by Tl Reeve
Brienne laughed. “I bet it would have been difficult to explain.”
Shawn grinned. “Very. I listened to everything the woman told me about the daughter’s friends, contacts. I went through her computer and diary. Nothing came up as suspicious, but kids are sneaky, they can hide whatever they don’t want you to see.” He cut his gaze toward her. “When someone is unwavering in their need to disappear, they’ll go.”
“Kind of like us,” she whispered.
“A little, sure,” he agreed. “I told the mom it might take me a few days, but I’d have answers.”
“How quickly did you return?”
“Two days. I’d gotten a list of all her friends. I didn’t think she’d gone far. Her scent still lingered in the area. So I followed it, made a show of checking with everyone then found her at the last person’s house on the list.”
“What happened?” She leaned closer, interest sparking in her gaze.
“I introduced myself, explained the situation and what I’d been sent to do.” He still remembered the look on the girl’s face when he showed up. The little curly-haired blonde blanched then tried to tell her friend’s parents he was lying. “The kid and the friend gave the parents some cock-and-bull story about her being abused and needing a place to hide.”
“Wow.”
“After assuring the friend’s parents nothing of the sort happened or might have happened, I brought the kid home. Then, I made her tell her parents why she’d left and what she told people.” He grinned. “I have never seen a set of parents more relieved and furious at the same time.”
“I bet. What else did you do?”
“Found cheating spouses. More kids. Anything and everything coming across my desk, I did.”
“Didn’t you worry about humans finding out about you?” Curiosity lit her words as they turned off the main road and headed for the freeway.
“Nope,” he answered truthfully. “I learned when and where I could shift and for how long. In the city, it’s hard, sure, but I could drive an hour away and find fields. Nothing like here, but enough space to stretch my legs and not get caught.”
“What about other stuff?”
“Sex?” He supposed they’d have to broach the subject at some point.
“Among other things.” She shrugged.
“I found other shifters, kept it low-key, but” —he reached for her hand—“I couldn’t bring myself to get into any type of romantic or relationship entanglements. Hard to explain I had someone at home.”
Her lips thinned and her brows furrowed. “But it didn’t stop you from having sex.”
“No,” he admitted. “I didn’t do it often.” Like it would make all the difference in the world. “I didn’t think I’d return here, either. I thought I’d have to move on. What about you?”
Brienne sighed. “I had a boyfriend my freshman year.”
“And?”
“It didn’t go very well,” she mumbled. “It didn’t feel right.”
“A function, correct?” He waited for his wolf to snarl and gnash his teeth at the thought of someone else touching her. Instead, his wolf hated the stink of embarrassment tinged with shame and humiliation rolling off of her in thick waves. “There is nothing to feel bad about or be ashamed of. It’s normal and a function we all do.”
Chapter Five
“Boy, you really like to marginalize and minimalize sex,” she quipped with a snort.
“It’s a talent.” He switched lanes so he could merge onto the interstate going west. “I should prepare you….” A slight bit less than a disaster than when he returned, Los Lobos still stood proudly among the Black Hills. Even with Spencer and the destruction he caused, all the work they’d done made a statement. You couldn’t break them. “Los Lobos is…well, it’s not like it used to be—when we were kids. In fact, in some ways it’s better, but it’s still bad.”
Brienne gasped. “How bad?”
She needed to have the truth. If he expected her to stay, he needed to be up front and not beat around the bush. “When I came home, it looked good-ish. There are a couple of construction places building homes and fixing up buildings.” New shops were opening practically every day, even with psycho Spencer wreaking havoc on the town. “Unfortunately, there was a setback this past winter.”
“So, it’s gone? Town, I mean. The whole place?”
“Some, not all. There was an incident after I returned.”
“More? Hasn’t everyone been through enough?” Her hand covered her mouth as she shook her head. “What happened?”
“A mate went crazy. Only, I don’t think anyone fathomed his status as a mate. He kidnapped Saja, Ryker’s ma—”
“Ryker has a mate?” Disbelief laced her tone. “Why was he allowed to stay in the pack? He…he did things Magnum made him—”
“No, he didn’t. Ryker did more to protect us than he ever wanted anyone to know. How do you think you got out so easily? Or me?” he asked. “Do you really believe Ryker, if he were as evil as you believe him to be, would let us go?”
“But he….”
“Nope.” He grinned.
“Whoa,” she murmured. “I guess I should take him off the dick list, huh?”
“Yeah.” He laughed. “So she’s pregnant to boot. Anyway, Tinks and Tasha led Ryker—”
Brienne stiffened beside him. “What?”
Shawn gave an impatient sigh. “Which part this time?
She blushed. “Sorry. This is all a little overwhelming.”
“It’s okay. Tinks has become quite the little helper around the pack.” He glanced over at her. “Did you know she has a son?”
Her cheeks grew redder and spread down her neck. “Um….”
“You did! I should have guessed.” He shook his head.
“If it makes you feel better, I didn’t know the gender of the baby. She found the squalling bundle in the middle of the woods, behind her house. The last I heard, no one had any clue who the parents were.”
“It’s maddening. So much death and destruction. Anyway,” he stated, changing the subject. “With Tasha’s and Tinks’s help, Ryker found Saja before she got hurt then dealt with the crazy wolf.”
“Wow,” she murmured. “Way to go, Tinks.”
“I agree.” Shawn threaded his fingers with hers.
For the next few hours, they drove in companionable silence. He hadn’t told her everything, nor did she ask. They had plenty of time to talk about things. He was happy to have her beside him, finally.
“I snuck out with Tinks’s help,” she admitted, breaking the silence. “For a year before I left, I’d go to Hill City and work in one of the diners down there, under the table of course. I’d wash dishes and clean up. The money I made bought me a bus ticket. I chose to go east instead of south or west.”
“What are you studying in school?”
“Psychology. I want to be a therapist so I can help the women in the pack. Those who were hurt by Magnum.” She shrugged. “It’s the least I can do after running away.”
“Are you hungry yet? I’m starved.” He broke the tension filling the cab of his truck.
Her stomach gave an appreciative growl at his question. “I didn’t even eat dinner last night. I was…am so nervous.”
“Then we’ll grab some lunch. Anything in particular?” He cocked a brow.
“Right about now, a side of elk or deer would be great.” She grinned.
“You’re speaking my language,” he growled. “We’ll go hunting when we get home.”
“I’d love to. However, for now, I’d take a burger and fries. Better to eat on the run.”
“Makes sense to me.” He took the off-ramp. “So, therapy, huh? I think you’ll have a valuable service to add to the pack. I think Drew will understand why you left, too. He’ll also be happy to have you home.”
“Yeah?”
“Of course. Want to hear a good one?”
“Su
re, since we’re going for broke here.”
“Humans can be mates now,” he announced.
“No way! Ryker would have killed them.”
“Not now.”
“I feel like I have missed everything.”
Shawn pulled through the drive-thru and ordered them something to eat before getting onto the highway for the last part of their journey. He stared at her out of the corner of his eye every so often gauging how she was handling the news. He caught the thread of excitement she fought hard to contain. He didn’t blame her. Going home after everything was a big step. But one in the right direction.
“So, you locate people for a living. What do you do in Los Lobos now?” she asked before popping a fry into her mouth.
“The same. I’m thinking of opening a little business and helping Saja. She writes everyone’s history and she’s been trying to find others as well.”
“Cool.” She nodded. “How is Gee?”
“The old bear is still spry and full of it,” he laughed. “You missed the knockdown fight outside the bar. Ryker verses Gee.”
“No.” She turned slightly in her seat and placed her box on the center console.
“Do you remember Kole and Ginger?”
“Of course, she was my best friend when we were younger. How are they?” She grabbed her burger and began to unwrap it.
“They’re good. Kole opened a bookstore, and they’re running it together.”
“Whoa,” she said, before taking a bite.
“And Kole has not one, but two mates,” he added, grabbing a few fries.
“Serious?”
“Yep.” He grinned.
“Amazing.” She smiled. “I’m happy for him.”
“They dote on him. I swear if he gets a paper cut, one is there to clean it, and the other is there to kiss it better.” He gave a wry laugh.
“Well, good for him. They deserve happiness.” She took a bite of her burger. “What about Ginger? Does she have a mate?”
“Nope.” Shawn frowned. “No one talks about it. But Magnum did things to her and Kole.”
“Magnum hurt a lot of people.” She placed her burger in the box then wiped her hands on her napkin.
“The Truesdales are back. Along with Kru Hawthorne. Also Chris as well.”
“Lily?”
“Yeah. She’s working with her brother on the old homestead.” The interchange for State Route 14 came up fast and he followed the Y in the road.
“The more I sit here with you, the more excited I get about going home,” Brie admitted. “I didn’t think I’d feel this sort of anticipation.”
“Oh? What did you think you’d feel?”
“Dread.”
***
The sun had sunk below the horizon when he pulled off the state highway and onto the rutted and grooved road leading to Los Lobos. Brienne slept peacefully for the last leg of the journey. After her confession of dread, Shawn wasn’t sure how to express his own feelings. “I felt the same way” didn’t convey his understanding of her words. Sure, he’d had a rough go when he left, but he’d soon found his place within a metropolitan forest of people.
Brienne had left for fear of what a crazed man would do to her. He couldn’t imagine how many times she’d looked over her shoulder or stayed awake at night listening to the creaks and groans of an old apartment settling. He hadn’t had a chance to thank Lance for keeping her safe, but he would later.
“Brie,” he whispered, while touching her leg. “Wake up. We’re almost home.” Shawn came around the bend in the road and in the distance lay Los Lobos.
“Oh my,” she muttered, sitting up in her seat a bit more. “Is this all we have left?”
On the outside, it looked lean and broken down. But they weren’t close to the center of town yet. “It’ll get better. Remember what I told you?” She nodded. “It gets better.”
He continued on, driving by Lobo’s Café and Los Lobos Books and More. “Whoa….” She turned to gaze out the window. “How many businesses are there now?”
“More than a few less than twenty.” He shrugged. “But, what’s here is staying.” They passed the convenience store and a few shops in the process of being rebuilt. “So, where would you like to go first?”
Brienne bit her lip. “I think I should go home first. See my aunt.”
“Sounds like a plan.” He turned off the main thoroughfare and headed out the dirt road where Claire lived. His aunt and Claire only lived a mile apart.
Several times he wanted to say something…anything. Instead he drove. As the truck ambled down the lane, he took her hand, lending her the strength and courage she needed at the moment. He smelled her anxiety and the thickening blanket of her fear. She swallowed hard, and, out of the corner of his eye, he saw her lip tremble. “Hey now,” he crooned. “Everything will be fine. You’ll see. She’s going to be happy you’re home.”
“And if she’s not?” Brie wiped away her tears as the scent of her shame clung to him.
The hackles on his wolf rose, as he snarled. “Why wouldn’t she be?”
She shrugged. “Because I ran away?”
“Well, you’re fixing to find out.” The door to the house opened and Joe came outside. At least six foot five, and two hundred and forty pounds of brick shit house, he crossed his arms as a curious look filled his face.
“Joe,” she cried. “Stop the truck. Stop the truck.”
Shawn chuckled. “Let me get a little closer first before you go running after him.”
Brienne bounced in her seat. When he finally came to a stop, she jumped out of the truck and ran for the porch. Shawn allowed them their privacy. Brienne leaped into her uncle’s arms while her aunt waited, sobbing. Claire’s shoulders shook with each soul-shaking cry.
Finally, when Joe let her go, Brie wrapped her arms around Claire. The older wolf nodded in Shawn’s direction and mouthed thank you. Torn between waiting to stay and appreciating the fact he could spend time with his mate later, Shawn grabbed her bag from the bed of the truck and placed it on the step. Brie turned to him. “Thank you, Shawn.”
“My pleasure, Brienne. If you feel up to it tomorrow, would you like to grab lunch with me at Gee’s?”
She smiled. “I’d love to have lunch with you.”
“Great.” Shawn looked to Claire and Joe. “It’s better you find out now. Fern is planning something big. I couldn’t stop her when I talked to her last night. She’s got it in her mind to make this a celebration.”
Claire laughed while wiping her eyes. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from Fern. We’ll be there, whenever this little party of hers happens.”
“Great. I’ll see you later.” He raised his hand in good-bye then started for his truck.
“Wait,” Brie called out. Her light footfalls grew closer. He stopped to face her. “Thank you. You were right.” She went to her tiptoes and brushed a kiss over his lips.
It took all of his willpower to stand there and not take more. “You’re welcome.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “I’ll see you for lunch tomorrow.” He kissed her. “Go on. I have a feeling they have tons of questions for you.”
She giggled and nodded. “See you tomorrow.”
Chapter Six
The evening went well. Brie spent most of the night catching up with her aunt. Of course she did most of the talking while her aunt forced her to eat. She’d done her fair share of crying as well.
Their conversation went from one topic to the next. Mostly about school, some of it had been about Los Lobos. She didn’t want to know about the past. About the pain and suffering they went through. How much everyone lost.
She did want to hear about the changes since Drew took over. The laughter she saw in her aunt’s and uncle’s eyes when they spoke about the Winter Solstice celebration. Or how every day it seemed like old pack members came home. Yes, there were some bumps in the road. Yes, “perfect,” might be a way off, but the
idea gave the pack a goal to work toward.
Brienne stared at her reflection in the mirror and sighed. How was she supposed to go home after being here a week? She hadn’t been there for even a day yet, and it felt like forever. Did she have to leave?
“Yes, you do,” she muttered to herself as she pushed a lock of hair out of her face. “School first, life later.” Mating came much later.
“Brie,” Claire called out. “Shawn’s here, sweetheart.”
She scented him the minute the door opened. It happened to be why she stood in the small, dim-lit bathroom. “Coming.” She took one more look in the mirror then sighed.
This afternoon she’d break the news to Shawn. She needed to return to Rosewood. She couldn’t move home yet. Even if it hurt her soul to leave. Rosewood was her only chance at finishing college. If what she felt and what Shawn explained were true, then they’d always be mates. Whether today or six months from today, she’d be his and he’d be hers.
She stepped into the living room and tripped over her own two feet. Shawn stood before her wearing a pair of slacks and a white button-down dress shirt. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up, exposing the corded muscles of his forearms. His pants hugged his trim waist. Shawn slicked his unruly curly hair back. His green eyes gleamed with flames of desire…lust…she didn’t want to speculate. A sly grin tugged at the corner of his lips. She’d never seen a more beautiful wolf. Staring down at her jeans and shirt, she felt woefully underdressed.
“I should change,” she mumbled.
“Why?” He took a step toward her.
“If you have to ask, then I really should change.” She turned to escape to her room, however Shawn stopped her.
“You look great. Don’t change.”
Says the man practically wearing a suit. “It’ll only take me a minute.”
“Brie,” he muttered. “Don’t change.”
How could he not want her to change? Her drab appearance compared to his polished…. Shouldn’t she fit him? Shouldn’t she want to try to look appropriate? Why did she care? Didn’t she tell herself not more than five minutes ago, she would be leaving in a week?
