Page 45 of The Alpha's Rejected Mate

Billie

Muriel and I were sitting out in a canoe on the river. The strip of water along the eastern bank was generally very still from the currents that wound down the western bank, and we were able to paddle up and down with relative ease, our paddle strokes long and languid.

Helen and Matthew had a ten-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter, who generally used this canoe. There was another canoe that belonged to Harper and Shane’s two kids, one of whom was mucking around in it now, nearer the bank.

Lately, Muriel had been saying how much she missed the water in the Kootenai National Forest, where her home was. She’d told me about how there were sacred waterfalls and lakes within the Rocky Mountains that she and Kiara visited weekly. I’d learned that the pilgrimages and dips they took were important rituals they lived by, and a way of worshiping their Sky god, Selene.

I’d suggested to her that the sacred waters of our river, gliding out in a canoe, might be a suitable substitute in the meantime. Muriel had been delighted at the idea. I wasn’t surprised to see the pups of the pack, who all loved Muriel as their resident storyteller, wanting to get involved. Two of the kids were pushing out the other canoe and coming toward us. Theirlaughter rang out from the shore, as wonderful as the sunshine that was gracing us again this morning.

Muriel sat back in the canoe, gazing up at the big blue sky. There was barely a cloud obscuring it.

“Thank you for this morning, Billie,” she said. “Big Sky country is what they call Montana, and I almost felt as if I were back there this morning. Up in the Rockies beneath this big blue, I always feel Selene’s power.”

I thought of the way my wolf felt close to Vana when running through the forest. I understood exactly what Muriel meant about a particular environment bringing about communion with her goddess.

Muriel and I had spent the last couple of hours chatting about unicorn beliefs and enjoying our surroundings. The water played a sacred role in unicorns’ beliefs in a similar way that the river did to the Grandbay Pack. Holy water was deeply connected to their sky goddess, Selene.

As Muriel continued to tilt her head back and admire the big blue above, I dipped my hands through the cool waters of the Gunnison. Muriel and I were communing together, and I got the sense that we were getting to know each other even better.

We’re kindred spirits.

I loved having Muriel here in Grandbay, but I hoped that before long, she’d succeed in getting back to where she belonged.

“You’ll be back in Montana with Kiara before long, I’m sure,” I said, knowing how much she missed her daughter. “Until then, you’re welcome to share our sacred river like any of the pack.”

“Thank you, dear.” Her silvery eyes held me affectionately. I felt how lucky I’d been to spend the morning in this way with my friend.

But … worry tugged at me. Like one of those hidden currents out in the river’s depths, it took a hold and I knew as lovely as this had been, it couldn’t distract me forever.

So, I asked, “Can you drop me down on the bank?”

“Course, dear,” she said. I tried to focus on the calm sound of our paddles stroking the water as we glided back toward the bank, already missing the tranquility I’d found.

We edged up along the grassy bank, and Piper, Harper and Shane’s daughter, exclaimed, “Awww, you’re not getting out, are you?”

“I need to, but Muriel’s staying in,” I said. “How about you take my place?”

Piper whooped and all but wrestled the paddle from me. I grinned at the little girl as Muriel held the canoe still as she got in.

I scrambled up the bank.

The worry settling in my belly was about Gavin. Istillhadn’t seen him since he’d gone off running last night. I’d heard his cabin door go shortly after I’d left his place. I’d peeked out to see his wolf disappearing into the woods. What if something had happened to him?

I tried to smother my alarm down for the umpteenth time, reminding myself that if he’d been hurt, I would have felt it. With the telepathic connection that had worked between uswhenever one of us was in danger so far, I felt sure I would know if he was in danger.

But the sun had risen hours ago, and he still hadn’t returned. Why had he been out all night? I’d asked Oslo whether he’d been on sentry duty on the borders, and he’d told me that he wasn’t.

But he’d gone to patrol the forest anyway. I stood at the start of the trail into the forest. He wouldn’t have left pack lands. Not with the threat circling us from Dalesbloom and the Inkscales. He knew our territory needed all members here to defend it. But that gnawing apprehension refused to go away.

Taking off my plaid shirt, I’d just decided to go look for him when Gavin’s dark brown wolf stalked from out of the trees. I blinked at him, slack-jawed as if my thoughts had conjured him. For a moment, thoughts about our telepathic connection I’d experienced skittered through my thoughts. Had he sensed my unease? But his casual pace as he descended the trail suggested not.

A musky scent, with the hint of ginger and lime, caught in my nostrils. A scent that instantly conjured to mind the bathroom of the Hexen household, with its claw-footed bath and clean white tiles. But, beneath the ginger and lime was the strong, musky tone, which sent other memories through me, strong arms, attentive blue eyes, and always an understanding tone: Colt’s scent.

My heart pounded like a jackhammer.

But Gavin seemed not to notice and hurried past me as if Colt’s scent wasn’tall over him.

I trailed behind his wolf, demanding, “You saw Colt?”

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