Chapter 2

The hair on Sawyer Beckett's neck bristled, and it had nothing to do with the harsh breeze coming off the water. He slowed his steps down the gangplank and scanned the people moving along the sidewalk. Groups of tourists stood together in the early morning, and familiar vendors strode to their businesses. He chalked his uneasiness up to the earlier cryptic message from his longtime friend and packmate, Dooley Moore, but he didn't have time to linger. Beck continued to where his passengers waited. The two biologists, both huddled in their thick parkas, were traveling from Seward, where Sagan Adventures called home, to the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge. He loaded their bags and equipment in the back of his Cessna Caravan seaplane. Sagan Adventures was a small family business, owned by his mother, Amara, and two sisters, Chloe and Delaney. Beck was given a wage and ten percent of the profits, but his name wasn't on the deed. They had two seaplanes and one helicopter, but those were enough to keep the money rolling in. Beck and Chloe were pilots, while Delaney ran the office. Their mother had other responsibilities, namely leading their pack of polar bear shifters.

When they first moved from British Columbia to Alaska, the four of them became US citizens while scoping out the best place for their business. His and Chloe's pilot licenses transferred from Canada to the US, so that was one thing they didn't have to worry about. Amara wouldn't commit to opening a business until their citizenship paperwork was official, so while they waited, Beck flew part time with other companies. Once they opened their doors, their outfit worked primarily with cruise lines, offering excursions. Now, ten years later, most of their customers leaned toward rich people who paid a hefty price to have an arctic adventure.

Beck was loading the last of the equipment when his radio squawked. Straightening to his full six-foot-four height, he pulled the radio off his hip. "Go ahead, Laney."

"Have you talked to Mom today?" Delaney was the oldest sister at thirty-four. She was also next in line to lead their pack since polar bear shifters were a matriarchal society, thus him not being a partner in the business.

"No, but you know that isn't unusual." Beck was loyal to Amara, but he was last in the pecking order of importance, even though he was the eldest sibling.

"I'm worried, Beck. Chloe hasn't heard from her either."

Beck rubbed the back of his neck. That was unusual. Amara didn't micromanage the business, but she spoke to both his sisters every morning, then again, several times throughout the day. Remembering Dooley's words, Beck worried there was more to their mother's silence.

"After I make this run out to Kodiak, I'll go by her house."

"Chloe's already been by there. I've got a bad feeling."

Beck did as well, but until he talked to Dooley, he wouldn't worry his sister more. "Don't go borrowing trouble yet, Laney. You know Amara can handle herself." Beck should have saved his breath. His mother was a badass, but there was always someone stronger. More determined. He knew this, and Delaney did as well. It was the reason they left British Columbia. The reason they chose southern Alaska instead of moving to an eastern province of their home country. That and the fact that Chloe and Delaney's father was a conniving dickhead. Amara had led their pack for almost a century when the girls' father found a younger, stronger female he convinced to take over the pack. In their world, the Queen could be challenged at any time. Depending on the challenger, it was either a fight to the death, or if the winner wasn't blood-thirsty, she could spare the loser's life. Valerie allowed Amara to leave British Columbia, taking her offspring with her.

Beck was glad he had a different father and had been given the male's last name. Beck loved his papa fiercely, but staying close to him hadn't been an option when Amara moved their family. He tried to convince Corbin to come with them, but his dad's pride prevented him from following Amara.

"I know, but still…" Beck could imagine his oldest sister chewing her bottom lip.

"I need to get my passengers boarded. I'll check in when I get back. Over and out." Beck hooked the radio to his belt, then climbed down out of the plane. Maybe this was what Dooley wanted to talk to him about. He'd find out soon enough since his hacker buddy asked Beck to stop by after unloading his passengers. Beck put on a professional, friendly smile while escorting the biologists to their seats. He made the necessary small talk before giving out the safety instructions, regardless of whether they'd flown before. Beck took his seat in the cockpit, made his pre-flight checks, and as soon as he was cleared, he maneuvered away from the dock and taxied out into open water before easing the plane into the air. There were no commercial flights from Seward. You either drove to the Anchorage airport, which took four hours, or chartered a small plane. Those with money could fly direct and be in Kodiak in a fourth of the time.

While Chloe loved chatting with customers through the headsets, Beck preferred the solitude of flying the seaplane with only his thoughts as company over the hum of the engine. Lately, though, Beck's thoughts were riddled with walking away from Sagan Adventures and heading east. His bear was restless in a way it had never been. As shifters, their lives were long, sometimes reaching into six centuries. At thirty-six, Beck shouldn't have wanderlust, but something was agitating his other half. It might be that they spent a lot of time in the air, and his bear wanted its paws on the ground. To meander through snowy fields or splash in the frigid fjords catching fish. If Beck wasn't the son of the Empress, he wouldn't have moved from Canada.

The biologists had been content to talk amongst themselves, which he was thankful for. As soon as he had them unloaded, at the harbor, Beck accompanied them to where they would catch a rideshare to the wildlife refuge. After Beck ordered his own ride, he texted Dooley to let him know he was on his way. If anyone had a pulse on shifter business, it was his buddy. Dooley was the only polar bear shifter Beck knew who hated the outdoors. He preferred his man cave where he spent at least sixteen hours a day scouring the internet, dark and otherwise.

Beck thanked the driver before climbing out of the backseat. The front door opened before he had taken two steps, and Dooley's mate, Kennedy, stuck her head out. Beck made his way onto the porch, and when he reached the door, Kennedy stepped back, allowing him to pass.

"Hey, Beck. You want some coffee?"

"I'd love a cup."

"Dooley's in the cave. Head on down, and I'll bring your coffee as soon as it finishes brewing."

"Thanks, Kennedy." Dooley had won the lottery when he found his mate. The female was whip smart, and she cooked like a dream.

"What's doing, Beckett?" Dooley asked in his deep bass as soon as Beck's feet hit the bottom step. He'd hung out more times than he could remember in the basement with his friend.

"You tell me." Beck took one of the recliners facing the wrap-around desk where Dooley worked.

His friend scrubbed a hand down his face and sighed. "You know I've kept an eye on everything happening in BC ever since we moved. Until a couple weeks ago, there wasn't anything, then I noticed some weird chatter. At first, it didn't make sense because it was in code, but the more I played with it…" Dooley angled his head to the side and kept quiet as Kennedy descended the stairs. She brought Beck his coffee, handed Dooley an energy drink, kissed her mate on the temple, then retreated upstairs. Dooley popped the top on the can and took a long swig. Beck sipped his hot brew while waiting.

"It seems there's dissension among Valerie's ranks, namely with Boyd. Just like Amara kicked your dad to the curb once you were born, Valerie has done the same to Boyd since he's failed to give her any female offspring."

"What does that have to do with us?"

"Back to the weird code. It said, ‘It would impress me if we could shift her around.' Normally, that wouldn't raise an alarm—"

"But my mother is the only queen we know of who uses Empress as her title."

Dooley jabbed a finger in the air. "Bingo."

Beck downed the rest of the coffee and cradled the cup between his hands. "Amara hasn't checked in with the girls today, and they're worried."

Dooley whistled low. "The Empress is missing?"

"I wouldn't go that far, but it isn't like her to be radio silent. However, I had a weird vibe earlier at the dock. I chalked it up to your cryptic message. Now I'm not so sure."

"Besides trying to figure out where these messages are coming from and to whom they're being sent, I'll do some ‘snooping' with the cameras around the dock. See if I come up with anything."

Beck ordered a rideshare before standing. He reached out a hand to Dooley. "And I'll let you know as soon as we hear from Amara."

Dooley clasped Beck's hand. "Kennedy made you some cookies."

"I can cook, you know."

Dooley grinned. "But can you make honey and caramel, double fudge cookies as good as she can?"

"I don't even try. Why would I when she keeps me stocked up?"

"Yeah, well, when you find your mate, Kennedy will share the recipe. Until then, she'll keep on making them."

"And I appreciate that. I've got to head back and load up."

"Watch your back, my friend."

Beck inclined his head and turned toward the stairs. As he climbed, Beck rubbed his chest over his heart, the same way he did every time Dooley mentioned Beck finding his mate. He thought he might have found the one back in BC, but when it came time to move, Heather refused. She said if Beck loved her, he would stay. If she had been the right one, she would have understood he was honor bound to protect his mother and gone with him. Beck knew every available female bear in a two-hundred-mile radius, and none of them had caused a stir with his beast; then again, neither had Heather. Beck was ready to settle down and have a few cubs of his own, but he wouldn't do that until he found the one who lit him up from the inside. Maybe that was the reason his shifter was getting restless. Granted, he was only thirty-six and had hundreds of years ahead of him, but he wanted those years to be spent with his perfect someone at his side.

Beck stopped off in the kitchen where Kennedy was stirring something in a large silver bowl. She pointed to a bakery box with her free hand. After placing his empty mug in the sink, he grabbed his stash. "Thank you, Kennedy."

"You're welcome. Tell your sisters hello for me."

"Will do." Beck saw himself out. Once back at the dock, he stowed the package in the plane. Since he still had a few minutes to spare, he made his way to a small café while he waited for the passengers returning to Seward. He was greeted by the older Inuit woman behind the counter who was already pouring his coffee by the time he sat on a stool. "Good morning, Lusa."

"Sawyer." Lusa refused to call him Beck. She held the coffee pot aloft, angling her head to the side. "Looking pensive this morning."

He gave her his most charming smile. "Is that better?"

Lusa rolled her dark eyes. "Only if you mean it. Do you have time for breakfast, or is this a coffee only visit?"

"Coffee only." He pulled the white mug closer and stared into the dark liquid as she walked away to serve another customer. Beck had time to eat, but he didn't want to linger long enough for Lusa to pry into his doldrums. He couldn't tell her the truth. He wouldn't share with her, even if he were able. If Beck told her he wanted a female in his life, she'd try to set him up with one of her daughters or nieces. While they were all nice women, Beck didn't date humans. He wasn't speciesist, but he was holding out for a shifter whose lifespan would match his.

Beck finished his coffee, placed a ten on the counter under the empty mug, and slid out the door while Lusa was at the other end of the counter. He made his way back to the Caravan for the return trip. The two couples he transported felt the need to regale him with every aspect of their time in Kodiak, taking his mind off both his mother and thoughts of a mate. After unloading their luggage and saying farewell to the customers, Beck refueled and checked over the plane before heading to the building that housed their office. He had a few hours before his next flight, so he might as well check in with Delaney. Just as he reached the door, it slammed open, and a familiar face rushed out.

"Boyd!" The male ignored Beck. The girls' father being in Seward couldn't be a good thing, especially after what Dooley had found out. The male was nothing but trouble, and Beck took off after him. It wasn't hard to keep sight of him considering he was as tall as Beck. Foot traffic was heavy, but people stepped out of the way for the imposing figure. That is until Boyd turned to look over his shoulder and crashed into a young woman. Boyd kept going, but Beck paused long enough to make sure the brunette wasn't injured.

Soulful blue eyes stared up at Beck, and his bear rumbled for the first time because of a female. He made the mistake of inhaling her scent. She smelled divine, like sunshine after a hard snow, but Beck wouldn't go there, no matter what his other half wanted.