He looked at her, then shook his head. “I’m as honest with you as I can be. That’s all I can say for now.”
She walked alongside him the rest of the time in quiet, going over all of his words in her head. What had possibly caused the change that had happened? Why was he so nervous when everything had been perfect just last night?
What was she possibly missing?
By the time they were nearly back to camp, they were finally talking again, about the weather and how nice it was outside. The tension of a little while ago was almost forgotten as Grayson reached out a hand for hers, and she took it eagerly as they walked.
No matter the circumstances surrounding them, whenever she touched this man, she felt right.
There was nothing scientific about it, but she felt more certain about the goodness of this man than she was about anything else she’d researched.
It was odd to feel such certainty from the heart.
As they reached camp, Grayson walked her to her camper and released her hand reluctantly, straightening his cap on his head. “So what’s the plan now, wolf hunter?”
“Just planning to look at some surveillance tapes,” she said.
He shrugged, and she could tell he was still conflicted over her research, even if he’d taken back asking her to stop. “Can you at least promise me you won’t go out there without me?”
She hesitated. “Look, it’s not really your job.”
He came in close then, cupping her cheek, brushing hair away from her skin, looking down at her tenderly. “Can it be my job, then?”
She put her hand over his and said something she wasn’t proud of. “Are you more worried about the wolves or about me?”
He took a step back, stunned, and she tried to explain herself.
“You told me to stop looking for them, even though it means everything to me in the world.”
“Because I’m afraid for you,” Grayson said. “Because I’m trying to protect you.”
“From what I want? Grayson, this is what I do for a living. I’m not afraid of any wolves!”
“You don’t know any wolves like this!”
She gaped as he spun around, facing away from her with his hands on his hips. She strode up to him, grabbing his arm. “So you do know of wolves around here.”
“Not the kind you’re looking for,” Grayson said, his expression hard as he pulled his arm away carefully. “I can’t tell you any more, so why can’t you just trust me?”
Her heart was bursting with curiosity about what he could possibly mean, but she could see walls rising behind his eyes and knew there was nothing more he could tell her.
Suddenly, she felt guilty. Whether she meant to or not, she was making him nervous. And she did trust him, more than she’d trusted anyone in her life.
Which was odd, considering he’d apparently lied to her about knowing about wolves when he’d met her.
Then again, hadn’t she known even then that it was a lie?
Perhaps some lies were necessary sometimes, and that’s why it hadn’t bothered her.
But with everything she knew about Grayson, she also shouldn’t let it bother her now. She wasn’t going to give up her research, at least not yet, but she could at least agree on one thing with him.
“Okay.” She folded her arms with a sigh. “I won’t go out without you.” She wrinkled her nose. “Even though I’m just fine on my own.”
Visible relief came over him, and he walked forward and pulled her into his arms. “Thank goodness.”
“Yeah, yeah,” she muttered against his hard chest. “You’re lucky you’re so sexy and awesome, because normally, you can’t keep a researcher from her work.”
“I know,” he replied, running a hand through her hair patiently. “Just give me some time to work on some things, and then I promise I can tell you more. And after that, if you want, I’ll help you track gray wolves for the rest of your life.”
Then he jogged back to his truck, and she stared after him, dumbfounded.
What did he mean for the rest of her life, and why did that sound so good to her?
Chapter 14
Grayson was super confused about what he was going to do next, and being tired from staying up all night wasn’t helping at all.
His first point of business had been to convince his mate not to go off and do something stupid, and his next order of business was a nap, if he could squeeze one in.
It was still early when he got back to the trailer, and he took advantage of the quiet to sneak into his double-wide and lock the door behind him.
Then he stripped off his clothes, threw on some pajama bottoms and an old shirt, and fell into bed.
But sleep didn’t come easily. Instead, he rolled back onto his arm, looking at the ceiling of his trailer and remembering how betrayed April had looked when he’d asked her to stop her research.
There was a part of him, a sneaky, insecure little part, that said her research meant more than he did.
But he also knew he’d been sketchy about his intentions, and she had a right to be upset.
Honestly, this was all nothing like he’d thought it would be when he met his mate.
First, he thought it would be another wolf, so he’d never thought about the complication of telling a human what he was and that shifters existed.
Second, he’d never thought he’d simultaneously be in the position of protecting another pack so he’d be revealing more than just his secret if he told his mate everything.
A part of him wanted to just come clean to her, but he knew he couldn’t. If the wolves here knew that she knew, they’d be after him. But how else could he explain that the wolves she was looking for now were different? That they weren’t safe and she’d be better off going elsewhere to do her research?
Hell, if he went with her, he could practically talk to the wolves for her. Even if he kind of wished she’d quit chasing wolves at all.
But running away from this place also wasn’t an option. As much as he hated some of the douchebags here, there were good shifters, too. Children, like he’d been once.
Maybe if someone like him had come to help the pack when he’d been younger, he wouldn’t have felt so desperate that he had to leave. Maybe he wouldn’t have felt that the only way to help his pack was to temporarily abandon them.
Or maybe, if he was honest, his going into the military had held an element of escaping because things were so rough, so tiring, so hungry at home.
He’d sent money the whole time he was gone, so he could only hope his parents had done good things with it. But he supposed he could have gone home much earlier if he really wanted to be there.
To be truthful, the call of the pack had not been as strong as the call of self-preservation, and he’d regretted that ever since he’d seen the shallow, unmarked graves and known that his pack hadn’t made it.
He didn’t want to see that happen here. He didn’t know if his pack had been wiped by humans or the Tribunal, or if they had simply faded away one by one, but he wasn’t going to let that happen in the settlement.
So he was stuck because he couldn’t leave with April and he couldn’t tell her why she couldn’t research and he also couldn’t just let her keep poking her nose into pack matters when he knew it would make her unsafe.
He rolled over on his side, cursing whatever stupid wolves had the audacity to go out and howl when they’d made a pack’s promise to stay human. When he woke up from his nap, he’d be sure to go give Brett a piece of his mind.
With that comforting thought, sleep finally found him. But it wasn’t more than a few hours before the sound of shouting woke him up.
He blinked blearily, realizing someone was banging on his trailer, and stumbled to the door to open it up.
When he saw Mattson and his lackeys standing there, he pushed his way down the stairs and slammed the door shut behind him, not wanting to let any of them inside.
He folded his arms, hoping to look intimidating, as Matt
son took a half step back.
“Where were you last night, rogue?” Mattson practically spat, pacing in front of him. “And why is the girl still at her campsite? If you’re so powerful, so good with humans, why the hell can’t you scare her away?”
Grayson snapped at the thought of them spying on her campsite when they’d been told clearly by their alpha to stay away. “Why the hell was one of you outside howling last night?”
If anyone was trying to screw with things, start a fight, he’d bet it was one of these guys.
Mattson cocked his head innocently. “I don’t know what you mean. We haven’t been in wolf form since we made the pack’s promise.”
“That’s good,” Grayson said, narrowing his eyes. “Because breaking that promise would lead to expulsion from the pack.”
Mattson scowled. “Which would be none of your business because you’re not in it.”
“Right.” Grayson folded his arms. “But right now, I’m here to protect it from anyone who would harm it, and that includes members who are trying to go rogue.”
Mattson’s teeth flashed. “You only care about protecting the woman. You want to fuck her, a lowly human, and—”
Mattson didn’t get to finish his sentence because Grayson’s punch landed squarely on his face, knocking him backward and sending him rolling into the dust, where he lay there, prone.
Grayson flexed his shoulders and strode forward, looking at the lackeys. “Who’s next?”
“You’re on her side!” One of the lackeys pointed cravenly. “How could you take the side of a human over your own kind?”
“I judge people by who they are, not what they are,” Grayson said. “And she’s worth two of you.” He cracked his knuckles. “I wanted to help, but I didn’t sign up for this shit. I have a shit ton to do, and I don’t have time for petty fuckwads trying to stir shit up. I’m doing what I can for the pack, but I swear, if one more of you threaten her—”
“Is she your mate?” Mattson asked shrewdly, stumbling forward and wiping the side of his mouth, looking relatively unfazed.
Grayson’s whole body tightened. Of course she was his mate, but this was the last person he wanted to know that. If the pack knew she was his mate, they would assume he would always side with her. Which was true, but he wanted to protect them as well, and—
Mattson’s grin said everything. “So she is.”
“No,” Grayson said sharply. “But if a human is harmed, you know the Tribunal will fall on us.”
Mattson grimaced but didn’t look convinced. “If your loyalty is truly to the pack, then prove it. The woman needs to be gone. Tonight.”
Then Mattson and his cronies slunk away, off to another part of the settlement where they would probably drink the day away and talk shit.
That was if they didn’t go sneak off in wolf form, because Grayson very much had his doubts they were keeping their word on that.
He walked back into his trailer and slammed the door shut, grabbing for his phone that was on the counter.
Not knowing what else to do, he dialed Hunter, and as he waited for the cougar to pick up, plans started to take form in his mind.
“Grayson?” Hunter asked, sounding confused that Grayson was calling. “Is everything okay? I’m sorry I punched you, and—”
“It’s okay. I deserved it,” Grayson said. “I’m sorry.”
Hunter sputtered. “Wait, what? An apology? From the wolf?”
“From your friend,” Grayson said quietly. “Listen, I need your help.”
“Sure, boss, whatever you need.” Hunter agreed.
Grayson smiled slightly at his friend’s support, deciding he wouldn’t take his friends for granted after this moment, as long as everything could just work out right.
* * *
April focused in as she booted up her laptop and set it on the small table in her trailer, sitting in front of it.
She tapped her foot as she logged in and then started scanning through camera footage for any sign of the wolves she’d heard.
Minutes then hours went by, and all April saw was the woods, the grass, the wilderness she’d gotten familiar with the last few days.
Grayson’s words were still on her mind, his confusing statements about wolves being there, but not normal ones. What did he even mean by that, and was he trying to protect them?
He’d gotten so worked up about wolf packs, and she’d seen real hurt in his eyes as he’d spoken. Perhaps talk of packs had brought up thoughts about his missing family.
There were still so many mysteries to solve as far as Grayson was concerned, but she at least knew they’d be working together.
For now, she had to focus on finding the wolves. Once she found them on camera and checked her findings out with Grayson, she could finish her report, send her research in to the government, and be done with her project.
Maybe she would still stay in Silver Lake a few extra weeks, just to see how things went.
She was sighing and scrolling through the video on the last camera when something huge darted across the picture, catching her eye.
Her heart began to thump in her chest as she used her finger on the track pad to quickly rewind.
Sure enough, a wolf crossed through the clearing, followed by another just like it.
Her eyes narrowed, studying the wolves’ movements as they passed in front of the camera and then walked off to the side as if totally unbothered.
Except the last of the wolves stopped, and she could swear he looked directly into the camera for a second, where it was mounted on a tree.
Did he see it?
But then he followed his friends, and she hurried to fast forward to see if they ever entered the frame again. Sure enough, a few minutes later, they were there.
She gasped as she zoomed in on the footage, wondering how she hadn’t noticed something before.
They were huge.
Whatever these wolves were, they were giant. Ginormous. She paused the screen and measured a nearby tree with her fingers and guessed that the wolves were more similar in size to a small horse than a normal gray wolf.
She sat back in her chair, staring blankly at nothing. Grayson had been right. There were abnormal wolves here. Had there been a chemical plant that leaked or something? She’d never seen anything like it. No one in her research circle ever had.
She raised a hand, touching the screen gingerly, admiring the sheer beauty of the animal in front of her. For the most part, it looked like a normal wolf, except it was a bit extra muscular.
But if you looked at it in comparison to its surroundings, something was clearly not right.
She sighed as she sat back in her chair, running her hands through her hair and pulling it loose from her ponytail.
Was this some kind of hoax? Someone playing a trick on her?
How would someone even do that?
One thing was for sure. She had to call Grayson. If these wolves were out there, she had to find them. Heck, she should probably call other people. Her mentor, for one, would want to hear about that.
She could already see news stories, fame, glory. Her name in scientific articles, a wolf pack named after her…
But she could also see cages. Cells. Needles.
Such striking, unbelievable creatures would probably be captured. Normal wolves were left to be observed in the wild, but freaks of nature needed to be studied.
But why?
She looked carefully at the wolf on the screen in front of her, at the knowing look in its eyes. Regardless of how it came to be, didn’t it also deserve respect?
Perhaps this was why Grayson had been so cagey and protective. He’d known that whatever was out here would draw the attention of the whole world, maybe to the detriment of the town and the animals.
Then again, maybe he didn’t know about this at all. Maybe he’d only heard rumors.
The only way to find out would be to ask him.
She pushed out of her chair and shrugged into her jacke
t before yanking the door open to the trailer and stumbling outside into the rain.
At some point, it’d gotten cloudy, and there was only light rainfall now. She jogged to her car, sat in the driver’s seat, but couldn’t start it.
With a curse, she pulled out her phone, knowing she could call Grayson. She held it in the air, but didn’t see any reception.
Dammit, she really should have kept her car more maintained since Grayson couldn’t just be around all day fixing it.
Wrapping her jacket tighter around her, she jogged out into the rain, grateful it was only a light mist and she didn’t have very far to go.
Chapter 15
Grayson still hadn’t figured out what he was going to do about April later that evening.
He knew he was running out of time and that the pack would want her off the land that night, as they had requested, but he wasn’t sure how to tell April she couldn’t stay.
And whether he could convince her to go now that she was so caught up in her research.
One option would be to tell her about himself and the wolves, but he’d have to do it when no other shifters could hear, and he would still risk getting in a lot of trouble.
His heart nearly stopped at the thought of it, of telling April exactly what he was. A part of him was terrified, but another part was relieved because he was tired of hiding his true self from the woman he was coming to love.
Probably in love with from the moment he met her.
He rubbed his head with both hands, trying to imagine her reaction to whatever he might say. It was somewhat comforting to think that if anyone might be okay with their significant other being a wolf person, it was April the wolf researcher.
But on the other hand, as a scientist who felt she understood the world, at least her little part of it, he knew this whole revelation would really shake things up.
But he couldn’t think of any other way out of their current situation. And if things stayed as they were, they were fucked.
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