Page 316 of Warlords, Witches & Wolves

“Why are you stopping here?”

I inhaled a deep breath before pivoting to face Mia. “I want you to stay here tonight with me.”

Joan ensured the hunter couldn’t sense me at the waterfall, but the psycho took Mia’s shirt. By now he could’ve tracked her scent to the Whitcome property. Then, he’d know who she was.

I doubt he was stupid enough to draw attention in broad daylight. Not after last time. But I wouldn’t take the risk.

Mia’s brows rose. “That’s a bit presumptuous of you, isn’t it?”

“No, that’s not what I meant. Sure, I wouldn’t say no, but that’s not why I want you to stay here.” Why the hell couldn’t I speak properly? I ran my fingers through my hair. “What I mean is, you’re safer here.”

“From a hunter? Hunting for animals?”

Shifter hunter.But I didn’t correct her. I wanted to avoid telling her about the shifter world a little while longer. Discovering shifters existed was one thing. But finding out we both shared that world was a whole other complication.

Mia exhaled a deep sigh. “Noah, I’ve known you for less than two weeks. I appreciate you feeling the need to protect me, it’s sweet, but I feel totally safe at my house. There’s no need to worry about a guy hunting some animal busting down my door.”

I needed to approach this from a different angle, rather than the creepy guy who wanted in her pants. Which I wouldn’t mind, but again, that wasn’t the point.

“It’s just a shame to have our afternoon cut short like that.”

Damn it. That sounded creepier aloud than it did in my head.

Her eyes narrowed. She wasn’t stupid. Of course, she wasn’t, she’s my mate. Will be. At some point.Ugh.

She straightened in her seat. “Actually, I have a few things I need to do this afternoon.”

I wouldn’t pressure her into staying and I sure as hell wouldn’t force her. If she wanted to go home, then I’d take her. Instead of protecting her at my house, I’d change tactics and shift, so I could watch over her from the forest.

The hunter was after me, not her. But if that psycho joined the dots and linked Mia to Joan, she could end up hurt. Or worse.

Just like Joan.

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. Why was the universe so fucking twisted? I needed to keep her close to ensure her safety, yet, I needed to keep my distance to make sure the hunter didn’t figure out she was mine.

If Mia already knew? It didn’t matter. As her mate, I would still protect her for life.

“You’re right.” I swallowed the lump in my throat and put the truck in gear. “I’ll take you home.”

* * *

Mia

I collapsed in the chair on the back porch facing the forest. What a day. I doubt it could’ve gotten any weirder. Noah kissed me and then some random hunter rummaged through my things. He probably stole my shirt like some pervert.

Bears didn’t inhabit this part of Montana that I knew of, so why would hunters come here? Unless they hunted protected animals, like wolves. Not only was that illegal, I also hadn’t seen any wolves since I’d come back.

Regardless, the day was beyond weird, creepy even, and I hadn’t heard from Noah the rest of the afternoon.

As dusk settled behind the forest, I flipped on the porch lights and grabbed my sketch book and pencil. Even as an adult, staring at the forest behind Joan’s place was one of my favorite places. I’d forgotten how much I loved it. Towering trees, the crisp scent of pine needles lingering in the air, the mysterious treasures I imagined hid amongst the branches. The peacefulness. In winter, dusted in snow, this place would be breathtaking.

Wait up. Just because I loved the view, coupled with one spectacular kiss from Noah, didn’t mean I’d stay here. Though, part of me effortlessly envisioned a future in this house. I didn’t have much of a life back in Seattle anyway. I’d already lost my job because I embarked on an eight-week vacation and by the end of the summer, I would’ve burned through my savings just to pay my half of the rent on my shared apartment. Packing up and starting a new life here seemed like the logical option.

I exhaled a long breath. I’d consider those big decisions tomorrow. Tonight, I had the urge to sketch. I hardly made the time back in Seattle. Even before I finished college, I worked fulltime and barely had time for anything else. Art didn’t pay as well as people imagined.

I dragged the chair to the right, stopping at the top of the stairs for an uninterrupted view of the forest. Deep orange shone between the branches, darkening as the minutes ticked by. I held the pencil between my fingers and let go. With each stroke, the tension and weirdness from the day drifted into the background.

Daylight faded, replaced by the porch lights spilling over the lawn, but my pencil never stilled, pouring emotion, and longing onto the page. It reminded me of the last time I came here, where I sat on the grass each afternoon filling the pages with black and white sketches of my wolf friend.

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