Page 809 of Love Bites

Her bed was against the wall. The floor had been swept until only the rock showed. A small container of supplies sat off in the corner. It was where she kept her books and the weather radio for emergencies. In the center of the small space was her tiny fire pit that hadn’t been used for most of the summer.

It was simple. Modest. It was home. But for some reason, looking at it now, it seemed… crazy. She could see how a stranger would think she’d lost her marbles.

A burning kernel of embarrassment planted in her gut.

“It’s… you know… functional. Not much, but everything I needed.”

She couldn’t look at Eagan. What if she could tell what he was thinking, and what he was thinking was that she was looney.

“I’m not… crazy. I just take pleasure in the simple things.” Tears threatened, but she pushed them back, desperate to retain a shred of dignity. Was it so far out there to want to live with minimal needs? To keep to yourself and revel in the gifts nature granted. Was she… was she nuts for wanting to leave the smallest footprint possible?

“I never said you were crazy. You’re more like a shifter than you think, finding your connection with nature. It’s really something. And I’mdefinitelyconcerned about what you take pleasure in.” His voice was playful, and a nervous laugh escaped her.

Eagan turned in a circle, taking in the cramped surroundings.

“I love what you’ve done with the place.”

She glanced at him, and he gave her that sarcastic smile.

“Oh, shut up. Your cabin doesn’t even have any pictures on the walls.” She pointed the flashlight to the other side of the cave. “At least I painted my place.” She’d collected whatever leftover paint she could find throughout the years and went caveman on the wall. No hieroglyphs though. Normal stuff like flowers and stars.

“Yeah, yeah. Okay, Martha Stewart.” He grinned, winking. But she could’ve sworn he looked… proud.

Clara shrugged. “I got skills.”

He reached for her hand, linking his fingers with hers. “Alright, let’s grab the stuff you took from the lodge and get it back to Magic.”

“Oh, that. Um, that stuff isn’t here.”

Eagan frowned. “It’s not?”

Clara shook her head. “Hermit 101. Keep your stash away from your camp. That way if either is compromised, you don’t lose both in one fell sweep.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Huh.” Reaching forward, he tweaked her nose. “Then take me to your stash, oh great mountain woman.”

Clara grinned. “Fiiiiiine.”

* * *

Eagan cartedthe plastic tub of supplies on one shoulder and held his mate’s hand as they took the path through the woods that would lead them back to the lodge. He was going to talk to Magic. All he could do was try. If the man refused to listen, then he would take Clara and go. They’d make their own way. Without a clan.

If she wanted him.

His stomach knotted at the thought that she might not want to share this life with him. Maybe she wanted to stay in her woods, with her solitude.

Bethany was right. He should tell her. But they were still so new. What if this was all too much too fast?

Her stomach growled.

“I want to make you breakfast,” he told her. “Maybe after we talk to Magic.”

“I’m okay. I’m used to going longer without food.”

His jaw clenched and he had to work to speak. “I don’t want that for you anymore.”

They walked in silence and he could sense the tornado of thoughts swirling over her head.

“I chose this, you know? Being a mountain woman. I wanted this.”

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