Tom tried to stop the bear from growling, but his chest rattled just a little. Savannah, or whatever her name was, heard it instantly. He could tell from the way her fingers clenched into a fist that she’d heard him – and was nervous.
“I was thinking about giving her the job,” Jo murmured, glancing at him. “She needs work and – ”
“Can you go and get Nick, then?” Tom asked, attempting to be pleasant. “If we’re going to take on someone new, then he needs to okay it. I’ll stay and chat to Savannah.”
Jo frowned, suspecting that he wanted the newcomer to himself for some reason, but Tom kept his mouth shut with a calm expression on his face, waiting until she shrugged her shoulders in defeat.
“Fine,” she muttered, glaring at him. “But be nice.”
He managed not to roll his eyes at her, aware that she wouldn’t know that Savannah was a shifter. He knew, of course. He’d been able to tell the moment he’d looked at her – and she’d looked back at him with those big honey brown eyes of hers. She looked so innocent, but Tom was already on his guard. Another shifter could potentially mean big trouble, something he’s had enough of for a while.
Jo walked to the door, muttering something about being back soon, and let it close gently behind her before going in search of Nick.
Tom leaned one elbow on the counter and looked sharply at Savannah who, to his surprise, looked right back. She was trying her best to show courage and trying her best to not appear afraid of him. Tom could appreciate that.
“So,” he began, quietly. “What’s a shifter like you doing in a place like this?”
CHAPTER 3
Savannah tried to smile but her mouth barely moved. “I’m just looking for a job.”
“And you just happened to come here, to where two other bear shifters are, right?” Tom replied, sarcastically.
“I know it sounds ridiculous, but yes.”
Tom pushed himself up to stand tall over her, a large frown creasing his forehead. “I think you’d better start from the beginning.”
Savannah looked up into his grim face, took a breath and began to tell her lies. “I’ve been wandering around ever since my dad died. I’ve never been part of a pack before, but I could tell that there were other shifters here.”
“Have you seen any?” he growled, immediately on his guard. If Lucas had got to her, then she couldn’t stay here.
“No,” she replied, with a shake of her head. “I’ve got a place to stay in town, and my money’s getting low. I just need a job, that’s all. Finding other shifters was just a bonus.”
Tom pushed himself away from the counter, taking a couple of steps closer. “And you expect me to believe you?”
Savannah’s eyes darted up at him, before hitting the floor again. Her nerves were running wild and her stomach was churning uncontrollably. “Yes, I swear that’s the truth.”
“Does the name Northern Wind ring a bell?”
Realizing that Tom was still incredibly suspicious of her, Savannah tried her best to look as though she didn't have a clue what he was talking about. "Never heard of it."
“Hmmm.” Tom narrowed his eyes a little, trying not to be influenced by her scent. She smelled of pine, earth and wind, everything that his bear appreciated. But his human mind was trying to focus on whether she could be trusted or not. “I have to discuss this with my brother.”
“Please,” Savannah interrupted, managing to meet his gaze. “Don’t tell the human what I really am.”
He smiled grimly. “I know the old rule about not letting humans know about shifters. Don’t worry.” He didn’t tell her that Jo already knew everything there was to know about shifters, nevertheless, he’d respect her privacy and wouldn’t tell Jo. There was a strange kind of urge to protect Savannah, which he couldn’t really place.
“Thank you.”
She sagged against the counter and Tom felt a sudden, unwanted rush of sympathy. If she had been traveling for a long time, looking for a pack of her own, then it was no wonder she was tired. There was something incredibly lonely about being a shifter on your own. They weren't built for that. "Take a seat and help yourself to a coffee," he said, before he could stop himself. He watched her blink in surprise, before turning away. "I'll be back soon."
“Thank you.” Savannah watched as Tom walked outside to meet Jo and Nick, who were standing beside an old car. Walking over to make herself a coffee from the coffee machine, Savannah kept her eyes on the three of them. They’d walked far enough away for her to not be able to hear them – which was probably deliberate on their part. Not that she could blame them. If she’d just finished fighting with the Northern Wind pack, then she probably wouldn’t trust a new shifter who just turned up on their doorstep either.
Filling her cup of coffee, Savannah pushed away the prick of guilt. She'd taken an instant dislike to Jo, recognizing that she wasn't a shifter, but Jo had been more than kind to her. In fact, she'd practically offered her the job straight away - it was only Tom who had shown more reserve. Savannah mentally shrugged, still against the idea of a pack to have a human in it.
Wandering back to her seat, Savannah kept her eyes on the three figures outside. The other man must be Tom's brother, Nick, she realized, watching the way he slipped an arm around Jo's waist. Savannah could practically feel the protectiveness rolling off him. It was clear he was in love with Jo, and that he'd chosen her as his mate. It went against everything she knew, for a shifter to love a human, and it was one of the reasons Lucas had grown to hate Nick.
What about Tom? Savannah had been quite intimidated when he’d walked in, she had to admit. He was tall and strong, and his bear was almost majestic. There was something about him being an alpha that had a warmth curling in her stomach, although it was tinged with a trace of fear. Watching him gesture furiously towards her, Savannah felt heat creep up her neck and into her cheeks. She didn’t know what he was saying, but it was clear he didn’t trust her. A shifter turning up on their doorstep probably had him on high alert.
Sighing, Savannah tried not to worry about what would happen if she failed. Lucas wouldn’t be happy. She’d probably be thrown out of the pack for real, or if not that, severely punished. Shuddering, Savannah nursed her cup of coffee, shifting her gaze away from Tom.
“I like her,” Jo declared. “I think she’d be a great addition.”
Nick shrugged. “I don’t mind, Jo. It can be your call, as far as I’m concerned.” He grinned at her wickedly and Jo blushed, whilst Tom groaned in frustration.
“We know nothing about her,” he growled. “You’re far too easy, Jo. She’s just given you some sob story and you’ve practically handed her the job on a plate!”
“So?” Jo shrugged.
Tom gritted his teeth. “I just think we should think about it a bit longer.”
“It’s because she’s a shifter,” Nick explained, slipping an arm around Jo’s waist.
Jo’s mouth fell open in surprise. “Why didn’t you tell me, Tom?”
He glanced over at the window, his eyes catching sight of Savannah sitting down quietly. “She asked me not to. Shifters don’t tell humans about their abilities.” He tried to ignore the wave of embarrassment that threatened to bring heat to his cheeks, aware that it wasn’t exactly a big deal for Jo to find out.
“Yeah, but it’s Jo,” Nick laughed. “It’s not like she’s going to be shocked or anything.”
Jo tipped her head to one side, her eyes narrowing. “You like her.”
Tom blew out a long, frustrated breath. “That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard,” he countered, his eyes not quite meeting her gaze. He didn’t want to admit to even himself that he was attracted to Savannah.
Nick chuckled quietly. “What’s the big deal, Tom? We give her a job - that’s it, period. It’s not like she going to be looking to rip out your throat in broad daylight or anything.”
Rolling his eyes, Tom growled. “I don’t trust her.”
“You d
on’t trust anybody,” Jo pointed out, reminding him of how he’d tried to get rid of her.
“I was doing that for your own good!”
“I know that,” Jo replied, placatingly. “But Nick’s right. What’s the problem with us giving her a job?”
Tom ran a hand through his hair, making it stick up all over the place. He couldn’t answer. There was something about Savannah that was making him wary, but Jo and Nick were right. They would all be working together at the mechanics, and she had her own place in town. There was nothing to worry about, really. He had no choice but to admit that. “Fine,” he growled. “Although it’s really Nick’s call.”
Nick shrugged. “I’ve already said I’m fine with it.”
“Then I’d better go tell her,” Tom retorted, wanting to get away from Jo and Nick as fast as he could. What Jo had said about him liking Savannah had struck a rather uncomfortable chord and he didn’t want to stick around to hear any more comments like it. Was he battling his own feelings in trying to push her away, or was it really that he was worried about her motives? His bear growled uneasily, and Tom gritted his teeth as he walked. He’d shift later and take a long run through the woods. That usually got his frustrations out.
CHAPTER 4
Savannah watched as Tom threw his arms up in exasperation. Her shoulders slumped. This wasn’t going well.
A slight sound suddenly caught her ear. Frowning, she listened hard, sniffing the air. Her bear instincts began to go wild, as the sound came again. Was someone coughing?
Slowly, Savannah got to her feet, forgetting all about Tom for the moment. Someone else was here and she had no idea who it was. Lucas had told her that there was just Tom, his twin brother Nick and Nick’s human mate, Jo. So who was it making that sound?
Walking slowly towards the back of the waiting room, Jo paused, sniffing hard. Her chest rattled but she managed to stop a single sound coming out. Her bear was nervous and wary.
The front door was suddenly thrown open, slamming hard against the wall. Savannah shrank back as Tom strode in, realizing that all her instincts had been trained on the noise she'd heard instead of watching or listening for Tom.
“What were you doing?” he growled.
Savannah shrugged, moving back slowly towards the chair she’d been sitting in. “Nothing.”
Tom glowered at her, hating that she was going to stay. He didn't want her here. He didn't trust her. Jo was far too easily trusting, probably because she wasn't a shifter, and Nick - well, he was just easily swayed by Jo. On top of that, he didn't like the way his bear was feeling about her. It was trying to force him into looking out for her when his human mind was telling him to stay away from her, since he didn't know anything about her. His bear had never reacted like this before, and Tom wasn't sure what to make of it.
Savannah sat back in her seat, only just managing to meet Tom’s gaze. She knew what was going to happen, it was clear on his face. She was going to be thrown out. Lucas was going to be furious with her; she’d failed before their plan had even started.
“You’ve got the job,” he said, his face set. “Congratulations.”
Savannah gasped in surprise, getting to her feet at once. “Really? Oh, wow. Thank you.” She stepped forward and held out her hand, waiting for him to shake it.
Clearing his throat, Tom gave her a quick handshake before folding his arms again. He ignored the sparks that flew up his arm at her touch, reminding himself that he was now her employer. “Can you start tomorrow?”
Thrilled that she'd managed to get the job - and relieved that Lucas would have no reason to punish her, Savannah spread her hands and smiled. "I can start today if you like. I'd love to look around the place a little more." She felt as light as air, and not as intimidated by the man in front of her. Briefly, she wondered what he would look like if he smiled, but he just continued frowning at her.
Tom could hear the sound of Jo and Nick’s conversation coming closer, and knew they were going to be coming in behind him. He didn’t want them to hear his conversation. “Uh – I’ll let Jo and Nick congratulate you and then I’ll show you around, I guess.” Telling himself that it was just because he wanted to keep an eye on her, Tom turned around and walked behind the counter. “Just let me see to a couple of things back here, and then I’ll be right with you.”
“Thanks.” She smiled again, catching a brief spark in his eyes before he turned away. Perhaps this was going to be easier than she’d thought.
Just as Tom left, Jo and Nick walked in, but Savannah didn’t take her eyes off Tom. She watched him as he walked out of the waiting room and went into a small room. She heard the lock slam into place as he closed the door firmly – and a sudden scent hit her nostrils.
Savannah shook her head, trying to sort out the different smells. There had been raw meat of some kind, that was for sure, but there were at least two more scents that she wasn’t quite able to pick out. Was that where the coughing had come from?
A shudder ran through her body and the bear began to growl softly. Swallowing hard, Savannah managed to quieten it, knowing that she couldn’t change now even though she desperately wanted to. Even though her sense of smell was already heightened, her bear’s would be even better and she wanted to work out what the confusing scents were.
“Are you okay?” Jo asked, walking over to her.
“I’m fine,” Savannah replied, giving herself a mental shake. The last thing she wanted to do was have Jo guess that she was a shifter. She didn’t even like the idea that Jo knew about Tom and Nick, but Tom had promised not to share her secret. At least he respected her that much.
“So, Tom’s told you, then?”
Savannah nodded. “Uh…yeah. I get the feeling he’s not too happy about it though.”
Jo smiled. “Don’t take it personally, he’s just trying to keep us all safe, in his own way. He’ll come around eventually.”
Savannah tried to smile past the knot in her throat.
“You’re okay to start work, then?”
“Tom’s going to show me around in a minute.”
“Is he?” Nick grinned, sharing a look with Jo.
Savannah nodded, her stomach churning with anxiety. They seemed so nice and friendly but she had to remember that Lucas wanted her here for a reason. Whatever that reason was, she didn’t know, but she was certain it wasn’t going to be good. She couldn’t be friends with them, couldn’t even like them. So why did she feel a rippling sensation drive through her core and into the very tips of her fingers when Tom came out of the back room and looked across at her?
“Ready for the grand tour?” he said, gruffly.
Savannah nodded, and followed after him, ignoring the chuckle she heard come from Nick. They obviously knew something she didn’t, but she was pretty sure it was directed at Tom and not at her.
Walking outside, she let her eyes linger on Tom’s form. He was tall and strong, and she could just imagine the kind of bear he was. This pack was already so obviously different from the Northern Wind pack. She wasn’t afraid here.
Reminding herself that she was doing what Lucas wanted so that, somehow, they would get revenge for Dan's death, Savannah was forced to recognize the stab of guilt in her heart. Why did this already feel so wrong? With a heavy heart, Savannah followed Tom into the workshop, trying to focus on what he was saying.
CHAPTER 5
Tom thumped around the upstairs bathroom, wishing he could punch a hole through the wall. He wanted to shift, to let the bear run free and get his anger and frustration out that way, but he couldn't. Savannah was downstairs in the living room, and they were waiting for Jo and Nick to come back with takeout. Dinner at the cabin had sounded like a great idea until he'd realized that Jo had not only invited Savannah but also that she'd decided to go with Nick to get the food – leaving him and Savannah alone. Jo had done it on purpose, he was absolutely certain, under some misguided idea that he was attracted to Savannah.
His bear growled, but in
a contented way, as though it was glad Savannah was here. Tom didn’t agree. He’d been too uptight, too aware of her and had needed to take some time out – but the bathroom had been the only place he could go. After he’d shown her around the mechanics, he’d handed her over to Jo without another word to her since. Jo was frustrated with him, but he’d ignored her completely. Savannah was just his employee now, nothing more. Besides, he still wasn’t sure they could trust her. Her story seemed a little too convenient for his liking.
Catching the sound of a car pulling up, Tom practically ran down the stairs, strode to the front door and flung it open, the sound echoing through the cabin.
“Chinese,” Nick grinned, as he shoved a plastic bag at Tom. “Here, take this. I’ll get plates and stuff.”
Tom rolled his eyes as Jo gave him a quick smile. “Did you and Savannah get along okay?”
Shaking his head at her, Tom walked over to the table with the food. He and Savannah hadn't said much at all if he was honest. There was just some kind of weird tension between them.
“Can you tell Savannah we’re ready to eat?”
Tom didn’t reply, just let out a long breath as he wandered over to the book corner at the back of the cabin. It was as if she was hiding, but he didn’t know what it was she was hiding from. A slight trickle of guilt made its way into his conscience. He hadn’t exactly been friendly – although he told himself it was with good reason. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to appear a little more relaxed as he approached her.
Savannah was standing by the shelf full of books, her arms wrapped around her waist. She looked terrified, and Tom was suddenly struck by just how big her brown eyes were. There was something quite lonely about her, as though she didn’t know where she belonged in the world. Despite himself, a great swell of sympathy rose in his chest – but he pushed it away almost at once. He didn’t need this. He wasn’t going to feel anything for this woman. That was for sure. He could be civil, sure, but that was all he was going to feel, no matter how happy his bear seemed to be when she was around. Tom had seen how his brother had changed with Jo around, and he’d swore that wasn’t going to be him. Nick seemed softer these days, less aggressive, less likely just to burst out in anger at any moment. Tom wasn’t sure he liked that change so much. He enjoyed ripping into his bear skin any time he wanted, letting the rage pump the blood into his veins. It made him stronger.
The Dragon's Charm (Elemental Dragons Book 4) Page 112