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Ulkna relaxed in the saddle, enjoying the slight sway as his mate moved beneath him. A small smile teased at the corners of his lips, and he toyed with the horse’s mane, threading his fingers between the coarse strands. Considering that petting his mate in horse form was the only affection he could show the other male right then, he wanted his mate to know that he was enjoying his time with him, regardless of how it was happening.

He listened as the others carried on conversations around him, appreciating that no one seemed to expect him to join in. The wranglers pointed out interesting rock formations, caves, and petroglyphs. A number of the others asked questions, and he enjoyed listening to the answers.

How long is the canyon? Over two-hundred-seventy miles long.

How wide is the canyon? Over eighteen miles at its widest point.

How deep is the canyon? Over six thousand feet at its deepest spot.

“Did you know over twenty-two thousand people white water raft the Colorado River every year,”

one of the wranglers told them, pointing at the ribbon of water below them. He grinned over his shoulder where he led the group.

“You all seem like adventurous folks, so if that interests you, you’ll have to pick a date weeks, sometimes months out.”

Ulkna noticed his mate shake his head just a little, and he grinned as he leaned over his neck to murmur.

“Not a fan, my mate?”

Again, the horse shook his head.

Chuckling, Ulkna muttered.

“Good to know,”

before straightening.

“Maybe next time we travel through this way,”

Hunter stated, peering at Yuma, who was looking over his shoulder to meet his human mate’s gaze.

“Would that interest you, baby?”

Yuma grinned widely.

“Anything with water interests me.”

Hunter chuckled.

“Right. Silly question.”

Considering Yuma shared his spirit with a penguin, it was sort of a silly question.

“I love rafting,”

Reuben declared, a wide grin curving his features.

Lamar sighed deeply.

“You’re going to try to talk me into it, aren’t you?”

The peacock shifter did not sound excited...at all.

Reuben winked at his fastidious lover.

“Awww, you don’t have to, baby. I can go without you.”

Lamar’s lips pursed, as if he’d bitten into a lemon, and Ulkna would just bet that a rafting trip was in the guy’s future.

Poor sucker.

Then Ulkna looked down at the horse he rode, his fated mate. He’d never actually thought much about what his mate would be like or even what it would be like to find him or her. What would he do for this guy that he’d never met but was destined to spend the rest of his life with?

Ulkna really had no idea.

Walking away after the ride was one of the hardest things, if not the hardest thing, Ulkna had ever had to do. Even accepting his life as a captive to the witches hadn’t been as difficult. He’d lived each day in resignation.

At least this time I actually have hope.

I’ll see my mate again.

I know where he is.

With those thoughts in mind, Ulkna also reminded himself that Yuma and Hunter had pumped the wranglers for information about their operation. They knew when the last tour was, the general direction of where their overnight barns and paddocks were, and when the horses would be put up with their evening meal.

Ulkna had every intention of being there, waiting for his mate.

Fortunately, the guys were more than happy to assist him with his plan.

When they roared out of the parking lot, the group split up. Lamar—who Ulkna road behind—headed left in the direction of the indicated barn. Along with him was Rueben, Yuma, Hunter, Sam, and his human mate, Ryan, as well as Payson and Land. Ulkna knew they were watching for a place they could set up a picnic to hang out at so Ulkna and a couple of others could search out the barn’s exact location.

The rest of the guys, led by head enforcer Mutegi—who had driven his mate, Ben, to the ride but had stayed behind with the bikes—were heading back to the small town they had rooms at to report back to Kontra.

Ulkna knew the alpha needed to be kept in the loop, but he wondered just how hands-on the big grizzly shifter would be. He’d seen the guy help many of the others when they located their fated mate. Certainly, the fact that his mate was working as a trail mount, with no herd or shifter affiliation, should make it easy for them to liberate him.

Right?

He sure hoped so.

“This looks like a good spot.”

Rueben’s voice came through Ulkna’s helmet microphone as he pointed to the left.

“Trees for shade and plenty of dirt parking.”

Peering around the area, Ulkna had to agree.

There was plenty of dirt and gravel space on the side of the road. Even logs were lined up, making certain that people didn’t drive into the small meadow beyond. Trees lined the left side, and off to the right was a path leading to a scenic view area of the Grand Canyon, not too far in the distance. There was even a couple of information boards, so obviously the place was maintained.

Curiosity itched at Ulkna, and he looked forward to reading whatever was on the signs.

After dismounting Lamar’s Goldwing, Ulkna took off his helmet and peered through the trees to the left. That direction lay the trail ride staging area...and supposedly, the barn and paddocks. His skin prickled with the desire to shift and go find it.

“Eat and hydrate before you head out,”

Sam ordered, appearing next to him.

“You have plenty of time.”

He rested a hand on Ulkna’s shoulder and squeezed lightly.

“After that, Payson and Land will go with you, in human form, with clothes for you both.”

Ulkna couldn’t help his grimace. He hated waiting but knew the necessity of it. His mate wouldn’t be there, yet, even if he found it right that minute.

Plus, really? Payson? Why him?

Sam chuckled softly, his lips curving into a wry smile.

“I know what you’re thinking. I’ve traveled with the man for decades, so I understand people’s initial reaction to his personality.”

The big beta’s expression grew serious as he continued.

“But Payson has proven worthy of Kontra’s faith in him time and time again, even if he can be a little...”

When Sam trailed off, Ulkna snorted. “Crazy?”

Grinning broadly, Sam nodded.

“Yep. Crazy.”

With a wink, he stated.

“The man definitely has a singular mind, but he knows what Kontra will accept, will back, and will not allow.”

He squeezed Ulkna’s nape and began guiding him to where Yuma was setting up their impromptu picnic beneath the tree line.

“Come and relax. Fuel your snake. Then we’ll find their evening holding paddocks.”

Ulkna’s stomach growled, telling him that Sam’s order was a wise one.

After grabbing a pre-made turkey hoagie, a bag of chips, and a bottle of beer, Ulkna settled with his back against a tree. He unwrapped the plastic around the sandwich, dropping the packets of mustard and mayo onto the grass. Ulkna placed the plastic on the ground, sandwich on top of it, and picked up the mayo. After opening the packet, he slathered it all over one side of the roll before flicking it onto the plastic.

Licking his lips, Ulkna picked up the thick sandwich. He eyed the hoagie, his mouth watering at the sight of the turkey, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and even a couple of dill pickles. Ulkna felt his stomach grumble again, so he took a big bite and hummed appreciatively as the flavors burst across his taste buds.

Yum!

As Ulkna ate, he listened to the men chatting around him. Yuma and Hunter were engaged in a conversation with Rueben and Ryan about the new archaeological excavation going on in the Grand Canyon. Rueben and Hunter both wanted to track down the site and take a peek during the night—evidently, neither human had been to an archaeological dig before—and while Yuma was watching indulgently, Ryan was trying to rein them in.

Ulkna was sort of on Rueben and Hunter’s side. He’d never been to an archaeological dig, either. When they’d been at the bottom of the canyon, taking an hour and a half break to walk around, check out interesting sights, and letting the horses rest, the wranglers had told them about the recent find.

Evidently, only a small percentage of the Grand Canyon was actually fully investigated. A group that had gotten lost hiking had stumbled upon a previously unknown Native American adobe-like structure. According to the wranglers, there were eleven different tribes that had lived in or around the Grand Canyon over the centuries.

It’d been fascinating.

“You know, you could just talk to Mark,”

Yuma finally pointed out, stopping Rueben and Hunter’s cajoling of Ryan trying to reason with them.

“Mark said he was buddies with one of the graduate students working with the archaeologists at the site. Maybe he could get you in to view the dig.”

The small penguin shifter snickered as he added with a wink.

“Then you could probably even go during the daytime.”

“Yeah, but if he gets turned down, they’d be on watch for us,”

Rueben whined.

“It’d be harder to sneak in.”

Ulkna fought back a snicker. Seeing the big redhead all pouty was really sort of funny.

“So, you starting in human or snake form?”

Payson asked, plopping down near Ulkna and drawing his attention. His legs were crossed, and he immediately pulled Land onto his lap.

Ulkna gave them a few seconds to make out before he bothered answering.

“I’ll start as human,”

he decided.

“If I need to get close and investigate while a human’s around, I’ll shift.”

In his coral snake form, which wasn’t all that large, Ulkna was rarely noticed. On the occasion when he was spotted, most humans would back away and leave him alone, even if they weren’t sure if he was the poisonous coral snake or the non-venomous king snake. Every once in a while, someone would get a shovel, and seeing as Ulkna was sentient and knew exactly what that could mean—they most likely intended to chop his head off—he took off at top speed.

“Sounds good.”

Payson grinned widely at him.

“We’ll bring a backpack with sweats and a hoodie.”

Shrugging, he cocked his head.

“And socks for his feet, if he wants ’em, cause no guessin’ at his shoe size, and I ain’t carryin’ a million shoes through the woods.”

Chuckling, Ulkna nodded.

“Makes sense.”

Payson eyed the remains of Ulkna’s meal.

“You ready, then?”

Grinning broadly, he teased.

“Or you gonna wait that recommended thirty minutes before exercise?”

Ulkna popped the last chip into his mouth with a roll of his eyes.

“Let’s go,”

he mumbled around his mouthful. Then he rolled his garbage into a ball and rocked to his feet.

Snickering, Payson lifted Land up, and they both stood.

Once Ulkna had placed his trash in the bag the guys had set out, he turned and headed toward the trees. He heard the guys’ calls of encouragement and congratulations and waved in acknowledgement. Ulkna slipped between trees, sensing Payson and Land following, and he began striding swiftly through the woods.

Ulkna had to remind himself on more than one occasion that Land was a human and couldn’t keep up if he started jogging through the trees. Still, it was tough to control his excitement. His pulse picked up speed, and anticipation thrummed through him.

Soon. Soon I’ll see my mate again.

And this time, maybe I’ll actually be able to talk to him.

As Ulkna spotted wood fencing appear between trees, he heard the murmur of voices. He slowed, judging direction and distance. Stalking forward, Ulkna flicked his gaze this way and that. He noted over a dozen horses interspersed amongst a number of paddocks. They milled around large feeders full of hay and appeared to be munching contentedly.

Finally, Ulkna pinpointed the source of the voices. A pair of men stood at the other end of the farthest paddock. The cowboy Ulkna recognized as Reagan, one of the wranglers from the ride, stood on the outside of the paddock.

The second man, wearing nothing but a pair of sweats and standing inside the paddock with mostly his back to him, drew Ulkna’s attention like a moth to a flame. He had wide shoulders that tapered to a narrow, trim waist. Nicely defined back muscles were on clear display, and his biceps flexed enticingly in his arms where he had his forearms resting on the top rail of the fence between him and Reagan. The man’s shaggy, dark-brown hair covered his neck, and he thrust a hand through it as if in agitation.

“Did anyone in the gang say where they were headed, Reagan?”

the half-naked man asked. His tenor tones were filled with frustration and uncertainty.

“What town they were staying in, maybe?”

“No, but—”

Reagan paused, looking over the other man’s shoulder and sweeping his gaze over Ulkna, Payson, and Land. He smirked as he stated.

“But I don’t think finding them’s going to be an issue.”

“What do you mean?”

Reagan pointed in Ulkna’s direction, and the sexy, sweat-pants-clad man turned.

Ulkna’s breath caught in his throat as he stared into the deep brown eyes of his forever.

Gorgeous.