“Don’t be. I’m glad you met someone.”
What did it matter since she would be leaving him soon enough? If she wasn’t here on a job, she had no reason to stay.
Aurora walked through the village later that morning, killing time while Grayson’s pack worked on a proposal. Since it was a gray, rainy day, she brought an umbrella and explored.
She ventured into some cute stores, much more unique than the clones of chains in many cities. They reminded her of the little shops in other small towns in New England. She loved a rock and crystal shop in North Conway and a pewter store in Rockport. The rain kept people off the mountains, and many walked covered by umbrellas in and out of stores in the village.
Would a store like her aunt’s shop work in a place like this, a ski village?
Maybe. It would provide something to do on days when they weren’t skiing and had time to kill. What else was there to do around here but walk through the shops and eat at restaurants? Looking for things to see and do?
A shop could fit in with its unique angle, even if there weren’t witches that she knew of living nearby. Many of the clientele at Aunt Colleen’s shop were humans. Those taking a day off from skiing up here might enjoy taking a break for a tarot or tea leaf reading. Or they could purchase some crystals or figurines as souvenirs. Aurora could even have one wall covered with a bookshelf that stocked both books on magic, the craft, paranormal romances, and mysteries.
Perhaps even some shifters who lived here would be interested in magical goods. Although their magic was different, some herbs and other magical supplies were difficult to come by. Aurora knew the suppliers as she’d been helping her aunt restock inventory for years.
After having a sandwich and a cup of Earl Grey tea at a cute little cafe, Aurora returned to the hotel. The rain had lightened to a drizzle, but she still needed the umbrella to cover her.
Her phone rang. It was her aunt.
“Aurora, I tried to see if we could get someone to replace you. No one is available.”
“Oh.” She bit her lip, conflicted about how she even felt about leaving. Yes, she’d asked her aunt to replace her, but then she’d spent the morning daydreaming about an unrealistic fantasy about opening her own store.
Why would she even go there? She didn’t belong here, she didn’t even have a place to live. It made zero sense in reality.
“Do you think you can finish out this job? After all, it should only be a few more days, right?”
“Right.” It wasn’t as if Aurora had an option. Saying no would be letting both her aunt and Grayson down. “I can do that.”
To finish this job, she needed to focus on being a professional—not think about Grayson’s sensuous lips or the way his eyes smoldered before he’d kissed her last night.
When he called her and asked if she’d have dinner with him again tonight, she declined.
She’d have to avoid him as much as possible.
Stay neutral.
Aurora repeated those two words like a mantra as she walked through the snow over to meet the Sacco pack. Grayson had offered to drive her close to the borderline, but she’d told him it was better that they kept their distance, at least for now.
Besides, it was difficult to think with the way he looked at her with that intense gaze. She’d avoided looking at his lips, yet still pictured their sensual curve.
Focus, focus.
She clutched the file folder more tightly. That’s the only thing she should concentrate on—presenting the Franconia pack’s offer and convincing the other pack to agree to a settlement.
The mountain breeze picked up, so different from what she was used to with living near the sea where she could taste the tang of salt on her tongue. Here, the forests imbued the air with the scent of pine. She zipped her jacket up to her chin, but still that wind cut through.
Aurora called on Zephyr, the goddess of the west wind, and asked her to provide warmth. Vibrant energy stirred in the horizon beneath the setting sun. It traveled over to Aurora, swirling around her with a mild heat, like that cast from a fireplace.
During the remainder of her trek to the Sacco meeting lodge, she repeated her mantra and visualized this meeting being a success. She pictured Kane and Lars being elated by the offer and signing the document. Then she could go back to Grayson, celebrate the good news, and then…
And then what?
Right, what happened then? Would he thank her for her services or invite her to remain through the weekend? Would they be able to spend a few more magical days together before she returned to Salem?
What happened once she returned home? Was there any way a wolf shifter who lived with his pack in the mountains and a witch who lived on the coast in another state could have a chance at a relationship?
It didn’t matter because none of what she envisioned for success happened.
Kane swore as he reviewed the proposal in the meeting lodge. “What are we going to do with this land? This is horse shit.” He pushed the proposal across a wooden table back toward her.
Horse shit? What was he talking about? “I don’t understand,” she replied. “It’s a very generous offer. The land is comparable to your territory now, plus it has access to the stream. In fact, it doubles the size of your lands.”
“In another location.” Kane snorted. “How would it be beneficial to split the pack into two territories?”
Oh, toad’s woes. These wolves were as easy to work with as wrestling a bow tie on a black cat. “That is the only feasible way at this point. The land that borders your territory belongs to others.”
“And one of the pieces is owned by the Franconia pack, which is what we requested.” Lars responded with a piercing gaze.
“They will not agree to that,” Aurora declared. “The mountain isn’t just where they live, it’s how they earn their living.” She took a deep breath, refusing to let them rattle her. She wasn’t going to walk away without making some headway this time “Tell you what, why don’t you keep this proposal and sleep on it for a couple of days.” She pushed the papers back toward Kane. “I think you will find that is more than a reasonable offer. Doubling the area of your current territory isn’t something to dismiss without careful consideration. I’m sure you’ll find it’s more beneficial to your pack than a dead shifter’s head.”
Kane scowled at her.
Before she pushed her luck, she added, “The land has so much to offer your pack. Not only do you have a broader range to hunt, but you can also fish in the stream. That alone should be enticing.” She nodded to them. “I’ll be back in two days to see what you’ve decided.”
When they didn’t stop her, she walked away feeling confident that she’d finally made some progress.
Grayson
After one full day of not seeing Aurora, yet knowing she was so close by, Grayson was ready to claw his office to shreds. It wasn’t like him to grow so agitated, but the ache of not seeing his mate stirred beneath his skin leaving him with unbearable yearning.
When she’d called to tell him how the Saccos had reacted, and that she thought she’d convinced them to mull it over some more, somehow Grayson had gotten her to come to his place for a quiet dinner. He still wasn’t sure how he’d managed to do so, as she’d been avoiding him ever since they’d kissed. Sure, he was thrilled that they’d made a little progress in negotiations, but he was far more elated by the prospect of being near her again.