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Zara wasn’t allowed to go to the meeting with the other herd. She’d been relegated to staying with the vehicles and watching them, told she wasn’t part of the hierarchy of the herd and didn’t need to be introduced to anyone.

She wanted to tell Colton to fuck all the way off, but instead she just smiled and kept her mouth shut. She could tell Colton was on edge—hell, all the herd was. She wasn’t sure what was going on exactly, except that Colton’s cousin was part of the herd in New Jersey and his alpha had said he’d meet to discuss giving them a place to stay.

There was a strange vibe in the air from the other herd members. They were animated in a feral way, almost like they were plotting something and she wasn’t privy to what it was.

She rubbed her chest as she stood outside of the car she’d been in with Weston. The part of her that was a stallion, even though she couldn’t shift, was sure acting up and had been since they’d crossed the state line into New Jersey. It was hot as hell and she was tired from the long drive, but she was also feeling oddly optimistic about the whole thing.

Coming to New Jersey seemed like it was going to be a good idea.

Her herd walked back to the vehicles, Colton looking smug.

She was tempted to ask him how things went, but she decided to continue to keep her thoughts to herself. Waiting until she was in the car with Weston again, she asked how the meeting had gone.

“Good, they’re going to let us stay in a barn in their territory for a week.”

“What’s supposed to happen in a week?”

He hesitated, then said, “We’re going to find a place for our herd to claim as territory. New Jersey is pretty big and we have funds to purchase land. Their alpha, Crew, said he had some ideas for where we could go, so we’ll use the week to explore and see what we can find.”

There was something about his tone. She couldn’t quite place it.

Disingenuous, almost.

She was nervous, but she couldn’t really explain that either.

They entered the town of Little River, following Avi and his people. The herd was small by general standards—eight including two mated couples—but her herd certainly couldn’t talk now since they only had six and no mated couples.

She momentarily shuddered, thinking Colton might try to force her to mate one of her herd members. She wasn’t attracted to any of them, least of all Colton, who was such an enormous jackass. But he was her alpha, and if she walked away from the herd, she’d be all alone.

Hell, she didn’t even have control of her own money. Everything she’d ever made selling preserves, tonics, and dried herbs and flowers had gone into the herd’s general fund. If she needed money to buy something, she had to make a request.

They followed the lead vehicle to a farm, which had a huge farmhouse and several barns, split-rail fencing, and a large garden fenced with wire mesh to keep out the animals that liked to nibble on plants.

Their vehicles parked in front of a bar, and the male she vaguely remembered as Avi walked over to greet them.

She brushed her hands on her shorts and shook his hand. “It’s nice to see you again, Avi.”

“You too, Zara. Let me show you all the barn. Sorry it’s so rustic, but there is a studio apartment so you can have some privacy.”

Colton let out a low growl. “I’ll be taking the apartment.”

Avi’s brows rose. “I assumed you’d let the only female have the space. For privacy, of course.”

“I’m the alpha.”

Zara was embarrassed. Colton could have been a gentleman in the moment, but he had to show his whole ass. Not that she was surprised.

Damn, she needed a change of some kind.

Something.

Rubbing her fingers over her heart, she let her gaze roam and then smiled at Avi. “I’ll be fine wherever.”

She grabbed her bag from the backseat and followed Avi into the barn with the others. There were cots set up in the open area, and a set of wooden stairs led to the aforementioned apartment, where the only bathroom was located. Colton begrudgingly agreed to let everyone use the bathroom, but made it clear the apartment itself was for him to utilize.

“You okay?” Avi asked as she took the last cot and tucked her bag underneath.

“Sure, why?”

“You’re rubbing your heart.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” she said, resisting the urge to rub her chest again. “I feel like…I’m not sure.”

She looked at the others who were speaking in a small group without her.

“You don’t have an easy time of things, I take it?” he asked with a low tone.

“You’d remember,” she said. “Females are for having kids and caretaking. The only reason Colton is glad I’m still alive is because none of those guys can take care of themselves.”

“I’m sorry. Maybe…” Avi’s voice trailed off and something like hope sparked in her chest.

“Maybe what?”

“Maybe New Jersey is just the change of pace you need.” Avi smiled brightly. “Crew’s going to come talk to everyone in a little while, and we’ll do a dinner tonight for a meet and greet between the herds. It’ll be outside since the weather is so nice.”

She had the idea to go forage, to see if she could find something that she could bring to the dinner. “Can I walk around? Is there anywhere off limits?”

“Help yourself,” he said. “There are ribbons tied around the perimeter of our territory, and signs too.”

“Thanks, Avi.”

Without mentioning it to her herd, she reached into her duffle and lifted a pair of clippers and a small cloth bag, tucking both into her pocket. And then she walked out of the barn.

The barn, and the other buildings, were in a cleared space bordered by trees. She could see the fields where she was sure the herd ran in their shifts, and a pang of longing filled her. Ignoring the feeling, she turned to head into the woods to see what she could find.

It took her almost no time to locate wild blackberries. She was so excited to see them. Taking out the cloth bag, she carefully began to harvest the dark berries, managing to get the bag halfway filled up before she scratched herself on one of the thorns.

“Ouch, damn it,” she said.

“Are you okay?” a feminine voice asked.

Zara turned abruptly and promptly scratched her hand again. “Crap.”

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you!”

Zara chuckled at the pretty female. “It’s my fault, I was in the harvesting zone and not paying attention to my surroundings. I’m Zara.”

“Oh, hi! I’m Tris. My mate is Khyle, he’s part of the Little River Herd. I heard you were part of the Valley Herd, but my mate said he didn’t see you at the meeting.”

“Well, Colton likes females to stay where they belong, you know, out of the way unless he has need of them.”

“Ew.” Tris wrinkled her nose. “I hate that. My old alpha was like that. Very traditional, a real stick in the mud. Our guys aren’t, though. My Khyle is a sweetheart and so are the rest of the guys. But don’t tell Khyle I said that.” She winked.

Zara smiled. “Promise.”

“You found blackberries? I thought the birds got to them. I was scouting for flowers to put on the dinner table.”

“I saw some wildflowers on my way here. There’s not enough berries for anything major, but there’s enough for a pitcher of blackberry lemonade if you have the ingredients.”

“Absolutely, the guys love lemonade. Are you…what was your job in your herd?”

“I guess the term now is that I’m the herd caretaker, but before that, I was the main forager. I study local plants and love to find them and use them.”

“That’s so cool, I’m the herd caretaker too, but I’ve never been much of a forager. Nancy—she’s mated to our elder Dexter—is the one who told me I could look for blackberries. We have a couple apple trees and a big garden, and I take care of them too.”

They harvested the berries together and then walked back toward the big barn.

“I’d love to help with dinner,” Zara said. “If you need another pair of hands.”

Just then, her whole world slowed down and her heart started to pound.

She let her gaze sweep over the pasture, and that’s when she saw him.

He was standing by the split-rail fence, his hands casually resting on the top rail as he spoke to Colton and Weston, with Avi and another male next to him. He was broad-shouldered, with dark hair that was highlighted with the golds of the afternoon sunshine.

He turned like he could sense her watching him, and when their gazes met, her world tilted.

He moved toward her, slowly, like he was aware of an invisible thread connecting them.

“You okay?” Tris asked.

Zara opened her mouth to say something, but all that came out was an undignified squeak.

The male neared and she caught the hint of his stallion, wild like fresh grass and warm like the summer sun.

“Hi,” he said with a voice that made all the restlessness inside her settle. “I’m Crew McCormick.”

This time when she opened her mouth, she could actually talk. “Zara,” she finally managed, her voice barely above a whisper. “Zara Radcliffe.”

“Oh,” Tris said. Then she giggled. “Oh! See you later, Zara. Welcome to Little River.”

Crew’s smile widened. “Yes, Zara, welcome to Little River.”

Her heart thudded painfully in her chest.

Before she could respond, Colton’s voice broke the spell between them.

“Zara, this is Alpha Crew.” He strode over, joining them when Zara felt he was most unwelcome. Couldn’t he tell she was having a moment with this very handsome, very sexy male?

Who… oh my.

She couldn’t even finish the thought.

She turned to Colton, forcing a small smile. “Yes. We just met.”

Colton clapped a hand on Crew’s shoulder and it made Crew’s eye tick.

“I’m glad to see my people are making a good impression. Zara’s got a knack for making herself useful—don’t you, Zara?”

Unease filled her. Colton’s tone was pleasant, but it seemed superficial. He wasn’t angry, but she’d known him long enough to know when she needed to brace for a bad mood to strike.

“I do what I can,” she said, keeping her voice neutral. She glanced at Crew, who gave her a small, reassuring smile. The warmth in his eyes steadied her, even as the tension in her chest tightened. “I’d like to help wherever I can. I met Tris and we foraged blackberries. I offered to help with dinner.” Okay, she was rambling. Ending her ramblings, she said, “This place feels special.”

Crew smiled at her and the knot in her chest loosened.

Colton opened his mouth like he was going to interject something, but Crew said, “Zara, I’d like to speak to you privately.”

“Of course.”

He offered her his hand and she took it, a little zing of electricity shooting up her arm.

And with that little zing came the knowledge that she was in the presence of her soulmate.

She’d left Virginia because she had no choice but to follow her alpha’s bidding. But he’d brought her to Crew and his herd, and this special place called Little River.

She couldn’t help herself.

She cried.

Great, big fat tears of joy.

When they were away from the prying eyes of her herd behind a barn and in a fenced pasture where the cows and a single goat roamed, he pulled her into his arms and held her close.

“It’s okay, Zara. It’s all going to be okay. You’re here now. Fate brought us together. We’re soulmates. You’re not alone anymore, and neither am I.”

All the unspoken fears, all the hopes that she’d kept buried for longer than she cared to remember, surfaced in a fresh wave of tears.

“Soulmate,” she whispered. She tilted her head and looked up at him through the blur of tears. “Crew.”

“I’ve got you, love,” he whispered.

And then he kissed her.

Oh.

Everything dropped away except for them. She could only feel his arms around her, and the press of their bodies together. She felt entirely protected and safe in his arms.

That was something she’d never encountered before, never felt before.

She hadn’t felt at peace since her parents died, but standing in Crew’s arms, she did.

For the first time in years, she felt safe.