Chapter 5

After following Boyd to the house in the woods, Lydia and Cailín scoped out the area and found a secluded spot to park when they came back later to spy on the house. They were on their way to the lodge when Jasper called to tell Cailín that Trevor and Haylee had been in a car wreck, and both were in the hospital. Lydia offered to go back to Atlanta with her, but Cailín assured her that even though her dad wanted her home, neither were in critical condition. Cailín convinced Lydia to stay in Alaska and continue their mission, promising to come back as soon as possible. Flights from Sterling to Anchorage hadn't been available until much later, so Lydia drove Cailín to the larger city. By the time she got back to Sterling, Lydia was a mess. All that time spent driving alone meant she had nothing to do but think. The radio became background noise as she remembered Tinsley. As she thought about Beck. As she wondered why she was in Alaska instead of Tabitha. As she considered calling Carleigh and having her find Beck's address. As she contemplated why that particular male intrigued her so.

When she entered her cottage, Lydia tossed her purse down on the table and went to the fridge for a beer. After downing it quickly, she reached for another, but put it back. Needing to do something constructive instead of drinking, she opened her laptop to work. When twenty minutes passed without accomplishing anything, she got to her feet. Instead of sitting around waiting on Carleigh to call with more information, Lydia headed out to spy on Boyd. She wasn't prepared for what she found.

Now here she was, stomping through the woods to get back to the rental so she could call her cousin. Letting go of a branch, it snagged on her hood and sent her to her ass. "Sonofabitch." Lydia shook it off and climbed to her feet, wiping her hands on her jeans. Paying better attention to the branches, she didn't notice the large rock before it was too late. Lydia pitched forward, but strong arms caught her before she could faceplant. Thinking Boyd had caught up with her, Lydia grabbed at the male with her clawed hand and shoved her dagger against his throat. Only it wasn't Boyd.

"Beck?" Oh, shit. She retracted her claws, praying he hadn't noticed them, but how else would she explain the slashes in his jacket? Lydia took a step back but kept the dagger between them.

"What are you doing out here?" he demanded, his blue eyes icy in the dark.

"Me? What are you doing out here? Are you following me?" The first rule of engagement was evade the question and deny everything. At least it sounded like it should be rule number one.

"That would be hard to do considering I've flown to Kodiak and Katmai today." Beck glanced down at her hands, then to his jacket, and back at her hands with narrowed eyes. "Are you working with Boyd? Was that little fall you had this afternoon a distraction so he could get away?" Beck growled. Considering what she witnessed at the house through the woods, she wouldn't be surprised if he had his own beast inside. Lydia had to tread carefully. She was a Gargoyle, but she was no match for a bear that was almost twice as tall as she was and weighed more than a thousand pounds.

Lydia swallowed hard. The nausea was back, but she chalked it up to the adrenaline coursing through her body. "Absolutely not. I swear to you on all that's holy I don't know the male. Cailín and I were driving to Sterling when he ran us off the road. That pissed my friend off, so she followed him, but before we could confront him, Cailín was called home because her papa and sister were in a wreck."

"And you decided to confront a stranger on your own? Stalking him through the woods with only a dagger to defend yourself?" Was that worry in his voice?

Lydia wasn't about to admit she could have more than a dagger if she needed it, but if Boyd came through the woods, she wouldn't hesitate to call on the big guns. Or swords since guns were illegal. She wiggled the dagger. "I can defend myself."

Beck gestured at his jacket. "I can see that." He sniffed the air. "What are you, and don't lie to me. I saw the claws."

"You first. Are you the same as Boyd?" Lydia had come to Alaska seeking shifters, and she'd found at least one, two possibly if Beck was also one. And if he was, then his mom and sisters were too.

"You saw… him?"

"Yep. All ten feet and a ton."

"No wonder you were running for your life."

Lydia huffed. "I wouldn't say I was running."

Beck smirked. "I am the same in that regard, but there are plenty of differences between us. He isn't ten feet tall, but I am. And he's a rat bastard."

"Wow. That's…"

Sexy is what he is. And a shifter! Wow, our mate is a polar bear.

Mate? What the hell are you going on about?

Why else do you think you felt like puking when we met him? Have you learned nothing from listening to the others?

"Oh, fuck me running." Lydia grabbed her head with her free hand. How had she not seen that?

"Excuse me?"

"Uh, oh, nothing. I was talking to myself. I think I'll go now." Before I throw up on your feet . "It's late, and I've had a long day."

We're not leaving. We just found him.

You aren't in charge, and we need to get out of the freakin' woods.

Beck laughed, and it was deep like his voice. "Talking to yourself? Really? You didn't tell me what you are. You aren't like me, that's for sure."

Lydia lowered her hand and placed it on her hip. "And how do you know that?"

"I know everyone like me in a two-hundred-mile radius, and your accent is wrong."

"I don't have an accent." She so did. "Okay, I do, but it isn't wrong. You know what? Screw this." Lydia turned. "Mate my ass," she muttered.

Beck grabbed her arm before she could take a step. "What the hell did you just say?"

Lydia whirled on him, blade once again at his throat. "Hands off."

Beck released her and put both hands in the air, stepping back. "Sorry, but I could have sworn you said something about a mate."

Lydia studied his face. Sawyer Beckett was gorgeous. And tall. And she wanted to bathe in his cool aroma. She mentally shook herself. "Why are you after Boyd?"

Beck's lips tilted a smidge. "I thought you were leaving?"

Lydia wanted to see his full smile, and she didn't really want to leave. "I guess my curiosity is stronger than the urge to go. So?"

Beck stared without speaking for a few seconds. He nodded once, as if deciding he could trust her. "That is a long story, and I'd rather not tell it this close to where he's staying. Can we go somewhere to talk?"

Absolutely.

Are you purring? Goyles don't purr.

We do in the presence of our mate. He's yummy. Take him to the lodge.

You're a hussy. You know that?

"Lydia?"

"Sorry. My, uh, other half was putting in her two cents. Where would you suggest we go? I don't know the area well."

"Where are you staying? Could we go there?"

"I'm at the Wilton Lodge. Do you know it?"

"Can't say that I do. I've never ventured into Sterling before tonight, but if it's okay with you, I'll follow you there." Beck held up a hand. "I promise to be on my best behavior."

If Lydia wanted to get to know her mate, now was as good a time as any to get started. If he truly was her fated mate, which all indications said he was, then he wouldn't hurt her. "Okay."

Beck smiled, and it was glorious. "Are you feeling better?" he asked as they headed toward their vehicles.

"That, too, is a long story, but I promise to tell you when we're at the lodge."

"You're not pregnant, are you? I can only handle one female with child in my life."

Lydia stopped and turned to face Beck. "You got someone pregnant?"

"What? Oh. No, I'm talking about my sister. I, uh, I'm not dating anyone." Beck walked in front, pushing limbs out of the way ensuring she didn't get smacked in the head. It was a sweet gesture.

"That's good, and no, I'm not pregnant. I'm not dating anyone either." Lydia thanked the gods for that small favor. She had gone out with a few humans over the years. She'd even slept with a couple because females had needs too, dammit, but knowing she had a fated mate in the world made relationships impossible. When they reached the edge of the woods, Lydia turned right. "I'm parked up there." She pointed to where she'd hidden her rental.

"I'll escort you, if that's okay." Beck eyed the dagger, but Lydia wasn't returning it to her wrist yet. She wrapped her free hand around his massive bicep, and his mouth twitched again. She'd known Beck was strong when he lifted her easily, and if he was a polar bear shifter, that made sense. It also explained why he had moved from BC to Alaska. She couldn't imagine him living in the South. A shifter such as himself wouldn't want to move somewhere warm. Lydia stumbled at that realization. Beck steadied Lydia, and she shot him a thankful smile even though her heart hurt. Could she live thousands of miles away from her family?

She let go of his arm and removed the key fob from her pocket. When she beeped the lock, Beck opened the door for her. "How far is the lodge?"

"About ten miles."

Beck pushed her hair off her shoulder before stepping back. "I'll see you there." Once Lydia was seated, he closed the door and waited for her to start the engine. Only then did he walk back the way they'd come. Lydia watched him in the side mirror, admiring the way his jeans hugged his thick legs.

"Dayum." Grinning, she whispered the words that returned the dagger to her arm. Lydia pulled away from the shoulder and did a three-point turn. Beck's truck had seen better days, and that had her thinking of his living conditions. Was he well-off, or did he struggle? Lydia had enough money for both of them plus any kids they might have. She came into a sizeable trust upon turning eighteen, and that money was invested by her cousin Deklan. Dek had learned all about investing from Michael "Sixx" Gentry who happened to be Desmond Rothchild's father.

Lydia stopped at the end of the road until Beck's headlights shone in her rearview. She turned left and followed the directions back to the lodge. Her palms sweated against the steering wheel thinking about being alone with Beck. Did polar bear shifters have fated mates? And if not, would he accept that he was hers? She wanted to call Carleigh and tell her about Beck, but it was only five on the East Coast. No, she would wait until after they talked to fill her cousin in. The drive was quick and slow at the same time, and when she parked outside her small cottage, her heart was beating double-time. Beck angled out of his truck and walked around to open her door. She hadn't been waiting on him to do so. She was trying to calm down. With the door open, she had no choice but to get out. Beck held out his hand, and Lydia grabbed her purse off the passenger seat, then placed her free hand in his large palm, warmth spreading through her at the contact. Her Goyle was purring again.

Lydia didn't turn loose. She kept a tight grip on her mate as she led him down the short sidewalk. Only when she reached the door did she let go so she could dig the keycard out of her bag. Once inside, she flipped on the overhead light. Before leaving, Lydia had left a couple of lamps on, but with Beck in the room, she wanted him illuminated so she could take in every single feature of the male. She tossed her purse and the key on the dresser.

"Would you like a drink? I have beer, soda, and water."

"Whatever you're having is fine." Beck removed his jacket and touched the gouge marks. Lydia would buy him a new one to make up for it. He tossed the garment on the back of a chair as he looked around the cottage. It had a small kitchen and living room with two bedrooms. She and Cailín had chosen the cottage instead of a regular room since they didn't know how long they'd be staying. With a full kitchen, they'd gone shopping so they could cook instead of eating out all the time.

Lydia grabbed two beers and popped the top off both. When she handed his over, Beck wrapped his fingers around hers before sliding them up to the neck of the bottle. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. Want to sit over here?" Lydia didn't wait for him to answer. She took a seat at one end of the sofa and angled toward the other end. Beck eased his large body down and faced her.

"So…?"

Lydia took a deep pull off the cold brew. "Where should we start?"

Beck pointed the bottle at her. "How about you tell me what you are before we get into the fuckery that is Boyd."

"I'm a Gargoyle." When Beck ran his eyes down her body, Lydia already knew the question on his mind. It was the same one everyone had who found out about their species. "No, I'm not made of stone, although that is my last name. Our kind has been around since forever. The gods created us to watch over humans. Both genders have fangs and claws, but only the males have wings and impenetrable skin, which I find totally unfair. We have a lifespan of roughly a thousand years unless we're killed or choose to cross over."

"You can't die by natural causes?"

"The females can, although it's not likely." Lydia decided to rip the band-aid off. "Do, uh, polar bear shifters have fated mates?"

"No. We choose who we want to be with, and unless we share a claiming bite called the Ursina bond, it's more like human relationships. We can leave them if we get tired of them or they no longer prove useful."

"That sounds…" Lydia didn't know what to think. If he got tired of her, would he toss her aside?

"Sad? It is for those who see it that way. Like my mother." Beck downed his beer and set the empty on the floor. Lydia jumped up and went to retrieve him another. Maybe she should break out the tequila. As fast as he was going through the beer, she would run out within an hour. Instead of getting one, she opened the cabinet and found the ice bucket she noticed earlier in the day. After filling it with ice from the freezer, she added as many bottles as she could fit, then carried them back to the living area. She placed the bucket on the floor between them and opened one before handing it to Beck.

"Sad is a good way to put it. Gargoyles do have fated mates. When we find them, the substance in our claiming bite releases into our mate, passing along our lifespan. We aren't linked by death. If one of us were to die, the mate wouldn't also, but they can choose to do so by willing it. When Goyles find their mate, it's like no one else exists. There is such a strong connection that they can feel everything the other feels. Sometimes they can mind speak."

"That sounds wonderful. How do you know when you've found your mate?"

Lydia rolled her bottle between her hands letting the cold bolster her courage. "You get nauseated for no good reason."

The bottle froze inches from Beck's mouth. "That's why you felt sick this morning?"

"Yes. My beast tried to tell me it was that and not what I ate for lunch, but I wasn't listening."

Beck stood and paced the small room. "Lydia, Boyd isn't a good man. He's—"

"Wait. You think Boyd is my mate?"

Beck stopped and glared at her. "He bumped into you. Knocked you down. Is that why you went to see him?"

"Boyd is not my mate, Beck. There's a reason Cailín and I came to Sterling, but Boyd wasn't it. Or at least he wasn't until we followed him to that house. That too is a long story, but first things first. He isn't my mate; you are."

"Me? But I'm… Are you sure?" he whispered.

"I'm positive. My stomach is churning again, but in a good way."

"That's… I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything. If it's something you don't want, I'll respect your wishes. If you need time to think about it, I can give you that. You have a choice in the matter. Just because it's a done deal for me doesn't mean it is for you."

Beck returned to the sofa, placed his bottle in the bucket, then took hers and did the same. He grabbed both her hands in his. "Is that why you smell like sunshine on the snow?"

Lydia smiled. "Yes. And to me, you smell like snow on pine trees."

"I'm going to kiss you now, if that's okay?"

Lydia's heart skipped a few beats before speeding like a hummingbird on Hive. When she nodded, Beck placed his hand behind her neck and gently guided her head to his. The first brush of lips was tentative. Testing. The second was firmer. The third? Holy gods, when he licked at her lips, Lydia parted them, and the taste of his tongue was mixed with beer and something spicy beneath mint. She wanted more of it. More of him. Lydia kept their tongues engaged while pushing on his shoulders, encouraging him to lie back. She stretched out on top of his hard body, her chest pressed against his. Her beast was doing high kicks and cheering, encouraging her to take what she wanted. Beck's hands slid up her body, settling at her waist. It took a few seconds for her to realize he wasn't squeezing or caressing. He was pushing. Lydia broke the kiss and raised up.

"Lydia, I'm—"

"No. I'm sorry." With her cheeks heated, she rushed to the bathroom and closed the door.