by Susan Bliler
Clapping her hands together, Wanda made for the door. “Alright! I’m gonna go see Henry, find out if there’s anything she needs. You’re probably right about her space. I’ll let her get used to her cabin and check on her first thing in the morning.” Stopping with her hand on the doorknob she turned to face Modess. “Glad you’re back. I think this’ll be good for the pack. We need allies. You did the right thing.”
“Don’t need the vote of confidence, but thanks.”
Wanda winked at him before leaving.
Chapter 7
The next morning, Hillary woke early. She told herself it was because she wanted to be ready in case she was expected to prepare breakfast for the pack, but the truth was, the guest quarters were shit!
The cute little cabin was nestled in the woods a little further from the compound than the other cabins. It was quaint, with an open floor plan for the living room and small kitchenette that were separated by a large island with two stools, which comprised the dining area. There was one room with an attached bathroom. Everything had been clean and well stocked. The fridge was full of fresh food, the towels in the bathroom smelled like fabric softer, and there was plenty of wood stacked beside the hearth for starting a fire. The problem? The bedroom had no bed! It wouldn’t have been that big of a deal except the living area didn’t have a sofa. Two oversized chairs were spaced facing the hearth with a large coffee table in front of them. Luckily, she was small enough that last night she’d gotten ready for bed and curled up into one of the chairs, but it had been uncomfortable. Making matters worse was what those idiots Lee and Dalton had packed for her. She’d had to sleep in a satiny white negligee she’d purchased years ago and knew for a fact was buried deep in the back of her closet. It was the only sleepwear they’d packed and it was mild compared to the underwear they’d packed for her. She had a dresser drawer filled with what she thought of as her ‘someday’ clothes, sexy little wisps of satin and silk that she never wore. She held on to the articles because they’d been expensive, and if she was being honest, she hoped one day to lose enough weight to actually feel sexy wearing those things. She certainly wasn’t there now and that was apparently too damn bad because dumb and dumber hadn’t packed her a single pair of sensible cotton panties. Nope, all thongs and lacey see-through bras. Her cheeks flamed with the realization that two strange men had gone through her most intimate things. Perverts!
The clothes they’d packed were just as bad. Somehow, they’d managed to find all the jeans and shorts that she could just barely squeeze herself into. And shirts? Everything was low cut and spaghetti strapped, revealing way more skin than she was comfortable with even in summer.
A knock on the door drew her from her thoughts. She quickly dropped her hand from where it had been massaging the kink in the back of her neck.
“Allooo!”
Stepping out of the bedroom, Hillary found a woman peeking her head in the front door. The woman was beautiful with chestnut colored hair wrapped in thick twist hanging over one shoulder. Her almond shaped eyes were a warm chocolate and lined with thick eyeliner that only made them look more dynamic.
Hillary offered a soft, “Hello?”
The woman stepped fully into the living room clad in sleek black dress with cropped sleeves and matching sandals. “I’m Wanda. And you’re Hillary?”
“Y-yes.”
The woman smiled. “How was your first night?”
Not wanting to complain, Hillary nodded. “Fine, thanks.”
“Good.” The woman began pacing the cabin and looking at things. When she was near the bedroom and peeked her head in she jerked it back, frowning. “Where’s your bed?”
“There wasn’t one.”
The woman seemed angry. “No bed?” Eyeing Hillary and then the cabin she asked, “Where did you sleep.”
Hillary pointed at one of the chairs. “There.”
“Oh my God!” Wanda blanched. “My apologies, I’ll…” But suddenly her words were replaced with a glint lit her eyes. Abruptly, she changed the subject. “I’m Modess’ sister. Did I tell you that?”
Well, that was news. “No. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Well,” she looked Hillary up and down. “You look ready for the day. How about a tour?”
“I’d appreciate that.” She knew she sounded eager, but being shown around the compound by the Alpha’s sister was too good to pass up.
Smiling as if she knew Hillary’s thoughts, Wanda led her out of the cabin.
***
Modess stared down at the bowl of oatmeal placed in front of him. “What the fuck is this?”
Bull shrugged placing his own bowl on the table beside Modess. “Breakfast.”
Head snapping up, Modess’ eyes shot toward the kitchen. He’d been watching it intently since he arrived, hoping to catch a glimpse of Hillary. He told himself it was to ensure she was adjusting well. He hadn’t seen her. “Where the fuck is the new cook?” he snarled.
Bull shoved a spoonful of oatmeal into his mouth and spoke around it. “Wanda’s giving her a tour of the place. You know, getting her acclimated.”
“Acclimated? Tour? The only thing she needs to see is the kitchen!”
Shaking his head, Bull took another bite. “You’ll have to take it up with Wanda because if you think I’m pissing your sister off, you’re wrong.”
Modess snorted. Wanda could be a pill when she wanted, and it typically happened when she didn’t get her way. Right now though, that wasn’t his concern. He watched as Bull frowned, concentrating too hard on eating. “Something wrong?”
“No,” Bull clipped out and stirred his oatmeal.
Clearly, something was because Bull was always more talkative than this.
“This got anything to do with Simone?”
Bull’s brows snapped down. “Fuck no!”
“You sure? Because…”
Bull’s head shot up. “I said nothing was wrong, Mo. Can you just let it go?”
Watching Bull intently, he debated a moment before dipping his head in a nod. He didn’t like people badgering him when shit was bothering him, so he sure as fuck wasn’t about to do it to his best friend. Lowering his eyes, he shoveled a bite of the sticky goop that was supposed to be breakfast into his mouth when something delicious wafted to him. Head snapping up, he inhaled deeply before swallowing and asked Bull, “What’s that?”
Looking up at his Alpha, Bull lifted his nose and inhaled before his brows dipped in confusion. “Oatmeal?”
“No! Not that! It’s sweet...” He inhaled again and his gut clenched. Turning, he eyed the kitchen again. “Is someone making cupcakes?”
Bull shook his head, his nostrils flaring as he scented again. “I don’t smell cupcakes. All I smell is…” He lifted his spoon and looked down at it. “Maybe it’s the brown sugar?”
Modess shook his head with a growl, but his attention jerked to the door when it was shoved open.
Wanda entered the dining hall with Hillary following close behind. A breeze drifted in behind them, sending that delicious sweet scent slamming into him.
In front of him, Bull was sniffing like crazy now. “I can’t smell it? Fuck! Maybe something’s wrong.” He pinched his nose and then released it before sniffing again. “You still smell it?” Without waiting for an answer he shoved back from the table. “I’ll check the kitchen.”
Bull hurried toward the kitchen, but Modess’ eyes were locked on Hillary.
Her fiery red hair was pulled up in a ponytail that shone brightly in the summer sun filtering in through the door. Her hairdo exposed the creamy skin of her throat and shoulders, visible because she was wearing one of those sexy as fuck summer shirts with no sleeves. It was bright blue, tented by her perfect sized breasts and hung just to the short shorts that revealed smooth, thick thighs. Her tiny-ass feet were encased in white canvas shoes and Modess couldn’t keep his eyes from tracking down her frame before tripping their way back up.
His eyes collided with Hillary�
�s and he watched, amused, as she blushed hard before crossing her arms over her lap like she was trying to hide from him. His wolf stirred at the action because that simple little gesture felt like she was running from him. His wolf scratched at the surface, demanding he give chase.
Wanda waved her hand around as she spoke. She introduced Hillary to a table of females and Modess watched a timid smile take Hillary’s features. He wondered what she thought of his compound and that was disconcerting because she was just a visitor, and he knew he shouldn’t care.
Wanda was heading toward them, so Modess set his spoon down and sat taller.
“Morning, little brother. Bull.”
Bull stepped from behind Modess and reclaimed his seat, jerking his chin by way of greeting.
Modess growled, “Morning, irritating sister.”
Wanda jerked a thumb at Hillary. “Showing her around. Thought it’d be nice for her to get used to the place before she went straight to work.”
His gaze slid back to Hillary who ducked her head as soon as he looked at her. He grunted at the action, eyes still pinned on Hillary’s bent head. “Well, make it quick! This shit is inedible.” He pushed the bowl of oatmeal away and Hillary peeked up at it.
“Sorry,” she muttered quietly. Wanda shot him a dark look.
Great! Now he felt like shit for making Hillary feel bad.
Beside him, Bull was still sniffing. Turning abruptly he asked, “Wanda, you smell cake?”
Christ! Knowing that the scent had actually been Hillary, Modess was a little amazed that Bull couldn’t smell her even now with her standing right beside him.
Wanda lifted her nose and scented the air. “No.” She looked toward the kitchen. “Who the hell would be making a cake at this hour?”
“Modess thought he…”
“Hey!” Modess cut in an attempt to change the subject. “Don’t you have a tour to finish?” He looked at Wanda pointedly. Her brows hiked to her hairline, arms crossing over her chest in that tell-tale, I’m-about-to-be-a-pain-in-the-ass-way.
Suddenly, shouts sounded from outside followed by vicious growling.
It was the unmistakable sound of wolves fighting. Modess shoved away from the table. For unknown reasons, he turned to Hillary and growled, “Stay here,” jabbing his finger toward the floor for emphasis.
Wanda shot him a look that he ignored. Bull was already moving and Modess followed close behind as they tore out of the dining hall.
Chapter 8
Near the road that led into the compound, two of Modess’ wolves were engaged in battle with a white wolf he didn’t recognize. That alone pissed him off. Outsiders should know better, and if they didn’t, they would!
Beside him Bull shouted, “STOP!” He took off at a run, which had Modess staring at his Beta in confusion as he too raced toward the brawl.
Before Modess could intervene, Bull was already pulling the two gray wolves off the white. Behind him, Hillary cried out, “NOOOO!” He turned to find her racing toward them.
“Leave her alone!” Hillary shouted. When she tried to launch herself into the melee, Modess caught her around the waist and hauled her body back into his, protective instincts surging to the fore. Hillary struggled in his hold. The feel of her hot, lush body against his was torture, but her distress was about to have his wolf exploding from him.
Turning, he watched the white wolf shift. It was the blonde from Shadow Wolf. The one Bull had been interested in, Simone.
“Get the fuck back,” Bull shouted shoving Henry and the other wolf, Modess recognized as one of his enforcers, Able. The rest of his pack was beginning to gather, several already shifted and ready to battle.
Simone stayed on the ground, Bull standing in front of her, clearly prepared to defend her as she clamped a hand onto the vicious bite on her leg. She was bleeding in several places and as Hillary took in the sight of her, she whimpered. That was all it took.
Modess kept Hillary pinned tightly to him but let the heavy weight of his authority crack in his tone as he commanded, “Everyone leave!”
Instantly, his shifters and wolves melted back to wherever they’d come from. All of them except Bull who faced Modess, hands fisted, head lowered. His eyes locked on Modess as he snarled up at him in clear defiance.
Interesting.
“Simone?” Hillary’s plea had his eyes lowering back to Simone and the second he released Hillary, she ran to her friend.
Bull snarled at Hillary as she passed and that had Modess moving. One second he was watching Hillary’s hands rove her friend’s injuries and the next he had Bull’s shirt fisted in a white knuckled grip.
“Stand the fuck down, Bull!” He couldn’t explain his wolf’s visceral need to defend against Bull’s snarling at Hillary. By the look on Bull’s face he could tell his Beta was having the same issue with Simone. “No one’s going to hurt her.” His eyes sliced to where Hillary was accepting the shirt Wanda whipped over her head and handed her before she pressed it to Simone’s leg. Okay, no one’s going to hurt her more than they already have.
Releasing Bull, he turned to look down at Simone. “What are you doing here, Shadow Wolf?”
Lip trembling and hands shaking, Simone spoke without meeting his eyes. “I came to check on Hillary. She was sent away against her will. No one told me. I had to make sure she was okay.”
Hillary sobbed and threw her arms around Simone who hugged her back just as tightly.
“She’s hurt pretty bad,” Wanda spoke quietly from beside him. “We should…”
“I’m on it!” Without direction, Bull waited for Hillary to pull back from the hug before he bent and lifted Simone into his arms. He stalked back toward camp with Hillary fast on his heels.
Modess and Wanda watched. Leaning toward Modess, Wanda asked, “Is he acting…”
“Yeah,” Modess cut her off before snarling, “He is.” He followed Bull and Hillary toward the cabin of their Medicine Woman.
***
Hillary was so damn relived that Simone was okay. Most of her wounds had healed quickly except for that bad bite on her leg. It had gone to the bone and shifters didn’t heal quickly from wounds like that.
Modess was pissed that Henry and Able had attacked an approaching outsider without consulting him first. It was bad form, and apparently not the first time Henry had overstepped his bounds.
“She’s gonna be okay,” Wanda assured. She squeezed Hillary’s shoulder as they worked in the kitchen preparing lunch for the pack. Wanda and Hillary had become fast friends. Hillary had even been formally introduced to Wanda’s mate, Christian, who’d been the one to drive Hillary to Blood Lust. She’d also met Wanda and Christian’s son, Evan. He was eleven and just as rambunctious as the young male shifters back at Shadow Wolf. Hillary really liked Modess’ sister and was so grateful that Wanda had been just as welcoming to Simone, which only endeared Hillary to her further.
“I wish she could stay in the guest cabin with me.” Hillary had said the same thing to Wanda for the past two days since Simone had been at Blood Lust, but she knew it couldn’t happen.
“Me too,” Wanda looked down at her fingers and fidgeted with them almost nervously. “But there’s no bed in the guest cabin and Simone deserves to be comfortable right?”
Hillary’s response was immediate. “Yes.” Even now her lower back whined from the discomfort of her previous night’s sleep. The oversized chair where she slept was getting less and less comfortable with each passing night. Tonight, she’d try making a blanket bed on the floor or else she’d shift and sleep curled up in wolf form because her poor aching body couldn’t take many more nights of being scrunched up like she’d been. Her brow crinkled as her thoughts fled her own comfort to think on Simone’s. “You think Bull is bothered that she has to stay with him?”
Initially, Simone had stayed in the cabin of the Medicine Woman, Mary Alex, but when most of her injuries had healed, she’d been moved. Needing a place to stay, Modess had declared that Simone wou
ld stay in Bull’s guest room.
“He doesn’t mind, sweetie. Bull is a really good guy.”
“I just feel bad.” Hillary’s hands were covered in flour. She rolled out a thick sheet of dough that she would hand cut into rows of biscuits before baking to accompany the three huge pots of stew simmering on the stove. “She came here for me and she got hurt because of it. Now, she’s being guarded by the Beta while she heals and I just feel…”
“Hey,” Wanda bumped her shoulder. “Believe me, Bull is not guarding her. He really doesn’t mind her being at his place.” She waggled her eyebrows.
“Wait!” Hillary stopped rolling. “Does he like her?”
Wanda grinned, shrugging one shoulder up to her ear. “Maybe.”
The information was surprisingly comforting. Hillary hadn’t interacted much with Bull, but from what she’d seen, he was a patient and considerate man. Having him look out for Simone couldn’t be a bad thing, especially with Henry and Able having been punished for attacking Simone. Honestly, Hillary had been worried that they’d try to go after her again, but under the Beta’s watch, Simone was safe.
“Just something in the air!” Wanda smiled as she melted a bowl of butter in the microwave for slathering on the biscuits. “I love playing matchmaker and if everything goes right, everybody will be over the moon in love by fall. It’s so exciting!”
“Everybody?” Hillary asked. “Who else?”
“Oh!” Wanda’s eyes rounded. “Just…” She shook her head and waved the basting brush she held sending dots of butter everywhere. “Other…pack…members.”
Hillary grabbed a kitchen towel and tried to hold it under the basting brush Wanda still held in the air. “Okay. Well good luck with that. How about we set that brush on the counter?”
Looking at the brush in her hand as if just now realizing she was holding it, Wanda quickly lowered it to the counter. “Sorry,” she muttered. “I’ll help you clean the kitchen. I promise!”
They worked in silence for a while until finally curiosity got the best of Hillary. “So…are you trying to make a match for Modess? Is he one of the ones you were talking about?” Her cheeks singed when Wanda shot her a knowing look with a smirk on her lips.
