by T. F. Walsh
Chapter Five
CACEY
I backed away from Vincent, who remained in the kitchen slouching on one leg, hands hanging off his hips. I searched underneath the couch for the missing fox. No luck.
My thoughts kept returning to the freakin’ Varlac in my house. I would welcome a polar bear before anyone from his clan. Varlac were a bad omen. See one and a dead body appeared. They might be the ruling pack, but they were bastards and held zero sympathies for the average wulfkin.
Could Daan have hired a Varlac to do his dirty work? It didn’t seem likely—the whole time I’d been with Daan, he never once mentioned the Varlac. He’d have bragged or threatened me if he had connections that high. Regardless, I wasn’t dropping my guard with Vincent.
“You know,” Vincent called out from across the room.
Like poison, his voice left me tingling.
“When I used to live in Susi,” he continued, “locals were hospitable, welcoming, and not brandishing knives.” He shrugged and cocked an eyebrow. “Just saying. Plus, I don’t even know your name.”
“Life changes. Deal with it.” No way would he catch me unaware, especially after stealing the liberty of my night off. And I still didn’t trust him, so how could I be hospitable after receiving Daan’s surprise letter today?
“Or maybe you’re the only change here.”
I squared my shoulders. “What does that mean? Actually, I don’t care. What has Daan been up to lately?”
His brow bunched into a state of befuddled lines. “Who?”
No quivers underlined his response, no twitching from a lie. As a Varlac, was he an expert at fibbing? “Your buddy.”
He studied me, long and hard, his gaze boring into me. “Never heard of him.” He strolled into the hallway. “Here, foxy fox. Where the hell are you?”
Okay, did I interpret this whole thing wrong? I grabbed my cell and dialed Anja again. The disconnected beeps jabbed my heart. Damn the storm. The snow outside continued slashing sideways, smacking into the glass doors. I ran a hand down my face. Should I leave and go collect Tianna or wait out the blizzard? The lights flickered. Geez, all I needed. Surely, no one would venture out into the storm. And if the wulfkin inside my house was working for Daan, better he stayed here than go elsewhere to hunt for my daughter.
I stalked after Vincent, into the corridor, wondering if he was really searching the house for Tianna.
He vanished into my bedroom, and I rushed after him to find him pulling open my closet. “Hey, get out of there!”
He made a wow shape with his mouth. “Someone has a shoe addiction.”
Fire claimed my cheeks. Who was this guy, prying into my business? “I doubt the fox opened the door and climbed inside.” I stormed across the room and slammed the closet shut. “Most of the shoes were on sale, okay. Don’t judge.”
His gaze swept to the wooden cutout of my name tacked to the door by Tianna, who’d insisted I needed one for my room. “Cacey, I’m guessing you’re new to this pack and probably upsetting the locals with your wild ways. This is a pretty laid-back town.”
“Excuse me, but I’m contributing to this town as their local GP, so don’t get high and mighty with me. You haven’t been here for the past eight months, so how do you know what’s been going on?” Sure, make yourself at home. Make assumptions. I released an exasperated breath. “Did you arrive in town with anyone else?”
“Nope. Just me.” He glanced at me, then the blue bed sheets, and then back in my direction. “Big bed for one wulfkin.”
I put both hands on my hips. “Are you in my room to interrogate me or find the fox?”
He sniffed the air. “I can smell it as if it’s everywhere, yet nowhere.” When he sauntered toward me, I backed up for him to pass. I traipsed into Tianna’s bedroom, across the hall. The earthy, fox scent lingered there too, but faint, as Vincent had said. I crouched low and searched beneath the bed. Clean. Nothing under the desk or in my daughter’s treasure box piled high with toy wolves. Back in the hallway, I found Vincent emerging from the bathroom.
“You’ve got a sauna.” He glanced down at his damp clothes.
Really? That was his focus? “Did you find the fox?”
“If you never make time in life to enjoy the small things, what’s the use of living?”
“Says the Varlac who’s on guard for this clan twenty-four/seven.” And potentially working with my ex. Until I had concrete evidence, I wasn’t letting him out of my sight.
“Hey, I’m on holiday. No guarding. Anyway, no fox.”
I spun on my heels, marched into the main room, and searched the kitchen, around the couch, and even in the linen closet. “Why’d you bring that animal into my house? Now I’ve got a loose fox in here. Thanks.”
“If the animal escaped, it means you’ve healed it, so that’s fantastic.” He ambled closer, his gaze studying the fireplace. “Arctic foxes are considered spirit animals in this part of the world. They appear for people to remind them of fun and enjoyment in life.”
“Never took you for being spiritual.” A Varlac with faith in something other than repression, torture, and killing. Who would have thought?
“Well”—he wandered into the kitchen, searching between the fridge and cupboard—“you shouldn’t judge people by their cover. It pays to be more open-minded.”
“I’m open-minded, but I don’t want Tianna to freak out when a fox jumps out at her during the night.”
The crack of wood resonated outside, along with more branches falling against the roof. My insides were like glass, shattering at every sound.
I stared into the backyard where a jumble of ferocious winds and snow whiplashed back and forth.
I’d love to instantly dry Vincent’s clothes, give him a quick bite of food, and get him the hell out of my house. But could I live with myself?
I closed the distance between us. “Look, have a shower. I’ll get you a bathrobe to wear and prepare us a meal while your clothes dry. How does that sound?” Maybe he was lying about why he was in Susi. But I remembered the surprise in his eyes when I first mentioned my ex. And my wolf wanted closeness with Vincent, not to attack him. So, I had to believe my instincts about this Varlac, or I’d go insane with worry. Yet my mind kept sprinting back to Daan’s letter, along with how much I loathed him for making me constantly check over my shoulder, for threatening Tianna, for reminding me that I wasn’t safe anywhere. The storm was a momentary obstacle, a blip that only delayed the inevitable. Our time in Susi had come to an abrupt end, and that notion terrified me. I couldn’t stop the shakes engulfing my body or the speed with which my pulse sprinted. The moment the blizzard died down, I was hightailing to collect Tianna.
Besides, Vincent was from the Varlac clan. He might report me to the emperor for punching him, and I’d end up with warrior wulfkin troops on my doorstep. Yep, my hospitality was expected, so I’d oblige. One night only, otherwise he wouldn’t make it far in this weather. And I didn’t need the death of a Varlac on my conscience.
“Come, I’ll get you a towel.” I headed toward the bathroom, his footsteps trailing behind me.
He stood in the doorway, waiting for goddess knows what. “Here you go.” I shoved a clean towel and bathrobe into his hands. “Enjoy.”
I walked away, and when I reached the end of the hallway, I glanced over my shoulder to find Vincent still staring at me. What was he doing? “You okay?”
He nodded and retreated, shutting the door behind him.
Back in the main room, I collapsed onto the couch in front of the crackling hearth. My tangled emotions were a mess, and my heart pounded. I plucked my cell from the coffee table and made another quick call to Anja to check on Tianna. No connection. Of course not. No use e-mailing. Anja didn’t do Internet.
Releasing a long exhale, I plated the steaks because standing still was killing me. My mind drowned in how fast my life had fallen into darkness. I grabbed Henri’s famous hot chocolate mix that he’d slipped into my shopping b
ag. He’d promised it would relax me. I sighed. Goddess, how I needed a bucket of calm.
Keep my head focused, and control my tongue. Get through the night with a stranger in my house. Easy peasy.
With the milk simmering on the stove, I grabbed the paper bag with the hot chocolate and untied the ribbon. A wonderful aroma of cinnamon, peppermint candy canes, and chocolate wafted out. Oh, yum. I poured some into the milk, stirring while tapping the paper bag to pour more into the saucepan.
A loud throat clearing sounded behind me.
I flinched, knocking the entire mixture into the milk. Shit. Mocha colored powder floated on top of the simmering milk. I grabbed a spoon and stirred.
“Whatever that is, it smells heavenly.”
Rushing to the fridge, I grabbed the milk and poured it into the mixture, attempting to balance the ratio. Considering I’d just added five times the amount, it was like trying to save the sinking Titanic. “I ruined it.”
“Nonsense.” Vincent’s bare arm brushed against mine, reaching for the spoon in my hand. I stepped back. Why was he only wearing a towel?
I shuddered. My gaze traveled along his thick arms, a six-pack stomach that could double as a surfboard, and holy smokes . . . who had layers of muscles? Did his bicep feel as hard as it looked?
“W-why are you naked?”
He faced me, wearing a mischievous grin while stirring the hot chocolate. “Bathrobe didn’t fit, and if I tried to shove my arms into the sleeves, I’d resemble the Hulk. My clothes are soaking. But if I’m distracting you—”
“No. It’s fine.” The response flew out of my mouth too quick. Stay away from the Varlac who looked as if he’d just stepped out of an ancient gladiator battle. Not that I was interested, because I wasn’t, but I couldn’t stop staring at the sharp curves of muscle across his back. My ex was a stick compared to this wulfkin—in fact, all my previous boyfriends were.
He returned to the stove, his lips widening.
What was he smirking at?
I had to keep my head straight, remembering to keep Tianna safe, to provide her a life she deserved, and that meant preparing to leave Susi behind. Everything else paled in comparison.
Still, my gaze locked on the half-nude guy in the kitchen. Maybe there were benefits to having a male in my life—companionship, protection, eye candy, and sex—oh, how I missed that.
My sights lowered to the tight butt beneath the white towel. Goddess, if he turned around now, I might melt and make a complete fool of myself. A distraction was in order, so I dashed into the bathroom. I scooped up his clothes that lay on the floor and rushed them into the dryer, but not before I inhaled his muskiness. My wolf stirred in the center of my chest, inhaling his scent, insisting he was perfect for us and would do very well. Back down, girl. This wulfkin isn’t on offer. He might even be the enemy.
The Varlac clan rarely ventured beyond their own pack for a mate, or so I’d heard. But Vincent didn’t quite strike me as the Varlac everyone described. That sounded wrong, even to me. We were the same kind, all wulfkin, but not for hierarchy. Most of us knew our place, and if we played our parts and listened to the rules, no one got hurt.
Yet, his parents were the most loving wulfkin in the world and cared for Tianna when Anja wasn’t free. Didn’t mean their son was cut from the same cloth. I’d overheard numerous tales of Varlacs using their power to take what they wanted. What if Vincent was involved in one of Daan’s schemes? At least once every six months, Daan would come up with a new ploy to cheat a nearby pack out of their territory for his gain.
I pressed the lid shut on the dryer and pushed the start button. Vincent’s clothes swirled inside. The whirr of the motor was a sharp reminder to get Vincent dressed as soon as possible. With my back to the dryer, I fidgeted with the hem of my shirt. Couldn’t have him freeze to death, or me gawking. Though, if I was being entirely honest with myself, between his nakedness and the way he moved, damn, a girl could picture him in her fantasies.
As I stepped into the corridor, a scratching sound escalated from Tianna’s bedroom.
The fox.
I bolted inside and breathed in the light musky, skunk-like smell. Oh, it was here. “Where are you?” I checked under the bed. Clear. Inside the closet, pushing Tianna’s clothes aside. Nothing. A flicker of light from the crystal light catcher hanging from the window caught my eye. My daughter had insisted on buying it, and even called it a mooncatcher, because she had wanted to use it to catch the moon’s light, rather than the sun’s.
The scratching came again, drawing my attention to the wall behind me.
Retreating in slow motion, I waited, listened.
More noises, this time from the wall. Shit no. I ran to the opposite wall and placed an ear against the plaster. Not a sound.
“Is everything all right?” Vincent’s sudden voice made me jump. Did he even make a noise when he walked? When he stepped into the room, my gaze dipped to the V tapering between his hips. The simple fold of the towel threatened to come apart any moment. I swallowed hard . . . whatever he packed under there wasn’t small in the slightest. Hell, clothes were in order and fast. I could wrap him in a bed sheet before I morphed into a sex-starved wulfkin. Or was it too late? Without a man in my life for more than a year, no wonder I’d lost all inhibitions.
His eyes crinkled at the corners, as he stood there in his full glory . . . well aware I was ogling him. Talk about arrogant, pretentious . . . delicious.
Changing the topic before heat consumed my cheeks, I said, “Your stupid fox has gotten himself inside my walls. Now he’ll die in there and stink up the place.”
“Might improve the mustiness. You’ve got water problems in this place and should get someone to look at it.” The bridge of his nose creased, but when the scratch sound came again, he rushed over to my side, a hand pressed to the wall. He nodded. “Something’s in there. I can sense it moving.”
“How did the fox get into the walls?” A wild animal living in my walls wasn’t acceptable in the slightest. Tianna would freak out, but then like a thunderous wave, I recalled that it no longer mattered. We were moving out, and emptiness took hold. I refused to grumble and let Daan win. I’d die before he took our daughter.
Vincent’s deep voice sliced my thoughts. “Got any holes or areas of the house needing repair? What about the basement? Maybe that’s how the fox got into the walls.”
“Nope. And the door to the basement is shut.”
“Perhaps a critter from outside climbed in through the roof or a hole in the house’s exterior. It’s winter, and animals are searching for a warm spot to—”
White movement flashed past the doorway in the hallway. “The fox.”
Vincent sprinted out of the room, faster than I’d expected someone of his size to move. I chased him, but before I got there, a tremendous crash sounded.
What now? I darted after him; dread clinging to my insides.
When I rounded the corner to the living room, I found the Christmas tree on its side. A white fur ball with steak in its mouth vanished into a tiny crevice between the fireplace and the wall.
Vincent glanced back at me. “No holes in the walls, you say?”
Sweet mother of sex. My body flushed within an inferno.
I didn’t care if the fox took both steaks and the pot of chocolate milk with him. Not when Vincent stood stark naked in my living room. His towel lay behind him, tangled in the branches of the fallen Christmas tree.
He must have seen the shock on my face before I could hide it, as a small smile played on his lips.
Chapter Six
VINCENT
I cleared my throat. “If you keep staring at me like I’m chocolate, we’re going to have a problem.”
Cacey’s incredible cyan eyes pinned me where I stood. I didn’t mind in the slightest. Damn, I encouraged her to gawk because all my previous girlfriends had.
“W-what problem?” Her cheeks glowed pink, and I loved the reaction I roused in her. Better her this
way than flushed with anger and ready to spear me with her knife.
She took a deep inhale and dashed past me, toward the Christmas tree. She yanked the towel free from the branches and threw it at me. “Put something on and make yourself helpful.” She clenched her fists tightly by her side.
Okay. This wulfkin didn’t like to play, so what would it take to lower her guard? I wrapped the towel around my waist and restored my sense of modesty, then had the tree upright in a second flat. Cacey stood across from me, straightening the decorations. I reattached a bauble with the name Tianna painted in white script across its purple surface.
“You know, the wulfkin pack in Susi are the only ones I’m aware of who celebrate Christmas.” I attempted to ease Cacey into a different conversation. While flirting came as easily as breathing, it seemed wrong to tease her. This was her home with Tianna, and the last thing she’d needed was a stranger knocking on her door.
My wolf recognized the connection between us—primal and raw—but with our human sides, life wasn’t so straightforward. Nothing ever was. My last girlfriend, Laila, dated two other wulfkin while with me, and even now the ache of rejection stung. She’d called to ask if I was interested in still dating her while she remained with the other wulfkin. What fuckin’ world was she living in? The real question was why hadn’t I known what sort of person she was before we dated? My alpha, Marcin, would answer that by saying I dated with my dick, not my head. And maybe at first that was true, but for a while, I believed Laila might be the one. The only fool in that relationship was me. But that was a past I intended to forget. After meeting with the alpha of Susi, Manu, and checking on my parents, I’d enjoy a short vacation in town. No other complications.
Cacey’s soft voice lulled me out of my mind. “Christmas has always fascinated my daughter. Since she first watched a snowman cartoon, she’s been obsessed with the festivities. She’s been begging me to take her to Santa Claus’s house in the North Pole.” Cacey reattached the fallen tinsel to a branch. “I promised her this year we’ll have the best Christmas she’s ever had. I know it’s insane, as the festive season means little to wulfkin, but I’ll do anything for her.”