Whatever else Cassie may have said was lost in the clamoring panic that drowned out all sound.
It had only been a nip, not really a bite.
And they weren’t actually doing it when it happened. Yeah, they were fooling around and getting hot and bothered, but Tristan wasn’t inside her when he bit her.
“Nel, are you okay?” Grace asked. “You look pale.”
“I’m overwhelmed.” Nel rubbed her stomach, trying not to imagine a wolf baby growing inside her. “I’ve been sleeping with a man who isn’t human.”
“Have you ever dated someone of another race or culture?” Grace offered her a smile.
“Yes.”
“This is no different, Nel,” Cassie said.
“Of course it is. Those men were human. Tristan is part animal.”
“Wahyas retain their human consciousness in their wolf forms. They feel love, sadness, fear, loss, just like we do,” Cassie said.
“When I was trapped in a room with no way out and the building was burning down around me—” Grace placed her cup on the coffee table “—my husband was on the other side of the door. He could’ve gotten out of harm’s way, but he refused to leave. He was willing to die with me rather than live without me.” Tears shimmered in Grace’s eyes. “That, Nel, is how deeply a Wahya male loves. I know of no other animal that would’ve done what Rafe did.”
“Both of you are forgetting that Tristan doesn’t love me. It’s a summer fling. Nothing more.”
“Who are you trying to convince?” Grace asked. “Us? Or yourself?”
“I’m trying to get a handle on the fact that werewolves exist.”
“Wahyas,” Cassie corrected. “The term werewolf is offensive to them.”
“My brain feels turned inside out.” Without having sipped the coffee, Nel set her mug next to Grace’s on the table.
“It will for a while.” Grace pulled the band out of her hair, then retied her ponytail. “But this can become your new norm, Nel.”
“Since coming to Walker’s Run, you’ve blossomed from a shy wallflower into a strong, confident woman.” Cassie toed off her shoes and tucked her tiny feet beneath her legs.
“If, as you say, you and Tristan are nothing more than a summer fling—” Grace’s blond eyebrow lifted in a delicate curve “—there are plenty of other wolfan males available.”
The problem was that, despite everything, Tristan was the one Nel wanted.
* * *
“What happened to your arm?” Brice stood in the doorway of Tristan’s apartment, Rafe slightly behind him.
“Jaxen bit me. I’m fine, go away.” Tristan swung the door but Brice caught it before it closed. Neither he nor Rafe cared that they had not been invited in. They simply waltzed inside and made themselves at home.
Other than Nel, Tristan hadn’t had his friends in his apartment, though he had stopped by their homes for short visits. From the looks on Brice’s and Rafe’s faces, this would be a rather long one.
“I feel like shit, so whatever you want to say, make it quick.” Tristan plopped onto the couch and stretched out.
“We’ve been where you are.” Brice smacked Tristan’s bare feet and waved for him to move over.
Tristan replied with an irritable growl but complied.
Silently, Rafe sat in the armchair. He wasn’t much of a talker, which was okay because Brice, the pack lawyer, could talk enough for three people.
“Do you love her?”
“I haven’t claimed her nor do I intend to.” Tristan’s gut seized.
“Not the same thing,” Brice said.
“I don’t know what I feel.” Tristan scratched the day’s growth of beard beneath his chin. “I think about Nel a lot. I like being with her, but I don’t imagine us spending the rest of our lives together,” he lied. No need to confess something when there was no hope for it.
He’d been a fool to take Nel to his favorite place inside the sanctuary.
He’d bang his head if it didn’t already hurt so damn bad. Nearly as bad as his heart.
“What does your wolf tell you?” Rafe asked quietly. Near feral when adopted into the Walker’s Run pack, Rafe had always been more in tune with his wolf instinct.
“He’s in hibernation,” Tristan lied. “Haven’t heard a peep.”
“We’re wolves, not bears.” Rafe cut his eyes at him. “Try again.”
“Nel is sweet and gentle and trusting, so my wolf and I feel protective of her. Dammit, I’m a sentinel and a sheriff’s deputy. It’s how I’m wired.”
“Hmm.” Brice whipped out his phone.
“Who are you calling?”
“Shane. He’s a sentinel and studying criminal justice and wants a career in law enforcement. I’m checking to see if he feels the same about Nel.”
Tristan’s inner wolf snarled, ferocious and irritated. “Hang up.” Tristan smacked Brice with a couch pillow.
Brice chuckled and shoved the phone back into his pocket.
“Nel and I aren’t going any further than we’ve gone,” Tristan said. “I want her to be happy. And you know I can’t be.”
“Tristan,” Brice began.
“End of discussion.” Tristan put up his hand.
Rafe’s gaze narrowed. Though he said nothing, his jaw worked behind sealed lips.
“Unless there’s something else, I need to catch a couple of hours’ sleep.” Although, Tristan didn’t expect he would sleep, since every time he closed his eyes he saw Nel crying on the front porch and Cassie whisking her inside the cabin. Away from him. “I go on duty at the sheriff’s office at midnight.”
“Dad wants to see you tomorrow. He’s called a meeting with Jaxen and your dad.”
Tristan thumped his head against the couch headrest. A family meeting with the Alpha, fucking great.
Chapter 30
“Are you feeling better?” Sitting in the resort dining room, Cassie stabbed a piece of lettuce in her Caesar salad.
Not really, Nel thought. She hadn’t slept a wink and her heart hurt.
Tristan had neither called nor texted and she’d really wanted him to. Even knowing that he wasn’t human, she hadn’t been able to convince her heart that not hearing from him was for the best.
“I’m just tired,” Nel finally answered.
“Oh, Nel. Please don’t worry yourself sick over what happened yesterday. Everything will be fine. I promise.”
“On my first day, you warned me not to get involved with Tristan.” Nel had no one to blame for her heartbreak except herself. “I should’ve listened.”
“You fell in love,” Cassie said. “It happens to the best of us.”
“But not to Tristan.”
“I think you’re wrong about him.” Cassie pushed her salad plate aside and folded her arms on the table. “I’ve never seen Tristan engage with someone the way he does with you.”
“That doesn’t really matter now.”
A server walked past carrying a food tray loaded with a large bowl of shrimp and grits, a steakhouse burger platter and a broiled mountain trout still with its head attached.
Nel placed her hand on her belly to settle her stomach, queasy since yesterday’s fiasco.
“Give yourself time to adjust and remember, he’s adjusting, too.”
Nel sipped a chilled glass of water.
“Will you be all right to drive back to Atlanta today?”
“I’ll be fine.” Nel had dinner plans with Tristan’s mother and the Gilbert Michaud of the Michaud Galleria d’Art to discuss her portfolio.
Nel wasn’t looking forward to attending this meeting without Tristan. After all, he was the whole reason there was a meeting to attend. If Suzannah hadn’t seen Nel’s artwork while visiting Tristan, Nel would never have ca
ught the attention of one of Atlanta’s leading art brokers.
“I hope you don’t let Suzannah sweep you off your feet,” Cassie said.
“What do you mean?”
“When you get to know her, Suzannah is a nice lady, but she likes ritzy parties and flashy friends. Her life in Atlanta is a whirlwind. It’s easy to get caught up in the frenzy.”
“I prefer to keep things simple.”
Cassie smiled. “We keep things simple in Walker’s Run. Well, as simple as we can. We have a place for you here, Nel.”
“I’m still processing what happened yesterday. I can’t think about a new job or moving or anything else right now.”
“No pressure,” Cassie said. “It’s simply an option to consider when you’re ready.”
Nel glanced at her watch. “I should get on the road.”
“Let me know when you get there and what happens tonight. And when you start back.” Cassie’s genuine concern brought tears to Nel’s eyes.
Over the last few weeks, she had forged personal connections with people that she hadn’t been able to make with coworkers and neighbors she’d known for years.
“Hey.” Cassie scurried around the table to give Nel a hug. “You’re not alone, okay?”
Nel dabbed her eyes and offered Cassie a grateful smile as they got up to leave.
Jimmy, at the valet stand, brought the car to her. “You look lovely today,” he said, holding open the car door. “I mean, you’re always beautiful. But today, you have a glow.”
“That’s sweet, Jimmy. Thanks.” Nel sat in the driver’s seat. “Tonight could launch my career as a real artist.”
“Wow. I’ll be able to say I know someone famous.” Jimmy grinned. “Drive safe.”
He closed the door and Nel clicked her seat belt. Before putting the car in gear, she saw Tristan, in uniform, exiting his truck, which was parked in the spot for resort security. Before he entered the resort, he turned and his gaze locked onto her.
Nel gripped the steering wheel.
Conflicting emotions flickered across his face, yet he made no move to approach. Because of the man Tristan was, Nel would have to be the one to reach out to him. Until that moment, she hadn’t known if he wanted her to try.
Unfortunately, the timing was off. He was probably headed to another meeting with Gavin and she had to get to Atlanta. While she might have reservations about spending time with Tristan’s mother, a Wahyan she-wolf, Nel might never get another chance to meet with Gilbert Michaud.
She peeled her fingers off the steering wheel and gave Tristan a finger wave. He responded with a slight nod and an infinitesimal smile she didn’t know how to interpret.
She cranked the car and drove off. The weighted feeling of his gaze followed until she was long gone.
* * *
“About time you got here,” Gavin snapped.
Tristan squared his hunched shoulders and took a deep breath. Seeing Nel had taken more out of him than he’d anticipated. Now his mind raced, his restlessness hit an all-time high and his hands shook from the restraint it had taken not to rush to her car, pull her out and kiss her until she was breathless.
He quietly closed the door to the Alpha’s office.
The only other person in the room was Brice.
“I told you I’d be late. I was on an accident call.” Tristan sat in the leather captain’s chair next to Brice. “Where’s my dad and Jaxen?”
“I’ve already met with them.” Gavin’s grim face turned grimmer.
“About what happened yesterday...” Tristan leaned forward. “I take responsibility for that incident. I brought an unauthorized human into the sanctuary. Considering my behavior with Nel, Jaxen didn’t know I hadn’t revealed my wolf to her.”
“I think he did.” Gavin’s dark brows drew together. “You might believe that I dismissed your concerns about Jaxen and the incident with Cybil. I assure you, I didn’t.”
Tristan glanced at Brice, who said, “He had Reed shadow Jaxen.”
“You knew?” And didn’t tell me?
“Not until this morning.”
“Only Cooter and Reed were involved,” Gavin assured Tristan. “I wanted to minimize your involvement.”
“You didn’t trust me not to tell Jaxen?”
“No. You have too much on your plate and didn’t need something else to contend with.”
Gavin’s explanation made sense but failed to make Tristan feel better. He was a lead sentinel. He had a right to know if the Alpha had concerns about a pack member’s behavior, even if suspicions involved blood-kin.
“What did Reed find out that makes you think Jaxen knew I hadn’t revealed my wolf to Nel?”
“Because he’s been stalking you.”
Tristan’s heart froze midstrike. His blood instantly chilled and his gut wrung itself into a double knot. “Why would he stalk me?”
“We were hoping you would know,” Brice said. “Jaxen denies it, of course. Said he was always trying to catch up with you to hang out. But Reed’s accounts show that Jaxen had plenty of opportunities to approach you and rarely did.”
Images of the past few weeks flooded Tristan’s mind. His heart started beating again, but instead of starting off slow, it raced like a rabbit being hunted by a wolf.
“Nel?” Most of his off-duty time had been spent with her. “Are you sure Jaxen wasn’t stalking her?”
“Reed was sure he wasn’t,” Gavin said. “Jaxen always stayed on your trail. Human or wolf, he was never too far behind.”
“It doesn’t make sense for him to stalk me.”
“Your father and Jaxen said the same.” Brice nodded at his father.
“I’ve ordered Jaxen to stay away from you.”
“He’s moving in with your dad,” Brice said cautiously. “Since you seem to be the only one looking after Ruby, we didn’t want any conflicts with Jaxen to arise when you visit her.”
Tristan shrugged. He rarely saw his father anyway, and even though Ruby didn’t appreciate his help, she needed him. Especially now that she’d come down with the wolfan flu. “Does she know?”
“I had Nate call her from here, using the speakerphone so I could monitor what he said.”
“He didn’t mention the stalking, right?”
“No.” Brice shook his head. “Nate told her the move would make it easier for him to take Jaxen to work sites.”
“Is he actually going to do that?”
“Yes.” The stony look on Gavin’s face was probably the same one he’d shown Nate when giving the order. “I have serious concerns regarding Jaxen’s behavior since his return. I clearly expressed to him that I will not tolerate any further offenses.”
“How did he take it?”
“Very courteously.” Gavin’s steepled fingers tapped against each other.
That didn’t sound like Jaxen. With the Durrance temper, Tristan would have expected his cousin to explode at the threat of being turned out of the pack a second time.
Brice shrugged. “Jaxen said he intends to rectify past mistakes and move forward with his life.”
The night Jaxen came home, he’d said the same to Tristan. Yet here Tristan sat, trying to recover from another one of Jaxen’s careless mishaps.
An awkward silence fell.
“If there’s nothing else, I need to check on Ruby and catch a few hours’ sleep before sentinel duty with Cooter tonight.”
“Have you given any thought to my dad’s suggestion of scaling back on some of your responsibilities?” Brice asked diplomatically.
“I’m managing.”
“I don’t want my pack members to manage,” Gavin growled softly. “I want them to be happy.”
“Never said I wasn’t.” Although, at the moment, he was pretty da
mn unhappy. His head hurt. He felt restless, irritable. He wasn’t hungry when he woke up this morning and he never missed a meal.
“Life is more than work,” Brice said quietly.
Not for Tristan. What else did he have?
“Tristan, as Alpha it’s my responsibility to care for and direct the pack for maximum benefit. One day, it will be Brice’s responsibility.”
“I’ve never disputed that, so what are you getting at?”
“Right now, your priorities are divided. You have too much for one man to do. You’re going to make a mistake and I don’t want it to be at the pack’s expense.”
Tristan’s gut twisted, his chest tightened and bile from his empty stomach rose in his throat. “Are you firing me from sentinel duty?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Gavin’s icy-blue gaze pinned Tristan to the chair he was rising from. “I want you to quit the sheriff’s office. And, claim Nel as your mate.”
Chapter 31
“What is this crap?” Ruby’s raspy voice grated on Tristan’s raw nerves.
After Gavin’s bombshell, Tristan was surprised he was able to drive safely to her house. The Alpha sincerely believed that his orders were in Tristan’s best interests as well as the pack’s. Tristan, however, refused to be forced into either action.
“Chicken and rice soup.” He adjusted the pillow behind Ruby’s back so she could sit up better to eat.
“I prefer dumplings.” She stirred a spoon through the bowl on the lap tray and squinted at him.
“Maybe next time.” Tristan wasn’t in the mood to roll out dough for fresh dumplings. He’d barely managed to cut up the chicken, an onion, some celery and a carrot.
“Jaxen moved out.” Ruby’s fevered gaze latched onto Tristan.
“Where did he go?” Feigning innocence, Tristan returned to the kitchen.
“Nate took him in. Said Jaxen was doing so good at the business, he needed him close by to help with more stuff.”
Tristan took a breath. “Are you okay with him leaving?”
“I can look after myself.”
Tristan doled out soup portions in single-serve containers, placing them in the refrigerator for her to heat up later. He left one serving warming in the pot. Before he left, she would want another bowlful.
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