 
Kismet

By Leah Moore

Copyright 2013 Leah Moore

Smashwords Edition

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.

Cover Design by Lan Gao

ISBN: 9781628476088

THANK YOU to my wonderful husband, Eric, who supported me thru the entire writing process. He was a sounding board for ideas, helping me decide on which to use and creating others. Also, thank you to my mother Wanda and my sister Tara for reading as I created, making sure I kept on point and telling me I could finish it. In addition, a special thanks to my generous friend, Lisa, for taking her precious time to edit my rough draft. I could never have completed this without all of you!!!

# Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - Riley

Chapter 2 - Garrett

Chapter 3 - Rowdy's Pub

Chapter 4 - Stalker

Chapter 5 - Big Bad Wolf

Chapter 6 - Anticipation

Chapter 7 - First Date

Chapter 8 - Riley

Chapter 9 - Garrett

Chapter 10 - Hostage

Chapter 11 - The Hunt

Chapter 12 - Pain

Chapter 13 - Rescue

Chapter 14 - New World

Chapter 15 - Claimed

# Chapter 1 - Riley

Riley blew her bangs out of her eyes as she looked up from the file she was working on, disheartened with how the day turned out. Even after having her veterinary practice for five years, it was hard to believe how much administrative work was involved. Between paperwork, after hours emergencies, client phone calls, and her volunteer work there wasn't room for a social life, not that she'd ever had one. Of course, that didn't hinder her friends and parents from constantly harping on her to get out there and "find someone". She knew her biological clock was ticking; she was a doctor after all. Next week was her thirtieth birthday and she was darn proud of what she had accomplished in her thirty years. Yet, if she were honest with herself, she knew her heart was missing some vital pieces: husband, kids, and the proverbial white picket fence. Shaking her head at the direction of her thoughts, she bent back over Bosco's paperwork and stamped a red "deceased" on the file. Her eyes filled with tears again and she wiped them away in frustration.

A few minutes later Sam walked in while pulling her white-blonde hair out of her ponytail and fluffing it. Inwardly grimacing, Riley mentally compared Sam's beautiful locks to her own boring, brown hair. Riley's hair never looked good after being in a ponytail all day; it always sported a huge kink where the hair tie held it in place. Sometimes she contemplated wearing a wig, the good ones always had every hair in place and looked fairly realistic. Then she could shave her head and not have to worry about pulling her hair back while she worked. After her workday, she would don her wig and it would look perfect, just like Sam's hair.

Sam was Riley's roommate in college and they'd been close friends ever since. When they met, Sam had already received her business degree and was working towards becoming a vet technician because she loved working with animals but didn't have the desire to chase after a doctorate. They were opposites socially, with Sam keeping a packed social calendar and constantly juggling men while Riley did neither. When Riley moved forward with opening the clinic, she couldn't have done it without Sam's help as the office manager and lead vet technician. She leaned on Sam quite a lot. Sam always supported her and helped her through all the challenges of opening a practice; they were probably closer to sisters with the way Sam harped on her to find a social life.

Riley knew her eyes were red from fighting tears over Bosco, but didn't have the energy for a heart to heart. "What's up?" asked Riley.

"We're heading to Rowdy's for a drink. Will you join us? Just one drink, we promise not to keep you out too late, but you need to get out and enjoy life a bit."

"No, not tonight, I have shelter duty." She volunteered at one of the local shelters to care for their new intakes. Shelters were short on money, but there never seemed to be a shortage of abandoned and abused pets. A consortium of local vets volunteered their time to offset what the shelter's budget didn't allow.

"Fine, but you better keep Friday night open. You have to come out with us once this decade. Besides, you promised you'd join us this month. Well, guess what? I'm calling in the debt for Friday." Sam huffed and crossed her arms.

"Fine, fine. I promise to go out for one drink on Friday." Riley bent her head back over her paperwork and mentally chastised herself for making that stupid promise last month. She wanted one night to call her own, to draw a bath and sit in the suds with a glass of wine and a good book, maybe cry a little and give herself some time to mourn over the patients she'd lost in the last year. However, her schedule was so crazy she never seemed to find the time.

Sam pulled her out of her reverie as she started talking again. "You know you didn't give Bosco cancer, right? You can't save every animal that walks through this door, and I know for a fact you did everything in your power to heal him."

Riley nodded and ran her hand down her face, attempting to rub the bad feelings away. She knew Sam was right, but it was tough not being emotionally invested in animals she fought to keep alive, especially ones with long drawn out illnesses. She was fighting tears again, so she fisted her hands until her nails bit through her palm, letting the pain distract her from the feeling of being utterly powerless.

Sam continued, "Look Ri, you've had some tough months, heck years, getting this practice up and running. You need some free time to decompress. The only way that will happen is if you start looking for another vet to come help with this workload. We're profitable now and you should seriously consider taking that step." She knew she was probably pushing a bit too hard. She could tell Riley was on the verge of losing it and knew she hated to show weakness by crying.

Sam had hit the nail on the head and Riley knew it. She hadn't found the energy to make one more transition. It seemed like the last ten years of completing college, then her doctorate, and starting the practice was about transition; it was nice to finally have a routine down. To bring a new vet in meant learning their work style, being flexible on some of her own quirks, and blending an entirely new person into their tight knit group of office staff.

Riley stiffened her back and girded herself for one more transition. She looked up at Sam and plunged in, knowing if she didn't create some accountability it would probably never happen. "OK. You're right Sam and I'll start putting some feelers out next week. I promise, and I know you'll work to keep me to that promise. Now, let me get back to my paperwork so I can get out of here and go help some of those animals at the shelter." Riley gave Sam a half smile and widened her eyes when Sam started clapping and jumping up and down. She couldn't help but chuckle at her friend's enthusiastic response.

Sam ran around the desk and gave her a huge bear hug. It always amazed her how one small action could bring back a flood of memories. The hug Sam gave her took her back to when she said goodbye to her best friend, Ryan, who moved away when she was a young thirteen-year-old girl. She hadn't thought of Ryan in months. He was the only friend she'd had that gave her a sense of being home, like an older brother rather than a friendship. It was almost seventeen years later and she still felt the hole in her heart from his family moving away.

"I am so glad, Ri, seriously. You really deserve to have some fun in life after all you've accomplished. I'll leave you alone now and see you tomorrow. Have a good night." Sam released her hold on Riley and skipped out of the office to go tell Jennifer and Lyla the good news. They'd be thrilled Riley was finally going to get some extra help.

Riley shook off the thoughts of Ryan and stared around her somewhat empty office, envisioning sharing it with another doctor. The clinic wasn't big enough for two private offices, so she'd have to divvy up her space. It was a 14 x 12 foot white rectangle with white walls, white linoleum floor, and a white tile ceiling. Her large oak desk sat to the right of the door, facing the middle of the room. Directly behind her desk chair was the shorter wall, with a sliding window, which connected to the reception area. To the left of her desk, along the long wall, were some bookshelves full of well-used medical journals and old textbooks. A corkboard covered with curly edged client's photo's covered the wall opposite her desk.

The only personal effects in the office were the two pictures on her desk and her diploma hanging on the wall. One 8 x 10 picture showed her parents on a tropical vacation, smiles on their tan faces. Her parent's relationship was amazing, and she hoped she would someday find someone to share her life with that matched her as well as her dad matched her mom. She wasn't naive, she knew they'd had their difficulties throughout life, but they made it through all of them, and their love grew every year. Her parents were currently snow birding in Arizona for the winter and Riley missed having them near. There was also a 5 x 7 of her harlequin Great Dane, Wolf, and her cat, Oscar. They loved each other dearly - when Oscar was a kitten, he tried to nurse on Wolf. It was adorable to watch, and Wolf was always extremely patient with him. Even when Oscar pricked his sharp kitten claws into Wolf's sensitive belly, Wolf didn't growl or bite. He must have sensed Oscar needed some extra love since the tiny kitten came into their lives too young to care for itself. In the picture, Oscar lay curled up in the crook of Wolf's belly as they both took a nap in the sunshine of her large backyard.

The rest of the office was almost empty except for a couple of chairs and a two-drawer filing cabinet for her personal records. Yes, she figured this was big enough to give two decent size workstations and still have room for the shelves of medical books and journals. The clinic itself was definitely big enough to have a couple of doctors. The reception area had a large front desk, with enough couches and overstuffed chairs to seat six clients and pets comfortably. There were five exam rooms, an x-ray room, two operating rooms, and kennels for boarded and recovering animals. If she found the right personality, she could make this work and not feel as if someone intruded into her space. Finding the right personality was the key, and she hoped it was possible to couple personality with skill.

There were vet students graduating every year, and with her close proximity to Oregon State University, where she got her degree, she could keep an eye out for someone who was competent, maybe even get someone in for an internship to try them out before offering the job. It was February, so there would be a class graduating in a couple of months. She'd have to contact her old professors and put some feelers out for candidates.

Sam called through the window behind her, "Goodnight Ri, everything is cleaned up and ready for tomorrow, and everyone has been fed and medicated; we'll lock up as we head out."

"Thanks guys, I appreciate all your help. Have fun at Rowdy's."

The door clicked shut and she heard the key turn as Sam locked up. Riley walked down the hall to the break room and grabbed her PB & J sandwich. On her way back, she looked in on the animals that were staying the night at the clinic. She felt horrible for them, knowing they'd rather be in their own homes. She gave them a bit of extra love before she headed back to her office. As she sat down at her desk, she opened her lunch bag and took a bite of sandwich, then pulled out her next file. Just a few more charts to fill out and she'd head over to the local shelter and see what she could do to help their new arrivals.

Riley arrived at the shelter by 7:30 PM. It was a no-kill shelter owned and operated by a non-profit group. They worked with many local handlers, trainers, and vets to evaluate, train, rehabilitate, and re-home the animals. Riley entered the small reception area and Mike, the evening manager, greeted her. He was sitting behind the desk that graced the right hand wall. There was enough room for about six chairs and an end table along the other walls. The hallway directly across from the entrance led back to the holding pens and treatment rooms. It was a small shelter, and only had enough room to house about 15 dogs and 20 cats comfortably. An exercise yard, surrounded by chain link fence was in the back.

Mike was a great guy, who was married to his high school sweetheart and had two little girls, ages five and eight. He did this job because of his love for animals, not for the pay. He was also a vet tech, so he was the perfect person to help the evening vets with procedures and monitor the animals overnight.

"Hey Dr. Riley, we have four new intakes for you to take a look at: two cats and two dogs. One of the dogs is in rough shape. He was picked up from a negligent owner and will need some extra attention."

Riley braced herself for what she was about to see. She hated seeing the abuse humans could give to innocent animals. She would never be able to understand the motivation behind it. She decided to look at the neglected dog first; he was a Shepherd mix and was clearly terrified of people. He was underweight and had a bad case of mange. He cowered in the corner of his cage with wide eyes and growled from fear, doing his best to ward off people. She always had a way with animals, so she sat down outside the door and calmly waited for him to approach her. After about five minutes, he became curious enough to come forward and smell her arm. She didn't dare move, but continued to breathe and keep her body loose. After a couple more minutes, the Shepherd lay down next to her and nuzzled her hand. She then decided to give the scared animal a nice rub under the neck and behind the ears to show she wasn't going to hurt him.

She carefully looped a leash around his neck and slowly stood up. As she stood, he started to cower a bit, so she slowed her movements and waited for him to acclimate. After he decided she wasn't a threat, he followed her to the exam room and stood patiently for her while she checked his vitals. He was about 15 lbs. underweight and was clearly dehydrated. She gave him his vaccines, an antibiotic for the mange, and sub-Q fluids for dehydration. Luckily, he was neutered, so he wouldn't need to go through that ordeal as well. She figured that if he received some good meals and a lot of love, he'd be better in a week or two. He'd definitely need a patient owner to understand his fear and work with him to trust humans again.

Her next client was a small, yellow tabby cat whose elderly owner had passed away. The kitty was a sweetheart, and Riley knew she'd find a home without a problem. Again, she was already spayed, so no surgery for her, only a check over her medical records to make sure she was up to date on her vaccines. Coming from a loving home was always nice, because they usually kept records of their pet's health.

The next cat was a cranky tomcat with thick grey fur, and he needed to be neutered. He was a stray without any records so she gave him his vaccines as well. The neuter went without a problem and she left the cat to recover from his ordeal in a small cage in the procedure room.

The final case for the night was a small, scruffy mutt with a sweet disposition. Fleas infested his matted, white coat. She wasn't a groomer, but it was clear the poor thing needed a bath. She could smell the tang of infected wounds, so she and Mike bathed him so they could get through the dirt and take a better look at his skin. He had some open sores, so she doctored them, dosed him with antibiotics, treated his fleas, and administered vaccines. This pup was lucky to already be neutered as well. Overall, it was an easy evening.

Before she left, she checked on the Shepherd and saw he was already looking a bit perkier from the fluids. She patiently waited for him to approach her again in order to reinforce a positive human experience. His frightened, soulful eyes were hard to resist. She wanted to take him home with her, but she felt that way about 95% of the time when caring for the shelter animals. She had to harden her heart a bit to be able to continue this work, but it was worth it so they'd have good care. Two hours after she walked in, she left the shelter, saying goodnight to Mike and thanking him again for his help. He promptly thanked her for her help as well.

It was chilly outside. The weather had been nice the last few days, giving everyone a false hope for an early spring. February in Vancouver, WA was still winter, even though it always teased with about one week of sun. Locals knew it was short lived and to prepare for another four or five months of rain. Riley looked up at the sky and the full moon was obscured by clouds, she guessed the nice weather was already over. She jumped in her old Jeep Cherokee and headed to the local doggy daycare to pick up Wolf. She always took him there on the long shelter days, so he wouldn't be home alone all day. She then headed home to get some sleep. There was only two more days until the weekend and she couldn't wait to get some alone time. She had planned to take this weekend off and work on some maintenance items at her house. It had been neglected the last few years and she couldn't put the repairs off any longer. If Wolf ever escaped and received an injury due to the broken fence boards, she'd never forgive herself.

Thursday morning dawned with clouds and drizzle with a temperature hovering around 37 degrees. Yep, the hint of spring was gone. Riley dosed herself with her rainy day mood lifters - vitamins B and D. Oscar wound his furry, grey body around her legs as she sat at the kitchen table reading a magazine and eating her normal breakfast of oatmeal with brown sugar, butter, and raisins. She chose to put a turtleneck on under her scrubs, not only for the physical warmth, but also for extra emotional comfort. She was still reeling a bit from losing her patient yesterday; the long sleeves and turtleneck seemed to bring a cozy comfort for some reason. Days like this left her wishing she had a man in her life, someone she could cuddle up with in the morning and lean her head on for support. Not that she remotely knew what it would feel like.

Sad to say, but she was nearly thirty years old, and had never had a serious boyfriend. She was a bit of a geek in school, which made her the awkward outsider. Her pets were the friends she relied on. Being an only child, she didn't even have any brothers or sisters to fight with while growing up. In college, she was too busy with school and work to make many friends; she had to hold a 3.8 GPA in order to keep her scholarship. Sam was pretty much the only friend she had; mainly facilitated by the fact they were roommates.

The only guy Riley was ever close to was Ryan, her neighbor and best friend from childhood. But she hadn't seen him since she stood at the curb with tears streaming down her face, waving at his car as it disappeared out of sight. It still broke her heart a little bit thinking back when her parents told her the Henderson's would be moving to Kansas. Something about a job transfer. She didn't care about job transfers. The only thing she understood was her best and only friend was ripped out of her life along with her heart. Their house always stood vacant, as if it was mocking her pain. It also fostered unrequited hope of them returning. Although she hadn't thought of Ryan in months, this was the second time in two days she found herself pondering on his whereabouts.

After she took the last bite of her oatmeal, she went into the kitchen to rinse out her bowl and stick it in the dishwasher. She went into the bathroom, brushed her teeth, and then headed for the door while saying goodbye to Wolf and Oscar for the day.

Riley arrived at the clinic and Lyla was already there, feeding and medicating the boarded animals. She had taken them all outside to do their business and cleaned up any messes as well. "Morning Dr. Riley." Lyla called from the back.

"Morning Lyla, anything I need to be aware of?" Riley enquired.

"Nope, all looks good here. Our first client is due in 15 minutes and we have back to backs until 1:30, then you have a dental on Howard the Greyhound and a neuter on a new kitten client."

"Great, thanks. I'll start reviewing some charts. Let me know when they get in." Lyla always did a great job of summing up the day's events and keeping track of any changes on the calendar.

The rest of the day flew by without any major issues. Howard had some major dental work done, but she expected that since he was an old sight hound. She didn't have any euthanasia's today, making for a much better day than yesterday.

As Riley finished her charting that evening, Sam popped in to remind her of her promise. "Remember, we're going out tomorrow night. Don't you dare think about backing out of our deal." Sam stood with arms akimbo and one eyebrow cocked, waiting for a rebuttal.

"I told you I'd go. I'm not saying I'm excited about it, but when I say I'll do something I always do it." That was true too. Someone could always count on her to follow through with her word. She lived by that premise. She believed, if you started reneging on what you said, soon your words became meaningless to those around you, and you lose accountability in all things. She was incredibly staunch about her viewpoint on this, and she expected everyone else to live by this mantra as well.

"I know," Sam said with a smile. "That's one of the reasons I love you. The clinic is clean and set up for tomorrow, and the animals are fed and medicated. We're heading out and will see ya tomorrow. Try not to work too late."

"Thanks guys, see ya in the morning." Riley leaned back in her chair and ran her fingers through her hair. She needed to make a couple of phone calls with blood test results, finish up some charts and then she'd be able to head home.

She arrived home close to 7:00 and took Wolf for his three-mile walk. When they finished, she had just enough time to swing by her favorite pet store, Canine Utopia, to pick up Wolf and Oscar's food. Wolf loved visiting the store because he always received a special treat. As the bell chimed their entry, his toenails scrabbled on the hardwood floor. She had to keep a keen eye on him around the bulk treat counter; he was so big he could easily turn his head for a self-serve snack. The owner, Aaron, greeted her and started grabbing her usual food from the shelf. She picked out a treat for Wolf and let him chomp it down as she paid her bill and chatted with Aaron about the happenings in downtown. He was always involved with the community and usually had some kind of special event he was planning. Aaron helped her to the car with her purchases and she thanked him as she jumped inside to head home.

She quickly ate some dinner while reviewing a new medical journal, which came out with information on possible canine cancer treatments. When she looked up at the clock, it was 10:30 and time for bed. She walked down the short hallway of her two-bedroom bungalow and entered the bathroom to brush her teeth, wash her face, and comb her hair before climbing into bed. As soon as she was in, she called up Wolf and Oscar who cuddled in next to her. She cringed as she thought about going out with the girls tomorrow night, on a Friday of all nights. She knew the bar would be full of couples on dates or singles on the prowl, once more bringing her lonely existence into stark relief.

# Chapter 2 - Garrett

It was a spring-like Monday morning as Garrett jumped in his truck and headed to the new jobsite. He wanted to make sure everyone showed up on time. He didn't want to hear any excuses from his crew about being late because of parking, traffic, or getting lost. He can get there on time, and so can they. Breck's Construction was a general contracting firm, which worked on commercial properties ranging from quick shops to medium size condominium complexes. This job happened to be new construction, a grocery store in Vancouver, WA. The company's main office was located in Portland, OR, on the other side of the Columbia River. Breck, the company's namesake, happened to be Garrett's father-in-law, or ex father-in-law. He wasn't sure how you label family left over after you became a widower. Widower felt like a strange label to put on a 32-year-old man. Not that he felt young anymore. Watching the woman he loves die slowly from a mysterious illness, aged him.

Breck was a great boss and was kind enough to keep Garrett on as foreman after Sarah passed away. He was a hard worker and deserved his position, but he felt responsible for letting Sarah die. He felt he should have been able to control the situation, find what was making her sick, and stop it. He blamed himself, so he never understood why Breck didn't. Sarah was Breck's little girl, and Garrett didn't save her. He appreciated the employment, but he still felt guilty almost every day he had to look Breck in the eye. This week was actually the third anniversary of her death, so he was feeling pretty grumpy and touchy. It also happened to be the week of the full moon, so he was beyond irritable. He felt sorry for the poor sod that showed up late to this job.

Shockingly his entire crew was on time. He was embarrassed to find himself a bit disappointed; he was hoping he could release some of the bile he'd been carrying around inside. He secretly wondered if Breck had warned the guys about his mood this week. Did he give them a heads up that they had better be on time or Garrett would flip out on them? He couldn't seem to find any humor in the situation as he descended from his truck and started assigning tasks for his crew.

A good portion of the crew was from the two local packs, so they were more of a brotherhood than coworkers. The guys always respected Garrett and liked to work for him, but they also had this week marked on their calendar. They all knew this was the anniversary of when he lost his love, Sarah. They knew he lived a solitary existence since she died, and that's hard to do when you're part of a pack. Garrett found a way to be involved without really letting his heart get involved. He always seemed a bit numb and robotic as he went through the motions of life.

Jason quietly entered the construction trailer with a grim look on his face. He had bad news and hoped Garrett wouldn't shoot the messenger. He was leaning over some plans with his hands placed on each side of the table. He looked up and scowled when he saw Jason's worried expression.

"Out with it, Jas. Give me the bad news."

Jason spoke the words as fast as he could, hoping the speed would lessen the impact. "The backhoe scheduled for today is going to be two days late. There was a problem with the engine and they don't have the part in stock anywhere locally."

Garrett took a deep breath and counted to ten. He could feel his wolf near the surface, but this wasn't Jason's fault. He had to remember that as he gripped the table, trying to control his simmering rage. Unfortunately, the table wasn't sturdy enough to put up with Garrett's strength and he felt a snap in each fist as chunks of 1/2" plywood broke off in his hands. The rough wood bit into Garrett's palms and abraded his skin. The pain actually felt good in a strange way. Of course, due to being a shifter, the cuts healed before he even had a good look at them. His wolf was growling in his head and it took all of his strength keep his claws retracted and his eyes a normal brown.

Jason watched, wide eyed, as Garrett stood up, dropped the chunks of wood to the floor, and ran his hand through his hair making it stand up on end. Between that and the crazy look in Garrett's eyes, Jason found himself slinking out the door before he could be throttled.

When Garrett saw Jason's reaction, he shook his body and shifted back on his heels with his hands up in a placating gesture. "Look Jas, don't worry about it - I'm not going to throw any punches. I know this isn't your fault. I just can't believe we can be behind schedule on the first freaking day of the project." He ran his hand through his hair again and started pacing.

Jason felt bad for him. He was Garrett's pack-mate and had been his best friend growing up. Their friendship took a hit when Garrett chose to push everyone away after Sarah died. It still hurt him that he lost his best friend to heartbreak, and hoped one day he'd come around and fully engage in pack activities again. He had fond memories of them playing chase and hunt as kids, pranks as teens, and throwing parties as adults. He knew this was a rough week and he could smell the sadness, loneliness, and frustration wafting off Garrett. Male wolves always protected their females. If a wolf died, their mate generally followed immediately after from grief. The only thing that kept Garrett from dying was that he loved Sarah, but she wasn't his Kismet. Most wolves wait to find their Kismet before mating, but Garrett and Sarah loved each other without it, and decided to defy fate and become mates anyway.

After pacing for a good five minutes, Garrett started to feel a bit more settled. He knew his crew was good enough to bounce back from this delay. They work delays like this into their overall schedule, nothing ever goes perfectly on a job, and they have to build in a cushion. He just hoped there wouldn't be any more this week. Eating up part of the fluff of time on the first day makes the rest of the job that much harder. "Thanks for letting me know Jas, we'll work around the schedule a bit to make up for it. Ask the backhoe operator to take the next couple of days off and ask him if he'd be willing to work for double-time on the weekend. Then we can keep the time schedule and we'll worry about the cost later."

"Sure Garrett, I'll get to work on the solution right now." Jason turned around and stepped down the stairs of the trailer, veering for the operator.

Clearly, this was going to be "one of those weeks" Garrett thought. _I can get through this. I can do it. I've survived this long and I'll continue to survive. Sarah wouldn't want me wallowing around in self-pity and recrimination._ He finished out the day without any other catastrophes. The operator agreed to the new schedule and Garrett decided it wasn't as bad as it originally appeared. At the end of the day, he jumped up in his black Chevy truck and headed home.

His house sat on ten acres, about thirty minutes north of Vancouver, back in the wooded hills near the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The entire pack lived in the area and used the forest for their full moon runs, which was coming up on Wednesday, two days away. He still enjoyed the run, but nothing compared to when Sarah was around. They would chase and play together on those nights, waking up in each other's arms with the crisp mountain air and the birds singing overhead. He longed for those days again; his heart ached with loneliness.

His home was a two-story log cabin with hardwood floors covered by rugs in a Navajo pattern. The great room had a vaulted ceiling and windows covered the entire back wall to highlight the expansive view of the valley. His sofas and chairs were oversized, burgundy leather. The coffee table, end tables, and dining table were sturdy and made of logs. A huge stone fireplace set off one end of the great room, and an open style kitchen graced the other. Above the kitchen was the master bedroom and bath, with a balcony overlooking the valley. There was also two spare guestrooms, office, and a second bath upstairs. He loved this home, especially since he helped design it. He wound his way through the haphazard display of tools in his garage and entered through his mudroom to the kitchen.

He grabbed a beer from the fridge and went outside to sit on his teak Adirondack chair. He found peace looking at the scenery and listening to the night sounds. It was February, so it was full dark by the time he arrived home, but his wolf's eyes allowed him to see at night almost as well as he could in the daylight. This was the most painful part of his day. Wolves were pack animals and didn't necessarily like being alone, but he couldn't bring himself to go to the parties they threw almost every night. He was part of the pack and he was always there if someone needed help, but being around the others always left him feeling hollow, and he didn't like to feel that way in front of them. He knew they could smell his pain and it was embarrassing to have his emotions constantly on display. Besides, it always felt as if he brought everyone down when he was around; no, he was better off sitting at his house alone.

His phone rang and he looked at the caller ID. He sighed as he answered it, "Hey Jessica."

"Hey Garrett, why don't you come down to Jason's tonight? He has some great steak on the grill and we're playing darts in the garage."

"Nah, I'm heading to bed early tonight. It was a long day at the site and I'm beat." He hunched his shoulders at his lie. Wolves had amazing stamina and he knew she'd see through it.

Jessica paused for about ten seconds; disappointed he wasn't willing to let his pack comfort him this week. "You know you can call Brian and me at anytime, right? I'm your big sister; I want to be there for you."

"I know and I appreciate it, really, but I think I'm better off alone right now. I'll talk with you later."

"OK..." She vacillated whether or not to say anything, she took a deep breath and jumped in, "Hey Garrett, ya know, Sonya is coming into town tomorrow for the full moon on Wednesday. Maybe we can all four go do something tomorrow night. She'd love to see you; it's been forever since you've seen each other."

"Yah, that's fine." His mind caught up with his mouth two seconds too late. _That's fine? Why in the hell did I say that?_ She caught him off guard. He hadn't really been listening to his sister when he answered the question. He simply wanted to get off the phone, not inadvertently accept a double date. Because that was most assuredly what this setup was about. Jessica's friend, Sonya, was relentless before he had met Sarah, and he can't imagine anything changing since then.

Jessica was shocked. Did he really agree so easily? "Great! I'll text the details tomorrow. Bye!" She hung up as fast as she could before he backed out. She sat there hoping she wasn't making a big mistake by getting in the middle of this, but her brother was the most pigheaded man she knew. He needed some help to get back out there and work on rebuilding his life. He was only 32 and had a long life ahead of him. One she didn't want to watch him go alone. Especially since shifters lived to be about 300 years old.

Garrett stared at his phone with his mouth agape until the light blinked off. "Great, fantastic, now I have to put up with a double date on the single worst week of the year. Why couldn't I have been paying attention to the conversation?" he grumbled. However, he had agreed, and once he agreed to something, he kept his word. He went to the fridge and grabbed another beer. He normally wasn't a big drinker, maybe a drink a week, but he had a feeling this week would be an exception to the rule. He felt an internal struggle going on which hadn't been there before. He had been content in his mourning for the last three years, but something was shifting. Maybe he was starting to feel he did have a life left, one Sarah would want him to live. He didn't know, but if he was honest with himself, he didn't want to be so dang lonely anymore.

The next day went excessively fast. Work at the site was non-stop and he barely had time to grab a sandwich for lunch as he was fielding questions, answering vendor calls, and directing duties. Before he knew it, the clock chimed 4:00. It was time to stop work and clean up the site for night before it was too dark. He looked down and noticed a text from Jessica. He had completely forgotten about his slip-up last night, and he instantly became anxious to open the message. What would his fate be?

G - We'll meet you at 6:00 at the Roadhouse in Woodland

Please shower first and don't be late. - love J

He quickly text back:

J - Got it. - G

He put his phone in his pocket and took a deep breath. "I'll work to have an open mind. I'll do my best to be nice and friendly," he chanted to himself. He jumped in his truck and headed home for a shower.

He walked into Roadhouse at 6:05, feeling bad he was a bit late, but he had spent too long trying to figure out what to wear. He felt like an idiot, as if it even mattered, but something in his heart told him he needed to start caring again. He saw Jessica and Brian sitting in a booth facing him. Jessica was waving him over and he figured the blonde sitting with her back to him was Sonya. It'd been a long time since he'd seen her and he was a bit nervous about it.

As he approached the table, Sonya turned towards him and gave him a stunning smile. She launched herself out of the booth and swung her arms around his neck, giving him a huge hug. He stiffened. No one had really touched him in the last few years, mainly because he'd been keeping everyone at arm's length. He saw Jessica's face over Sonya's shoulder and could tell she was concerned about how he'd take the hug. He awkwardly gave Sonya's back a pat and said he was glad to see her again too, directing her back to her seat. He sat down and looked over at her, getting a good look for the first time. She was beautiful; he'd give her that. Long blonde hair, tan legs, tight body, and pretty face, but that was about it. He felt nothing. How can a man get a clingy hug from a woman that looked like a goddess and feel absolutely nothing? Because he was broken, that's how.

Jessica studied Garrett throughout the dinner. They had a pleasant conversation and the dinner was fine, but she could tell Sonya was a bit too clingy, touching Garrett at every opportunity and it was starting to get on his nerves. Even though Garrett stayed polite, Jessica could only imagine the amount of blood in his mouth from biting his tongue. She could tell he had about enough, and then Brian and Sonya decided to order dessert. She hoped he wouldn't blow a gasket before they could pay their check and leave.

Garrett knew Sonya was oblivious to social cues. She always had been. Even when they were kids, she was one of those people who always crossed lines and broke boundaries with the more dominant pack members. He kept trying to remind himself of that, because he kept dreaming of using the decorative rope on the wall as a way to tie her down on the other side of the booth. He was eager to pay the bill, so when it showed up he had his card out before the server had a chance to walk away. He offered to pick up the tab; clearly, Brian wasn't noticing the stressful situation and would probably take another ten minutes to fish out his wallet.

Sonya turned in her seat and looked at Garrett, "So Gar, ya wanna go out for a run tonight? I'm feeling awfully energetic and need to work off all the food we just ate." She smiled at him with her most enticing smile.

He hated her calling him "Gar". "Ummm, ya know, I have a long day at work tomorrow and with it being the full moon run as well, I think I'll just head home for some shut eye. Thanks for the offer." He hoped he wasn't too hard on her, but there was no way he was going to be caught anywhere alone with her. In fact, during dinner he had decided to run with Breck's pack in Oregon tomorrow night. He knew Sonya would try to get her claws in him if she could and he didn't want to deal with it this week. He always spent this month's full moon alone, thinking about Sarah, and he didn't want the night tainted by Sonya's persistence.

Sonya was disappointed, but she kept her smile pasted on her face and said, "OK, maybe some other time then. Thanks for dinner though, it was wonderful to see you again."

He mumbled something about it being nice to see her again too, and then headed for his truck as if his hair was on fire. He figured Jessica had brought her here and Jessica could take her home. As he entered his house, he cracked another beer and downed it before heading to his lonely bed and wondering if maybe he was reading his inner turmoil incorrectly. Maybe he wasn't ready to get out there yet.

On Wednesday, Garrett asked Breck if he could join his pack for the full moon run and, of course, Breck said yes. So after his shift, he headed to North Plains, where their pack gathered to run through the coast range. It had been a warm week, but he could tell the weather was changing. Clouds were rolling in and obscuring the moon. It was painful being with Sarah's home pack this week, but it was better than being a victim of Sonya. He pulled his work boots and t-shirt off, waiting for everyone to assemble. The alpha greeted the visitors and read the rules for the boundaries so they would be safe from hunters, traffic, and human sightings. He then called a beginning to the run. Everyone finished stripping off their clothes; the alpha and his mate shifted first, followed by the rest. Garrett shook out his dark chocolate fur and loped away in a different direction than everyone else. This was his one run alone. He didn't want to run and play or hunt. He wanted to find a spot and howl at the moon. Breck and his mate, Emma, whimpered at him, asking him to follow with the group, but Garrett slowly shook his head back and forth and headed for the nearest hill in the opposite direction.

He found the perfect spot to look over the valley below and watch the others run around and play. He looked at the sky and let out a mournful howl. A few moments later, he heard Breck and Emma answering his sorrow; joined in each other's loss.

# Chapter 3 - Rowdy's Pub

It was Friday night and Riley pulled up outside of Rowdy's Pub, scowling at the full parking lot. She didn't want to think about what she would find inside the doors. She was still feeling sad over her lost patient a few days prior and couldn't get past the loneliness plaguing her. She thought maybe her hormones were out of whack. She begrudgingly stepped out of her car into the chilly night air and zipped up her coat. It felt like it might snow soon. She walked through the dark parking lot, weaving through cars and praying she could make it through this evening without breaking down in front of her friends. As she opened the door, she pasted on her best smile.

Rowdy's was hopping with activity, the after work crowd was trying to shake off another week at the office. The walls were made of wood paneling, and covered by flashing beer signs and photos of sports stars. TV's in the corners with their volumes muted showed various games playing with subtitles. There was a long bar along the far back wall with a kitchen behind it. Black leather booths lined the perimeter of the other three walls, and about fifteen tables sat in the middle of the square pub. Peanut shells littered the wood plank floors, one of the "attractions" of this establishment. In the side room were a couple of pool tables and dartboards. Riley showed her ID to the bouncer and found the girls sitting smack dab in the middle of the ruckus. _Great, just my luck._ She wound her way through the crowd and sat down at the empty chair. She ordered a beer from the server and did her best to engage in conversation.

Thirty minutes later, she was twirling her beer on the coaster, trying to listen to the conversation Sam was having with Jennifer and Lyla. They were talking about a group of eligible men on the other side of the room, but Riley wasn't interested in talking about something she couldn't have in her life. She knew the girls meant well, but this outing wasn't helping at all. In fact, it was becoming more painful than being at home. At least at home she wasn't verbally reminded about how lonely she was. She had never felt the need for anyone in her life, and now that she realized she was missing something, she didn't know how to fix it. No one had ever been interested in her and she'd never actually been on a date. _How do I change a track record like that at the age of 29, soon to be 30?_

*

Three tables away Garrett sat alone, with his shoulders hunched and a grimace on his face. He hated being the only person sitting alone in a bar, and tonight it was packed with groups of friends, coworkers, and couples. He had a horrible day, hell, he'd been having a horrible couple of years. For some reason his lonely house was getting more unbearable by the moment. He almost went to the pack social last night until he remembered Sonya was still in town. He was worried about the trend of drinking alone at home - it had that closet drinker feel to it. Instead, he stopped at this pub for a drink after leaving the jobsite. Drinking alone in a bar seemed slightly more acceptable for some reason. The harried server rushed over and asked if he was waiting on someone, which only made him grimace more. Really, did she need to ask the one question he didn't want to hear? He affixed his best fake smile and replied, "Nope, only me tonight. May I have an IPA, please?" She hurried away, looking frustrated that he was sitting at a four top alone. _I would have sat at the bar, but it was full._

After such a warm welcome, Garrett decided to leave. He was about to lay a $10 bill on the table and walk out when he turned to the side and saw the most striking woman he'd ever laid eyes on. His heart lurched as if it had been kick started. _What was that about_? He hadn't felt a reaction like this... ever. She sat uncomfortably in a chair with her chin tipped down and was swirling a beer around. He could almost feel sadness radiating from her. He couldn't get a good look at her face, but from what he could tell, it was heart shaped with perfect, pink lips. She looked to be natural in her appearance, not a lot of make-up on and her brown hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail. He couldn't pinpoint what was drawing his attention, but it was magnetic. He discreetly took a sniff of the air to see if he could pick out her scent. Wham! He almost fell out of his chair. He felt lightheaded from the hit; he'd never smelled anything that enticing before. There were notes of apple and cardamom with a touch of hickory. He shook his head to clear his mind, what was going on? She smelled human, not the scent of a shifter.

There were four women at the table, and they were all wearing medical scrubs, two of them with puppies in the pattern. _Maybe they were veterinarians. How ironic._ He felt drawn to her and stared at her for an indecently long length of time. She occasionally lifted her eyes to the conversation around her and made a comment as if she was trying to join in, but couldn't muster the strength for it. He knew that look, because he'd felt the same way many times. The server returned with his drink and asked if he wanted anything to eat. He hadn't planned to eat, but now he didn't want to leave so he absently ordered a burger and fries.

He sat there trying to figure out what to do. Then he saw her delicate hand reach for her wallet as if she was getting ready to pay and leave. He immediately panicked. He couldn't let her get away, not without finding a way to see her again. He hadn't approached a woman since Sarah, and his heart was hammering in his chest as if he was fifteen. His palms were sweaty and he felt he might go into cardiac arrest. He shook his head again and gave himself a mental pep talk, wiped his palms on his jeans, and quickly worked out a way to talk with her.

*

Riley was tired of staring at the rivulets of condensation on her beer glass and half-heartedly joining in conversation. She discreetly grabbed her wallet, and then waited for the server to come by so she could ask for her bill. She knew Sam wouldn't be happy she was leaving so early, but she couldn't take sitting here any longer. Even though she loathed crying, she needed to get home and have a cathartic cry after this trying week. Tomorrow will be her first Saturday off since she started the practice five years ago. As she mentally planned her crying session and fence repair, she nearly jumped out of her skin as someone cleared their throat and mumbled "excuse me" directly behind her. She felt the hair stand up on the nape of her neck and a strange feeling ran over her skin, almost like an energy field. It reminded her of going to the children's museum and putting her hand on an electrostatic generator, but more soothing. She noticed the conversation at the table had died and Sam's eyes widened as she inhaled looking over Riley's shoulder.

She slowly turned around and craned her neck back to see the darkest chocolate brown eyes she'd ever seen, staring at her from under thick eyelashes. She guessed he was a little over 6' tall and had dark brown, wavy hair, which reached his collar. An enticing five o'clock shadow dusted his strong jaw, and his full, kissable lips were set in a grin. She couldn't help herself as her eyes traveled down his body, taking in his black t-shirt, which stretched taut over his defined chest and shoulders. He had well defined biceps, but not grotesquely huge. His hands were in the back pockets of his faded jeans, which hung low on his hips and hugged his muscular thighs to perfection. Scuffed, steel toe work boots covered his feet. He was gorgeous from head to toe. Her gaze traveled back to his eyes and she gulped. He was staring at her and she knew he had caught her looking him up and down. _How embarrassing._

"Hi, I'm Garrett. I noticed you ladies all have scrubs on and since a couple of you have puppies on them I was wondering if you were veterinarians." Her bright green eyes mesmerized him and her face was more perfect than he imagined, heart shaped with a spattering of freckles across her nose. Her lips were full, but not fake. Her brown hair had highlights of gold and red through it and the fringe of her bangs fell over her arched eyebrows. She was sitting, but he could tell she had a curvy little body and was quite a bit shorter than he was. He itched to touch her, so he kept his hands in his back pockets so he wouldn't inadvertently reach for her. He needed to play this cool and not turn into a complete and utter freak show.

It took a moment for Riley to gather herself, feeling like an idiot as she stared at him with her mouth open. She shook her head to clear it and looked back at her friends, who were equally agape. "Umm. Yes, we're veterinarians... Actually, I'm a vet and these women are my amazing support staff: Sam, Lyla and Jennifer. Is there something we can help you with?" He answered with a full megawatt smile that blew her away. She felt like she was about to have a heart attack. She was scared he could hear her heart beating from where he stood. She suddenly felt flushed and she knew her face was red. _Darnit! Why do I have to blush so easily_?

Garrett couldn't believe she was blushing. _Blushing is good, right?_ He definitely caught her giving him a once over and for some reason he was having a hard time not picking her up and throwing her over his shoulder like a caveman. All of his animal instincts came alive and his wolf barked that she was HIS and he wasn't going to let her go. He hoped he didn't screw this up and decided to press on with his plan. "Yes. Actually, I just adopted a dog out of the local shelter and need a good vet in the area. Is your office near here? Are you taking new clients?" He waited anxiously for her answer, but she didn't answer and continued to stare at him. He was starting to feel incredibly self-conscious, when the blonde woman sitting next to her piped up.

"Yes, we're taking new clients, aren't we Dr. Riley?" Sam said.

Dr. Riley. He got a name. Now if he could figure out her first name. He didn't miss the fact she didn't introduce herself as she went around the table earlier.

"Oh yes, of course. Ummm, what kind of dog do you have?" Riley asked. She felt like her brain was mush and she could barely get the words out. She inwardly chastised herself for acting like an idiot. _Great, Riley. Way to sound brilliant. If you can't even answer a simple question, why would he bring his pet to you?_ This man rattled her like she'd never been rattled. She was having a hard time focusing on what he was saying. She had an overwhelming urge to touch him, which was completely absurd.

Garrett Stiffened. Crap! He hadn't thought that far. He didn't have a dog, in fact, he was now going to have to adopt or borrow a dog because of his lame excuse to talk with her. He couldn't have a dog - they all hated him... They didn't like his smell; they could all sense the predator in him. "It's, it's just a mutt. Not a certain breed that I know of." He could tell this lie was going to get him deeper in trouble. At this point, he had to find a way to make contact again and get the hell out of here before he made a complete idiot out of himself. "So, do you have a card, so I can make an appointment?"

Riley couldn't take her eyes off this guy. She felt as if she was on a hidden camera and someone was going to yell "gotchya" any minute. Men like this didn't exist in the real world. She nodded her head and reached for her purse hanging on the back of her chair. "Yes, let me get it for you." Her hands were shaking and she was hoping he didn't notice. She finally fumbled a card out of her bedazzled Great Dane cardholder, which Sam had given her as a birthday gift the year before. When she handed it to him, his fingers brushed hers and she nearly jumped from the electricity. _What was that? Static electricity?_ She shook her head to clear it for at least the third time in the last two minutes. What was wrong with her?!? _Get it together Riley, he's merely a guy; a guy who would never look twice at you._

Garrett sucked in a breath when he felt the electricity. Yep, she was his. They had the electrical connection, which signified Kismet. How could this be? He was so stunned he could barely breathe and his mind was spinning. She is most definitely human. He'd never heard of a shifter and a human having Kismet before. He had no idea how this was going to work. He didn't even know if it was possible. No, he'd make it work no matter what. She was his and he fully intended to claim her.

"Thank you. It was wonderful to meet you, Dr. Riley, and ladies." He nodded to the whole table. He had to touch her one more time. He held out his hand to shake hers and tried to prepare himself for the current he'd feel. When their hands touched, he saw her bright green eyes widen in surprise as she licked her lips and a pink blush colored her cheeks. Garrett inwardly groaned at the feelings shooting through his body. His wolf was pacing around in his head and he was having a hard time controlling himself. He smiled the nicest smile he could muster under the circumstances without looking like a lunatic and turned around to get out of there before he messed anything up.

He could feel the hole burning in his back from her stare the entire walk to the front door. The Kismet connection and his wolf demanded he not leave her for a second, but his human side knew she'd never understand she was his Kismet. HIS Kismet. He always secretly thought it was a bunch of malarkey; something mated wolves made up to act more special than everyone else. How could this be happening? He had to find a way to make it through this minefield.

Garrett was opening his truck when the server ran out after him.

"Hey! You didn't pay your bill! Don't think you can get away with that, I have your license plate number and I'll call the cops!"

Garret was shocked. How did he forget? He really was losing it over her. "I'm so sorry, that wasn't my intention at all; I was sidetracked. How much is the bill?"

"15.84"

He pulled his wallet out and thumbed out two twenty dollar bills. "Here's forty. Please keep the change, and again, I'm very sorry." She gave him the first genuine smile all night and walked off.

Garrett also realized he'd left his Carhart jacket inside. There was no way he was going to chance going back in there right now. He wasn't sure if he could control his wolf and he didn't want to scare her to death. He hoped someone would put it in lost and found for him. Not that he really needed it, wolves naturally ran hotter, so the cold didn't affect them the same as everyone else. However, the humans on his crew would wonder how he stayed warm if he didn't have it on, and secrecy was the first law of all wolves.

*

Riley couldn't take her eyes off Garrett as he turned around and walked out the door. His backside was perfect as the rest of him. The play of his muscles under his t-shirt was tantalizing. She had an insane urge to chase after him, which would be idiotic since there was no way a guy like him would be interested in a plain girl like her. After the door closed, she took a deep breath and turned around to face her friends. She shook her head again and said, "Did that really just happen?"

Sam piped up first saying, "See, you should come out more often, he couldn't take his eyes off you, Ri. His eyes were locked on you."

"Don't be silly, he was probably trying to figure out why a doctor couldn't string two words together. We'll probably never see him again - why would he bring his dog to someone so inept?" Riley groused, but inwardly hoped she was wrong. She HAD to see him again.

Jennifer and Lyla shook their heads. Lyla said, "No, he seemed to be seriously checking you out. He barely glanced at the rest of us."

Jennifer chimed in with, "He probably doesn't even have a dog. It was probably a pickup line. I'll bet ya ten bucks. Did you see the way he hesitated when you asked what kind he had?"

"Ha! I'll take that bet. You guys are delusional." Riley couldn't take anymore. She had to get home and try to put this crazy encounter behind her, or at least be alone while she obsessed over him for the rest of the night. What was that spark she felt? She'd never felt anything like it before. She quietly admitted to herself that there was an air of belonging when she looked at him, but then she quickly shook the thought from her mind.

Ten minutes later the server came over with a man's work jacket in her arms. "Do you guys know the guy you were talking to earlier? He left his jacket at his table."

Riley fisted her hands so she wouldn't reach for it. Nevertheless, Sam grabbed for it and said, "Yes, he's a new client. We'll give it to him next week when he comes in."

Riley wanted to throttle Sam. How could she do that, what if he didn't become a client? Her hopes were already too far up; she knew she was on the verge of heartbreak if she didn't see him again. However, she couldn't seem to find the will to argue as Sam threw the jacket at her and told her to hold onto it. It smelled so good, like pine trees, rain, and sunshine all rolled into one. She could already tell she'd be wrapping up in it later tonight. _Yep, Riley, you've truly lost your mind. Who goes around putting stranger's jackets on because they smell good?_ Riley paid for her bill, said goodbye to the girls and headed for her Jeep.

*

Garrett sat outside of Rowdy's with his truck idling. He looked down at her business card in his hand and grinned because she used her first name with her title. Dr. Riley Stratton. It was a clear indication she tried to lessen the barrier between Dr. and client. He knew he should get out of here, but he couldn't find the strength to leave. He didn't want to come off as a crazy stalker, but he needed to make sure she made it home safely. His wolf's overwhelming protective instincts were in full force and he couldn't let it go. If she were a wolf she'd know what was happening, and she'd feel the Kismet too. It was instantaneous and mutually felt, and there was no delay to act upon it. Did she even feel anything? Her eyes did widen when they shook hands, so he had to believe she felt something. She appeared attracted to him, but so did many women. He wasn't conceited, but they did tend to approach him.

Just then, he felt a ripple in the air and his head snapped up. There she was, exiting the bar and she had his jacket with her. How did that happen? He gripped the steering wheel as he watched her look around guiltily while putting her face to the jacket. Did she smell it? Then she slid her tiny frame into it and folded her arms in front of her, as if she were hugging it to herself. It was the most amazing scene he'd ever witnessed; his Kismet was wearing his huge jacket. It swallowed her up and he was glad something of his was protecting her from the cold.

She walked over to a red Jeep Cherokee and climbed in. Garrett backed out of his space and followed her from a distance. He couldn't let her see him; he'd completely lose his chance if she thought he was stalking her. As he followed her down the city streets, he thought of another problem. What if she was married or had a boyfriend? He was so caught up in the connection he didn't even think about the possibility. He recalled each detail he could about her person and was fairly certain she hadn't been wearing a ring, but what if she was serious with someone? His stomach started to churn and he felt green at the idea. His wolf would not be OK with another man touching her, what if something went wrong? Things like this didn't happen within packs. Wolves knew to stay away from someone's Kismet because they killed encroachers, but now he was dealing with the human world and they didn't understand the shifter's nature and laws.

They were only on the road for about ten minutes when her Jeep pulled into a neighborhood of 1930's bungalows. Parked cars skirted the road, since there weren't garages attached to the homes. The neighborhood was well maintained, and he was relieved to see she lived in a somewhat safe area of town. Not as safe as with him, but at least it appeared her neighbors cared about their homes, which bode well for the crime rate. He kept driving straight when she pulled over to the side. He didn't see another car parked directly in front of her house; so far, it appeared she lived alone. He circled back around and parked across the street about three houses down. Luckily, the vehicles lining the street helped him to blend in. He didn't know what he was going to do, but he still couldn't find the will to drive away.

He took the time to inspect her house. It was a small white bungalow with black trim and shutters. The entry boasted a covered front porch set above the street level by four steps. There were two large picture windows covered with lacey curtains on each side of the black front door. A brick chimney poked out of the right side of the roofline. Garrett could guess it was probably a two bedroom, one bath home. A 6' wood fence skirted both side yards and wound around the back of what appeared to be a sizable yard. The house looked very symmetrical with the matching windows, shutters, and curtains. There was an old, cracked sidewalk running down the tree-lined street in front of her house.

*

Riley had a strange feeling; the hair was up on the back of her neck and she could feel eyes boring into her. She sat in her Jeep in front of her house trying to figure out how to get to her door as fast as possible. She didn't want to leave the safety of her car, but she knew Wolf was inside and would scare off any would-be intruders. She wrapped Garrett's coat tightly around her, then grabbed her keys and her purse, making sure to have the house key ready. Opening the door, she jumped out, slammed it shut, and quickly sprinted up her front steps to the door. Thankfully, she was able to get the key into the lock on the first try. She slipped in, slammed the front door, and dead bolted it.

She heard a low growl come from the corner of the room. Wolf had never growled at her and she was shocked. She flipped the light on and Wolf gave her the most confused look she'd ever seen. He tentatively approached her and sniffed her hand, then Garrett's jacket. He nuzzled her hand and then sat down and whined as he cocked his head to the side. Riley chuckled. She supposed it was the first time she'd come home smelling like a man, he must have been surprised.

She needed to take Wolf for a walk, so she went to retrieve his leash and a flashlight from the hall closet. As they left the house, she had that feeling on the back of her neck again, but she ignored it. She had Wolf now, and there was no way he'd let anyone hurt her. She turned left at the street and followed the sidewalks for their normal three-mile loop.

*

Garrett felt bad; he could tell when she jumped out of the Jeep she was spooked. She nearly flew to the house and slammed the door behind her. She must be feeling the electrical connection since he was so close. That's good! That means she does feel it, and maybe it's not one sided. A few minutes later, she walked out the front door with the biggest beast he'd ever seen, well except for a shifter wolf that is. The dog seemed to be alert and on guard, which calmed his wolf a bit. He forced himself to stay in the cab of his truck and not follow her out into the dark, it felt like the hardest thing he'd ever done. An agonizing 45 minutes later, she walked down the sidewalk across the street from where he was parked. He ducked his head so she wouldn't recognize him if she turned his way. As he looked up again, he saw her entering her home and shutting the door again. He sat there all night long, unable to leave.

At 6:00 the next morning, he decided he should head home and get a few hours of shuteye. Luckily, it was Saturday and he wouldn't see Breck today. He didn't know how he'd look the man in the eye after this. They always shared the same pain and heartache for Sarah, but after meeting Riley, the heartache dulled to an almost imperceptible level. He still loved Sarah, but he knew it was nothing compared to how he felt about Riley. How would Breck take that bit of information? He would know Sarah had been with a man who didn't love her as much as he could. Garrett felt guilty, but powerless to do anything about it.

He would need to meet with his Alpha after he had some sleep. He hoped that John would help him find out what was going on and figure out what to do. He knew the first law of never exposing themselves to humans, but he had Kismet with this human. He had to reveal himself to her; a wolf can't survive without their Kismet once they met each other. He gulped, thinking about the possible consequences of that truth.

# Chapter 4 - Stalker

Riley woke up with Wolf's huge head lying on her stomach and Oscar curled around her head on the pillow. Diffused light filtered through her curtains, illuminating her room. She stared at the ceiling, feeling anxious for some reason. She felt like she wanted something, but couldn't put her finger on what exactly. Her heart was beating faster than normal and it felt like her skin was crawling. Usually the buttercream walls and white-washed wood of her bedroom served to sooth her, but today she felt anything but calm. She decided to get up and take a shower. Even though she spent a good hour in the bathtub last night, she was hoping the shower would help her feel better.

She used all of her strength to push Wolf off her and then threw back her white fluffy comforter. As she padded her way to the bathroom, she saw Garrett's jacket lying across a chair. She reached over, picked it up, and inhaled the scent of him again. She was afraid she'd cover it up with her own smell by constantly touching it, but she couldn't help it. She stood there with her arms hugging it for about five minutes before she started to embarrass herself. She put it down, shook her head, and headed for the shower.

The edgy feeling didn't leave her, and after she ate breakfast, she decided to grab her tools and look at the fence that needed repairing. Maybe some physical labor would help even her out. If it didn't work, she'd go for a long run. Her father had set her up with a full set of tools when she bought the house. She was grateful for his thoughtfulness, because she'd always been independent. She liked to make most repairs herself, avoiding a call to a contractor. However, some tasks required more strength or two people and she yearned for the day she'd have a helpmate. Garrett popped into her head and she laughed at herself _. As if Riley, stop teasing yourself. You know he'd never go for someone as boring as you._ _He probably has a girlfriend, or a wife, one that looks like a super model..._ Her thoughts disturbed her. Did she remember seeing a ring on his hand? She didn't think she had seen his ring finger because he kept his hands in his back pockets most of the time. _Stupid, stupid, stupid. What does it matter? Even if he didn't have a ring, he is sooo out of your league._

By the time Riley had the last board screwed back into place, she wasn't feeling any more relaxed. She decided it was a perfect day for a long run. It was cold, but not raining, so she went inside to change into her running shoes and tights. She grabbed her water bottle, pepper spray, and MP3 player. Turning on her "running" playlist, she took off down the road towards the Burnt Bridge Creek trail. She figured a nice ten- mile run would calm her down.

The only problem with running, it gave her too much time to think. She could usually get lost in the hypnotic beat of her feet hitting the pavement in rhythm to her music, but today she couldn't help but replay the whole scene at Rowdy's last night. Then she started making up alternate endings. What would happen if she had ran after him? If she were more confident and struck up a conversation about more than her job, would he have talked with her? Would it have ended up with him asking her out? This train of thought was not helping her pulse. She looked down at her heart rate monitor and it was a good ten points higher than normal. She tried to think of something else. She focused on some clients and their ongoing health problems; thinking about alternative treatment plans and testing she could perform to rule out other illnesses. As she focused on work, it helped lower her heart rate and calmed her down a bit.

It was about four in the afternoon when she returned from her run, and she felt the tingling on the back of her neck again. She quickly leashed Wolf and took him on his three-mile walk. He was terribly destructive if he didn't get his exercise. She didn't think she could handle being alone that evening with all the alternate scenarios flying through her head. She definitely needed some form of distraction so she dialed Sam while on her walk. She answered on the third ring.

"Hey Ri, what's up?"

"Hey Sam, I was wondering what you had going on tonight. You interested in going to a movie or something?"

"Absolutely! My plans were canceled an hour ago and I don't have anything else scheduled yet. What do you want to see?" Sam was shocked. Riley had never once been the one to initiate getting together. They usually had to drag her out kicking and screaming. She wouldn't turn this opportunity down, even if her plans were still in effect.

Riley racked her brain for a movie, but couldn't think of any. "I don't know, how about some kind of action movie?" She definitely didn't want to see a romantic comedy in her current state. "Maybe we can go to Cinetopia and have dinner too."

"Perfect, how about Hansel and Gretel? I think that's the only action flick in the theaters right now."

"Sounds good to me, I'm out walking Wolf right now, but when I get back I'll take a shower - I should be ready by six."

"Great! I'll swing by and get ya then. Thanks for the call." Sam hung up, still trying to figure out what was going on. She hoped Riley was finally taking advice and learning to live a little bit, but she had a feeling there was more to it than that. Riley sounded stressed.

Riley finished the walk, aware of the tingly feeling. Before entering her house, she stood on the front porch and looked around, but didn't see anything out of the ordinary. She turned to go inside and get ready for her night out. She hoped this was a good idea, because she felt like she was getting ready to crawl out of her skin.

*

Garrett woke up at noon in a sweat. He was having dreams of Riley and his inability to be with her was driving him crazy. His sheets twisted around his body like a straight jacket. He was barely awake and his wolf was already demanding to make sure she was safe. He untangled himself from the bed and went into his office to start a Google search. She didn't appear to have a Facebook account. He did find alumni information on her; she graduated from OSU with honors about six years ago. Her practice started five years ago, and that measly amount of information was all he could find. Her OSU alumni picture was beautiful. She was such a natural beauty, clearly not trying to be someone she wasn't. She wasn't wearing heavy eye make-up or lipstick like some of the other women did. He printed the picture out and slid it into his wallet. He was really hitting stalker level at this point. He decided he needed to speak with his Alpha today. He quickly made himself an omelet and bacon, slammed down some coffee and headed over to his Alpha's, John and Cherise's, house.

Pack was always welcome at the Alpha's home. It was a revolving door of wolves with problems and he wondered how much it wore on them. He'd hate to be in that position. After knocking on the door, he ran his fingers through his hair as he let out a heavy sigh. John opened the door and eyed him up and down; he could clearly smell Garrett's agitation. He opened it wide and asked Garrett to come in.

"Hey John, may I talk with you?" Garrett shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

John studied Garrett's eyes and smelled his anxiety. Something major was going on. "Sure Garrett, does it need to be a private conversation?" John asked.

Garrett ran his fingers through his hair one more time and nodded; glad his Alpha could feel the gravity of the situation. "Yah, it better be private. I have an issue I need some help with." Since wolves are pack animals, they were generally involved with each other's lives. There were few secrets among the pack.

After John made sure Cherise had the rest of the present pack members entertained in the back yard, he lead Garrett into his office and shut the door. Garrett explained what happened from the moment he walked into Rowdy's until now. John's eyes widened in shock as Garrett told him about the Kismet connection. Neither had ever heard of a human sharing Kismet with a wolf. However, John was going to contact the council of elders to see if they knew anything. They were a group of ten retired, yet still powerful Alphas tasked with keeping the law and history of the wolf shifters.

John knew how the Kismet connection would affect Garrett until he could claim Riley. He had to prepare him for it and reiterate the need for secrecy. "Garrett, as you're already aware, Kismet is not always easy to deal with; especially at the very beginning. Your need to be near her is going to get stronger every day until you're able to claim her as yours. Your wolf will be harder and harder to control. If for any reason you think you aren't able to control your wolf, you need to let me know right away. We can't ever let anyone know about our existence, including Riley. The elders would need to authorize such an action. Please remember what the penalty is for breaking the law."

Garrett was well aware of what the penalty was: death. In addition, since Riley was his Kismet, there was a possibility his death would kill her too. He wasn't 100% sure of that since she was human, but there was absolutely no way he would allow it to happen. The thought of any harm coming to her made him physically ill. He would find the strength to control himself, for her if nothing else.

When he left John's home, he headed towards Vancouver. He had to make sure Riley was unharmed or else his wolf was going to take over. He hadn't had a hard time controlling his wolf since he was twelve and started changing for the first time. This was a ridiculous feeling, a grown wolf not able to control himself. He put on some soothing music as he drove the thirty minutes south. He was hoping to "calm the beast", laughable. _Come on Garrett. Get it together. You have the strength to control this. You're one of the strongest members of the pack._ He shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair again. He was going to go bald in the next week at this rate.

It was about 3:30 when he pulled into the same spot he was parked in last night. Riley's Jeep sat out front, and no others parked nearby. Good, more confirmation she didn't have a boyfriend. He didn't really know what he was doing there. Was he going to walk by and look in the windows? Sit in his car and wait for her to leave so he could stalk her? This was exceedingly stupid. Finding his Kismet should be a celebration. He should be able to grab her, kiss her with all his passion, and carry her home. Not being able to do any of that was slowly killing him.

About thirty minutes later, he saw her. She hadn't even been home. He barked out laughter of how asinine it was to be guarding an empty house, while she had clearly been out on a run with no protection. His hackles went up at the thought; she could have been hurt or attacked. His stomach turned with nausea. As she got closer to the house, he noticed she was wearing skintight running pants and a fitted jacket. Lord have mercy, she was hot. She had curves in all the right places from her muscular thighs, rounded butt, trim waist, and generous breasts. She was not stick skinny by any means, but nicely rounded and fit. Perfect. He let out a low growl of approval and immediately reined his wolf in. She stepped inside her house and was back out within a few seconds with the gigantic beast again. He was nearly as tall as she was. The dog had his ears pricked and eyes alert; Garrett liked that look. He knew the dog would keep her safe on this portion of her outing. He sat back and waited for her to come back around, assuming it'd be about 45 minutes again.

When she returned, she was talking on the phone with someone. Garrett strained to hear what she was saying. He heard something about see ya later and six. His wolf immediately stood at attention. Garrett was wondering what to do, what if a male came by to pick her up? Could he control his wolf? Would he want to? He vacillated on whether or not to drive away or walk up and nonchalantly knock on her door. What would he do then? Act like a door-to-door salesman? He could hear himself now, _Well Dr. Riley, what a coincidence. This must be fate, I'm going to throw you over my shoulder and carry you back to my cave now_. Yah, that'd go over really well. Garrett shook his head and continued to grouse at the situation. Apparently, he had been mulling over possibilities longer than he thought, because a car pulled up behind Riley's jeep, it beeped twice and sat there.

Garrett was immediately pissed. What kind of person beeps the horn? The jerk should at least find her important enough to walk to the door. Garrett wanted to protect her and take care of her so intensely; he would have a hard time not carrying her everywhere they went. He'd never pull up and beep a horn; it showed no respect. A few seconds later Riley came out her front door and waved at the driver with a smile on her face. His stomach plummeted as she opened the passenger side door and scooted in. His wolf was pacing and howling in his head and his heart was sick. The guy didn't even get out and open the door for her. He could barely keep control. He fought to keep his claws in, but they kept extending and retracting, leaving drops of blood dotting his steering wheel.

He took some deep breaths and counted to ten, recalling all the lessons he had when he first shifted, how to focus on staying in his human form. When he looked back up, the car was at the end of the street. He slammed the truck into drive and sped after them, he couldn't let her out of his sight until he saw the driver. He followed them through traffic to the east side of town. Great, just great, they were heading to Cinetopia, it was most definitely a date night. He parked in the back of the lot and watched as the driver circled to find a closer spot. He took another deep breath to prepare himself for seeing the guy. He didn't want his wolf breaking free and charging after him. The driver's door swung open and a head full of curly blonde hair popped out. The tension in Garrett's body immediately melted away. It was Sam, from the table the night before. He chuckled, wiped the sweat off his brow, and grabbed a towel to wipe down the blood from the steering wheel. What a relief. Then Riley popped her head out and tension flooded him again. He wanted so badly to be the one next to her as they walked into the theater; he was determined to make it happen.

*

Riley was glad she chose to go out tonight. She and Sam shared a bottle of wine with dinner and had a great conversation. She could tell Sam wanted to play twenty questions, but didn't give into her inclinations. They chatted about clothes, some clients, and various guys Sam had been dating recently. Cinetopia was a new version of cinema, which had theaters for those over 21, called The Living Room. The Living Room had wait staff to serve meals and drinks while you waited for the movie to start. In her book, it was the only way to see a movie anymore. Not that she normally went for the "finer things in life", but it was nice to be pampered once in a while, especially since she rarely went out on the town.

They ordered another bottle of wine once inside the theater and Riley wound up drinking most of it since Sam was driving. Having dulled senses, seemed to be helping with the edginess she'd been feeling ever since laying eyes on Garrett. The movie was a bit hokey; she wasn't really into sci-fi/fantasy garbage. Her mind was too scientific to let herself enjoy the silliness of it all, but at least it filled a few hours of her evening, and due to the amount of wine she drank, she figured she'd fall asleep quickly when she arrived home.

The next morning Riley cracked her eyes open. They felt like sand paper and her head was pounding. Apparently, she had more wine than she thought. She also had a full dose of the edginess from the day before. She didn't have the energy to fight it, so she decided to embrace the horrible feeling and lay there like a slug. Wolf lay next to her as usual and Oscar was around her head. On the other side of her was Garrett's jacket. What was that doing there? She must have grabbed it when she went to bed last night. She rolled over onto her side and wrapped her arms around it, burying her face into the fabric. The smell alone seemed to ease the tension out of her body. Within the next few moments, Riley was back asleep with her arms still wrapped around his jacket.

She awoke out of a dream she was sure involved Garrett. She looked at the clock and sat straight up. It was almost noon! She hadn't slept in that late since she was in high school. Clearly, she needed these days off, and it reiterated the importance of finding another vet for the practice. She crawled out of bed, dragging the jacket with her. She looked at it and shrugged her shoulders. Deciding not to fight it, she slipped her arms in and wrapped it around her. It was the most comforting thing she'd felt in a long time.

Shaking her head at the delusion, she walked into her office to write some emails to her past professors about possible candidates. Next, she decided to make her weekly phone call to her parents and finish some paperwork from Friday. She logged into the online calendar to check out her schedule for the following day. As it loaded, she gasped. There was an appointment set for tomorrow at 11:00 with a new client, Garrett Forrester. She didn't know if it was the same Garrett from Friday night or not, but it seemed to be too close of a coincidence. She started trembling, just thinking about seeing him again. She wasn't sure if she could keep a clear enough head to do her job around him. She looked down at the coat wrapped around her and sighed with regret. She didn't want to lose the comfort of the coat. For some inexplicable reason, it seemed to be her only link to sanity.

*

After leaving the theater, Garrett had to figure out a way to see her again - with her knowing. When he arrived home, he pulled out her card. A line read, "Make your appointment today at www.drrileyvet.com". He booted up his computer and opened her website. He took the first available appointment for new clients - Monday at 11:00. It looked like she allotted an entire hour with new patients. His mind boggled; a full hour in her presence. He wasn't entirely sure he'd be able to handle it without grabbing her and kissing her. He wanted to feel her soft body melt into his, while he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. Garrett shook his head, he couldn't think about it right now, or he'd be up all night long.

What he needed to do was find a dog. He sent out a message to his work crew and asked if anyone had a dog he could borrow for the day. He came up with the lame excuse that his friend was doing practice exams for school. They were the only humans he knew well enough to ask. There wasn't anyone in his pack who had a pet of any kind, and for good reason. He prayed he wasn't making a horrible mistake. Getting the dog to cooperate with him was going to be another issue; he figured he'd deal with that when the time came. He wasn't Alpha of his pack, but he was still more dominant than most, hopefully he could use it to control the dog.

Sunday morning dawned with rain in the valleys and snow at his house. He climbed out of bed and ambled outside to look over the white hilltops and green valley below. Different dreams of Riley woke him up every hour on the hour the night before. He was feeling anxious and decided to let his wolf out and go for a run after breakfast; he hoped it'd wear him out a bit, so he'd be easier to control. He ambled into the kitchen and made a sausage and bacon omelet, toast, and coffee.

After he had his fill, he stripped down and walked outside onto the snow. He called his wolf forward and changed fluidly into his chocolate brown shift. As a wolf, his back was about five foot tall, and his large paws were the size of dinner plates. His head was about two sizes larger than a normal wolf. They never let humans see them in their shift because of their abnormal size; the last thing the pack needed was scientists wandering around looking for a new species.

He ran down the hill, looking to flush some rabbits or deer so he could have a good chase. He wasn't into the kill as much as he was the chase; he liked a good workout. As he was running, he smelled signs of hunters near his fence line that backed up to the national park. He could smell gun cleaner and metal in the air, along with about five individual human scents. He tracked them for a while to see which way they headed, it appeared they skirted his property and then veered further east into the mountains. Satisfied they were away from his land, he returned to his house and changed back to his human form.

As he walked inside, he heard the ping of a text message. He slid into his jeans and grabbed his phone. The message was from one of his crew, Dave, who had a dog, and said he could bring it in tomorrow morning. He texted back to thank him and make sure he brought the dog's medical records. Task one done. He scrolled through his texts and found one from his Alpha, John, asking him to call. He immediately dialed, hoping he'd have some good news from the elders. As soon as John answered, Garrett fired the one question burning a hole in his mind, "Did they say I could tell her?"

"I spoke with the head elder, Jeremiah, and he hasn't heard of anything like this before. He'd like us to fly to headquarters in Maine on Tuesday to meet with them. Jeremiah is calling all the elders in for the meeting. Garrett... this is big. I think Jeremiah is spooked about what this could mean."

"Is there anything I can do to sway their vote in my favor? I need to be able to tell her about our Kismet. I'm controlling my wolf right now, but I'm not sure how long I can keep it from her." Garrett pleaded.

John replied in his alpha tone, "Garrett, I'll do everything I can to help you. I know how hard it must be, but we need to follow the rules right now. Don't do anything hasty. I'll arrange our plane tickets and text you with the itinerary."

"Thanks John, I trust you to help me through this. I'll be ready to go when you need me. Thank you." Garrett hung up the phone and felt sick. He couldn't help but feel John was sending a larger warning than what he said, as if he should be reading between the lines. If the entire council is meeting for this, it can't be good. He knew they were ruthless when judging lawbreakers. They had a very large population to keep hidden, so he understood their strictness. He hoped they'd find a way to allow him to claim his Kismet, or else their lives could be at stake.

He knew he wouldn't be able to sleep after that phone call, and thoughts of seeing Riley again tomorrow had his mind spinning. Garrett headed for his truck, knowing he'd have a sleepless night in front of Riley's house.

# Chapter 5 - Big Bad Wolf

Riley woke up with butterflies in her stomach before her alarm clock rang. She was hoping Garrett Forrester was her Garrett. _Her Garrett? Where did that come from, since when did he become her Garrett?_ This was definitely going to be a long morning. Since she was up early, she decided to give Wolf his walk before work.

She slipped on her jeans, sweatshirt, and running shoes while a hot cup of coffee perked. With coffee in hand, she leashed up a happy Wolf and headed for the door. Instead of grabbing her coat, she snatched up Garrett's and snuggled into it; she was becoming more and more comfortable about having it's warmth around her. Outside her breath fogged from the crisp morning air. She looked up to see naked tree branches silhouetted by the early dawn light of the sky, and birds were chirping and flitting about from branch to branch. Riley felt the prickle at the nape of her neck and hunched further into Garrett's jacket as she sipped her coffee and lead Wolf down the street.

She was still wearing his jacket as she drove into the clinic. Removing it as she walked inside, making sure none of the girls saw her wearing it. Three more hours and she'd find out if her hopes would be dashed. Lyla confirmed her schedule as normal and gave Riley a knowing smile when she mentioned the new client, Garrett. Riley tried to ignore it, but felt the heat of a blush on her cheeks.

As soon as she walked into her office, Sam came in and shut the door. Riley inwardly groaned about the impending conversation.

"I knew that Garrett guy was into you. He took the first available slot. You _will_ go out with him if he asks, right?" Sam fixed her with a gimlet eye, prodding her to acquiesce.

Riley threw her arms up in the air. "Sam! First, we don't know if it's the same Garrett. Second, he is not going to ask me out, he's looking for a vet. I'm going to take care of his pet in a professional manner. Please don't do anything to embarrass me if he comes in. I know how you like to meddle." Riley was terrified Sam would say something to him. She was always so fun loving; she sometimes didn't realize she could be overly forward.

Sam smirked, "Whatever, Ri. First, I know it is Garrett Garrett and second, I know he'll be asking you out. We have a little wager going. I say he'll ask you out during the exam. Lyla says immediately after he pays, and Jennifer says he'll call back after he leaves and ask you out. Hey, at least you'll win the ten dollars from Jennifer, he clearly has a dog."

Riley let out an aggravated sigh and said, "Yep! See, you guys have already been wrong about him. I'm going to check emails and review our charts for the first few appointments. You are making a mountain out of a mole hill on this one." Riley crossed her fingers, hoping she was wrong. If he showed up and asked her out, she would most definitely go against her rule of never dating a client. She was a bit chagrinned that she would cave on the rule with the first chance, but she hadn't been able to stop thinking of him all weekend. She could imagine how good it would feel to have his arms wrapped around her; his jacket alone made her feel more safe and secure than anything else she'd experienced. Sam winked at her and sauntered out of the office as if she knew something Riley didn't.

An email from one of her past professors was waiting in her inbox. She opened it, hoping there was good news. Apparently, there was a candidate named Ryan whom the professor believed would make a good fit. She emailed back, asking if he'd have Ryan send in a resume and letters of recommendation. Pleased, she turned away from the email and started reviewing her charts. The morning seemed to drag by and fly by simultaneously. She couldn't seem to figure out if she was excited or fearful for the clock to strike eleven. At 10:45 her heart was beating as if she were sprinting around a track. She had just finished her final appointment before the mysterious Garrett was to make his appearance. She was in the back room with the boarded animals, giving them some TLC and trying to attain some calmness from the act when she heard the ding of the front door. Five seconds later, all hell broke loose.

*

Garrett woke up suddenly. He had a crick in his neck from falling asleep in the driver's seat. While rubbing his neck, he looked around for what disturbed his catnap. Ah ha, it must have been his cute little Kismet; she was walking out of her home with a cup of coffee in one hand and her dog's leash in the other. He felt like a lovesick puppy when he saw her wearing his jacket again. It warmed him all the way through to know it was giving her comfort. She paired it with skinny jeans and running shoes. Her hair was up in her usual messy ponytail. She stopped at the side of the road and looked up into the trees, her breath crystallizing in the cold morning air. He'd never seen anything more beautiful. As she walked down the road, he started his truck and drove to a local diner to grab some breakfast before heading to the jobsite.

Jason was waiting for him in the trailer as he walked in. "Hey Garrett, I have to ask - why did you send a text looking for a dog?"

"Ummm, well." Garrett wasn't sure how to proceed. Jason had always been his best friend. When he lost Sarah, he had emotionally shut down and in the process turned all friendships away. He wasn't sure if Jason would ever forgive him for that and he didn't want to be an opportunistic friend. Although, he could really use Jason's support right now, but he'd shut him down for so long it didn't seem fair to expect friendship only when he needed it. He scuffed his boot on the linoleum and tried to figure out what to say.

"Look Garrett, I know you haven't been keen on sharing since you lost Sarah." Jason cringed as he said her name. He hated the haunted look Garrett always had when anyone mentioned her name. However, this time Garrett showed sadness in his eyes, but not the cold, empty look usually seen there. He plunged on, hoping Garrett was ready to hear what he had to say. "I can't understand the pain you went through... are going through, since I've never found a mate, but please know I've never stopped being your friend, and I'm here anytime you need a sounding board. It seems like you've had a stressful time lately. We're pack and we all need each other's support at some point. Besides, I heard you went out with Sonya the other night, how'd that go?" Jason stopped his speech and waited expectantly, hoping he didn't push Garrett further away. Male shifters were not the touchy feely type.

_Sonya? Garrett snorted. If Jason only knew, ha ha ha._ His friend's loyalty awed him, especially after pushing him away and turning his back on him for the past few years. His Kismet must be thawing his heart, because for the first time he did feel like having someone to talk with. He sat down in his chair and motioned for Jason to take the one across from him.

He figured the only way to start was with the main point, "I found my Kismet. And no, it's not Sonya." He let that soak in for a second and followed up with the clincher, "She's human".

Jason's eyes bugged out of his head. "What! How is that even possible?"

"I don't know man. I ran into her on Friday night and I've not been the same since. She's a vet and I made up a stupid story that I had a new dog so I could get her card. I have an appointment today at 11:00 to take "my" dog in."

Jason burst out laughing. "Oh man, you have got to be kidding." Shaking his head and bending over at the waist he continued to belly laugh. "There is no way this will go well. You know the dog is going to flip out, not to mention the rest of the animals at the vet's office. I'd love to be there to see it." Jason couldn't stop laughing at his friend's predicament. It felt good to laugh in his presence it'd been too long.

Garrett couldn't help but chuckle at himself too. "I have no idea what I'm doing; I just knew I had to see her again. I didn't even think about what I was saying. Dave is supposed to be bringing his dog in for me today."

"Dave? Oh man, he has a Rottweiler. He's so proud of him; he's always showing pictures to all the guys. You better hope he's not an alpha or you may have a challenge on your hands."

"Ah crap, I told her it was a mutt. Great, I'm going to look like even more of an idiot." Garrett ran his hands through his hair, making it stand up on end. "I've been stalking her all weekend. My wolf won't let me have a moment's peace if I don't have an eye on her. Jas, you can't tell anyone about this. John has us going to meet with the council in Maine tomorrow. I need their permission to tell her about us, and I'm terrified they won't give it. I'm not sure what it would mean for us."

Jason sobered when he scented the fear on Garrett. He didn't see how this was fair; the poor guy had been through enough already. Nothing seemed easy for him and he had always been one of the nicest and most helpful shifters he knew. "If there is anything I can do to help, you let me know. I'm there for you Garrett, always."

"Thanks Jas, I don't deserve your friendship after the last few years, but I'll gladly take it. I have a feeling I'll need it before this is settled; starting with getting a Rottweiler to walk on a leash for me." He chuckled, thinking about the morning that he was going to have.

"Have you thought about telling her the truth, that you simply want to take her out on a date?"

Garrett blinked owlishly. "I can't admit I lied to her now. What does it say about me? I know she's my Kismet, but I don't know if humans react the same way, and I can't take the chance of losing her."

"Don't sell her short. If she's meant to be with you then she's a special lady." With that, Jason headed out of the trailer and back to work.

Garrett felt humbled to have such a great friend. Just talking about it had already helped him feel better about the situation. Just then, he had a knock on his door and Dave walked in.

"Hey, I have Dude in the truck. Let me know when you're ready to go and I'll get him for you."

"Great! Thanks again Dave, the appointment's at 11:00, so I'll take him about 10:30 or so."

"No prob, boss, happy to help. I'll be working in the far corner setting rebar." Dave turned around and headed out.

Left with his own thoughts, he anticipated seeing his perfect little Kismet. He couldn't wait to be able to look her in the eye and speak with her again. Watching from afar had been difficult on him, even though it was necessary to keep his wolf relaxed.

At 10:30, he called Dave over and walked to his truck, not sure what he was going to see. He stood back a ways, while Dave opened the door and asked Dude to come out. The wind was blowing his scent in the opposite direction, but when Dude jumped out of the truck he immediately whined, cowered onto his stomach, and rolled onto his back in a submissive position. Dave was clearly shocked and embarrassed that his big, bad Rottweiler turned into a scaredy cat. Garrett was immediately relieved, Dude was a beta. The dog may be scared of him, but at least there wouldn't be a challenge for dominance.

Dave nervously looked at Garrett and said, "Must be all the heavy machinery. He never acts like this."

"No problem, we'll get him out of this environment and I'm sure he'll be fine. Thanks again for bringing him." He grabbed the leash and asked Dude to follow. The submissive animal walked behind him in a cowered position, clearly not happy about it.

He arrived at the clinic a little bit early, but figured new clients often arrived early to fill out forms, etc. He couldn't wait any longer; he had to see her again. Maybe he'd be able to catch a glimpse of her before his allotted time. He climbed out of his truck and asked Dude to follow. Still cowering as if he'd been beaten, the dog tucked his tail between his legs and followed Garrett to the door.

The bell sounded his entry. There was a client checking out who had a very dominant German Shepherd on a thread of a leash. The unsuspecting owner had their arm looped through the handle as she signed her receipt. The dog bared his teeth with a low growl. The shocked owner looked down at the dog and up at Garrett. The second the owner looked back down at the dog, Garrett issued a warning growl of his own, imperceptible to the human ear. The Shepherd bolted toward Garrett with teeth snapping and yanked the owner off their feet, simultaneously snapping its joke of a leash in half. The girl behind the desk screamed and all of the animals in the back of the clinic started barking in a cacophony of noise. Garrett realized his error the second he made it. This dog was more dominant than he initially thought. He had a split second to change the outcome or he'd have teeth sinking into his throat and his wolf would be coming out to play in full view of the humans. He took a chance, hoping the chaos would mask what he was about to do. He stood his ground and let his wolf come forward enough to turn his eyes golden and elongate his canines. He issued another low growl. His partial shift also emitted a stronger shifter scent, which should stop any animal, except a more dominant shifter wolf.

That definitely did the job; the shepherd skidded to a halt and laid down on his back, whimpering in submission. Garrett pulled his wolf in and looked up. There was his Kismet, in the doorway, looking right at him with a confused look on those beautiful green eyes. _Crap! She didn't see did she? She didn't freak out, so maybe not._ Her hair was up in a messy ponytail and she was wearing baggy green scrubs with a black turtleneck underneath. He was drawn to her, he needed to touch her, but their moment was interrupted when the Shepherd's owner picked herself off the floor and apologized repeatedly. He let her know everything was fine and no harm was done. He could still hear the animals in the back of the clinic going wild; they were barking and screeching. He felt bad he caused this much chaos by walking in. Then he looked down at Dude, and the dog had actually peed on the floor. _Just great._

Riley was walking towards Garrett, stepping over the prone Shepherd, and reaching for his arm. It took everything in him not to grab her and hold her to his body. She had a concerned look in her eye.

"Are you OK, Garrett?" she asked.

"I'm fine. I'm sorry I caused this much chaos, and I think Dude, here, wet the floor," he said chagrined. He was having a hard time concentrating on what he was saying with her hand on his arm. It felt so right; he didn't want her to let him go and her spicy apple scent was overpowering.

"It's fine Garrett, I'm sure it wasn't your fault." Riley gave him a slanted smile.

The shepherd's owner came over to apologize to Riley again. She removed her hand from Garrett's arm to talk with her and he felt like it had hollowed him out. He wanted her to touch him again, to feel the connection between them. The owner grabbed the dog's collar and ushered him out the door.

Riley turned to excuse herself from the reception area, "I need to go check on the animals in back and make sure everyone is alright."

Jennifer looked up at Garrett and saw him intently watching Riley exit the room. Yep, he definitely had it bad for her. She had him get a weight on Dude and gave him some initial paperwork to fill out. She noticed his poor dog was completely freaked out and would barely stand up enough to crawl across the floor. She'd never seen such a scared dog in her life; she assumed it had been horribly abused at some point. She ushered him into an exam room and went to find Riley.

As Garrett sat down in the exam room, he let out his breath. What a cluster. He didn't think it would be quite so chaotic. He was praying Riley hadn't seen his wolf come forward. If she had seen him she would have gone running the other direction, right? Instead, she had walked towards him and touched him. There is no way she would have approached him if she had seen.

Poor Dude was cowering at the end of his leash, trying to lie as far away from the big bad wolf as he could. He rubbed his hand through his hair and braced himself for being in the small 8 x 8 room with her. After she laid her hand on him, he never wanted to leave her side. His heart was racing and his palms started sweating again. He kept taking deep breaths in and out, trying his best to calm himself and his wolf. Before he left today, he'd need a way to see her again. He couldn't wait for "his" dog's next booster shot.

The room door opened and the stunning woman walked in. Her shining green eyes greeted him with a smile. He sucked in a breath at her beauty and stood up to greet her. He noticed his jacket in her hand, and he was disappointed she'd be giving it back. Putting his hands in his back pockets again so he wouldn't wrap his arms around her he said, "Sorry again, Dr. Riley. I hope all of your patients in back are alright?"

"Oh, it's not your fault Garrett. Yes, everyone is fine and starting to settle down. I'm not sure what got into them." Holding up his coat she said, "By the way, our server at Rowdy's thought we knew you, so she gave us the jacket you left on Friday night. I hope it's OK we took it so we could get it back to you?" She walked up next to him and her cheeks turned a cute shade of pink. He loved it when she blushed.

He took the jacket from her, sad she was giving it back, but instantly happy her scent was all over it. He immediately put it on, not because he was cold, but because he wanted to be wrapped in her scent. "Oh, thanks. I appreciate you holding onto it for me."

She looked over at Dude, "So, this is Dude? He seems to be a bit shy." In fact, he was straining at the end of his leash as if he was trying to get away from Garrett. As soon as she cleared Garrett's space, Dude launched himself at her, hiding his head against her legs. She looked down at him with a puzzled face. "Dogs don't normally look for protection from the vet."

Garrett was mortified. How was he supposed to explain that his dog was terrified of him without looking like an animal abuser? He felt like the worst kind of person, first for lying to her and then for bringing this terrified animal with him. Jason had it right, he'd have to come out and tell her he lied. It was the best thing he could do, and hope she wouldn't be offended or scared of him. He couldn't base his Kismet relationship on a farce. Yes, he had made the stupid lie two days after the full moon, but he couldn't very well explain his irrational behavior because of the moon cycles.

"Well, there's a funny story about that." Garrett shifted back and forth and fell back into his chair, running both hands through his hair. He looked up at Riley and she had a confused look on her face.

"I'm listening." She said, as she sat on the ground and gave Dude more attention.

He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and his head hanging down. He looked up and met her beautiful eyes, praying he wasn't going to ruin everything. "I want to start by saying I don't like liars." He took a deep breath and continued, "But I'm sorry and ashamed to say I lied to you." She had the cutest confused expression on her face. She cocked her head to the side, looked down at Dude and then back up at Garrett.

"What do you mean you lied, this isn't your dog? I'm confused."

He could see the look of hurt and disappointment in her eyes and he wanted to kick himself. What was he thinking, lying to his Kismet? He really was an ass. He gulped and went for truth. He'd put his heart out there and hope she didn't stomp it into smithereens before he could get a chance to explain. His heart was thundering. He could feel his pulse in his temples and he swore he was about to pass out. He ran his hand through his hair again. "Well, you see. I'm an idiot. When I saw you at Rowdy's on Friday night I wanted to approach you, but I did it in the lamest way possible. This is a friend's dog, not mine. I came up with the lie in order to get your contact information, so I could see you again." He paused and when she didn't say anything, he continued, "There was something special about you and I lost my head. I'm beyond sorry and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me." He was sure he was going to throw up any second. He waited for her reply as a myriad of emotions swept over her face. He wasn't sure how to read any of it. Her scent was changing every few seconds, from nervousness, to excitement, to anger and back again. He couldn't keep track of it. "And on top of everything, you can see that I don't have a way with animals. They don't normally like me much." He looked down, ashamed of the entire fiasco and waited for her to beat feet out of the exam room.

However, she didn't run out of the exam room, instead, she hung her head and looked at the floor while absently petting Dude. He was completely depressed and decided he had better leave. He didn't want to have an emotional breakdown in front of her. Wolves weren't wired to accept rejection from their Kismet and her apparent rejection felt like a knife in the gut.

"I'm sorry Dr. Riley. I really am. I'll take Dude, if he'll go with me, pay my bill, and head out. I'm sure you're very busy and have clients to attend to." He asked Dude to follow him, feeling as if his heart had been ripped out of his chest. He thought Sarah dying was painful; it was nothing to being turned down by his Kismet. He didn't think he was going to recover. He felt tears burning at the back of his eyes. _I am a shifter wolf, I will NOT cry. Absolutely not, even though I feel like I'm dying._ He opened the exam room door and made his way to the reception counter to pay, with a very reluctant Dude following.

Approaching the front desk, he felt like a complete jerk. Jennifer looked up in surprise to see him so soon. He asked her to charge for the visit, which she did, and he signed his credit card receipt. As he was heading out the door, he felt Riley enter the room.

"Wait. Garrett, don't leave yet," Riley called

Garrett's hand stilled, on the door handle. He felt like he was splintering apart. Did she stop him to give him a chance? He took a deep breath and turned around. Her emerald eyes locked onto his and his breath whooshed out because of the heated look she gave him.

"Hey, we all make mistakes," she said.

Relief slammed into him and his heart started beating again. He wasn't sure what to do; he wanted to grab her up and hug her and never let her go. Instead, he took off his jacket, walked over, and wrapped it around her shoulders. He said, "I know this seems strange, but would you mind holding onto it for me until I see you next?"

"I can do that. When will I be seeing you next?" She cocked a half grin at him.

Smiling shyly, he said, "Is tonight too early?"

Taken aback, Riley shook her head, "No, not too early. Tonight it is." She held out her hand to shake on it, more to have an excuse to touch him than any other reason. When their hands met, they both smiled bigger and had a moment where words weren't necessary to convey feelings.

Garrett heard the ding of the front door behind him. Riley's eyes left his and looked over his shoulder, then widened with shock and joy. She pulled her hand away from him and covered her mouth in surprise as Garret whipped his head around and saw a man standing at the entrance with the same expression of joy on his face.

Garrett's wolf almost broke free. No one can look at her like that; she was his Kismet. Garrett turned around to face the threat, keeping between the stranger and his Kismet. His wolf wanted to kill, but he didn't know who this person was, maybe it was her brother? He couldn't take this emotional roller coaster. After being dead inside for three years, he'd felt every emotion that existed within a thirty minute window. He felt like he was going to break apart and Dude was at a full cower again, feeling Garrett's confusion and anger. He took a deep breath to calm himself. Bad decision, because the inhale brought the male's scent of lust. That was the last straw; he couldn't take any more. He fisted his hands as his claws started to poke through and he looked to the ground as his eyes went golden.

Then he felt his Kismet step next to him and put her hand on his lower back. Her touch brought magical warmth pulsing through his body and completely calmed him, allowing his wolf to recede. He looked over at her. She was peering up at him as if she understood his inner turmoil. Their connection grew even stronger in those few seconds as they gazed in each other's eyes. He nodded his composure as he watched her slip her arms fully into his jacket, and snuggle in, as if she was making a point. Then she stepped over to the intruder and gave him a hug. He wanted to hug her so badly it was killing him, but instead, he watched her hug another male with a smile on her face. She tested his self-control in epic proportions.

*

Riley, floored to see Ryan, didn't know how to react. She hadn't seen him in almost seventeen years, and here he was in her clinic. He looked the same, except more grown up and handsome. She saw Garrett stiffen and whip his head around to look at Ryan. She somehow sensed his fear and hurt, almost as if he were one of the animals she cared for. She could feel his emotions pouring off him and she immediately stood next to him and timidly put her hand on his lower back. She felt him relax and he turned his head to look down at her. She could tell his jaw was clenched tight and his eyes were so intense, it stole her breath. He nodded at her then, letting her know all was OK as his jaw relaxed. She didn't know what it was about, but she felt they were somehow inexplicably connected. She didn't want to let go of him again, but she needed to greet Ryan. She put her arms through Garrett's jacket to keep him close as she lowered her hand from his back and stepped around to give Ryan a hug.

"Ryan! I can't believe I'm seeing you after all of these years. What on earth are you doing here?" Riley stepped back next to Garrett to give him some comfort. Still lost as to why she sensed he needed it, but drawn to do it anyway.

"Well, my professor at OSU told me he had a veterinarian looking for a new graduate to hire. When he told me your name, I couldn't believe it could possibly be you. Then I looked up your alumni photo and I was proven wrong. So, I guess I'm here to talk to you about a job," Ryan said with a smile. He shifted his look to the guy standing next to Riley and didn't like what he saw. Possessiveness was thick in the room and he almost felt uncomfortable talking with her. They were shaking hands when he came in; it hadn't appeared they were in a relationship. This guy was going to be a problem, plus he was sensing a shifter in the room and it had to be coming from him. He didn't know what kind of shifter, but from the display of dominance and the cowering dog at his feet, he'd guess wolf.

She was shocked; she couldn't believe he was the applicant the professor referred to her. She could definitely share a space with him and unless he had changed a ton, she knew he'd fit in with the whole crew. "Wow Ryan, this is amazing. I'm in shock. I'd love to talk with you about it. Why don't you follow Sam into my office and I'll be in there in a minute. I can't believe you're actually here." She stepped up and gave him a hug again. It had been so many years; it was as if a piece of her family was finally glued back in place. Looking at a strangely wide-eyed Sam behind her, she asked, "Sam, can you show Ryan to my office and get him something to drink? I'll be right there."

"Absolutely, right this way Ryan." Sam chimed.

So much had happened in the last hour. The animals acting psychotic, Garrett arriving and nearly having his throat ripped out. Then he told her he had lied to her and all because he saw something special about her. She'd never had anyone say anything like that to her. As if that wasn't enough, he gave her his jacket/security blanket again, with his scent even stronger than it had been before. When he asked her out, she thought she'd never been so happy in all of her life. The connection she felt with him didn't seem possible, how can she feel so connected to someone she just met? It was as if she could read his emotions even. If Ryan hadn't come in and shocked the heck out of her, she would have stepped into his arms for a hug and probably a kiss. Talk about twilight zone.

Ryan was another crazy coincidence. Garrett acted as if he were protecting her from him with the way he stood in front of her. She swore he was about ready to attack if she hadn't rested her hand on him. His back muscles were strung taut and it gave her shivers thinking about it. He seemed so powerful and she wanted to run her hands up and down his back and arms, feel his muscles flex under her fingertips. Her mind was spinning with all these thoughts as she turned to look at Garrett. She noted he had a look of utter disappointment in his eyes, as if someone had stolen his ice cream cone.

"Well, this has been a crazy morning, huh?" She gave him a shy smile.

Garrett gulped and asked, "Um, so, who is that guy?" embarrassed he was jealous, but determined to know the truth.

"That's Ryan Henderson, and I haven't seen him since I was thirteen. He was my best friend growing up. I'm still in shock he's here. I've been looking for some help, so I can have some more "me" time, and I guess he's applying." She finished, hoping that made it sound as innocent as it was. She could tell he had a jealous streak. She couldn't figure out why anyone would be jealous over her, especially when they had just met.

"Oh, OK. Well, I should let you get back to your meeting, and I need to get Dude back to his owner. Again, I'm really sor..." Riley cut him off by putting a finger to his lips. He sucked in a breath and felt the electrical spark all the way through his body. He suppressed a shiver and looked deeply into her eyes, trying to convey his feelings without saying them.

"Shhh, Garrett, stop apologizing. I've decided to take the lie as the kindest compliment I've ever received. So, thank you for being interested enough to lie to me." She gave him a lopsided smile.

Garrett couldn't take it anymore. He stepped into her and slowly wrapped his arms around her. Inhaling and taking the first full, relaxing breath since he met her. She felt so good in his arms, her body fit perfectly. "Thank you Riley. You have no idea how much I appreciate you giving me a chance." His wolf was panting with happiness in his head. He stepped back and held onto her hand. "I can't wait to see you tonight. What time would you like me to pick you up for dinner?"

Riley was trying to get her head clear after the hug. She could feel her cheeks burning hot and knew her face was red as a tomato. "I should be home and ready by seven. If you give me your number, I can text you my address." She crossed her fingers, hoping he'd give his number to her. He reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and handed it to her. She added her name and number to his contacts list. She noted he didn't have a huge number of female names in it, and for some reason it made her feel special.

"Can you get your phone, so I can give you my information?" he asked. She stepped over to the front counter and grabbed her phone up, handing it to him. He typed for a little bit and then handed it back with a wink saying, "Thanks, my little Kismet."

"Kismet? What does that mean? Or rather, I know what it means, but why did you call me that?" She asked with a confused look.

"That's just how I think of you." Garrett said with a smile. "Have a wonderful day, Riley. I'll see you soon." He grabbed her one more time for a quick hug and took a deep smell of her hair, he wanted to get as much of his scent on her as possible until he could claim her as his. He didn't want to leave her in Ryan's presence, but he had to get back to work and didn't feel he could be overbearing since Riley didn't even know about their Kismet. He squeezed her body and stepped back, heading out the door with Dude in tow.

Riley watched him leave and an empty feeling developed in the pit of her stomach. She didn't want him to go, which was ridiculous. She looked down at her phone and saw he entered his contact info as _Garrett Forrester - your Kismet_. She smiled, not really sure what he meant by it, but knowing it was good and willing to play along. He had added his address into her phone as well - that was surprising. She noted he lived in Woodland and her curiosity was piqued enough she knew she'd be looking up his address on maps. She immediately sent a text to him

Kismet Garrett - Looking forward to tonight.

My address is 1700 A Street.

\- Kismet Riley ;)

Within seconds he texted back

My Kismet - Thank you again for honoring me with the chance.

-Your Kismet

She closed her phone with a smile on her face and headed back to her office to see Ryan.

#  Chapter 6 - Anticipation

Riley headed to her office and Sam accosted her.

"First, you owe some money to Jennifer since the dog was clearly not his. Second, what happened? I want all the details. Third, who is that guy I took to your office? Fourth, why are you wearing Garrett's jacket?" Sam whispered harshly.

"Fine, I'll pay Jennifer. As for what happened... I'm still trying to figure that one out. I'll fill you in later, too much to talk about in such a short amount of time. The guy is Ryan. You know, my childhood friend ripped out of my life at age thirteen. Well, he's a vet and is looking into the position here. Again, so shocked I can't coherently talk about it. After I meet with Ryan I promise to let you in on everything." Riley quickly whispered back. "Oh, and I have a date tonight with Garrett and he asked me to wear his jacket." She said with a smile as she watched Sam's jaw drop. She quickly stepped around a stunned Sam and headed for her office.

"Hey, did he ask you out during the visit, or after he paid? Riley, we need to know who won the bet."

"The answer is complicated, but technically it was after he paid. Lyla won. Now stop making wagers about my love life."

As she entered, Ryan stood up from the chair he was in with a huge grin on his face. "Well, Dr. Riley, is it? I can't believe I'm actually seeing you again. I thought we'd never cross paths after all these years."

"I didn't either, Ryan. How did you end up in the Pacific Northwest again, and as a vet, no less? I'm in such shock I can't believe it." Riley circled around to her chair and took a seat.

"Well, I always had a propensity for taking care of animals. After trying a few things, I decided to go back to school and get my doctorate. OSU was the best program. I actually finished in December, so I'm ready to work anytime. I've been looking for the right clinic," Ryan said as he sat back down and handed her his resume and recommendations.

She quickly glanced over them, but she knew he'd be a good fit. Money would be the only trouble. "Well, as you are probably aware, we are a fairly young practice. I'm not sure if I can pay you what you're hoping for, and as of right now, we don't have a full enough roster to put you on at full time. However, the goal would be to change that within the first month or two. Do you have a dollar figure you're expecting?"

"I'm actually pretty flexible on schedule and pay. I knew I wouldn't be making the big bucks right out of school. I'm more interested in finding a clinic that fits right, one I can help grow. Frankly, this clinic meets those needs. I'm sure you're not too different from when we were kids," he said with a grin. "And if that's right, then I'm sure you're surrounded by some pretty great people. Sam seemed to be friendly and I also met Jennifer and Lyla, they seemed nice as well. Is there anyone else?"

"We have one part-time person who comes in to care for the boarded animals on the weekend, but other than that, it's only us three," she explained. "If you're sure this will be a good fit for you, I'll have Sam draft up a contract agreement. She can probably have that done before the end of the day. Would that be acceptable?" Riley hoped it was. She knew this would be a great fit and would relieve some of the stress she had been under lately.

"That'd be fantastic. Hey, you wanna go out to dinner tonight to catch up on old times and toast to a new beginning?" Ryan hoped he could get a chance to see her out of the office. He needed to get a good read on her.

"Actually, tonight I'm going out with Garrett \- the guy you saw earlier." Riley felt herself blushing, which made her blush even more.

"Oh, really? Are you guys serious?" Ryan certainly hoped not, especially if his suspicion about Garrett being a wolf shifter was correct.

"There's something there, but not sure how serious yet. How about you, do you have anyone serious in your life? Geez, listen to us; it's as if we never had a seventeen-year separation. We're picking up as if we're still best friends." Riley smiled, feeling completely at ease around him.

Ryan was thrilled she felt comfortable enough to talk with him. It'd make his job of keeping an eye on her that much easier. "No, no one serious in my life, I've been too busy to take notice of anyone."

"Yah, I understand. It's been the same with me forever. Actually, Garrett will be my first date... ever. To be honest, after you left, I didn't fit in anywhere. I was always the odd kid out and when I became an adult, I was too busy going to school and then starting this practice. I've been an outsider and a bit of a freak all my life," Riley admitted

Ryan felt horrible she'd felt that way. He could have helped if his parents hadn't moved them to the Midwest. "Riley, I'm really sorry. I wish I were there for you. It sounds like it was a pretty hellacious childhood."

"It's not your fault. I made it through and my parents were always fantastic. At least I had a good home life. Well, I hate to cut this short, but I have a couple of surgeries this afternoon. I'll have Sam work on the paperwork. Let us know when you want to start." Riley stood up and waited expectantly for Ryan's answer. She still couldn't believe he was here. As he stood, she guessed him to be about 5'10" and 175 lbs. He had a fit build, but not overly muscled, and his Sandy brown hair sported a messy look that hung into his brilliant green eyes. He was a good-looking man, and she had no doubt he'd have a bevy of interested women once he had time to start looking.

He extended his hand to shake on the arrangement. "I'd be happy to start as soon as possible. Even tomorrow is fine. Since it won't be full time to start, I'll have plenty of time to look for an apartment and move my things up here from Corvallis."

"Wow, great, but how about Wednesday? That will give me enough time to make sure your half of this office is open. Oh! By the way, this is the only office we have here; I should have mentioned that. We'll need to share this space, is that acceptable?" Riley waited.

This arrangement would make it much easier to help her. "Not a problem at all, Wednesday it is. Hey, don't you have a birthday coming up?"

Riley was shocked. She couldn't believe he remembered after all these years. "Yes, wow Ryan. How do you remember that? I'll be the big 3-0 on Friday. I'm becoming on old maid," she said in semi-jest.

"Believe me Riley; you still have a ton of life to live. I had my 30th birthday a couple of years ago and still feel young as ever; you're just a babe," he said with a wink.

Riley smiled at him and he followed her to find Sam and get the paperwork started. She was ecstatic they were together again; this was so much better than she had imagined when making her inquiries. After she left Ryan and Sam together, she went to begrudgingly remove Garrett's jacket and prep for surgery. She couldn't wait to see him tonight.

*

Garrett had so much adrenaline running in his system he was shaking. He'd never been so excited in his life. He took Dude back to Dave at the site while he mentally planned his date night with his little Kismet. He wanted everything to be perfect and magical. As he walked into his trailer, his mood shifted a bit. Breck was there to get a status update. Garrett knew this time would come, but he felt horrible in Breck's presence, knowing he had a Kismet and didn't have the bone crushing pain from Sarah's death haunting him. He had a hard time looking Breck in the eye, while his happiness and guilt fought for precedence in his mind.

"Hey Breck, so far the job is going well. We're one week in and right on schedule. We did have an extra expense with our back hoe operator, but it shouldn't be hard to absorb somewhere down the road." Garrett looked down at the plans as he talked.

Breck could sense he was uncomfortable and scented his shifting mood. "I'm sure everything is fine, you're one of the best foremen I have." Breck eyed Garrett and noticed he wasn't looking at him. "Garrett, what's wrong? You're acting a bit strange. Is there something I should know?"

If Garrett learned anything today, it's to be truthful, no matter how awkward it felt. He shifted from foot to foot and then ran his hand through his hair. Falling into his chair he said, "Yah Breck, there's something I need to tell you because I'd rather you hear it from me."

"OK." Breck sat down in the chair across the desk, not sure exactly where this conversation was leading. He hoped he wasn't losing one of his best employees to the competition.

"You know I loved Sarah, right?" Garrett looked Breck in the eye.

This caught him off guard. "Of course, I've never questioned that."

"Well, I want you to know I loved her with as much as I had in me, and I think she was happy while we were together."

"I know she was. What is all this about?" Breck hoped he'd cut to the chase soon, because this kind of talk was making him squirm.

"The unbelievable happened." He ran his hand through his hair and continued, "I kinda ran into my Kismet on Friday night." Garrett nervously waited for his reply.

That was the last thing Breck expected to hear. He loved Garrett as he would a son, and was happy to hear he would finally find some peace and happiness. He always thought Sarah was crazy for not waiting on her Kismet, but she and Garrett loved each other. He always worried about what would happen if one of their Kismets came around while they were still together. Even though he was heartbroken to lose Sarah, he was glad Garrett never had to choose between them, especially knowing there really wasn't a choice. A wolf always chose their Kismet, not to would mean death. "Listen Garrett, we will always love and miss Sarah, but you're still alive and you're like a son to us. Seeing you happy will mean everything to Emma and me. Please don't think for one second we aren't happy for you." Breck gave him a reassuring smile.

Garrett let out the breath he'd been holding. "You have no idea how much that means to me. I feel like a traitor, but if I ignore my Kismet, I feel like even more of a traitor. It's a horrible feeling."

"Hey, you loved Sarah when you were together. Emma and I can't ask for more. So, when do we get to meet this woman? What pack is she from?"

"Actually, that's a bit of a problem. I can't celebrate finding her because she's not part of a pack. She's human." Garrett waited for the now standard reaction of shock and he wasn't disappointed.

Breck jumped out of his chair, "That can't be possible. Son, are you sure you're right?"

"Oh yes, I'm positive. Believe me, this has been an insane few days. John contacted Jeremiah and we're flying there tomorrow to meet with the entire council. I was going to call you this afternoon to give you a heads up I'll be out of town. In addition, the worst thing is, I can't tell her about us until they approve it. As far as I know, they've never approved telling a human, so I have no idea what they'll say." He hung his head in his hands, feeling sick about the outcome.

Acid churned in Breck's stomach. He couldn't lose another kid. Yah, Garrett wasn't his by blood, but he was his son all the same. If he weren't allowed to be with his Kismet, it'd kill him. That is if the elders didn't do something first. He knew they were ruthless in upholding the laws, and hoped for Garrett's sake they'd be level headed and give them a chance. "If there is anything we can do to help, and I mean anything, let us know."

"Thanks Breck, I don't deserve your support after letting your daughter die. You and Emma amaze me," he said humbly.

"For the last time, you did not let her die. It just happened, and you did everything in your power to prevent it. You need to stop beating yourself up over some false idea of what you did. Why don't you take the rest of the day off? It sounds like you have a lot on your plate. Believe it or not, I can remember how to be foreman. I'll be happy to cover you for a couple of days." To make his point clear, he headed for the door and held it open for Garrett to walk through.

Shaking his head in amazement, Garrett gathered up his gear. This would give him some time to prepare for his date tonight too and he'd be happy to take it. "Thanks again, you're the best. I'll keep you in the loop as to what the elders say." He shook Brecks hand and headed for his truck.

He didn't want his date to be like all of the others she had probably had throughout her life, he wanted it to be special. He knew she liked animals, but since he didn't mix well with them, that was off the table. She also seemed to be active, since she jogged and walked her dog. He really didn't know a lot about her, but he was eager to change that fact. He did decide, at the very least, he'd bring her some flowers - it may be trite, but he'd prefer to be trite if she appreciated it.

By the time he arrived home, he needed a good run. Between thinking about the date and that guy, Ryan, he was wound pretty tight. She had said "best friend growing up". Garrett didn't want to be a jerk, but he didn't want her to have a special connection with any other male. He hated the feeling of jealousy. He walked around to the back of his house and stripped his clothes off, fluidly changing into his shift. He let his wolf run full speed to his property line. He picked up the scent of hunters again, so he stayed on the inside of his fence and chased some small rabbits while he worked out ideas for their date. About an hour later, he decided he needed to get back to the house and take a shower. He was giddy about seeing her and he wanted to make a good impression.

He noticed a text message from John when he picked up his jeans from the ground, letting him know they had a 7AM flight out of PDX the next morning. Garrett texted back confirming and went inside for a shower. The heated slate floor in his bathroom felt good on his feet as he brushed his teeth and shaved his face in front of his large double sink vanity. This house was too big for him to be here alone anymore. It always felt that way, but with his heart coming back on line, it seemed to be emptier. His jetted tub was nestled below a large window with commanding views of the valley below; beside the tub was his river rock shower with two showerheads on each side and a rain showerhead on the ceiling. He turned the water on full blast and stepped inside, hoping the heat and pressure of the water would help ease more tension out of his shoulders.

With a towel wrapped around his hips, he strode into his walk-in closet and shook his head. Clothes were thrown around in piles with no order. After hunting for five minutes, he found his favorite pair of jeans and slid them on while tossing his towel into the dirty laundry. He then put on a fitted white t-shirt, followed by a grey cable knit sweater with a V-neck and wooden toggles. His lace-up boots were last. He then finger combed his hair and made sure he didn't miss any spots while shaving. He figured he better text his Kismet and let her know she should dress warm and comfortable for the outing he had planned.

My Kismet, be sure to dress warm and comfortable for tonight.

-Garrett

It was 5:00 and he had enough time to clean his truck and stop for flowers on his way to her home. He grabbed his black wool coat and scarf as he headed out the door. Maybe he'd find a way to leave another piece of clothing with her. He liked to have items with his scent wrapped around her body.

*

It was 5:30 and Riley needed to rush home and get ready for Garrett. She was running behind and didn't want to be late for her very first date. She ran out the door, thanking the girls for helping to close up without her. She felt bad she didn't get to debrief Sam on all that had transpired, but their afternoon was extremely busy and they never had a chance to sit down. She was glad to know things were going to change, now that Ryan would be joining them.

It's a good thing she walked Wolf this morning. Who would have thought she'd be going out on a date tonight when she woke up? This was turning out to be a dream come true. Garrett was handsome and sexy, and she could tell he was a good man. There was a connection there she didn't understand, but felt powerless to avoid it.

She ran into the house with an hour to get ready. She fed Wolf and Oscar quickly, and then jumped in the shower to wash the day off her body. She found herself shaving, which didn't make sense because it was freezing outside and she wouldn't be in shorts. She supposed she wanted to feel her prettiest in his presence. She decided to get dressed while the mirror defogged. Standing at her closet, she couldn't decide what to wear. _What do women wear on dates?_ She racked her memory of what she saw others wearing on dates in the past. She was usually a jeans (or scrubs) and t-shirt type of girl, but she wanted to look nice for Garrett. She decided to put on black tights and riding boots with a short, fitted grey skirt and dark blue, cashmere sweater. Deciding to leave her hair down - which was rare since she had to have it out of her way while working - she put on some light make-up and inspected herself in the mirror. She wasn't thrilled about her appearance, but she couldn't do anything about her stature, shape, or hair at this point. She was who she was and hoped it was good enough. She grabbed a quick snack of cheese and crackers so she wouldn't eat like a pig in front of him. Due to her schedule, she hadn't had anything since breakfast. Afterward, she brushed her teeth and combed her hair one more time. It was two minutes until 7:00 and she went into the living room to wait. She was pacing, feeling sick with nerves. _Maybe I shouldn't have eaten anything,_ she thought as her stomach gurgled.

# Chapter 7 - First Date

She heard a rap on the front door and froze. She took a deep breath and walked towards the door - she noted he was punctual. Wolf followed on guard, directly behind her. She looked through the peephole and saw the most handsome face she'd ever seen. He was looking at the door handle as if he was willing it to open. She took another deep breath and turned the knob, pulling the door wide.

Riley smiled at Garrett as Wolf growled and bared his teeth. She immediately commanded him to sit; glad she had always been the alpha and could exert great control. It was necessary with such a huge dog. Looking back at Garrett she felt horrible for the welcome he was given. He looked fantastic wearing black jeans, a cozy sweater, and wool jacket. He looked like he walked right out of the pages of a magazine and was holding a bouquet of beautiful orange and yellow flowers intertwined with green ivy vines.

"I'm so sorry Garrett. You weren't kidding when you said animals didn't like you. Please come in. Don't worry, Wolf will behave; he knows I'm alpha."

Garrett almost barked out a laugh at the situation. _Did she seriously say she was alpha over that gargantuan?_ His little Kismet would give him a run for the money. Moreover, she had named her dog Wolf - how ironic. He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. She was stunning. It was the first time he'd seen her hair not in a ponytail. The light was bouncing off her gold and red highlights, giving her hair the appearance of an auburn waterfall. _Beautiful_. He worked his way down her body and saw she was wearing a fitted sweater and hip hugging skirt with tights and boots. His mouth went dry. He wasn't sure if this would classify as warm and comfortable, but he loved the way she looked in it. Holding out the bouquet he said, "These are for you, my Kismet. I hope you aren't allergic."

"They're exquisite, thank you. No, I'm not allergic, I love flowers," she beamed. She took them and headed to her kitchen for a vase. Wolf followed her with a constant rumbling growl. He was not happy about Garrett being in the house. After she placed the bouquet in water, she turned to set this relationship aright.

"Wolf, come here. Sit," she commanded. She placed herself between Garrett and Wolf, so she could intercede if she needed to. "Now Garrett, will you come here please? I know you're not used to animals, but Wolf needs to be comfortable with you or this will be difficult. Please walk towards me confidently, but not stiff. Loosen your body up, so Wolf knows you aren't a threat." She held her hand out for him to hold. At least all of this commotion with Wolf was giving something for her to focus on, rather than the butterflies in her stomach.

He was doing his best not to laugh. Although, he did have to admit she was handling the situation correctly. He thought it was cute she didn't think he knew anything about animals, if she only knew... He put his hand in hers, almost groaning with the pleasure of it and walked forward. He did his best to keep his wolf hidden so Wolf would be calm.

Riley shivered at his touch. "Perfect." She wasn't sure if she meant the feel of his large, strong hand in hers or the way he approached. She held his hand towards Wolf for him to sniff. After he got a good sniff and Riley was sure he was relaxing his stance, she went to grab Garrett's jacket she'd been wearing non-stop. She held it up for Wolf to sniff and make the connection. Then Wolf walked over and started sniffing Garrett. Riley laughed, "Sorry, he's only checking you out. I think you guys will be fine now."

She was right, Garrett could sense Wolf had accepted him and wouldn't cause a problem. He had never tried to make friends with a domestic dog, and he was surprised at how easily she made it all happen. She had a special gift with animals. He warmed at the thought of the power she possessed in such a small package. Now, with the introductions out of the way, he started to feel his nerves coming back about their evening together, and he needed to address her clothing without hurting her feelings.

"Sweetheart, you look absolutely beautiful, but did you get my text?"

"Text? No... What did it say?" First, she was surprised at the endearment he used and then her brain caught up to what he said. She was embarrassed, she'd clearly done something wrong, and she wasn't sure what it was. Was she not dressed nice enough for where they were going? He was in jeans, so she didn't think that was the issue. She grabbed her phone out of her purse and read the text. She felt a full bloom of heat on her face. She felt so stupid. "Oh my gosh, let me go change into something else. I feel like such an idiot. I was running late and didn't even think about checking my phone. I'm so sorry; I hope this won't make us too late." She knew she was blabbering, but couldn't seem to stop.

"Don't worry about it. You look fantastic, but you may want to change into jeans so you're warm. I'd feel horrible if you were cold."

"It'll take me just a second." She ran into her room and slammed the door. _Jeans, jeans, where are my favorite jeans?_ She knew which ones she wanted - they were the only pair that fit her perfectly. Of course, they were in her dirty laundry. Oh well, they didn't have any obvious stains on them. She tugged her boots off, then her skirt and slid the jeans on over her tights, figuring that would give her another layer of warmth. Then she slid the boots back over the jeans. Yep, that'd work - the rest of the outfit was fine. She grabbed her black and blue striped scarf, which matched perfectly with her sweater, and headed back to the living room.

*

While Riley rushed to her bedroom to change, Garrett took the opportunity to look around. Her home was cozy and welcoming. She had a galley style kitchen with white cupboards and cream walls. Her dining table and living room furniture were white washed wood, which sat on hardwood floors. White crown molding topped the bluish-grey walls. He looked over at Wolf, who was still being a bit hesitant and eyeing him with suspicion. He kneeled down to his eye level and said, "Alright big boy, she clearly loves you and I plan on being in her life for the long haul. She's my Kismet, so we have to get along. I'll protect her with my life when she's with me, if you do the same when she's with you, deal?"

Wolf seemed to understand his meaning. He lay down on the ground and rolled over for a belly rub. Garrett chuckled as he bent over to comply.

Riley ran down the hall and saw Garrett rubbing Wolf's belly. She was in shock. Wolf normally wasn't a dog that rolled over for anyone, especially with how the introduction went. "Well, maybe you do have a way with animals after all. He doesn't do that with anyone other than me," she said, nodding towards Wolf.

Smiling, he nodded his head and said, "Yah, I think I can get the knack of this." He stood up and asked, "Are you ready to go?" He thought he was sad she had to change out of her skirt, but the jeans she was wearing looked fantastic on her as well. She looked good in anything.

"Yep, let me grab my coat." She opened her coat closet and pulled out her cream wool coat. She was starting to put it on, when Garrett walked up and helped her into it. _What a gentleman._ His close proximity had her heart racing and she hoped she'd be able to get through this night without making any stupid mistakes. She headed for the door, when Garrett skipped around her quickly and opened it for her. This was going to take some getting used to.

"You don't have an alarm system?" He was upset she didn't have anything other than Wolf for protection. Wolf would help, but he wanted her safer.

"No, I'm in a pretty safe part of town. And I have Wolf."

He didn't say anything else, vowing he'd have her in his own house soon. They walked to the truck and he opened the door for her. Glad he installed running boards, he held out his hand to help her up into the bench seat.

She thanked him for his help into the truck and snapped her seatbelt in place. She noticed his truck was spotless. She expected it to be a bit more cluttered, but it looked like it had just been detailed. She watched him walk around to his side of the car and she mentally braced herself for the evening.

He started the truck and said, "I think we'll start with dinner and then I was thinking we could go ice skating afterward. Does that sound good to you?" He was nervous about her reaction, but her grin had him feeling at ease.

"It's fantastic! I love ice skating. I'm not good at it, but I think it's fun."

"I'm not necessarily good at it either, but I thought it'd be a fun activity and probably different than any dates you've been on in the past." He cocked his head with a half grin.

"Nope, I have definitely never been ice skating on a date before," she said with a grin. _If he only knew..._

They drove about ten minutes until they reached their destination, Lapellah. He had called ahead for a reservation. He heard it was a great restaurant and locally owned. When he looked online, their menu seemed to be diverse enough for her to find something she liked. He pulled up outside the front door and had to stop her from opening her own door. "Sweetheart, you better get used to me opening doors for you. You deserve a gentleman, and I'd like to be that man. Please sit tight and I'll get your door." He jumped out hoping she wasn't so independent she wouldn't let him care for her.

Astounded, she sat waiting for her door to open. She didn't know chivalry still existed, and she'd gladly let him be a gentleman for her. He had made it around the hood of the truck exceptionally fast. He opened the door with a flourish and held his hand out. As she started to get out, he put both hands on her waist and gently lifted her down to the pavement. As she descended, their eyes met and their faces came within an inch of each other. Time seemed to slow down and she would have only needed to lean in a fraction to brush her lips against his. Once she was on the ground, she had to shake her head to clear it so she'd stop gazing at him as if she were a lovesick puppy.

He clasped her hand and walked her to the door of the restaurant, opening it for her. Her hand felt perfect in his, her tiny fingers curling around his palm. He didn't want to let go. "Wait right here while I go park the truck. I'll only be a moment."

Garrett needed to gather some self-control. He almost took advantage of her as he helped her out of the truck. _What kind of man goes for the kiss at the beginning of the evening?_ He wanted to be a gentleman and not accost her. He mentally berated himself all the way back to the restaurant. _Control, control, control._

He returned to the restaurant and couldn't believe it. There she was, laughing and smiling in a conversation with that Ryan guy. They were completely at ease with each other and he wanted to pummel him. This was his date and his Kismet. _He will not encroach on our time together._

Walking up to them, he put his arm around Riley, making his claim clear. His body hummed from the contact.

Ryan held out his hand, "Hi Garrett, sorry we didn't get to be formally introduced earlier today, what a coincidence, huh?"

"Yah, some coincidence, I hope you don't mind, but we're headed in for our reservation," Garrett said with a tight smile after shaking his hand.

"Not at all, enjoy yourself, I was heading out. Riley, I'll catch you on Wednesday," Ryan said smugly as he turned and walked out the door.

Riley felt Garrett stiffen. She knew Ryan said that to annoy him on purpose. She was so befuddled; guys had never been interested in her. She couldn't figure out what was going on and why he was so territorial. She laughed awkwardly and said, "I hired him today. He starts working at the clinic on Wednesday."

He resolved to not let that guy ruin their night. He led her to the host and asked for their table. They were led to a little booth in the corner with high backs. It was the perfect location, where they could talk and not be interrupted or distracted by anyone.

The restaurant smelled good; they used wood-fired ovens, which gave off a pleasant smoky aroma. It was a fairly small establishment, which lent itself to a cozy feeling. In the bar, there was a 15' long funky light shade covered with silverware, which hung over an equally long table made from reclaimed wood. Most of the décor appeared to be up-cycled or reclaimed.

As they sat down, he said, "I hope this restaurant is OK. I haven't been here myself, but I've heard good reviews."

"This is a perfect choice, I've wanted to try it, but I don't really get out a lot."

"That's hard to believe. I bet you've had no shortage of men asking you out. I'm sure there are plenty of interested, male clients who really do have pets," he said with a smirk. He was a tiny bit concerned about her answer. He didn't want to have confirmation she had a date every week.

"Actually, that's not true."

"What's not true? You not having men lined up at your door, or you not having male clients?" He couldn't seem to help himself. He was beginning to believe he was a masochist; he knew he wouldn't like her response.

"Well actually..."Riley felt sick. Did she really want to tell him it was her first date ever? What did it say about a near thirty year old other than "run the other way"? He'd probably realize there was something wrong with her and wish he hadn't wasted his time. At the same time, he might as well know he was on a date with a weirdo. Maybe it'd make the date shorter and she'd not have time to fall too hard for him. "Ummm. This is actually a first."

"A first what, sweetheart?"

"First date."

He chuckled.

The server walked up and asked for their drink order. He allowed Riley to order first. She absentmindedly ordered a glass of their house red wine and he ordered an IPA.

When the server walked away, he returned to their conversation and said "Sure, my little Kismet. I should have known you'd have a good sense of humor." Then he looked at her green eyes and she looked dead serious. She was almost on the verge of tears. He was such an ass. "Wait, are you serious?" he asked as he grabbed her hand from across the table.

She blew her fringe out of her eyes, looking down into her lap. His hand was warm and comforting, but she knew that would change and he'd be pulling away. There wasn't any way he'd want to stay as soon as she confirmed the truth. "Yes. I'm sorry, if you want to leave now I understand. I don't know what I'm doing and I'll probably ruin this whole night. Please feel free to take me home, I don't want you to waste your money on me." She tried to pull her hand away, but he wouldn't let go.

"Riley, look at me please."

She raised her eyes to him, hoping they didn't look too glossy. She knew she was on the verge of tears, and she internally rebuked her traitorous body. Exactly what every man wants, a woman who has never been on a date and then cries about it. The intense look he gave her stopped her wayward mind. Eagerness, compassion, and maybe a little bit of lust shone back at her. She wasn't sure if she could read him correctly. He had a death grip on her hand and wouldn't let go.

"Even though I find it almost impossible to believe you haven't been on hundreds of dates, let alone one, I want you to know how honored I am to be your first." _And your last_ , he thought to himself. The fact she'd never let anyone into her heart before made his soar. "You know, you put a great deal more pressure on me. I want this evening to be perfect, now even more so. You deserve the very best Riley."

She was taken aback. Was he fine with this? She let out a shuddering breath and squeezed his hand. "Thank you. I'm almost 30 and I feel like a complete loser for never dating."

"Well, after tonight that won't be the truth anymore." he said with a wink. "So, when do you turn 30?"

"Friday, actually."

Garrett's eyes widened. "Really, I'm sure you have plans, but I'd like to be a part of them if at all possible."

Their drinks showed up and he squeezed her hand before releasing it so she could pick up her glass. She took a sip of her wine, hoping to steady her nerves. Who was this guy? She was still stunned he even wanted to go on one date, and he asked to see her again. She felt like she needed to pinch herself. She pulled her hands into her lap and twisted her fingers together under the table, trying to get her equilibrium. "Well, I don't really have any plans. Sam may have some kind of idea, but I really don't do a lot. Actually, I've been out more in the last week than I have in the last year. But if we do something, I'd love it if you joined."

"Great, I definitely want to be involved. You're my little Kismet and I want to celebrate your birthday with you," he said with a genuine smile.

"Ya know, you keep calling me that, I still don't get it."

"Well, I think it was Kismet we found each other on Friday night. You clearly don't believe me, but you're special."

"Oh, I'm "special" all right," she joked, shaking her head.

He could tell he'd have his work cut out for him. She was clueless about her desirability. He'd have to be extremely gentle with her, everything was going to be a new experience, and he didn't want to scare her away.

They looked at their menus for a few minutes, letting the conversation marinate.

"Are you ready to order?" the server asked.

He motioned for her to order first.

"I'd like the brick-oven roasted chicken, please."

"I'd like the Carlton Farms pork chop."

"I'll get those in for you," she said as she walked towards the kitchen.

Garrett peppered Riley with various questions through dinner, trying to get as much information about her as he could. He found out her favorite color is yellow, although she didn't wear it because it made her look sallow. Here favorite dessert is apple pie. She had been adopted as an infant, and was very close to her parents, but they were currently snow birding in Arizona. She not only had Wolf, but also a cat named Oscar (who he figured he'd never see). She'd never traveled anywhere, but hoped to go to Europe at some point. She loved hiking in the woods and running. She liked being in nature, which pleased him greatly. She volunteered her time at a local shelter after her long days at the clinic. Again, she mentioned Ryan being her best friend while growing up. That tidbit of information still chafed him, but he tried not to react to it. Their conversation flowed easily and he was happy to know she was easy to talk with. He had witnessed the ease between her and Ryan and wanted to have that same ease with her. He didn't want them to have anything he didn't have with her. He wanted to be her everything.

As they were heading out of the restaurant, Riley realized she had been talking almost the entire time. He had gleaned more information from her in an hour than she had thought possible. Garrett helped her up into the truck and made his way around the vehicle.

"We have one stop to make before we head up to the ice-skating rink," Garrett said.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see," he said with a devious wink.

The truck pulled into another restaurant and Garrett asked her to stay in the vehicle. He jumped out and hustled inside. A few moments later, he emerged with a bag. When he climbed into the truck, he handed it over to Riley. The bottom of the bag was warm and she smelled apples and cinnamon. Even though she had a huge dinner, her mouth started to water. She looked over at him with a childlike smile.

"Go ahead an open it, sweetheart."

She peered inside and saw a food container and fork. She pulled it out and laughed as she opened the container to expose the piece of apple pie.

"That's your favorite, right? This place makes the best pies I know of," he said

"Yes, how did you know? Did we talk about this?" She was in awe as she pulled the pie box open and plunged her fork into the warmed pie. He really paid attention to their conversation.

"Yes, you mentioned it over dinner."

It was delicious. She wasn't sure how he'd be able to eat and drive at the same time. She looked at him and then the pie and shrugged her shoulders. She scooped a bite out and held it up in front of him. He flashed his dazzling smile and took the bite, groaning while he enjoyed it. She looked at the fork and was somewhat giddy because it had touched his mouth. As they drove to the ice-skating rink, she continued to take a bite and then feed one to him. They were both stuffed by the time they arrived.

It was an outdoor rink on Mt. Hood; about half the size of a standard rink and there were only five people on the ice. Park benches and strings of white lights circled the rink. The lights cast a soft glow over the snow banks and fir trees behind the benches. The rental shack sat off to the corner, near the parking lot, and next to that was a coffee shack with a couple of tables in front.

He walked around the truck to open her door again and she couldn't wait for him to lift her down. She loved the close contact, even though it drove her a bit crazy. He gently set her on the ground and grabbed her hand as they walked to the skate rental counter. The air smelled crisp and clean. The clouds were parting, so the moon and a few stars were visible. She was looking up at the enchanting sky when he shook her hand to get her attention.

"What skate size are you?"

"I'll try eight; I'm not sure how ice skates run."

He grabbed her pair and led her to one of the benches circling the rink. As she sat down, he helped her out of her boots and set them aside. He unlaced a skate and slid it on her foot, not allowing her to help. He asked her to stand up and tested the toe area to see if it was too tight. He looked up at her with caring eyes.

"Is that fit, my Kismet?"

"Yes, it feels right to me." The caring look in his eyes, just over the size of a skate, made her feel more special than the Queen of England.

He sat her back down and laced it up and then repeated the procedure with her other skate. He then put his skates on and awkwardly walked to the rental shack to check their boots in. He returned and held out his hand for her.

"You ready to see me make a fool of myself?" he asked with a smirk.

"Absolutely, right now you seem way too perfect." She gasped and her hand flew over her mouth. She couldn't believe she let that out. _Where is my filter?_ Her face was hot from the blush.

"Not near as perfect as you, my Kismet," Garrett grinned. He couldn't believe she said that. She was blushing again and he was so happy he wanted to dance a jig. He loved the fact he could read her emotions like a book. She smelled of stress, excitement, and contentment; all expected on a first date and he was happy.

He was still holding out his hand for Riley to grab. She put her soft, tiny hand in his and stood on wobbly legs. He helped her onto the ice not letting go of her. Since he was a wolf, he had a natural grace and athleticism.

They were starting around the oblong and Riley was holding onto Garrett for dear life, while he was gliding along as if nothing was amiss in using two slivers of silver as a form of locomotion. "Wow, it looks like you've done this a time or two."

"Jessica likes to skate," he shrugged.

Riley felt ill. She didn't really want to talk about girlfriends, but he brought her up. "Who's Jessica?" she asked.

He could tell she was jealous and felt bad she was uneasy from his careless comment; he hadn't meant for it to sound bad. "Jessica is my sister." He squeezed her hand again for comfort. He was also inwardly pleased she was feeling possessive.

She was instantly relieved. "I didn't realize you had a sister. Tell me about your family. Do you have any other siblings? Do they live nearby? What about your parents?"

Uh oh, this is where things would get tricky. He didn't want to lie to her, but he also couldn't tell her the truth about them. He had to word his answers in a way that were truthful, but not too detailed. "Jessica is my only sibling; she's older than me by a few years." _Like thirty._ "She lives about ten minutes away from me. She has a mate, I mean husband, named Brian." He cringed at his slip of the word. Hoping she wouldn't notice it.

"Are you guys close?"

Good she didn't mention the use of the word mate. "We are pretty close. Our parents died in a car wreck when I was about twelve. Jessica had a strong hand in raising me."

She was saddened to hear about his parents. "I'm sorry about your parents."

"Thanks, Jessica did a great job of raising me and we have a tight knit community where we live. Everyone chipped in to take care of me. I'd love for you to meet them sometime."

She tilted her head back and smiled at him. The head tilt took her off balance and he watched in horror as she started to fall. Her arms were wind milling and skates scrabbling for purchase on the slick ice. He saw her eyes widen in surprise and he tried to catch her body, but her flying arms kept batting him away. She tumbled hard to the surface, catching herself with an outstretched hand, and her hip bounced as it hit. Garrett was immediately on his knees asking if she was hurt, he was in a full panic.

"I'm fine, really. I feel like an idiot and my ego is bruised, but I'm OK. I thought women were supposed to be more graceful than men," she huffed.

He put his arm under her knees and scooped her up before she could protest. He apologized all the way over to the nearest bench. He couldn't believe he had let her fall. What was he thinking; bringing her out here on a slick surface? She could have broken her neck. He broke out in a cold sweat at the thought. He sat down on the bench with her in his lap and held onto her tightly. He had to steady his nerves and make sure she was fine. She was laughing and saying she was fine _. Laughing_!

"Riley, what if you had broken your neck?" Then he smelled blood and almost wolfed out from the stress. He started looking at her head and face, working his way down her arms. He found the smear of scarlet on her hand where she broke her fall; her palm was scraped open. He couldn't believe he allowed her to be hurt on their first date; he was a horrible mate. He let Sarah die and now he let his Kismet cut her hand, not to mention the bruised hip. He wanted to growl he was so distraught. She wasn't a wolf; she couldn't heal as fast as his kind. He had to be more careful. His wolf was pacing in his head; howling his frustration.

Riley had no idea what he was so upset about, but he was clearly on the edge of losing it. She took her good hand and laid it against his cheek. "Hey, I'm fine. It's not the first time I've fallen. I'm sometimes a bit of a klutz, but I'm not injured. This is nothing," she said as she held up her scraped hand. As she met his eyes, she saw his fear and self-recrimination. She could feel his pain and she had no idea where it came from. She did her best to calm him through her own even breathing and smile.

"I'm supposed to protect you, and I failed," he groaned

"Hey, hey, I'm a big girl and can take care of myself. You're blowing this out of proportion. I've never been on a date, but I'm pretty sure I've never seen a guy go ballistic over a little fall and a scrape. You wanna tell me what this is about?" He was still holding her in his lap, and frankly, it felt fantastic. She was thinking, (with a devilish grin) she may need to fall more often. Then Garrett looked in her eyes and she saw the fear there, no, she could never make him feel this way on purpose.

"I was married once before," he whispered.

She gasped, that was not what she expected or wanted to hear. For some reason she had an urge to claim him as hers, but the sadness in his eyes outweighed any feelings she was having. He was clearly sharing something important. "You're divorced?"

"No, not divorced, widowed. I should have been able to help her, to get her well and I didn't. I failed her, and now I let you fall. I know you don't understand, but you are important to me. I need to keep you safe." He was trying to think rationally, but the scent of her blood was in the air and his wolf was going crazy. He was having a hard time not saying too much.

"I'm so sorry you went through the loss. I really am, but what happened with your wife" the word in conjunction with him made her feel sick, "has nothing to do with what happened here to me. Do you feel like talking about it? What did she die of?" Riley knew what it was like to feel helpless as a disease spread its way through a body. Every doctor did. She wrapped both arms around Garrett and held him, trying to provide comfort. Her cheek was up against his, and she could hear him breathing. His body was trembling, as if he had too much emotion pent up inside. Then she realized how stupid it was of her to ask such a personal question. She barely knew him. She was sure he wouldn't want to spill his guts to her. "I'm sorry; you don't need to talk about it. I'm not sure why I even asked. You don't owe me any explanation. I'm just very sorry; you clearly loved her very much."

Garrett wanted to shake her. He wasn't telling her to relive the past about Sarah; he was spouting the story - without a filter - because he was a failure as a protector and was feeling guilty. He needed her to know how seriously he took his role to keep her safe. How he'd die from a broken heart if anything happened to her. Yes, he was sad about Sarah, and always would be, but if Riley was ever seriously hurt... From her point of view, she wouldn't understand why he felt the way he did. She didn't know anything about a Kismet connection. "Yes, I did love her, and when she died from a disease no one could diagnose or cure, it was devastating. Right now, I'm more worried about taking care of you. I know you don't understand because we only just met, but, if something were to happen to you, I feel it would be more devastating." He leaned his head back and looked in her eyes; willing their connection to explain it for him.

She felt an intense magnetic pull from Garrett when he looked her in the eyes. He clearly wanted to protect her, so she decided to allow him. She tentatively smiled at him and said, "Well, maybe we should turn our skates in and get some hot chocolate, while we watch the other skaters. If we continue to skate, the odds are high that I'll fall again."

Tension drained from his shoulders and he flashed a huge smile and said, "Thank you for understanding and putting up with me tonight. Here, let me set you down and I'll go get our boots." He was feeling more relieved since she seemed to be accepting with his overprotective nature. Sitting down hand in hand, with a hot drink sounded like the best plan of the night. On his way back to the bench with the boots, he caught her gazing at the sky for the second time. "What are you so enamored with?"

"I love the way the clouds look as they part, they have a blue glow against the inky black of the sky. I find it mesmerizing." she smiled.

"I agree. One of my favorite things to do is lie on my back and look up at the night sky. We'll need to do that when it gets a bit warmer." He started unlacing her skates and helping her change into her boots. It felt so natural to be helping her like this. They were a perfect match.

She couldn't figure out why he was so attentive. Men didn't act this way in today's world, and he mentioned doing something when it warmed up - that'd be months from now. Did he really plan to see her months from now? As he finished with her boots, she whispered thanks. He then changed out of his own skates.

He stood up and held his hand out for her. After returning the skates, he guided her to the truck. She was disappointed they were leaving. She hoped he'd take her up on the offer of hot chocolate, but when they reached the truck, he opened the door to the back seat and brought out a first aid kit.

"Give me your hand. I want to make sure it's cleaned up and doesn't get an infection."

"I'm sure I'll be fine. I am a doctor after all," she said with a smirk.

"Well, this was done on my watch and I'll make sure it's taken care of. Besides, I promised Wolf I'd protect you. What will he think when you come home with open cuts on your palm?"

She burst out laughing. "You did not."

"I did." He looked at her with a cocked eyebrow. "I figured it'd be the only way he'd allow me to be around you." He grabbed her hand and warned her it might sting as he applied the antiseptic. He then wrapped a bandage around her hand and laid a kiss on her palm.

When he kissed her palm and looked up at her eyes, she felt her vision winking in and out. She must have been holding her breath. She'd never felt such a strong reaction to anything before. Doing her best to avoid wrapping her arms around his neck and tasting his lips, she shook her head to clear it and said, "Thank you, you did a good job. Maybe I should hire you instead of Ryan," she laughed shakily. _Where is my libido coming from_? _I've never felt this way about anyone before; I want to devour him._

"I wish you could," he said chagrined. "I couldn't imagine anything better than being near you all day, and I'm a bit jealous Ryan will be. Now, let's get that hot chocolate." He led her to the coffee shack with her hand in the crook of his arm. She ordered a hot chocolate and he ordered a decaf coffee.

She was stunned by what he had said. _We've been on one date (and it's not even over yet) and he can't imagine anything better than being near me all day?_ She could sense he was being genuine, which made it even more bizarre. And he was jealous? Without any kind of history with men, she had no idea if this was the way they always acted or not. She hadn't heard Sam say anything like this when she retold the countless stories of her dating. Usually the men sounded like jerks, and the dates didn't go very well.

They sat down on a park bench, snuggled together with Garrett's arm over her shoulders. It would have been chilly sitting on a frozen bench, but his body seemed to emit some extra heat and his arm around her kept her cozy. She couldn't help but lean into him. "You know, I don't even know what you do for a living. Since I'm pretty sure you're not a vet," she dimpled.

He barked a laugh, "Hardly. I'm a foreman of a construction company. We're building the new Safeway in Vancouver, over on 8th St."

"Oh, I know what you're talking about. You just broke ground, right?"

"Yep, last Monday. I'm there every day in the little trailer labeled Breck's Construction if you want to stop by. Call or text first so I can meet you with safety gear. Well, actually, I'll be out of town tomorrow, but otherwise I'm there."

"Where are you going tomorrow?"

"Maine. I have an important meeting to attend." He squeezed her shoulder.

"Work related?"

"No... It's related to my future. Hopefully I'll be able to tell you all about it when I get back," he winked, hoping she caught the subtle hint, which implied he couldn't talk about it now. He didn't want to hurt her feelings, but he couldn't say anything yet.

They continued to chat and she was able to glean some information from him while they cuddled on the park bench, but she could tell he held some things back. Without knowing why it made her feel uneasy. "Can I ask you an inappropriate question?" She saw his eyes widen.

He tentatively answered, "OK, I'll answer as best as I can."

"Well, you seemed to think I went on dates every week, how about you? You're extremely handsome." Blushing she continued, "It seems to me you'd have a line at your door, and if you thought it of me, then maybe it's true for you?" She waited nervously. He seemed to think she was special, but maybe he said these things to someone different every week. She was so confused between the talk of their future dates and his reticence on telling her everything. She wanted to figure out what she really meant to him. She could feel her heart falling hard and fast and didn't want to make a naive mistake by giving it to a man who didn't mean what he said.

"Actually, this is the first date I've been on in a very long time; it's been years, in fact."

She could read his hesitance and didn't know if this was a bad subject, especially after their conversation about his late wife.

"Wait, actually that's not true. I did go on a double date last week, which Jessica planned, but it wasn't my idea, and I agreed without actually listening to the question. I'm not sure that counts. And it was absolutely horrible." He shivered.

"Really, that's hard to believe. You seem so easy to be around; I can't imagine you having a bad time anywhere." _Where is my filter?_

He smiled down at her and said, "That's because you're my Kismet." He kissed her forehead as he squeezed her shoulders with his arm. He was in heaven. He could scent her happiness and contentment, along with a little bit of lust. He was trying his best to control himself and be a gentleman, but it was difficult. He knew what they meant to each other, waiting for her to figure it out was killing him.

He wanted to share more with her so she'd understand him better. "I hadn't dated in a few years, because Sarah passed away three years ago last week. Honestly, I've been pretty closed off since then. I'm sure you'll hear about it when you meet Jessica and my friends, so you should probably know they'll make a big deal about us."

_Us. He just said "us" as if we're an item._ "What do you mean, make a big deal about "us"?" she asked brazenly. She couldn't believe she uttered those words, but she felt they were finally getting to brass tacks, and she was sick of trying to guess his intentions.

"Can I ask you a question, Riley?" he asked seriously. "You need to agree to be honest, no matter what you might be thinking." He turned his body to the side and looked at her expectantly.

She missed the warmth of his body as he turned. "I don't know if I can agree to the arrangement, especially not knowing what the question is. How about this, if I answer, it'll be honest. Would that be alright?"

"That's fair enough." He looked deeply into her green eyes. His heart was pounding and his hands were shaking. Their faces were only inches apart and the white cloud of their breath mingled together. He hoped all night for this moment, but he was afraid he'd share too much. He had to make sure she felt the connection, his heart and wolf was demanding it. "Do you feel that we have something special? Something that perhaps few people have ever experienced?" He waited anxiously. His wolf was pacing with the stress.

She sucked in a breath, unsure if she wanted to answer that particular question. If she answered honestly, it would most assuredly make her vulnerable. She looked down at her hands and took a deep breath. As she met his eyes, the connection was undeniable and she couldn't imagine him taking advantage of her. "You know how to put someone on the spot," she laughed shakily. "I don't have any experience to compare this to, but yes, I feel there is something special between us. Sam's never mentioned connecting with someone the way we do and she's had her fair share of dates. To be completely honest, I don't understand this feeling and I'm confused half the time." She let out a slow breath, feeling a blush burn up her neck and face.

He lifted his hand, put it on the side of her face, and said, "That's because we do have something special. I know you feel as if we barely know each other, but I feel like you're the other half of my soul. We fit together perfectly. It may be scary, but I'm ecstatic I found you." He couldn't help himself any longer. He knew if he could kiss her, their emotional bond would be in place, and she would be able to feel how he felt about her; she wouldn't be able to deny their Kismet. He needed her to know. It wasn't "love" in the sense that humans thought, it was much deeper than that, their lives interwoven in a way that could never be broken apart.

Riley was holding her breath. She reveled in the way he held her face in the palm of his hand. He was rubbing his thumb back and forth across her cheek and she found herself leaning into it. She saw him look at her lips then back at her eyes. She was frozen. She could tell he was going to kiss her and this would be her first kiss on her first date, with the sexiest man in history. The electricity in the air between them was thick and she didn't want to move for fear she'd scare him off.

He ran his hand down her jaw line from ear to chin, tipping it up as he leaned in and brushed his lips gently against hers. As her eyes slid closed, she felt the electrical spark all the way through her body, from the top of her head to her toes and fingers. The spark was warm and comforting, almost as if a glowing light entered her. Then she swore she could sense his feelings for her, a life altering emotion that didn't even have a name. The feelings ran through her body like the electrical current \- encompassing all of her. She wrapped her arms around his back, holding on with all her strength, hoping he wouldn't let her go. He held the side of her face in his right palm and his left arm circled her waist, and then he deepened the kiss. She could feel the softness of his lips open and the warmth of his tongue mingle with hers. Her hands ran up his back, feeling the taut muscle beneath the heavy wool jacket. She was in heaven and didn't want it to end.

His heart was soaring, he could feel the love, security, and contentment Riley possessed. Her emotions were flooding through his system like a livewire. His soul had found it's other half and he'd never been so happy in his life. Every obstacle he'd gone through in his life was worth it, just to be in this moment. His wolf's protective instincts kicked in and made him aware they were in public before he embarrassed both of them by being carried away. He pulled back and rested his forehead on hers, panting slightly as the current continued to zing through his body. His wolf was whimpering with euphoria. He slowly backed away and opened his eyes to look at her. She looked a bit shell-shocked and her eyes were glossy with unshed tears. "What's wrong? I'm sorry if you weren't ready for a kiss, I couldn't seem to stop myself." He looked down somewhat ashamed.

Surely, her heart was going to explode. Her arms and legs were buzzing as if they were numb and she felt like her head was full of cotton. That was the single best experience she'd ever had in her life. She could tell her eyes were glossy, and then she felt a tear escape the outside corner of her eye and slide down her cheek. Before she could wipe it away, his head snapped up. He looked back and forth between her eyes, then put his thumb to her tear and wiped it away with a frown. She could feel his confusion and pain.

He smelled the salt in her tears; he couldn't believe he had made her cry. This connection was supposed to be the best feeling ever, why was she crying? Maybe humans couldn't handle it. Maybe she didn't feel what he felt, but no, he could feel she was happy. He was so confused.

She finally found her voice, "Don't be sorry. It was incredible. I'm not sure what happened, it was as if I could feel your inner self. I don't even know what I'm saying, that sounds crazy." She shook her head, "Please know you don't need to be sorry." She put her arms around him and hugged him to her. He felt so good. She felt completely safe in his arms.

_It worked! Surely, the council will allow me to tell her after they hear we established an emotional bond._ He picked her up, set her across his lap, and buried his head into her neck and they took comfort in each other's arms. It was the most contented and safe feeling he'd ever had. His wolf was growling at him to claim her, but he couldn't do anything until she knew more about him and their Kismet connection.

He looked down at his watch and was shocked and disappointed to find it was 11 PM already. They had an hour drive home and they both needed to be up early tomorrow. He didn't want his Kismet completely dead on her feet. He railed against letting her go, but knew it was for the best. "Sweetheart, its 11:00, and I need to get you home. I wish time could freeze here, this is perfection." He smiled down at her upturned face.

She loosened the death grip she had on him and slid off his lap and stood, still stunned about the turn of events. The air was suddenly freezing without his arms around her and she shivered into her coat. He stood and wrapped his arm around her, leading her to the truck. Helping her up, he had her slide to the center of the bench seat and buckled her in. He either held her hand or put his arm around her the entire way home. They were silent; both too involved feeling the emotions of the other wash over them.

He had his radio tuned to a country station and a Rascal Flatts song, "Bless the Broken Road" came on. He'd heard it hundreds of times, but this time it had a completely new meaning. He started singing the chorus while squeezing her hand, conveying the meaning to her. He looked over as she tilted her head up to smile at him. It was perfect for how he felt about her. They continued to listen to music on their way back to Vancouver. He saw her eyes drift close a few miles out of town and he eased her against his shoulder. He stroked her hair as she slept. When he parked, he laid her head on his lap and sat in the truck for ten minutes, memorizing every curve of her face before waking her up.

"Sweetheart, wake up my little Kismet."

Riley opened her eyes, feeling as if she had been in a dream. She looked around the cab of the truck and remembered where she was. She flew into a seated position and made sure she didn't have drool on her chin and her hair wasn't sticking up. Garrett was grinning at her.

"You fell asleep about 25 minutes ago."

"Really? I feel like I've been sleeping for 8 hours. Was this whole night a dream?"

"If it is, I don't want to wake up," He jumped out of the cab and walked around to her side. Lifting her down to the pavement, he put her hand in the crook of his arm and led her to the house.

As she unlocked the door, she could hear Wolf's toenails scrabbling against the hardwood floor as he did his homecoming happy dance. "I feel like saying thank you for tonight wouldn't be right, but I can't seem to find the appropriate words to say."

"No words needed between us, my Kismet. I hate the fact I'm flying out tomorrow morning, but I'll be back as soon as I can. Please take care of yourself while I'm away. I may text or call you if it's OK."

"Yes, it's more than OK. I hope you have a good trip and I'll be excited to see you when you get back. When will you be back?"

"I'm not sure, hopefully tomorrow night, but it may be Wednesday. I'll let you know as soon as I know." He stepped in and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. Whispering in her ear, "I don't want to let you go." He could feel their hearts beating in unison.

"I don't want you to let me go either."

He groaned and bent down to give her one last kiss. Nibbling on her lower lip and running his tongue along the seam, she opened for him and he deepened the kiss. She tasted of apples and spice, like her scent. Crushing her body to his, feeling every curve as he tried to claim her as much as he could. Then he ran his lips along her jaw line, to the hollow directly behind her ear and placed a kiss there. He felt her shiver and grab onto him even tighter. "You are amazing." He stepped back for fear he wouldn't be able to control himself if he didn't. Her eyes looked a bit dazed. He was sure his did as well. "I'll see you soon. Lock up after me." He turned and headed out the door.

She was reeling. Her legs could barely hold her body up as he let go of her and left the house. A hole formed in the pit of her stomach as she watched him climb into his truck and drive away. She closed her door and locked it as he instructed, then she slid down the wall and sat on the floor in a heap of raw nerves. She didn't want him to leave; she wanted him to stay right there with her, to share her bed and wake up with their arms wrapped around each other.

Leaving her was almost impossible for Garrett. It felt wrong in a million different ways. He had a horrible feeling something would happen while he was away. He was extremely grateful for their emotional connection. From now on, he'd be able to read her emotions when near her. As their bond grew stronger, he'd be able to read them from further away. He could only imagine what it would be like when their Kismet connection cemented into place through the claiming; then they'd be able to communicate telepathically. She was perfect. He was impatient to introduce her to the pack. The only thing standing in the way, were the ten elders.

# Chapter 8 - Riley

Riley dreamt of Garrett all night. It seemed like they were trying to reach each other and couldn't. She couldn't seem to shake the hollow feeling the dream left her with when she woke up. As she was getting ready, her phone dinged a text message. She whooped when she saw it was from Garrett.

Good Morning Sweetheart,

I waited until I thought you'd

be awake. I'm boarding now,

miss you already. Chat later.

-Garrett

Good Morning,

Have a wonderful trip, I

hope to hear about it when

you return.

\- Riley

The text relieved some of the bad feelings, which were hanging over her after her dreams. She turned on some music and continued to get ready for her day. It was going to be a crazy, busy day. She had shelter duty and she needed to clean her office for Ryan's arrival. She took Wolf into the doggy daycare on the way to work, and watched him joyfully bound into the pen with the large dogs. He was already playing with a huge rubber ball by the time she handed off the leash and walked out the door. _At least he'll have a low-stress day._

She arrived at the clinic a few minutes early, which was convenient for Sam, as she was already waiting for Riley in her office. She was slouched down in a chair with her arms and ankles crossed and her legs stretched out in front of her.

"So, you wanna fill me in now? The suspense is killing me. This was your _first_ date!" Sam screeched as she sat upright.

"I need coffee. Hold that thought." Riley held up her finger as she dashed to the coffeepot.

Upon returning, she dove in, "I'm still not sure where to begin. He basically told me he lied to me about having a dog because he couldn't think of another way to see me again, and when I accepted his apology he asked me out." Riley stopped, unsure how to continue.

"And... Come on, I need more than that. How did the date go?"

How did she tell her friend who has been on hundreds of dates, that she already felt married to the first man who asked her out? It was ridiculous, right? Nevertheless, she knew they were meant to be together and had a feeling they always would. Garrett was right; they were soul mates. Her thoughts surprised her. "I don't think it could have gone better. He took me to Lapellah and then we went up to Mt Hood and ice-skated on an outdoor rink. He treated me really well," she blushed.

"So do you think you'll see him again?" Sam felt Riley was keeping something from her. The look on her face was telling and she could swear that Riley had already fallen hard for him. She wasn't sure how she felt about that. She wasn't sure if she felt jealousy or fear of Riley getting her heart broken.

"Yes, I'm fairly sure we'll see each other again. In fact, he wants to do something on my birthday."

"Great, I'll get a chance to really get to know him better then. Us girls plan on taking you out to dinner and he can join. So, what does he do, where does he live?"

"He lives up north of Woodland and he's a foreman for a construction company. They're building the new Safeway over on 8th St. He also opens doors for me, helps me on with coats, and lets me order first: a true gentleman. And after a rocky start, he passed the Wolf test," she laughed.

"Hmmmm, so did you get a goodnight kiss?"

Blushing a bright red, she said, "I don't kiss and tell."

"Oh my gosh! You did! Was it amazing? It was your first kiss; you have to kiss and tell."

"Yes, I think it was amazing, probably better than average." She blushed, thinking back on the emotions that she felt after the kiss. It all seemed surreal to her now. She couldn't have possibly felt his emotions for her, but the emotions she felt weren't coming from her. She couldn't put her thoughts into a coherent sentence, but she knew something was different ever since that kiss.

"I can't believe your first date went that well. That's great news. Since you're finally out there, you need to start playing the field a bit, and find out what other fish are in the pond. I'm sure I can find a guy or two you'd be interested in." She sat up, getting excited to finally have a girlfriend to date with.

Uh oh. Riley knew that look. Sam was on a mission. She had to stop this train now. She already knew she wouldn't be interested in anyone else. "Did you just use two different idioms for the same thing? Field and pond? No, I'm not ready to date anyone else right now, so get the idea out of your head. I'm a novice - I can only handle one guy at a time," she smiled.

"Well, at least he's hot. If you're going to stick with one, he's a good looking one to stick with," Sam winked.

"There is that, but there is something more about him. I can't really put it into words, but we really had a special connection. I don't know how else to say it." She felt naive and silly in Sam's presence, but she needed to tell someone.

"Special connection? Please be careful, I don't want some jerk to hurt you. I'll kill him if he does." Sam shook her head in warning and exasperation at her friend's naivety. She knew there was something special about Garrett, but she wasn't sure if it was what Riley was expecting.

"I know you have my back, but try not to kill him unless I want you to, alright?" she joked. "OK, we have a ton to do today. Let's look at our schedule and figure out when we'll have time to clean this office and make room for Ryan."

They worked quickly through their morning appointments, snatching moments in between to push the bookshelves and desk around to split the space in half. At noon, Riley's cell phone rang; it was Garrett.

"Hey, how did your flight go?"

"It was long and uncomfortable, but I'm on the ground now and we're going into our meeting. I needed to hear your voice before heading into the room. It's a bit of a big deal for me, so I'm hoping you'll wish me luck."

"You bet. I'm sure it'll all work out and you'll have good news when you walk out. I can't wait to hear about it, and if it's that big of a deal I think we'll need to celebrate when you get back." She heard a chuckle on the other end.

"Truer words were never spoken my Kismet. Take care and I'll talk with you as soon as I can. Bye."

"Bye." She knew she had a goofy grin on her face, but she couldn't help it. It was so great hearing from him. It helped to fill the gaping hole residing in her stomach since he left her house.

She had three surgeries that afternoon which kept her busy until 5:00. By the time she gave care instructions to the owners picking up their pets, it was almost 6:30 and she still needed to chart the paperwork and get to the shelter. She was starting to feel the results of being up too late last night too. She was yawning as Sam walked in to say goodnight.

"See, dating is hard work. No one ever believes me." She laughed. "I'm locking up - we have everything cleaned up, set up and all animals fed. See you tomorrow morning."

"Great, see you tomorrow, Sam. Thanks for being such a fantastic friend."

Riley ran to the fridge to get her PB & J. On her way back to her office she heard her phone ringing. She sprinted in and picked it up right as it stopped. "Dang!" She quickly hit redial on Garrett's number and waited.

"Hey, I thought I had missed you."

"I was just grabbing a sandwich before I had to leave for shelter duty. How did the meeting go?" She heard him sigh and she felt a heaviness in her heart.

"It could have gone better, but I'm not giving up hope yet."

"I'm so sorry. It sounds really important." She didn't know what else to say. She had no idea what this meeting was about, so any words would be platitudes.

"It's extremely important, but like I said, I won't give up. I'll never give up."

He sounded so determined it made her shiver. She'd never heard his voice that hard before. "Good. You shouldn't if there is something you really want."

"I have to go Riley. I won't be coming back tonight, but hopefully tomorrow. I'll be in touch once I know. Please take care, my Kismet."

"OK, I will and you too. Talk with you tomorrow." She heard the phone disconnect and sat there with an overwhelming feeling of disappointment. She wasn't sure if it was because he wasn't coming home, or if it was because he sounded so distraught. She shook off the bad feelings as well as she could and finished up her charting.

It was about 7:45 when she finally arrived at the shelter. Mike was on duty. Luckily, there weren't any new animals, so she checked on the ones who had arrived the previous days to make sure the sutures were all looking good and meds were disbursed correctly. The terrified Shepherd mix from last week was still there. He had started to put some weight on, but he was still a bit skittish.

"Mike, how is he doing? Is he warming up to anyone yet?

"A tiny bit, but it'll be a long haul. I'm afraid to say he'll be here for a bit unless we can find a foster home to take him and give him some extra love. He's still too skittish to adopt out."

She was saddened about the news. She knew she couldn't take another pet, but it didn't keep her from wishing. She sat down and waited for him to approach so she could give him some extra TLC. After sitting with him for about an hour, she decided it was time to go get Wolf and head home for the night. She could barely keep her eyes open.

"I'm heading out Mike, I'll see ya next week."

"OK, see ya then. Have a good one."

The night was frigid and wet. She had one of those bone deep chills, which wouldn't be eradicated unless she soaked in hot water. With a steaming hot bubble bath in mind, she picked up Wolf from doggy daycare and headed home. As she parked, she looked at her house from the car. It looked dark, empty, and lonely. She felt almost desolate and didn't know the reason why. She could assume it was because she missed Garrett and wanted to be with him, but it seemed silly, especially since she just met him. She stepped out of the Jeep and opened the back for Wolf to jump down. As they walked to the house, she almost felt ill. _Maybe I'm coming down with something._

She ran a bubble bath and grabbed her neglected book. She'd have to reread the last few pages because she'd been away from it for weeks. Her phone rang as she was heading to the bathtub, towel in hand. She was delighted it was Garrett and felt better almost immediately.

"Hey sweetheart, how are you feeling?"

"Actually, I think I might be coming down with something. Hey, isn't it midnight there? What are you doing awake?

"You're not coming down with anything. You miss me, and I miss you, and that's why I'm awake."

She laughed, "Ya, because I can't live without a guy I met a few days ago." She only heard silence on the other end. "Sorry, that was rude, but it does seem a bit farfetched."

"Remember the special connection we talked about last night? Nothing is farfetched when you share something special. I'm feeling better by just talking with you on the phone, how about you?"

She didn't want to admit she was feeling better, her scientific mind couldn't wrap itself around the thought, it sounded way too "woo woo" to her. "I'm feeling better, maybe I'm just tired, and now that I'm home I can rest. I will say I'll be happy to see you again."

"I'll be happy to see you too. Please pick up the phone if you start to feel poorly, whether you believe me or not, you'll feel better for it. Good night, my little Kismet. Sleep well and have good dreams."

"You too." She ended the call and looked at the phone with confusion. Could that call really have been the thing that made her feel better? That didn't make any sense, but none of this did. She felt off kilter ever sense she met him.

She walked into the bathroom, pulled the plug on her claw foot tub, and decided to head straight to bed instead. It had been a long day and tomorrow was going to be full of commotion with integrating Ryan into the office. She wrapped up in his jacket and snuggled into bed with Wolf and Oscar as sentinels.

She slept fitfully, waking up every hour or two with nightmares about Garrett, and more of the same hollow feeling of never seeing him again. By the time morning came around, she felt utterly depressed. As she lay in her bed, trying to decide if she cared about getting up or not, she received a call on her cell. She almost ignored it, but decided to roll over and answer.

"My Kismet, please tell me you're alright. I had nightmares all night. I waited as long as I could this morning to call - hoping I wouldn't wake you." His voice was full of emotion and strain.

She assessed how she felt, she was starting to feel better, and it was beyond ridiculous. She'd been independent all her life, never needing a man. _Why am I so lost without him?_ They barely knew each other. With a frustrated huff she said, "I'm feeling better now, thank you. Garrett, what is going on? I don't understand how a phone call can help me feel better. I'm so confused." She was near tears.

"Sweetheart, please hang in there. I'm hoping to be able to explain more when I get home. If my meeting goes well today I'll be home tonight and I'll come straight to wherever you are and explain. I promise. I'll try to call you again in a few hours. Take care and try not to worry about what you don't understand."

"Fine, but I don't see that happening. I'll talk with you later." She set the phone down and took a deep breath. _What is happening to me?_

She crawled out of bed and got ready for the day, being sure to put a turtleneck and thermals on under her scrubs to combat the bone deep chill she knew she'd have. Since it was Ryan's first day, she wasn't sure how long she'd be at work, so she decided to give Wolf an extra treat this week and take him to doggy daycare again. She grabbed a hot cup of coffee and Garrett's coat on the way out of the house. She buried her face into the coat and his scent on the fabric helped calm her slightly. Not caring what the girls would think of her she tugged it on; she needed the extra comfort.

Wolf was ecstatic of course, wiggling and singing all the way to doggy daycare. "Wolf, calm down, you're shaking the entire car. We'll go bouncing off the road at this rate," Riley laughed.

As she walked in, the daycare owner, Mara, was surprised to see her for a second day in a row. "Hey Mara, may be another long day for me. I know I didn't have him on the books, but I'm hoping you have room."

"Of course, happy to have him - he's such a sweetheart."

"Thanks Mara, you're the best." Riley waived and headed back out to her car, coffee in hand.

As she entered the clinic, she saw Ryan was already there. He was in back helping Jennifer with the overnight animals. It felt reassuring and comforting to see him. "Hey Ryan, good to see you today. You're an early bird, or maybe an eager beaver, which is it?"

"Well, since I'm an Oregon State grad, I should probably pick the eager beaver," he said with a wink. "I'm excited to start doing what I've wanted to do for years I suppose. Hope its alright I'm here this early." He shifted back and forth, nervous he'd maybe come in too early for her.

"Not a problem at all. I didn't get a chance to get a desk for you yesterday. Maybe you can find time to do that during lunch. We have an account at Office Depot. In the meantime, you can help me review charts for the first few clients and shadow me. Lyla keeps the schedule and it's all online. You can use any of the terminals to see it." She led him to the terminal and showed him how to look up the schedule and pull charts. It looked like there were only two surgeries scheduled: a lipoma removal on a Weimaraner and a dental on a six-year-old Lab. Both of those would be easy.

"How about if you do the surgeries today and I'll shadow you? Do you feel comfortable with what we have?"

He looked excited and had dimples showing. "Yes, I absolutely feel comfortable. I can totally do that. Thanks!"

As the morning progressed, she was glad he seemed to be picking up the nuances of the office. He wasn't going to be a snobby vet who never got his hands dirty, but a part of the team. He'd be a perfect fit.

"So, how did your date go the other night?"

She jumped, caught off guard by the question. "It went really well."

"Good, but I had a weird vibe about him. I know I haven't seen you in years and I have no right to meddle, but be careful with him. There seemed to be something "off" about him," he air quoted. Ryan saw her eyes harden and figured he overstepped.

She immediately had her hackles up, ready to defend Garrett. How dare Ryan pass judgment when he didn't know anything about him? Before she could lash out, she reined in her temper. "Thanks for the warning, but I'm fine."

By noon, she was feeling lonely, hollow, and depressed again. It was all encompassing and she decided to call Garrett, even though it seemed absolutely insane to her it'd help. Maybe he'd know if he was coming home though, so with the rationale of finding out his flight schedule, she dialed his number. He answered on the first ring.

"Are you OK?"

She could hear real concern in his voice. "Yes, I only wanted to find out if you were coming back today," she fibbed. She heard him chuckle and knew he caught her.

"Yes. We're working to get our tickets right now."

"We? I didn't know you went with anyone." She didn't know why it bugged her, but she felt like he was keeping something from her. _What if it was a woman?_ _Where did that irrational thought come from?_

"Yes, I'm here with John, a mentor of mine. Are you feeling better now?"

Her emotions were all over the place and she wasn't sure if she felt better or not. She was glad to hear he was there with a man, but that wasn't enough of a relief.

"Sweetheart, I'll be home as soon as I can. I promise."

She could hear the emotion in his voice and guessed the separation was maybe as hard for him as it was for her.

"I'll see you soon. You better be ready to tell me what's going on when you get here, because I can't handle this feeling anymore," she choked out and then pressed end.

She felt better physically, but her emotions were a wreck. She felt like she was losing touch with reality. They didn't have clients until their first surgery at 2:00. Ryan had left to get his desk, so she figured she would go for a walk, or run, or both. It wasn't raining out, that was a small blessing in this crazy day. She grabbed Garrett's coat and trudged towards the door.

"Sam, I'm going for a walk. Just need to breathe some fresh air for a bit. Can you hold down the fort?"

Sam was shocked. Riley never did this. She had been acting weird all day, but this was icing on the cake. "Hey, you alright?"

"Yep, only need to go out for a while."

"OK. I have it covered. See you in a bit." Sam frowned, concerned for her friend. She had a feeling it had something to do with the new man in Riley's life.

Riley went outside, deciding to walk down the block and see how far she wanted to go. She realized she hadn't grabbed her phone so she'd need to mentally track time and not be late. She had almost two hours, that'd be plenty of time to work out some stress.

Thirty minutes into her walk, she felt as if someone had been watching her. She turned down a side street and saw two men standing alongside a building. They were a bit intimidating; muscularly built and had an air of dominance about them. She swore she saw them sniff the air. _That's creepy._ She looked straight ahead and walked quickly by on the opposite side of the road. As she passed them, they started walking down the street in the same direction as her. Her heart started racing, and she tried not to panic. She didn't have her pepper spray or her phone with her. At least she was wearing some running shoes. Wait, she didn't have anything. She didn't have a purse they'd be interested in stealing. Maybe they were merely walking down the street.

She tried to ignore the hair standing up on the back of her neck and took the first turn she could. Unfortunately, it was into a deserted alleyway. The visions of poorly written horror movies flicked through her head. She looked over her shoulder and saw them turn as well - their intent clear. Adrenaline spurted through her system and she started to run, she felt like she was flying and barely touching the ground, but they were much faster. They caught up with her in a matter of seconds. One man clamped one hand on the back of her neck and the other over her mouth. She tried to kick and stomp on his foot, but he was strong enough to keep a grip. The other quickly zip tied her hands behind her back and then zip tied her ankles. It was fast and fluid, as if they've done it before. She was terrified and afraid she'd pass out from fear. Then she felt the sting of a needle in her neck and her world went black.

# Chapter 9 - Garrett

Garrett reflected on their evening together as he left her house after their date. He'd never felt so right with another person in his life. Before meeting Riley, he never believed the stories he had heard about Kismets. However, they didn't come close to what he was experiencing so far. When their emotional connection clicked into place, he knew it would be near impossible for him to leave her side without claiming her, but he had forced the connection so she'd realize how important they were to each other before he went out of town. It was a stupid, selfish mistake. Now they'd both pay for it. It had only been minutes and he was already feeling hollow and depressed by not being near her. As he left Riley's, his wolf howled in his head to stay. His knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel; he feared it would break off. Grinding his teeth, he drove home in frustration.

He tossed and turned all night. He got out of bed at 4:30 AM to shower and head to John's house. He wanted to talk with Riley, their connection was demanding it, but he didn't want to wake her. He decided he'd text before flying out. As he drove up, John was waiting outside, probably to keep him from waking up Cherise. He didn't look happy about leaving his mate either.

"Hey John, thanks for setting this up for me. I know you don't like to leave Cherise alone."

"No, I don't. But this is important, for all wolves."

"I made a mistake last night." He felt John tense next to him.

"What did you do?"

"I kissed her and it created the emotional bond. This trip is going to be very difficult on her sense she won't understand what she's feeling. I keep proving how much of an ass I am." He shook his head in disgust.

John ran his hand through his hair, "Well, I can't say I'm surprised. I was worried you told her or claimed her. I don't know how you're able to control your wolf. You have more willpower than anyone I know."

"I'm able because she'll be killed if I don't. I'll do anything to protect her," he growled in frustration.

They arrived at the airport by 5:45 and made it through the security screening. He was waiting to board when he couldn't take it any longer and decided to text her, hoping it wouldn't wake her up.

Good Morning Sweetheart,

I waited until I thought you'd

be awake. I'm boarding now,

miss you already. Chat later.

-Garrett

By the time he took his seat, there was a text back from her. His heart did a stutter of joy when he saw it. Just having that little bit of connection lightened his mood.

Good Morning,

Have a wonderful trip, I

hope to hear about it when

you return.

\- Riley

The flight was long and they couldn't talk about anything important since humans surrounded them. Garrett spent his time looking through _Sky Mall_ magazine and watching TV on the headrest in front of him. When they arrived in Maine, there was a driver waiting for them with their names on a white card "Forrester and Wright". They followed the driver through the crowded airport to the covered arrivals section outside. A black stretch limousine was waiting for them. After they sat down in the back, the driver shut their door without saying a word and climbed behind the wheel.

"That was ominous," Garrett said.

"Yah, they're not much for chit chat at the headquarters. I know I don't need to tell you, but you'll feel the dominance in the room. Bow to it and don't speak unless spoken to."

He nodded and waited to arrive at their destination. About an hour later, the limo started to slow. It wound up a long brick driveway, edged by forest on each side. There was 12' rock wall around the perimeter, he guessed there to be 20 acres in all. The driveway looped around a circular fountain at the entrance to a massive, 3-story brick mansion. Two wings of the mansion flanked the sides of the driveway. The main part of the house was directly in front of them. The driver grabbed their bags and led them into the marble foyer, which boasted dual staircases circling down from the second floor and a crystal chandelier worthy to be on the set of _Phantom of the Opera_. There was a view from the back of the house onto a huge lake. A butler arrived, and escorted them to their rooms, which were in the right wing of the house. He could only assume the elder's rooms were in the left. The butler left them, stating the elders would be ready in thirty minutes.

Garrett entered his room, sick with worry. The estate itself was enough to intimidate anyone who arrived. His room had 15' ceilings with a king size sleigh bed in the middle of the far wall, flanked by floor to ceiling windows. The size of the room made the bed seem like a twin. The opulent draperies, bed covering, and rugs were done in greens, browns, and cream. There was an old world wardrobe near a door, which led into a bathroom complete with shower, jetted tub and dual sinks. The bedroom was too big for one person, which exaggerated his need for his Kismet.

The effects of their separation was wearing on him. He needed to call her and see if he could get his mind right for this meeting, knowing he wasn't in his best form without her. He looked at his watch and was relieved it was noon her time; maybe she'd be able to answer the call. He dialed and waited tensely.

"Hey, how did your flight go?"

Her voice immediately calmed him, "Long and uncomfortable, but I'm on the ground now and we're going into our meeting. I needed to hear your voice before heading into the room. It's a bit of a big deal for me, so I'm hoping you'll wish me luck." This was a huge deal for both of them. They needed to have the elder's blessings.

"You bet. I'm sure it'll all work out and you'll have good news when you walk out. I can't wait to hear about it, and if it's that big of a deal I think we'll need to celebrate when you get back."

He couldn't help himself - he had to chuckle. If she only knew know right she was. "Truer words were never spoken, my Kismet. Take care and I'll talk with you as soon as I can. Bye."

"Bye."

The short conversation helped, he felt like he could make it through this meeting now without fracturing. He figured John was having a similar conversation in his room. However, the telepathic link in their Kismet connection aided them, keeping the sickness at bay. That thought, brought up a question, so he left his room to knock on John's door.

John opened the door and gestured for Garrett inside. "What's up? You're looking better than you did a few minutes ago."

"Yah, I was able to speak to Riley over the phone for a few minutes. Actually, that is why I came in here. Are Kismets able to speak telepathically from long distances? Can you speak with Cherise from here?"

"Yes, we can, but we have an incredibly strong connection. Not all Kismets are equal in their connection, and the longer you're together the stronger it becomes. Since we're so far apart, it's a bit weaker and hard to catch all the details."

"What about emotional connections, How far away can you be and feel them?"

"Same story, it differs. I could feel Cherise's to somewhere over the Great Lakes, but now they aren't there. Our telepathy has always been stronger though."

"So the chance of Riley feeling me from this distance is extremely slim?"

"Yes, especially when you haven't claimed her. Why are you asking?"

"I wanted to make sure she doesn't feel my emotions. This is going to be a rough day, and without her knowing what's happening, I don't want her to deal with anything more strange than she already is."

"You should be fine, and you'd feel her emotions too."

Right then a knock sounded on the door. They walked over and John opened it. The butler was back.

"They are ready for you in the ballroom."

Garrett and John looked at each other and nodded, and then followed his lead. As they entered the ballroom, there was a long expansive dance floor between the door they entered and the far end where the elders sat. A huge, crystal chandelier hung from the center of the room, with several smaller ones flanking it in all directions. Windows with navy blue curtains graced each side, presumably leading out to balconies. As they entered, the weight of the elder's dominance was painful. John bent down on one knee and bowed his head; Garrett mimicked the sign of respect.

"Please rise and come forward." Jeremiah, the head elder, called from the far end.

They both rose, keeping their eyes down as they entered the room and made their way to the group. There were ten in all, between the ages of 150 and 200, equivalent of 50 to 65 in human years. As they neared the elders, they both kneeled once again, waiting further instruction. Garrett hoped they all had kismet's and could empathize with his pain, swaying a vote in his favor.

"John, it is so nice to see you again. I don't believe we've been in each other's presence since you became Alpha," Jeremiah said.

"It is an honor to see you as well, sir," John replied.

Garrett could feel the weight of Jeremiah's stare on him. Waves of dominance were crashing into him from the elders and it was difficult to keep his footing. He believed they were testing his mettle. Jeremiah finally addressed him.

"So, you are the young wolf who believes you have a Kismet connection with a human?"

"Yes, Sir."

"We," he said, sweeping his hands in an arcing motion to all elders, "have never heard of such an occurrence. You have piqued our interest. At first, we didn't believe John, but he has vouched that you know for sure. Tell us, what is your proof?"

"I have no physical proof, sir. I have not claimed her without your approval, so neither of us is marked. I can only say we have established an emotional bond through a kiss."

"Really? And tell us, why should we believe you have such a bond? We have never allowed the first law to be broken. What can you provide to prove there is a reason to do so now?" he challenged.

"I'd gladly claim her and show the proof of the mark upon doing so. If we do not bear the mark afterward, I'll forfeit my life."

"Be clear, you would be forfeiting her life as well if you are mistaken. Are you absolutely sure this is a scenario you're willing to pursue?"

He felt sick at the thought. They'd kill her for being with him. He knew she was his Kismet, but what if she didn't get the mark, what if it didn't work because she was human? He couldn't put her life at risk that way. "I'm sorry, sir. I can't risk her life in any way. I know she's my Kismet, but I'm not 100% sure she'd receive the mark because of her human nature."

The elders whispered among themselves for several minutes. Garrett's knee was getting sore, but there was no way he'd break protocol and stand or look Jeremiah in the eye.

"You are both excused; we will discuss the situation and meet again tomorrow." Jeremiah dismissed them.

They stood up and turned, feeling eyes on the back of their heads as they walked out of the room. The butler took them to their rooms again and Garrett opted to stop at John's room rather than proceeding to his own.

"That could have gone better," he groused, feeling sick to his stomach. His wolf, which had been in full submission during the meeting, was now pacing and whining in his head. He was having a hard time thinking clearly.

"Don't give up yet, they didn't say no."

"I'm not giving up, I'll never give up until there isn't a breath in me," he said with conviction.

"Well then, don't do anything stupid either."

He went back to his room and tried to sleep to pass the time, but he kept having nightmares. His mind was overactive and he was feeling a deep loss from their separation. He tossed and turned until dinnertime. The same staid butler arrived to notify him dinner would be ready in thirty minutes and appropriate attire was in his wardrobe. He padded over to the wardrobe and opened it to find a black tuxedo in his size. He didn't want to know how or why they knew what size he wore. He was dressed within fifteen minutes; he then paced around like a caged animal until the butler returned.

He and John followed the butler to the formal dining room. The elders were already seated, so the dominance in the room was oppressive once again. This time John didn't kneel, he followed the butler to his chair and sat down, as the butler presented a napkin with a flourish. Garrett followed suit.

The dinner proceeded slowly, with six courses. Having eleven alphas in the room (including John) was almost too much for Garrett's wolf to handle. The elders would speak now and again, but didn't bring him into the conversation. Garrett pictured Riley's face and focused on the one date they were able to have, trying to gain the fortitude to make it through dinner. Nonetheless, by the time dessert was finished, he was ready to get down on his knees and beg for their blessing; anything to alleviate the pain and sorrow he was feeling.

It was 9:30 when dinner was over. Jeremiah finally addressed him. "Garrett, I can smell your sorrow and frustration from here. I'm beginning to believe you are telling the truth about your connection. However, that does not mean we will allow you to divulge our secret. We will speak with you in the morning."

With that, they were dismissed into the hands of the butler once again. He wanted to sprint ahead of the butler as he slowly plodded to their rooms. He was feeling more and more desolate without being able to talk with his Kismet. John kept looking over at him with concern, obviously scenting the pain he was feeling. As he entered his room, he was already dialing her number. It rang five times and then went to voicemail. He wanted to scream. His eyes were glowing and his nails were starting to emerge when his phone rang.

He saw Riley on caller ID and his wolf immediately calmed. "Hey, I thought I had missed you." He exhaled to calm himself further.

"I was just grabbing a sandwich before I had to leave for shelter duty. How did the meeting go?"

"It could have gone better, but I'm not giving up hope yet." He'd never give up on her.

"I'm so sorry. It sounds really important."

This was infuriating; she couldn't even know the weight of this meeting. "It's extremely important, but like I said, I won't give up. I'll never give up."

"Good. You shouldn't if there is something you really want."

He scented John and there was a knock on his door. He wanted to yell at him to leave, but John was his Alpha.

"I have to go Riley. I won't be coming back tonight, but hopefully tomorrow. I'll be in touch once I know. Please take care, my Kismet."

"OK, I will and you too. Talk with you tomorrow."

He opened the door for John, inviting him inside.

"How are you? You looked on the verge of losing it. I'm not sure I've ever seen a wolf that unhinged unless they were going feral," he said with true worry and concern in his eyes.

"I'm better. I spoke with Riley and it calmed me." He saw John's eyes go wide with shock.

"What? You mean just talking on the phone calmed your wolf?"

He was confused; he thought it was normal and proof of their connection. "Yes, doesn't it work that way for you and Cherise?"

"No. Of course, our situation is different because I was able to claim her and she's marked as mine, we have a telepathic connection, but we don't get relief from a telephone conversation. In fact, with the way you looked earlier, I thought we'd have to fly home tonight and come back tomorrow. I was seriously concerned you were going to wolf out on the butler," he chuckled.

"Why do you think we're different? Is it because she's human? I hate not knowing how things are affecting her. I feel helpless and I want to shield her from all of this chaos."

"I'm not sure why you're different. It could be because you're unable to claim her and has nothing to do with her being human. But I do know, you can't shield her from everything. She's meant to be your mate, and as such, she will back you up as much as you'll back her up. Don't treat her like something breakable, she won't like it."

"But Riley's human. It's different."

"If she's your Kismet, she's meant to be with a shifter. Therefore, she's tougher than you realize. I'm going to call Cherise and then hit the hay. See you in the morning."

"Thanks again, John. All of this dominance is uncomfortable for my wolf; I can only imagine how an alpha would feel."

"Anything for my pack," he hesitated in the doorway. "I wish I had answers about how your connection is working, but I don't. This whole scenario is unprecedented." John patted him on the shoulder and walked out.

Garrett decided to try and sleep, but he ended up tossing and turning. For some reason he felt like he needed to speak with Riley again. He couldn't take the isolation any longer, so he dialed her.

She answered on the second ring. "Hey sweetheart, how are you feeling?"

"Actually, I think I might be coming down with something. Hey, isn't it midnight there? What are you doing awake?

Dang, she was feeling the negative impact of their connection. He was pleased to know she felt the loss because it clarified she felt the connection as a human, but he felt bad she was suffering. "You're not coming down with anything. You miss me, and I miss you, and that's why I'm awake."

She laughed, "Ya, because I can't live without a guy I met a few days ago."

Were they back to this again? Was she denying the connection, even with the preponderance of proof?

"Sorry, that was rude, but it does seem a bit farfetched."

"Remember the special connection we talked about last night?" Was it only last night? It felt like eons. "Nothing is farfetched when you share something special. I'm feeling better just talking with you on the phone, how about you?" He heard her hesitate for a moment.

"I'm feeling better, maybe I'm just tired and now that I'm home I can rest. I will say I'll be happy to see you again."

"I'll be happy to see you too. Please pick up the phone if you start to feel poorly, whether you believe me or not, you'll feel better for it. Good night, my little Kismet. Sleep well and have good dreams."

"You too."

He wanted to rail at her. She was back to sweeping their connection under the rug, as if it wasn't anything special and real. It broke his heart, and because she couldn't fit it into her scientific mind. She'd really freak when he told her he was a wolf. He flopped back onto the bed and did his best to sleep, but was plagued by nightmares of Riley being taken away from him.

By the time he woke up, he was in a cold sweat and his wolf was growling and snapping his jaws. It was too early her time to call, but he was at his wits end. He decided to do some sit-ups, push-ups, and pull-ups while he waited for her to wake up. Maybe it'd wear his wolf out a bit.

After working himself into a sweat for three hours, he made the call. "My Kismet, please tell me you're alright. I had nightmares all night. I waited as long as I could this morning to call - hoping I wouldn't wake you."

"I'm feeling better now, thank you. Garrett, what is going on? I don't understand how a phone call can help me feel better. I'm so confused."

He could tell she was frustrated. At least she was coming around to the idea that something was different about them, but she didn't understand what her body was doing and it wasn't fair to her. He wanted to kick himself for kissing her and causing this to happen. "Sweetheart, please hang in there. I'm hoping to be able to explain more when I get home. If my meeting goes well today I'll be home tonight and I'll come straight to wherever you are and explain. I promise. I'll try to call you again in a few hours. Take care and try not to worry about what you don't understand."

"Fine, but I don't see that happening. I'll talk with you later."

That last comment sounded like she was ticked, and he couldn't blame her. He headed down to the dining room for breakfast, since they told him it would be a casual brunch style. He loaded up his plate with eggs, bacon, hash browns, and chicken fried steak with gravy. He was famished, and figured since they had enough food for an entire pack, that he'd help them eat it.

He was the only one there, which suited him perfectly. There weren't any dominant alphas to submit to or questioning glances from John to deal with. The dining room was as opulent as the rest of the house. He was so busy looking at his plate last night he didn't have a chance to notice. He found it weird that wolves had headquarters this fancy. His pack was more rustic, living in the mountains and forest. He would never want the "honor" of living in this museum.

After finishing, he headed back to his room. John was walking down the hall as he approached. He looked deep in thought with a furrow between his brows. Maybe he needed a run too.

"Hey John, breakfast was great, but I sure could use a good run."

"Me too. Let's go on one now. I know they have the forest treed in a way that prying eyes can't see in. We only need to stay within the compound's fence."

"Sounds great." He followed John outside and they stripped down, fluidly changing into their shifts and took off for the woods. They ran for a couple of hours, wearing their wolves out before heading back. As they approached the patio where they left their clothes, the butler was waiting with a look of agitation on his face. He held their clothes in his hand as if they were diseased.

"The elders are unable to meet with you today; they have asked the driver to take you to the airport."

"What!" Garrett exclaimed. Looking at John he said, "Are they not giving their answer? What am I to do? Do something!"

"I can't do anything other than what I've already done. We can only hope they get back to us with their decision. Until then, we need to stay as calm as possible," warned John in his alpha tone.

"John, we have to have an answer. I can't go back, not knowing if I can tell her anything. My wolf is going crazy. Do you have any idea how painful this is?"

John took an alpha stance and tone with a low growl, "Go to your room and pack. I'll meet you at the front door." John turned around and walked off.

The alpha vibes were the strongest he'd felt from him. His wolf grudgingly submitted and he gathered himself enough to follow orders. However, he had a feeling that if he didn't respect John as a friend he would have challenged him. Ten minutes later, they were climbing into the limo. On the way to the airport, John was searching flights with his phone when Garrett's rang showing his Kismet on caller ID.

"Are you alright?" He was immediately panicked something was wrong.

"Yes, I only wanted to find out if you were coming back today."

He already felt lighter by talking to her and he couldn't help but chuckle at her "reason" for calling. "Yes. We're working to get our tickets right now."

"We? I didn't know you went with anyone."

She sounded irritated and maybe a little jealous. Had he failed to say he traveled here with someone? "Yes, I'm here with John, a mentor of mine. Are you feeling better now?" He could tell she was scattered and having a rough time. "Sweetheart, I'll be home as soon as I can. I promise."

"I'll see you soon. You better be ready to tell me what's going on when you get here, because I can't handle this feeling anymore."

He heard her frustration and pain as she hung up, and he wasn't sure if he could handle any more stress today. He wanted to destroy anything in his path. He fisted his hands and willed his wolf to calm. This was going to be a long flight. He could see John looking at him out of the corner of his eye, probably planning on how to restrain him.

John was able to find a flight that left in an hour; it was a direct flight, landing in PDX by 5:30 that evening. As they headed to their gate, John made a pit stop at a bar and ordered a shot for Garrett to take the edge off. He slammed it back and kept walking, fearing he'd be late to the plane. As soon as he sat down, his vision started blurring and he felt dizzy. He looked over at John who was eyeing him with a look of apprehension.

"Did you drug me?"

"Yes."

"Thank you," he slurred. It seemed like a strange thing to say, but he wasn't sure if he could control his wolf for the next few hours. Being knocked out would be a blessing, and he could trust John to take care of him. He leaned back in the seat to get comfortable. Right as the darkness claimed him, he received a jolt of adrenaline and it wasn't his fear he was feeling, it was Riley's. His wolf made a lunge to stand, but all went black.

# Chapter 10 - Hostage

Riley awoke slowly. Her head was pounding and her mouth felt like it was full of cotton. Even though she was opening her eyes, she couldn't see anything. Memory of what happened started to trickle back and adrenaline flowed through her system. Her breathing became erratic as it sawed in and out of her chest, sucking the fabric covering her head into her mouth. She was terrified, but she tried to tamp down the panic; she didn't want her captors to know she was awake. It was either very thick fabric covering her head or it was dark where she was, because there wasn't an ounce of light coming through the edges. She started to assess her situation; she could tell she was sitting on a hard floor, most likely wood. They had her propped up in the corner with her arms still tied behind her back and her feet bound in front of her. Her hands and arms were numb, but her shoulders screamed from the pain from being pulled behind her back for so long. She couldn't feel her feet either and hoped the thugs hadn't cut off her circulation with the bindings. She had no idea how long she'd been out, there wasn't anything to get a frame of reference. The air smelled musty and it was extremely cold. She was thankful for Garrett's jacket and the thermal underwear under her scrubs. She held her breath as she heard a muffled voice on the other side of a wall.

A door opened, scraping across the ground as it swung wide, letting more cold into the room. The air smelled like forest; she could make out the smells of pine trees and moss. Of course, in Washington, it could be someone's back yard if it were big enough. She did her best to control her breathing and fake sleep, but she couldn't keep it under control. Her heart was beating so hard it felt like it was shaking her body.

"She's awake," she heard a gruff voice say.

"Give her some water," another voice said.

They both sounded stern and she didn't want to see their faces again. She knew the likelihood of her getting out of this alive went down if she saw her captor's faces. She heard heavy footfalls coming her way and hands started messing with a cord around her neck. The bag lifted off her head and she blinked her eyes, trying to adjust to the light emitted from an old oil lamp. One of the men that attacked her was standing in front of her. He looked to be about fifty years old and had salt and peppered hair and beard. Wrinkles lined his face. His nearly black eyes and stance intimidated her as he handed her a cup of water. A tattoo of a red and black snake's head peeked out from the cuff of his sleeve.

"Drink," he barked.

She tentatively took the cup and sniffed the water. She didn't smell anything weird, but how would she know if they put something in it? It's not as if she had a deviant mind and learned about what to drug people with. However, she was thirsty enough to take a sip. It tasted fine, so she drank deeper. She knew if she were ever going to get out of this nightmare, she'd need to keep her strength up.

"Where am I?" she whispered.

"No questions!" he yelled, roughly grabbing the cup out of her hands.

He put the hood back over her head, securing it with the cord. In the few seconds she had to look around it appeared she was in a rustic, old cabin of some kind, maybe a hunting cabin since it didn't have any furniture or real kitchen. It was about 12 x 12, with rough-hewn walls and floor. An unlit wood stove sat in the corner. The one window she saw was dark - either it was nighttime or they had painted it black. Since it was after noon when they grabbed her, it was a good chance it was dark now. She started to think about her situation, which led her to think about the clinic.

What did they do when she didn't come back? Did they call the police? Was anyone looking for her? What about Wolf? At least he was at doggy daycare and Mara would care for him, but he wouldn't know why she didn't come pick him up. Then her heart dropped out when she thought about Garrett. What would he do? He nearly flipped out from a scratch when ice-skating. What would he do when he found out she was kidnapped? That's if he didn't think she ran off and deserted him. He wouldn't think that, would he? Surely, someone would start looking for her, but how would anyone find her? She didn't even know where she was. Her head was spinning with worries.

"What do you want with me?" she tentatively asked. She heard two steps come toward her and then her head snapped back with the force of a slap across her face. Her cheek and temple felt like it would explode from the pain and her eyes began to water. She balled her legs up to help ward off any further abuse and quietly cried.

*

Garrett slowly opened his eyes, trying to remember where he was, when he remembered Riley's distress and his wolf surged forward. He started to growl and shift. He saw Breck, Jason, Jasper, and Chase standing in a circle in front of him: his closest friends.

Breck moved towards him with hands out in a placating gesture, "Whoa, Garrett. Calm down, we're here to help. Stay with us son. We need you to stay with us. You wolfing out won't help anything."

"Riley! Where is she?" His voice came out more animal than human. He could feel her fear, it was making him sick, and his wolf was snapping at its confinement. It was taking all of his strength to keep him locked inside.

Jason stepped forward. "We're not sure, buddy. John called us during the flight and asked us to meet you at the airport. He had to drug you, knowing you'd shift on the flight if you found out what was happening. He didn't want to do it, man, but he had to."

They were all shifting back and forth on their feet, trying to figure out what to do. Garrett was strong, and they weren't entirely sure if the four of them could stop him if he went feral. They could smell the rage on him.

"Keep it together for Riley. We'll fill you in, but you have to keep control, and right now, you don't look like you can. We need to hear you say you can," said Breck

He gritted his teeth and growled, "I can keep control. I'll do anything for her and you know it. She's my Kismet, and you know what that means, but if one hair on her head is damaged, I'll kill the asshole that did it, understand? Now, where the hell are we and why isn't John here?"

"We're at a hotel near the airport. John had to meet with the elders who flew here. Listen, they made their decision this morning before you left, but he had to make sure he was able to get you home safely, without you finding out. He didn't want to keep you in the dark, but he did it for you. The elders called a private meeting with him alone. He argued for you, but they had already decided what they were doing." Breck hesitated. "Are you OK son? Are you ready for more?"

He wasn't entirely sure if he could keep his wolf in line. He was having a very hard time holding him back. The fear coming from Riley was drowning him. It felt like he was a tiny kid in the ocean, getting his head above the water before the next wave of fear crashed over him again. "Chain me Breck. We're in a populated area, so chain me." He hated to say it. He didn't want to be treated like some feral, uncontrolled wolf, but he'd never forgive himself if someone innocent were injured due to his boiling rage. Right now his wolf wanted to kill everyone in the way of getting to Riley and that included his best friends.

He saw the sadness in Breck's eyes as he left to get the chains out of his truck. The remaining three were pacing the room; he could smell fear on them. They knew they wouldn't be able to contain him if he went feral. He did everything in his power to keep his wolf at bay. A creak emitted from the metal chair as his grip bent the armrests, and they all turned toward him in a battle stance. He was literally seeing red and his claws extended, along with his canines. He felt pure rage and was huffing in and out, trying to fight his wolf back, but Riley's fear was too much for him to handle. He saw Jason strip the bed of its comforter and run toward him, barking orders at the others as they removed their belts and did their best to wrap him up as quickly as possible. It was laughable they were trying to tie him up with fabric and leather.

As he was shifting, he heard Jason yell, "For Riley! Stay here for Riley!" That was like a douse of cold water to his wolf. He started to gain the upper hand and his fangs and claws receded. He needed to keep his head if he were going to be of any help. Massacring the good people of Portland would not help him find her. Breck rushed in the door, chains in hand. He froze when he saw them hovering around Garrett with the comforter.

"What happened?" Breck demanded.

"He started to go feral. His eyes actually turned red, Breck. I've never seen anything like that before. The only thing that brought him back was Riley's name," Jason said, wiping the sweat off his forehead.

Wow, did he hear that right? Did his eyes actually turn red? He could tell they were a constant gold right now; his wolf was simmering right below the surface. Breck advanced on him with the chains and wrapped them around his body from shoulders to toe, making sure he wouldn't be able to shift out of them.

"Keep control, damnit! That's the last time I'm going to tell you. You can't help her if you go feral. I know you're upset, but keep control! I'll drug you if I have to," Breck growled.

"You don't understand. I can feel her fear - she's terrified! What happened to her? Who has her?" he begged.

"As I was saying, the elders had already made their decision when John met with them. Two of the elders actually flew out before they even met. They came here to get Riley and hold her until a tribunal on the new moon. They won't hurt her. We know who has them and to what purpose, but they won't hurt her, not until the tribunal anyway," Breck said with a frown.

Garrett knew the New Moon Tribunals judged for the gravest of offenses. The law mandated any judgment concerning life or death be handed down on the new moon, when the council's wolves' influence was at its weakest and their human nature would be strongest, to ensure a fair ruling.

"She hasn't done anything, why are they judging her? I haven't told her ANYTHING!" he yelled.

"We're not sure, son. John is hoping to find out more at the meeting tonight. The council is scared about the Kismet connection filtering into the human population. They believe this is a onetime thing which needs to be eradicated."

_Eradicated!_ He started to see red again and his wolf began emerging.

"Riley needs you, son! Don't do this. You are one of the strongest wolves I know. Stay with us and think about saving Riley," Breck pleaded.

*

Riley drifted in and out of sleep. She heard her jailer leave the room a while ago, and hadn't heard anything since. It was hard to judge time, but she guessed it had been about thirty minutes to an hour since he left. She had tried to break her hands loose, but the binds were too tight. She figured she was probably cutting them into her wrists, but her hands were so numb she couldn't feel anything. She also worried about the temperature. It had to be below freezing and her fingers were exposed to the cold air without gloves. All of the sudden she felt fury, cold fury, and it wasn't her; she was too scared to be mad. She didn't understand what she was feeling and it scared her even more. She whimpered and cowered into the corner further as the fury crashed over her wave after wave. She felt as if she was losing her mind. She stayed balled up in the corner, going in and out of sleep for hours. When she slept, she had nightmares and when she woke, she felt the unadulterated rage.

*

Garrett grunted and growled as he fought to control his wolf. He was exhausted from the fight. He looked up at the group of men around him, "I'm sorry, I'm fighting the best I can. If you could only feel her terror - it's all encompassing and I'm completely helpless."

"No you're not. If you can feel her, then she can feel you. Concentrate on your emotions and your connection; figure out a way to send her love and comfort."

"I don't think I can, Breck. I'm not that strong. I can't keep my rage at bay and if she's feeling that, then she's probably even more scared," he said disgusted with himself. "What time is it? Where is John?"

"It's about 5:00 in the morning and we're not sure where John is. He went to the meeting at 10:00 last night and we haven't heard anything since. Just so you know, him telling us or you any of this is against the council's permission. He has put his life and the life of his Kismet in danger to warn you. Remember that when you see him."

Garrett felt sick, he didn't want anyone else hurt because of this, but he was grateful for his pack and Breck. "I'm sorry; it means you're all in danger. Thank you for being here and helping me with this. I have no doubt I would have turned feral without your help."

Chase and Jasper advanced and patted him on the shoulder, letting him know they would do whatever they could to help. He closed his eyes and focused on the love he felt for Riley, trying to ignore thoughts that would fuel his rage. He pictured their night out at dinner and ice-skating, their first kiss. He could feel his wolf receding and continued to picture a wall of love between him and his wolf. He opened his eyes feeling in control for the first time in hours. Jason walked over and started to unchain him.

"What are you doing? Don't unchain me. What if I turn feral?"

As Jason unwrapped him he said, "You aren't going to turn feral. Your eyes are normal again and I don't smell that overwhelming rage on you anymore. We'll keep the chains close, but I can't stand seeing you chained up like a beast."

Garrett swung his arms around, letting circulation back in and stood up to pace around. Jason was right; he had his wolf so far behind a wall he couldn't sense him. He didn't know it was possible to lock him up that tight. He was completely under control for the time being.

About an hour later, there was a knock on the door. John entered with a grim look on his face. His eyes flashed to the chains and then back to Garrett. "I'm sorry, man, I feel horrible for drugging you, but I needed to get you back here if you were going to be any help to Riley."

He bowed in formal supplication. "It's OK. You did what you had to do, and I appreciate your help, Alpha. You've helped me, regardless of the risk to your Kismet and yourself. I won't be able to repay you."

"Please rise. You are my pack, as Alpha I will always do everything in my power to help you. I met with the council members that are here - which includes Jeremiah and three others at this time. The rest are due to arrive before the New Moon Tribunal on Wednesday. They are holding Riley at an undisclosed location until then. They refused to tell me where, but I did pick out a distinct scent of volcanic ash on their clothing. I believe they have her in the Gifford Pinchot Forrest somewhere, which will narrow down the search quite a bit."

"She's scared, John, terrified. I can feel her through our connection and it's taken me hours to get my wolf under control. Right now, he's locked behind a strong wall, but if she's been hurt, I won't keep him from killing the bastard who did it. You need to know that."

"She's your Kismet. It's pack law; if they hurt her, they deserve a challenge from the offended mate. The pack will stand behind that law, no matter what. However, I don't believe they'd be that stupid. They have no reason to hurt her. They are only holding her until the Tribunal."

He figured he was calm enough now to try to work on their connection. He had a feeling it'd be the only thing that would help them find her before it was too late. He went into the bedroom to focus. He lay down on the bed and worked on finding some love and reassurance to send her way. He had no idea if he was doing it correctly, but he would try and hopefully it would override his anger. He didn't want to be the source of her pain and fear. After concentrating for ten minutes, he felt her fear lesson and he knew he had made contact with her. It wasn't telepathy, but she was sending her love back to him. He didn't know if she was doing it on purpose or if she even knew what she was feeling. He hoped she would receive some reassurance from their Kismet. She was strong and he knew she'd get through this, if he could only find her.

*

It was early morning. Riley wasn't sure of the exact time, but she could see a faint light through her hood. She heard the door scrape open and footsteps approached. They stopped in front of her and didn't move for about thirty seconds. She guessed they were staring at her and she felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise. She still felt rage coming at her, but it had lessened in the last hour. She heard the rustle of the person's coat as they bent over and untied her hood, removing it. A different man stood in front of her. He was a bit older than the other thug, but even more intimidating. He had short grey hair and a perfectly trimmed beard. Crow's feet bracketed his blue eyes and he peered at her with what she could only figure was curiosity.

"I'm guessing you're hungry, thirsty, and need to use the facilities - such as they are," he said.

She nodded for fear of making any noise. He leaned down and cut the ties around her ankles, then grabbed her shoulders and spun her around to do the same with her wrists. She gingerly brought her arms in front of her and tried to shake them out, knowing there would be pain as her limbs started getting circulation. Her shoulders were stiff and she felt like she was frozen. The man looked around the cabin as if he'd not been there before and snarled. She thought it almost sounded animalistic.

"Garth! Get your ass in here!" he barked. "You didn't light a fire for her? What about this bruise on her cheek, did you hit her?" he accused.

"No, I didn't light a fire. I didn't know we were trying to keep our prisoner comfortable. I hit her when she kept asking questions; she needed to learn her place," Garth growled.

"You could have very well killed her in both instances. She's not as strong as we are and she can't handle the cold. Go get some wood and start the fire, and don't hit her again. You better hope the bruise heals before he finds out or he'll challenge you."

"HA! As if it's a challenge. I'll pick my teeth with his bones. He's no Alpha."

She thought the term alpha was strange, but figured it was the name of their gang or something. The blue eyed man turned back to look at her. She was grateful for some odd reason. He was her captor, but at least he wanted to give her some kind of comfort. _Is this Stockholm syndrome?_ The man ran his hand through his hair and shook his head.

"When you can stand, come outside and I'll take you to the outhouse," he said gruffly as he turned around and walked out.

She worked on getting circulation back in her feet and arms. She started feeling something tickle in her head; she focused on it and realized it was a feeling of love. It was washing over her as strongly as the rage was earlier. Then it dawned on her, it had to be Garrett. As absurd as it sounded, she knew it was. It was close to the same feeling she felt after they kissed. The rage she felt earlier was probably from when he found out she was missing. This connection was the only option she had for outside contact, so she focused on her feelings for him and pictured his face. She felt them meld together and his emotions flowed seamlessly against hers through her body. There wasn't a way to describe the feeling, but she knew she was connected to him and it was calming. She knew he'd be looking for her and needed to keep her wits about her until she escaped.

She shook her arms and legs out, grimacing at the pain as blood started flowing. She looked down at her hands to inspect any damage from the ties or the cold. She had cuts around her wrists that stung from her struggling, but she didn't see any signs of permanent damage on her hands or feet from the loss of circulation. She stood on wobbly legs and walked outside to look for the blue-eyed man.

He was leaning against a tree with his arms crossed and a toothpick in his mouth. He wore jeans, work boots, and a plaid shirt; he was clearly sizing her up. She walked towards him, noticing as much of her surroundings as she could. They were in deep woods, with a skinny trail leading away. There were a couple of motorcycles on the side of the cabin. Running water gurgled in the distance. The trees were old growth evergreens and there were ferns and other foliage littering the ground below them. It wouldn't be impossible to move through, but it'd definitely slow her down if she decided to run for it.

"Don't even think about it. We're a lot faster than you could imagine. If you run, we'll hunt you down without a problem."

She looked at him and could tell he wasn't bluffing. "May I use the outhouse?" she asked meekly.

He pointed behind the cabin and said, "Over there."

She followed the direction of his finger and found a tiny little shack covered in moss, spider webs, and God only knew what else. She gulped as she pushed the door open. If she closed it, she wouldn't be able to see anything, so she left it cracked. She finished quickly and nearly sprinted out, feeling as if she had creepy crawlers all over her. As she rounded the corner of the cabin, she ran into a solid wall of muscle. She looked up and gulped, it was Garth and he was glaring at her.

"Get out of my way," he barked.

"Garth, there is no reason to treat her so roughly, it's not her fault she's in this predicament. She hasn't done anything wrong," said the blue eyed man.

She really was starting to appreciate the guy. That was not good. Maybe it was a mind game he was playing; get her to trust him and then he would make her his creepy forest bride. She shivered at the thought as she walked into the cabin. She noticed Garth had lit the fire, so she stood in front of the stove, warming herself. The nice man walked in and handed her a Burger King bag filled with food along with a bottle of water.

"Here, eat something."

"Thank you," she said as she opened the bag and started eating a cold breakfast sandwich. After gulping it down, she drained the entire bottle of water. The feeling of love and compassion coming from Garrett continued to flow over her the entire time and she returned it.

# Chapter 11 - The Hunt

Garrett lay on the hotel bed, reveling in the bond he shared with his Kismet. It was soothing to him and his wolf; he only wished he had been able to control himself earlier. It pained him to know she felt the rage he was having. He heard a knock on the door.

"Come in," he said and sat up expectantly as John walked in.

"How is it going? Are you able to control the connection?" John asked.

"Yes. It's amazing. She's not fighting me and the connection is strong. I had no idea it'd be like this," he said in awe.

"Good, it will help you locate her. Maybe the feelings will get stronger as you get nearer. You should be able to keep the connection going in the background of your mind all day. You're new at it, so you may "drop a signal" occasionally, but it'll come back online. Now, you ready to start hunting?"

"Yes," he growled.

"You should check your cell phone. It has several text messages from a guy named Ryan using Riley's phone. We didn't discuss it earlier because you weren't in the right frame of mind." John handed the phone to him.

He scrolled through the messages. They became increasingly angry as the day went on, blaming Garrett for taking her. He shook his head. "We need to go see him at the clinic. Maybe he or one of the girls will have a clue as to what happened." He stood up, determined to find his Kismet.

His friends were eating breakfast in the living room. They handed food to him as he walked in. He ate as fast as he could. "Hey Jason, do you still have some of that stuff we bought to mask our scent when we were playing pranks as kids?"

"You mean the stuff the Wiccan made for us?"

"Yah, that's the one. You have any left?"

"I'm not sure, but I think so. What a great idea, I was trying to figure out how to get past the elders."

"Great, why don't you run and look for it. I'll text you with where to meet us. Breck, can you give me a ride to the clinic?" It was about 6:30 AM, he wasn't sure if anyone would be at the clinic yet, but he would wait until they arrived if need be. He was eager to find her and have her safe in his arms.

"Sure, I'm ready."

"We're going too. You may need another nose or two on this search," Jasper said. Chase nodded his agreement.

"Thanks guys. I owe you big."

"I can't help with the search guys. I have to think of the pack as a whole, and if I'm caught and killed for treason, then the pack is without their Alpha. I'll give you any intel I collect along the way, but I can't be out there. I hope you understand," John said

"I understand. Thanks for all your help. We'll let you know what we find," said Garrett.

When they arrived at the clinic, Garrett asked them to stay in the truck. He didn't know what mayhem would happen if four shifters entered. As he walked to the door he could pick up her scent, it was wonderful to be able to smell her, even if it was a day old. He pushed loving feelings towards her and prayed this lead would pan out.

The door was locked, but he could see a light on in the back so he knocked. Sam came around the corner and when she saw him through the window, she sprinted to the door and opened it.

"Garrett! Where is she? Did you have anything to do with it?"

"Of course he had something to do with it. He's bad news, I knew it from the first time I saw him," Ryan said as he rounded the corner. "Where is she, wolf?"

He froze. How in the hell did Ryan know he was a wolf, and why would he say it in front of someone else? He felt like he was in the crosshairs and didn't know which way to go. He was now hoping his silence would garner more information from Ryan.

"Yes, I know what you are. So does Sam, so you might as well drop the act. Where is she? I know you had something to do with it. She'd been safe all her life until you entered it."

"Please, Garrett. Where is she? What happened?" Sam begged.

"Look guys. I don't know where she is. I was in Maine yesterday. I came here to find out what you knew and track her down. I'm hoping you have a clue, anything to help with the search. When did she go missing?"

"If you had paid attention to your phone you could have already known. I've texted you from Riley's phone about ten times!" Ryan yelled.

"Look, I don't give a damn what you think about me, but she's my Kismet and I'll stop at absolutely nothing to save her. You can either help or get out of my way." He stared Ryan down, waiting for his compliance.

"What does that mean, "Kismet"?" Ryan asked. "I saw it on your text messages."

"None of your business," he said with cold, unyielding eyes.

"Look guys, we need to stop arguing and do something to find her. I'll help you, Garrett. Once we get Riley back, she can decide if she still wants you in her life."

"Fine, now what do you know?" He noticed Ryan was sulking in the background as Sam agreed to help him. He was confused as to how they knew he was a wolf, but he didn't have the time to worry about it now.

"We only know she left a little bit after noon yesterday to go for a walk. We thought it was strange because it's not a normal pattern for her. Anyway, she had a surgery at 2:00 and she never came back. She had left her phone, purse, and keys in the office."

"Anything to add, Ryan?"

"No. I came back after she was gone. When she didn't return, I found her phone and started texting you. Cops wouldn't do anything because she's an adult and it hadn't been long enough to be a missing person's case."

"Do you know which way she went when she left?"

"I think she took a right out of the door, but that's about all I know," Sam said disgruntled.

Garrett turned on his heel and headed for the door.

"Wait! Where are you going?" Sam asked.

"To look for her, see if I can pick up her scent and follow it."

"I'll go with you."

"No, you won't. You'll stay here and run her business. Leave this to those who can do something." With that order, he whirled around and headed out the door. Holding a finger up to the guys in the truck to wait, he sprinted towards the right, following her faint scent. It was dispersed with car exhaust and other people, but there was a tiny thread to follow. He carefully allowed his wolf from behind the wall he had erected, so he could partially shift and increase his scent receptors. He followed her trail down a series of streets. Then he picked up two other scents he recognized, Garth and Jack, two of the elders. This is where they tracked her. He rounded into an alleyway and found a large collection of her scent on the pavement, as if she had been lying down. _If they did anything to her, I'll kill them._ His eyes flashed red briefly, and then he felt Riley's soothing calm through their connection. His wolf calmed. He searched around for any additional clues, but not finding any, he ran back to the truck.

Sam and Ryan were talking with Breck and the guys as he approached. He should have known they wouldn't keep their noses out of it. He could tell Ryan had been his charming self, by the sour look on Breck's face.

"The trail went cold. I think they grabbed her and put her into a vehicle. We need to try a different tact." Turning to Sam and Ryan he added, "I have no idea how you guys know about us, we'll deal with that later, but stay out of our way. You can't help with this one. We'll get her back or I'll die trying." As he jumped in the truck, he could hear Ryan and Sam yelling at him, but he turned to Breck and said, "Let's go".

The first question was almost in unison. All three said, "How do they know?"

"I have no idea, but we'll figure it out later. Since the trail is dead here, let's start looking in the forest. John said he scented Gifford Pinchot on the elders. It's a huge place, but it's our home turf and we'll work a search grid. Between all of us, we should be able to find them before night, if they're there."

He opened his phone and dialed Jason. "Jas, did you find the stuff?"

"Yep, it's here"

"Good, we'll meet you at my place in thirty minutes."

Garrett was bouncing his leg the entire ride home. His nerves were shot while his overactive imagination played cruel tricks on him. Some of the most powerful wolves in the world were out there holding his heart and soul captive. How would he get through them and get her out without either of them being killed? His heart was burning in his chest with fear and agitation. He wanted to do something, anything to get her back, but he didn't know what action to take for her safety. He hoped the spray to hide their scent would work against the elders. It was at least fifteen years old. Did magical properties have a shelf life? Was there enough? The entire time his mind spun, he could feel his Kismet connection running like a soothing balm in the background, keeping his wolf in control. He wondered if she knew what she was doing and how much she understood.

Jason was pacing in front of the house as they arrived. He had a bulging backpack slung over his shoulder.

"What do you have, Jas?" Garrett asked as he jumped out of the truck, glad to be free from the tiny compartment.

"I doused some clothes in the stuff for Riley to wear. When we drink it, it'll make our bodies scent free, but not any clothing we're wearing. That means you'll need to get her out of there while you're nude or in your shift. Do you think you can do that? Will she go with you?"

He hadn't thought of that. He hoped their connection was strong enough so she wouldn't be afraid of him, but he didn't know what she'd do when she saw him in his shift. "We don't have an option, so we'll have to hope she doesn't freak out."

"After preparing the clothes and saving a dose for Riley, we have just enough for all of us to drink. I'm not sure how long it'll last, but I'm hoping for 24 hours." Jason crossed his fingers, and silently worried about its effectiveness.

As they walked around to his back patio to shift, Garrett felt a jolt of fear from Riley. He growled and his wolf started pacing in his head. Then Riley's connection went blank. He couldn't feel her anymore. "Something happened. Breck, I can't feel her anymore. She was scared and then I lost her." His wolf was frantic with the need to search.

"She may have fallen asleep, or they may have drugged her. If either of you are unconscious, you won't feel each other."

"Damnit! How do we know if we're getting closer without a connection?" A low rumble issued from his chest as he growled his anger.

"We'll have to rely on scent. With four elders and her scent on the air, we should be able to track them. Let's move in a grid, splitting up to cover more ground. We'll keep our cell phones and stop to call each other if we get any clues."

That was the best plan they had, so they all nodded and used elastic to wrap their phones around their biceps. Garrett tied the backpack full of Riley's clothes onto his back. They all took a swig of the potion and shifted. He was in a full run before the shift was complete, with the others on his tail.

# Chapter 12 - Pain

As Riley warmed herself by the fire, she continued to feel Garrett's emotions. He was continually changing from anger to sadness to fear. It was exhausting, but she tried her best to send soothing emotions his way, hoping it would keep his head clear enough to find her. At least the blue-eyed guy seemed to care if she was kept free of harm. She shivered when she thought of the hate in Garth's eyes. He clearly had no concern for her safety and it seemed like he had a vendetta against her. She was thinking about possible escape plans when she heard a motorcycle start up and drive away. A few minutes later, Garth entered with a look of pure evil intent on his face. She jumped in fear as he produced a needle.

"Your protector is gone," he laughed evilly.

She saw the needle coming at her and she darted to the side, but he was incredibly fast and there wasn't anything for her to run or hide behind. As she turned to run the other way, he tackled her to the ground from behind. The rough planks scraped her face and hands. He rubbed his nose into her neck and inhaled, licking her face from chin to ear. His breath was pungent and smelled like rotten meat. She kicked her legs and tried to buck him off as she fought to hold the vomit that was threatening at the back of her throat. Then she felt the needle slide into her neck and the darkness descended.

She wasn't sure how long she'd been out, but she woke up with hands and feet bound again. Her head was killing her and she was lying on her side with her face against the rough wood. The fire had gone out and her body felt numb from cold and lack of circulation. She looked around and didn't see anyone in the cabin. The light through the windows was bright, as if it was mid-day. She tried to right herself, but she felt like a turtle on her back, scraping her feet against the rough boards. She did more of spinning herself around, rather than sitting up. A moment later, she wished she had kept quiet, because Garth opened the door.

"Oh, look who's awake. Do you need a hand up? Jeremiah wants us to treat you kindly while you're in our custody," he sneered.

He advanced on her, grabbing her hair by the roots and yanking her into a sitting position. Hair ripped out of her scalp as he pulled his hand away and it felt like hot fire. Tears pricked her eyes and she felt rage sweep over her and knew it was Garrett feeling her fear. She tried to soothe him as best she could while trying to scrabble into the corner away from Garth. She scraped across the wood floor, getting splinters in her butt and legs. Suddenly a booted foot flew towards her and connected with her thigh. It knocked her to her side and she cried out in pain. It felt like he broke her femur.

"Don't try to get away from me. If I wanted you to move I'd tell you to move," Garth said.

She immediately froze, trying not to cry. The rage she was feeling was disorienting, she wasn't sure if it was her own or Garrett's at this point. She felt she wanted to kill Garth if she could get her hands on him. She felt brazen enough to glare at him with hatred in her eyes.

"Feeling spunky are we? We'll see about that."

He grabbed her hair again and sat her up. As soon as she was upright, she felt his hand connect with her face. She heard a ringing in her ears and saw stars as her head snapped back and hit the floor. Her vision tunneled to a pinprick and she passed out.

*

Garrett was seething. His wolf's paws were tearing up the dirt and moss as he ran full speed, searching for his Kismet. He could feel her terror and it ate at his soul. Shifters could run at an average speed of 40mph through the woods with obstacles, he was sure he was topping fifty with the amount of anger and adrenaline coursing through his system. He saw trees, stumps, bushes, and logs go by in a green and brown blur, but the only thing he could scent was animals and the occasional hunter; no sign of his Kismet. When she had been conscious, he didn't feel any closer to her than he had felt earlier. He was hoping their connection would lead him in the right direction. He knew he had left the other wolves searching with him in the dust. They were sweeping in mile swaths, back and forth over the forest. It was time for him to make a turn and run in the other direction when he caught a scent. He skidded to a halt and opened his mouth to scent the air, afraid to lose it.

He wasn't sure what he smelled for sure, but it was something familiar, possibly Riley. The wind shifted and he lost the scent. He whined in frustration. He wasn't sure what direction it had come from. He decided to run in each direction for five minutes to see if he could pick it up again. If he couldn't he'd be wasting precious time, but he had to at least try. He started north. At five minutes he hadn't picked up anything so he turned around, knowing he had to stick to his plan, because his head was playing the "what if" game with him. _What if she was right over the next hill? What if he could pick up her scent with one more step?_ That would get him off track and stop forward progress. Next direction was south with the same outcome. When he started east, he picked it up. He knew it was Riley and he ran with all his heart, letting his nose lead the way. He could tell he was close so he slowed down to creep in. He could smell Garth's scent as well and his hackles rose.

Slinking through the forest underbrush he quietly moved forward, not sure what he'd find. Her scent was strong, but he wasn't seeing anything around. It was concentrated in a small clearing. He looked around and finally saw what he smelled; a scrap of Riley's clothing was hanging from a branch high off the forest floor. They placed it there to get him off the real trail. He shifted into human form and called the rest of the guys.

"Anyone find anything yet?" he asked. They all responded in the negative. "They knew we'd be searching. I found a piece of her clothing high in the branches. They're trying to keep us confused and off the real trail. Garth was the one that placed this one. Keep sharp and make sure you aren't caught. If they know we're searching they may try to ambush us. I'm heading back to my original grid pattern. I'll bury this piece so it won't confuse anyone else." He ended the call and climbed the tree to get the piece of blue scrubs. He sniffed it and was near tears, feeling powerless to help her. _Get it together, Garrett. Crying like a sap isn't going to find her._ After burying the material, he shifted into wolf and ran back to his grid.

Four hours later, he was beginning to think they weren't in the right area. They had been on the run for about seven hours. Maybe John smelled ash on them because they came in to make a false trail. He was feeling heartsick and despondent when his phone rang. He quickly shifted and answered, noticing it was a group call, "Garrett here." He waited while the other wolves answered and sounded off.

"I think I found something. I'll text you the GPS coordinates, but approach from the west so you stay downwind, just in case this stuff is wearing off." Jasper explained.

"Thanks Jasper, on my way." He hung up and waited for the text.

His wolf was pacing and agitated. Thirty seconds later, which seemed like thirty minutes, the text came in. He plugged it into the map and looked. He was about fifteen miles away. He growled and shifted, racing to get there. He came in from the west as Jasper instructed, not able to pick up his scent. That was good - it meant the potion was still working. As he neared the area, he heard Jasper whistle for him. Breck and Jason had already arrived; they were still waiting on Chase.

"How far away are they?" he asked.

"There's a cabin about five miles to the east. We have a river to swim over before getting there. I'm guessing they used it in hopes of erasing their trail. There are three elders on guard duty outside, one in the trees about 1/2 mile before the cabin, one on the ground by the door and another on the ground about 1/4 mile behind the cabin. I didn't see Jeremiah anywhere, but he may be inside."

"Thanks Jasper, good work on scouting. Now, we need to figure out how to handle this. Even if Jeremiah isn't there, I can't take on three elders alone. I need to find a way to distract them or sneak in and out," he mused.

"How about if you get caught?" asked Jason.

Everyone looked at him as if he'd sprouted a second head.

"I'm serious. Then you could be in the camp, close to her. Maybe then, you can get more information and figure out a way out of there. We'll be out here working on how to spring both of you if you aren't out by midnight."

Breck shook his head, "No, how about if I head in there. They don't know me. I can be out on a run and happen across them and stop in to say hi."

"Absolutely not, none of you are getting close to the elders. Besides, how are you going to explain you don't have a scent?" asked Garrett.

They all looked at each other trying to come up with a plan when Chase arrived.

"What did I miss?"

"A bunch of lame ass ideas," said Garrett. He was infuriated he couldn't come up with a better plan.

After they filled Chase in on the details, Chase came up with an idea. "How about if we distract the elders while Garrett slips in to get Riley out. With their scent covered they won't be able to be tracked and chased unless they make noise."

"That actually sounds like a workable plan, if you're sure you can distract the elders without being seen or caught. I don't want any of you injured. We also need to wait for Riley to wake up. I can't get her out if she's unconscious."

It was nearing night and they figured the operation would have a better chance of working in the dark, so they sat back to wait. Garrett was pacing back and forth trying to keep his wolf calm. He was so close to getting her back and he couldn't do anything. He mentally willed her to wake up for him, hoping their connection would break through. He had enough time to dream about what their life could be like together. He knew it would be an incredibly short life for him since she was human, but as long as they were together for the next fifty to seventy years, he'd be happy with that. He knew they'd be on the run from here on out and he'd not have a pack anymore. There was no way the elders would ever let either of them live after this. As they waited, it started to snow. The air sounded muffled with the white blanket over the forest.

"Hey Jason, can you let Jessica know I love her? I won't be seeing her again and I want her to know it wasn't my intention to desert her."

"You can tell her yourself. What has you talking like that?"

"Even if I make it out of this alive, I'll never be able to be part of the pack. We'll have to go rogue so the elders won't find us," he grimaced. He knew how hard it was to survive without pack, but they didn't have an option. He wondered if their kids would be shifters, and how they'd survive without a pack.

Jason scented his sadness and wanted to say something to make it better, but couldn't think of anything helpful. "If it comes to it, I'll tell her for you."

Breck walked over and put his hand on his shoulder, "Son, don't start counting chickens before they hatch. We don't know how this night will play out. Don't give up hope yet."

Garrett nodded at him, but his eyes showed his true thoughts; he didn't believe there was any hope to have. He started to feel a thread of emotion from Riley; she was waking up. He immediately sent her soothing feelings, hoping to ease her mind. "She's awake. Let's do this as planned. I'm serious - if you guys are in danger of being caught, get the hell out of there. Don't sacrifice yourself for us," he hesitated, "and thanks, I'll never be able to repay you for everything you've done for me in the last 24 hours."

They all nodded and clapped him on the back, and he watched them melt into the woods to their assigned areas. As he waited for the signal, he said a silent prayer that he'd get Riley out without harm. He had been sending Riley soothing emotions, but hers were all over the place and he was nearly at his last ounce of control. He received a text stating they were all in place and ready. He moved out, intent on getting her back.

# Chapter 13 - Rescue

y woke in utter darkness. She noticed the hood was over her head again. It felt like her whole body was hurting. As she tried to assess the damage, she felt Garrett on the other end of the connection, sending her comfort. She worked to reassure him by sending it back, but was having a hard time concentrating with the barrage of pain she felt. Garth must have hit her a few times after she passed out. Her ribs were sore and her right index finger was most likely broken. She knew her face was swollen; with one of her eyes sealed shut. She could taste dried blood on her lips and smell urine. She was horrified that she wet herself, but what did they expect without a bathroom break all day. They had completely degraded her to the point of an abused animal. She suddenly felt more empathy for the shelter animals she helped. She knew some of them had much worse conditions and lived in them for months or years at a time. She reminded herself, if those helpless animals could survive and come out of it, then so could she. She would not give up hope, not when Garrett was out there looking for her. She was not going to let them break her spirit.

She didn't hear Garth in the cabin, but she wasn't going to make a noise this time. She didn't want another visit; she wasn't sure she could handle a beating right now. She tried to get as comfortable as possible with her arms and legs bound behind her, but the stabbing pain in her shoulders, ribs, and hips was hard to ignore. She listened intently to her surroundings while taking shallow breaths, trying to figure out if someone was outside the door. Was he in the room toying with her? It seemed like something he would do. When would the blue-eyed man come back? What did Garth call him, Jeremiah? Yah, Jeremiah was much better than Garth. Maybe he'd take Garth off guard duty after he saw what happened to her, if she's still alive when he returns, she thought with a grimace. She was freezing cold and shivering. She could tell it was below freezing outside and hoped she wouldn't die of exposure before Garrett could find her.

She heard someone yell from outside the cabin. It sounded like Garth, but she wasn't sure. He was barking orders to some others about checking out the noise. She cowered, fearing he'd make his way inside the cabin to check on her. Two minutes later she heard the door scrape open. She involuntarily shuddered, which gave her wakefulness away to him. She was so terrified she couldn't think straight, but then she felt anger from Garrett. Wait, something was different about the air around her, she swore she could feel an electrical current running over her skin and it was soothing. He found her; it had to be him. "Garrett?" she asked tentatively. She heard a strange scraping noise and then a gasp.

"Riley, what did they do to you? I'm here sweetheart; I'll get you out of here safely. I promise, but you need to know, you may see things you don't understand. Do you trust me completely?"

"Yes, I trust you. Please, just get me out of here." Her voice broke as she started to cry.

"Oh sweetheart, my poor Kismet. Let me help you up."

She gasped as he raised her into a sitting position, pain lancing through her body.

"I'm so sorry sweetheart. I didn't realize that would hurt you.

"It's OK, just untie me and get us out of here."

"I will, but you need to close your eyes. I'm going to remove your hood."

She could hear his voice breaking from emotion, "Alright, they're closed." She felt him start to lift the hood and then he froze with it half way up her face. The hood was stuck to dried blood around her eye. She felt the rage she had felt last night sweep over her and she knew he was on the verge of losing it. "It's fine, it's not that bad. I'll heal. It's OK," she cried as tears ran down her face. She heard a guttural growl, and she swore it came from him.

"Who did this to you?" Garrett felt tears on his face, as he wept for the damage done to his Kismet. He couldn't believe someone was cruel enough to beat her. He failed again by not being here to protect her. He had so much pain and rage battling around in him he didn't know what to do. Hug her, run with her, or hunt down and kill whoever did this? He was leaning towards the latter.

She shivered when he asked because his voice sounded completely different, animalistic. His anger and guilt bombarded her senses. "It doesn't matter. Let's just leave. Please."

"No, who did this to you?" he growled again. Garrett was losing control and was seeing red. He knew his wolf was going to break free and hunt down the man who damaged her. He could smell her blood on the air and her face was a complete mess. He had no idea how bad the rest of her was. Then the door banged open and he smelled Garth. He covered her eyes back up with the hood. "Forgive me, my Kismet. But you can't see this."

"I did it and I'll do it again. But this time I'll make you watch," Garth snarled.

Riley cried in fear and tried to scrabble away from his voice. Then she felt the overwhelming blood curdling rage from Garrett.

"Oh Shit!" yelled Garth.

She heard the most horrific growl, followed by teeth snapping. She knew the sound of a dogfight. Why was there a dogfight? She was so confused. What was going on? The amount of rage coming from Garrett was swallowing her and she felt the need to hurt someone, anyone. She heard toenails scrabbling on the wood floor and a high-pitched keening. The noise stopped abruptly, with only the sound of a dog panting. The fight only lasted minutes, but seemed like hours. She knew Garrett was there because she could feel his anger, self-loathing, and pain. She wanted to go to him, but she was still tied and hooded. "Garrett, please untie me." There was a scuffling sound and she heard him walk towards her.

"Sweetheart, I'm so, so sorry. Give me two seconds to clean this up."

"No, untie me now," she demanded.

He didn't know what to do. He didn't want her to see this mess, or him covered in blood. He couldn't believe he took down an elder single handedly, but Garth's head, separated from his body, was proof. He had gone feral and killed him. He barely remembered it happening. "Alright, but please don't look around. You don't need to see this. Please don't remove your hood until I ask you to, OK?"

"Untie me Garrett. It hurts and I can't stand being tied for another second."

"OK." He let his wolf's claws extend and cut through the bonds holding her wrists and ankles. He held onto her hands, rubbing them to help with circulation. He noticed the bloody cuts around her wrists and a finger that looked broken. His heart was shattered and he was fighting his tears, but he needed to keep it together long enough to get her to safety. "Sweetheart, you're going to have to trust me. There is a backpack here. You'll find clothes inside and I want you to change into them. Remove absolutely everything else, and I mean everything. Then drink the vial of liquid you'll find in there. You may see some things you don't understand tonight. Please know I will protect you with my life and nothing will touch you again while I'm alive. OK?"

She knew Garth had died, she could smell the copper tang of blood on the air. She also knew, deep in her soul, he'd make sure she was safe. "OK, I'll do whatever you want if you get me out of here," she cried.

"Thank you. When you remove the hood, you'll see a very large wolf here. Don't worry - he's a friend. After you change, I want you to climb onto his back and hold on with everything you have. He's going to get you out of this place. Will you be able to hold on?" This was going to be the tough part. He wasn't sure if she was physically able to hold on with her injuries even if she trusted riding a wolf.

A what? A wolf? Was he joking? "I can't ride a wolf!"

"Yes you can, he's larger than normal and extremely strong. Just do it for me baby, please?"

"Where will you be? Where are you going? Don't leave me!" she cried. She felt tears streaming down her face and panic setting in.

"I won't leave you, I promise. This is the safest way to get you out of here. You need to trust me." He was scared to death. He'd never shown his shift to a human before and he was afraid she'd run the other way.

She was starting to feel like a blubbering idiot. She could barely breathe through her swollen nose; tears and snot were mingling down her face. With him holding her hands, she wasn't able to wipe it away. Finally, she nodded. "OK, I'll do it. Just get me out of here."

"I will sweetheart. Now, wait ten seconds after I let go of your hands to remove the hood, OK?"

"OK."

He released her arms and shifted as fast as possible. He then lay down on the ground to watch her. He was nervous and his heart was pounding. What would she see? Would she see him for who and what he was? In a small way, he hoped she would recognize him; it'd be an easier way to tell her about what he was if she figured it out on her own. He wasn't sure how to tell someone he was a human one minute and an animal the next.

He watched her swollen and bloody hands gingerly lift the hood off her face, breaking open the wounds near her eye as the scabs ripped free. Her eye was swollen shut and face bruised beyond belief. She had tears and snot running down her face and his heart was broken to see her this way. He had already scented the urine in the room and his heart broke that she had been so degraded. She lifted her head and looked at the room, her face in a grimace as she saw Garth's headless body. Then her eyes locked on his and all of his senses flared red-hot.

She didn't know what she was going to see when she lifted the hood. Her shoulder screamed at her as she raised her arms to pull it off her head. When she looked up, she saw blood everywhere, along with a very dead Garth. She gulped, trying to erase the image out of her mind but knowing it would haunt her forever. As she scanned the room, she saw an unnaturally huge chocolate brown wolf laying on the floor staring at her. She looked into his glowing, golden eyes and knew her life was irrevocably changed.

She saw and felt something she couldn't explain. The comforting current was in the room and the connection she felt with Garrett was in the wolf. The wolf was Garrett. She would have laughed herself silly if she had heard herself think that a few hours ago, but the connection she had with him was all encompassing. It was his soul, the other half of hers, looking at her through a wolf's eyes. She quickly used the hood to wipe the snot, tears, and blood off her face, absurdly embarrassed about him seeing her this way. H _e's a wolf! And you're worried about what you look like? You are clearly losing your mind!_ She suddenly wondered if he could understand her. She didn't know how to begin; did she let him smell her? Did she pet him? Did she talk to him?

"I've clearly lost my mind, because I'm going to talk to you as if you're Garrett." She corrected herself, "I know you're Garrett." She rolled her one good eye and mumbled through her cracked lips, "What am I talking about?"

She looked back at him and he was continuing to stare at her so intensely she felt she could almost read his mind. "Can you understand me?"

He couldn't believe it, she knew. She saw him for him and he wanted to shout with happiness. He was trying to figure out if he should shift back and tell her he understood everything, but didn't want to scare her with his nudity. In addition, his body was covered in blood and gore, so he nodded his head as if he were human.

"This is crazy. Garrett, it really is you?"

He nodded again. He watched her gingerly get up and crawl towards him. He could tell she was in a great deal of pain and he wanted to growl with frustration, but kept silent so it wouldn't scare her. She put her hands around the ruff of his neck and hugged him to her. He was so happy he could barely stand it. His heart was beating fast and he started panting in joy, but he needed to get her changed and out of here. He stood up, towering over her, and nosed the backpack, then sat down facing the other direction.

"Ok, I'll get changed," she said. Wow, her boyfriend was a werewolf. What kind of crazy life is this? As she stood up, she realized she was light headed and felt weird, as if she had vertigo. She figured it was from being knocked in the head a few times and tried to be careful to not fall over as she changed her clothes. Everything was huge on her: men's thermals, jeans, sweatshirt, and jacket. The boots were five sizes too big, but at least she'd have protection on her feet. She wasn't sure how far she'd have to walk. She rolled the sleeves and pants legs up, and then looked over at Garrett who still had his back to her. "I'm done; I've changed."

She saw him turn around and walk toward her, nuzzling the backpack again. She opened it up and found the liquid he had asked her to drink. It was clear and smelled astringent. She held her nose and swallowed it quickly, hoping it wouldn't make her pass out. She was looking at him and couldn't believe how big he was. His eyes were almost level with hers. She noticed the bone structure of his head and knew it was at least twice the size of a standard wolf. She ran her hands around his neck and down his back and flanks. He shivered beneath her touch and she laughed. "I can't tell you how strange this is." She gingerly shook her head. He bent down for her to crawl on. She wanted to spend more time inspecting him, but wanted to escape the cabin more. She climbed on his back and he took a couple of tentative steps and then turned his head to look at her. "Yes, I'll hold on. Let's get out of here."

His Kismet was amazing. What human could wake up to a world of magic and take it all in stride like this? When she ran her hands along his body he wanted to shift and throw his arms around her and never let go, but he needed to get her safe. She was as light as a feather on his back and he was afraid she'd slide off. He could only hope she had ridden horses at some point and could hold on well enough.

They stepped out of the cabin and the ground had an 8" layer of white snow. The night was eerily quiet and muffled. He wasn't sure which way he should head, but he decided to head back the way he had come in, hoping to find a log to cross the river. He felt Riley lie down and hold onto his neck, with her thighs clamped hard on his back. He started loping to let her get used to the feel. When he felt she was staying on safely, he sped up, knowing the longer they were out here the more pain she'd have to handle; he could hear her sucking in her breath from the jostling.

Riding a giant wolf was exhilarating. If she wasn't in so much pain and scared for her life, she'd be enjoying it. She held onto Garrett's neck and closed her eyes, feeling his wolf form run fluidly through the woods. It was amazing how he soared over fallen trees and rocks as if they weren't there. His strength was astounding. She felt him skid to a halt and she looked up. There were two other wolves fighting, a grey one, and a brown one. It was terrifying to watch.

He skidded to a halt as he saw Breck fighting with the elder, Jack. He was stunned; they weren't supposed to encounter each other. He heard Riley's intake of breath and he didn't know what to do. Breck couldn't win by himself. Where were the others? What could he do? He had his Kismet to protect. He whined and pawed the ground, trying to get a grip. Then he saw Chase and Jasper running around the same corner, with the other elder, Lars, on their tail. That was it. He'd have to stand and fight; he couldn't leave his friends to battle for him. He lay down to give Riley an indication to get off. Then he used his body to push her behind some bushes. He looked at her, trying to convey she needed to stay. She nodded at him and he pushed his muzzle into her hair. He then turned for another battle, praying for a miracle.

With her heart in her throat, Riley watched Garrett run to join the fray. He went to help the first grey wolf they saw. He slammed his chest into the brown wolf and rolled him over. The grey wolf bit at the brown one's flank before he was able to get back up. The brown wolf was vicious, strong, and extremely fast. He lunged for Garrett's throat, but missed and caught his shoulder instead. Garrett was knocked to the side and he kicked his feet up into the brown wolf's stomach while the grey wolf went for the brown wolf's throat. He made a connection with the throat and tried to shake him, but the brown wolf was stronger and broke free. Garrett righted himself and snarled, with his teeth bared, flecks of blood spraying the air. His eyes were hard and unyielding. All the hair stood up on Riley's arms as she watched, feeling as if it was in slow motion. She saw Garrett eyes flash red and he lunged for the throat at the same time the brown one lunged at him. Garrett made a connection, but so did the brown. They both shook their target and ripped, Riley screamed as both wolves fell to the ground, splattering the snow in blood. The grey wolf whined and nosed Garrett, then lay in the snow next to him and whimpered.

She was running before she realized she had even moved. She didn't know what was happening but she knew she could help. She could save him. It didn't make sense, but everything in her body screamed for her to help. The snow felt like peanut butter sucking her feet to the ground. The boots and clothes were so oversized she couldn't make good time and the vertigo was threatening to topple her. Her connection to Garrett was weakening and she pushed as much love to him as she could. She couldn't lose him, not now. She was a doctor and could make this right. She landed on her knees at his prone body and sobbed with what she saw. Crimson blood was all over his coat, pouring onto the white snow. She felt for his pulse and it was weak and uneven. She quickly looked for the wound to see how deep it was. When she pulled his fur back, she was heartbroken, his neck was ripped to shreds, and there wasn't enough time to save him. Blood was pouring out of him at a rapid rate, soaking the ground where she kneeled. If she were in an operating room with blood standing by she could help, but not out here in the woods.

She hung her head defeated, her head feeling dizzy and strange as if she was having an out of body experience. She looked at her blood soaked hands and a gleaming blue light pulsed around them. She shook her head and looked again, but it was still there. She held them up into the black sky and looked at them, completely in shock over what was happening to her. Her whole body started humming and a soft blue glow encompassed her from head to toe.

She heard a gasp behind her and a man said "Rapha!" in a reverential tone. She turned to look at the naked man, assuming he was the grey wolf that Garrett was helping. "What?"

"You're Rapha! Heal him!"

"What do you mean? I can't heal him," she cried with tears running down her face.

"Yes you can, you are Rapha! Just do it. Put your hands on him and heal him!"

She turned around and set her hands on his injury. She closed her eyes and she could see his body lying below her. She could picture all of his organs, veins, muscles. His heart was beating sluggishly. Her mind could feel where his injuries were and she concentrated on them, instinctually knowing she could heal the wounds. Her energy traveled through his body and found the torn muscles, ripped arteries, and gashed skin. The blue energy knitted him back together, the damage healed like watching a video in reverse. She could feel their connection growing stronger and his strength was gaining. He began to wake up and he sat up looking at her. His wolf eyes were glowing yellow and she could feel his shock and surprise.

She turned to the brown wolf on the ground that was equally injured. He was a foe, but she had an overwhelming urge to heal him. She put her hands on him and felt the same magical feeling through her body and saw the same injuries repaired. She felt like she was a tiny little camera moving through every inch of his anatomy, seeing the injuries and repairing them instantaneously. She couldn't believe it was happening, but it felt right. She felt whole while doing this. As the other wolf came awake and opened his eyes, she slumped back onto the ground, tired from the ordeal.

*

Garrett was dying. He could feel his life draining from him, knowing he had failed his Kismet in the ultimate way. They would both pay for his failure with their lives. He could feel their connection thinning, but then he felt her fear turn to determination. Suddenly warmth started flowing through his body. He could feel energy touching all of his injuries and he knew something was healing him. As he woke enough to open his eyes, he was shocked to see his Kismet in a nimbus of blue. She was Rapha! He couldn't believe it; they were incredibly rare, more fables than anything. As she moved to heal Jack, she saw Breck, Jasper, Chase, and Lars in human form on bended knee, bowing towards her. His heart was relieved with the burden lifted. She would be revered and welcomed into the pack.

Then he saw a fully clothed Jason running into the clearing with Jeremiah, John, Cherise, Jessica, Brian, and Ryan. They all stopped and bowed on one knee except for Ryan. As Riley flopped back in exhaustion, Ryan put his hand on her head. Garrett Growled to warn him off.

"Calm yourself wolf. She is yours, but I am her Rapha guide."

He was shocked again. _Ryan is Rapha too?_ Their friendship finally made sense and the pieces of the puzzle were coming together. He still hadn't heard of a wolf and Rapha sharing Kismet, but at least she was magical. That would keep her safe from the first law.

"Riley, I'll explain everything to you tomorrow. But for now you must sleep." Ryan placed two glowing fingers to her temple and she slumped into unconsciousness.

"Are you strong enough to shift back yet?" Ryan asked him.

He painfully shifted back to human form and had to catch his breath before he could move. When he could, he rose onto his knee and bowed. His wolf wasn't happy with the submission, especially since Ryan was so close to his Kismet.

"Please, all of you get up. You don't need to continue bowing in the snow."

Garrett immediately moved to Riley and scooped her up in his arms. "Can you heal her?" He asked Ryan.

"Wait!" Jeremiah commanded. "I want to see the injuries to ensure Garrett had a reason to kill an elder." He walked towards them with hard eyes.

Garrett didn't want Jeremiah anywhere near his Kismet, his wolf was raging at him and was not cowering in submission as Jeremiah approached. He let a low growl out of his chest in warning and turned his body to shield her from him.

With eyes wide, Jeremiah said in his alpha tone, "Obey me. If she was injured you had every right to protect her by taking a life, but I need to have the proof. I know your wolf is fighting you, I can smell your anger, but let me near, I command you."

With a great deal of effort, he controlled his wolf and nodded for him to approach and see for himself. As Jeremiah was close enough, he sucked in a breath and growled at the damage he saw.

"I did not sanction this. You have my blessing on your retribution. I should have known Garth was defying my orders. I apologize to you and your Kismet," he said with a bow.

"Yes, I'll heal her. She is my Rapha protégé. This will all be new to her, she had no idea she was Rapha until she healed you, Garrett. She still doesn't know what it means. We come into our powers at age thirty and it is just past midnight on her thirtieth birthday. Lucky for you, the fight didn't occur any earlier," Ryan said.

Jason came over with a bag of clothes. "I figured you'd want to take her back in human form, here are some clothes to change into. We have a motorcycle around the bend."

"Thanks Jas." He wasn't sure what to do with his Kismet. He didn't want to put her down, but he needed to put clothes on.

Ryan saw his predicament. "John and Jeremiah explained Kismet to me. If you'll allow me, I'll hold and heal her, as you get dressed. Don't worry, I honor the bond you have with her," he said humbly.

He tentatively handed her off to Ryan, kissing her gently on the lips. "Thank you." He then quickly changed as Ryan emitted a blue glow and healed her. It was amazing to see the bruises, scrapes, and swelling disappear as if it had never been there. The others circled around as well, watching the spectacle. They had all heard of Rapha, but except for some of the Alphas, had never seen one in real life, and there were two in their midst. He walked over to hug his sister. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier Jess. It all happened so fast and I didn't want you to be in any danger."

She hit him in the arm and said, "Next time, tell me. That's the point of having a pack. We're here to support and help each other."

"Yah, OK. But hopefully there won't be a next time," he said with a half smile.

Breck approached and gave him a pat on the back. "The boys and I will head back to your house. We'll see you soon."

"Thanks Breck, for everything. I don't know how you ended up in a fight, but I can't tell you how glad I am you are all OK." He nodded to Jasper and Chase.

They all smiled and shifted as they ran towards home. He turned back to Ryan and held his arms out for his Kismet. "Thanks Ryan. Ya know, I kinda hated you, but I guess you're alright," he said with a smile.

Ryan broke out in laughter. "Thanks Garrett. Felt the same way about you. I guess I find you to be alright too," he chuckled.

"Be warned, if I ever scent your lust near her again I'll change my opinion," he said with hardened eyes.

"What do you mean? I'm not attracted to Riley \- she's more of a sister than anything."

"When you entered the clinic Wednesday, I smelled it on you - don't lie."

"Oh." Ryan looked at his feet and back up to meet Garrett's eyes. "When I entered the clinic, I saw Sam," he said sheepishly.

Smiling, Garrett said, "Glad to hear it." He snuggled Riley in tight to his chest and turned around to head home.

They followed Jason to the motorcycles. Jeremiah and the elders left to deal with Garth's remains as the rest headed towards Garrett's house. He rode on the back of Jason's bike with Riley cradled in his arms. He hoped the sleep Ryan put her in would last until morning so she could get some much-needed rest. Tonight she would sleep in his bed with his arms around her for safety. His wolf was content for the first time in a week.

When they reached his house, he carried Riley upstairs to their bed, laying her under the covers and tucking her in snugly. He sat next to her, holding her hand as she slept. He was ecstatic, having her safely in their bed where she belonged.

"Hey Buddy, how are you?" Jason asked from the doorway.

"Never better," he smiled.

"Sorry I couldn't reach you about her being Rapha before you had the fight with Jack. You must have had your phone on silent after you went in to get her. Apparently, Ryan tracked down John to tell him about her being Rapha. John called Jeremiah and you right away, but when he couldn't reach you, he called me."

"I was wondering why you showed up with them, that all makes sense. No worries about not catching me in time, it gave me a chance to have retribution on Garth and expend some left-over anger on Jack," he winked.

"I would have loved to see the fight between you and Garth. It must have been epic."

Garrett's smile dimmed. "I went feral, Jas. He got what he deserved, but I'm not proud of losing control."

"In my book, I don't care how it happened, he deserved what he got. He beat the hell out of her," Jason growled.

"Thanks for having my back, man. I hope you can forgive me for being closed off the last few years."

"No forgiveness needed. Hey, everyone is downstairs. By everyone, I mean the entire pack. They all want to meet our resident Rapha. You better come down, or they'll be coming up," he laughed.

He couldn't believe the pack was at his house. He supposed it was amazing to have two Rapha's under the same roof, an attraction they couldn't pass up. He went down to answer questions and make sure they didn't disturb Riley as she slept.

"We'll need to light the grill and order some pizzas. It'll be a long night," he said to Jason as they headed down the hall.

# Chapter 14 - New World

She woke slowly, feeling as if she were in a dream; not wanting to open her eyes for fear it would wash away with a new day. In her dream, she felt safe, cozy, free of pain, and refreshed. There was a ghost of bad memories haunting her, but the feeling of security kept those fears at bay. _Were the horrible memories an insanely realistic nightmare? Of course it was, in what world were werewolves and glowing blue hands a reality?_ As she became more aware, she realized she was tucked into a large bed with a thick comforter and a very large, warm arm around her. She could feel the rise and fall of someone's chest as they breathed. The soothing current in the air confirmed who was cuddling her. This is where she had wanted to be since he left after their date. Was that only four days ago?

She cracked an eye open and didn't recognize her surroundings. Directly ahead was a set of French doors, which led to a balcony with an amazing view of a valley. She turned her head to the left slightly and looked over her shoulder. There he was, asleep on top of the covers. He was clothed in jeans, flannel shirt, and boots. From the dark circles under his eyes, it looked like he had been up all night and had recently fallen asleep.

He was beautiful. His eyelashes were thick and dark, brushing his olive skin. He had more than a five o'clock shadow sprouting from his strong, square chin; looking like he hadn't shaved in days. His hair was sticking in every direction as if he had spent a lot of time running his hands through it. His mouth was slightly open, while slowly breathing in and out, and she wanted to kiss those lips, but didn't want to wake him. She slowly turned her body to get a better look at him, and his eyes sprang wide. Their faces were inches apart and they stared into each other's eyes without saying a word. Their emotions clashed, coalesced, and flowed through their bodies.

She saw his lips rise into a smile and he wrapped his arms around her and crushed his lips to hers. His emotions were cascading over her and she wanted to rip his clothes off and make him hers, or was it his emotions she was reading? She couldn't figure out where she ended and he began, almost as if they were one person. _I'm not sure when I became so possessive, but I know he is MINE and no one else can have him._

Garrett could feel himself losing control, knowing she wanted the claiming to happen as well, made it almost impossible to stop, but he had to let her know what was happening and what it all meant. He couldn't claim her without her full knowledge of the facts. He pulled away, panting. He saw a look of disappointment in her eyes as he ended the kiss, but he wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly to his chest.

"Good morning and happy birthday, my Kismet. I'm so glad you're safe and in my arms." He'd never felt so happy and complete in his life. He could feel their bonded energy thrumming through his body.

As she came down from her hormone induced high, her mind was working hard at cramming the pieces of her memory into a believable story. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to find a reasonable explanation for half of what she remembered. "Garrett?" she asked tentatively.

"Yes, my Kismet?"

Not wanting to sound like an idiot, but needing to verify the most crucial piece of information her brain was trying to assimilate she asked, "Did you really turn into a giant wolf yesterday, or did I have the most bizarre dream in history?" She could feel his chest rumble with laughter.

"Sweetheart, we both experienced some surprises yesterday. But to answer your question, yes, you saw me as my wolf." He could feel a jolt of surprise, but not fear, which was incredible to him. He knew she'd be waking up with tons of questions. He spent the majority of the night talking with John and the others about how to approach her new knowledge. They all decided to let her be in charge of how much or little she could handle.

"So, you're a werewolf?" she squeaked. Her face buried into his chest with his arms wrapped around her and she felt like an idiot when asking the question. It seemed so absurd.

"We actually prefer the term shifter, but essentially, yes. We're not bloodthirsty monsters though. I hope you know that. You are perfectly safe with anyone in the pack. I have so much to share with you I don't know where to begin. But first, I'm sure you want to take a shower. Why don't you do that while I go make some breakfast? The bathroom is right through the door. When you're ready, head down the stairs at the end of the hall and we'll have breakfast for you."

"We?"

"Yes, Ryan and Sam are here. We thought you might have a bunch of questions and thought it'd be better if they were here to help with information overload."

"Does Sam know, you know, about you?" She asked.

"Yes, she knows about me. We'll discuss that too." He squeezed her shoulders in comfort and released her. He didn't want to let go, but she would need to take a shower and have a few moments to process her thoughts.

"Good, one less person to keep a secret from. And I can definitely use a shower." She realized she was still in the clothes she was wearing last night and grimaced at the mess she made of the bedding. "Your bedding is ruined. I'm so sorry."

He barked laughter, "Sweetheart, that is the absolute last of my concerns."

She chuckled, knowing it was true after the events of the last few days. She felt shallow thinking about showers, clothes, and food under the circumstances, but it was probably how her mind was handling the impossible knowledge. She crawled out of bed and walked towards the bathroom, stopping to enjoy the beautiful view. Opening the doors, she stepped onto the balcony and breathed in the fresh forest air. She felt Garrett walk up behind her and wrap his arms around her, pulling her to lean against his chest as he rested his chin on the top of her head.

"Do you like the view?" He asked.

"Yes, it's beautiful. Is this your home?"

"It is. This may be too much for you to hear right now, but this home is also yours. You're my Kismet. Would you like me to explain exactly what it is now?" He felt spikes of surprise followed by happiness.

"I thought I wanted a shower first, but yes, I'd prefer to have an explanation about what's been going on with us," she said.

"In the shifter community, Kismet is what we call our soul mate. It goes beyond what humans believe the word to mean and it's more than the word love. Our lives intertwine, requiring the other to survive. Our bond was strengthened when we kissed, which is why you were so uncomfortable when I was in Maine." He waited for her to assimilate all the information before continuing.

"So, you're saying I'm your Kismet even though I'm human?"

"Without going down a rabbit trail, yes, you're my Kismet, but you're not human." He felt her fear and he wrapped his arms around her tightly, reassuring her with his love and compassion. "It's alright, sweetheart. We're all here to help you through this transition."

"Am I turning into a shifter too?" she asked.

Smiling he answered, "No, you're not a shifter. You're something much more precious. We can talk about it with Ryan when you're ready. Why don't you go take your shower? Sam brought a change of clothes for you as well. They're in the bathroom."

She nodded. "OK, thanks. A hot shower might help."

He released her from his hold and she headed for the bathroom. Walking through the bedroom she noticed it was huge, with vaulted ceilings and thick, rustic looking furniture. As she entered the massive bathroom, the beautiful rock shower and large jetted tub astounded her. She saw an equally stunning view of the valley through the window near the tub. The marble vanity was in cream colors she'd pick out herself. Her clothes were on the counter; Sam was a saint. She hoped Sam had taken care of Wolf and Oscar as well. She froze, thinking about Garrett meeting Wolf, his time in the clinic, that poor dog, Dude, and it all made since. She suddenly started laughing about all of it, Wolf's name, their introduction, her acting as if he didn't know anything about animals. She had tears streaming down her face. It was almost impossible to stop the giggles once they began. She was laughing so hysterically she wondered if maybe she was in shock. She knew she'd need to address the fact she brought Garrett back from the brink of death with glowing blue hands, but she didn't want to deal with that now. She turned the shower on and stepped under the strong jets, letting them knead her tension away and wash the streaming tears from her laughter off her face.

A rejuvenating thirty minutes later, she stepped out of the shower feeling much better. She toweled her hair dry and used Garrett's comb to remove the tangles. She didn't have any make-up, but she figured after he saw her yesterday, caked in blood, snot, and tears, he could take her without the little bit of make-up she normally wore. Her face was another miracle as she looked in the mirror. There wasn't a scratch or bruise on it. Her finger she swore was broken was perfectly fine, as were the cuts around her wrists. Her leg and ribs were all healed as well. She chalked it up to another mystery, which she hoped to solve over breakfast.

*

Garrett heard her laughing hysterically in the bathroom. He hoped it wasn't out of emotional trauma. He could feel her emotions, but they were all over the place and there was definitely humor in there. He went downstairs to make her some food, knowing she'd be hungry after her ordeal. As he was making bacon and toast, Sam and Wolf walked in from the spare bedroom. Wolf came over and nudged his hand for a pet. He obliged and then opened the back door so he could go outside.

"Would you like me to start some coffee?" she asked.

"Sure. The coffee is directly above the pot. She's awake and seems to be doing all right, although she just had a hysterical laughing fit in the bathroom," he said with a quirk of his lips.

"Probably releasing pent up stress."

"Yah, probably. I don't know how she took all of this information in stride like she did. I'm a little concerned she'll explode at some point. We'll need to be gentle with explaining she's Rapha. What kind of omelet should I make her? I don't know her favorite yet," he asked.

"Probably ham and cheese, I think she normally eats oatmeal for breakfast, but she'll really appreciate the omelet."

A few minutes later, Ryan entered the kitchen rubbing sleep out of his eyes. "Cofffffeeeee," he said in a zombie tone. He poured himself a cup and sat down at the table. "So, how is she this morning?"

"She's doing better than I imagined. I wouldn't take this much change with the grace she's showing, she's incredible. Her first question was about me being a 'werewolf'," he chuckled. "I know the Rapha question will come soon, but I'm not sure how much she can take. I can hear her heading down now," he said.

They placed the food on the table. Ryan and Sam stayed seated while Garrett went to meet her at the bottom of the stairs. She was stunning, walking down with damp hair and a clean face. He couldn't believe his good fortune at having her as his Kismet. As she reached the bottom stair, he hugged her to him and kissed her gently. Not having her in his arms was hard on him and his wolf. "You ready for some breakfast? Would you like some coffee?" he asked.

"Yes, I'm starving and coffee sounds fabulous. Do you have cream?" she asked shyly.

Smiling he answered, "Yep, that's the way I take it too." He grabbed her hand and led her to the table, pulling out her chair. He pushed her in and went to fetch her coffee. He was pouring her cup when she squealed. With his wolf emerging, he spun around so fast the coffee went sloshing all over the floor. He saw her run to the back door and let Wolf in, giving him a hug and petting him all over while apologizing for leaving him alone for so long. He chuckled as his wolf receded. He wiped up the coffee and poured another cup, bringing it over he set it down at her plate and went to drag her back to the table. "Come on, sweetheart, you need to eat."

"Thank you, Sam. I've been so worried about him. I should have known you'd take care of him for me. I'm sure you took care of Oscar too. By the way, who's at the clinic? It's Friday, isn't it?" She started to panic with all the loose ends of her normal life unraveling.

"Its fine," said Sam. "Yes, I took care of Oscar. His litter box is clean and he has plenty of food and water. As for the clinic, one of the volunteer vets at your shelter came over to help when he heard about you being kidnapped. He's covering all of next week too, so you can have time to cope with all the changes. Lyla and Jennifer are there, helping him and they aren't scheduling anything major until you or Ryan is back."

"Thanks. I don't know what I'd do without you." With all of the small issues out of the way, she felt strangely odd about how to proceed. She still hadn't looked Ryan in the eye. She took a sip of coffee and sat back in her chair, trying to gather her thoughts. Garrett's hand came over and grabbed hers, giving it a squeeze of reassurance. She looked up at him and he was smiling warmly at her, letting her know he'd be there through this crazy new adventure. "OK, I'm not sure where to start, so I'll let you guys take it away."

Garrett started with the explanations. "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you about us earlier. I wanted to, but our first law sates we never tell a human about us, ever. I was in Maine to ask for an exception in our case since we had Kismet. You know how they handled the request," he said with a frown.

"Then how do Sam and Ryan know?" she asked.

"Very good question, I think you know the reason Ryan knows, although you may not be ready to address it yet, but Sam is a different issue. Apparently, she has the ability to sense magical beings. She's not a magical being herself, but she can sense them. We're not sure why," he said.

Sam caught Riley's eye and shrugged her shoulders. "I didn't know about you until now. I couldn't sense you before, I promise," she said.

"Oh..." Riley sat quietly for a while trying to gather the nerve for the next question. The answer to this, hearing it and accepting it in front of witnesses will forever change her life. She kind of wanted to go back to the naivety of three days ago, but if her life with Garrett was facilitated by this crazy blue light, then she was willing to make a change. "What am I?" she asked.

Ryan wiped his mouth and sat down his napkin, steepling his fingers in front of him. "You and I are Rapha, Riley. We are very rare, magical healers. We don't come into our powers until we turn thirty, which was at midnight for you. Luckily for Garrett and Jack they had their tussle after midnight," he explained. "You will learn about your powers and will be able to manage them over time. Although, since you brought two full-grown shifter wolves back from the brink of death on your first day, I'm guessing you'll be one of the most powerful Rapha to exist. I'm here to help you with the transition."

"Can I use my powers to heal regular animals?" She asked with hope in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, but no. They only work on other magical beings, and you can never let a human see your powers. It's against the law for all magical beings to expose ourselves and has deadly consequences. Something else you should know, most magical beings age differently than humans. For example, shifters age about three times slower than humans do, once they reach maturity. You and I are about the same."

Her first thought was happiness because she'd have a very long life with Garrett. Her head was spinning with information. She felt she needed to lie down in a dark room and make sense of it all. She looked up at Garrett who was staring at her with concern in his eyes. "I'm all right. Feeling a bit overwhelmed, but doing OK," she said.

"Would you like some time alone?"

"Actually, that might not be a bad idea. Can I take Wolf for a walk outside? Is there a road or something to walk on?"

"There is quite a bit of acreage with trails behind the house, feel free to walk around. Do you need a GPS so you don't get lost?" He didn't want to let her walk alone, but knew she needed some space. Wolf would keep her safe.

"No, I'll be fine. I have a decent sense of direction and Wolf can always bring me back. I can feel your concern about me, so thank you for not making a fuss over it," she smiled.

"You should hear my wolf. He is not happy. But I can deal with him for a bit," he said with a smirk.

*

An hour later, she found herself deep in the woods around Garrett's property. She was lost in thought as she processed all the new information, including the lust she felt for Garret. She didn't want to throw herself at him, but it was hard to keep her hands to herself. She had all kinds of interesting scenarios running through her head. Luckily, he couldn't read her mind, just her emotions.

Wolf stopped abruptly and growled, and then she felt a bolt of lightning in her gut a half second before she heard the rapport of a gun. She looked numbly at the blood blooming on the front of her shirt. Wolf was whining and panting, while fear came through the link from Garrett. She slumped to the ground and fruitlessly tried to stanch the flow with her hand. Lying on her back, she looked up into the tree canopy and saw birds flitting from branch to branch. Wolf's nuzzle blurred into her vision as he licked her face and whined, lying by her side. She envisioned Garrett and felt a profound loss at what would have been. His pain and fear was becoming weaker through their link and she knew she was dying. As tears began to fall from her eyes, Ryan suddenly appeared at her side.

"What have you gotten yourself into this time?" he asked as he knelt at her side. He furtively looked around them for the threat, not sure where the danger was.

She blinked dumbly at him. "I've been shot." She showed him her bloody hands as they came away from her stomach. She watched a blue light encompass him as he reached for her body. Ryan gave her a look that told her everything would be OK. Warmth ran through her system and she knew he was healing her. She was amazed to watch it, since she had been on the giving end last night. It occurred to her then; Ryan had been the one to heal her last night as well. "How did you get here so fast?" she rasped.

"Rapha lesson 101. There are so few of us, when one of us is critically injured, the nearest Rapha can feel it and we can teleport to them. We can't heal ourselves, someone has to heal us."

"I can teleport? That's cool," she said numbly.

"No, only to another Rapha who is critically injured. Otherwise, we don't have the ability. If it ever happens, you only need to focus on the Rapha you feel and picture yourself in their presence. Then you'll be there. Be warned though, if they're injured, you may be going into a dangerous situation. We can't always tell what has caused the injury or if it's a trap."

"Trap? Who would try to trap us?"

"We'll talk more about it later. There, you're injuries are healed and we need to get out of here. I'm not sure who shot you."

Wolf issued a low growl and bared his teeth as Ryan was giving her a hand up. A man in camouflage came running into the area with his gun. His feet slid into the mud as he skidded to a halt in shock. He looked between Riley's bloody shirt and Wolf who was crouching in attack mode.

"What in the blue blazes! Did I hit a person? I thought I had sighted a deer." He looked warily at Wolf, fearful he'd attack.

Riley could tell the hunter was rattled,, but she knew Garrett would be there soon. She needed to get the hunter out of the area or else there'd be a huge problem. "Wolf, sit. I'm fine, really. Just be more careful next time." She started to turn and walk away, but the man stopped her.

"But you have blood all over you? You can't be fine."

"Trust me, I am. It was a nick and it bled a lot. Truly, I'm fine. Aren't I, Ryan?" She looked to Ryan for confirmation.

"Yes, she's fine. We need to head back now and clean her wound," he said.

"But, let me..." he started.

"Look, if you don't turn around and leave I'll let this dog loose on you. Now go," she bluffed.

They watched the befuddled man turn around and walk away shaking his head in bewilderment. A few seconds later, they turned and started back towards Garrett's house.

"Garrett is going to blow a gasket."

"I know. I can feel his fear and I'm guessing he'll be here any second. I was trying to get away from the hunter before a very large wolf killed him. Will you take Wolf back to Garrett's for me? I'm not sure what will happen if Wolf sees him as a wolf." She laughed at the amount of wolves in that sentence.

"Wolf's already met him in his shift. They made the introduction last night. Garrett knew having him around is important to you, so he made sure everything was fine."

She looked at Ryan in awe. "He did that for me?"

"He'd do anything for you. I figured you'd know that by now," he said with a smile.

"I'm still in shock. This has all happened so fast. Ryan thanks for healing me, and thanks for healing me last night. That idiot had really done a number on me."

"Yes he did, you had fractures in your femur, 3 ribs, and finger, along with several lacerations, bruises, and swelling." He stopped her and spun her to look at him. "Hey Ri, I'm really sorry you had to go through that." He put his arm around her shoulders to give her a squeeze when he had a tickle on the nape of his neck and his fine hairs stood on end. He heard a low rumble to his left and slowly turned his head to see glowing yellow eyes targeted on him. "Easy Garrett." He put his hands up and backed away from Riley. "She's alright. We're headed back and I won't touch her again."

Riley felt his anger, fear, and jealousy. She ran over to him and threw her arms around his neck while Wolf lay down to whimper. "I'm fine. I'm sorry to worry you, but I'm fine. Now stop growling. You're freaking Wolf out." She nudged him playfully on his shoulder so he'd see she was safe and uninjured.

*

When Garrett came through the woods and saw the blood all over Riley's shirt his heart almost stopped, and then he saw Ryan swing his arm around his Kismet. He knew it was irrational, but he didn't care; he was instantly jealous. He couldn't allow any male to touch her, not until she carried his mark anyway, but his Kismet felt his emotions and was selfless in the way she ran to him and reassured him. Then she surprised him again when she jumped on his back for the ride home. He couldn't believe she was that comfortable with him.

"Are you OK?" Sam asked as they approached the back patio.

"Yes, perfectly fine, thanks to Ryan." She felt Garrett's twinge of jealousy and regretted her words. She figured he probably wanted to be the one to protect her and heal her. She could understand the feeling. She wrapped her arms around his neck and said, "Thanks for the ride home, my Kismet." before sliding off his back.

She watched him go around the corner to shift and he came back around with low-slung jeans on, pulling a shirt over his defined abs. A shiver ran through her and she wished she had seen more. She saw his head pop up and look at her, knowing he caught what she was thinking. She could feel his emotions too and she wished they were alone to explore more of each other. Their eyes locked and the tension was thick in the air.

Catching the tête à tête Ryan interjected. "Well, Sam and I are going to head into town. Riley, we'll have more time to talk and train. There isn't a rush. But if you have any questions call me. Just don't heal anyone until we've had our first training session."

Sam walked over and wrapped her arms around Riley, hugging her hard. "I'm so glad you're OK. Please take care of yourself. I don't think any of us can handle the fear you've put us through. It's not fair," she frowned.

"OK, I'll try my best." Smiling, she followed them to the door and waved goodbye. Glad to be alone with Garrett, but also nervous about what would happen. She could feel him approaching her from behind and his arms wrapped around her, snuggling her to his chest like earlier. She loved the security he provided. He wouldn't do anything to scare her or make her uncomfortable.

# Chapter 15 - Claimed

"You scared me to death, my Kismet. I agree with Sam, we can't take any more of the heart stopping fear. What were you doing off our property?"

She caught his use of the word "our" in the sentence and her heart gave a stutter of happiness. "I didn't realize I had left the property. I was walking deep in thought and the next thing I knew, bam," she shrugged.

"A fence must be down. I need to scout the fence line almost every day during hunting season," he growled. "Come back inside; I'll get you a clean shirt to change into and then we'll have a talk. I'm guessing you have some questions about us and I want to give you as much information as you want."

He led her by the hand to the downstairs bathroom, returning a few minutes later with one of his t-shirts. She loved the smell of his shirt as she slid it over her body. She felt warm and cocooned in the soft cotton. After changing, she joined him in the living room and took a seat on a large leather couch situated in front of the fireplace. She watched in fascination as he built a roaring fire within minutes. She wasn't sure when building a fire became so tantalizing, but she found herself staring at his muscles bunching beneath his t-shirt as he worked. Wolf was lying down in front of the fire and she snickered because it looked like a Norman Rockwell painting. Everything seemed too perfect. Could she really have found her happily ever after?

"What are you laughing at?" he asked as he wiped his hands together, dusting off the dirt. He decided to sit on the coffee table in front of her so they could talk while looking eye to eye. He could scent her lust and feel her growing attraction; he didn't think he could keep his hands to himself if he sat next to her. He was much too tempted to lay her down and claim her.

"Oh, just how perfect the scene was," she said with a mischievous glint in her eye.

"Oh yah? Perfect, huh?" he winked.

"Yes, Wolf lying in front of the fireplace is very Norman Rockwell." She laughed again at the look of disappointment in his eyes when she mentioned Wolf. "Fine, you looked pretty good in the scene too," she dimpled. He grinned back at her and then she heard her cell phone ringing in the kitchen.

"I'll get it for you." He was glad the phone rang. He needed a couple of minutes to control his wolf. Maybe he should call Jessica over so he'd have a distraction.

"Thanks, it's probably my parents wishing me a happy birthday." She looked at the phone as he handed it to her guess was confirmed.

"Hi mom."

"Happy birthday, darling."

"Thanks. How are you and dad doing? Is the weather treating you right down there?"

"It's just beautiful. We know you're busy at work, but we had to call and wish you a good day. Sorry we aren't there to celebrate the big 3-0."

"Thanks Mom. Actually, I'm not at work today. I'm taking the day off." She really wanted to tell her Mom about Garrett, but he was sitting one foot away and she was embarrassed to talk about him in his presence.

"You what! Are you all right? You never take time off. Where are you?"

"I'm fine, really. I can explain more later. I'm at a friend's house." she heard him growl and looked up. The look on his face was priceless. It was one of sadness, frustration, and longing. "Well, actually, he's more than a friend." He started smiling and she knew he wouldn't mind her saying more. "I met someone, mom, and he's amazing. His name is Garrett and I know you guys will love him."

"It's about time! I'm so happy for you, darling. When we're back in town we definitely want to meet him pronto."

He was waving his arm as if he wanted the phone. _He wants to talk with my parents?_ "Ummm Mom, actually he'd like to talk with you if that's alright?"

"Of course! I'd love to speak with him, put him on."

She handed the phone over with a wrinkle on her brow, not sure what he would talk to them about. He took it, brushed his lips against hers, and walked out of the room. She couldn't believe it; he just left the room while talking to her parents. What was he up to? He returned fifteen minutes later and handed the phone back.

"Mom, what was that about?"

"He just wanted to chat with us. He sounds like a very nice man and we're excited to meet him. We won't keep you any longer. Have a wonderful day; I know you will in Garrett's care. We'll see you soon and we love you."

"Love you too." She looked at her phone as they ended the call, perplexed by the turn of events. Looking at Garrett she asked, "What did you say to them? Sounds like you already won them over, too."

"I wanted them to know a little bit about me and make my intentions clear."

"You're intentions?" she squeaked

"Yes." he chuckled. "Would you like to know a bit more about our Kismet connection and what it means?" he asked while sitting down in front of her once again.

"Yes, can you explain the overwhelming emotion thing? I'm assuming it was your anger I felt while I was being held captive."

Garrett's face shadowed with sorrow. "I'm sorry you felt that Riley. I wasn't able to control my wolf when I felt your fear. I should have realized sooner that you'd be feeling my anger. It's due to our emotional bond being created from sharing our first kiss at the ice-skating rink." He grinned at her as they both remembered the moment. "It grows stronger and we'll feel it from greater distances over time. I'll be the first to tell you I didn't believe in Kismet's until I met you. I thought it was a bunch of bull, but when I saw you and we touched, it was instantaneous for me. I knew you were mine, but I thought you were human, so I couldn't tell you. I've been in a panic for the last week, which is why I was in Maine, to ask permission from Jeremiah and the elders to tell you."

"Jeremiah!"

"Yes. I had no idea they'd react the way they did. The first law is never exposing us to humans. They thought you were human and a threat to our secret." He looked down at his hands, ashamed for his part in her pain. "You'll never know how sorry I am you went through the kidnapping and the abuse from Garth." His eyes darkened and he growled low as he grabbed her hand to reassure himself she was safe. "In the shifter world it is against the laws to touch another's Kismet without a challenge to the death, which is why I was completely justified in killing Garth." He growled again. "Did anyone else touch you? Did Jeremiah?" He could feel his wolf near the surface, waiting to see if there would be another challenge.

"No, it was only Garth. In fact, Jeremiah was very kind to me and had ordered Garth to be kind as well. You had your full measure of revenge." She wasn't sure how she felt about Garrett killing Garth. She felt as if she wanted to kill him too, but maybe that wasn't her emotions, but the emotional bond. She remembered the cabin sprayed in blood and the prone body sans head. Being a vet, she had a tough stomach, but she still shuddered at the memory. "Was Garth an elder?"

"Yes. He was one of the alphas I was petitioning for the exception."

"How did you kill him so quickly? Doesn't that make you Alpha?"

"No, if I was fighting for a position within a pack, then yes. A fight over a Kismet challenge is different. He was one of ten retired Alphas that make up the elder board. Their role is to govern over all wolf shifters and enforce the law. I was able to kill him quickly because I lost complete control of my wolf. I went feral." He was ashamed by the admission.

She could feel his self-loathing, the same as she did in the cabin. She assumed losing control and being feral was not something well regarded in the shifter world. "Thank you." Looking into his eyes, she tried her best to convey her thanks for him saving her. "You saved my life and probably yours by letting your wolf take control. So thank you."

He knelt in front of her and wrapped his arms around her. "You should have never been in such a horrible situation. You have me to blame, not thank."

His beating heart reverberated through her body, as if it was shaking them both. The fear, self-loathing, and anger swelled again as he relived the moments of her kidnapping. "Please don't persecute yourself anymore about this. I feel the emotions too and I know how much you regret what happened, but please know I don't blame you." As his emotions continued to flow over her, she asked a question that had been weighing on her mind, "Will we be able to block them so we're not always sharing everything?"

"Yes, we'll learn that with time. I'm sorry if my emotions are difficult for you. My wolf nature is an extremely emotional and is sometimes hard to control," he said sheepishly. "There is something else you need to know. Once you become my mate, and I claim you as mine, we'll be telepathic as well." He waited nervously for her response.

"What do you mean by all of that; mate, claim, and telepathic?" She sat back in the couch as he leaned back and sat on the coffee table again.

"We are Kismet's; we can't live without the other - literally. You do want to be with me don't you?" When she didn't respond he continued, terrified of scaring her, but needing her to know all of it. "A Kismet connection is for life. It's normal for wolves to claim each other within a few days of finding their Kismet because there's no reason to wait. What I mean by claiming you is understood best as marriage in the human world, although, permanent with us. We will be joined in body and spirit for life; there is no separating us and all shifters will know we are claimed because we will bear each other's marks."

She wondered if this was the reason she was feeling so driven to be with him. Her libido was working overtime and it was hard to keep her hands off him. She trusted him and knew he'd be gentle with her and take good care of her. She diverted the thoughts spinning around in her head by asking another question - a trivial one to her. She didn't care if "Garrett's property" was stamped on her forehead. "What kind of mark?"

"Each mated couple receives a unique, magical mark that only magical beings can see and sense. It looks a bit like a white, iridescent tattoo. Wolves are incredibly possessive and protective, as you know, so this eases our minds a bit. If I could, I'd have your entire body marked with proof of our mating," he smiled with the admission.

"What about the telepathy? I'm not sure I understand that fully. Is it as if we're talking out loud, or is it ideas that are shared?"

"We will be able to read each other's minds, so both conversation and ideas. At first, we'll probably share a bit more than we want, but will learn to control it, the same as the emotional bond. However, don't worry about what you share with me. You are my Kismet and meant to be with me. I'll never judge you for what you think - we are one. We should be able to trust each other completely; it's a blessing of our connection."

"I think I understand." Her head was reeling. _Telepathy?_

"You aren't running out the front door. Can I take that to mean that you aren't terrified or repulsed by me?" he smiled.

"Ha! You already know how I feel about you with our handy emotional bond."

"Seriously sweetheart, I know you've been through a lot and I can feel your emotions are a bit scattered. Are you OK with all of this or do you feel you don't have an option? I would never force myself on someone who wasn't ready, Kismet or not."

"I know you'd never force me. That's part of what makes you special. You're this big, tough wolf, but you have a sensitive side too."

He dropped down on his knee and held her hand, looking into her brilliant emerald eyes. "Riley, will you please do me the honor of being my mate, so we'll be whole for the first time in our lives? We'll always have a place to call home as long as we're together." He looked hopefully into her eyes, sending his love through the Kismet connection as strongly as he could. Hoping it would feel as comforting to her as it did to him.

Riley was stunned. She hadn't expected a formal proposal. Everything about this relationship was unconventional, but now he was on one knee, proposing to her. She knew he was the one for her and she couldn't wait to be his mate. "Yes," she said with a smile. "I'll definitely be your mate. I feel as if we already are." She laughed when he launched at her, picking her up out of the chair and swinging her around in a circle before setting her on her feet.

"Thank you, My Kismet," he exhaled in relief. "You have no idea how honored I am to become your mate." He could tell his eyes were glowing gold and his wolf was deliriously happy. Bending down, he held her face between his hands and kissed her soundly to seal the promise.

"By the way, I asked your dad if I could marry you." He laughed when he saw her eyes widen.

"What? What did he say?"

"Yes, of course, after he asked me a dozen questions." He smiled at her, feeling victorious.

"I can't believe he gave me away that easily," she pouted.

"Ah Sweetheart, maybe they could hear the happiness in your voice. I know this is sudden, but I'm crazy about you and we'll be perfect together."

"I know we will be, but my logical brain keeps telling me this isn't possible and I'll be waking up from this dream any minute," she sighed.

He wrapped his arms around her, placed a kiss on each temple, and then brushed his lips back and forth across hers, with their noses touching. "Trust me, this is real. What can I do so you'll stop doubting our Kismet connection? I'll shout it from the mountaintop, marry you like a human, claim you like a mate. Just tell me and I'll do it."

"What do you want, Garrett? We've talked a lot about me, but you're the other half here. What do you want to do today, right now?"

"If I had my way, I'd take you to the bedroom and claim you as mine this second." He said with darkening eyes. "But I don't want to be that insensitive to you. I want us to move forward when you're ready and not a moment earlier. Other than that," he winked "I'd love to move you up here and introduce you to the pack."

She gulped and looked at the floor. The first part of his plan sounded like a good one. She could guess she wanted him as much as he wanted her. The only difference being she was completely inexperienced and didn't know how to lead the way. She realized she had been quiet for a long time when she looked up into his eyes and saw passion and lust blazing there. Maybe the emotions she felt weren't all her own. She stepped closer, putting her hand on his chest and felt his heart beating fast under her palm. Reaching on her tiptoes, she placed a kiss to the corner of his mouth and then looked into his chocolate brown eyes, asking permission for more.

"You're killing me, Riley," he rasped. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. I want you to claim me as yours, so I can do the same," she smiled shyly.

She could feel their hearts beating in unison as he lifted her off the floor. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist as his lips slowly kissed a trail from her jaw to her shoulder. Her eyes closed in contentment as she felt him climb the stairs, opening her eyes when she felt him sit and the bed dip below their weight. The entire world was a fog around her and the only thing that existed was her and this amazing man, her mate, husband, and Kismet. He continued kissing her for a long while as his hands played over her body, and she felt as if she were floating among the clouds from their combined euphoria, unaware of anything but the moments they were sharing.

She tentatively trailed her fingers under the hem of his t-shirt, feeling the warmth of his back and stomach. She heard him suck in a breath as she pulled it over his head. He flopped back on the bed, closing his eyes in ecstasy as she danced her fingers across his body, tracing the lines of his muscles. She lifted her own shirt over her head and unclasped her bra, letting it slide down her arms. His eyes cracked open, then widened as he saw her bared to him for the first time. His eyes locked on hers and then drifted down, perusing her body. A lazy smile caressed his face.

"You are beautiful, my Kismet."

His strong hands gripped her sides and he spun her, laying her on the bed beside him. He slowly loosened her jeans and slid them off. She heard him groan as he looked down her body. His lips descended on her collarbone and moved over her skin in silky smooth caresses. After he covered every inch of her, she watched as he rose and removed his jeans. She was in awe of his perfect form. He was stunning. He cradled her in his arms tightly and caressed her body with magical hands, bringing more pleasure to her than she knew was possible. She felt their Kismet connection crashing over her and knew she'd never be the same.

*

Hours later, Riley woke up with her head pillowed on Garrett's chest and their legs entwined. This was the feeling she was hoping to have with someone one day, and now the time was here. She still couldn't believe how her life had changed so irrevocably in one week. As she mused about all the changes and how to move forward with her Rapha abilities, she noticed a glimmer near her eye. She lifted her body to see what it was.

On his chest, over his heart, was the mark he spoke of, her mark on his body. The light playing over the three-dimensional looking lines was mesmerizing. The color appeared white, but actually had a rainbow of colors from the lights reflection. The mark was an outline of a hand. In the center of the palm was a dot surrounded by hundreds concentric circles widening to the outer edges of the hand, like ripples in a still pond left from a single drop of water. It was stunning. She put her hand up to it and realized it was the same size. She quietly sat up to look for his mark on her body. In the same spot on her chest, was an iridescent wolf paw print. The pads of the paw were tribal looking with Celtic knot work. She rubbed her fingers over it, trying to feel the edges, but only felt smooth skin. She wished everyone could see it because it was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. She wanted everyone to know she belonged to Garrett and him to her. She looked at his sleeping face and felt such love and unity she was overwhelmed. She wanted to wake him up and show him the marks, but knew he needed to sleep after the stress of the last few days, so she pillowed her head on his chest again and joined him in a contented sleep.

###

THANK YOU for reading Kismet. This was my first writing adventure and I had a great time creating the story. I hope you found it entertaining as well. Although character names were made up, some of the locations referenced in Vancouver are real. I really do buy my dog food and treats at Canine Utopia and my husband and I often enjoy the smell of the wood-fired ovens at Lapellah.

There is a lot more that will happen with Rapha Riley and Shifter Garret. I hope to have the next book out by spring of 2014.

You can follow the progress on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leah-Moore/436724266446222?ref=hl

Cheers! - Leah Moore
