by Lynn Howard
“Yep. That wasn’t even her best. You should come over more. She’ll cook lots of good stuff.”
With that, Penny excused herself from the table without asking and made her way back to the couch. It was obvious by her bloodshot eyes she was getting tired.
Ryanne, on the other hand, was wired.
The realization of how strong her feelings were growing for Daxon in such a short time gave her a second wind. She wanted to run again. She wanted to give her skin over to her lynx and race Daxon again.
She wanted to watch him strip again. Only this time, she wanted to take her time checking him out.
Sighing, she stood and gathered the plates.
“Let me help,” Daxon said, shooing her hands away and laying his on top of the stack.
He carried them to the sink, and she washed while he dried.
So domestic. So normal. It felt like they had been a couple for years instead of only beginning to explore a life together.
Once the dishes were done, Daxon and Ryanne joined Penny on the couch for a few Disney movies. Ryanne had seen every single one of them more than ten times, but Penny loved them.
And, honestly, she was hoping her baby sister would fall asleep soon so Ryanne could make out with Daxon again.
The mere thought of his lips, of his tantalizing body pressed against hers, heated her blood. She knew Daxon could probably smell her arousal, but there was nothing she could do about it. They wouldn’t do anything until Penny was sound asleep and in the other room.
Daxon’s phone chimed. Without pulling his eyes from the TV screen, he dug into his back pocket. After a quick glance, a growl worked up his throat.
Ryanne’s eyes jerked to Penny, but her eyes were at half-mast and she didn’t seem to notice Daxon’s reaction to whatever was on his phone.
When Ryanne looked up at him, his eyes were glowing. “You okay?” she whispered at preternaturally low tones.
His nostrils flared as he took a deep breath. “I have to go. Lock your deadbolts after I leave. I’ll call you later if that’s okay.”
She frowned at him. “Are we safe?”
Again with the flared nostrils. And this time, a muscle ticked in his jaw. “Yeah. You’re fine. I can send one of my buddies over here if it’ll help you sleep better tonight.”
That was sweet. And scary. He didn’t outright say he needed to send someone over, rather offered a protection detail so she could relax enough to rest.
“We’re fine. Thank you, though.”
She eased off the couch, careful not to nudge Penny since her eyes had finally fluttered shut. Penny didn’t react to Daxon standing, so she must have fully fallen asleep.
Ryanne walked him to the door, tilting her head back when he leaned down. He pressed his lips to hers, but it was a quick kiss. His hands didn’t cup the back of her head. His arm didn’t wrap around her back. He never tilted his head to deepen contact with her mouth.
“Call me and let me know you’re okay,” she said as he backed toward the door.
He sure seemed like he needed to get out of there quick.
“I will. Lock the deadbolts. And call me if there are any problems. Or if you even get scared. If I can’t get here fast enough, I’ll send someone over to wait for me.”
Her brows puckered. He said she was safe, but he was acting like he expected a problem.
“Are you sure we’re not in danger?” she said, wrapping her arms around her middle.
His head wagged side to side. “I don’t think so. It’s just…” He ran a hand roughly though her hair. “I worry about you two when I’m not here. That’s all.”
“And whatever that text was has you freaked out or pissed off about something.”
This time he nodded. “I’ll explain later.” He leaned forward and pecked her on the lips, then stepped through the door.
He waited on the other side, brows raised, until she snicked the deadbolts in to place.
With a forced smile, he nodded at her, then jogged down the steps and toward his truck.
Was it an emergency? Was one of his friends hurt? What else would make him need to rush out of there so fast?
Ryanne decided to sit beside Penny a little while longer instead of carrying her to bed right away. She would never admit this to anyone else, but sometimes she got lonely. Penny generally fell asleep before her bedtime of eight-thirty. Ryanne would carry her to bed, and then be alone for hours.
Even when she went to bed herself, she would often lie there staring at the ceiling or one of the walls. Sleep had always been somewhat elusive for her, but even more so since the night of their botched camping trip.
Snuggling her sister close, she laid her cheek on top of Penny’s head and watched the end of the movie.
Unfortunately, that was over in thirty minutes.
With a sigh, Ryanne lifted Penny into her arms, cradling her close to her chest, and carried her into her bedroom. If only Ryanne could fall asleep so easily. Penny felt safe. And loved. That was why she slept so well.
Ryanne felt cared for, but it had been years, if ever, that she had felt safe.
After Penny was snuggled under her blankets, Ryanne sat at the foot of her bed and looked around. Their budget might have been tight all these years, but Ryanne had made a decent life for them both. Their belongings were mostly second hand, but they were well cared for and looked relatively new.
Even Penny’s room was tastefully decorated with things Ryanne had found at garage sales and thrift stores. The girl had everything she needed and plenty of toys to play with and movies to watch.
Penny rolled onto her side and mumbled something in her sleep, making Ryanne smile. She bent and pressed a kiss to her sister’s hair, then backed out of the room, pulling the door shut behind her.
And now it was lonely time.
Staring at the huge variety of movies, she decided to skip that. She needed to find some new books next time they ventured into a thrift store. For now, she decided to head out onto the porch and enjoy the warm evening air and the late sunset.
That had always been one of her favorite things about summer. She loved how long the days were and how comfortable the nights were. She had always been more of an outside girl, although that could have a lot to do with the animal living inside of her.
Tiptoeing through the house, Ryanne slid her feet into a pair of flip flops by the door, then stepped outside. She left the door cracked in case Penny needed her, although she would be able to hear her sister with the door closed. It was a peace of mind kind of thing.
The night air was thick and humid, but still felt good. Nocturnal creatures hummed and chirped and foraged for their meals. Stars twinkled bright above around a full moon.
The only thing missing was Daxon. His presence would make the night perfect.
Then again, his presence made everything better.
Trees rustled in the distance. It was louder than she expected now that the sun was setting. Probably a squirrel looking for an evening snack.
Only squirrels didn’t squawk or sing like a bird.
Squinting, she tried to see into the leaves, but there was quite a distance between where she sat and the trees across the open field. Had a flock of birds decided her land was a perfect place to set up their home?
And since when did flocks that large travel in the middle of the year?
Odd. But mildly interesting.
Leaning back onto her hands, Ryanne watched the limbs sway and the leaves tremble as the birds hopped around and continued their nightly song. She wished she could see what kind they were. She assumed it was the same flock as this morning, but couldn’t be certain.
Did ravens travel in groups that large? She knew next to nothing about wild bird behavior. She knew next to nothing about bird Shifter behavior, either. She had had little interaction with either species.
As the sun began to disappear over the horizon, Ryanne’s yard was cloaked in darkness. She preferred it this way. The stars were easie
r to see. The air cooled more when the sun was gone. The moon shone brighter, bathing the grass a pretty silvery blue.
Eventually, the birds quieted and Ryanne was left with the crickets and frogs singing their nightly song. She didn’t really consider herself a night owl, but she found a modicum of peace on nights like this.
And then that peace was cracked when she began to worry about Daxon. What could that text have said that caused him to rush out so fast? And was that fear or anger that caused his eyes to glow so vibrantly?
She wanted to text him and check on him. But if something had happened to one of his friends, she didn’t want to interrupt.
Lights appeared at the mouth of her driveway and bounced along the road as it neared her tiny house. It wasn’t Daxon. She knew the sound of his truck.
Sitting up straighter, Ryanne pulled her phone from her pocket and prepared to rush inside and dial Daxon. Just because she had a lynx inside of her didn’t mean she was prepared to fight anyone. Submissive animals tended to run and hide. Which meant there was a good chance Ryanne wouldn’t be able to coax her animal out if there was a threat.
A female voice called out through the passenger window. “Daxon sent us.” That voice sounded young.
The front doors opened.
“Hi,” the female said, crossing the distance and holding out her hand. “I’m Beth. That’s my brother, Jamie.”
“What are you doing here? Is Daxon okay?”
“He’s fine,” Jamie said.
“Then why did he send you? Why didn’t he just come back?” She looked down at her phone, wondering if she had missed a text or call from him as her heart threatened to jump out of her chest.
As fear for Daxon’s wellbeing caused her lynx to scratch at her insides and Ryanne’s eyes to burn with tears, she realized…she loved him. She didn’t know why she didn’t realize that before. She knew she was falling for him. She knew he was her mate, even if neither of them had admitted it to each other, but she’d had no idea she was no longer falling; she’d tumbled over that mountain days ago.
Beth shrugged her thin shoulders up. She was so petite. She couldn’t stand more than five feet tall and no way did she weigh more than one hundred pounds. “He said you could use a break. He’s at Moe’s. He wants to know if you’ll go on a date with him.”
Ryanne felt her brows drop. This didn’t feel right. If Daxon wanted to go out with her alone, why wouldn’t he simply call her and ask her?
“Hold on,” she said, backing into the house and locking the door.
Holding her phone up, she hit Daxon’s number and waited while it rang.
“Well?” he said as a greeting.
“What’s going on?” she asked, and was fully aware she sounded like she was bordering on hysterical.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I’m calling to ask you that. Did you send a teenager and her brother over here?”
“Beth and Jamie. Yeah. What’s wrong? Why do you sound so scared? Did either of them –"
“Nobody did anything to me, Daxon. Why wouldn’t you call me and give me a heads up?”
Now that she knew neither she nor Daxon were in immediate danger, she was a little ticked. What was he thinking sending complete strangers to her house? He knew how protective she was of Penny. He knew how ashamed of her living situation she was.
“I was trying to be romantic. I’m sorry. I should have called you first.”
Ryanne took a deep breath, held it for three seconds, then blew it out slowly. She needed to get her temper in check. He hadn’t meant to piss her off. He had thought he was doing her a favor.
“I can’t leave my sister with complete strangers, Daxon.”
“They’re not strangers. I mean, they are to you. But … it’s a long story. I trust them both. And Beth has been dying to not only meet Penny, but to babysit anyone’s kids. She had a rough time a few months back and she’s dying to feel like a normal teenager again. I thought maybe you’d feel better about leaving Penny with Beth if I sent Jamie over there, too.”
“Why would that make me feel better?”
“Because she’s so tiny. I mean, she’s a wolf Shifter, and from what I understand, can fight and all. But…yeah. She’s barely bigger than Penny.” Daxon chuckled softly, but she could tell he was regretting his decision to send the two over to her house.
“Why did you have to leave so fast?” she asked. His answer might determine whether or not she trusted the two kids or Daxon.
The phone went staticky in her ear when he blew out a rush of air. “I’ll be right back,” he said to someone on his side of the phone.
“Is she coming?” she heard a female call after him, her voice a little muted as Daxon walked away. That voice sounded like Campbell.
After a few seconds, the ambient noise in the background faded until all she heard was an occasional engine as a car drove past.
“Do we have to do this right now?” he asked. He sounded…tormented.
“I need to know what’s going on. I need to know why you sent two strangers to my house. I need to know why you looked so mad and rushed out of my house earlier.”
Ryanne could almost picture Daxon rubbing his forehead, his eyes glowing with strong emotion.
“You remember that day we met?”
“Of course,” she said.
“You remember how my friends immediately Shifted and ran after those assholes.”
“Yeah.” Where was he going with this?
“That wasn’t the first time for us.”
She frowned and turned her back when she spotted Beth watching her through the door, a sweet smile on her young face.
“What do you mean? That was the first time we met.”
“Not that. I mean, yeah. That was the first time we met. What I’m saying is, that wasn’t the first time we’ve helped a woman who was being chased by those assholes.”
She remembered him saying it wasn’t their first rodeo but hadn’t known for sure what that had meant.
Ryanne sat on the arm of the couch. “Go on.”
“My Pride actively sought out those bastards. We did our best to save as many women as possible. That’s how Charlie was shot. One of the women shot her by accident when she was trying to free a bunch of humans and Shifters who were being held captive.”
“You guys are like some kind of vigilantes?” she asked. She felt ridiculous asking it, but that was the only word she could think of to fit the situation.
“I guess you can put it that way. We were out of state for about a year. We’ve only been back for close to a year now. Anyway, remember how I made sure you got inside safely? How I checked on you after?”
“I figured you just liked me,” she said, trying her best and failing to lighten the moment.
“That was the main reason for me,” he said with a chuckle, “but usually, we take turns making sure the victims are getting through the trauma okay and that the humans don’t mention the attack to anyone. For obvious reasons.”
“Like anyone would believe they were kidnapped by werewolves and saved by werepanthers.” She shook her head at her own stupid joke, but wasn’t sure what she was supposed to say to all of this.
“Well, one of the women is having a really hard time. She dropped way too much weight, and when Brax and Campbell checked on her, she was so weak she could barely stand up to answer the door.”
Ryanne chewed on the inside of her cheek. “You went to check on her?”
“I took her some comfort food. Campbell and Brax are still with her. Aron wants them to stay with her a couple of days, make sure she gets some food in her and some sleep.”
So that wasn’t Campbell she’d heard in the background. She barely knew his friends, though. That could have been any of the dozen females she had met since Daxon had come into her life.
“And I decided to try to be romantic and surprise you with a date night. I should’ve asked if that was okay. I just really wanted to spend more time wi
th you and figured you wouldn’t mind a night away from your house and with some adults.”
Ryanne glanced back at the door. Jamie and Beth still stood on her porch, but they were no longer looking inside. They were talking to each other in low voices, and casually looking around her property.
“Okay,” she said after a few minutes.
“Okay?” Daxon repeated her.
“I’ll meet you at Moe’s. But only for a little while. I don’t want to leave Penny alone and have her wake up to find me gone and two people she doesn’t know sitting in the living room. She’ll freak out.”
Was this a good idea? There was a chance her sister could wake up to use the bathroom or get a drink. Seeing two complete strangers would scare the crap out of her. Would she think something had happened to Ryanne? Or worse – Would she think Ryanne abandoned her?
Hopefully, Penny would know better than that. But she would think something was wrong if Ryanne was gone.
Okay. She would only be gone for an hour. She would hang out with Daxon, get to know him, maybe talk about things they couldn’t normally with Penny around. And then she’d rush home and make sure her baby sister was safe and still asleep.
“See you soon,” Daxon said, relief evident in his voice.
Ryanne ended the call. Looking to the door, she intended to wave them in, but they had their backs to her. “You can come in,” she said at a normal voice. She knew they would hear her.
Beth and Jamie stepped in. Jamie looked stoic, but his sister was all smiles.
“Thank you for letting me do this. You don’t even have to pay me. I’m just excited to do something to help.”
Jamie looked at her like she was crazy, but Ryanne smiled and thanked her.
Looking down at her outfit, she figured it was okay to go to Moe’s, but her hair was a mess from their run in the woods.
“I’m going to take a few minutes to clean up, then I’ll head out.” She jotted down her number and hung it on the fridge in case there were any issues.
Shuffling to the bathroom, she pulled her hair out of the ponytail and dampened the curls. She massaged some curl activator throughout, then finger combed it to tame the mass and keep it from frizzing.
A quick look at her face and she shook her head. There was dust smeared in places on her face from running through the woods.
