Page 9 of Promise & Artem

Isolde opened the door. “I need you to grab the desk, it’s in the garage.”

“I’ll see you soon.” Artem ended the call and got out of the truck, following his sister and an old lady to a stand-alone garage where a beat-up desk was covered in dust and cobwebs.

“You’re taking off?” Isolde asked.

“Yep. All day.”

“Okay, let’s grab breakfast on the way back to the campground, my treat. We can go to the bagel shop that has those really good chocolate chip bagels.”

He was going to say no but decided his sister’s earnest look and smile was enough to make him want to go. Plus, he really did like chocolate chip bagels.

“You got it.”

She let out a happy giggle and followed him to the truck with the desk. He wasn’t sure whether he thought his sister’s optimism about finding their mates was a good thing or not. It was easy for her to stay positive when she didn’t have to worry about someday turning into a monster if she wasn’t with her truemate.

He just wanted to find his mate and put the monster-ish thoughts behind him.

Promise arrived at the campground around lunchtime, her stomach growling and her wolf prancing in her head in excitement. The lush, wooded area around the campground was amazing, and the mountains were spectacular. She bet the sunrises and sunsets were incredible to witness.

She parked in front of a cabin with a sign that said, “Welcome Center,” hanging from the front porch. Turning off the engine, she grabbed her purse and phone and climbed out.

Turning in a slow circle, she inhaled the sweet air and listened to the sounds of the birds and bugs. The trees rustled in the breeze and a sweet scent pricked her subconscious.

She closed her eyes and inhaled again, but the scent was gone.

Whatever it was, it had been spicy and masculine, like sun-warmed leather and cinnamon.

Which was a very strange thing to smell outside like that. Whatever it was, she liked it.

Turning her attention to the welcome center, she climbed the steps to the porch and pushed open the door. A bell overhead tinkled, announcing her arrival.

As she reached the counter, a female stepped out from a back room. “Hello! Are you Promise?”

“I am, are you Ally?”

“I am!” The female laughed and came around the counter to give her a hug. “How was the drive?”

“Good. Uneventful, which is what my dad says the best road trips should be.”

“So true.” A male walked out of the room she’d come from and introduced himself as Richard, one of Ally’s mates.

“Welcome. I just texted Charlotte to come to the center to take you on a tour of the grounds. Are you hungry? Lunch is chicken salad wraps and chips and will be ready in a half hour.”

“I didn’t expect you to provide me lunch,” she said. She’d planned to run out and get groceries after she got settled.

“Nonsense,” Ally said. “While you’re here, you’re family.”

“That’s so sweet, thanks.” She put her bag on the counter and unzipped it. “How much do I owe you for the cabin? Or do you want to wait until I’m ready to leave to settle up?”

“No charge,” Richard said.

“What?”

“No charge,” Ally said. “We have a bunch of empty cabins right now, so you’re not taking any rental income from us, and it’s our pleasure to help out a fellow shifter. Well, I’m not a shifter, I’m human, but we’re all one big happy family here at Freshwater. If you decide to stay here, we’ve got job openings too.”

“Oh, well,” Promise said, “I don’t know what the future will bring.”

“No pressure at all,” Ally promised with a smile. “I’m just laying it all out there. We’re really excited for your mate-finding adventure.”

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