Fierce (Wolf Ranch 5)

Her skin!

“Charlie, doll. Are you okay?” I lowered my head to lick her wounds to promote a speedy healing. There was some blood—not a ton, thank fate.

She thrust her hips up and took me deeper. “I’m so good,” she murmured, like she was totally blissed out. Hell, she looked blissed out. Hair in a messy dark halo around her head, dark skin flushed, eyes barely open.

My beautiful mate.

“You sure? You need a painkiller or anything?”

“Mm mm.” She shook her head lazily. “Just a nap.”

Sweet woman. Of course she needed a nap. She’d driven straight through the night.

I eased out of her and settled by her side, spooning around her protectively while she slept.

I could hardly believe this was my reality now. I had a mate to protect and provide for. This sweet female to warm my bed at night and light up my days. And she wanted to do it with me in Montana. At Wolf Ranch.

And I was going to savor every fucking second of it.

Epilogue

Two months later

CHARLIE

Hands wrapped around my waist from behind, making me gasp.

I spun about, then set my forehead on Levi’s chest. “Shit, you scared me.”

“Hi, doll.” He kissed the top of my head, the gesture sweet. “Missed you.”

Usually, Levi texted when he left town after a shift. It wasn’t necessary, but I loved anticipating his return. Since that fateful day in Colorado, we’d been inseparable.

Mr. Claymore hadn’t been surprised when I gave notice. Beneath his straitlaced exterior, he was a romantic and wanted me together with Levi. While I’d given two weeks, he’d let me leave after one, paying me in full and with a bonus. After the fact that I’d found Dax dead—his interpretation of what had happened—he’d thought I deserved a little something extra.

Pops had been eager to go to Montana. Levi had remained and helped us pack a moving truck to take some of our things. The house would sit vacant for a time. It didn’t need to be sold right away, and I wanted to ensure Pops was truly happy to relocate before we committed with something so substantial. He’d bought that house with Nan forty years ago. I’d expected him to want to stay, to hold onto the memories, but he’d been the first one to pack.

That had been two months ago. Since then, we’d settled into the bunkhouse together, Pops moving into one of the bedrooms on the main floor, near Johnny’s. Levi had put his foot down about sharing the top floor with anyone, and Pops had agreed. He, too, was a romantic and had wanted to give use some privacy.

As if a twenty-something shifter and a senior citizen living beneath us offered us much of that.

But we were a family. While Johnny had parents and siblings of his own, he’d taken to Pops and started calling him that right away.

Johnny wasn’t the only one who watched out for Pops. Shadow was just that, Pops’ shadow, following him everywhere. The puppies had all been weaned and adopted by different members of the pack. If there had been any decision over who’d keep the border collie, it had been changed by the dog herself. She’d adopted Pops, and they were inseparable.

To me, it was reassuring. Shadow was supposed to herd cattle and sheep but seemed to take to herding elderly humans, too.

It was Levi who took care of me, and I loved every second of it. I hadn’t filled out a spreadsheet in weeks.

“I missed you, too. Why didn’t you call?” I asked him.

He looked down at me with those blue eyes that held a hint of mischief along with the constant happiness. “I’ve got news.”

“Oh?”

“We talked about you opening up your own practice. Having it on this side of the mountains is smart.”

“We’ve talked about this. There’s not a place to have one.”

He tapped my nose. “The Markle property.”

I frowned. “The place two doors down? The guy who Willow had been watching?”

I didn’t go into detail because he’d been a drug mule, and it hit a little too close to home. No one compared me to the guy, but still, it struck a raw nerve.

“Him. His property’s been vacant since he died. His will’s out of probate, and the bank is selling the place. I want to put an offer in. Make it ours.”

My mouth fell open. “That place is huge. I’ve seen the house and stable from the road. It’s been updated, and it’s… huge. We can’t afford that.”

I loved the idea, the stable making a great vet office, especially for large animals. Levi could lease out stalls to locals who wanted a horse but didn’t want to stable one. The house was lovely, and there was room for kids. Pups. But it was impossible.

He sighed, stroked my cheek. “I know we said no secrets, but… well, I’m rich.”