Read Online IceHuntersMate by Marisa Chenery - Free Book Online Page B

her out to her
pickup. He stepped back as she got in and closed the door. She wound the window
down, then stuck her head out to give him one last kiss before she started the
engine.
    He watched her drive down the driveway and turn onto the
street. Once Eryn disappeared from sight, he headed back inside the house. Now
it was time to have a little talk with Kajakti and maybe a little payback for
the wolf kisses he’d laid on him.
    * * * * *
    The next morning while Wachei and the rest of the
inhabitants of the house were in the kitchen eating breakfast—that Cassidy had
cooked, not Durlach—the doorbell rang. At first, he thought it might be Eryn,
arriving earlier than planned. But that ended up not being the case. Capac, who
had gone to answer the door, returned with Brice on his heels. The pack leader
didn’t look happy about something.
    Brice tossed the local newspaper he carried onto the table.
“Did you guys read this yet?”
    Edensaw shook his head. “No, we don’t normally get the
paper. Cassidy usually reads all the news on the internet.”
    “That’s what I thought so I came over here to show you.”
Brice pointed to the newspaper. “A body of a woman was found in one of the
city’s alleys. She’d been raped before she lost her life. The paper said it
looked as if she’d been ripped to shreds by some kind of wild animal.”
    “You’re thinking a werewolf did it?”
    “Yes, but not just anyone. This has Tanner written all over
it. Obviously, he’s hiding out somewhere in Juneau.”
    “But we haven’t seen anything of him for almost a year,”
Ketah said. “Nor have any of your pack members.”
    “That only means he’s done a good job of staying off our
radar. Until now, that is.”
    “Do you think he’ll make another move against us?” Capac
asked.
    “Maybe.” Brice let out a sigh. “That brings up the other
reason why I came here.” He looked at Wachei. “Have you told your mate the
truth about you yet?
    Wachei shook his head. “No. It’s too soon.”
    “Sorry to say, but your time just ran out. With Tanner on
the loose,” Brice pointed to the newspaper, “and the death of the mortal woman,
I think you have to bring her over into our world as soon as possible.”
    He shook his head again. “That won’t work. Unlike Cassidy,
Eryn didn’t find me sleeping in an ice cave on a glacier. She doesn’t have a
clue there’s something different about me. Edensaw allowed Cassidy to choose
him as a mate. I want to do the same with Eryn.”
    Brice gave him a look of pity. “I know that’s what you want,
but you have to look at this realistically. Tanner is out there. We have no
idea if he’s been watching you guys without you knowing. There’s a good chance
he knows about Eryn being your mate.”
    “I can’t turn Eryn without her understanding what it will
mean. She has family she’s close to.”
    “Then at least claim her as your mate so the bond forms.
That way she’ll be forced to stay with you at all times or suffer separation
anxiety.” When Wachei gave a curt shake of his head, Brice let out a low growl
before he looked at Wachei’s alpha. “Edensaw, talk to him. You understood when
Cassidy could have been used as a means to get to you. You turned her before
she had wanted you to.”
    “I hate to say this,” Edensaw said, “but I have to agree
with Brice, Wachei. Think of what the consequences will be if you don’t at
least claim Eryn as yours. Are you willing to lose her before you’ve even had a
chance to have a life with her? I know it was different with Cassidy, but
sometimes you have to take a choice away from a person you care about if it’s
the best thing for them.”
    Wachei knew if he refused again Edensaw would more than
likely order him to do it. And as his alpha, Wachei would have no choice but to
do as Edensaw said.
    He blew out a breath. “Fine, I’ll claim Eryn today, but I
won’t turn her. Not yet. She needs to have that choice. I don’t like this,