“He doesn’t have to stay human, Aspen,” Mason reminded her.
“We haven’t discussed that,” she blushed.
“You will,” he winked. “Don’t rush things unless they need to be rushed. You know what to do should that time come.”
“Thanks,” she said with a smile, bumping his side. “I love you, brother.”
“And I love you,” he grinned.
Booker paced as he listened to Aspen explain what was going to happen at the terminal in just a few short hours.
“They shot your brother and Charlie,” he reminded her. “And you’re letting them walk right into the terminal like they’re your friends? What the fuck, Aspen? I can’t be there to protect you.”
“You don’t have to protect me, Booker,” she sighed. “I’m a lot stronger than I look.”
“That’s not the point,” he stated, calming himself. “You’re mine, and it’s my job to protect you.”
“That’s very sweet of you, but…please…let us handle this,” she begged. He didn’t like it one bit.
“The moment Charlie can get in the air to come get me, I want to be notified,” he ordered, letting the sound of his voice send the message that he was as serious as he could be. She was his, and Booker was going to stay with her until he felt comfortable with those bear shifters around his woman. “If she isn’t on her way in the next few hours, I will strike out on my ATV. I can be there in six hours.”
“Don’t come alone,” she pleaded. “I’ll have Charlie come get you as soon as she can get in the air, Booker. I promise you.”
“Be safe, my love.” He calmed. “I’ll be there as soon as I can. I’m going to pack a bag.”
“I’ll see you soon,” she promised right before they disconnected.
It took three hours before Charlie returned to pick him up. He was already waiting with his bag in hand, and when the plane was coming to a stop, he opened the door and climbed in. Charlie gave him a knowing look and headed toward the terminal.
“How did the meeting go?” he asked, noticing how she leaned away from him in the small confines of the plane. She wore long sleeved shirts no matter the season, and now he knew. Aspen had mentioned the no touching policy they had with the women in the pack.
“Rather well,” she replied as the headphones crackled. “I’ll let Aspen explain, but I should warn you. The bears are still at the terminal, and I think they are staying until after dinner.”
“They’re staying?” he balked. “Why?”
“Look, I’m new to this, and I’m human like you,” she cursed. “They have some strange ways of doing things, and Mason assured me this is all normal. It’s customary to welcome a friendly clan, pack, pride, or whatever else is out there to your home when a truce is made. It’s weird, Booker. I’m not going to lie to you.”
“I just want Aspen safe, and knowing the ones who shot you and Mason are there with her is not sitting well with me.”
“Trust me,” Charlie said, glancing at him before rolling her eyes. “Mason voiced his opinion on that immediately.”
“How did that go over?”
“We are human, and they are ancient, old predators,” she began, rubbing her temple with a free hand while she steered the plane with the other. “They’ve explained it to me, and while I don’t like it, I understand it. The shifters have always kept to themselves, and when they do meet each other, on occasion, they have to assert dominance. The arrows, that was a message. It wasn’t meant to harm. I know it sounds weird, but that’s how they do things.”
“I still don’t like it,” he replied. It didn’t matter to Booker. What they did was dangerous. Charlie was human, and they could’ve hurt her a lot more. “Do they know I’m coming?”
“Yes,” she nodded. “Nash has been very open and up front about the pack, and the bears are rather accepting. It seems that the world outside of Alaska has changed since the shifters stayed hidden.”
“The internet is going crazy with theories,” he admitted.
“And those theories are a lot of bullshit, too,” she chuckled. “I knew about shifters before I started working for them. I didn’t believe the rumors I’d read then, and now, I know only about ten percent of what they know is actually true.”
“There are some wild assumptions out there,” Booker added.
“Want some advice?” Charlie asked as they started making their decent.
“Sure.”
“Just love her and accept all of the weird rules they have,” she advised. “They may be part animal, but they are still human. Aspen is a special woman, and I love her like a sister. She needs a male like you, and I think you two will be just fine.”
“Have you thought about becoming one of them?” he asked.
“I have,” she said. “But, right now, I’m fine being a human. My status doesn’t matter to Mason. The only reason why I would become a wolf would be to have a child with him. I’m not ready for that just yet.”
“That’s good to know,” he mumbled.
He’d never thought of himself as a father, but with the mention of having a baby, his thoughts immediately went to Aspen.
“They’re waiting for us,” she announced as they lined up with the runway. Charlie pointed out his side of the plane. Aspen was talking to someone he didn’t recognize, and he felt his protection of her flare. It had to be one of the bears, and if that motherfucker touched her, Booker was going to kick his hairy ass.
Thankfully, Aspen broke away from the group as soon as Charlie’s plane came to a stop. She waited until it was safe to
