CHAPTER 4
Koda
Walking away from the cabin, I feel an ache in my chest. I try to control it, but I can’t, so instead I will ignore it and try to carry out what I need to as fast as possible. I don't know what came over me when I kissed her. The things I felt. The need to bite her to show she belongs to me. Then she came, shocking me. I didn't know what to do. I panicked.
The longer I’m away from her, the more uneasy I feel, and it’s only been moments. I need to get back to her as soon as possible.
Taking off through the woods, I go towards the Denali home. I remember Alpha Stone talking about them one of the last times I went to have dinner with Winnie. He mentioned there were three wolf shifters living together hoping to find their mates. He never mentioned a human, so he must not have known about Snow.
Snow. Such a beautiful, perfect name for her. She’s named after something I love. It makes me think about hibernating and having her in my bed with me.
Now that she’s my mate, she’ll be the thing I love most. I'll take care of her.
The weather is taking a turn for the worst, so I speed up my running to get to the house faster. It would be easier to drive, but the roads are all unpaved out here. It’s all protected land, so it's either run or shift. And since I didn’t bring a change of clothes, I choose to run. Our shifters aren’t too worried about nudity, but going to see my sister naked isn’t something I’d like to do anytime soon.
When I get to the Denali cabin, I stand outside for a moment and listen for signs of someone being home. After just a second, I can tell that it’s empty, and I walk in the front door. Since this is protected land, no shifter would dare break in and steal anything. If they needed shelter, it would be provided, so most of the time cabins like this aren’t locked. Except mine.
Walking through the house, I can smell the scent of the three wolves and human that live here. The wolf scent is strong, so it covers most of Snow’s, but I scent my way to her room easily enough.
As a bear shifter, our sense of smell isn’t as sharp as other shifters, but I’m a male and I would know my mate’s scent anywhere. When I go into her room, I see that it’s tidy and simple. A small bed with just a few things around the room. Nothing is out of place, and it's all very clean. It makes me feel a bit sad that my home was so messy when she came in. When I get back I’ll clean because it looks like she would appreciate that.
I take a bag out of her closet and pack what few belongings she has. Everything in her room fits into a small suitcase, and it makes another pang of sadness hit me. I didn’t have much when I first came to Gray Ridge. I just had a small pack with things that kind shifters had given me along the way. I’d told them all I couldn’t stay and I was looking for my sister, and they all tried to help as best they could.
Seeing Snow’s suitcase and thinking that this is all she owns makes me wonder what her story is and how she came to live with a pack of wolves she calls brothers when she’s fully human.
When I go to exit the cabin, I leave the note on the table. Before I turn to go, I find a pen and write something at the bottom. Hopefully, it helps them understand what is happening.
I’m okay. Don’t worry, guys. I found my mate and he is going to keep me safe. I’ll check in soon. Love, Snow.
PS She is mated to Koda, brother of Winnie, who’s mated to Alpha Stone. I will protect Snow with my life.
Once I’m finished, I take her bag and leave, heading into the woods towards the Alpha’s home.
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