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backed up toward the far wall of the cabin.
    How would she last even one hour trapped with his alluring scent? Let alone an entire day or a week. What if the storm didn’t let up for even longer?
    But she had to remain strong. The light in Zephyr’s eyes when he spoke about his family and friends was all she needed to see to know he couldn’t stay here any more than she could leave.
    Fated or not, there was no possibility of them mating.

 

Chapter Three
    The storm raged on. At first the cabin felt like it would collapse under the strain of the snow. Zephyr feared they would be buried alive. But after a while, he calmed. As the snow rose, the structure stabilized as though it were being held together by the rising snow levels. The wind blew so hard, he doubted there was more than a dusting on the roof.
    “I’ve never been this far north. How often do you get blizzards like this?”
    Adonia had kept her distance. Something he’d said had caused her to retreat. And he could kick himself. Just when he’d thought they were making headway, she’d backed off.
    He scooped steaming bowls of stew and set them on the table.
    “Never.” She glanced at the window for the millionth time. “I’m worried we’ll run out of firewood at this rate.”
    “It can’t last forever.” Just until you agree to be mine.
    She inched toward the table as though he would pounce at any moment. “I’m not so sure about that. With the number of weird things that have happened today, I’d believe anything now.”
    “Sit.” He pointed at the chair across from him. This would make the third time they’d occupied this table together, and he intended for it to matter this time. “I’m not an animal. Your virtue is safe with me.”
    “Ha ha. Last I checked, you were a snow wolf. I saw you in your magnificent form outside. And my virtue isn’t safe anywhere near you.”
    Ah, finally. Headway . Admitting it out loud was a good first step, right?
    Nevertheless, she took a chair and reached for the fork he handed her, carefully avoiding skin-on-skin contact.
    He’d left her in silence for the last several hours. She’d spent the time staring into the flames of the fire, curled up in a ball in one of the two chairs flanking the fireplace.
    “Tell me about your childhood,” he prompted.
    She blew on a bite of stew and let her tongue reach out to test the warmth. He nearly moaned when her sweet mouth opened to take the bite. She ignored his conversational cue.
    As she swallowed, her eyes closed. “That’s heavenly. How’d you do that with the few supplies I have?”
    “Thanks, but all food tastes better when someone else prepares it.”
    “Huh. I wouldn’t know. I’ve been cooking for years.”
    “Your mother doesn’t cook?”
    “She does. But she doesn’t enjoy it as much as I do.” She lowered her face, letting her hair cover her from his gaze.
    “I’m sorry. It must have been rough growing up so alone. I’m sure Jack will take care of both you and your mother now that he’s found you.”
     “You really think he’s that decent?”
    “Yes. He can appear harsh at times and won’t suffer injustice of any form, but he takes care of his own.”
    “My mother is in no way someone he would consider his own. She’s just a woman he fucked once twenty-seven years ago. I’m surprised he even cared enough to send you to find me.”
    Zephyr flinched at her harsh words. She was hurting. And she had every right to be. It would take time for her to overcome the loss she’d suffered by spending her life in exile from not just her own people, but all living beings.
    No way was he going to alienate her again by mentioning how she would feel when he took her to meet the man. He’d been down that road and had no interest in a repeat performance. She’d come around on her own time. Any urging on his part had proven to push her farther away, not bring her closer. “Regardless, your father does right when the cause arises. He called for