4. Briella

We spend the rest of the two-hour-drive in silence, and I'm actually glad to have the time to think about this freaking crazy situation. Finding out my huge, hot bodyguard thinks I'm his eternal mate was a shock at first, but now I'm warming up to the idea.

Kodi turns onto a darkened road that's barely visible from the main road, and tall wrought iron gates open, allowing us to pass.

We drive further down the curving dark road until the forest opens up to reveal Kodi"s cabin, standing proud and almost magical against the backdrop of towering pines and scattered golden light. My heart flutters slightly, a mixture of excitement and that little stitch of fear—the good kind, the kind that tells you you"re about to step into something extraordinary.

Kodi kills the engine, and the world falls silent but for the symphony of the woods. Birds sing overhead, hidden within the dense canopy, and chirp happily off in the distance. He turns to me with his eyes crinkling at the edges and a lopsided grin that causes my girly parts to tingle. "We're here," he announces, unnecessarily, his voice filled with pride.

I can only nod, entranced by the beauty and sheer isolation of it all. It feels like we"ve entered into a different realm. I step out of the car, gravel crunching under my boots, and draw in a deep breath of pine-scented air. It"s cooler here, the sun"s warmth filtered through the thick foliage, leaving a soft, speckled pattern on everything it touches.

The cabin itself truly does resemble a fortress with logs stacked with precision, chinking snugly holding them in place. It looks both rustic and inviting, a picture from a fairy tale, complete with smoke lazily spiraling up from the stone chimney. Surrounded by towering old pines and dense underbrush, the large structure appears to be an integral part of the landscape.

Kodi retrieves our bags from the back of the SUV, and I linger, looking around as a feeling of belonging flows through me.

Off to the right, a narrow path snakes into the woods, bordered by ferns and small, bright wildflowers. I"m tempted to explore, to lose myself among the trees and discover the secrets they hold.

"Come on, Beauty. I want to show you my home." Kodi"s voice pulls me back, and I turn to see him standing at the front door, punching numbers into a black keypad. He nods toward the path I had been eyeing. "Plenty of time for that later. Let me show you inside first."

Stepping inside, the interior of the cabin greets us with a cozy warmth. The air smells of cedar and something woodsy, the exact scent that clings to Kodi. The space is open and bright with natural light streaming through large windows, yet it feels intimate, like it's wrapping itself around us. There"s a stone fireplace, large and comforting, and a vision of long nights cuddled up by the fire runs through my mind.

Kodi drops my bags in the large entry way, his gaze catching mine. "What do you think?" he asks.

"It's perfect," I breathe out, truly meaning it. Everything from the sturdy, lovingly tended structure to the untamed wilderness outside feels right. It's as if the cabin is an extension of Kodi himself—warm, welcoming, and distinctly alive. And, evidently, my freaking mate.

The open-plan main room features high ceilings with exposed beams, retaining a nod to the traditional structure but finished with a contemporary flair. Recessed LED lighting is embedded within the beams, casting bright light across the room, while floor-to-ceiling windows line the entire back wall.

"We have all the time in the world to get to know each other," he tells me, and those words soothe something deep inside me. Here in the enchanted woods, in this beautiful hideaway, I feel like anything is possible. Time stretches, limitless and inviting. "Have a seat, Beauty, and I'll start a fire to warm us up." I'm not sure I need much more warmth. Meeting Kodi already lit a fire deep inside me.

As Kodi starts a fire, I settle onto a plush couch, watching the flames catch and dance. The large flat-screen TV mounted elegantly above the fireplace serves as a focal point in the room, seamlessly blending contemporary technology with the warm, rustic ambiance of the cabin.

Outside, the woods whisper and beckon, but for now, this moment with Kodi by the fire is exactly where I belong. The outside world, and the fear of my unknown stalker, fade away as I realize I totally trust my mate.

Here, in the heart of the enchanted woods, surrounded by mystery and beauty, I can already tell that magical things are about to happen.

At some point, the excitement from the day catches up with me and I fall asleep on the sofa. I'm having the most delicious dream involving a hot bear shifter when I feel a soft kiss at the base of my throat. My eyes pop open and I find myself staring into the flashing green eyes I was just dreaming about. "Wake up, Beauty." He places a soft kiss on the tip of my nose. "I'm going to stick a casserole in the oven for our dinner, and then I'll show you around." Kodi's words remind me how hungry I am.

"Sounds great." I drag myself off the most comfortable sofa I've ever sat on and stretch a little, hoping to work out all the travel kinks. "What can I do to help?"

"Not a thing." His friendly smile looks almost predatory. Oh my. My Bossy Bear looks like he'd like to eat me for dinner. And I'm not complaining at all.

I follow him into the gorgeous kitchen and gasp, "This is my dream kitchen."

"I'm glad you like it, Beauty." He looks over his shoulder and smiles as he grabs a casserole out of the matte black refrigerator.

‘Like' is an understatement. I glance around at the top-of-the-line appliances integrated perfectly into hardwood cabinets. There's a large central island featuring an induction cooktop with a downward-draft hood. Oh, man. I can picture myself making Sunday pancake breakfasts on the fancy stove.

"All windows and doors in the cabin are fitted with advanced security sensors and locks that can be controlled via a central smart home system," Kodi tells me as he places the aluminum foil-covered casserole dish in the large oven built into the wall next to the refrigerator.

"I know you'll keep me safe." That's one of the first things I learned when my sister found her wolf shifter mate. Shifters take their mate's safety very seriously.