He hummed a low note in his chest. She stared. It was almost like he was...purring. But people couldn’t purr or have soulmates. All the stress was affecting her mind. That had to be the answer. This guy was just flirting with her and being sweet and she was freaking out and losing her shit. Which never happened. She was always calm and collected and organized.
Until she’d witnessed multiple murders.
She’d been afraid if she waited until tomorrow to leave Anchorage that she wouldn’t have made it out of her apartment alive. Bile rose up in her throat and she coughed as the bloody memory flooded through her mind again. Those people. They never had a chance.
She wouldn’t have a chance either, if Jake caught her.
“Beautiful?” His voice was soft and comforting. His hand was on her arm. He was bent over looking up at her with a worried expression. Genuine worry. Genuine care. There was something about the way his tone had caressed the word beautiful that made her hesitate to completely write him off. He was hypnotic, but she couldn’t afford any distractions right now.
None.
“I’m fine.” She rolled her shoulder and slipped from beneath his touch. “Please, just leave me alone.” She moved further away from his warmth, missing his presence the moment she did. It was crazy. He was a stranger. He could be working for Jake, stalling her…distracting her until he got her alone and then. Bam. Dead.
She shuddered out a breath.
“Kann.” A female voice called from the front of the store. “Are you bothering customers?” A moment later, a middle-aged woman about five-foot-five with a short bob of silver hair and hot pink wide-rimmed glasses popped around the corner.
“No, Ms. Henrietta, I was trying to help.”
The older woman walked straight up and patted Penny’s arm. “You doing okay? I saw you get out of Carl’s delivery truck. You one of his kids? Or just hitching a ride?”
Penny shook her head, unable to speak. The shopkeeper knew the drop-dead gorgeous man talking to her? That took off just the tiniest bit of worry. If he was really from Mystery, then he couldn’t work for Jake. Right? She desperately wanted to believe that he had no association whatsoever with Jake Vicenti.
“No matter. Privacy is important too.” Henrietta turned back to the man she’d called Kann. He’d introduced himself, Penny had just been so nervous with him trailing her through the store, she’d forgotten. They had been standing together when she’d first come inside.
Henrietta turned to face the large man and had to tip up her head to make eye contact with the giant. “You leave this nice young woman be if she asks you to. Hear me?” The little old lady pointed a finger up at the man like she was scolding her own son.
“I wouldn’t dream of bothering anyone.” He hugged the shopkeeper and then turned all of his attention back to Penny.
Penny’s face heated in response to his comment. Again.
The older woman gave Penny another once over. “Kann can be intense, but he’s as harmless as a housecat. Such a softy. Don’t you love his hair. Only some men can pull off long hair,” Henrietta kept talking. “You should see his friends, all of them, just downright gorgeous, like they stepped off a superhero movie set.” The storekeeper put her hand against her chest like she was fanning herself. She gave Kann another smile and walked off, leaving them alone again at the end of the cracker aisle.
Penny swallowed. Another problem she hadn’t truly considered. A town no bigger than a barely visible dot on the map meant everyone knew everyone. Which meant everyone was going to want to know who she was… she couldn’t stay right in the middle of town, even if it was the most convenient. She needed to be out on the edge. Away from people. Away from the line of sight.
3
“You can’t possibly be planning to live on animal crackers alone?” Kann tipped his chin toward her mostly empty shopping basket.
Penny glanced up, taking a moment to fully appreciate the male specimen standing before her. The man in front of her was all the things he’d just called her—stunning, beautiful, gorgeous. She couldn’t remember a time when she’d ever called a man beautiful. But this guy was. Long blonde hair draped past his shoulders, a curtain of gold. Bright blue eyes that sparkled with energy. He had a day-old beard and mustache that fit him well, just scruffy enough to make her want to rub her fingers through it. Even with the facial hair, he couldn’t hide his sleek bone structure. If a fashion editor ever saw him, he wouldn’t ever have to chop another cord of wood.
He was dressed like a local. Plaid shirt. Brown heavy coat. Black snow pants and boots. It was a hell of a lot colder here than she had counted on, but she had a coat and now Kann’s hat instead of Carl’s. She tugged at the back edge of it, pulling it further down over her ears.
What was she going to do?
She didn’t even have a pan.
Hell, she didn’t even have a place to stay yet.
“Was Carl talking to Douglas for you about a place to stay? He’s got a couple of cabins open. The B&B isn’t bad, but it’s more expensive and the Wallaces don’t do trades.”
His words tugged Penny out of her rising panic. There was something magical about his soft lilting voice and tone. Something that made her body relax. Her mind slow down. “Trades?”
“You know, instead of money. Like I chop wood for Henrietta to sell in exchange for Naomi’s weekly grocery order.”
She nodded, understanding now. “Who’s Naomi?” She’d heard the shopkeeper mention her too.
“She’s a friend’s…wife.” Penny wondered at the pause in the center of his answer, like he wasn’t sure. But then the hesitation disappeared, replaced by a crazy-wide happy grin that made his eyes crinkle at the corners and his face brighten into an expression of happiness. Happiness that Penny wished she could share.
She liked Kann and she didn’t know what to do with that feeling. She didn’t take to people quickly and they didn’t usually take to her either. She certainly didn’t like people touching her without her permission. But with Kann, she craved it. She couldn’t explain the underlying desire she had with him, even if it was just a simple touch on her cheek or her arm again.
She did want it. She couldn’t deny the feeling. But she could deny the action. Now wasn’t the time for reaching out. Now was the time to hunker down and hide and hope for the best.
“I won’t be able to cook anything.”
“The cabins have pots and pans if that’s what you’re worried about.” Kann leaned a little closer but didn’t allow his feet to take a step.
“How do you know?”
“My tri—my friends and I do most of the repairs that need doing. I’ve been in all of them.”
“Oh.” Penny let her shoulders relax a little more. He worked for Curtis. He’d been here long before she’d planned to leave Anchorage. He wasn’t with Jake. Wasn’t working for Jake. Wasn’t stalking her, with plans to leave her dead in a ditch somewhere. The tightness in her chest released. The claws dug in around her heart receded. And the panic in her mind finally retreated.
She was safe. For now.
“Penny,” a familiar male voice called from across the store. Carl had returned and given away her secret.
“Over here,” she answered.
Kann’s eyes danced. “Finally, I have a name for the beautiful woman. Carl has come to fetch you. Likely, he got you one of the empty cabins across the street.”
Carl appeared on their aisle a moment later. “Hey, sugar. I talked with Douglas and got you set up. I—”
“You’ve been so kind. But, I was really hoping to be a little further from the center of town.”
“But you don’t have any way of getting around.” The pilot scrubbed his hand over his scruffy chin.
“I’ll be fine. I just need some alone time. And being across the street from the most popular grocery store would—”
Carl held up his hands. “Say no more. We’ll get you fixed up with a cabin on the other side of the river if that’s what you really want. At
least you’ll have these knuckleheads for neighbors, so I don’t have to worry about you being out there completely cut off.” The bush pilot held out his hand to Kann. The big man took a step closer and shook the pilot’s hand.
“We’ll keep an eye on her for sure.” Kann squared his shoulders toward the older man and settled into his stance, like he was going to face off the pilot for the right to protect her. Men.
Carl eyed Kann for a moment and then smiled. “I’m sure you will. Anyway, let me just go annoy Douglas again and let him know about the switch around. Do you need a ride out there Penny? If you give me a few—”
Kann broke in. “I’ve got it covered, Carl. I’m on my way back out now with Naomi’s grocery order.
“Wait. Just stop. Both of you.” Penny snapped out louder than she meant. “I appreciate the help, but I’m a grown woman.”
Kann made eye contact and she could’ve sworn she heard a growl. Whatever it was, Carl nodded and backed away. Quickly.
Penny straightened, anger fueling her already-ruffled temper. She didn’t need these men taking care of her. She didn’t really want anyone to know where she lived and now it seemed like the entire community would probably know by the end of the day.
“Penny. Such a lovely name by the way.” Kann held up his hands like she was pointing a gun at him. She had a mind to. There was a nice SIG tucked in the bottom of her bag. “Look, beautiful, you’re in an arctic climate in the middle of February with only a coat and a purse—unless you’re hiding animal fur and a tail underneath your clothes?” He paused and gave her another glacier-melting smile. “No?”
She shook her head. “I’m not an animal.”
“True, but you never know if you don’t ask.” He winked. “Anyway, if we left you to fend for yourself, we’d be calling the sheriff by tomorrow morning to collect a dead body.”
She flinched at the word, remembering the bodies she’d seen. The ones that had made her drop everything, leave everything and run to this godforsaken dot on a map.
“Hey, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m not saying you can’t take care of yourself, but mistakes out here cost people their lives. I for one would take it personally if you died, because I didn’t help you get familiar with your new surroundings.” Kann gestured to the aisles of food behind him. “You pick out what you like to eat and whatever else you might need. I’ll give you some space and be waiting over here by the door. Prince charming with your chariot and all that.”
He sauntered off and she couldn’t help but glance at his ass before he disappeared around the corner. The man was cool, confident, and charming with a capital C.
Actually, neither he nor Carl were going to let her go this alone. She’d thought the older man’s help was sweet, and fatherly. It hadn’t been too hard to accept a ride into town. It really would’ve been illogical not to accept.
Was she really so paranoid that she couldn’t accept help from Kann? The man, who the middle-aged shopkeeper had a crush on, who knew the bush pilot who’d given her a lift, who worked for the man she was going to rent a cabin from, and also the man who grocery shopped for his friend’s wife. Plus, he was hot—not just model hot—he was Vikings, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones hot. She didn’t usually take the time to notice men. But this guy was like a force of nature that would not be dismissed.
She grabbed a couple of pasta mix boxes from the shelf, a bag of instant oatmeal, and another box of animal crackers. They were her favorite and she could use some comfort food. Ice cream would be a perk too. She walked to the end of the aisle and looked for the freezers. There were a set of four down at the end. She grabbed a frozen veggie/noodle dinner and murmured a quick thank you for the excellent supply of ice cream. Her favorite was right there in the middle. She snagged one and shut the door back, and then wandered along the back of the store toward the sound of clacking keys.
Turning a corner, she saw Henrietta staring down at a laptop computer. Every so often her eyes would widen, and a smile would spread across her round face. Her pink glasses were low on her nose and she was so engrossed with whatever she was watching, she didn’t even notice when Penny came up to the counter.
“Ma’am?”
“Oh, sheeesh! Child!” The woman gasped and clutched her chest. “You plum scared the crap out of me.” Penny noted a tinge of sadness and wondered what she wanted to be distracted from. “Did you find enough to get you going? You sure you don’t want a bag of beans or rice?”
“This should hold me for a few days. I’ll come back.”
The storekeeper shrugged and started ringing up the groceries. Penny wasn’t about to tell her she didn’t want to buy too many groceries on the off chance that someone found her, and she had to run again. She’d spend her money slowly and carefully. She couldn’t go back to Anchorage and get more. She couldn’t show her face anywhere.
She was one of the most reputable weapons engineers in the world. Highly sought after. When she’d taken the job at Vicenti Inc, it’d been one of ten multi-million-dollar contracts she’d been offered right out of MIT. Every single weapons developer in the entire world knew the name Penelope “Penny” Matheson. And her face. She’d been to every convention across the US and Europe for the last six years. And wouldn’t it just be her luck that she picked the job and the company that was run by criminals—well-dressed, easy-talking, influential and highly connected criminals.
“Here you go sweetheart. That’ll be thirty-five twenty-eight.”
Penny handed over the cash from her purse and took the sack of groceries. “Thank you, and…” She halted before turning away. “I need to ask you a favor.”
“Sure.” Henrietta looked up expectantly.
“I need you to not tell anyone you saw me.”
Henrietta’s eyes narrowed for a second and her mouth flattened into a tight line. “Should the sheriff know something?”
Penny shook her head and gulped. “No, it’s not me, it’s just…”
“Someone else is looking for you?” The older woman’s voice was tinged with understanding and sympathy.
“Yes,” Penny whispered. “Someone dangerous.”
Henrietta’s head did a quick bob. “I’ll remind Carl and Douglas for you. Don’t you worry about it, and I am glad you’re moving across the river with the boys Carl hired. They’ll keep a good eye out for you.”
“How did you—”
“Small store. Good ears.” Henrietta beamed, a suck-you-into-her-orbit smile that chased all the shadows away. “Go on then, Kann is about to dance out of his boots waiting for you.” She gestured toward the beautiful man standing near the door with a bag of groceries under each arm.
He was watching her with that same possessive look that’d made her insides melt earlier. It had the same effect just now. Gooey mushy feelings erupted from within that Penny didn’t have time to deal with. He was a distraction.
“You can trust him, you know.” Henrietta lowered her voice. “He and his friends are good people. Honest. Loyal. Col is the only one with a woman, but they all take care of her like family. Douglas said he’s never met anyone like them before. If you need anything you ask any of them and they will help you. Got me?”
Penny took a deep breath and sighed. “Thank you.”
4
Penny was walking toward him now from the checkout counter. She’d been talking to Henrietta about something and whatever it’d been, it’d helped a lot. Her shoulders were more relaxed. Her face wasn’t drawn quite as tightly. When she looked up at him he didn’t see the same level of hesitation that’d been there a few minutes ago.
Mate! Claim mate! Kann sucked in air and willed his pacing lion to ‘shut the hell up’, as Naomi so often put it. Apparently, her dragon like to push a lot, which didn’t surprise him. Naomi had only been sharing her spirit with an animal for a month. It took years for younglings to learn to live in harmony with the animal inside. He remembered getting into so much trouble as a child. His lion was so curious and never th
ought about consequences. Of course, even grown, his lion was still more of the leap now, look later type of personality.
“Ready?” He couldn’t help the smile that cut across his face. The woman shone with the magick of his homeland. She was his mate and he couldn’t believe it was actually happening. He’d just been arguing with Ava about magick not making it through to earth. That maybe they were cut off. Ava would be excited to hear that was not the case. He’d have to call her soon and tell her he’d found his soulmate. That Fate’s soul magick was alive and well and moving on earth.
“For?” Penny met his gaze with less trepidation than had been visible before.
“The truck is just outside. We can put the groceries in and then walk across the street to find out which cabin you’re in.” He backed into the glass door and pushed it open for her to walk through. Early lesson from Naomi—open doors for women whenever possible.
Giving Penny space to shop alone had been the right move. Blending with humans had come easier for him than some of the others. Col still acted like a warrior prince. And Saul was a little rough around the edges too. It freaked out the locals when either of them came to town, so he and Tor had set up a rotation so that Saul and Col didn’t have to come in. Saul didn’t much care for crowds anyway, but Kann and Tor had taken to the culture quickly and with Naomi’s help they’d done their best to become one with the humans.
Penny gave him just the slightest hint of a smile before walking through the doors past him into the clear biting cold air. The sky was grey. More snow was scheduled to hit by tonight. It still surprised him how different Reylea was from Alaska. Reylea had been hot prairies and sticky jungles. This place was all about the ice and snow. Still beautiful. But very different.
“Red truck.” He gestured to the old pickup Douglas let his tribe use. It helped them get back and forth from town. They had a snow machine—or a sled as the locals often called them—loaded into the bed. It was easier to use that to get back and forth between the cabins now. The roads were there, it was just difficult to stay on them, especially with all the fresh powder every day.
I'm Not Lion To You_Soulmate Shifters World Page 3