Page 7 of The Alpha's Autumn Baby Mama (Triple L Ranch Shifters 4)

A good day.

We hiked on, discussing our plans for building gardens up here and how we wanted to develop a seed program around native plants of the area. We thought it might be a way to earn a living as well as do something valuable to the earth. Owen pointed out various plants he thought we could incorporate into our program, and I appreciated once again how he had been able to pivot from the plans we’d had before to the ones we were building now.

“Maybe it was the stress we were under?” Owen posited. “Maybe that was why we were ready to be together?”

“Doubtful.” I bent to rub my fingers over a low-growing shrub to release its scent. “We’d been under that stress for months before we came up here. Don’t you think it might have been our wolves? They might have gotten tired of our hesitation.”

“Had yours ever pushed you in any way to speak out? To act on your feelings?”

I considered as we came to the top of the trail above the lake and began a switchback down to a high meadow. “No, actually I don’t think he has. If we never know the answer, will you be okay not knowing?”

“Probably. I mean, we’ll have to, won’t we?” The view was obscured by some fog that also swirled around our feet, meaning, we had to pay serious attention to where we placed our feet on the narrow trail. “This is fun.”

“No, it’s not.” Owen continued, sliding one foot in front of the other. “But it’s necessary. I was thinking that we might be able to make some real contributions to the pack with our garden. Food for all as well as a business that could help support us.”

“Yes, that’s the…hey!”

Pebbles showered around us and my feet skidded, one shooting over the edge of the trail.

“What’s going on?” Owen grabbed my arm just in time to keep me from falling at least to the next section of trail and maybe a lot farther. He tilted his head back, trying to see past through the fog above us. We were maybe halfway down, so there were several levels that could have generated the mini avalanche. “Who’s up there?”

Chapter Eight

Nova

“Who’s up there?” The words carried through the fog that masked the switchback trail I followed. It was just wide enough for maybe two people to walk side by side and had no comforting stone wall or fence, of course. Up here, there were no construction crews making things safe for klutzy tourists.

Oh hell. All my care in hanging back had been lost just because I stumbled and disturbed a few small rocks. The lovers from the night before were going in the same direction I was, a fact I’d figured out as soon as I rejoined the main trail. I was still of the opinion that not being discovered was a good plan. I wanted to run to catch up, apologize, and ask if they’d mind if I traveled with them, but that desire was totally silly.

They might even be on their honeymoon for all I knew. They’d certainly behaved as if they were. Confused by the whole experience, I stopped walking and pressed back against the rock wall. They couldn’t see me, anyway, not with all the thick fog, but somehow I still wanted to hide.

“We know you’re there,” came the other man’s voice. “And it’s okay, but can you please be careful? Those rocks hurt.”

I hurt them. Courtesy instilled in me by my mother when I was just a little girl forced the words, “I’m sorry. I’ll be careful,” from my lips.Damn.

“Aha! I knew I heard someone. Come down here and join us. That way you won’t be kicking pebbles over onto us.” The first man again.

“I still might kick rocks.”

“But you’ll be right here, and we won’t get a concussion.”

“That’s all right. I’ll stay put until you’re off the switchbacks.” I didn’t want to interrupt their romantic trip, and also, I totally did.

Mates.

Yes, we know they’re mates. What I don’t know is why I’m interested even though they are. I need to keep my distance.

Mates!

She was hopeless. My wolf seemed to be in love with love, enthralled with the romance between two people who would certainly not want us butting in where we had no business.

“I really think you should come down and join us.”

I screeched because this time, it was man number two, the one with less scruff, and he was standing directly beside me. “How did you get here?”

He grinned. “I walked up while you and my mate were shouting at one another. Come on down and join us. It will be safer for our heads and we can keep you from falling to your death.”

“Why would I do that? I’m like a mountain goat.” I tossed my head, less like a mountain goat and more like…maybe a dairy cow.

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