Regardless of what the financial adviser thought, Isa laid down the fifteen million dollars and bought the property. Once that was done, Isa started looking into the proper licenses and all kinds of things she needed to do to open her camp as soon as the following year. She was focused and determined. It was sexy to see her at work like that.
It was even sexier to know that now, he didn’t have to worry about being the one to ground her in Thatcherton. She had made that choice for herself. If Valens knew anything of his mate after knowing her such a short time, it was that she needed to make her own decisions.
She was independent in a way that scared him a bit.
It was difficult to hold onto his views that humans were nothing but fragile little dolls when Isa Ellis, his wonderful mate, was such a powerful and self-assured woman.
There was nothing fragile about her.
It made the way he felt about her all the more confusing.
“I think we need to celebrate your new project with a nice dinner,” he said once they returned to his house after another hour spent at Mainville township to organize her new ownership.
“I like that idea. I want to bask in this joy a little longer before I tell Tarrah and Luke what I did. I bet you anything, Tarrah will cry because she can’t be around Luke anymore, and he’s going to sulk because he’s losing his job and won’t be able to try to boss me around anymore. Which is fair enough, I suppose. I just don’t think he’ll understand the benefit this will have for the kids.”
Valens growled low. He didn’t like this Luke guy.
“Speak of the devil,” Isa said, holding up her phone, which had just beeped. “Luke just texted me to ask me when I’m coming back to the cabin.” Her fingers flew over the screen as she replied. “Is it safe to assume you’ll be wanting me to stay over tonight? Perhaps have a repeat of last night’s activities?” She giggled as he took her in his arms.
“If you want to stay and spend the night in my bed, I’m not going to say no.”
She grinned. “He’s definitely not gonna be happy.”
Valens really wanted to tell Isa to be careful. He hadn’t told her yet, but he had some strings pulled and gotten her phone’s data information. He would be going over it to see who this stalker was. Egon agreed with him that something wasn’t right there. That something needed to be done before the stalker hurt Isa.
His money was on Luke.
If he could keep Isa with him and stop her from going back to the cabin she shared with the man he suspected to be her stalker, then he would.
He also knew that Tarrah would be safe with Elija there. His fellow tiger wouldn’t let anything happen to his mate.
“You’re definitely staying with me,” he purred into her ear.
Forever, he added quietly in his head.
Dinner was on the table, dessert was warming in the oven, and the beer was cold and refreshing. Valens lifted his bottle to Isa with a grin.
“Congratulations on your purchase, daredevil. This is going to be one hell of an adventure.”
“Right?” she beamed.
“I’m gonna be here for you every step of the way.”
Her smile widened. “Thanks. I appreciate that. Do you have much expertise with running a summer camp?”
He shook his head. “Not a damn bit. But we do have quite a few teens who always fight for the privilege to work at the beach. I’m sure once the camp opens up, they’ll want to work at the camp too.”
“Oh, that’s a good point. I didn’t even think of that. I’ll have to make a list of all of the crap I need to get done.”
“Are you feeling overwhelmed?”
“No. Not really,” she shrugged. “I know I can do it. It’s just gonna be one hell of a trick to get this off the ground in less than a year.”
“Well, since you’re my mate, you know the whole of the Thatcherton tigers will be vying for this project of yours to work out. I’m sure you’ll even have to turn people away.”
She pouted. “Mate. Right. Forgot that was a thing we needed to discuss.”
Valens arched a brow at her. “Discuss? What is there to talk about? We’re mates, and now you’re staying in the area. That means we can actually be together. We can take things as slowly as you want.”
Isa was quiet for a little while. Valens would have given anything to be in her mind to hear her thoughts. He opened his mouth to speak but sputtered. He didn’t know what to say. Isa gave him a small smile, but the sound of his ringing phone split the air.
“Fuck,” he growled under his breath.
He looked down at the screen, fully expecting to see his office number flashing back at him. It would make sense that just as he was about to have an intense conversation about the future with his mate, a human tourist would need medical help.
It wasn’t the office. It was Egon.
“Sorry, this is my brother. I can’t ignore a call from my Alpha.” He picked up the call. “What’s up?” he said into the device.
“You need to get to Mom and Dad’s place. Now.”
Deep in his brain, his tiger was ready to pounce. “What’s happened?”
“Old Man Warner is here. He’s lucid and freaking the fuck out because he saw a few lions on the mountain. I sent a few of our guys out to scout the mountain, and they came back in no time at all. They could smell the lions right away. Something is brewing.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“I need you to come here so we can figure out what we’re gonna do about this.”
His eyes cut to Isa. “My mate is here. We’re about to have dinner.” He hardly wanted to leave her alone while lions roamed around.
“Don’t care. Those fucking lions are trespassing on our land. We need a meeting. Now.”
Valens wanted to argue. Isa was hardly fully understanding what it meant to be his mate. Now he would have to take her to a streak meeting where she would hear all kinds of things that might scare her off.
It wouldn’t matter if she spent fifteen million dollars on a mountain next door. Not if this shifter business was too much for her to bear.
Careful. You’re thinking of her as a fragile human again. You know that’s not who Isa is. She’s a badass daredevil. If anything, you’ll have to ask her to stay put while you go out and do your streak business. She’s the one human who can take it. Stop being an ass and just bring her into the fold. We’ll be mating her soon, anyway. It’s best she knows what she’s getting into.
“Valens,” Egon snapped into the phone. “You’re on your way,” he commanded.
The jerk. He rarely ever used his Alpha voice on his brothers, but every now and again, Egon felt he didn’t have a choice, and he would do it regardless of the strain it put on their relationship.
“Fine. We’re on our way.” He hung up the phone and noticed that Isa was watching him with interest.
“What’s going on?”
“There’s streak business we need to discuss. You’ll have to come with me.”
Isa frowned. “I can just go back to the cabin. Or stay here until you come back.”
He shook his head. “I’m not leaving you here defenseless.”