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  The young woman’s mouth fell open in surprise.

  “I write about nothing that would give us away.”

  Dani’s brow creased trying to understand. “Does the pack know? No one’s ever mentioned anything.”

  With a deep sigh, Irina sank into the spare chair in Dani’s office. “I’ve never mentioned it. Dane might have known a long time ago when I conferred with my publisher via snail mail, but he never asked and I never elaborated on it.” Irina leveled her gaze on Dani. “If the council knew, they would most likely make me stop, not trusting me to keep my identity hidden.”

  A subtle raised eyebrow made Irina wonder if Dani didn’t agree. But Dani shook her head. “There’s so much more to worry about than that. So many more ways we might be discovered.” She turned back to start clicking away again. “But Irina, you have to let the pack know. I don’t keep secrets from them.”

  Mercury had found such a quality mate, but damn she could be irritating. “I figured I’d have to tell them once he kept emailing me.”

  “Here,” Dani slid the keyboard toward Irina, “show me the emails. And Irina, once I find something, or even if I don’t, I’m going to have to report to the commander.”

  Dani stared unflinchingly at Irina, no fear or hesitation. She either trusted Irina wouldn’t lash out or she was confident she could handle herself. Very admirable. After all, she was nearly a stranger to Dani.

  “Worry not. I’ll talk to Dane tonight and Dani.” Irina finished pulling up her email and laid her hand on Dani’s arm, meeting the woman’s intelligent chocolate gaze. “I’m extremely glad Mercury has you and the pack has you.”

  Dani’s eyes widened at the sudden compliment, and she blinked rapidly at the tears welling up in her eyes. “Sorry, damn hormones,” she muttered, wiping at her eyes.

  Irina chuckled gently. “It’s normal. No matter what species we are, children turn us inside out.”

  Dani dissolved further into tears, trying to keep quiet. Irina wrapped an arm around her shoulder and hugged her tightly. Poor girl. While the other three females could help her out, they were shifters and none of them had kids. Irina was the only one Dani had access to who knew what she was going through. Again, Irina saw how her self-imposed isolation helped no one.

  “How long have you been feeling emotional?”

  Sniffles could be heard from her shoulder. “Pretty much since Dante was born,” came the muffled reply.

  “My dear, it’s all normal. Everything you feel, all of it. Your life changed, you have a new home, a new job, and a new mate. All of that would be difficult enough without being a new mom, too.”

  Dani sat up and gave Irina a watery smile as she pulled in a shaky breath. “Thank you. I needed to hear that. I feel like I’ve been on the verge of bawling for months.”

  “It’s not a bad thing to let it out.”

  “I know, but it’s hard, you know. Like, I’m weak or something.”

  Irina shook her head. “Balderdash, dear. Shifter mothers are the strongest, most ferocious creatures you’ll find.” Irina reflected inward; there was deep meaning in those words. She no longer felt strong, definitely not ferocious, and she’d hidden from life ever since that fateful day.

  Dani coughed to cover up her giggle. “Balderdash,” she said. “I like that one.”

  Irina stood to go. “Why don’t you let me know when you find something?”

  “No problem. And Irina, thank you.”

  “Don’t be afraid to stop by, dear. I don’t bite. Anymore.” It was a lame joke, but their kind always thought it was funny as hell.

  Dani appeared pleased at the idea. “Would it be okay if I have Dante with me? Mercury takes him when he’s around, but he and Bennett have been out in the field a lot.”

  Irina peered over at the playpen and Dani’s gaze followed. The little boy was awake and had been watching them for who knows how long. Irina was struck by his looks. Where his daddy had silver reflecting through his dark features, burnished gold flashed through Dante’s milk chocolate hair and dark eyes. He quietly watched Irina and his mother, as if he sensed his mommy was distressed and needed comfort from Irina.

  “Of course he’s welcome.” And Irina meant it. Actually looked forward to having the noise babies brought with them in her house again.

  With that, Dante raised his chubby little arms to his mommy and soon his face was crumpling in distress.

  “Time to eat. I better feed him before he cracks another monitor.”

  The joys of having gifted young, although none whom Irina had known could express their natural powers outwardly at such a young age. They normally developed strength after puberty when shifting started. But Mercury was unique and as far as anyone knew, his pack had been destroyed. From what Irina heard, they hadn’t found much information yet about Mercury’s origins.

  Stopping in the hallway after she closed the office door behind her, Irina stared at the floor while her mind worked her Lycabyter29 problem.

  Talking with Dani and seeing little Dante, on top of the mating celebration from the other night, Irina would be damned if anything threatened those close to her again. It was time to talk to her mate.

  *****

  Dane floated on his back in the little waterfall-fed pond, forcing himself to relax. He had just finished a brutal run and was still restless, edgy. Like something was about to happen. Something that made shit change and that worried Dane. He hated feeling unprepared.

  Dane, I need to talk to you. Irina’s mental summons interrupted his thoughts.

  How long had he been waiting to hear those words? At least, the “Dane, I need you” part. The “talk” part was never good, not matter what century it was.

  I’ll be there shortly. He stepped out of the water, flowed into his wolf and ran home.

  The cabin was quiet like it always was when he arrived home. Like every other time, the light in her office was on, signaling where she was. He donned some shorts and padded to her door. He didn’t bother with a shirt. He was still hot from his workout and that was as good an excuse as any.

  When he entered her office, she flicked those lovely blue eyes his way and he didn’t miss the millisecond they lingered on his bare chest. Maybe there was still some interest on her end. He certainly been pining for his mate for years, but eventually gave up on a pursing her physically. She couldn’t get past her scars and it had always seemed more like a chore for her to lie with him. Still, he hadn’t given up hope.

  Her soft golden hair fell around her shoulders and she wore a simple sundress, yellow with daisies. His favorite. It showed off her eyes and hinted at the curves he knew were hidden underneath.

  “Irina.” He didn’t know what else to say. With no spare chairs in the office, he parked his butt on the edge of her desk. Operation Win My Mate Back had officially begun.

  A delicate eyebrow raised and she shot him a pointed look, but he didn’t budge. He’d danced around her for too long. She would soon find out he was going to be hard to get rid of.

  “Dane, I have something I need to talk to you about, but I need to explain myself first.”

  Dane crossed his arms and waited for her to continue, reveling in her soft voice. This was the most she’d said to him in at least twenty years.

  Astonishment kept him from getting distracted by her appeal as she explained what she’d been doing with her life. Irina told him about her writing, how it started, and why she didn’t tell anyone. While he was insulted she didn’t at least confide in him, he knew she wrote a lot, but not for a living. He assumed it was a hobby to get keep her busy—and away from him. Often he wondered what she wrote, thought maybe she journaled, though her days weren’t full of adventures, or detailed their history through the years.

  Romance? Couples beating the odds, fighting to be together…happily ever after and all that. Dare he interpret it as a sign that Irina wanted their relationship mended as much as he? Perhaps he should read her material, find a way to burrow back into hea
rt so far that she couldn’t throw him out again.

  She was correct about how the council would react. Some members would make her quit just because she was Dane’s mate and he’d gone against their orders too many times in his years as commander. On top of that, this pack had the audacity to thrive in West Creek where they were undoubtedly sent to get killed off.

  “You have how much money?” Dane asked incredulously. His train of thought was quickly brought back to her words. She’d just told him that she had saved almost everything she earned, what she didn’t use for publishing costs had been socked away in investments.

  Irina repeated herself and he still couldn’t believe it. “I donate some every year, but split it up to different groups so they don’t go searching for an anonymous benefactor, and the rest I saved in case the pack is ever in financial trouble.”

  Always a possibility, but the pack was doing well. They’d saved, and been smart, and learned finances over the years. When Jace joined the pack, he was money savvy and secured the Guardians’ financial future even better. But Irina had them all beat.

  “Off of romance novels?”

  Irina pursed her lips. “I’ve worked hard for years, Dane, and I’m good at what I do. I can use my first-hand knowledge of the Old West to make it feel more realistic and give the reader a genuine experience. It’s modern cowboys who are all the rage, though, and I’ve had to update my stories.”

  Dane’s mind worked over all she said. He had quit wondering what she did in her office all day. Whenever he had asked, she’d answered “writing” and no more. He chalked it up to her needing more space.

  From her accounts, she’d been very productive in her writing, research, and education. He didn’t fully comprehend the work and dedication it had taken for her to build her business, but her bottom-line suggested it had been a lot. And while he should have been embarrassed he knew so little of his mate, he felt better that she spent her days in this room building an empire and not just mindlessly avoiding him.

  “Why tell me now, Irina?” He gave her a reassuring smile. “I’m glad you did, but why now?”

  Shame shadowed her expression. She turned away from him to the monitor. He followed her gaze to make out what was on the screen.

  “Son of a bitch,” was all he said.

  “I’m having Dani try to trace him to find out if he’s normal crazy or Sigma crazy.”

  “Good. Have you talked to Rhys?”

  Irina shook her head. “I thought you’d be better at telling him.”

  “He’d get better details from you.”

  The dismay sketched on her tired face was too much. She just confessed so much of her life, a part he had neglected to be a part of, and it had taxed her. Surely he can start acting like her mate and speak to Rhys on her behalf.

  Dane leaned down and caught Irina’s chin in his hand, his thumb stroking her bottom lip. “What happened to us?” It wasn’t the first time he’d asked that question.

  The surprise from his touch quickly turned to sadness. “The fact that you don’t know, Dane, is so much of the problem.”

  It was the same answer every time. Instead of acting like he always did and storming out in anger because she wouldn’t talk to him, he leaned down and dropped his lips to hers. Her soft, warm lips opened in shock. She must’ve expected him to storm out, too. Instead, he used the opening to delve inside and lick at her tongue with his own. He still had her chin in his hand, but she didn’t pull away from him.

  Hesitantly, she moved her tongue against his and he deepened their kiss. Which part of her body should he put his other hand on? Should he drop to his knees in front of her, or pull her up into him, or should he—

  She pulled back suddenly. “I can’t do this.” She inhaled a shaky breath and finally met his eyes.

  He considered her for a second before standing up. He did it purposely so the effect she had on him could be plainly seen through his shorts. A pretty blush stained her cheeks and he was tempted to beat his chest with pride. He still had an effect on her, and he could work with that.

  Before he walked out, he leaned down to speak into her ear, letting his breath tickle her sensitive skin and make her shiver. “Not now, but soon, Irina.”

  Chapter Four

  Not now, but soon. It still gave her the shivers every time she recalled those words. Focus, dammit. For the hundredth time Irina drifted off in the middle of writing a sentence. It was Dane’s hard chest and promise-laden voice that was pulling focus off her writing. This time, she wasn’t assaulted by memories of the passion and heat they once shared, but by the hint of the fire that could still burn between them.

  Great. She found herself with another steamy scene to write. Usually she approached them clinically, analyzing how each scene would play out, and how to describe each move. Tonight she didn’t trust her mind not to replace her characters with herself and Dane. Hitting “save” and clicking out of her latest novel, she decided to check her email again.

  Oh wonderful, Lycabyter29 sent her a message.

  Irina went cold; Lycabyter29 upped the ante. He’d been wanting to meet her, but she hadn’t replied to his last several emails. Now, he graduated to threats and this was a doozey.

  Since you haven’t agreed to meet me, who should I approach first: your council or Sigma? By the way, how is West Creek this time of year?

  Oh. Shit. Going to the council would’ve been a valid threat, but they’d have to figure out who she was. She used a pen name and posted only generic information. But they could definitely figure out it was her if they were told the author resided in West Creek. The Sigma threat? Meh, they were already targeted by Sigma and her books wouldn’t give them any more information. Other than piss off any Agents who were avid readers of hers.

  But ultimately, she didn’t want any trouble to rain down on the pack, and especially not because of her.

  Dane, are you with Rhys?

  Yes.

  She relayed the email and waited through the silence. Dane must be talking with Rhys. She was immensely glad Mercury’s mate forced her hand which made her tell Dane sooner rather than later. Although she wasn’t naïve or stupid, she wasn’t qualified to deal with her mysterious blackmailer. Now her reply would be backed by the strategy of the Guardians.

  Tell him you’ll meet him as long as you get to pick the time and the place.

  She typed the reply nearly verbatim and hit send. Maybe two minutes passed before her inbox lit up with Lycabyter29’s reply:

  I expect the details within twenty-four hours. I’m sorry for the threats, my dear, but I was afraid you would dismiss my wishes.

  Asshole.

  She passed the info back to Dane who said they’d plan it out tomorrow and get back to him.

  Suddenly exhausted, but not yet ready for bed, Irina found herself wanting to watch television. An empty, simple show she didn’t need to use many brain cells to follow. While she could watch on her computer, she sat there for work all day. Deciding to head to the lodge and keep up her streak of interacting with people, Irina strolled out into the night.

  It would’ve been nice to have the TV all to herself, but as she neared the lounge she sensed other shifters had beat her to the tube. Entering the room, two surprised young males looked up from the couch.

  “Hey, Irina.” Ronnie raised his beer in greeting.

  Irina smiled warmly at both males. When she first met Ronnie, he smelled human. But like his sister, Bennett’s mate Sarah, he’d been exercising his wolf and was developing a stronger shifter scent.

  Parrish gave a little wave and she nodded back. Today, she’d actually downloaded a few programs to learn sign language, but if Ronnie stayed then he could help interpret.

  “I’m looking for some mindless entertainment, gentlemen. What are you watching?”

  “A movie where lots of shit blows up.” Ronnie took another swig while Parrish got up to get more popcorn, grabbing a bowl for her, too.

  He was filling out nicel
y, turning into a fine young Guardian. Irina could tell he was still holding back in his training from the slouch in his shoulders, the way he reverted to curling in on himself. She didn’t doubt that Dane would get him to invest himself completely.

  “Sounds perfect.” Irina folded herself into the recliner, munching on popcorn.

  Sometime during the first movie’s sequel, or prequel, or whatever installment they were on, Irina must’ve drifted off.

  Was that whimpering?

  Her eyes floated open, but she made no sudden movements. Ronnie must’ve headed to bed, but Parrish was passed out on the couch, eyes rolling behind closed lids. Sounds of distress were coming from between clenched lips.

  “It’s all right, Parrish,” Irina spoke softly, not knowing what to expect from the distraught male. “You’re safe now.”

  Another whimper and Parrish twisted from side to side.

  “Parrish, you’re safe now. You’re with the Guardians.”

  Irina sat up, leaning forward, not moving from the recliner. The chair rocked forward with a tiny squeak. Parrish shot up from the couch, flying toward her. Irina didn’t have time to dive out of the way and with a yelp she was flung out of the chair onto the floor. On her back beneath him, she stared up into Parrish’s unseeing pale-blue eyes. His hands were wrapped around her neck, not quite strangling her, but close. Her hands gripped his wrists and a calm settled over her. The boy was strong, but so was she, and instead of using her strength to throw him off, she decided to keep trying to bring him out of the dream world.

  “You. Are. A. Guardian,” she said forcefully. “You are not a victim.”

  Parrish blinked rapidly, his gaze going in and out of focus. Maybe her approach was working.

  The instant Irina scented her mate, Parrish was yanked off and thrown back onto the couch. Dane jumped on top of him, pinning the flailing youth down.

  “Parrish!” Dane gave the male’s face a little slap, forcing Parrish to fully awaken and focus.

  Parrish went still, his eyes darting from Dane and around the room until he saw Irina, sitting up on the floor. His face crumpled and a mournful cry erupted from his mouth before he clamped it shut. His eyes pleaded with Irina in apology since his arms were still pinned by Dane.