Chapter 1

1

Gideon Blackwood squinted in the bright afternoon sun. He lifted his hands to shield his eyes. Even after a year of being back home in Moonridge Mountains, he still wasn't used to operating in daylight. Ten years in the Shifter Special Forces had kept him moving stealthily under the cover of night. One thing he had missed, though, was the crisp mountain air.

He inhaled deeply, taking in the scents of his cubhood. The air was tinged with the scent of wood smoke and pine, mixed with the faint aroma of spiced cider. His senses were on high alert, as always, but today they carried a different weight.

The mountain town bustled with activity as the townsfolk prepared for the monthly full moon festival. Lanterns adorned with intricate designs of wolves and moons were strung across the streets, ready to cast shadows on the cobblestones once the sun set. Stalls selling moon-shaped pastries and trinkets lined the pathways, filling the air with the mingling scents of freshly baked goods. Children laughed as they chased each other, their faces painted with stars and celestial patterns. Musicians tuned their instruments, ready to play melodies that would serenade the festival-goers under the moonlit sky.

Gideon adjusted the collar of his leather jacket, feeling the familiar roughness against his skin. Every full moon festival for the past two decades had been a disappointment, each one passing without him finding his fated mate. He had given up on the idea, resigning himself to the belief that perhaps he was meant to walk his path alone.

Beside him, Rylan, the Alpha of their pack, matched his pace. Rylan's broad shoulders and towering presence were an imposing sight, a reminder of the strength and unity of the Ironwood wolf pack. Yet even Rylan's usual confident demeanor radiated with irritation today. Gideon felt the tension rolling off the Alpha in waves.

"Damn festival," Rylan muttered, running a hand through his dark hair. "Every month, it's the same chaos."

"Are you sure about this arranged marriage?" asked Gideon.

"I'm surprised you of all people would ask me that. Neither one of us has sensed our fated mates all these years. Let's face it. We're not of the chosen who will get that honor."

Rylan called it an honor. Gideon called it a curse. What woman would want to be shackled to a wolf that was scarred inside and out? Rylan's time in the military had honed him into a leader. It had made Gideon into a deadly weapon that many inside his unit were wary of.

"There's Micah Vance," said Rylan. "I need to go and finish the details of this contract with him before the festival begins."

"You sure?"

"The union between the Sequoia pack and ours will strengthen our borders."

Not that the Ironwood pack's borders needed any strengthening. With more than half of the males and a fair number of the women in the pack having done a stint in the armed forces, there were few who would sniff around these parts. Even the dragons gave the wolves of Moonridge Mountain a wide berth.

"Better I use my position to our advantage than keep sniffing around for a mate who might never come. You good to meet with the architect for the new build on your own?"

In addition to their borders being secure, they were also expanding. Rylan had put Gideon in charge of developing acres of untouched land for their growing pack. Gideon had studied construction in school, but he knew his friend had assigned him the work to get him out of his lonely cabin. If Gideon had said no, his Alpha would've simply ordered him to do the job. So the nod he gave Rylan was perfunctory.

"His name is Maize Mercer."

Weird name. Not that Gideon was one to talk. But at least his parents hadn't named him after corn.

Rylan took a left while Gideon took a right down the main street. As Gideon walked down the bustling sidewalk, the festive atmosphere only served to heighten his annoyance. The decorations were a reminder of the festival's significance and the expectations that came with it. Said heightened senses picked up snippets of excited chatter about fated mates, a topic that now felt like salt in a wound.

Gideon reached the town square, where a large gazebo had been set up, draped in silver and blue fabrics that shimmered under the sun's rays. His eyes scanned the area, searching for the architect Rylan had hired. His gaze settled on a petite woman with chestnut hair pulled back into a loose bun, studying blueprints spread out on a table. This must be Mr. Mercer's assistant.

He walked up to her. The wind shifted, lifting the strands of her hair from the nape of her neck. That slight breeze was all it took. It was like a hit in the chest.

Gideon's heart came to a complete stop. It would've been painful if he hadn't known what was happening. The draw to her was unavoidable. He couldn't have stopped his boot-clad feet if he'd dug a hole where he stood. There was no way he wasn't going to get to her, get beside her, get on top of her.

That pulled him up short. That, and the fact that she smelled human. Humans didn't feel the pull of the mating bond. Not at first. It took until the moon was at its peak before a human might get a whiff of the bond. That is, if he didn't spook her away before the sun set.

"Excuse you?"

Gideon blinked once, twice. He was standing in front of her. His boots met the tips of her ballet-like slippered shoes. He was taking up all of her space. And she wasn't backing down.

"I'm sorry," he said. But he didn't take a step back. He couldn't.

She looked him up and down, like she was a riled kitty who was about to scratch. His lips wanted to quirk up into a smile. Problem was his muscles had forgotten how.

"I'm here for you," he said.

"You're here for me?"

"I'm here for your boss; Mr. Mercer."

She tugged on her lower lip. The move was tinged with annoyance, but it rang in Gideon's head like a seductive bell. He felt the reverb down in his pants.

"I'm Maize Mercer. You're Mr. Stone?"

"No."

Maize sighed with relief. "Good. I thought I was going to have to deal with a misogynist on this project."

"You will. I mean—you'll have to deal with me. I'm Gideon. Blackwood. I'm the foreman."

Maize inhaled, giving him another once-over. "Do you have a problem with women in charge, Mr. Blackwood?"

That was a loaded question. This woman was already in charge of him. He would lay down his life for her. But just as he suspected, she was frowning at him. She would likely reject him. Humans could do that. Especially if a wolf couldn't get them to bond before the full moon phase was over.

"Actually, Mr. Blackwood, it doesn't matter. Just keep your sexist BS to yourself, and we'll be fine. I'm here to do a job."

Great. He'd met his fated mate, and she thought he was a chauvinist. Could this day get any worse?