Chapter 10

Chief was in absolute fucking awe of Alise.  He could barely tear his eyes from her for even a moment when he was in her presence, which sucked because he knew he was scaring her.  He had to be.  Who wouldn’t be terrified after being physically affected by a total stranger only to find out that said stranger was a wolf shifter and was destined to be your mate.  Christ!  He wanted to walk away.  He wanted to leave the cabin and give Alise the time she needed to adjust to the idea.  He wanted to come back and court her, but that shit wasn’t happening.  Nope, his inner wolf was a beast and a territorial one at that, which meant there was no fucking way he was letting Chief walk out and leave their mate unprotected.  Skin Walker compound or not, Chief only trusted himself to look after something so damn precious.

In the bedroom of the cabin, he was rifling through his drawers trying to find something suitable for her to wear.  A pair of his black sweat pants were knotted at Alise’s hip and rolled up a half dozen times until her tiny feet—shoved into a pair of his oversized thermal socks—poked out the bottom. 

Nostrils flaring, Chief drank in Alise’s scent, and his lip kicked up in a snarl.   Alise saw it and the way she paled slightly and recoiled a nearly imperceptible fraction told him two things.  One, his mate was afraid of him, and two, she was tough as nails to pretend she wasn’t. 

The scent of her soothed his inner animal and had the growl, that had been rattling his chest ever since he’d gotten back to the cabin, tapering off into a low sound deep in his throat.  She smelled so fucking good.  It wasn’t like anything else he’d scented either.  Most women at StoneCrow smelled like Montana or flowers, but not Alise.  No, she smelled exotic like coconut and lime mixed with sugar.  He’d be able to pinpoint her scent anywhere.

Handing Alise a long-sleeved t-shirt, he watched her shove her arms into it, not even bothering to remove the long t-shirt beneath.

“Before we head to the infirmary, we need to go over a few things.”

Alise blinked up at him with her big hazel eyes.

“No one touches you.  No one!”

She opened her mouth to protest, but he cut her off.

“Anyone’s touch beside mine will hurt you.  And if anyone hurts you, I promise my wolf will rip out of me and go to war.  No touching.”

“No touching,” Alise repeated with a look of concern.

“And no males.”

Her dainty brows speared down, so Chief explained.  “So far as Beast is concerned, you’re ours.  But we haven’t claimed you.  Any male who even approaches will be considered a challenger.  It’s one of those things about Beast I can’t control.  Don’t test it.  I promise it won’t be pretty.”

“Okay,” she breathed.  “No touching, no men.  Is that it?”

“Stay close,” he growled.  “I won’t let them separate us.  If it’s one of Monroe’s schemes to study the stricken, they’ll try.”

When worry filled her eyes, he crossed to her and cupped her face.  “No one’s separating us, Alise.  I won’t allow it.  We’ll keep you safe.  You have our word.”

Drawing in her bottom lip, she nodded, but he could tell she was still unconvinced.  If he was honest, he was worried too.  Inside, Beast was thrashing around demanding he keep Alise here locked up tight in the cabin and safe with them.  At the main house, anything could happen.  And if this was all a game, then taking Alise to the source wasn’t wise.  But she was determined to know the truth and so was he.

A knock at the front door had both he and Alise jerking.

“Who’s that?” she asked and headed for the stairs. 

He caught her wrist and pulled her behind him.  “Wait here.”

He made his way down the stairs and opened the door to find that dick from yesterday standing there. 

“Chief,” Gauge greeted.

Chief simply jerked his chin by way of greeting.

Gauge’s eyes slid over Chief’s shoulder. “Mr. StoneCrow says he’s been calling.”

“Phone’s broke.”

Gauge looked at Chief and then up the stairs to where Alise stood.  “Everything alright?”

But Gauge wasn’t asking Chief.

Glancing over his shoulder, Chief watched as Alise nodded.  “We’d…we’d like to see Jenny.”

Gauge smirked.  “We figured.  I have a car out front.”

“I…” Alise’s gaze slid from Gauge to Chief then back.  “I’m sorry, but I can’t ride with you.”

A knowing grin wrecked Gauge’s face as he pinned Chief with dead eyes.  “You’re issue, I assume.”

“Trying not to make it yours,” Chief answered.

With a snort, Gauge tossed the keys to Chief.