“Thanks,” I mumbled, surprised Bill spoke to me directly and not to Uncle Henry as the doctor had.
Uncle Henry glanced at the paper bag in his hand. “What’s with Kaleb?”
“What do you mean?” Bill asked.
“He’s different,” Uncle Henry said. “He handed me this bag. Since when does he get close to Romanies? And they pushed Sienna’s Jeep back to the road? Why would they do that?”
Bill shrugged. “I asked him to.”
“Kaleb obeyed you? That’s not like him.” Uncle Henry shook his head. “Is there something you’re hiding from us?”
I stood, preparing to run if Bill said anything about my friendship with Kaleb. If Mom had run away because the Romanies didn’t like her dating an outsider, I could only imagine Uncle Henry’s reaction if he learned about Kaleb and me.
“No.” Bill’s lips twisted. “The Town Council agreed to keep the peace between the wolves and the Romanies. We wouldn’t hide anything.”
Uncle Henry handed me the bag. “What about the rumor?”
“What rumor?” Bill asked.
“That Kaleb doesn’t want to be the Norwood pack leader,” Uncle Henry replied.
Out of the corner of his eye, Bill glanced at me, but I was equally surprised to hear the rumor. “Where did you hear that?”
“The Romanies know things,” Uncle Henry said. “You need to fix this. We might not like Kaleb, but he’s better than Carter. And you know what will happen if Carter leads the Norwood wolves. That can’t happen.”
“It won’t.” Bill looked straight at me when Uncle Henry turned away. “Everyone knows Kaleb has responsibilities. He will be the next Norwood pack leader.”
I swallowed hard. What if Kaleb didn’t want to be pack leader because of me? We never talked about the future but it was obvious he cared about me.
No. The rumor couldn’t be true. I’d never let Kaleb give up the pack for me.
Chapter 21
“You’re not coming back?” A lump formed in my throat, and I tightened my grip on Uncle Henry’s cell phone. Mom had learned about my accident and had called the next day.
“I can’t, Sienna.” Mom’s voice sounded strained. “I heard Drina made your favorite—chicken meatball soup.”
“Yeah, she has.” I sat at the kitchen table, watching Drina as she grabbed bowls out of the cabinet. Despite receiving attention from everyone else, I still expected Mom to show up at Uncle Henry’s house. I hadn’t seen her for a month and couldn’t remember the last time we talked. The chemo treatments were important, but ignoring your only daughter was wrong. Most days I felt like she didn’t care.
“I promise we’ll see each other soon.”
Another meaningless promise from Mom. Since we’d moved to Woodlake, she never seemed to keep her promises. “I have to go.”
“Okay, get some rest. I love you.”
I hung up the phone without replying.
“How’s Auntie Nells?” Drina placed a bowl of soup in front of me and sat.
“She’s good.” I ate a spoonful of soup, grateful for a cousin like Drina. “Did your dad say anything about her treatments? It seems like it’s taking a long time. It’s weird she never calls me.”
“He never tells me anything.” She ate some soup before speaking again. “Everyone’s talking about that missing waitress. What’s her name?”
“Jenny.”
“Victor told me she went off with some guy. At least that’s what the Town Council is saying. Do you think that’s true?”
I shrugged. “Maybe. She’s always flirting with everyone. She tried to flirt with Kaleb, but—”
“Kaleb?” Her eyes widened. “Do you see him at the café?”
What was I thinking bringing up his name? “Sometimes, but I don’t go near him.”
She glanced toward the doorway and lowered her voice. “I met him once.”
“Who?” She must be talking about someone else. Kaleb had never said he’d met Drina, and he knew she was my cousin.
“Kaleb,” she replied, pushing aside her bowl. “Victor and I got into a huge fight last summer. I heard he’d slept with a local girl, and I was upset. I ran to Willow’s Point to cry it out. I saw Kaleb standing by a tree, watching me. I was so scared. I’d never been that close to one of them. I guess he felt sorry for me because he told me to leave and never come back.”
“What did your dad say?” Her story surprised me. Kaleb probably didn’t know who she was. That’s why he hadn’t mentioned it.
“I didn’t tell anyone. Can you imagine what Kaleb would do if I did? He’d kill me.”
I chewed my bottom lip, wanting to tell her she was wrong. He wouldn’t kill her. At least, not the Kaleb I knew. I picked up our empty bowls, carried them to the sink, and washed them. “Did you ever go back to Willow’s Point?”
“No way.” Drina grabbed a towel and dried the bowls.
“That’s good,” I said as Uncle Henry entered the kitchen.
“Wendy called your phone. I told her you were resting and couldn’t talk. You can text her later.” Uncle Henry grabbed his cell phone off the table and tucked it into his shirt pocket. He looked at my bruised arm. “Did your mom tell you? She talked to the Elders this morning. She wants you to quit your job.”
My heart sank. Mom hadn’t said anything about quitting my job. She’d only asked if I felt safe at the café. Of course, I’d said yes. I had nothing to worry about. Not when I had two Norwood wolves keeping me safe. “She didn’t say anything. What did the Elders say?”
“I’m having dinner with them tonight. They’re not happy she called.” He folded his arms. “Calling the Elders isn’t how things are done around here. I’m head of the family. I decide what you can or cannot do. If I say you go to work, you go to work. Do you agree that’s true, Sienna?”
I nodded, even though I didn’t agree with anyone making decisions for me. But defying Uncle Henry was the last thing I needed. I needed him on my side.
“Daddy …” Drina lowered her head. “That’s two missing girls now. If a Norwood wolf—”
“I don’t want to quit,” I interrupted, lowering my head like Drina, even though I wanted to glare at her. How dare she say anything about a Norwood wolf and the missing girls? No one’s even sure Jenny’s missing. After Kaleb had let Drina go last summer, she should know the Norwood wolves weren’t dangerous. “If I quit, it will leave Bill short-handed. I can take care of myself. I’m not scared.”
Seconds ticked by.
No response from Uncle Henry.
Drina squeezed her eyes shut, muttering something under her breath.
I lifted my head and met Uncle Henry’s gaze, “I’ll do whatever you want.”
One of his eyebrows lifted. “Norma’s going with me tonight. We’re having dinner with Ethan’s parents after I talk to the Elders. Are you okay being alone?”
“She can come to my house,” Drina said, lifting her head. But she didn’t look at Uncle Henry. “We’re having a few friends over.”
I suppressed a groan. A few friends over sounded like a party. I already had plans for tonight—rest and curl up with a good book. If things went well with the Elders, I wanted to work tomorrow as Bill had suggested. “I’m too tired for a party.”
“It’s up to Sienna,” Uncle Henry said, and left the kitchen.
“Take a quick nap.” Drina put the pot of chicken soup into the refrigerator. “Everyone wants to see you.”
“I don’t know,” I responded. I didn’t want to see anyone, especially Nadya. That girl still didn’t like me, and I was in no shape to fight her again.
* * *
Several hours later, I sat in the gazebo with a blanket wrapped around my body and a murder mystery book in my hand. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t concentrate. My mind kept drifting to what Uncle Henry had said last night.
Kaleb didn’t want to be the Norwood pack leader.
The rumor couldn’t be true. Being Norwood’s alpha meant
everything to Kaleb, and it was his birthright. He wouldn’t be okay with Carter leading the Norwood wolves. Carter might be family, but he and Kaleb didn’t see eye to eye on most things.
And the way Bill looked at me… as if the rumor was my fault. Did he think I’d said something to Uncle Henry or the Elders? Did he think my relationship with Kaleb was a rouse to spy on the Norwood wolves?
“I’ve been trying to call you.”
I glanced up, forcing a smile on my face. “Ethan, what are you doing here?”
“Why aren’t you at Drina’s house?” Ethan sat next to me and grabbed the book out of my hand. “You shouldn’t be here reading this.”
I bit the inside of my cheek as he tossed the book aside and leaned back, stretching his arms along the gazebo’s railing. “Shouldn’t you be with Nadya?” I asked.
“She doesn’t own me.” His eyes narrowed when a wolf howled in the distance. “You shouldn’t be outside.”
“Everyone knows the wolves can’t come into the Romani community.” I adjusted the blanket around my body, making sure to keep enough distance. I didn’t like how close he sat next to me, and I didn’t like him coming to see me. Not when Nadya already thought I liked him. “You didn’t answer my question. What are you doing here?”
“I heard about your accident and your missing friend. I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
No one in the Romani community referred to Jenny as my friend. Although I wouldn’t call Jenny my friend, we did work together, and I cared if something had happened to her.
Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at Ethan. Maybe he wasn’t so bad. “I’m fine, just a little tired. That’s why I’m not at Drina’s tonight.”
“I thought you were mad at me.” He grinned.
“I should be mad at you. You told Uncle Henry I started a fight with Nadya.”
“I’m sorry.” He sighed. “She doesn’t like me talking to other girls.”
“Then what are you doing here?” I looked around, half-expecting Nadya to jump out of the bushes and tackle me. The sun had set on the horizon, and soon Ethan and I would be sitting in the dark. There were too many places for Nadya to hide and spy on us.
“Don’t worry. She thinks I’m with the Elders, asking them about your missing friend. Everyone at the party’s worried and wants an update.” He got up, turned the gazebo light on, and sat next to me again. “You know, our cousins are married, so we’re family now. Nadya will get used to it.”
“I guess, but I hate putting Drina in the middle of things.”
Ethan turned his body sideways, facing me. He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and winked at me.
“What are you doing?” Was he seriously making a move on me as we talked about his girlfriend?
“I’m being nice.”
“Don’t.” I got up and leaned against the gazebo railing, away from him and his hands. “What did the Elders say about Jenny?”
“The Norwood wolves searched all night. The sheriff even sent a search party into the woods today, but they didn’t find her.” He paused. “They found her cell phone behind the café. No purse and no wallet.”
“That doesn’t mean anything. She could’ve dropped her phone,” I insisted “Did they talk to everyone at that party?”
“No one’s seen her, Sienna. I know you worked with her, and I’m sorry, but something’s happened to her. Something bad. You need to accept that.”
“Jenny’s fine.” I squeezed my eyes shut and inhaled deeply. Ethan was wrong.
“She’s not fine.” His hand touched my shoulder. “You don’t need to worry. I’ll take care of you.”
“I can take care of myself,” I said. My eyes flew open, and I pushed his hand off my shoulder. “You need to leave.”
“What if I wanted to stay with you? We could go inside and watch a movie.” He stood in front of me, his hands clasped behind his back.
“No one’s home, and—” My body froze as he pushed his lips onto mine and pulled me into his arms.
My mind swirled, trying to process what had just happened as I pushed him away. “Are you crazy?”
“What’s the big deal? It’s just a kiss.” He grinned but kept his distance.
I folded my arms, angry with myself that I’d thought he wasn’t such a bad guy. “Leave.”
“You’re mad?” He laughed. “I did you a favor. We had a bet on who’d kiss you first. You’re lucky I kissed you before someone else did. You should thank me.”
“Don’t ever touch me again.” My tone remained calm even though my insides burned.
Ethan smirked at me and walked toward the front yard. Seconds later, he drove away.
Another wolf howl broke the night air. I glanced over my shoulder, shocked to see Kaleb. He was furious.
Chapter 22
“You shouldn’t be here.” I turned off the gazebo light, hoping Kaleb hadn’t seen Ethan kiss me. What was Kaleb doing here? He knew the agreement forbid him from setting foot in the Romani community. “What if someone sees you?”
“By someone you mean lover boy?” His angry tone surprised me.
I shook my head. “It’s not what you think.”
“You have no idea what I’m thinking.” He walked out of the moonlight and into the darkness by the gazebo’s entrance. “His arms were around you.”
“He kissed me, and I pushed him away.” I folded my arms, frustrated I couldn’t see his face. Did he think I’d kissed Ethan? I’d never risk losing Kaleb. “If you don’t believe me, then leave. I can’t be with someone who doesn’t trust me.”
“I know you didn’t kiss him.” He leaned against the gazebo, looking alert. At least, I figured that’s what he was doing, since I could only see his silhouette in the darkness.
“What are you doing here?” I asked as I sat down. “I’m glad you’re here, but it’s risky.”
“I wanted to make sure you’re safe. I didn’t expect to see lover boy kissing you.” He sat next to me and held my hand.
“I came outside to read, and Ethan showed up. He told me about the search party finding Jenny’s cell phone. I thought he was being nice. I didn’t expect him to kiss me.”
“When I saw his arms around you, him kissing you, I wanted to kill him. I wanted to bite his arms off.” He shook his head. “You don’t understand. If I lose control . . . This was a mistake. I’m not—”
“You didn’t lose control.” I turned sideways, wrapped my arms around him, and pulled him close. “Being together isn’t a mistake.”
“That’s not what I meant.” He kissed the top of my head. “Being with you could never be a mistake. But I shouldn’t be here.”
“Do you have to rush back to Norwood Isle?”
“No.”
“Then let’s go to Willow’s Point and watch the stars.” I grabbed my blanket and held his hand as he led the way.
* * *
Kaleb and I lay on my blanket at Willow’s Point, not too far from the shoreline. He held me in his arms as he pointed out the constellations in the dark sky. He thought I was serious about watching the stars, but right now, I didn’t care about the constellations.
“Can you see it?” He pointed to the sky again. “That star right there, and that one.”
“How come you know so much about stars?” I propped myself up and trailed my fingers underneath his shirt, wishing he hadn’t put it back on when we arrived at Willow’s Point. My cheeks heated as his stomach muscles tightened underneath my fingertips.
“I read a lot when I was younger. Thought I might travel to the moon.” He sucked in a breath as my fingers continued exploring his muscles. “You’re supposed to be looking at the stars. Not at me.”
“I’d rather look at you.” I smiled and kissed his neck.
“You do realize this is a bad idea.” He gently pushed me back on the blanket as he rolled onto his side and ran a hand up my arm. “The two of us, alone.”
“I trust you.”
“You should never trust
a wolf.” He kissed my cheek, working his way down my neck with a trail of kisses. “Wolves are dangerous, cunning, and—”
“Sexy.” I loved the way his kisses made me tingle all over. I could get used to this. “Show me.”
“Show you what?”
“I want to see you. The real you.” I tried to sit up, but Kaleb pulled me onto the ground again. He clasped my hand with his, kissing my inner wrist. I uttered a soft moan, wishing this night could go on forever.
“This is me.” He nibbled on my earlobe.
“I want to see the wolf.”
“You saw me that night with Carter.” He kissed my lips, and then my collarbone as one of his hands slipped under my shirt, touching my waist.
I bit my lower lip, not sure how far I wanted things to go. Our make-out sessions usually consisted of kissing and teasing, but he’d never slipped a hand under my shirt. “It was too dark. I didn’t see you.”
“I can’t,” he replied. “That’s not how I want you to think of me.”
“But I want—”
He kissed me again. Harder this time. As my tongue darted into his mouth, he groaned. His hand moved up my stomach as I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling his body closer to mine.
My entire body heated when his hand touched my breast, but I didn’t pull away. I loved the way he touched me. The way he made me feel.
“I can’t,” I gasped, pulling away when his hand moved down to the top of my pants.
He adjusted my shirt and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
“No, it’s okay. I . . . I . . .” I closed my eyes, not wanting to explain why I’d stopped him from going any further. According to Wendy, Kaleb had been with many girls. Sometimes a new girl every month. He had more experience than I did.
“It’s okay.” He kissed my cheek as I opened my eyes. “If I went too far, I’m sorry.”
“No. I like you touching me.” I lay my head on the blanket, letting out a frustrated groan. “I have to tell you something.”
Romani Blood (Shifter Blood: Romani Curse Book 1) Page 14