River Run Wolf Read online

  “I hope so. Although part of me would like the village and its surroundings to stay just as they are. I don’t want us to destroy the area by trying to catch up on lost time.” He breathed in the clean, fresh air.

  “I don’t think that will happen. In fact, I think you should use that fact to build a tourism trade here that caters to those who want to get away from it all. I’ll help you make a business plan. And you can ask George, he’s an ace at these things.”

  “Thanks. Yes, George is coming over with Magnus in a few days. To check up on the work we’ve done.”

  “Nana is coming, too,” Sage told him. “She wants to meet you all.”

  “Wow, I forgot George is your mom’s mate.” He broke out into a smile, taking the news that Sage’s mom was coming to meet him in his stride. “I’m going to be related to George in a kind of a way. I like that.”

  “George is a good man and ideal for Nana. And she is ideal for him.” Sage looked down at her hands.

  “What? What is it?” Patrick asked, reaching out for her hand. “Tell me.”

  She shook her head. “It’s so strange, first Nana and then me.”

  “Finding your mate?” he asked.

  “Yes. I hope my brothers get lucky, too.” She stood up. “We should go back inside. I don’t want to deprive the others of your company. Plus, we need to make a plan for tomorrow and then get some sleep.”

  They got up and went inside. Sage was right, they did need to make plans for tomorrow. But they also needed to make plans for the rest of their lives together.

  As for sleep, he doubted he would sleep tonight, not when his head was filled with thoughts of Sage.

  Chapter Three – Sage

  Sage woke the next morning feeling alive. Sleep had evaded her for most of the night, but despite that, she was buzzing with excitement.

  After the initial shock of meeting her mate had worn off, she allowed herself to revel in a sense of belonging to someone. Not in a slave and master kind of a way. Goodness, if that wolf shifter ever tried anything like that he’d soon know he would never be the master of this bear shifter.

  However, she did belong to him, just as he belonged to her. Mind, body, and soul.

  A wave of sadness hit her. She wished her mom and dad could be here to celebrate with her.

  A tear trickled down her cheek, but she quickly dashed it away. This was not the time to dwell on the past, it was time to celebrate the future. She’d learned that life lesson only recently from Nana, who had risen above all that life threw at her to make a new start.

  Sage swung her legs out of bed and headed for the bathroom. After a quick shower, she dressed in fresh clothes and made her way downstairs. The others were already up and seated around Hetty and Lupe’s kitchen table. However, there was no sign of Patrick, which caused a wave of disappointment to sweep over her.

  Unaccustomed to the feeling, Sage helped herself to coffee, while Hetty fussed around everyone.

  “Come and sit down. There’s plenty of toast, help yourself, and there are bacon and eggs.” Hetty pointed to the table, which was filled with plates, coffee cups, and a teapot. “Nothing like a nice cup of tea in the morning.”

  “There’s space here, Sage,” Emilia said, scooting her chair around to the right to make room for her friend. “Hetty makes the best breakfast.”

  “Oh, you don’t have to say that,” Hetty said, although she swelled with pride at Emilia’s kind words.

  “What time are we starting work?” Sage asked. She really meant—what time will I get to see Patrick?—but she didn’t want to be that direct. However, Lupe saw straight through her.

  “He’ll be here soon enough,” Lupe told Sage. “He can smell Hetty’s cooking a mile away.”

  “Don’t tease Sage like that,” Hetty told her husband. “Patrick is collecting some tools on the way here.”

  “He should have told me, I could have helped,” Thorn said through a mouthful of eggs.

  “He’s big enough to fetch them himself,” Lupe said easily. “He might not be as big as you bears, but he can carry the load.”

  “I wasn’t suggesting he couldn’t,” Thorn said and then grinned. “You are joking with me, even at this time in the morning.”

  “Man, I have to make the most of having people around who don’t see right through me.” Lupe grinned with pleasure. “You Bear Creek folks take it all so seriously.”

  Hetty rolled her eyes. “Says the man who can’t take a joke aimed at himself.” She put her finger up and waggled it at him as he started to protest. “I’ve lived with you for long enough to know jokes are for other people, not for you.” Lupe opened his mouth to protest, but Hetty silenced him with one stern look.

  Emilia chuckled and looked at Thorn, who smiled back at her, a warm fuzzy smile of two people in love. It must be wonderful to get to that place in a relationship where you know each other so well that a look or a gesture is enough to communicate your meaning. Even if it is to tell the other person to shut up and stop talking.

  She dug into her breakfast, which was delicious, and resisted the urge to feel homesick. Mornings at Chance Heights were always about family time, and although Sage had been away from home many times on her own, this was different. She longed to share the news of her mate with Nana and her brothers face to face. To see their expressions and know what they thought.

  The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end and her stomach gurgled, but not from hunger. Patrick was near.

  Excitement welled up inside her. It was as if last night had been a dream and this meeting would confirm he was her mate. Which was stupid, because she knew. She knew for sure. Yet she couldn’t let go and trust the feelings inside her, she had to see him, had to touch him.

  The door opened, and Patrick walked into the kitchen. Sage resisted the urge to get up from the table and go to him. Instead, she concentrated on her breakfast, one forkful at a time, ignoring the invisible thread connecting them, pulling her to him as if he were reeling her in.

  “Morning,” Patrick said to the room, but she could feel his eyes on her, searing her skin.

  “Morning,” Hetty said and kissed him on the cheek, which ignited a spark of jealousy in Sage.

  She closed her eyes and centered herself, swallowed down her mouthful of food and then turned around. “Morning.” Her voice came out high and breathy.

  “Sit down and eat,” Lupe instructed, pointing to a space next to Sage. “You two can get reacquainted, then we can focus on the day.”

  “As subtle as always, Granddad,” Patrick said good-humoredly as he placed his coffee on the table and sat down, his thigh brushing against Sage’s as he pulled his chair in.

  Warmth flooded her body and heat crept to her cheeks. Picking up her coffee cup, she drank, hiding behind the ceramic mug until she regained control.

  Was this what life held for her from now on? Every touch, every look would knock her off center and send her tumbling into a sea of hormones she had no control over.

  “Did you sleep well?” Patrick asked as he ate.

  “I did, thanks. Now, I can’t wait to get started on the day and look around in the light. George says the River Wolf Lands are some of the most beautiful he’s ever seen. Unspoiled.”

  “They are, although I am biased.” He drank his coffee, watching her as he did so. “Will you also tell me about Bear Creek?”

  “Have you never been over to our mountains?” Sage asked, aware the others were leaving the table and Hetty was starting the dishes. She should offer to help, but she wanted to linger with Patrick for a few minutes longer.

  “Once or twice when I was younger. But not for a long time. Work here has kept me busy.” He shoveled the last of his food into his mouth.

  “I’d like to show you around when you have time,” Sage offered.

  “Aren’t you busy at the activity center?” he asked.

  “We close through the winter months. The children camp when they are with us, and the weather is
too unpredictable for us to take bookings at this time of year. We could have a mild winter, or we could be cut off with the road covered under three feet of snow.” She shrugged. “So I’m all yours for a few months.”

  “I like the sound of that,” Patrick admitted. He dragged his gaze away from her. The room was empty, even Hetty had left them alone. “We should go.”

  “I know.” She smiled coyly and ducked her head. “This is all so new, all so awkward.”

  “A day working together will get rid of the awkwardness,” Patrick told her as he got up from the table and began to clear it of the breakfast things. Sage helped, stacking the plates next to the sink and wiping down the table while Patrick ran the hot water.

  “I’ll do that,” Hetty said as she bustled into the kitchen.

  “Are you sure, Grandma?” Patrick plunged the first of the cups into the hot, soapy water.

  “Positive. You young people go and fix the river.” She lowered her voice. “And for goodness’ sake, don’t allow Lupe to do anything stupid.”

  “I’ll keep an eye on him, I promise.” Patrick hugged her close.

  “I don’t know if one eye will be enough,” Hetty grumbled.

  “I’ll keep an eye on him, too,” Sage promised and earned herself a beaming smile.

  “I’d appreciate it. That river means a lot to Lupe, and I don’t want him risking his neck to get it flowing faster. If he had his way it’d be like Niagara Falls out there. Water streaming down off the mountain and washing everything away.” Her smile tightened and then she pulled away from Patrick. “Now go, you two. You leave this to me. I’ll have lunch ready for you.”

  She shooed them out of the kitchen into the half-light of the early fall morning. “It’s a good thing I’m used to early starts.”

  “Emilia will fly the tools up to the water source before it gets too light. Thorn will go with her. The rest of us can go so far in the truck and then we can hike. Or run. I wouldn’t mind meeting your bear.” He slipped his hand into hers as they walked down to the clearing where Emilia had landed last night.

  Emilia had already shifted and stood waiting patiently, while Thorn loaded the tools onto her back as if she were a pack horse. Lupe, who seemed perfectly relaxed around the huge dragon, was standing on the ground, passing the tools up to Thorn, who was standing on the dragon’s foreleg, resting his body against her dragon hide as he used straps to hook them over Emilia’s spines.

  “Done,” Thorn said and jumped down as Patrick and Sage reached them. Thorn looked up at the sky. “We should get going. Clear skies mean an early sunrise.”

  “We’ll meet you up there,” Patrick said. “It shouldn’t take us more than half an hour to reach you.”

  “Good.” Thorn leaped onto the dragon’s back and patted her shoulder, while Lupe eyed him with envy. “Why don’t you hop aboard, too, Lupe? Emilia said she can carry us both and the tools. Give Patrick and Sage some time alone.”

  Lupe lunged forward and climbed onto Emilia’s back. “If she’s sure,” he said, when he was already in position.

  Emilia’s dragon turned her large head around and looked at the old man with eyes filled with laughter and her sides shook, while steam came out of her nose. Sage had never seen a dragon laugh. Not even in a movie, but this dragon was laughing at the old wolf shifter.

  “We’ll see you up there,” Thorn called as Emilia leaped into the air.

  “Make sure Lupe stays out of trouble,” Patrick called back, and then the dragon was gone, melting into the darkness, leaving Sage alone with Patrick. “Subtle, huh?”

  “Very.” Sage didn’t mind at all. It was nice being alone with Patrick. More than nice. “Shall we get going?”

  “Yes.” Patrick led her to his truck which was parked outside of the clearing. He opened the passenger door for her and she climbed in.

  Patrick shut the door behind her and leaned on it, staring at her through the window as if he couldn’t believe she was there. Sage smiled gently at him, and the corners of his mouth turned up as he returned her smile. Then, with a shake of his head, he went around to the driver’s side and got in.

  “Still in shock?” Sage asked as he started the engine and turned the truck around.

  “Yeah. You?” The truck rumbled along the dirt trail that joined a solid asphalt road. Patrick turned left and they followed the road through a small collection of houses which formed the village.

  “Yes. I didn’t come here expecting to find my mate. But I’m not sorry I have.” She settled back in her seat, it was still too dark outside to see details of the scenery around them. Everything was wrapped in shadow.

  “We have a lot to decide.” Patrick gave her a sidelong glance.

  “You mean my place or yours?” Sage asked bluntly. “That is the big question. Your family and village need you here. And I have a life in Bear Creek.”

  “We could commute if we were dragons,” Patrick said lightly.

  “We could.” She ran her hand over her mouth. “I don’t know what the answer is. Maybe it will become clearer. Unless fate royally screwed up.”

  “Maybe it will.” He eased the throttle down harder as they began to climb higher, the road before them twisting and turning as it led into the mountains. The smooth asphalt gave way to a dirt track, but the truck and Patrick handled the rough terrain with ease.

  A few minutes later, Patrick pulled into a clearing and switched off the engine. “We’re on four paws from here.”

  “My bear is not complaining. She likes to stretch her legs at every opportunity.” Sage opened the passenger door and got out, waiting while Patrick came around to join her.

  “I have something I’d like to show you first.” He pointed toward the clearing. “This way.”

  She followed him across the grassy clearing, toward the edge of a cliff. The view was incredible as the first of the sun’s rays arced across the valley below. Orange and red, the colors muted as the sun hovered on the distant horizon. Slowly, it rose higher, its rays reaching further until they caressed the stream that flowed down from the mountain like a silver thread.

  “That’s your river?” Sage asked.

  “Our river.” He reached for her hand and held it in his. “The first time I stood here and saw the water running through the village made all the years of eking out a living here worth it.” He half turned. “I don’t have a lot to offer you, Sage, but faith and loyalty.”

  “I’ll take those. Along with love.” She looked back across the valley.

  “Love is a given thing. I couldn’t not love you if I tried.” Patrick looked into the distance.

  Sage stood for an impossibly long moment, wondering if Patrick expected her to declare her love for him, too. But she couldn’t, not yet. Love was the most precious thing and she couldn’t give it away on a whim. Yet he stirred her emotions, she could not bear to think of not being with him, even if it were only for stolen moments like this.

  “We should go.” Sage turned away from the view, but as she did, she stopped and pulled Patrick toward her.

  He stared into her eyes, questioning her, and she had no real answers. She didn’t know what she wanted, it was all too new, too confusing.

  That was a lie. She knew exactly what she wanted. With her free hand she stroked his cheek, then she leaned forward, her tongue snaking out to moisten her lips before she kissed him.

  Chapter Four – Patrick

  His arms tightened around her, and he held her close as their lips met. She tasted like coffee and cinnamon, and he hungered for more. More than one kiss, more than an embrace on the mountainside with their clothes a barrier between them.

  But high above them Thorn, Emilia, and his granddad were waiting. His granddad who had a habit of getting himself into trouble. His granddad who he’d promised to keep one eye on. Even letting him ride on the back of a dragon was enough to break that promise.

  Sage broke the kiss and looked up at the cliff face above them, as if she’d read his thoughts. �
�We should go check on your granddad. I assume Hetty wasn’t exaggerating when she said he is good at getting himself into trouble?”

  Patrick shook his head and laughed. “You know about the first time the dragons arrived here?”

  “Nope.” Sage tugged at his hand. “But you are going to tell me, aren’t you? You can’t leave a girl hanging like that.”

  “I’ll tell you anything you want to know, I’m an open book.” He set off along a trail leading deeper into the mountains. “There is an early warning system around the village. Set up by some old witch a few centuries ago. At the same time as the warning system was set up, the villagers installed large crossbows, capable of bringing down a dragon, or so they thought.”

  “And Lupe used these crossbows on Emilia?” Sage asked in horror.

  “Not just Emilia. Magnus and Ruby were there, too.” Patrick chuckled at her shocked face. “Lupe was hellbent on killing a dragon that day. He was lucky they came in peace.”

  “I guess he was trying to protect you all.” Sage couldn’t imagine the courage it must have taken to go up against three fire-breathing dragons.

  “His father, and his father before him made sure the crossbows were replaced when the wood rotted. His generation is the last of a dying breed. My father never believed the stories and never passed them down to me. Not that Lupe didn’t make sure I knew them. He used to take me for walks in the mountains, up to where the river was cut off, and tell me how a dragon had dropped those big boulders there.”

  “What does your dad say now? Now that Lupe has proof?” Sage asked.

  Patrick glanced at her over his shoulder. “We never told him. The dragons have their secrets and we swore to keep them.”

  “Even from your father?” Sage asked.

  “My father left River Wolf over ten years ago. He rarely comes to visit, although we keep in touch by phone. Lupe thinks the dragons’ secret is more important than an—I told you so—to his son.” Patrick stopped under a thick belt of trees and faced her. “I agree with him.”

  “I can understand that. It takes greater strength of character to keep a secret than it does to tell. And the dragons are special.” Her eyes misted over. “When George first told us, I couldn’t believe it. They are something that belong to myth and legend. Then I saw Ruby for the first time. Magnificent ruby red scales that shimmered like fire. Although, I’ll admit I was worried my eyes were deceiving me. Only when I touched her, when I felt the heat of her body, the beat of her heart… Only then did I believe in dragons. Only then did I believe anything was possible.”