“Sir. I got the witness’s statement. Are the deputies back from the scene?”

“Yes,” said Sheriff Jefferies. “They didn’t find much. Some shells. A few footprints. Not much else. We’ve IDed the body and are notifying next of kin.”

“Do you suspect foul play?”

“It could very well be a case of mistaken identity. A failed hunting attempt. That remains to be seen. There is no precedent for this kind of thing, with shifters just coming out to the world. I’d like you to continue to investigate this case with Deputy Morris.”

“I understand, sir. I’ll take a look at the forensics reports when I get back from taking the witness to her campsite.”

“Did you learn anything new from her?”

“Not really. She’s in shock. Don’t like the idea of taking her back up the mountain by herself. Might try to convince her to get a hotel room in town.”

“She’s going to be here a while?”

“About a week.”

“Should be long enough to wrap this up.”

Wyatt had a bad feeling that this was more than just mistaken identity. Even in his small mountain town, he’d heard bigoted comments from the locals and tourists alike.

He turned to go, nodding at Sheriff Jefferies as he closed the door. Back in his office, he found Candice worrying her full bottom lip in a frustratingly enticing way. She smelled like sunshine and rain. Her scent made his bear roar and his shaft twitch. Damn.

“Let’s get you back home,” he said, holding the door for her. She stood, smiling up at him through her dark eyelashes. Without a spot of makeup and wearing her dirty hiking clothes, Candice Gray was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

Her curves begged for his hands to glide over them and uncover their every secret. He sucked a breath through his clenched teeth as she passed by him, out the door.

He had to get ahold of himself to get through this investigation. His bear roared. Mate! Wyatt’s heart pounded. Could she really be his mate? Hope rose in his chest as he watched her walk. This wasn’t the right time or place for this. He couldn’t think of claiming a woman who was a witness in a murder investigation he was part of. It wouldn’t be professional, and it could cost him his job.

They walked through the sheriff’s department and back to his truck. He opened the door for her and helped her climb inside. She looked so cute sitting in his truck, like she belonged there.

“Are you sure you want to go back up the mountain?” he asked, pulling out of the parking lot. “It might be better for you to get a hotel room until we can confirm it was a hunting accident.”

“I didn’t come up here to stay in a hotel,” she countered. “I wait all year to take this camping trip, and I don’t want it ruined just because someone shot a bear out of season.”

“The case is elevated to homicide.”

“Oh,” she said, and began to worry her gorgeous lip again. He wanted to nibble it for her. Ideas ran through his mind, and he had to remind himself to stop. “I still want to go back to my campsite. All my things are up there.”

“I have access to the back roads so you won’t have to hike back in.”

The wilderness camp was a mile up the mountain and didn’t have normal road access. Campers had to hike in. Being a game warden, he could use the Forest Service Road that led there.

“You’ve had a rough day. I’d hate to send you off on a mile-long hike up rugged terrain after that.”

They took the park road off the highway and then turned onto the Forest Service Road. He stopped in front of a metal gate that closed off the dirt road from normal traffic. After getting out, he opened the gate to allow them through.

“It must be fun to have access to all these places,” she said as they slowly made their way up the mountain. “I’ve always wondered what it would be like to be able to drive on these blocked-off roads.”

“There’s great fishing at the lake in the valley on the other side of the mountain. Lake trout. Good eating.”

“And you can just drive down there? That lake is a ten-mile hike from the trailhead.”

“Yep.” He smiled, thinking about fishing in the lake in bear form. It was so secluded that humans seldom made it that far. Especially at night, when he liked to fish the most. “Maybe I can take you there sometime.” The words came out before he could stop them. What was he doing offering to take her out to the lake? It was highly inappropriate.

“I’d love that,” she said in an enthusiastic tone, her pretty face lit up with a smile.

Damn, he liked to make her smile. He’d like to spend the rest of his life making her smile. He growled at himself. He couldn’t be having these thoughts, at least not until after the investigation. She might be his fated mate, but he couldn’t even think of claiming her until the case was solved.

“It’s a date,” he said, not wanting to disappoint her. He’d have to deal with his lack of self-control later. Candice giggled and accepted the invitation.

Wyatt pulled up beside the wilderness campsite and stopped the truck. “This is it,” he said. “I don’t feel comfortable leaving you here alone. If you need anything, please call me. This is my number. Call for any reason at all, 24/7. Okay?”

“I appreciate you being so concerned about me. I’m sure I’ll be fine. But I’m holding you to that fishing date.” She grinned and laughed as she climbed out of the truck. It was almost dusk as she closed the door and gave him a little wave goodbye.

His heart clenched in his chest at the idea of leaving her alone after witnessing a murder. But he couldn’t force her to stay in a hotel. He also couldn’t kidnap her and make her stay in his cabin, although the idea had crossed his mind.

“I’ll check in on you tomorrow,” he said, rolling down the window. She thanked him again and disappeared between the trees. Wyatt let out a deep sigh and backed his truck up into a turn around and then drove off into the darkening evening.