Chapter Three
From the back seat of Trish’s SUV, Addison looked out the window at the snowy mountain scene and sighed. “I’m fine, Mom. I’m with Trish, remember? And don’t forget, the lodge we’re going to is pack owned.”
She heard a snort from the front of the car and made a face in the rear-view mirror at the driver. Trish winked before looking back at the very curvy road.
“I’ll call you when we’re in the room, Mom. Love you. Bye.” Addison hung up and leaned back into the seat. “Overprotective she-wolves. Oy.”
“Hey, all moms are like that.” From the seat next to her, Gabby nodded wisely. “Human moms, wolf moms, hey, I bet even witch moms are worry warts.” She grinned. “Worry warts, get it?”
Everyone else groaned, but the silly joke had Addison smiling again. She was with her besties: Trish, Gabby and Eve, and they had the whole weekend to bitch and moan and let loose! Trish, of course, was a shifter like herself, but Gabby and Eve were human. She’d met them at college and loved getting to know how the other half lived. Funnily enough, Gabby was right. There were so many similarities to shifter life, it was insane.
But then there were the differences.
“It’s just this stupid thing about being introduced to so many males I dislike. George sure knows how to pick ‘em. You should have seen the way this last one, Julian, looked at me. As if I were a roly-poly he wouldn’t even bother to squash with his boot.”
“Roly-polys are cute, and so are you.” Gabby leaned over and gave her a hug. “And if this Julian is too stupid to know a good thing when he sees it, then screw him.”
“That’s right.” Trish agreed.
“Screw the dude!” Eve did a fist pump and then giggled. “Well, maybe don’t screw him. He doesn’t deserve sex with a babe like you.”
Addison smiled and looked back out the window at the snow covered rocks and trees streaming by. She had the best friends. Sure they all loved their wine and chocolate and sugary flavored lattes a little too much—none of them were skinny-Minnies. But that’s one of the reasons she loved them. They never judged, just supported. You couldn’t buy friendships like this. She might have issues with her family, but when it came to friends, she was super lucky.
Trish drove the big silver SUV around a bend in the road. As they crested the rise there was a brief opening in the trees to the left as the view of the valley opened up below.
It was much bigger than Addison had expected. The open valley spread out in a wide expanse of snow and forest, and the only building she could see was huge. Wolf Valley Lodge was isolated for a ski lodge, but that suited the supernatural clientele of mostly shifters, who also took advantage of the large piece of property adjoining the state park and the privacy.
“Wow!” The gap in the trees closed and Addison strained to catch glimpses of the view between the scattering of pines bordering the narrow mountain road as they began their descent. “Is that the lodge?”
“Yep.” Trish drove down the steep road, taking the hairpin curves like an expert. “Wolf Valley Lodge, best ski resort in the Rockies.”
“You have to say that, your brother owns it.”
“Well, of course. But I’ve stayed at some of the other resorts and it is one of the best. Linc works overtime to make sure everything runs smoothly. That’s why it costs so much to stay here. That, and it’s discreet.” She waggled her eyebrows. “Very discreet.”
“Thanks so much for inviting us, Trish.” Gabby’s eyes were huge and round as she leaned over Addison, trying to see. “I can’t believe we’re going to a shifter ski lodge.”
“We don’t just have shifters, there are other sups there. And don’t expect to see anyone shifting in public. There are certain areas that are off limits to anyone who isn’t a shifter, so there’s plenty of room for that wild experience. Of course, you and Eve won’t be able to go there, but Addison can.”
“I’ll be sticking with the girls. I’m here for girl-talk, wine and shopping. I can’t wait to head back over that hill and check out those cute little shops in Snowflake.”
They pulled up to the front of the lodge and disembarked. Up here, there was snow on the ground and the air was crisp with the scents of winter in the mountains. Addison took in a deep breath. Fresh air, the tang of pines and biting cold.
This is what freedom smelled like. She couldn’t wait to experience it.
Trish leaned in closer. “One of the big benefits of a shifter-run hotel is that everything is washed in neutral scents, no overwhelming fabric softeners for our sensitive noses.” She crinkled her nose and the tiny scattering of freckles crinkled too.
Addison laughed and gave her a hug. “Thanks for having us.”
“I’ve missed all of you.” Trish hugged her back. “I can’t think of a better way to spend my next three days off than hanging with my besties.”
Addison grinned and headed around the back of the SUV. She loved Trish like the sister she’d never had. The petite curvy redhead had been her best friend since she was just a pup. Trish, and Trish’s family were one of the reasons she thought she’d grown up into a reasonable person. Thank goodness for the Hunters. They were a rowdy bunch, but the love they had for each other shone through even the occasional scuffle she’d witnessed between the siblings. Ever since Trish had moved up to the lodge permanently to be the on-staff physical therapist, Addison had missed her like crazy.
As they passed the rear SUV door she went to grab her suitcase, but the valet was already taking care of the luggage. “Wow, a valet. Do we tip him?”
“It’s on the house.” The valet winked.
“Thanks, Barry, I owe you one.” Trish grinned. “It’s my friends’ very first visit here and I want to wow them with the service, so you’re doing a fabulous job.” She led the girls inside. “You guys wait here, I’ll get our keys.”
Inside the lodge was an elegant combination of natural logs soaring to the high ceilings and lots of glass. Huge floral arrangements and a modern Western rustic decor, with large comfy leather couches and chairs, and modern log furniture, made the interior both elegant and homey. Addison turned her head from side to side, taking it all in. She might never get a chance to stay in an expensive hotel like this again. Especially not if she managed to go through with her plan and get her own apartment. She’d have costs now, lots of costs. It was scary, but super exciting too, and she got impatient just thinking about when her new life could start.
“I’m heading to the restroom,” Gabby said, heading across the lobby.
“Me too. Right behind you.” Eve gave Addison a quick wave before following Gabby.
Addison gave a half-wave back heading for the massive oil painting over the stone fireplace. Gorgeous. Wolves racing through pine trees. She didn’t know how long she’d been examining it when she scented someone she knew. Her lip curled as she turned and saw the odious Julian Clawbender approaching.
“God? What’s he doing here?”
“Who?” Gabby asked, coming up next to her. “Do you mean that sleezeball with the toothy smile? Don’t tell me he’s a wolf, he looks more like one of those chicken stealing foxes from one of my kid’s books.”
Gabby’s comment had Addison’s face switching from surprise to humor and she was able to greet Julian with a reasonable, “Hi.” Good thing, what she really wanted to say was, “Fuck off.”
“Well, what a surprise.” An obvious fake smile with too many teeth spread across his face. “Addison Howler. So nice to see you so soon.” His words dripped with sarcasm and she could tell by the way his eyes rolled, that he wasn’t excited to see her either.
“Hello, Julian. Are you here on a vacation?” What were the odds?
A puzzled expression crossed his face. “No. Didn’t George tell you? I’m here to look after you. Your mother is very worried about you coming up here on your own, and now that I smell your company, I can see why.”
“George sent you? Well you can just go back home.” She laced an arm through Gabby’s and pulled her friend in close. “I’m in perfect company and I don’t need you to babysit me.”
His left eyebrow raised. “George warned me about your smart-ass attitude. You’re going to have to change that if you ever expect to be successfully mated.”
“Smart-ass?” Addison growled. Gabby’s arm tightened around hers. “Good thing we aren’t compatible, Julian. You don’t need to hang around me. I’ll keep my smart-ass attitude and you can keep on walking all the way home.”
“No, I can’t.” Julian crossed his arms over his chest. “Even though we didn’t suit at the scenting ceremony your father’s a good friend of mine. He sent me up here to make sure you behave, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
She felt, rather than saw, Trish come up beside her. Addison warmed to know that her friends had her back. But this was her fight, not theirs. She shook her head at them and let go of Gabby’s arm. Both women fell back, but not too far.
Armed with their support she stepped forward. “I’m a grown woman, Julian. I don’t need a baby-sitter. Go home.”
“I can’t do that.” Julian shot a look at Gabby, his eyes hard. “Your father can’t possibly know who you’re keeping company with. He would never have given you permission to come.” He moved in closer. “I’m staying Addison, and I’m going to make sure you don’t embarrass either your family or your pack. You can be sure of that.”
The urge to shift and sink her teeth into his supercilious face rose inside Addison, her wolf rising to the surface.
Addison struggled to push it all down—wolf, rage, the urge to defend her friends. Behind her, Trish growled. Addison smelled wolf on her friend’s scent, as well as the anger layered beneath Gabby’s scent too. If Julian didn’t back down, he was going to get a whole lot more from the women than a smart-ass attitude.
Her wolf rising under her skin, Addison braced for trouble.