“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.
"Food's ready if you want to join us?"
Savannah glanced up at him and Tom could hear her swift intake of breath. Was she scared of him? Even though he’d tried his best to be nice? Why didn’t he like that?”
“I hope you like Chinese takeout,” he continued, a little more lightly. “It’s the best food we have in town. Though, there’s not much else to offer.” He tried to smile, gesturing her to walk though.
Savannah swallowed, and attempted a smile back. She felt so confused, being left here alone with Tom. He’d said very little to her, eventually going upstairs and leaving her by herself. It was obvious he didn’t like being around her, so she’d wandered around the cabin and found the hidden book corner. She’d stayed there, even when Jo and Nick had come back, feeling confused and alone. They’d been so kind to her, but she was only here on Lucas’s orders and that meant that, one day, they’d find out that she was really from the Northern Wind pack. Her emotions were already all over the place, but she tried to convince herself that it was only because she was tired and exhausted from her day. Getting the job had been a relief, now that she knew Lucas wasn’t going to be angry with her – but it was her awareness of Tom that she hadn’t been expecting. “Thanks,” she mumbled, walking past him. Their arms brushed and Savannah jerked away, walking quickly towards the others. When they’d touched, a spark had made her bear jump in surprise, and now it was curious. Forcing herself not to imagine what Tom’s bear looked like, Savanah tried to smile as Jo and Nick handed her a plate.
Tom watched her walk away, a sudden desire to slip his hands around her gentle curves surprising him. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he heard his bear begin to growl. He was confused and upset. He needed to go out in the woods and let the bear run. Then he'd be able to sleep, completely exhausted, without Savannah haunting his mind. Once they'd eaten and Savannah had gone home, he'd shift and head on into the woods.
He couldn’t help himself from wondering what her bear was like as he walked up to the table, his eyes lingering on Savannah again. She was picking up cutlery and going to serve herself food, but he couldn’t keep his eyes from her. There was something about the way she was moving that told him she was tired and upset and, for some reason, Tom wanted to help.
“Why don’t you sit down, and I’ll get the drinks,” he murmured, catching the surprise in her eyes. Ignoring Jo’s grin, he set about getting drinks for everyone, wondering why he’d offered to help. It wasn’t like him.
“I just need to wash my hands,” she murmured, excusing herself for a moment.
Tom forced himself to not watch her climb the stairs, eventually turning his back when the need became too great.
“You’ll need to take Savannah to the store tomorrow.”
He rounded on Jo. “What? Why?”
Nick laughed. “Don’t start grumbling, Tom, you’re going anyway. She just needs a few things for the office.”
“Nick, why can’t you take her?”
“Because I’m busy.”
“That’s not a good enough excuse,” Tom growled. “Jo could take her.”
Jo shook her head. “No, I can’t. I’ve got a lot to do tomorrow.”
Tom tensed, knowing she wasn’t being truthful.
“And don’t start growling at me either,” Jo continued, looking up at him. “Just do it, Tom. For goodness sake, she’s going to be starting work tomorrow, properly. You need to show her where we get our office supplies from.”
He frowned. "It's not exactly hard, Jo. There's one store in town. One. That's where we get our office supplies from. I'm sure she's seen it since she's been living here for a couple of weeks."
“Quit complaining and just take her,” Nick said, cheerfully, clapping his brother on the back. “Come on, Jo, let’s eat.”
Savannah was quite surprised to find that she enjoyed the evening, even though Tom was quite uncommunicative. Nick and Jo made up for his silence, asking her lots of questions and telling her about their lives. She had to make up a few things, of course. Luckily they’d accepted everything she said. Occasionally, she’d catch Tom looking at her to which she’d glance back at him, only for him to look away. Nerves still wriggled in her stomach every time their eyes met, but Savannah wasn’t sure why. Was it because she was afraid he’d find out?
“Coffee?” Jo asked, leaning back in her chair.
Savannah got to her feet at once. “I’ll get it.”
“You sure?”
She nodded, wanting to be helpful and to show them that she was a thoughtful person. Anything she could do to get them to trust her was going to help.
“Thanks,” Jo smiled, throwing a quick glance at Tom. “The coffee pot’s in the kitchen but you might need to make up a fresh pot.”
“No problem.” Walking over quickly, Savannah listened to the ongoing conversation behind her, feeling a sense of warmth rising in her. This pack was so different from her own. They were all equals, even the human, which was the biggest surprise. There was no dominance from either Tom or Nick, at least, not that she’d seen. There was a respect between them that wasn’t in the Northern Wind pack. A wave of envy rushed over her, and she clenched her fist for a moment. Was Lucas wrong in how he treated the pack? Why couldn’t they be more like this?
Nick practically threw his plate at Tom, lifting an eyebrow as Tom growled at him.
“Don’t start with me, Tom. You need to start being nice to her.”
“So I have to do the dishes?”
Nick shrugged. "Unless you'd rather stay here and watch me and Jo get all… cozy."
Rolling his eyes, Tom got to his feet, grabbing the plates so hard they almost cracked. Clearing his throat, he walked into the kitchen to find Savannah attempting to make a pot of coffee. Her back and shoulders were raised as she visibly tensed at his footsteps. All his senses were on fire as he took her in. Red hot heat swept through him as his eyes lingered on her curves, finally glancing away as his face grew hot. He couldn’t be attracted to this woman, not now. He didn’t know anything about her and, for all he knew, she could be trying to get into their pack for some reasons of her own.
“You getting on okay there?” he managed to say, his voice low. “I’ll take a coffee too if you’re making.”
Savannah didn't reply, merely picking up anot
her cup by way of a response. She waited until she heard him walk back to the table to get the rest of the dishes before letting out a long breath. Tom still didn't trust her and didn't like her being here. What would he do if he ever found out the truth about who she was and what she was doing?
CHAPTER 6
Tom had thought he'd find peace back at the mechanics, but the scent of Savannah was still there. He was going to have to get used to it, that was for sure. There was something about the way she smelled that threw all kind of sensations at him. He'd been longing for the dinner to end, so that he could run into the woods, but he had to check on Dan first. Dan had eaten his food with relish and taken the next lot of his painkillers without complaining. His leg would be better soon, to the point that he'd be able to walk, so they'd have to tell Savannah about him soon.
Now that Dan was sleeping, all of Tom’s emotions hit him at once. He was confused over Savannah, and the way his bear was reacting to her. He didn’t want to be attracted to her, but he couldn’t get the way her honey brown eyes had looked at him out of his mind. Slamming open the front door, he ran outside and across the field, the darkness surrounding him completely.
His bear ripped out of his skin so fast it pulled the breath from his body, forcing him to take a couple of deep breaths. A growl tore from his throat as he let the wildness of the bear take over immediately, running deep into the woods.
His whole body was rippling with anger, his teeth bared as his paws ate up the ground. Jo had been trying to push him and Savanah together, even though they’d’ only met today – and that made him mad. He didn’t want to be pushed. Didn’t want to have any kind of feelings towards Savannah. Why couldn’t Jo just leave him alone?
Suddenly, he stopped short, his sides heaving as he took in great gulps of air. He could smell something. It was Savannah.
What was she doing out here, in the middle of the night? Tom was forced to take her home earlier that evening, although their ride had been mostly silent. He’d made sure she was safely home, thinking just how badly run down the place was. Had she really come out into the woods for a run around? Or was she meeting someone?
The Dragon's Mate (Elemental Dragons Book 1) Page 113