SHANA

The silence between us lingers so long embarrassment worms its way through me. Our fingers are still entwined, the surprising strength of his hand overwhelming my much smaller one. Heat colors my cheeks. I drop my gaze. "Body heat," I blurt. "I'm experienced in survival techniques from...the Girl Scouts."

It's the lamest of excuses. Hearing myself say the words makes it worse. My cheeks burn. It's not quite a lie, but it's far enough from the truth that I have to keep talking so I won't confess how full of it I am. "When I was eight," I say, because I can't seem to shut up, "we learned about how necessary body heat is when you're in a survival situation and exposed to the elements."

If Penn were human, he'd laugh me right out of this cave. But he isn't, and his brow furrows as he takes my words to heart. I feel a little guilty, but I don't want him to leave. His presence makes me feel safe. Safe in a way Vinnie never could.

One day, I'll take that thought out and examine it the way it needs to be, but for now, Penn is here, and so am I, and there's a blistering, deadly storm outside.

I don't want to be alone, but I realize more than that, I don't want him to go. I'd come up with whatever wild tall tale I could if I could get him to step away from the entrance. The wind was closer here, howling like a beast through the mountains. A shiver ran down my spine at the thought of being buried in it. If Penn hadn't been there...

His voice shakes me out of my thoughts. "I find it strange that humans would send their young to fight wars. Our scouts require years of intensive training in the art of stealth and battle before we send them out on missions." He gives me an odd look. "Humans are a strange breed with curious customs."

He thinks we're strange? Like I wasn't sitting here talking to a Snow Beast? But I could see his point.

I blink as a strangled noise escapes me. "What. No! War?" I shake my head. "Cookies," I say, chagrin making me dip my head. I'm close to cracking up at my idiocy, but I don't want him to leave, so I try to salvage it, even though every word feels like I'm digging my grave of humiliation even deeper. "Girl Scouts don't fight wars. They make...cookies."

"Cookies." Penn's voice is deadpan.

"Yes. In really cold kitchens, so they learn how to survive subzero temperatures." I chew on the side of my lip and keep my expression as earnest as possible. The fashion industry required me to be quick on my feet, and usually, I'm better at it, but the universe seriously needed to give me a break. I'd been cheated on, ran out of a wedding, almost died in a snowstorm, and wound up in a cave after being rescued by a handsome, intelligent Yeti. This was the best I could do.

His eyebrows hitch, and he gives me a long look like he's trying to figure out if I'm bullshitting him.

Which, I am. But if he stays, it's worth it.

I wait to see if he's willing to bite. If he doesn't, I'm not sure I could come up with something else as wild as Girl Scouts encouraging human/Yeti body heat contact.

"Of course," he says after a beat. "My kind has no metric for measuring the cold. We're born in it and die in it as well. It's part of who we are. Our bodies are built to withstand blizzard conditions and below-freezing temperatures." Penn shakes his head. "If the human scout children's wisdom dictates the use of body heat to survive, then I'll stay a little longer. Only until the storm dies down." He looks away, an emotion I can't name flashing in his eyes. Does he wish for the storm to drag on a little longer like I do? I shake the thought away. Of course he doesn't. That would be crazy. Wouldn't it?

A traitorous, selfish part of me wants him all to myself. Just for a little while longer. There's nothing wrong with that, is it? Going back to the real world can wait for a bit more.

Penn tugs me away from the door, and I allow myself a tiny, satisfied smile behind his back. "Maybe we should build a fire," I suggest.

Penn shakes his head as he pulls me farther into the cave. "There's no kindling here, and disturbing the snow above us could be disastrous."

He sends a sly gaze my way. "Perhaps this is why humans should not task eight-year-old children as survival scouts. None of our scouts are younger than twenty."

I offer a vague smile and hope Snow Beasts don't have access to the internet.

"My people do not know the art of cookie making. You might not be able to build a fire, but if we ever need cookie-making skills, I know where to go." The words are gentle and solemn, but there's an undercurrent of amusement in them.

Penn suspects I'm fibbing, but he's too unfamiliar with humans to know for sure. He is endearing, and my heart melts a little.

I sit in the same place I vacated, with Penn settling his massive bulk beside me. Butterflies fill my stomach. All fear of him fades away. He's been nothing but kind to me, and I inch closer until I'm snuggled into his side.

Penn's eyes widen with surprise, and I think about moving, but he's so warm and snuggly, that I make up another lie about the Girl Scouts. If they were in my position, I hope to think they'd lie too. "The Girl Scout manual demands this," I say, burrowing as close as possible.

His lips twitch. "Ah," he says solemnly as he lifts his arm and pulls me closer. "Does this help?"

Warmth seeps through my body, and I sigh. "Mmm," I agree, not caring that he might be on to me. The heat seeping from his body feels like a furnace, and I sigh. My cheek rests against his chest, and I realize we fit together.

Like a strange but perfect puzzle.

A delicious shiver unrelated to the storm barreling outside rolls through my body. Vinnie wasn't much of a cuddler. He was more of a sweater and not the kind you wear. The kind you step away from when you're in a crowded space. Sitting snuggled next to Penn, I realize I feel protected in a way I never felt with Vinnie.

Anything could blow into our shelter, and I would be okay because Penn is with me. The thought makes me blink away tears. How is it that a non-human makes me feel more like a woman than my fiancé ever did?

A companionable silence settles between us, the only noise the howling wind outside. I rest my arm around his broad waist, marveling at the lean muscle and the soft, silken fur on his arms. Resisting the urge to stroke my fingers through it, I listen to Penn's quiet breathing.

"That story you told...about the one you'd chosen to be your life's mate."

"Vinnie." The name comes out in a snarl. I can't even say his name without feeling blinding rage.

A rumble moves against my cheek. Was that a growl? Was Penn...jealous? The thought sends a frisson of heat through me.

"True mates do not betray each other. To do so is abhorrent, a violation of sacred trust. Mates are bound by their love and by the magic of our gods." His voice drops into a fervent growl. "To act in such a way is to offend the most revered tradition of our people." Penn shakes his head in disgust. "If you were—"

My breath catches, but he cuts himself off before he can finish. Penn's posture stiffens as he draws in a deep breath and falls silent, but I can almost feel his raging thoughts. He's furious on my behalf, and the knowledge settles deep within me. Why couldn't I have found someone like Penn before I found Vinnie? My life might have gone down such a different path.

His response is calmer and much more measured when he speaks this time. "I am sorry that happened to you, Shana."

My name on his lips is heaven.

"You don't deserve what he did to you. I hope you realize that. The mate bond is precious. Life affirming. Those lucky enough to have it do not take it for granted."

"Thank you." My words are quiet even as my thoughts burn inside me. Safety again washes over me, along with something else I can't describe. Penn stirs feelings within me I've never felt before. Not even with the man I almost married. What would it be like to have a true mate? One who is chosen through divine right and who cherishes me as much as I cherish him?

Exhaustion begins to take its toll on me. My eyelids droop, thoughts of Vinnie and Monica's betrayal seeping away as thoughts of how warm and safe I am take over. Penn shifts against me. Did he...

Did he tuck me closer to him?

His fur is like satin against my skin, and I stop myself again from running my fingers through it. Instead, I let my fingers drift over his stomach, the lean muscle clenching at my touch. I marvel at the quiet strength he possesses as I tilt my face up to study him.

Penn's jaw is sharp and chiseled, his lips full against his broad mouth. His nose is proud against the strong features of his face. Sharp cheekbones only highlight his proud beauty. There's something almost kingly about him. I'm tiny against his massive bulk, so small Penn could probably lift me with a mere finger. The thought doesn't frighten me. It only brings me comfort. For a brief second, I'm glad to be trapped here with him. I'm glad my wedding fell through, even if the reason why still pounds throughout my heart.

I can't resist anymore and bring my fingers up to touch his jaw. Penn stills, his heart thundering against my ear. Sleep draws me in, too elusive to resist, but as I drift off, I murmur, "You're so different."

There's a beat of silence, and I wonder if I've offended him. "Different," Penn muses. "Is this a bad thing?"

I nestle deeper into him. "When it comes to you? No." A sigh of contentment escapes. "You are good different."

His rumble, one that sounds suspiciously like approval, lures me into sleep.

***

"Shana." Something gently moves my shoulder. I nestle further down into my shrug, waving the voice away.

"Shana." The sound is urgent. Worried.

I groan and roll over.

"Shana. The storm is worsening. You must wake up."

I open my eyes and blink up at Penn.

"You're shivering even with my body heat." His glacial eyes are lit with concern. "I need you to stay awake."

All I want to do is roll over and succumb to sleep, and as I start to do just that, I realize the tips of my fingers have no feeling. Lifting them in the air, I study them, moving them around in the frigid air.

Penn's frown is thunderous. "Shana. Are you...ill?" He pulls me closer, but I'm a limp doll.

The feeling in my hands and fingers is gone. Pins and needles are all I can feel in my legs. Even words are hard to form. "Penn," I say, but it comes out slurred.

He exhales a sharp breath and rises to his feet. I blink at him, bereft without his warmth. One hand reaches for him. "Penn," I breathe.

A war takes place on his face. Fear first, followed by regret, until both are wiped away by hardened resolve. "There's no other way," he says quietly to himself. Penn reaches down and lifts me into his strong arms.

I nuzzle his chest fur and sigh at how comfortable I am, numbness and all.

"I have no choice," he says, the rumble of his words a gentle buzz against my ear. "I'm taking you to my kingdom."