“And I hear they tried to abduct you, too?”

“That’s right.”

“So it’s you they truly want, not your sister?”

“That’s also right.”

Paxton’s attention shifted to his son. “Sounds like you and I have a few things to discuss.”

The Fire Wolf’s lips thinned. “I don’t know if that’s necessary. Tala and I won’t be involved in pack activities, and I’ve already arranged the protection she needs with the men. Nothing else will be needed from the pack.”

“But if the supernaturals who are after Tala are willing to use force to capture her, that could affect others in this pack. While we’re happy to help, I also want to know exactly what we’re dealing with.”

“That’s the problem. We don’t know entirely who or what we’re dealing with.” The Fire Wolf’s jaw tightened. “It’s inevitable that they’ll discover she’s here if they have a seer, but they would be fools to antagonize the entire Ontario pack.”

“Fools or not, it’s a possibility we need to consider.” Paxton stroked his chin. “From what Commander Klebus told me, this problem goes much deeper and broader than just you and your sister.”

I nodded. “It does. Twelve other supernaturals are still missing, but with any luck, the SF will figure out what the hell’s going on, catch all the bad guys, find the missing supernaturals, and wrap this up in the next few weeks. I don’t intend to outstay my welcome here, and I’m sure you don’t want your strongest fighters spending all of their time babysitting me.”

A gruff laugh shot from Paxton. “You don’t mince your words do you, Ms. Davenport?”

I shrugged. “You’ve already picked up on that, have you?”

A twinkle entered the alpha’s eyes.

An amused smile lifted the hunter’s lips. “If we’re done here.” The Fire Wolf stepped closer to me. “I’ll take Tala back to my cabin. I’m sure this wasn’t what she had in mind when we came to visit Ocean.”

Ocean shoved her hands into her back pockets and shrugged. “But you only just got here, and now that Cameron’s gone . . .” She let her words linger, and I raised an eyebrow at the Fire Wolf.

“She has a point,” I said. “No offense, but hanging out in your cabin for the next few weeks doesn’t sound like the most exciting way to spend our time.”

The Fire Wolf’s head dipped. “Are you sure about that?” A gleam entered his eyes, and a flush rose in my cheeks as Paxton and Ocean watched us with growing interest.

Paxton smiled. “So my son isn’t just your hired hunter?”

“No!” I practically shouted. Mortification filled me as the Fire Wolf’s gaze grew hooded.

“She and I disagree on that particular topic,” the hunter added dryly.

Ocean’s jaw dropped, and then a grin split across her face. “Do you mean . . .” Her attention shifted between the two of us, moving back and forth so quickly that she resembled a cartoon character with a spinning head. Her grin grew.

Oh gods.

“We’re not together,” I said with a sigh, bringing a hand to my forehead. “There’s nothing going on between us and there never will be, so there’s nothing to talk about. Really. This discussion is over.”

A discontented frown came from the hunter as a twinge of curiosity entered the alpha’s expression. His knowing smile came next.

Oh, for the love of all the gods. Not wanting to spend any time dwelling on this particular subject, I turned my attention to Ocean. “Do you want to show me around town? Your brother doesn’t want to, and it would be nice to get to know the area better.”

The hunter brushed closer to me, his hot skin beckoning me like the warm sun. “Tala, I don’t think—”

“I would love to!” Ocean cut in. “Let me grab my keys.”

OceanofPDF.com

Chapter 16

Much to the hunter’s consternation, Ocean gave me a thorough tour of Oak Trembler. Like the few other pack towns I’d visited, it was small but nicely kept. There was a large community center in the heart of the tiny city. Grocery and drug stores, clothing boutiques, and everything else in between that was needed to keep a community functioning, spread out around it. By the time Ocean finished the tour, darkness had fallen and the moon was shining.

I yawned, unable to help it as Ocean pulled onto the road leading to the hunter’s cabin. “I’ll take you back.”

I nodded sleepily, somewhat embarrassed that I was practically nodding off, but it had been a long day, and I’d nearly died last night. Not to mention, I’d been running on fumes since Tessa’s abduction.

A low rumble came from the hunter. “You need rest.”

“I do.” I didn’t even bother arguing with him, because I did. I was bone-tired.

Ocean didn’t linger when she pulled up to the cabin. She bid us goodnight, a radiant smile on her face that told me she’d enjoyed the time we’d spent together as much as I had.

“She’s really nice,” I said to the hunter as we waved goodbye while his sister disappeared back down the drive.

“She is. Ocean’s the only reason I’ve kept in touch with this pack at all.”

I gazed up at him as the moonlight touched upon his features, but he turned away and steered me toward the door. “You need to sleep.”

My shoulders stiffened as I followed him.

He gave me a sardonic smile. “Don’t worry. I won’t force anything tonight. You’ll take the bed. I’ll take the couch. No more arguing.”

Relief billowed through me knowing that I wouldn’t have to contend with that tonight even though the hunter was still shirtless and, damn, it was hard to keep my attention firmly above his collarbones.

Still, it had been a long day so I gratefully took him up on his offer, and after brushing my teeth and changing into the questionable pajama choices my sister had packed for me—a black lacy nightie—I climbed into the huge bed in the master bedroom.

Within minutes, I was fast asleep.

∞     ∞     ∞

The scent of coffee woke me the next morning. It drifted into the bedroom, tickling my nose. My eyelids fluttered open as I stretched languidly.

A groan hit me when my sore muscles greeted me. Ugh. I was crazy stiff from training yesterday, but coffee? That, I would get up for.

I pushed the covers off me, noting the bright sunlight filling the room around the curtains. I’d definitely slept in. A peek at the bedside clock confirmed it. It was nearly ten in the morning.

After throwing a robe on, I padded on bare feet to the bathroom before venturing downstairs.

My footsteps slowed when I spotted the hunter. He sat in the same spot in the living room as he’d been in yesterday, legs stretched out, book in hand, while he sipped coffee from a large mug.

He paused his sipping, but didn’t look at me, and continued to read his book.

I hurried past him, heading straight for the coffee pot on the counter, but called over my shoulder, “What are you reading?”

“A book about the history of supernatural wars.”

Non-fiction. I cocked my head. That wasn’t overly surprising. “Are you sure it’s not a romance hiding behind a non-fic dust jacket?” I joined him in the living room but sat on the couch by the window.

A smile tugged at his lips. “I’m sure.”

I sipped my coffee as the Fire Wolf continued to scan his book. He was legit reading it.

Settling more into the couch, I gazed outside, admiring the bare trees and rolling hills. Several minutes passed during which we both quietly sipped our coffee in companionable silence, and it struck me that it wasn’t an uncomfortable solitude or one where a person felt the need to say something.

No, it was strangely one of those peaceful silences where neither person felt the need to fill the gaps with endless chatter.