Wolf Fur Hire (Bears Fur Hire 4) (14 page)

The Dawson wolves picked up their pace to a trot and came to a halt in front of Link.

Nicole backed away slowly until her shoulder blades hit the back of a tree. She’d been near a wolf fight before, and it was terrifying. The wind whipped the snow this way and that into little tornadoes, as if Mother Nature herself was cheering on this bloodbath. What Nicole had prepared herself for was a long, drawn-out battle to the death, but what she saw was a brief, albeit violent, blurred battle between Link and the black wolf, ending in Dalton pinned…or…no, not pinned, just crouched down and exposing his neck. Link clamped onto it gently, then turned his attention to Chance. There was blood on the snow, sure, but not like with the McCalls. Perhaps her view had been skewed because the only fight she’d seen was with the McCalls, and they were insane, murderous assholes with no off-switch.

This was organized and much gentler than she’d expected. It was a passing of ritual, but respectfully done.

Link fought Chance next, and while it lasted longer and Chance came out of it bloodier on his neck, he ducked down to the ground and submitted just like Dalton had done, his tail wagging low as he licked under Link’s chin. And once again, Link bit the scruff of his neck, then released him.

The Dawsons skittered back and stared at Link, waiting for something she didn’t understand. A triad with their heads high and proud, their ears erect, they were quite beautiful here in the falling snow. Gray, white, and black, no snarling or teeth, just three magnificent animals that inspired a moment of awe in her.

As she approached slowly, Link watched her every step, and when she was close enough to see him clearly through the snowy haze, she wanted to cry with relief. His eyes weren’t gray yet, but they were already darker than the stark white. He didn’t look pained or lost anymore. And as she sank down in the snow and huffed a grateful frozen breath, sending a thank you into the heavens, Link arched his neck back and let off a long howl. It didn’t sound lonely anymore, or haunting, and before it was through, Dalton joined him, and then Chance. On and on it went, their notes rising and falling in the most beautiful melody she’d ever heard.

Gaze expectant, Link looked at her. And with joy in her heart, she tilted her chin to the clouds above and let off a howl that was perhaps less beautiful, but felt just as important as theirs. They were a part of her now, and she was a part of them.

This would help Link gain control again. He had the Silvers working to help him and the Dawson’s under him as steady pillars. Link had her, and she would never give up on him.

And when their song ended and they made their way through the snowfall together, back toward the glow of the lodge and back to the friends who would welcome them and celebrate this union, she could feel it again.

There was no more nausea or dread sitting like heavy cinderblocks on her chest.

There was no more pain or fear at the setbacks Link was enduring.

Her gloves brushed the scruff on her mate’s neck, and she relished in the silence that had replaced Link’s growl.

Now, there was nothing but hope.

Nicole smiled up at Link in the early morning light as he traced the healed claiming mark on her shoulder blade. She’d woken up to him watching her with an absent grin lingering on his lips as though he’d hit the lottery. Silly wolf. Didn’t he know she was the lucky one?

Leaning forward, she bit his pec playfully, and he let off a soft growl in her ear. “Careful with those teeth, mate, or you’ll get me riled up again.”

“Oh, please. Like you ever get riled down.”

“Me? You were the one who woke me up in the middle of the night for a naked party.”

“Mmm,” she said, giggling as he tickled her ribs. “Naked parties are my favorite.”

His steady gray eyes danced as he rolled on top of her. “I’m going to make you breakfast,” he murmured happily. He laid a kiss on her birthmark, then hopped out of bed.

Fluffing up the pillow under her cheek, she traced the new scars on her forearm and watched him slip into a pair of thin, navy blue pajama pants that hung right under his lowest set of abs. His hair was all dark and messy, his smile breathtaking as he gave her one last glance before he disappeared out the doorway and into the kitchen.

The past four weeks since Link had taken over the Dawson pack had brought big improvements in Link’s condition. He’d spent the first week tracking down each McCall that Clayton had approved a kill order for, and between him and the Silver enforcers, they’d wiped out the man-eaters. The humans were safe from their violent destruction now. And for the few remaining McCalls who had gone rogue like Link and who were trying desperately to hold onto their sanity, Vera was working to cure them.

Link was only taking the McCall Reset every five days now instead of daily. Today was the last day before he would take another shot, and though he would be sick as a dog tomorrow, today was what Nicole called the Honeymoon Day. He was strongest on day five, and each Honeymoon Day, he did better—growled less, talked to himself less. His eyes had lost their sheen of madness, and even Link showed signs of hope now.

She grinned to herself as, from the kitchen, he sang the chorus of a rock song, directly followed by the sound of cracking eggs on the pan. Breakfast in bed sounded heavenly, but she was helpless to stay away from him when he was like this. Today would be amazing. She could tell just from his mood.

Nicole threw the covers back and slipped into her warmest pajamas and slippers, then padded into the kitchen where Link was still humming the song. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she kissed his back, right between his shoulder blades. “How are you so warm?”

Link lifted her hand to his lips, then pressed her palm over his steadily thrumming heart. “One of the pros to being a shifter. Do you want me to build the fire up?”

Nicole released him and strode for the door. “Nah, I’ll do it.”

“I thought you wanted to lounge around in bed today.”

She turned and gave him a naughty grin. “Bed isn’t as fun without you.”

Link’s deliciously deep chuckle followed her out of the cabin.

Holy crap, it was cold out here. Nicole rushed to pull a couple logs off the woodpile, but when she turned to glance at the yard, she straightened up slowly and took a deep breath. It had stopped snowing in the night, and the sun was cresting the horizon now, casting the blanket of white in glittering sparkles. It reminded her of a snow globe Aunt Rita had given her for Christmas one year. It had a mountain covered in evergreen trees with piles of white on each branch, and instead of snow floating around in the water, it had been filled with glitter. In front of the mountains was a small plaque that read
Alaska
. She didn’t know why she’d thought of that snow globe after so many years, but at the time, it had struck her as strange because Aunt Rita, to her knowledge, had never visited Alaska to pick up a souvenir like that. But now, looking back, perhaps Aunt Rita was trying to give her something of her birthplace where Mom had refused.

Link slid his arms around her from behind, warming her instantly. “What are you thinking about?”

“How beautiful this place is. And,” she admitted quietly, “about my family back home.”

“Families are complicated,” he murmured, leaning forward until his cheek was against her temple.

She couldn’t help the laugh that left her throat. “Link, our families got so messed up.”

“Sooo,” he drawled, swaying slightly with her in his arms. “Maybe we should make our own family. We’ll do it better than our parents were able.”

With a tiny gasp, she turned in his arms just to look into his eyes and make sure it wasn’t Wolf teasing her. “Link,” she said on a frozen breath. “Are you serious?”

“I’ve gone back and forth about how to do this. Gone back and forth about whether I even should because I look at you and can’t help but wonder what you’re doing with someone like me. Before you came along, I thought I was unsalvageable, but you’re constantly reminding me that I’m not. You’re steady. You never grow impatient. You never lash out at Wolf or me when my balance is off. I was freefalling, and you caught me.” Gaze locked with hers, Link lowered himself onto one knee on the thin layer of snow that covered the porch. He pulled out of his pocket a thin, white gold band with a single, sparkling diamond in the center. With a steadying breath, he held it up as his offering.

Shocked, Nicole dropped the logs she’d been holding and pressed her fingertips over her mouth.

“Nicole,” Link murmured, his voice steady. “This ring is my pledge to be here for you. It’s my promise that Wolf and I will always be yours. I’ve had it for weeks, but I didn’t want to give it to you until I was sure I could do this. I’m in this. From here on, it’s me and you.” He grinned. “And Wolf.”

Nicole laughed thickly and nodded her head. “Yes.”

“Well wait, woman, I haven’t asked you yet.”

“The answer’s still yes.”

“You’ll marry me?”

“Of course I will!”

Link slid the ring onto her shaking finger, then launched himself upward and crushed her against him.

Laughing, she kissed his face all over. “Link, Link, Link,” she chanted, overwhelmed with happiness. “I’m so proud of you.”

“For proposing?”

“No, you silly man. For fighting for us. For fighting to keep yourself. I’ve seen the work you’ve done and I’m so”—
kiss
—“fucking”—
kiss
—“proud of you.” Cupping his cheeks as she searched his clear gray eyes, she whispered, “Link, you stopped my freefall, too.”

And he truly had. She’d come to Alaska a lost soul, who didn’t know anything about herself or her heritage. He’d said she was the steady one, but Link didn’t see it. He’d sensed holes in her life and gone to great trouble to track down people who knew her father, just so he could give her a missing piece to the puzzle. He’d given her a pack and given her dear friends who had turned into family. He’d given her a sense of belonging and taught her how to survive this harsh life. He’d instilled confidence in her just by believing in her.

Link fed her strength, as she fed his. He did that for everyone who loved him.

He’d never been unsalvageable, and he’d never been a Weak Link.

Instead, he had improved every single life he touched and became the link that bound them all together.

Lincoln McCall was the good wolf—strong and loyal, and for the rest of her happy moments, he would be hers.

“You saved me,” he said softly.

“No, Link,” she whispered, “we saved each other.”

Nicole lifted the picture Lena had given her and smiled. It was a far cry from the holiday card Mom used to pose them for. There was no grand staircase or plastered smiles. No perfect decorations or stiff posture.

This one was better.

This was a captured moment of beautiful chaos.

In the photograph, Nicole’s new patchwork family stood in front of her and Link’s cabin, right in the spot the picture of Buck and her had been taken all those years ago. In it, Elyse stood in front of Ian, beaming and cradling her round stomach as Ian kissed the top of her head proudly. Elyse’s brother, Josiah, stood with crossed arms and was mid eye-roll next to his sister. Lena and Jenner were looking at each other mid-laugh, as Lena held a sprig of mistletoe over their heads. Vera was riding Tobias piggy-back style and giving him bunny ears while she crossed her eyes. Chance and Dalton Dawson lay in front, heads propped on elbows in the snow with matching grins on their faces as Miki pulled on Dalton’s pant leg like it was a rope-toy. Even Clayton had showed up on picture day. He stood stoically on the end, a slight smile on his face as he looked over at Ian and Elyse. And in the middle, Nicole stood next to Link. He hugged Nicole close to his side, and his neck was arched as he stared down at the tiny bundle in her arms while she smiled emotionally at the camera, birthmark proudly on display.

Lena had set the camera on a tripod and set it to automatically take pictures. The first few had been posed and perfect, and then the goofing had begun. This was the last picture of the bunch. It was the perfect one.

One last time, she read the letter she was sending Mom along with the picture.

Mom,

This cabin probably looks familiar to you, or perhaps not so much anymore. My husband, Link, and I have made many changes to it over the past year. We’ve had our baby—a little girl we’ve named Fina Clotilda McCall. She’s perfect, and clever, and beautiful. She has my black hair, but gray eyes like her daddy. And someday, when I’m ready, we’ll visit so you can meet her. I found my place here with these incredible people. I know I’m grown, and things got so messed up when I left, but I’m a mother now and understand that a parent’s worry is never really through. I just wanted to let you know, you don’t have to wonder if I’m okay. I’m better than okay.

I’m happy. I’m home.

Nicole McCall

Nicole wished she could tell her more. She wished she could tell her that Clotilda was teaching her to fish like the Yupik had done for generations and that she and Link spent weeks in the summers out with Elyse’s cattle, helping her brother, Josiah, keep the herd safe from predators. She wished she could tell her how hard, beautiful, and fulfilling this life was alongside Link, but Mom wouldn’t understand. On the two occasions Nicole had called her, her mom had assured her she would never visit this “awful place,” and that was fine. Clotilda had been right. Mom didn’t belong here like Nicole did.

She folded the letter and slid it into the addressed envelope with the photo, and she smiled when she heard the soft notes of Link’s lullaby and Fina’s answering coo.

She turned in her chair and watched her mate in the rocker, one long leg outstretched and rocking them gently as he cradled their daughter. Vera had come through on her promise to the Dawsons. The moment she’d told Vera she suspected she was pregnant, she’d gone to work, just in case the baby was a girl. Because of Vera, Fina was alive and thriving, and was the first female werewolf in existence. She was also daddy’s little girl. Fina kicked her little legs happily and clutched Link’s finger as he leaned down and inhaled her baby scent. Then, as he often did, because he couldn’t seem to help himself, he kissed the strawberry colored birthmark that stretched from Fina’s jaw down her neck.

Someday, Fina would have to decide whether she wanted to conceal the mark or not, but as for Nicole, she didn’t wear make-up to cover her own mark anymore. Now she understood the pride Buck had harbored when his child had been born with that part of him. And how could she shield her face from a mate who adored that part of her and their daughter so much?

She crossed her arms on the back of the chair and rested her chin on them just to relax into this beautiful moment with the man she adored.

He was a doting father and an incredible mate, a strong alpha for the Dawsons and loyal friend to the Silvers, but most importantly, he was still here.

He’d gone to battle for her and fought for this moment.

The second he’d felt anchored enough, he’d weaned off Vera’s medicine—her strong mate. Link had broken his curse and forged the path of his own destiny. He was the reason breathtaking moments like this one existed.

“Are you still with us?” she asked softly, as she often did when she felt sentimental and needed to hear his voice just to know she wasn’t dreaming all of this.

Link lifted his gaze, steady and gray. A slow smile spread across his lips as he cradled Fina closer. “Always.”