Page 13 of Starting a New Life

Mates trumped everything. Levi was literally Rhett’s soulmate. His other half. I’d never in my life expect him to stay here and let his mate face his attacker alone.

“Yes, but I’m your Second. The pack needs me.”

I snorted.

“The pack will be fine.”

“But…”

I rolled my eyes at him. “I know I’m not the most level-headed Alpha there is, but do you really think I can’t handle my own pack for a couple of weeks?”

Rhett flinched. “Of course you can!” I raised my eyebrows and gave him a meaningful look. “But you appointed me as your Second, and I’m the one responsible for our patrol schedule. I’m the one responsible for our defence.”

Shaking my head, I placed a hand on Rhett’s shoulder, squeezing lightly, trying to put as much warmth and compassion as possible into that one gesture.

“I’ll be fine. The pack will be fine, I promise. And in case you forgot, phones exist. The internet exists—just ask your mate. As an influencer, he’s kind of an expert in that department. If I need help or advice or whatever, I’ll do what I’ve been doing ever since I got my first phone when I turned ten years old: I’ll call or text you.”

Rhett snorted. “Remember that one time we talked on our mobile phones for three hours?”

I burst out laughing. “Oh, don’t remind me, my ears are still ringing from the lecture I got when my dad received the phone bill.”

We both chuckled, and just like that, I knew everything would be okay.

Chapter 3

Nix

The first thing I saw when I opened my tent was white.

Everywhere.

I closed my eyes as a strong gust of wind chilled me to the bone. I wrapped my arms around my middle, pushing the thick black hoodie against my skin, trying to keep the warmth in as I stared at the nightmare unfolding right in front of me.

Snow.

I’d known it was coming. Had known it was just a matter of time. Honestly, I’d been expecting this to happen for days. It didn’t mean I’d stopped dreading it. The change of seasons was finally here. Strong rains and wind mixed with bright, warm fall days were giving way to the cold darkness of winter.

I took a deep breath, inhaling the icy but clear air that tasted crisp and sharp in a way I had never experienced before, taking it deep into my lungs until it hurt. Just like everything hurt. My face, my hands, my heart.

How could something so ethereally beautiful be so painful?

I didn’t know how long I kept staring at the scenery in front of me. The clearing that’d been green grass and brown leaves yesterday was now a plush white. The grey sky had given way to a bright blue, the sun shining through the bare branches covered in blankets of snow, hitting my face, taunting me.

A part of me wanted to lie down in the snow and roll around in it. It looked comfortable and peaceful. The world seemed quieter somehow. An almost reverent silence. As if nature itself was in awe of the thick white blanket covering everything, sparkling like crystals in the bright sunlight.

In the end, I turned around and headed back into my tent and closed the heavy canvas behind me, attempting to shut out the cold. It didn’t work; it never did. It dulled the worst of the weather, but with me not daring to start a fire and with my magic almost completely depleted, I was fighting a losing battle.

My feet were numb as I put on the first pair of socks. Thick, woollen ones Levi had given me. Then I slipped into the second pair, even thicker ones, and climbed back under the covers of my sleeping bag. Still, I couldn’t help the shivers running through my body as I grabbed the last protein bar.

I closed my eyes as a wave of despair ripped through me.

I’d run out of food—and Levi was still in Vancouver.

Yes, I could go into town and ask Herb for leftover baked goods, but… did I dare? Did I have the energy to?

Did I even have a choice?

Without food, I’d get weaker by the day.