Chapter One

Everett Brice stepped carefully over a felled log and sniffed the air. He'd been tracking a rabid mountain lion for over an hour. The damn cat had gotten into Old Man Pritchard's goat pen, and all the survivors had to be put down. He couldn't allow the cat to hurt anyone or any other animal. He studied the ground again, easily picking up the tracks once more. The deeper he went into the forest, the more his wolf senses were able to smell. Town living tended to interfere too much with his nose.

A branch cracked somewhere off to his right, and he turned, studying the foliage all around. Nothing caught his eye, but a small whimper had him pausing. That was a human noise. A hiker? Little late in the year from them, but he hoped the damn hiker was able to hobble out of the woods.

A mysterious scent came with the wind. Something sweet. Chocolate with hints of spice. Mouthwatering. It stopped him in his tracks and made his heart pound. Made him salivate, and his cock got unbelievably hard. What the fuck was happening to him? Another whimper whispered through the brush, and suddenly a scream pierced the air with an answering screech of a cat. Everett took off, running as fast as he was able through the underbrush. He pushed into a clearing and saw a female on the ground, holding her ankle, and the damn rabid cat stalking closer. The woman didn't even notice as he took aim with his gun and fired just as the mountain lion pounced. The bullet tore through the beast's head, stopping him instantly. The body flopped down next to her and she scrambled away as best she could.

The sweet scent once more invaded his senses. It didn't take Everett long to realize it was the woman who smelled like spicy chocolate. It made his wolf pace restlessly, wanting to be free. Urging him to mate her.

Wait. Mate?

His gaze collided with wide brown eyes, and his wolf suddenly pushed to the front in his head. Wanting her. Craving her. He took a step back, not sure what was going on with his wolf. He'd never acted like this before.

The woman had wild strawberry red hair curling all around her shoulders. Freckles danced across the bridge of her nose and dusted over her cheeks. Her clothes seemed a little too big for her delicate frame. A backpack was slung over her shoulders. Fear and pain blanketed her features. Luckily, his sanity returned and he held up his hands.

"I'm not going to hurt you," he reassured. "I was tracking that rabid cat. Did it bite you?"

She shook her head. "I-I'm Brinnah," she said, stuttering a little. "I was running from that animal when I tripped and hurt my ankle."

"My name is Everett Brice. May I approach?"

Hesitating for only a moment, a grimace of pain crossed her face and she nodded.

He wanted to scoop her up and move her away from the carcass of the rabid cat, but he doubted that would put any of her fear aside. Slowly, he made his way to her, keeping his hands up to show he wasn't planning anything. When he reached her, he squatted beside her.

"Can I touch your ankle?"

"Why?" she asked, looking a little panicked.

"I need to know how bad it is."

She bit her bottom lip. "Okay."

Everett gently picked up her foot and carefully rotated it. She winced but he didn't feel any broken bones

"I think it's just twisted, but you shouldn't walk on it. Can you shift?"

Her gaze turned downward. "I'm only an omega."

He placed a finger under her chin to bring her gaze back up to his. "What does that mean?"

Her dark eyes widened. "It means … I'm … don't you know what omegas are?"

"Yes, I'm familiar with the archaic rung of hierarchy, but that doesn't explain why you can't shift."

"Because I must have permission."

"What? Says who?"

She blinked, then tilted her head a little as she studied him. Slowly, she reached up to move his hair and run a finger over the top of his ear. Just the tiny touch had him burning, and that delicious scent once more tickled his nose.

"Are you a shifter?" she asked.

"Yes. Why?"

"You don't look like one."

He grinned. "And what does a shifter look like?"

She pulled her hair up and turned her head, and he saw the top of her ear. It was triangular shaped, taking on a cupped look, instead of round like a normal human. Tufts of short, fine fur at the top of her ear were the same color as her hair.

He reached up to touch the tip. "Why are your ears like this?"

"Because I'm a shifter."

"I've never seen ears like this on any shifter," he said. "But they're really cute."

"I thought we were all the same." Her confusion was genuine. "Everyone in my pack has ears like mine."

"Where is your pack located?"

"Um, I'd rather not say."

"Why not?"

"I don't want you to send me back."

The words broke his heart a little. "You won't get sent back to a place you don't want to be. I can take you to my alpha and you can ask for asylum."

Hope flared in the dark depths of her eyes. "Yes, please. Am I in Sheridan? I thought I was getting close."

"Yes, you are."

Excitement made her ears twitch. "I'm here looking for a woman named Esmeralda."

"The owner of the diner?"

A blank look came over her face. "I guess. I came here so she could help me find…" She suddenly clamped her lips shut.

"Find?"

"Someone. I was told Esmeralda would know where I could find her."

That was all sort of cryptic and confusing. He decided to move past that for now. She had secrets and he respected that, even though he didn't like it.

"All right. Well, we don't have rules like what you mentioned. The people in my pack shift whenever they want, as long as it's not in front of humans."

She bit her lip, clearly not sure what to do.

"Listen," he said. "With your permission, Ican carry you back. I'd like our healer to check your ankle out. That way you can wait to shift until you become a member of the Sheridan Pack."

"Thank you," she said demurely. "I hope I don't hurt you."

"Pfft," he sniffed. "You're, like, what, a hundred pounds soaking wet?"

Heat bloomed in her cheeks. "Okay, but put me down if I'm too heavy."

He bent and scooped her up, and she threw her arms around his neck to help steady herself. Her dark eyes were framed by thick lashes. He fought taking a deep whiff of her intoxicating scent because he didn't think that would go over too well, but man, it was tough.

"You're in luck," he said as he headed back to his truck. "Jericho's construction company just finished a new development for townhomes and single-family houses. I'm sure Payton can find you the perfect one."

"I don't need anything," she said softly. "I don't want to be a burden."

"You're not a burden."

"I-I can work," she said.

"Well, let's get you well first. Then we can think about what your dream job is."

He made it out of the forest and hiked the small path to his truck. Once there, he gently placed her down and instructed her to hold onto the side of his truck while he unlocked. Then he opened the door and helped her into the passenger seat. After shutting it, he hurried around to the driver's side and slid behind the wheel. Before he started the engine, he picked up his CB radio.

"Hey, Jake," he said into the mic.

There was a burst of static, and the other ranger, Jake, greeted him.

"Yeah," Jake said. "I'm here. Did you get the cat?"

"I did, but you're gonna have to come grab the carcass. We don't want any other animals eating the rabid meat."

"Where at?"

"Trace Rabbit Trail, marker two," he said. "About thirty yards into the tree line. I'm sure your nose can lead you the rest of the way."

"Yep. Hey, you coming to Benedict's tonight?"

Everett glanced at Brinnah, who had her head down. "Nah, not tonight. Got something else to do."

Brinnah jerked her head up to look at him. He winked at her and pink stole across the tops her cheeks. Damn, she was beautiful. He took another deep breath, breathing in her scent, and it suddenly hit him.

She was his moon-fated mate.

Holy. Shit.