I would never break my promise to her. Never do anything to make Zoey feel unsafe.

So, I simply wrap my arms around her lower back, hugging her. Clutching her close.

At some point, we roll to the side, Zoey’s back to the fire, her head resting on a throw pillow. The questioning quality fades from her caresses. Now, there’s a relaxed element, a playful one as she sneaks in an occasional teasing bite, snickering at the way I groan whenever she does.

Time doesn’t mean much when I’m kissing Zoey. The most attention I give to anything outside our little cocoon of happiness is to appreciate the steady pounding of rain that hasn’t let up.

At some point, in a natural progression, my lips wander away from hers, pressing against the curve of her cheekbone, then trailing up to her forehead, where I bury my nose in her loose, damp hair. Breathing her in relaxes me more than any drug ever could.

This is more than attraction.

Which is why I had to fight off a wave of angry fear when I found her hiding in that tree.

When Zoey said the growling might have come from a wolf, I was instantly alert. There aren’t any wolf packs near Pine Falls. The pure wolves scent us. They know this is our territory.

Which means the only wolf that could have been nipping at her heels was a werewolf.

And I don’t know what that means. The mystery agitates my inner beast.

There’s no reason for any of our pack to harass a human. Sure, we maintain an air of intimidation in town. But we don’t come after people in our animal forms. That’s just begging for wary acceptance to morph into a mortal versus supernatural civil war.

Roderick would be furious.

I remind myself it might not have been a wolf. Zoey said the animal could’ve been a bear, and there are plenty of those in the woods around here. Wolves and bears don’t really discuss property lines.

Normally, I’d be able to figure out the culprit with little effort. That’s the beauty of heightened senses. But the rain washed away any scent trail or tracks, and I couldn’t even hear Zoey’s panicked panting when I found her hiding up in that tree. I almost missed her completely.

What would have happened if I hadn’t come along?

She’s strong and resourceful, but that doesn’t mean she can fight off a bear.