Page 21 of The Mating Quest
Ilana crept over to the bed’s other side, slid in between the covers and wriggled to the edge. He sighed, snapped off the light and shed the robe. “Good-nightMage.”
“Good night wolf,” she said in a small voice and as he lifted the sheet to slide nude into bed, added softly, “You’re not the only one who can see well in thedark.”
The grin didn’t leave his face until he finally fell asleep, dreaming of his wolf chasing a pretty Mage through a thick forest as starshine and moonlight shone down on themboth.
Chapter 7
Dawn was far too earlyto teleport through space and end up in a different time zone. Ilana sucked down a breath, quelling the nausea in her stomach and the dizziness as their group materialized outside a large wood building. Mountains ringed the valley, and she caught the scent of horses andpine.
And wolves. Plenty of wolves, furry, powerful wolves.Terrific.
“You okay?” Ethan gripped herarm.
“Give me a minute.” She leaned on the railing of the steps leading up to thebuilding.
His sisters didn’t seem affected. Then again, they were surrounded by their own kind, not what they considered the enemy. “Where arewe?”
Bright sunlight gleamed in Tristan’s black hair, picking out blue hues. “We’re at Aiden Mitchell’s ranch. This is the main building where Aiden lives with his mate, Nia, and theirdaughter.”
The front door opened and a big male stepped out. “Wizard.”
“Wolf,” Tristan said, not without affection. He nodded at the male. “This is your host, Aiden Mitchell, leader of the Mitchellpack.”
He made introductions and Aiden clambered down the stairs, greeting Ethan first as one alpha to another, and politely shook the sisters’ hands. Ilana tensed as the alpha approached her. His black-bearded face frowned as his nostrilsflared.
Scenting her, smelling the darkness upon her, the same darkness that caused Ethan and his Lupines to mistrust her, pull ranks against her. Not that she wasn’t used to this, especially with Lupines, who had a super sense ofsmell.
Not that she could even blame him. Alpha males were protective and suspicious of strangers bynature.
Lupines ran on instinct. One couldn’t ignore the instincts that guided your life, pulled you free from risky situations in the past. Saved yourbutt.
Tristan stepped forward, put a hand on her shoulder. “Ilana is a Mage, Aiden. She’s under the protection ofCaderyn.”
Still, the Lupine regarded her with narrowedeyes.
“And I claim responsibility for her while she’s on your territory,” Ethan said, locking his gaze to Aiden and touching her other shoulder. “I’m accountable for her actions, so treat her as you would one ofus.”
Had he punched the alpha, she couldn’t have been more surprised. Tristan championing her was one thing. He had to do it, for the goddess wanted her on this quest. ButEthan.
She shrugged off both wizard and Lupine’s touches. “I claim responsibility for myself and I have no intention of harming anyone on your turf…if they leave mealone.”
Finally Aiden nodded. “Verywell.”
But he didn’t welcome her as he had the others. She felt a faint twinge of regret. She should be used to this. At least every time it happened, it hurt a littleless.
“Our apologies for this early arrival, but Tristan insisted on arriving at dawn,” Ethansaid.
Aiden chuckled. “I run a ranch. We’re always up at dawn, and if we aren’t our daughter wakes us anyway. Come on inside and meet mymate.”
The inside of the lodge was large and impressive, with a crackling fire in the stone hearth and sofas and chairs arranged around it. Aiden drew forward an attractive woman and introduced her as Nia, hismate.
“Hi.” Nia was pretty, with big blue eyes, a wealth of blonde hair tied back in a ponytail. She wore khaki trousers, a pink flannel shirt and had a friendlyair.
Unlike her mate, she greeted everyone with a smile, and then headed directly to Ilana, vigorously pumping her startledhand.
“You’re Ilana Simmons. I’ve heard aboutyou.”
“Uh, sorry to hear that,” shemuttered.
