The longer I’m away from her, the more uneasy I feel, and it’s only been moments. I need to get back to her as soon as possible.

Taking off through the woods, I go towards the Denali home. I remember Alpha Stone talking about them one of the last times I went to have dinner with Winnie. He mentioned there were three wolf shifters living together hoping to find their mates. He never mentioned a human, so he must not have known about Snow.

Snow. Such a beautiful, perfect name for her. She’s named after something I love. It makes me think about hibernating and having her in my bed with me. Now that she’s my mate, she’ll be the thing I love most. I'll take care of her.

The weather is taking a turn for the worst, so I speed up my running to get to the house faster. It would be easier to drive, but the roads are all unpaved out here. It’s all protected land, so it's either run or shift. And since I didn’t bring a change of clothes, I choose to run. Our shifters aren’t too worried about nudity, but going to see my sister naked isn’t something I’d like to do anytime soon.

When I get to the Denali cabin, I stand outside for a moment and listen for signs of someone being home. After just a second, I can tell that it’s empty, and I walk in the front door. Since this is protected land, no shifter would dare break in and steal anything. If they needed shelter, it would be provided, so most of the time cabins like this aren’t locked. Except mine.

Walking through the house, I can smell the scent of the three wolves and human that live here. The wolf scent is strong, so it covers most of Snow’s, but I scent my way to her room easily enough.

As a bear shifter, our sense of smell isn’t as sharp as other shifters, but I’m a male and I would know my mate’s scent anywhere. When I go into her room, I see that it’s tidy and simple. A small bed with just a few things around the room. Nothing is out of place, and it's all very clean. It makes me feel a bit sad that my home was so messy when she came in. When I get back I’ll clean because it looks like she would appreciate that.

I take a bag out of her closet and pack what few belongings she has. Everything in her room fits into a small suitcase, and it makes another pang of sadness hit me. I didn’t have much when I first came to Gray Ridge. I just had a small pack with things that kind shifters had given me along the way. I’d told them all I couldn’t stay and I was looking for my sister, and they all tried to help as best they could.

Seeing Snow’s suitcase and thinking that this is all she owns makes me wonder what her story is and how she came to live with a pack of wolves she calls brothers when she’s fully human.

When I go to exit the cabin, I leave the note on the table. Before I turn to go, I find a pen and write something at the bottom. Hopefully, it helps them understand what is happening.

I’m okay. Don’t worry, guys. I found my mate and he is going to keep me safe. I’ll check in soon. Love, Snow.

PS She is mated to Koda, brother of Winnie, who’s mated to Alpha Stone. I will protect Snow with my life.

Once I’m finished, I take her bag and leave, heading into the woods towards the Alpha’s home.

* * *

It doesn’t take me long to get to Winnie and Stone’s place. When I get there, I don’t scent the Alpha, and I breathe a sigh of relief. I just need to talk to Winnie alone for a few minutes, and then I can get back to my mate.

I knock on the door and she answers a moment later, beaming brightly at me. Thankfully, she’s a female bear and she probably won’t be able to scent my mate on me when she reaches in for a hug. Our kind love to snuggle and are very affectionate, so I hug her back, thinking that she would know something was wrong if I didn’t.

When I pull back and walk inside, she looks at me funny for a half second, then I see her dismiss whatever thought she had. I hid Snow’s suitcase outside so she wouldn’t get suspicious. I just have a few questions and then I can leave.

“Koda, I’m so happy you came by. Micah is sleeping right now, but I can wake him up if you want to hold your nephew.”

I smile at her, shaking my head. “I’d love to see the baby bear cub, but let him have his rest. I know how it is in this weather. I just want to curl up and go to sleep.”

Winnie agrees and rubs her big baby belly. She’s pregnant with another baby, and I’m sure the cold has her wanting to nap a lot as well.

“I’m surprised you came out in this.” She nods towards the window. “It’s really coming down now. Stone went to go check on the pack to make sure everyone is stocked up and good to bed down for a few days.”

“I had to pick something up in town.” I look around, trying to find the words. “And I need to ask you a few things. Privately.”

She sits forward in her chair, looking at me with concern. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes. I just have some questions about…” I hesitate, then just decide to rip the Band-Aid off. “About your mating.”

Looking up, I see her cheeks turn red, and I hate that I’ve embarrassed her.

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I just don’t trust anyone else to talk to about this. It’s hard not growing up with a pack or an Alpha to explain this to you, and it would be even more awkward if I asked Stone now.”

Winnie nods her head in understanding. “I can imagine. I was lucky that I had women to talk to about it. Okay. What would you like to know?”

I clear my throat and just go for it. Needing it over as soon as possible.