Chapter One

Liv - Present day

"Fuck it all to hell!" Liv cursed as she grabbed the ticket from the windshield of her state issued Jeep Wrangler. It was the third one this month. What happened to brotherhood of the badge shit? Two little white-headed ladies walking by on the sidewalk gave her the stink eye for her outburst.

"Sorry," she mumbled, but she wasn't really. How could a town that had literally one main road have so many fucking parking laws? She felt like she had broken most of them in her first month here and apparently there was no love lost between the game wardens and the traffic cops here.

She had thought taking this job as a wildlife biologist in tiny Afton, Wyoming was the perfect way to escape her ex and his new perfectly plastic girlfriend. The one he cheated on her with. The one with the fake ass, fake boobs, fake lips, and who knows what else fake that wasn't in plain sight. And it was an excuse to escape the conditions she had been forced to work in in the Everglades National Park. The air was so thick some days you had to swim through it, not to mention the ever-present danger of gators.

At least Wyoming was dry, there wasn't a gator within thousands of miles, and she hadn't seen a pair of fake fish lips yet. Granted, the cold was biting, and she'd had to buy a whole new wardrobe to accommodate the new climate, but she was able to spend most of her time out in the wilderness with only the animals and the trees for company and that suited her just fine.

The only problem she could see with the assignment was her boss, Jeff Roundtree, telling her a big plot of land right in the middle of the Forest was completely off limits. It apparently belonged to some rich asshole who didn't want anyone trespassing on his land.

"I know it makes your job more complicated, Liv, but Wolf Brothers Logging pumps a lot of money into this town and into the conservation of these woods. They don't log here, haven't for centuries. The current owner is very conservation-minded so there are lots of good habitats in those woods. And thanks to Brodi, there isn't any chance of them being destroyed anytime soon."

Liv looked at him with suspicion in her eyes. "I know," Jeff continued, "it sounds counterintuitive, but it's true. I've worked closely with the man and his family for years. The family was here long before the state started the National Forest. They're good people. Having their patronage is worth dealing with a little complication. And he works with us to watch out for the poachers as well."

Liv had no choice, so she decided to let it go and just try to do her job. "Fine. I'll make sure to work around the property. Anything else I should know?"

"Just one," Jeff added. "I really don't like you out there alone with these poachers on the loose, but we don't have the budget to pair you up. Keep your sat phone handy in case your cell won't pick up a signal. Wolf hides go for a pretty penny on the black market and with the economy the way it is right now, they've gotten more and more brazen, and more dangerous. And the traps they are setting, even more so." Jeff's eyebrows knitted together when he looked at her. "You need to watch where you're stepping out there and watch for signs of camping out of the regulation camp sites and steer clear. Take coordinates and call in Justin, the game warden. Don't confront them alone."

Liv nodded. She hated poachers. They were scum. There were reasons for hunting and trapping seasons, but these types of guys didn't care. It was one thing for people to take meat animals out of season. She didn't like it, but she could understand people on hard times needing to feed their families. The poachers they were currently having trouble with were only interested in the money they could make from the hides of these beautiful, majestic animals. She gave Jeff a little salute. "Will do, boss. Already have your and Justin's numbers in my phone. So, is that it?" She was anxious to get her groceries bought and to get out of town. Even this little bit of civilization was starting to wear on her.

"All done," Jeff said. "Be safe out there. I look forward to seeing your reports."

After the meeting with her boss, she only had to get some food and supplies before heading out to try to find the primary wolf packs in the area. Her first job was to find and document the packs in the area. And keep her eyes out for poachers or campers who weren't following the rules of the forest. Thank God there were no traffic cops in Bridger National Forest at least!

As she walked into Valley Market, cart at the ready, she noticed a striking young woman in the produce section. She had long blonde hair sporting the most intricate braids Liv had ever seen, as well as silver and leather jewelry surrounding her neck and both wrists. A beautiful, swirling black tattoo ringed one lean, toned bicep. She looked like some modern-day Viking shield maiden. Liv was fascinated. She'd always loved Viking stories though she didn't know that much about actual Norse legends. Just as she was about to go over and ask her where she had gotten the braids done, a huge man stalked up to the woman aggressively. He sported sleeve tattoos on both arms with more crawling up one side of his neck. His huge biceps showed off more of the thick black tattoos very similar to the one the woman was sporting. His blonde hair was shaved on the sides with the rest just as intricately braided as the woman's gathered down the middle of his head. He stood over the woman, staring at her menacingly.

"Asta! Come on! Everyone is waiting for you," he growled at the woman. The young woman just gave him an indifferent look, seemingly unconcerned that this six- and-a-half-feet of hulking muscle was looming over her.

"I'm still shopping, Brand. You'll just have to wait." She flicked a dismissive hand toward him and turned her back, continuing her perusal of the fruit on display. Picking up one piece after the other, she slowly squeezed and fondled each piece, putting each one down again as she judged it not quite right.

Liv had been concerned at first and had been ready to run for help but watching the woman's response to the man had her standing down and simply enjoying the drama. She stifled a giggle at the fury and impotence on the large man's face as he continued to glare at the young woman. His hands planted firmly on his hips, he stood there for several long beats. Finally, he scrubbed his hands up and down his face and through his long goatee in frustration and stomped off. She could hear him muttering in a strange language as he passed close by her on the way to the front door.

"That was pretty impressive," Liv found herself saying to the woman as she sidled up to her in the produce department. "I don't think I could have been that calm with him looming over me."

Asta gave her a sidelong glance, her ice blue eyes sparkling with mischief. "He's my brother. He thinks he's intimidating so I have to let him know he's not occasionally."

"That explains it. Brothers!" Liv agreed, smirking. She had two of her own that were constantly trying to get in her business. Liv moved on to her original question. "I didn't mean to be nosy, but I really wanted to know who does your braids. They're fantastic and would be so helpful to tame this mess when I'm out in the forest working." She motioned to her own long, red hair which was relegated to a ponytail or single braid down her back when she was working. The thick, silky strands still escaped her ministrations, however, and she was forced to fight with it several times a day.

"One of my cousins does it for me," Asta answered. "We all wear our hair like this. It's a tradition in our pa...family." She smiled.

"Oh, bummer. I was hoping there was a shop here in town I could go to," Liv said. "You're lucky. It's really beautiful." Live turned to go. "Nice chatting with you."

"Wait." Asta put a hand on her arm to stop her. For some reason, she felt a compulsion to reach out to this woman. "I'm sure Elin or Ursula would be glad to do it for you. You said you work in the Forest?"

"Really? That would be so great!" Liv answered. "And yes, I'm a wildlife biologist. I just started a job here in the National Forest. Monitoring the wolves."

Asta's breath hitched a little in surprise, but she quickly caught herself. "Monitoring the wolves? What does that entail?"

"Oh, well first I have to find them," Liv started, always pleased when anyone was interested in her work. "Then I have to count how many there are and assess their health. I also try to delineate the different members of the pack, who's the alpha and beta, etc. and make notes about their markings and coloring so we can try to keep up with them in the future. On some jobs, I try to tag them and take blood samples, but the state of Wyoming isn't requesting that this time, for whatever reason."

Asta took in everything this woman was saying and thought hard. She would have to tell Brodi about this. Wouldn't it be better to bring her to the pack and let her brother check the woman out, though? She tried to figure out her draw to the redhead and what her brother would want.

"Let me have your number and I'll call you once I've talked to my cousins," Asta concluded.

Liv gave her the digits. "I'm Liv, by the way, Liv Fenrir."

Asta's mouth dropped open at the name, but she quickly recovered and held out a hand and smiled. "Asta Sköll, nice to meet you."