He was a bear in a wolf den-and the real reason he'd remained in town stood mere meters away. Even a few weeks ago she'd tried to avoid him altogether, but today she offered a shy, yet welcoming smile that sent a thrill through him from top to bottom.
While his bear would've enjoyed more luxurious and mellow accommodations, if living in werewolf central was what he had to deal with to get close to the woman of his dreams?
Bring on the chaos-Justin was ready to face anything for her.
Lady Mandy Ainsworth ordered her heart to slow down. It was pumping hard enough to power a high-speed motorboat, but all the willpower in the world only eased the edges of her adrenaline-fed reaction.
Adrenaline? Yes, but from good causes, not bad.
She was still in the crowded Takhini pack house, a guest in the wolves' home … but the one place where it was most important, something had changed.
It was that small yet vital change that gave her the strength to meet the big, sexy grizzly shifter in the eye. Surrounded by a sea of motion, the energetic and happy wolves of the combined Whitehorse packs flowed past, oblivious to how rapidly her world had tilted with the arrival of word from her lawyer.
She wasn't scared of Justin. As broad and as tall and as handsome as he was, she'd seen the way he looked at her before carefully turning his back and giving her space.
And it was a fine back, all six foot six of it, covered with sturdy muscles and most usually a devilishly expensive suit. As the assistant and bodyguard to a very rich man, Justin dressed and acted far more like his boss's colleague than his flunky.
She appreciated how he looked in the suit, but she enjoyed his more casual look as well. The soft flannel shirt he'd worn the previous day layered over a dark T-shirt had made her fingers itch to touch.
To stroke, and pet …
… and there went her heart rate again. Because while the thought of becoming intimate with the big beast might make her animal side sit up and preen, it also carried her into dangerous territory.
She'd been the possession of a wealthy man before, and that situation never ended well for the possessions.
No. That direction lies madness.
Mandy was working hard to make sure her previous relationship didn't define her forever, but she was not about to throw away the lesson she'd been forced to learn. Protecting herself-body and soul-was not wrong. This next bit of time was for her, and she was determined to make the most of it.
Big sexy bears would just have to fit themselves into her agenda.
Someone leaned against the wall by Mandy's side, folding their arms and staring into the room while standing quiet guard. The female Alpha of the wolf pack, Amy, waved back to someone in the gathering, but mostly she just stood there like a sentinel, waiting for Mandy to speak.
"You don't have to protect me, you know. I trust your people," Mandy shared.
Amy shrugged. "Don't consider it protection. Just a friend looking out for a friend." She twisted to face her. "How are you doing this fine evening? And who are you thinking of, as if I couldn't already scent it?"
Her cheeks must've gone instantly red, and Mandy looked back across the room to discover Justin had been interrupted by the male half of the Takhini leadership team. Evan stood with his arms folded, his body a solid roadblock between the debonair bear and where she and Amy were chatting. Justin was clearly attempting in vain to cut the conversation short.
Mandy's embarrassment turned to amusement. "You wolves really have a problem with privacy," she complained.
Her friend offered a grin. "I'm glad you're ready to move out of the pack house." She held up a hand. "To be clear, we would never kick you out, but for the sake of our youth's delicate sensitivities it's great that you're moving your courtship to a more private location."
Oh My Word. Mandy's jaw hit the floor then bounced back into position. "That's rushing things a little. Courtship? I'm moving out and yes, I'm ready to move on, but I'm not getting myself tangled into another relationship right away."
"Oh, honey, don't lie to yourself. You and me both know you've had your eye on the big sexy brute since day one of getting yourself free from that rat bastard you used to call a husband-and the offer's still open, by the way, if you ever want me to rip out Todd's throat."
"That won't be necessary," Mandy insisted. Her marriage to Todd Ainsworth had been an arranged event, complicated by family secrets that had sealed her lips. It was only a couple months earlier that his cruelty and lust for power had come to light and allowed her to escape. "The last I heard, he's broke and being made to work to provide restitution to the people he hurt. I'd like him to stay alive so he has to toil for as long as possible."
Amy patted her on the arm. "You're far less bloodthirsty than me, but your choice." She reached into her back pocket and pulled out a room card. "This is for you."
Mandy accepted the plastic rectangle, looking it over carefully. "Keys to the kingdom?"
"Suite at the top of the Goldenside Manor. A little more privacy than the single room where you've been camping out, and a lot nicer than the hotel room you booked. Spectacular view of the Yukon River from the living room and master suite. It's yours for as long as you like."
Mandy gave the Alpha a heartfelt squeeze. "You've been so generous. I feel as if I haven't done anything except take advantage of you."
"At some point you'll pay that favour forward," Amy assured her. "Maybe not to me, but to someone else. That counts."
"I'll be sure to do that."
Amy cleared her throat. "By the way, I already had your bags moved to the suite. Oops?"
Mandy laughed. "You're bossy."
"Guilty, but I mean well."
A flutter of excitement tickled Mandy's belly. It was time to make the next move. "Does Evan plan to keep Justin standing in the middle of the room for the entire evening?"
"If you want him to." Amy offered a sly smile. "It's good to see you ready to move on."
Mandy straightened up, nodding her agreement. "It's good to feel ready to move on, and in fact, there's something I need to do before I leave. Excuse me?"
With a broad arm sweep, Amy gestured her to the center of the living space before responding to someone's call from the kitchen.
Mandy watched her friend leave the room, then gathered her courage and forced herself to leave the safety of the wall. Her feet refused to move quickly, but then again she reassured herself, it didn't matter if she did this in an all-out run as long as she did it.
Crossing the room took mere seconds, and she boldly stepped between the men.
Justin jerked back in surprise.
The Takhini Alpha turned to her with a broad grin. "Lady Mandy. So happy to see you this evening."
Evan took her by the hand and pressed his lips to her knuckles.
Every wolf in the room froze, and the sudden hush made Justin's deep growl echo all the louder.
Evan rolled his eyes, dropping her hand to smack his fists to his hips as he pivoted on one heel, glaring around the room. "Good grief, do none of you have even the slightest understanding of chivalry? I wasn't kissing kissing her, you fools."
Some card in the back shouted what they were all thinking. "If Amy spots you not kissing kissing anyone again, she's gonna rip off your lips. That'd make it really hard to not kiss kiss, period."
"Hardy har har," Evan muttered, before shaking his head sadly as he turned back to Mandy. "So much for trying to impress you."
She caught his fingers in hers and gave them a squeeze. "All your wolves have impressed me. Thank you for your hospitality these past months, and for your kindness to me."
He'd been the next best thing to a father figure for the past while, and now he looked her over carefully, caring in his expression. "Sounds as if you're ready to say goodbye."
Beside her, Justin tensed as if nervous to hear her response.
"It's time for me to move on, but I'm not going far. At least, not at first. I have some decisions to make."
"We'll always have a place for you," Evan promised. His gaze darted back and forth between her and the bear before a devilish smile lit his face. "Here, I'll get Shaun to drive you. Or better yet … "
He gave a low whistle.
Instantly a handsome, dark-skinned wolf popped up at his side, grin in place as the young man glanced in quick appreciation over Mandy before averting his eyes. "Yo, Alpha-dude. What's hanging?"
Evan pinched the bridge of his nose. "Kent, do you remember our discussion about showing a little more respect?"
"What's … happening?"
"Better."
Evan offered an apologetic smile. "Have you met Kent yet? He's Caroline's younger brother. He's supposed to be learning to be my assistant, but he's mostly a pain in the ass."
"Younger siblings have that gift," Mandy suggested, but she smiled at the young man.
"Kent, drive our friend where she needs to go for the night. You'll probably want to pick up some groceries and-"
"I'll take care of Mandy," Justin interrupted, loud and clear.
He'd stepped closer, one foot between her and the new wolf. Everything about the way Justin held himself made it clear he was staking a claim, and that flutter of anticipation inside her belly raced in a new and unexpected direction.