Chapter 4

After Sorin had kissed her without her consent for the second time, Colette decided to give him the cold shoulder. It turned out that the cabin was actually his, but he didn’t bother to explain why all the rooms were bare except for the back bedroom.

He showed her the basement, stocked with months’ worth of canned food and plenty of water.

He fired up the generator, which bathed the cabin in light, but he warned her that he wasn’t sure how long it would last. If she needed warmth, she should stick close to the fire. The generator was mainly for cooking.

He still wouldn’t give her back her clothes, saying he’d return them when he was sure she wouldn’t bolt. So much for her helping him. He didn’t even thank her for cleaning his wounds and taking care of him, the jerk.

So much for it being too cold for her. He went outside to gather more firewood and look for fresh meat. She watched him leave, and just as he was about to disappear from her view, she saw him start to undress. She quickly looked away before he was completely naked.

She was alone for at least an hour before she tried her phone, hoping for a signal. She knew she should’ve bought an emergency radio, but her sister had laughed at the idea. Now she was in a situation where she could really use one.

She was pretty sure she wouldn’t be leaving this cabin with her innocence intact if Sorin had anything to do with it. He’d kissed her twice now, deeply. The thought of it made her pulse quicken.

She heard heavy footsteps on the porch and quickly hid her phone back in her backpack. He might confiscate it. Or worse, smash it if he knew she was trying to escape. And she definitely was. She’d spent a good chunk of time searching for her clothes after he’d left.

He came back in, fully dressed. She found it amusing, considering his clothes were suspiciously dry for someone who’d supposedly been out in the snow. In one hand, he held a bloody rabbit. In the other, a small pile of wood.

He looked at her suspiciously. “What were you doing?”

“Nothing,” she lied, turning away so he couldn’t see her cheeks turning red. She hated that she blushed when she lied.

He dropped the rabbit on the floor and slammed the door shut. “I don’t like liars,” he said, kicking off the boots she knew he hadn’t actually worn outside. “Tell me the truth or else.”

She shivered at his words. “You first, liar.”

His eyebrows knitted together in anger. “What do I have to confess?”

“I saw you take off your clothes. That’s lying, pretending you wore them outside,” she shot back, crossing her arms.

“You watched me undress?” he asked cautiously. “What else did you see?” he demanded.

Her cheeks turned bright red. “Nothing. I wasn’t trying to see you naked. I looked away,” she insisted.

He seemed to relax. Thankfully, she hadn’t seen his wolf form. If she had, pack law would’ve forced him to take her to the elders, which would mean going through rival pack territory. He also didn’t want her to meet his alpha. It would be a blow to his pride that he hadn’t found his mate first.

Fine. She could keep her lie, since technically he was keeping his wolfhood a secret from her. He stacked the wood next to the pile by the fireplace. It needed to dry out before he could use it.

He turned to find Colette watching him with her icy blue eyes. “What?” he asked.

She shook her head and turned away, resuming her silent treatment.

“Are you hungry?” he asked, kneeling in front of her.

She wouldn’t look at him, let alone answer.

Fine then. Sorin went about his business as if she wasn’t there, which was harder than it sounded. Colette’s scent had filled the entire cabin, leaving him painfully aroused.

To help increase the dwindling werewolf population, Mother Luna had made it so that mates couldn’t resist each other. Sorin could feel it, a drive to claim Colette, but she clearly didn’t feel the same.

He found himself skinning and cooking the rabbit, even though he usually ate it raw. But Colette said nothing. She stayed rooted in front of the fireplace. Hours passed, and he stayed in his bedroom, unsure of what to say.

When he’d woken up next to her naked body, he’d been filled with joy. He knew in his soul that he was meant to be with her. But she seemed unaffected by the pull of her wolf. If she even had a wolf. He wasn’t sure anymore.

When he offered her food, she stayed silent and glued to the fire. He ate alone in his bedroom.

He didn’t really know what to do. If he’d been alone, he would’ve gone for a run. It helped keep his wolf calm.

But his chest, while healing quickly, was still sore. On top of that, the snow was falling hard again. He could lose his scent trail back to the cabin, leaving Colette to fend for herself for who knows how long.

He didn’t have anything to entertain guests with. He never ~had~ guests. No games or movies. All he did during a blizzard was sleep.

Once the storm passed, he’d need to get back to his pack. He was allowed to own the cabin and visit occasionally, but his duty was to be there in case of an emergency. His loyalty was to the alpha, unless his mate was pregnant, in which case pack law gave some leeway.

He finished eating, and even though he’d offered Colette food and she’d refused, he was still hungry. A three-pound rabbit wasn’t enough to satisfy his hunger.

Colette was, of course, still sitting in front of the fire. She’d asked about the lack of furniture everywhere but his bedroom, and he didn’t know what to say. He was rarely here and didn’t see the need for furniture.

He left her there and went back to his bed. She couldn’t be ~that~ stubborn. Eventually her hunger would get the better of her and she’d have to talk to him.