Chapter Eight

The cabin, so familiar, was tucked away in the middle of the wilderness. Tala had been born in this cabin, long before being an alpha was even an inkling of a thought to her family.

The building was as basic as you could get, smelling of the pine trees from which the logs had been hewn. It boasted a combined kitchen and living area with a small separate bathroom on the first floor and a ladder leading up to a loft that functioned as a bedroom. Minimal furniture, a power generator, and a well system for water afforded all the required comforts of living. A large pond was situated within walking distance, down a steep hill from the flat clearing on which the cabin was situated.

The winding route to get here had taken a good few hours. After enjoying a private run around the property, letting her wolf out to roam, at Marrok’s suggestion, she felt worlds better. Looser. Freer here, away from all those judging gazes.

After shifting, she swiftly pulled on a pair of jeans and navy cotton tank top. She wrapped a thick leather belt around her waist and twisted her hair up, securing it with her hair sticks. Finally, she pulled on a pair of hiking boots Leia had left behind and tied them up. Then let herself into the cabin.

“What’s this?” Tala couldn’t contain her shocked outburst at finding Marrok in the kitchen.

Alpha males did not cook. Period.

Hell, she was an alpha female, and she didn’t cook. Nevertheless, the cabin was filled with the mouthwatering scent of ground beef, and a pot of water boiled softly on the cooktop. Her stomach chose that instant to gurgle, and her wolf lolled her tongue at the prospect of food. Dang, she was famished.

A good run always did that to her.

Her mate turned and grinned over his shoulder, his eyes crinkling in a playful way that tugged at her heart.

“Spaghetti.” He waved at a jar of sauce on the counter with his spatula. “Nothing fancy.”

Why did a simple act like cooking dinner for her make her feel all warm and fuzzy? Tala wasn’t sure she wanted to inspect the emotion further. Weakness in an alpha wasn’t going to get her anywhere. And Marrok could be a big weakness.

“Can I help?” Doing something, anything, would make this uncomfortable, stomach- churning sensation go away.

“You can sit and take a break.”

Tala eyed the small wood table with two chairs as if it were a snake that might bite her.

“Problem?”

“I don’t sit still well,” she murmured. She was almost as bad as a hummingbird shifter that way.

Marrok’s deep laugh pulled her out of her head. She hadn’t meant to say that out loud. The rumbling sound warmed her from the inside out. She’d always liked his laugh, from the very first moment. Wouldn’t mind hearing it more. Her shoulders slumped. She wasn’t funny or witty, so getting him to laugh with her was about as likely as making the change without pain. Irritation followed closely on the heels of her uncharacteristic self-pity. What was she thinking?

To distract herself, she set the table and got them both water. Enjoying the blast of cool against her skin, she got the ice out of trays from the freezer, popping each cube out with a satisfying push.

Then she pulled together a basic salad from the few fresh veggies in the fridge. She searched the cabinets. “Only olive oil for dressing I’m afraid.”

“That’s fine.”

Out of things to do, she finally sat. With nothing else to focus on, she watched her mate as he shuffled around the small space. His movements smooth and easy, he obviously was comfortable in a kitchen. Damn, did he have a fantastic ass. Memories of digging her claws into him, kneading him, assailed her, turning up her core temperature more than a few notches. She forced her gaze away, focusing instead on the familiar view outside the window.

Thankfully, he put a plate down in front of her only a few minutes later. A soft moan escaped her as the first tangy bite hit her tongue. Hungry didn’t begin to describe the yawning pit in her stomach. “This is good.”

“Thanks.”

A tension in his voice fairly crackled through the tenuous mating connection and had her glancing up to find him staring at her lips with utter fascination. An answering heat flared and fused with her blood, moving through her body, but Marrok dragged his gaze away, breaking the intimacy. Their connection went dark, as though he’d turned off whatever he was feeling.

Just like she did.

They spent the first few minutes concentrating on eating. The change always made her ravenous.

“So…”

She glanced up at Marrok’s hesitation to find him watching her with interest. She raised her eyebrows in question.

“Tell me about your family,” he prompted.

Now she dropped her brows in a frown as she finished chewing a bite. “Why?”

“Other than Astra, they weren’t at the mating ceremony. Are they still alive?”

She shook her head. “My parents died about five years ago. Car crash.” One the pack had blamed on the Banes clan but Tala secretly suspected had come from within her own. She’d been rising quickly in the ranks at the time.

He reached across and gave her hand a squeeze. “I’m sorry.”

That he truly meant it gave her an odd warm fuzzy sensation again. His hand against hers was also warm…and strong and managed to send sizzles of sensation through her. At a simple touch. Gods, she was turning into a wimp with him.

“Were you close?” he asked.

She dropped her gaze and twirled a noodle on her fork. “Yes. They were devoted to each other. Both submissives, they were childhood sweethearts.”

“Rare for submissives to give birth to an alpha.”

“Two. Astra’s an alpha, too.”

He grinned. “No interest in leading, I take it.”

She pursed her lips. “None. Though she’s stepped up lately, with me on Banes land.”

“But you wanted to be alpha?” The question was one she was used to.

She shrugged. “My parents were idealists. They raised me to believe all the bloodshed was preventable. They believed a woman alpha would bring reason to the role, which could end the fighting, saving lives on both sides.”

“So they encouraged you to become alpha?”

“Not entirely. Their idea of a woman alpha was more theoretical. But I’m…driven, and I agreed with them. If I could end the fighting, that would be worth everything it took to become alpha.” As well as everything she sacrificed personally. Uncomfortable talking about herself this much, she tilted her head, curiosity getting the better of her. “What about you?”

“I was raised not far from where we were mated until I was ten, at which point I moved to the pack community housing. My father was alpha before me, as you probably know.”

She nodded around a sip of water. Everyone in the wolf shifter community knew of Channon Banes.

“He wanted me to start life without the pressure and recognition of being the alpha’s son.”

“Who did you live with?”

“My grandparents.”

“That must’ve been hard for your mother.”

“Maternal is not a word I’d use for her, but my grandparents were wonderful people. They disagreed with the fighting, which is why they lived away from the pack.”

That explained much of his willingness to seek peace, if he’d been raised believing the fighting to be wrong.

“As you also know, your previous alpha killed my father.”

She froze with her fork halfway to her mouth. Slowly she lowered it. “His death is why I challenged for alpha when I did.”

Marrok leaned back in his chair, eyeing her thoughtfully. “Why?”

“Your father’s death wasn’t warranted or right. He’d come to negotiate a truce. Eyolf killed him in cold blood.”

“So you challenged him.”

He left unsaid the fact that if Eyolf had been strong enough to take down his father, an intimidating wolf shifter with a reputation, then Tala’s abilities were perhaps greater than expected. She caught the realization in his eyes, nonetheless.

Marrok blew out a long breath and ran his hands through his hair, mussing the dark waves in an adorably haphazard fashion. “Thank you for that.”

She glanced away and shrugged one shoulder. “It was the right thing to do. Eyolf made many bad decisions for my pack.” Time to change the subject. “Is your mother still alive?”

“Yes.” The tightening around his mouth told her a tension existed between mother and son. “She’s visiting an old friend in the Pyrenees.”

Right. “Not happy about you mating your enemy?” she guessed.

“She’ll come around when we have her first grandchild.”

Tala startled, shock zipping across her nerve endings, stiffening her spine. Children. She honestly hadn’t thought that far ahead. Keeping their packs from killing one another and dealing with their mating was enough to keep her brain fully occupied.

The mental image of carrying Marrok’s child in her belly, looking forward to the birth of that child, sent butterflies fluttering through her insides. Nice ones. Shock splintered through her at the realization. She wanted a child. Not any child. Marrok’s.

But could they get past this alpha issue?

She did her best to hide her astonishment as they finished dinner. Marrok was a surprisingly good listener. Under his gentle questioning, Tala found herself opening up to him as they talked about nothing in particular but still learned about each other. After dinner, Tala insisted on doing the dishes, since he’d cooked. They chatted more while she washed the dishes, then naturally migrated to the love seat in the small living area. Before she knew it, night had fallen.

After Tala yawned for the fifth or sixth time, Marrok laughed. He stood and pulled her to her feet. “Time for bed, sleepyhead.”

Warmth flushed through her in the most pleasant, surprising way, and an answering desire danced in his eyes. Instead of pulling her into his arms, though, he stepped back.

Her confusion must’ve shown on her face, because he reached out and brushed her cheek. “I won’t come to your bed until you trust me.”

Her eyes widened as disappointment warred with pride.

“You told me I had to earn my way into your heart, and I mean to.”

Actually, she’d said bed, but okay. For now, she couldn’t let that small slip be a distraction. This time apart was about their packs and leadership first and foremost.

“I see.” She inhaled, gathering the strength to move away from him. With effort she did manage it, stepping back and over to the ladder leading to the loft, where the only bed was located. She glanced over her shoulder to find he hadn’t moved. “Goodnight.”

“Sweet dreams…mate.”

…

Tala’s nose twitched as the rich aroma of coffee wafted to where she slept in the loft. She groaned as she rolled over and stretched. Sleep had eluded her last night as she’d lain in bed with her incredibly sexy, frustrating mate downstairs on the floor. The small love seat had not been big enough to hold his bulk, but even sleeping stretched out on the floor he seemed uncomfortable, and, as fully awake as she was, Tala could hear him moving around.

A thousand times she’d debated going to him, answering the clamoring needs of her body. Even more so the strangest need to just be near him.

But, in the end, she hadn’t.

She’d meant it when she said he had to earn his way into her bed. This mission he was on now, caring for her, giving them time to discuss and agree on actions alone in order to present a united front to their people, was a good start. Before she rushed into trusting him, though, she needed to see him carry it through when they had an audience.

Could he be both alpha and mate, not letting one get in the way of the other? Could she?

Sunlight poured through the triangular window directly across from the loft. Another gorgeous day in the mountains. Her wolf perked up. Maybe later today she could take a run.

The need for caffeine had her throwing back the covers. She pulled a sweater over her pajama bottoms and tank top and climbed downstairs on silent, bare feet.

“Morning,” Marrok rumbled as she stepped off the bottom rung of the ladder.

Damn, the man had a sexy morning voice, all gravelly and low, the sound skittering up and down her spine in a delicious way. That, combined with the fact that he wore only boxer briefs, the band sitting just low enough that the ridge of muscle arrowing downward was on stark display for her greedy eyes, was enough to make any woman drool.

She cleared her throat and ignored the sweet ache now lingering. “Morning.”

He stood at the stove cooking again—scrambled eggs.

Good mate. Tala pointed out to her wolf.

The fickle creature huffed, unimpressed.

Tala scooted around him, tempted to “accidentally” brush up against that fabulous ass, grabbed a mug on the counter she assumed he’d gotten out for her, filled it, then stirred in buckets of cream and sugar. She dropped into a chair at the table, pulling one leg in close, her foot propped on her seat, knee up by her chest, and took a long, grateful swig.

“So you take coffee with your cream and sugar?” Laughter lurked in his voice, and she glanced over the rim of her mug to find him watching her, lips quirked.

She put her mug down and grinned. “It’s basically dessert. I can’t drink it too often or I’ll get chubby.” She pulled a face.

“Somehow I doubt that.” He eyed her slender form, appreciation sparking in those electric blue eyes.

How he managed to touch her without physically coming near her was a mystery, but Tala’s body was on fire, nonetheless. She shifted in her seat, trying to ease the need, so tempted to scratch the itch instead of resist. “What’s on the agenda today?”

He turned back to the eggs, lifting the pan off the stove and turning off the burner. “Breakfast. Then discussion. I’d like you to make a list of the issues you want to hit first. I thought we’d cover those, then, if there’s anything else on my list, we’ll hit them afterward.”

Sounded reasonable. “Okay.”

Already her mind was ticking over the countless items on her side. Everything from living arrangements, to feeding both packs, to sharing of assets, to dealing with multiple people in the same positions—two alphas, two seconds-in-command, two sets of councillors, various enforcers, and so forth. Combining their packs was like combining two fully functioning corporations or townships with all the complications each entailed.

And the added fun of mutual, senseless hate. Don’t forget that part.

Marrok set her plate down in front of her and took his own seat. On autopilot Tala took a bite and had to stuff down a groan. Spaghetti and scrambled eggs, the two meals he’d made, weren’t exactly cordon bleu, but the man could cook. “These are fantastic.”

“They’re just eggs.” Eyebrows lifted, he eyed her curiously.

She scrunched up her nose. “I live on power bars mostly.”

Something he’d know if they had any time to themselves. Instead they always seemed to be rushing from meeting to meeting, putting out fires, grabbing what they could to eat along the way.

“Ah.” He took a bite of his eggs.

That was it? “I can’t cook. I don’t clean. I’ve never changed a diaper in my life. I don’t do soft and cuddly. I’m ultra-competitive. And sentiment makes me…uncomfortable.”

He paused mid-chew and cocked his head, searching her expression. Then he swallowed the bite. “Why are you telling me all this?”

“You need to know what you’re getting with me.” She glanced outside the window over the sink. “Maybe I’m not the mate you need.” The last she murmured softly.

“Hey.” Marrok leaned across the table and took her chin in his fingers, forcing her gaze back to him. “You’re exactly the mate I need.”

The conviction in his words, in his eyes, chipped away at the cold block of ice and fear surrounding her heart.

Marrok released her, letting her breathe more easily as he leaned back in his chair. “I can cook; in fact, I like it. I don’t clean, either, but pay one of the ladies from the pack to come in for me, though I’m neat. I’ve never changed a diaper, either, but when babies come, we’ll figure it out together. I suspect I’m more of a cuddler than you, but you’ve been cuddly enough for me so far.”

The heat turning his eyes even more blue brought warmth to her cheeks. “I’m also ultra-competitive, which should make for an interesting life together.” He grinned now. “But I don’t give up, either, and no matter how mad you get at me, this mating is for life. While I’m not sentimental in general, I have a feeling you may change that for me, so you’ll just have to deal with it when I get mushy on you.”

“Oh.” Tala bit her lip as another piece of ice fell away. He’d managed to get to the heart of every one of her fears. At the core of Marrok Banes existed a solid, decent man. Someone she genuinely liked, which was rare for her. Maybe he did see her, the real her, and didn’t appear intimidated…or put off.

Maybe they could do this.

Time to see how he negotiated. She sat forward in her chair and picked up her fork. “What are your thoughts on choosing a new neutral site to reestablish both packs together?”