile.

“I do… like her,” Killian admitted. “I know that must be difficult to believe but you haven’t seen her as I have. She is actually very smart, and she’s brave. Angeline may have the name face and hair of an angel but she’s fierce. She was so gentle with Unis. I see her nurturing spirit even if she is trying to fight it off.”

Ian and Errol were looking at him like he’d just solved an impossible mathematical equation. “Face of an angel huh?” Ian asked.

“Body of an angel? Or sinner?” Errol grinned.

“Yes, there’s sexual desire too. If she saw the way I dream about her Angeline would most likely run from me whenever she saw me.”

Errol and Ian both nodded as if they understood.

“You’ve been putting off a lot of sexual energy,” Errol confirmed.

Ian nodded. “I don’t think it’ll be such a surprise to Darian that you want to mate with Angeline. Not so much as you think anyway.”

Killian’s mind drifted back to the man Angeline confessed to mating with and the desire to find the man and make a eunuch of him. “How does she know to find these women in the woods? She must know who the killer is, right? There is no other logical explanation.”

“There are plenty of logical explanations,” Ian argued. “Stop trying to find more reasons to push her away. You can push all you want but if you’re predestined there will be no one else you will ever love.”

“But she, on the other hand,” Errol said picking up where his brother dropped off. “Will not be bonded to you until after you claim her. You’ll drive her away and spend the rest of your life regretting it.”

Killian dragged his hand through his wild mess of black curly hair. “I am not the mating for life kind of wolf.”

“Not since Valor died,” Ian said looking Killian in the face with blatant honesty.

“It wasn’t your fault,” Errol said his face just as stoic as his brother’s.

Yes, it was. We all know it. I know it.

Killian dismissed their attempts to let him off the hook. “Even now, I can smell her so strong it’s as if she’s climbing the mountain as we speak.”

“Well, she is,” Errol said, a grin spreading across his face.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Killian demanded.

Ian shrugged. “If she’s your predestined mate then she belongs here.”

“Darian has forbid her.”

“He has,” Ian agreed. “You’ll need to change his mind if you wish to make a go of it with her.”

Killian shook his head. “You two haven’t listened to a word I’ve said, have you?”

“Yes, we have,” Errol laughed.

“Have you?” Ian asked.

Crazy, full of nonsense, twins.

Killian shot down the mountain like a bullet. Darian and the rest of the pack would be swarming around her any minute and Darian already gave the order humans on the mountain were a kill on sight target. He wasn’t taking any more chances after losing a member of the pack.

When he saw her, he stopped hoping that if he spoke to her with a greater distance between them the bond wouldn’t continue to grow.

She was wearing tight blue pants and brown boots that went all the up her long lean legs, stopping mid-thigh. Her long angel-blond hair was shining in the early morning light like white silk. The lilac purple top she was wearing was mostly covered by her oversized black coat.

Lilac and Lavender. Dammit.

“What are you doing here? Don’t you know you could be killed trespassing as you are?”

Angeline shielded her blue eyes as she looked up the mountain trying to locate him. “Yes, I remember you warning me off the mountain but I need to talk to you.”

“No. Leave.”

“It’s important. Would I come here if it weren’t?” She asked looking in the wrong direction for him.

Killian heard the pack stirring. They could hear her, even if they couldn’t smell her yet. He closed the distance between them, plucked Angeline off the mountain and carried her back into the forest until they were beyond Rizer boarder.

Angeline was just starting to nestle into him as he pulled her off and deposited her on her feet. The lilac shirt was tight, hugging her breasts and flat stomach. His hands ached to touch her. His eyes were searching out every trace of visible skin, wanting more.

“Whatever you want, the answer is no. I told you when you refused to tell me the truth that I would never help you.”

“But you’re a doctor. My mom is very sick. She needs your medical assistance.”

Killian could feel how close the Alpha was getting. He’d arrive any second. “I don’t have enough practice on humans to help her even if I wanted to, which I don’t.”

Angeline lifted her chin. “I know you hate me and you have every right but this isn’t for me. She’s an amazing and strong woman. A good woman, one who would have done what you wanted me to do in the townhouse. Can’t you at least come and see if you can help her? I know you can.”

“No,” Darian snarled as he stopped next to Killian. He was breathing hard and the anger he felt was rolling off of him, being the alpha his emotions began to blend into Killian’s. “We aren’t helping anyone from Freebasin. One of yours killed one of mine. You can tell your town official that the alliance is off.”

He started pacing back and forth. “Or can’t you even utter that much in a town hall?”

Killian’s wolf wanted to lunge at Darian and protect his mate. Killian held his spirit wolf in check.

“I’m sorry you lost a member of your family.” Angeline’s eyes bounced between Darian and Killian even though more of the pack was showing up and joining them. “Don’t you think that it must be the murderer who targeted your pack? You must be a terrible threat to him.”

“It could just as easily be one of the people who wanted to blame Cara,” Darian growled. “You’re off my land now but I know you were there.”

“I removed her,” Killian said because he believed in taking responsibility for what he’d done.

Darian didn’t look at him. It was as if Killian hadn’t spoken at all. “I’ve ordered my pack to kill any human on sight that dares trespass onto my land. Come again, and I will kill you myself.”

Angeline’s heart was beating like she was at a full run even though she was standing still. “What can I do to gain your forgiveness?”

“Nothing,” Darian growled. “It’s too late for that.”

Angeline stood a little taller as Darian began to circle her.

Fight him. Killian’s wolf demanded.

“I used the medicine ball that you gave me on my mom and it was working. I’m all out now. May I please have more for her?”

“Don’t speak to him, speak to me,” Darian growled. “You don’t seem to understand that I’m serious. Leave now.”

Angeline looked at Killian and he did all he could to hold himself still. When he did not respond, she turned her blue eyes on Darian. “You’re not my alpha. What you say to me is not law.”

Darian took a couple steps back, Killian knew he was about to shift and teach Angeline a lesson.

“I won’t help you. Not ever. You’re a horrible person and your mother deserves to die for bringing you into this world.”

Angeline took a step back the look on her face was like he’d reached out and struck her, no it was worse. He wanted to snatch the words back. He wanted to apologize but didn’t.

“You saved the woman last night from Freebasin. Why can’t you save my mom? If you do I swear I will never come here again and bother you.”

“Come back,” Darian growled. “and we’ll rid ourselves of you.”

Angeline didn’t move.

Ian crossed between Angeline and Darian. “She has the message. Let’s go.”

The pack looked to Darian for his command. “Let’s go,” He said.

“I’ll take her home,” Cara said.

“No,” Darian growled but Cara was just as much Alpha as he and would do what she wanted to do.

Errol approached the alphas. “May I take her home?” He asked.

Darian inclined his head, his anger still very present.

“Do not come back,” Cara said evenly to Angeline.

Errol swept Angeline up in his arms and ran back toward Freebasin. Angeline did not look back in Killian’s direction. The pack began to return to Rizer land but Killian stood there looking after Angeline.

It was just like Errol and Ian said. He’d pushed her away so hard that she would never forgive him.