“I think my brother and Gabriel would agree with me. We owe you for what you and your brothers did for us that day. Without you, the entire pack would have been wiped out. Let us help you, at least, accept the essentials you’ll need to get started on your human life.”
“Colin’s right, Adriel. You’re more than welcome to stay here with us, until you get situated, but you should let the pack help you. Let us repay you for your assistance with the demons.”
He mulled it over for a moment. “Payment for services rendered?”
Colin nodded.
“I suppose I can accept that,” Adriel said.
“It will take a day or two to get the power turned back on, gather some clothing for you, make sure you have groceries...you’ll stay with us until everything is in place,” Colin said. “I’ll go call Connor now and let him know what’s going on. I’m sure he’ll be more than happy to welcome you into the pack.”
Adriel felt his heart warm by their generosity. When he’d arrived on Colin’s doorstep, he had no idea the wolf would be such a help. It went against everything Adriel believed in to accept a handout, but this was more than that. It was a hand up, a way to enter the pack, and have the opportunity to speak with his future mate. If they were willing to help him win Kinley’s heart, then, he would accept. Something told him he’d need all the help he could get.
Chapter One
Kinley felt a prickle between her shoulder blades, the hair on her nape standing at attention. It wasn’t the first time she’d felt this way, she couldn’t ever figure out who was watching her, or why. As the smallest shifter in the pack, she should have been the least interesting, unlike Vanessa or Willa, both powerful shifters, and sexy as hell. Half the pack was panting after them, and she couldn’t blame them. Both women looked like pinup models.
She glanced around the market. Nothing looked out of place, and no one was staring at her. The only familiar person on the aisle with her was the newest addition to their pack, Adriel. Connor had informed everyone that a human would be joining their ranks, but everyone remembered Adriel and knew he wasn’t your average human. It was no secret he’d been one of the angels to come to their aid a month ago, but what no one understood was why he was human now. There was speculation that he’d gotten in trouble when Kiera and Radha had died, but no one knew for certain.
His golden hair was cut short, the curls no longer present. She watched as he studied the contents on the shelf in front of him, a frown marring his brow. Dressed in a well-worn tee and distressed Levis, he obviously wasn’t trying to impress anyone. She’d heard the women in the pack talking and knew that a few were interested in him, but she hadn’t heard any rumblings of him dating anyone. He’d only been part of the pack for two weeks and was still settling in, so maybe he’d pair off with someone later.
She’d be lying if she said she hadn’t noticed him the first time he’d been introduced to the pack. He’d had such a commanding presence, and while his wings had been clipped, that presence was still there, simmering beneath the surface. As much as she wanted to get to know him, she was too bashful to approach him. What would an angel want with her? There was nothing remarkable about her, other than the fact she’d survived the war, unlike some of her friends. Poor Amber was gone, along with Bea. Laura and Angie had left for another pack afterward, feeling unsafe in Ashton Grove. She had few women left that she actually talked with . Jenny and Abigail had joined her in the fight; the three of them working together, fighting to survive, and it had worked. But at what cost? So many lives had been lost.
Kinley bit her lip, trying to still the nervous energy inside of her. Forcing herself to move closer to the angel, she took one step, then another. When she reached his side, he glanced her way, his blue gaze catching hers. No man should ever look that breathtaking, that powerful, that... there just weren’t enough words to describe him. He was everything she’d ever fantasized about, and here he was, mere inches away from her. Her heart nearly galloped out of her chest, and she was thankful he didn’t have a werewolf’s hearing.
“Maybe I can help?” she offered.
“I’d appreciate it. Kendall suggested I might like pasta, but I’m a little overwhelmed. I didn’t realize there were so many kinds, much less how many types of sauce there are.”
“I could...” She stopped, her cheeks heating.
“You could what?”
“I was thinking about making pasta and a salad for dinner tonight. I could cook for you,” she said.
“I’d like that, but I’m afraid I already have dinner plans for tonight.”
She deflated a little. “Oh, of course.”
How silly of her. Of course he’d have plans. Just look at him! She wouldn’t doubt that he had a date with nearly every single woman in the pack, not that there were a ton of them left.
“I’d love a rain check though.” He smiled. Oh lord, he had dimples! She’d always had a thing for men with dimples.
“Y-y-yes. Whenever you’re free is fine.”
“I’m discussing a possible job with Connor tonight, so I may be busy the next few days. How does Friday sound?”
“Friday would be fine.” She smiled, feeling relieved that he wasn’t going on a date tonight. A meeting with the alpha definitely trumped having dinner with her.
“I’ll be looking forward to it.” His smile reached her eyes, and her heart warmed.
She watched as he wandered down the aisle and disappeared around the corner, her heart starting to slow. What was it about him that affected her so? And what job would Connor give him? She hadn’t thought about the fact he would need to work, now that he wasn’t an angel any longer. Rumors had spread through the pack about the man staying in the wolf dorm Connor had built when the pack was first starting to grow. Kinley had been one of the first females to respond, not really having a pack of her own. She’d wandered from pack to pack, trying to find the right place to settle down, but nowhere she landed had felt like home – until Ashton Grove.
The Ashton Grove pack was different from any pack she’d been to before. And it wasn’t just the whole dual alpha thing, even though that alone was unique. Female werewolves were rare, but the pack had two of them. The rest of the single females were shifters of some sort, most of them large cats. By all means , Kinley should have been terrified around so many large predators, but she knew no one would harm her. Despite her small stature, she’d been welcomed with open arms. She’d fought hard, and proudly, for her pack. They were her family, and she would do anything for them.
Kinley finished her shopping, checked out, and loaded everything into her car. It wasn’t a far drive to her apartment, but she opened the sunroof anyway, wanting to enjoy the beautiful day. If anything, she’d learned to make the most of each and every day. Maybe that’s why she’d gotten the courage to ask Adriel over for dinner. She knew she was attracted to him. It only made sense to see where things could go, right? So what if he was out of her league? Maybe he liked short and cute better than tall and curvy. She could hope anyway. He’d seemed genuinely pleased with her invitation to dinner. Now, Friday just needed to hurry up and get here.
Kinley pulled into her parking space, grabbed two handfuls of grocery sacks, and began the trek up the two flights of stairs to her apartment, thankful she didn’t live on the third floor. She quickly unlocked her door and carried the sacks into her small kitchen, placing them on the floor near the refrigerator. Only two more trips and she could put everything away! As she approached her car, she inwardly groaned when she noticed a particular werewolf leaning against it. He never brought good news with him.
“Hi, Lucas.”
“Hey, Kinley. Want some help with these bags?”
She shrugged. “Sure. It would save me a trip.”
They hefted the rest of the bags and carried them up to her apartment. As she began putting the refrigerated things up, she glanced his way.
“Did you stop by for something in particular?” she asked.
“Yeah, I di
d, actually. I was talking with Michael and Cole this morning.” He stopped and rubbed the back of his neck.
“And?”
“Everyone knows Gabriel had a soft spot for you, before... Well, he hasn’t come out of his house for anything. If Marin and Chloe didn’t take food over there, I’m not sure he’d eat. From what they’ve said, he’s barely eating enough to stay alive.”
Her heart ached for her alpha. He’d always been kind to her. “What do you want me to do?”
“We know you’re between jobs right now, and Cole and Michael want to hire you.”
“To do what?” Her brow furrowed. What on earth could she do for the alpha?
“Straighten the house up, make him something for dinner. We’re hoping having a woman around the house will rouse his curiosity enough to make him take interest in things going on around him. Cole said he either lies in bed or holes up in the baby’s room. It isn’t healthy for him.”
Kinley shook her head. “I don’t think having me around is going to improve things any. If anything, he’ll be angry that I’m trespassing and throw me out.”
“You’re the smallest in the pack. There’s no way he’d do anything to hurt you. His concious wouldn’t let him, even if it’s just emotional pain.”
“Wouldn’t one of the female wolves be a better idea?”
“No. He might think they’re trying to be the next alpha femme, and that’s not something we want right now. It’s too soon for him to think about letting another woman into his heart, we know that. We just want him to rejoin the land of the living.”
“I’ll make something for dinner and take it to him tonight. Depending on how he reacts to me will decide whether or not I go back. I may need the money, but I don’t want to go where I’m not wanted either.”
Lucas nodded. “I’ll let Cole and Michael know. There’s a key under the flower pot to the right of the door.”
“You want me to just walk right in?” she asked in surprise.
“He won’t answer the door,” Lucas said, running a hand through his hair. “He ignores the phone too. If it weren’t for his sisters-in-law going to check on him, we wouldn’t know whether or not he were dead or alive in there. It isn’t healthy, and everyone is worried about him. I can’t even begin to understand how devastating it is to lose your mate and child.”
Kinley thought back to her childhood friend, Sean. Everyone had thought they would become mates when they got old enough, but a car crash had taken him at the young age of fifteen. He’d sneaked out and taken his brother’s car without permission and had been hit by a drunk driver. She’d thought her life was over, had never felt such pain before, and realized that maybe she had something in common with Gabriel. No, she hadn’t been mated to Sean, but they’d done everything together. He’d even been her first kiss. They’d made a pact that if they were still virgins by the time they were sixteen, they would be together for their first time. How her life had changed since then.
“I’ll make him something nice for dinner,” she said. “I’ll let you know if I’m going back tomorrow or not.”
“Call Cole and let him know.”
She nodded.
“Well,” Lucas shoved his hands in his pockets. “Guess I better get back to work. They released me long enough to talk to you.”
“I’ll see you around, Lucas.”
He smiled. “Take care, Kinley.”
When the door closed, she slumped against the counter. She’d known things were bad for her alpha, but she hadn’t realized he’d pulled away from his family too. If he didn’t want anything to do with them, why would he bother speaking to her? It was common knowledge that he’d handed over the pack to Connor full-time. No one believed it would be forever, but they all understood the need to grieve. They all were grieving in their own ways. Kiera had been loved throughout the pack. She’d always had a smile and a kind word for everyone.
Kinley already knew what she’d make for dinner. Barbeque chicken, potato salad and green beans. She remembered Gabriel commenting on her potato salad before and wanted to make sure she gave him something he liked. Of course, getting him to actually eat it might be difficult, if what Lucas said were true. She knew her pack missed their alpha, but a month really wasn’t a long time to grieve. She didn’t think there was anything to worry about just yet. Obviously, he was eating enough, or his brothers would have called in the pack doctor already.
Speaking of the doctor... she looked at the calendar hanging on the wall. She had an appointment scheduled for later in the week. Not that the males showed her enough attention to worry about birth control, but her supply was about gone. It wasn’t time for her physical yet, but Doctor Murphy Whitten hadn’t met with her since she’d joined the pack. She really should have had an appointment sooner, so her alphas could be assured of her good health, especially after the battle with the demons, but it just hadn’t been a high priority.
The clock showed it was only two. Plenty of time to fold her laundry and put it away, read for a bit, then start dinner. She dumped her clean clothes in the laundry basket then carried it into the bedroom. The alphas had really taken care of the pack when they’d designed these apartments, making sure each unit had its own washer and dryer,not that she wasn’t used to going to a Laundromat, but this sure did save time and money.
Once everything was put away, Kinley picked up her paperback off the nightstand. She’d gotten the latest Kate Allenton novel just yesterday. If she hadn’t been so exhausted when she’d gotten home last night, she probably would have read it in one sitting. Instead, she’d made it about halfway through before her eyes just wouldn’t stay open any longer. Now, she couldn’t wait to see what happened. Every time she’d thought she had the bad guy figured out, something would happen to throw her off the trail and made her second guess herself. Before she became too engrossed in the tale, she set the alarm on her phone to go off at 4:30 so she could start dinner. She wanted to be at Gabriel’s before six, if at all possible.
She turned page after page, absorbing the words like a sponge. There were just a few pages left, when the alarm went off, and she hit snooze, hoping she could finish the story. Of course, having rushed through it, she didn’t know what she would read when she went to bed that night. With her not having a job at the moment, her book buying was down to a minimal. She’d applied for jobs all over Ashton Grove, but so far, there hadn’t been so much as a nibble. Of course, July probably wasn’t the best time to job hunt, considering how many high school students were out for the summer and job hunting too. Most of the jobs she’d applied for were seasonal, but she’d take whatever she could get at this point.
Kinley finished the last page of her novel, feeling both satisfied and sad that it was over. She shut off her alarm and went into the kitchen to get started on dinner. It only took an hour to prepare and cook everything. She made the potato salad first, so it would have time to chill. Having planned to make potato salad either tonight or tomorrow, she’d already prepped the potatoes and other ingredients earlier that morning and just had to blend everything. Deciding to coax Gabriel into eating, she made two plates, one for each of them.
With her purse strap over her shoulder, and both plates and her keys in her hands, she headed out. Even though crime was non-existent in the apartments, she made sure both locks were engaged before heading down to her car. Kinley placed the plates on the backseat before climbing into the driver’s seat. The apartments were less than ten minutes away from Gabriel’s house. When she pulled into the driveway, a chill raced down her spine. The yard was unkempt, the shrubs, in need of a trim;all of the lights were out, and the curtains were closed. It definitely gave a “stay away” vibe.
She carried the plates up to the front porch, retrieved the key from under the flowerpot, and opened the door. It creaked, an ominous sound on an otherwise soundless night. The musty scent of a house that had been closed up for a while reached her nose, and she wrinkled it in distaste. She stepped into the darkened fr
ont entry and closed the door behind her, shutting out what little light had been present.
“Gabriel?” she called up the stairs. “Gabriel, it’s Kinley.”
Not so much as a rustle met her ears. She went into the kitchen and placed the plates down on the table. The first thing she did was open the blinds, letting in a little light. The dishes piled in the sink relieved her a bit, proving that he had indeed been eating. The rotten bananas by the sink were a little discouraging though. She grabbed them, dumped them into a plastic sack, and tied them off. She’d take them out to the trash on her way out. The last thing the man needed were fruit flies taking over his kitchen.
Kinley unwrapped the plates on the table and set out silverware. She cast a glance toward the stairs. Still, there was dead silence in the house. It didn’t feel right, being here without his permission, but she couldn’t back down now. Taking a breath, she headed upstairs, searching for him. She found him in the nursery, asleep in the rocker, a stuffed bear clutched to his chest.
Kneeling at his feet, she gently placed a hand on his knee. “Alpha?” she said softly.
Gabriel’s eyes slowly opened, and his unfocused gaze met hers. It took him a moment, but she knew when he’d recognized her. He looked a little confused.
“Alpha, I’ve brought you something to eat. Will you please come have dinner with me?”
“You made me something?” His voice was deep and sounded like it hadn’t been used in a while.
“Yes, Alpha. It’s downstairs, at the kitchen table. I brought my dinner too, so we could eat together.”
He nodded and rose from the chair, placing the bear in the seat. Kinley climbed to her feet and smiled at him, wishing there was some way to take away his pain. It hung heavy in the air, nearly suffocating her.
Gabriel smoothed his hand down her hair. “Thank you for coming, Kinley.”
“Come downstairs, Alpha. It will do you some good to sit in the sunshine for a little while. It isn’t good for you to lock yourself away in the dark.”
“The sun reminds me of what I’m missing. Sunshine should mean happiness and laughter, but both of those things left my life with my wife and daughter. It doesn’t feel right to sit in the sun, to be happy, when they aren’t here with me.”
Ashton Grove Werewolves (Boxed Set, Vol. 2) Page 31