Chapter Four

Liv tossed and turned restlessly in her down sleeping bag, her eyes moving rapidly behind her eyelids. She was caught in a dream. A dream about wolves. Wolves with bright, ice blue eyes. Suddenly, the eyes were no longer in a white wolf’s face, but a man’s. A man’s face, all planes and angles; the only thing saving it from being cruel looking was a wide, sensuous mouth.

He had some kind of fur thrown over one shoulder and tattoos covered his upper chest and arms. Long blonde hair was braided up in hundreds of tiny braids that were gathered atop his head leaving the sides bare except for more strange but beautiful tattoos. Somehow, she thought she should be able to read them. Were they letters? In the haze of the dream, she couldn't tell.

As if feeling her scrutiny, the Viking – yes that's what he was, she could tell now – turned to meet her gaze. His eyes locked onto hers and she forgot how to breathe. Her body thrummed under his scrutiny. Her mind gave her a vague impression of danger, but she wasn’t afraid. She was drawn to him in a way she didn’t understand. His intimidating body turned in the direction of his eyes and he started to stalk toward her in long, even strides. She didn't move, couldn't. He stopped in front of her. His hand reached out toward her face and... she jerked awake.

Liv found herself sitting straight up, eyes wide, staring into the darkness of her tent. Wait. Was that a real noise or part of the dream? She blindly reached for the bear spray she kept next to her pillow. She listened intently. Nothing. She felt caught in the cobwebs of her dream. The fine hair on her arms still stood up in atavistic alarm; her body recognizing danger but her mind not understanding. Something was out there waiting for her. Something big and important. She didn't know how she knew but she felt it in the center of her being. Something, no, someone was calling to her though her ears still heard nothing. She shivered as her sleeping bag fell away. It wasn't the cool of the night that caused the trembling but a deep desire she felt in her core. She couldn’t logically reconcile the contradictory feelings her mind and her body were warring with.

“It was just a dream,” she said to herself out loud, trying to break the spell that had wound around her. Her quiet voice seemed to boom in the deep silence of the camp. She flinched at the sound.

She crawled the rest of the way out of her bag and kneeled in front of the zipper sealing her into her tent. She paused, listening and keeping a grip on the bear spray. Come on, Liv. Get it together. She’d never been nervy camping before. She was used to being in the wilderness alone. It’s what she did. Tonight, she just knew something was out there, waiting for her, calling her.

Taking a deep breath, she inched open the zipper and pushed the nylon back. She took in the camp in a measured scan – the banked fire, her jeep, the log she had upended to use as a seat. Everything the same. She took a deep breath, and she froze. What is that? She took another deep breath to attempt to clear her head from the dream. What was that scent? Her nose alone couldn't get a grip on it. It was swirling around her, in her, taking over her senses like nothing she'd ever experienced. She closed her eyes, dizzy with it.

Her body followed the scent until she had left the safety of her tent and crossed the clearing. The scent continued to get stronger until she had to open her eyes, sure she was right on top of it. When she opened them, her eyes widened in panic as she saw the two large wolves standing right in front of her. They were close enough to touch if she would only reach out a hand. To her horror, she realized that was exactly what she was doing, reaching out to these wild wolves! What was she thinking? And how did she get out unscathed now?

As her panicked thoughts ran through part of her mind, another part told her these animals wouldn't hurt her. Despite all her training, she found herself locking eyes with the larger wolf. She knew better but couldn't break the contact. He had those same piercing, ice blue eyes as the female wolf she had seen earlier, and they were staring straight at her. She swallowed and licked her suddenly dry lips. As she stood frozen in place, she could only stare as he took a slow step toward her and placed his head under her outstretched palm.

 

***

 

Brodi was entranced as he watched the woman walk across the camp with her eyes closed. Long, toned legs ended in tiny sleep shorts covered with a long-sleeved t-shirt. Her red hair was wild around her face and hung down past her shoulders. Could she be sleepwalking? She seemed to be sniffing the air. Could she smell it, too?

"Come away, Alpha!" Finn begged.

But nothing could have moved Brodi from that spot at that moment. She almost walked right into them before she stopped and opened her eyes. They shone bright green in the moonlight. He saw the immediate fear in them as they widened and locked onto his but then she did something truly amazing. She reached out a hand toward them. He watched the confusion roll across her face. He was sure she knew what she was doing would normally be incredibly dangerous. Asta had said she was a wildlife biologist after all, but she stayed frozen with her hand outstretched, almost in supplication. He watched her swallow and followed her pink tongue as it swiped across her full lips. Brodi had to have her hands on him. He took a slow step forward.

"Alpha, no!" Finn screamed in his mind, but Brodi ignored him.

He took another step toward the woman until his head was directly under her hand. He could feel the heat just above his fur. He had to have her hands on him! He bumped her palm, and, to his delight, she stroked him. He didn't understand the ecstasy he felt at her touch, but he reveled in it. His eyelids dropped closed and he heard a rumble of pleasure emanate from deep in his chest.

The woman blinked at the sound and took another step closer, rubbing his head and ears like he was some kind of domesticated dog. Was he… purring? Liv didn't know how else to describe the sound coming from his chest.

"Aren't you gorgeous?" she crooned to him.

She couldn't explain the affinity she suddenly had for this wild animal. It was like nothing she had ever felt before. All she knew was she needed her hands in his fur, to feel his strong muscles, understand this wild beast in front of her. She knelt down in front of him and wrapped her arms around his neck, nuzzling her face into his soft, white fur. Her eyes closed and she breathed the magical scent of him deep into her lungs. She couldn't get enough. Her fingers continued to caress his silky coat.

Suddenly, the black wolf growled low in his throat. She froze, her synapses starting to fire again. She was practically wrapped around the huge white wolf! She slowly leaned back on her heels and Brodi saw the fear shoot back into her eyes. His head whipped around, his eyes narrowing sharply on his Beta. A deep, menacing growl came from his chest. The woman's hands dropped from his body, and he had to stop himself from whimpering in pain over the loss. His second backed away and bowed his head but that didn't stem the tide of rage that Brodi felt washing over him like water. He snapped at his friend and drove him back away from the woman. His woman. He had no doubt now. She had to be the one prophesied for him. His fated mate.

Finn fled back into the forest. Brodi gave the woman one last beseeching look before tearing his gaze from her and chasing after his beta. He'd found her. Now what did he do?