by Karen Lynch
“Hey,” she said breathlessly. “Is Harper still there?”
Harper, that was it. Sara liked to name her pets after famous authors.
“He’s just sitting there by the food dish. Hold on.” I turned the phone so the camera was pointed at the crow. “Can you see him?”
“Yes!” she cried. “Harper, where have you been hiding? You had me worried.”
The crow cocked its head and took a step toward me, its attention fixed on the phone in my hand.
“Hey, boy. I missed you so much,” Sara crooned.
Harper cawed softly and moved until he was three feet from me. He shuffled from one foot to the other and wouldn’t come any closer.
“This is Emma. She’s really nice, and she’s going to give you treats,” Sara said as if expecting the crow to understand. But then, maybe he did. Sara was half Fae, and she had a way of connecting with animals that I’d never understand.
“What does he eat?” I’d never had a pet because my mother had been allergic. What did you feed a wild crow?
Sara laughed. “Pretty much anything – fresh fruit, nuts, bread, meat. I’ll send you a list of his favorites.” Her voice shook with emotion. “I’m so happy you’re okay, Harper.”
I propped up the phone with my laptop so Sara and Harper could see each other. “You two catch up. I’ll run downstairs and see what I have to feed him.”
The crow backed off when I stood, but he didn’t fly away. I was pretty sure he was as happy to hear Sara’s voice as she was to see him. I left them and went down to the kitchen where I filled a plastic container with fresh raspberries and melon, mixed nuts, and a slice of the crusty bread I’d gotten at the bakery yesterday. I smiled wryly as I carried the food up to the roof. He was going to be spoiled if he hung around here.
I stopped when the terrace came into view and I saw Harper standing with his face inches from the phone screen. Sara’s voice didn’t carry to me over here, but whatever she was saying had the crow captivated.
He cawed and backed away when I walked toward him. Moving around the terrace, I dumped the contents of my container into his dish. That got his attention, and as soon as I walked away, he strutted over to see what I’d brought him. I left him to his meal and went to pick up the phone again.
“That should keep him happy for a while,” I said. “How often should I feed him?”
Sara still wore a big smile. “I usually left him a treat every other day. He eats on his own, so you don’t have to feed him a lot or he’ll get lazy.”
“Okay, I’ll do that.” I settled back in my chair. “You look good. Still liking Russia?”
“I love it, but these walls take some getting used to. The people are great here, though, and I’m already learning some Russian words. And Irina is going to show me how to make some of Nikolas’s favorite meals.”
I felt a pang of envy, which immediately filled me with guilt. I loved seeing my best friend so happy; she’d earned every second of it. Was it wrong to want that for me, to feel like I belonged somewhere and to not feel so alone all the time?
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
I smiled at her. “Nothing. Just jealous of your globe-trotting.”
“That’s not it.” Her brows drew together. “Something’s upset you. Is it the wolves? Roland told me what happened last weekend. I was going to call you, but he said he’d talk to you.”
“He came by that night to see if I was okay, and he promised me it wouldn’t happen again.”
She relaxed visibly. “Oh, I’m glad, and I hope you see now that he’s a really great guy.”
“Yes,” I admitted. “He even went next door for lattes.”
Her eyebrow shot up. “Roland drank a latte?”
“Actually, I think he had iced coffee.”
“Ah.” A little smile played around the corners of her mouth, and I wondered what she found amusing about coffee.
“Did he stay long?” she asked.
“About an hour. I can see why you like him. He’s easy to talk to.”
Her smile grew. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear you guys are hitting it off. Not that I’m surprised. And now you know you have nothing to fear from the werewolves.”
“Not the local wolves anyway.” I thought about the black wolf. “The big one who came to my rescue takes his job seriously. It feels like he’s watching over me.”
“You saw him again?”
I told her about my visit to the old mine and my encounter with the huge wolf. “I asked him if he knew you, and he said yes. Can you tell me his name?”
She shook her head slowly, looking pensive. “I know everyone in the Knolls, so it could be any of them. Are you sure it was the same wolf you saw at the cove?”
I laughed. “I’ve never seen a wolf that big. He’s kind of hard to forget.”
“And you weren’t afraid of him?”
Considering my past and my reluctance to go near her friends, I could understand her surprise. I couldn’t explain what it was about the wolf, but he no longer frightened me. I didn’t know if I’d feel safe around other werewolves, but I did with him.
“At first, I was nervous, but he seemed nice. He even ate one of my sandwiches.”
That pulled another chuckle from her. “Werewolves are always hungry. You keep feeding him and you’ll have a friend for life. Like Harper, only way bigger.”
“A bird I can manage.” I glanced at the crow, who had finished eating and sat on the ledge, preening his feathers. “I doubt I’ll see much of the wolf anyway. It’s not as if he can hang out on the waterfront, and I’m done with the woods for a while.”
“And what about Roland?”
I rolled my eyes at her because she didn’t bother to hide how much she wanted Roland and me to be friends.
“He offered to take me to Portland for art supplies and to look at cars when I’m ready to buy one.”
Her face lit up. “That’s great! When are you going?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t taken him up on his offer yet.”
“Why not?”
I shrugged. “I’m still getting to know him.”
She smiled as if it was only a matter of time. “Fair enough. As long as you’re making friends and you’re happy, that’s all I care about.”
“I have made another friend. Someone you know but aren’t exactly friends with.”
She leaned closer to the phone. “Who?”
“Scott Foley.”
“Scott?” Her mouth went slack. “How did that happen?”
“I told you I got a job at Gail’s. Scott’s working there for the summer.” I rubbed my chin. “He told me how you two fell out and that he was a jerk to you.”
“He told you that?”
“Yes. He feels pretty awful about it. He said he always liked you and he didn’t know why he treated you badly.”
Sara’s eyes filled with regret. “I always thought he hated me because of the fight we had when we were little. Now, I’m pretty sure it was my Fae side that made him act that way. If anyone should feel bad, it’s me. After I left, he was like a different person, according to Roland.”
“He’s nice. He showed me around town, and he asked about you. I told him you were happy, and he said he was glad.”
Her smile returned. “I’m glad he’s happy now, too. But you and Scott. Wow. Small world.”
“Small town.”
“True.” She tilted her head to one side. “So, are you two more than friends, maybe?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think I’m ready for any kind of relationship yet.”
“Or he’s just not the one.” Her eyes grew dreamy. “When you meet the right one, you’ll know.”
“You mean like how you knew Nikolas was the one and you fell in love at first sight?”
She laughed. “Point taken. Oh, and speaking of my wonderful mate, he bought you something.”
I stared at her. “Like a housewarming gift?”
“Definitely not a housewarming gif
t, but it’s really nice.”
I made a face. “I don’t know if I’m ready to handle a sword.”
“Not a weapon either, I promise.” Her eyes sparkled with laughter. “And he picked it out himself.”
I tried to think of what I didn’t have that Nikolas would buy me. “It’s not a car, is it? Because that’s too much.”
“Nope. And that’s all I’m saying except that it should arrive next week.”
“Fine,” I conceded, although I was dying of curiosity. Nikolas had been kind to me at Westhorne, but I never got to know him as well as Sara and Jordan. It touched me to know he’d thought to buy me a gift.
Sara and I talked for another thirty minutes about all the things she’d seen and done so far in Russia. Then Nikolas came in, and she said she had to go, promising to call again in a few days.
I laid the phone on my lap and stared out at the bay. I always felt better after I talked to Sara. Smiling, I closed my eyes and relished the warm rays soaking into my skin. I never slept well at night so it was easy for the sun to lull me into a pleasant doze. I fell asleep thinking about a huge black wolf with watchful amber eyes. And for once, the nightmares stayed away.
Chapter 7
Roland
“I didn’t expect this many,” Pete whispered to me as we stood at the back of the meeting hall Tuesday evening and watched Brendan call out the names of the Beta candidates.
“Me either.”
The building was packed for the meeting to officially start the gathering, and now I could see why. I’d counted twenty-four men and five women standing at the front of the room, and Brendan didn’t appear to be finished with the introductions.
“Peter Kelly,” Brendan said over the murmurings of the crowd. “And Roland Greene.”
I pushed away from the wall and followed Pete up the center of the room to the front, ignoring the raised whispers from a group of girls to my right.
Pete and I stood with the other candidates, facing the room. I knew only the local guys and two from Bangor. Most of them were in their mid to late twenties, but there were three just a few years older than Pete and I.
“They don’t look old enough to patrol, let alone be Betas,” scoffed a guy behind me.
“Guess that doesn’t matter when you’re the Alpha’s son and nephew,” someone else replied in a voice just loud enough to carry to my ears.
It was no worse than some of the cracks I’d heard from Francis and the others, but it still annoyed me. I gritted my teeth, wanting to get through the meeting and the festivities afterward.
Brendan lowered the paper he was reading from, and Maxwell stepped forward.
“We have a good turnout this year for the gathering, and I’m pleased to see so many stepping up to be Beta candidates. Brendan and I will make time to talk to each of you over the next few weeks.” Maxwell’s gaze swept over us, and I felt it linger on me for a few seconds. Maybe now that he saw the other candidates, he’d change his mind about me being one of them.
He moved on and addressed the whole room. “Tomorrow, we’ll start meetings to discuss pack business. I want you all to have an enjoyable visit, but with so many of us here, we have to be extra careful not to draw attention. We’ve already had one close call, and we were fortunate the situation could be contained. I will not tolerate that happening again.”
He had to be referring to the incident with Lex and Julie. I’d assumed Brendan wasn’t going to tell Maxwell about it after he’d walked away without saying anything to me. I should have known better. A Beta wouldn’t hold back something like that from his Alpha. What I didn’t understand was why neither of them had called me out for not reporting the breaking of a pack law. Was this another one of their tests?
Maxwell ended the meeting, and people began moving toward the door. A dark-haired man behind me bumped me hard with his shoulder as he moved around me, and his smirk told me it hadn’t been an accident.
I scowled at him but didn’t shove back. Training under Maxwell had done more than build up my muscles and hone my fighting skills. It had also taught me not to be provoked easily because that was the surest way to let your guard down.
Kyle stopped beside me. “That’s Trevor Gosse from Bethel. He’s been spoiling for a fight since he got here on Saturday. No way he’ll make Beta.”
“Why?” Pete asked as we watched Trevor join up with two other guys. The three of them laughed as they left the building.
“Maxwell doesn’t like hotheads,” Kyle said.
I almost snorted because if that was the case, Francis was out of luck.
“Steer clear of Trevor unless you want trouble.” Kyle started toward the exit. “You guys coming?”
“In a minute,” I called, in no hurry to join the festivities.
I looked at Pete. “You think we could get away with staying in here until this thing is over?”
He chuckled. “What do you think?”
“I think it’s going to be a long night.” I exhaled slowly as we followed Kyle.
As soon as I walked outside, I wished I hadn’t. Standing a few feet from the door was a group of eight females who surrounded us immediately. Lex pushed her way to my side and wrapped her arm possessively around one of mine.
“Roland, where have you been hiding? I haven’t seen you since Saturday.”
I forced a smile. “Been busy. Work doesn’t stop because of the gathering.”
“You have to work weekends, too?” asked Julie, who had already latched on to Pete’s arm, earning dark looks from some of the other girls. I might have Alpha blood, but Pete was Maxwell’s son, which ranked him slightly higher on the most eligible bachelor list. I was perfectly fine with that.
I shrugged. “I work two jobs, and I have my pack duties. Not much free time left over.”
It wasn’t a lie. Between the garage, the lumberyard, training, and patrols, I was keeping busy these days. I did have some down time, but I could think of more pleasant ways to spend it that didn’t include being chased by a bunch of females who only wanted me because of my Alpha blood.
Lex smiled. “But you’re not working tonight, right?”
“No.”
“Good.” She tugged on my arm. “I’m famished. Why don’t we go eat and you can tell me what you normally do for fun around here?”
Seeing no way to escape from her hold without being rude, I let her lead me over to the long tables covered in bowls and platters of food. Pete followed with Julie and the rest of the girls, and we all ate together. The girls were pleasant enough, and I would have enjoyed their company more if not for the whole mating thing hanging over my head.
I looked around as I finished my meal, and what I saw was not encouraging. At last count, there were fourteen unmated males here and twenty-one unmated females. And at least half those females were openly interested in Pete and me. The odds of both of us coming out of this unmated were shrinking every day.
A hand lightly squeezed my upper thigh under the picnic table, jerking my attention back to my companions. Lex leaned into me, wearing a suggestive smile and holding a piece of steak on a fork.
“Try some of this steak. It’s amazing, and I can’t possibly eat it all.”
I politely pushed away the hand holding the fork. “I’m full, thanks, and I think I see my mom waving at me. I’d better go see what she wants.”
Ignoring Lex’s pout, I stood and walked over to where my mother sat eating with my grandmother, who had arrived that afternoon. At seventy-three, Grandma was an older version of my mother, and she could be as formidable as Maxwell when she wanted to be.
“Roland!” Grandma held out her arms, and I leaned down dutifully for a hug. She held me away to look at me. “I think you’ve grown at least a foot since I last saw you.”
“Maybe half a foot.” I grinned at her. “How was the drive?”
She tugged me down to sit beside her. “Good. You’d know that if you came to visit me more often.”
“Sorry, Grandma,
but Maxwell’s been working me hard since I came home in January.”
Her brows drew together sternly. “Uncle Maxwell.”
I laughed. “I’m almost nineteen, and adults don’t call their Alpha uncle.”
“Well, you’ll always be my little Roland no matter how big you get.” She patted my arm. “Your mother tells me you are terrified of imprinting on one of these pretty young ladies.”
“Mom!” I glowered at my mother, and she smiled.
“What? It’s true. I was hoping Grandma could help me make you see that mating is not the end of the world.”
I rubbed the back of my neck as my ears grew warm. “I don’t think it’s the end of the world. I just don’t want to be bound to someone I barely know. And I have things I want to do first.”
“What things?” Grandma asked.
“College for one. I’m working part-time in Paul’s garage, restoring a classic car, and I want to take automotive classes so I can do that kind of work full-time.”
My mother’s eyes widened. “You didn’t tell me you wanted to become a mechanic.”
“We’ve barely seen each other lately with everyone getting ready for the gathering,” I said. “It’s something I’ve been thinking about since I did the Mustang.”
Her smile grew. “That’s wonderful, honey.”
Grandma nodded. “It sounds like a very sensible plan, Roland. But you can still do all of that with a mate.”
I groaned silently. I should have known she wouldn’t let that topic go.
“I know, but I just finished high school. I’m not ready for a mate and kids. I don’t understand why everyone is in such a hurry to get tied down.”
She patted my arm affectionately. “It’s nature, my boy. I was seventeen when your grandpa imprinted on me, and we were together for forty-three years. When your wolf finds your mate, she will be exactly who you were meant to be with, and you’ll be as happy as your grandpa and I were.”
“And like your father and I were,” added my mother, a sheen of tears in her eyes. “You’re afraid your wolf will choose one of these females just because they’re available, but have faith in him. He knows your heart even if you aren’t sure of his.”