Both never moved too close to the mountains. They were still heavily covered in snow and not safe to travel. The mountain range was the natural border to Beacon Hills Territory, but no roads or rails connected the two Territories. To reach the town of Beacon Hills one had to either dare the mountain pass or take a long detour around the range. That usually took up to a week.

Chris wasn't interested in crossing borders of that kind anyway. Regulators took care of their matters, weren't politicians or ambassadors, and Four Corners was enough trouble sometimes.

They returned to the make-shift corral late in the evening, past nightfall, and neither bothered to shift back.

xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

The raven sitting on an old, fallen tree had Chris come alert, slow the horse down, and finally he stopped a few feet away.

The bird wasn't an unusual sight. Ravens and other birds were common enough, but this one had his hair stand on end. It wasn't too large, nor was it colored oddly. It was a raven, clear and simple, and then again… not.

It watched the two riders approach, not the least bit disturbed by their presence, and it tilted its head almost quizzically.

Chris glanced at Ezra and noticed his companion was just as alert as he was, maybe even slightly more tense. The green eyes held a hard to interpret look, slightly narrowed, suspicious, and the crossbreed was ready for just about anything.

The tension rose by the second as the two riders and the bird watched each other. Chris tried not to growl, but it was harder than usual to keep the Fenris side in check. He felt threatened without actually perceiving a threat as such.

The raven suddenly took off without so much as a caw and it disappeared quickly. Ezra shot his alpha a quizzical look. Chris kept scanning the sky, eyes narrowed, feeling something that he couldn't put a finger on.

Like they were being watched.

Like the whole energy of the place had changed.

It had been like this before, when he and Vin had travelled to meet Kojay and the tribe, but this was so much more intense, so much more focused, as if every living thing was now taking an interest.

The Fenris snarled softly, surprising himself by his so very intense reaction.

::Chris?::

He pulled himself together and glanced at his mate. Ezra's expression was carefully guarded.

"Shall we go on or take this as a warning?" Ezra asked softly, voice calm and even, though he was anything but calm.

He felt it, too, Chris knew.

The tense set to the narrow shoulders was evidence enough.

"Not sure it was really a warning. More like a first contact," Chris said.

Not like there was a lot of contact between the indigenous people of the Territory and those who had come later. Vin knew the nomadic tribe that lived here. He dropped by wherever they had set up now and then, knowing instinctively where to find them. The Men of the Land usually stayed within one Territory, hardly ever crossing into another one, even if no other tribe frequented the area. Beacon Hills had no Men, but Portland was home to at least two tribes, Larabee knew. Chris had accompanied Vin a few times, had met with Kojay and Chanu, but it was a reserved, distant relationship. There was mutual respect, but no attempt of a closer relationship.

Kojay, the tribe's elder, accepted the regulators, the Larabee pack, and with his acceptance, the whole tribe had. No one from his people had ever come to town, no one had ever approached a farm or ranch, and rarely did any of them ever interact with trappers or hunters.

"The elder's impressed," Vin had once told him. "By you, 'cause you're a Fenris. And the pack, 'cause they're diverse and you lead them."

"Didn't look like it."

It had gotten him a grin. The Men of the Land weren't a very emotional, outgoing people when it came to strangers, though Vin said they were perfectly sociable and friendly once they had accepted you into their family. Chris would have to take the other man's word for it. So far he hadn't seen a single twitch of a smile or a welcoming gesture.

"You want to continue or should we detour?" Ezra asked, breaking into his thoughts.

Chris studied the landscape, found nothing threatening or amiss, but the sense of something waiting out there wasn't gone. It was growing stronger with each passing minute and he found he didn't like it. It was an intrusion into his privacy, into their connection, and he was protective of it. Extremely.

"We're not looking for trouble," he finally said, as much to Ezra as he did to whoever was listening.

High above them a bird of prey was circling lazily.

Chris waited, listening, all senses open, and he felt another surge of whatever was hidden beneath the peaceful land.

The bird of prey cried briefly, then banked away, becoming a tiny spec as it aimed for the mountains.

"I think your cabin might be a nice enough retreat," Ezra murmured, sounding a little spooked.

Larabee chuckled. "You don't see this as an invitation to stay a little longer?"

"Only if we keep out of there," was the uneasy reply, Ezra nodding toward the heart of the Territory. "I enjoyed our time, but I don't need to push deeper into the unknown."

The horses were calm enough, showing no fear. Chris only had this sense of something watching, waiting for their decision, and Ezra felt absolutely unwell.

::It's our Territory, too:: Larabee threw in.

::Yeah, I know. But who would be stupid enough to try and settle out here? Run from the law, sure, but we usually catch them before they do something more idiotic::

Chris nodded slowly. ::You can feel it, too::

::I feel something. I don't like it. It's not… dangerous, but… invasive:: Ezra said slowly.

Yes, that was the best description. Invasive. It was curious about the Fenris and his crossbreed mate.

So Chris made the decision based on his mate's reaction. He tugged at the reins and his horse easily turned, heading back toward where their last camp had been.

Ezra blinked, then followed, riding up next to him. "Chris?"

"We have no reason to be here, other than taking time off from Four Corners. And I think the cabin sounds good." He shot his companion a smile.

The other man was silent, looking over his shoulder, then at the sky. There was no sign of life.

"You don't think it offends them?"

Larabee shrugged. "We haven't been invited. They can't take offense that we choose to heed their solitary nature."

Ezra mulled that over, silent, eyes hidden in the shadows cast by his black hat.

"You want to turn around?" Chris asked after a while.

"I… it's just… this weird feeling. Kind of surreal."

"Like we're being watched. Evaluated."

Ezra looked slightly startled at his alpha's words, then nodded.

"I don't think we failed whatever evaluation this was," Chris went on. "I met Kojay only once and he is an impressive man, powerful, very much a leader. Vin knows his son, Chanu, and he told me a few things after we met with them. I don't think they are taking offense at our retreat. We're not here because of them or for them. We have no missing person to hunt down or a criminal to catch. We're on duty as much as we're getting away from it."

Ezra chuckled softly, then stopped the horse near the stream they had been following for a while. Chris did the same, waiting, eyes alert and fully on his mate.

Not far from them was a deer.

It was looking at them.

"Okay, this is creepy now," Ezra muttered.

Larabee looked at the deer. Like out of nowhere a man appeared next to it, dressed in the simple, habitual garb of the Men of the Land. He was of medium height, the dark hair falling between his shoulder blades, loosely bound by softened leather strips.

And Chris knew him.

"Chanu," he said, bowing his head respectfully. "Son of Kojay."

"Chris Larabee," the other replied. "Alpha of the Larabee pack. I greet you." He looked at Ezra. "Ezra Standish, alpha's mate."

Ezra tensed a little. News seemed to travel without being spread.

"Just passing through," the alpha in question told him calmly, eyes sliding briefly over to Ezra, who looked tight-lipped and like he wanted to be anywhere but here.

"You and your pack are always welcome to visit us."

"And we thank you for it."

Chanu inclined his head. "The protectors of the Territory need no invitation. Like us, you are this land, and the land will always be you. Remember that." Then turned and walked away, the deer following gracefully.

"Huh," Ezra muttered.

"Told ya."

"I might be the land, as he so eloquently put it, but I'm still not staying. I like your cabin. It's an extremely well-furnished and well-stocked place," Ezra added. "I'd prefer the comforts of your home to the welcoming wilderness of the land."

Chris laughed. "Sure. You know Kojay would give us a place to sleep tonight should we choose to visit the tribe's current settlement."

"Do you want to?" Ezra asked.

Larabee gave him the raised eyebrows. The crossbreed chuckled.

They both let their horses walk at a sedate pace, the opposite direction Chanu and the deer had gone, and Chris found himself relaxing with each passing mile.

xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

The cabin wasn't just Chri's home away from the town, it was also a place with a hot shower and a soft bed. Ezra made use of that shower, glad Chris wasn't one of those few settler out here who believed solar panels, electricity and running water were too modern and ruined the Territory experience.

Then again, there had only ever been one couple who had lived like in the Stone Age, pumping their water from a well or carrying it from the river, fire lit under big kettles, bathing once a week, and lighting candles when it got too dark inside. They had lasted one summer only. Winter had done them in, had nearly frozen them, and Nathan had had his hands full trying to save the man's hands and feet from frostbite.

Enjoying the hot water for as long as he could, Ezra finally toweled off and stepped into the bedroom. He dressed lightly, then relocated to the living room with its small kitchen area where Chris was busy pouring coffee into two well-used mugs.

The long-distance radio was on and Ezra's practiced eye scanned over the read-outs, seeing that it was functioning perfectly for once. That meant few to no atmospheric disruptions and quiet ley-lines.

"Everything quiet in town?"

Chris shrugged. "Same old. Had a few drunks trying to horse race, which Josiah and Nathan put an end to. The coach broke down halfway on its way to town. We got some unhappy travelers, including a new science team. Had to lug their gear to town on foot."

"Oh dear lord, not again," Ezra muttered.

"I thought you liked chatting with them."

"Conversation is one thing. Having them poke around every corner of our town is disconcerting."

Chris held out a mug with black coffee. "It's a burden we bear."

They relocated to the couch and the alpha slid against his mate. Ezra automatically adjusted his position.

"But Vin is very well capable of handling it," he murmured. "He told me to take a time out and not come back before next week. Just following my second's advice."

"Vin is a very wise man."

Chris' eyes were bright, reflecting the same smile that was on his lips "Good. We're on the same page."

Ezra kissed the dark blond head. "This time we are. Who could argue against such sound advice?"

Chris pulled him into a real kiss. "You like arguing."

"When I have a chance of winning."

"Want to argue that point?"

The green eyes flared with a challenge accepted. "You, dear sir, are in for quite a loss."

Chris smirked. "I count you naked in bed always as a win, Mr. Standish."

"Are those the odds?"

"I wouldn't gamble on anything less. And I know you like high stakes."

Ezra's grin was downright shit-eating.

xXxXxX

Neither man tried to argue who had won or lost as they lay next to each other, naked, spent, Chris feeling both euphorically high and exhausted in one. Ezra was dozing off already, and he barely muttered a protest when Chris moved to pull the blanket over them.

xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Ezra sat on his horse, eyes on the town before him. A cool, fresh wind tugged at his clothes, ruffled his horse's mane. The clouds were sparse, though, and the sun shone brightly on this fine spring day. He and Chris had stopped on the small hill not far from Four Corners, the path sloping gently down toward the town's main road. It was a good viewing point, showing the small settlement with its bustle and life.

His town.

His place.

It was an unusual feeling for him to have. Ezra Standish had never felt at home anywhere as long as he could remember. He had never really been welcome anywhere either. As a child he had been pushed off at so-called relatives. As a teen he had been dragged along by Maude, never staying in one place for too long. As an adult he had made sure never to be too long in one place to be pinned down by the local law enforcement.

He was law enforcement now.

He was employed, had a regular income, and he was a Territory regulator.

Part of the Larabee pack.

Chris Larabee's mate. The alpha's mate.

Ezra smiled all of a sudden, the feeling at those thoughts bright and warm, centered deep in his chest. It was something he had never experienced before and it was a feeling he would protect with his last breath.

He had been outed to his pack as a crossbreed and they hadn't really batted an eye at it. He was one of them, not an outsider, existing at the fringe of the tight-knit group. They couldn't care less about his shifting abilities, the limitless number of forms he could take. He had weathered the storm, both literally and figuratively, especially when his mother had breezed into his life again.

He would have to thank Josiah for all of that. The man had attacked a fellow pack member and regulator under the heavy influence of complete intoxication, but all things considered and scars aside, it had helped Ezra come to terms with some things and accept a lot of others. And it had pushed Chris into saying the words they both had always known existed between them, acknowledging that this, between them, was more than just a way to pass a boring day or two.

Chris pulled up next to him, the hazel eyes on him knowing and filled with emotions they rarely ever voiced.

"You think Josiah would appreciate a donation to his ongoing project?" Ezra asked casually, smiling.

"He just might. You'll get an earful about fate and stuff."

"His and mine," Ezra agreed, inclining his head.

Josiah hadn't touched a drop of alcohol since, sticking to whatever virgin mixtures Inez's bartender was trying out. Ezra had tried some and found them refreshing and not too sweet.

"Ready?" Chris asked.

"Always."

Because this was his. Chris was his. This was where he belonged, part of Four Corners Territory, part of the Larabee pack, and part of Chris.