Page 4 of Fearless as an Eagle

“I’m going to excuse that comment because I know you’re just worried about your friends. You couldn’t possibly have forgotten that this is literally my job. This is what I’m trained for. This is what Ilivefor. I’ll call you when we get back.” I hang up before he can respond, tucking my phone into the bag before stepping outside. Dropping the bag on the ground, I shift into my eagle and clutch the strap in my talons before taking off into the sky, soaring above the trees in the lake's direction. There are quite a few, but I know exactly which one he’s talking about. It’s his favorite place in the forest. We go there every time he visits me.

Chapter 4

Riley

Theweathermanwasdeadwrong.Again.Whoever thought a groundhog would be a good weatherman should be fired. I swear Phil gets more forecasts wrong than he gets right. I don’t know how he even still has a job. He said we should expect crisp fall weather this weekend. That’s the only reason we all agreed to come this weekend. Are we currently experiencing “crisp fall weather”? No. No, we are not.

About the time we sat down for dinner on our second night here, the temperature dropped thirty degrees. It’s fuckingfreezing. Oh, and did I mention the big fat snowflakes presently falling from the sky? It’s like we were just transported to a campsite in the freakingArctic. Outside, at least. Mason, my ceaselessly over-prepared brother from another mother, somehow anticipated the abrupt change in weather. As evidenced by the huge weatherproof tent and the wood-burning stove, keeping us all warm.

“I know I talked shit yesterday. And I know you’re never gonna let this go… But you were right. I’m glad you brought the stupidly enormous tent and the stove,” I admit grudgingly. “I’m also never trusting that damn groundhog again.”

“It’s really disappointing how unreliable he is,” Bennett agrees as he sips his coffee.

“I told you one of these days you’d appreciate me,” Mason quips with the smuggest fucking look on his stupid face. Ugh. He’s lucky I love him.

“Yeah, yeah-” I start to respond to his smugness, but my nose twitches and I freeze as I catch the most delicious scent I’ve ever smelled. Just the barest hint of fresh strawberries and sweet cream brushes my nose. Before I even notice Mason and Bennett now resemble statutes as well, I’m on my feet, scampering to the door and lowering the zipper.

The frozen air slams into me the second I step outside. It clears my head just enough for me to realize I’m standing in a frozen tundra wearing black basketball shorts and a red t-shirt. It’s a fleeting thought though because the mouthwatering strawberry and cream scent envelopes me. The smell is much stronger out here and I tilt my nose to the sky, my feet moving of their own accord as I follow the scent.

I hear a rustling in the trees beside our tent and stop mid-step when the most beautiful woman I've ever seen emerges from the forest like a winter goddess, welcoming us to her land. She shakes her long brown hair out, and I watch transfixed as snow falls from her dark locks. As I stand there like a moron, she finally looks up and locks her hazel eyes with my blue ones.

My bunny has been bouncing around in my head anxiously but goes completely still as we get our first look at our mate. Because there's no doubt in our mind that's exactly what she is. Somehow, in the middle of a freak snowstorm, we found our fated mate. I can't believe it.

"Riley! What the fuck are you doing out here dressed like that? Are you crazy? Don't answer that. I already know you are. Where are Mason and Bennett? Surely they wouldn't let you come out in this weather dressed like that." My very first interaction with my mate and she’s already chastising me.She’s perfect.Wait, how does she know my name? And Mason and Bennett?

"I'm certain we've never met before. How is it you know who I am?" I question with my head tilted to the side and my brows scrunched together.

She’s about to answer me when the sound of footsteps drags her attention to the men behind me. “There they are. Why are you all standing around out here like that? Don’t you know it’s freakingcold? At least cover up with a freaking blanket if you’re going to be out in the damn snow. I thought Alex said y’all were smart,” she mutters with a shake of her head.

“Alex? You know Alex?” Mason asks.

“Of course, I do. He’s my pain in the ass brother. Now, can we get this show on the road? Because we’re about to get hit with a blizzard and I have explicit instructions to get you three out of here and back to my cabin, where you’ll be safe.” As she walks toward us, I get a better idea of her height. Now that we’re closer, I’d say she’s somewhere around five-seven. Fairly tall for a girl, but she’ll still have to look up to me.

“Brother?” Bennett murmurs as Mason stammers, “Blizzard?”

Meanwhile, I can’t stop the grin that stretches across my face. “Mia? Alex has told us so much about you! Makes total sense why he never introduced us,” I say, looking her up and down with unrestrained heat. I can’t tell if her cheeks are flushed because of my appraisal or the cold, but she ignores me, only answering Bennett and Mason’s stupid questions.

“Yes, and yes. Any more questions?” Oh, I love her sassiness. She’s absolutely perfect for me. I’m a little disappointed she doesn’t recognize me as her mate, but I’m sure once we’re settled in her cabin, it’ll hit her. She’s probably just on high alert, trying to get us all safe before the blizzard hits. Totally understandable. Although, I’m suddenly irrationally angry that Alex kept us apart all these years. He’s told us all about his sister Mia, but we’ve never met. I always thought it was strange, but I never questioned it. If I find out, he knew we were mates and kept us apart, though, I’m going to kill him.

“Nope! No questions… For now. You wanna take the Jeep? You can sit up front and tell Bennett where to go,” I offer.

“No, I have more questions,” Mason cuts in.Of course he does.“How long do we have before the storm hits? I mean, I can see it’s snowing already, but how long before we’re in real danger?”

My beautiful mate looks at my best friend like he’s lost his mind and I’m inclined to agree. “You want to pack all your crap up before you come with me, don’t you? I should have known you were going to be difficult,” she grumbles, rubbing her temples with her first two fingers. “Fine. Hurry up, we don’t have much time. I’m sure with the four of us working, we can get everything packed up before we get stranded in the damn woods.”

She leads the way back to the tent, Mason and Bennett dutifully following mere steps behind. I stand there for just a second longer than everyone else before running after them. My mate’s in a hurry to get home. I’ll make sure we get out of here as fast as possible.

I catch up just in time to watch her walk into our tent. “Wow. I guess I didn’t need to come rescue you after all. I’m sure y’all would have been just fine in here. No wonder you’re all wearing shorts and t-shirts.” She unzips her jacket, taking it off to reveal a lithe body with full perky breasts. Am I staring? Of fucking course I am. My mate is fuckinghot. And I don’t just mean literally. HA!

Wait… Why are Bennett and Mason staring at my mate like that? Like they too want to lick the sweat that’s dripping down her chest to the valley between her firm tits?

“Well, let’s get to it!” Mia claps her hands, snapping everyone out of their daze. “Come on. No time to stand around. I’m not packing all this shit by myself.”

“Of course not!” I agree in horror. Just the thought of her doing all the work while we do nothing boils my blood. Hell, I don’t want her to do any of the work. It’sourshit, after all. But I’m not stupid enough to voice that thought. I remember everything Alex has told us about Mia. She’s stubborn and independent. She wouldn’t take such chauvinistic bullshit. Even from her mate…Especiallyfrom her mate. So I hop to it. Throwing things back into their containers as the guys pick up their stuff.

With the four of us working together, we get everything packed up in record time and carry everything out to the Jeep. Mason loads it all up while Bennett, Mia, and I dismantle the tent. Mase is going to be pissed, but we don’t take the time to make sure it’s folded properly and it definitely doesn’t fit in the bag the way it’s supposed to. But we decide we don’t care. It’s time to get out of here.

Mason glares at us, but says nothing as he opens one of the back doors and climbs in. I beat Mia to the front passenger door and open it for her. She arches her brow at me but gets in with just a muttered grumble. Considering that a win, I hop around to my door and jump in just as Bennett is starting the Jeep. I got the best seat. I get to stare at my mate unobstructed as she directs Bennett to her cabin. Which I do. I spend the entire drive cataloging every inch of her I can see, looking forward to the day I can seeallthe inches.

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