And all because of a dream.
There was no doubting his tenacity. Some might see his leaving the police force as disloyalty. She saw it as being true to himself. He’d done what needed to be done and was now ready to move on.
Question was, did she want him to move on without her?
It was a natural defense for her to try to put up a wall between them, especially after sharing such a passionate interlude. The sex had been explosive, but the tender care he’d shown her before and after was what really put her heart in danger.
She knew she was susceptible to Reece and what he was offering. That made her want to run and protect herself even more. But was that the smart thing to do?
“Come home with me.” He put on his turn indicator and took an off ramp. He drove for another mile and then turned into the lot of a restaurant. It wasn’t a fast food chain but a local establishment. He put the truck in park and turned to her.
“I know it’s a lot to ask of you.” He undid his seatbelt and reached across to her. “Come and have something to eat. I know you have to be hungry because I’m starving.” He picked up her hand and brought her fingers to his lips, kissing each knuckle in turn. Her entire body heated up in an instance.
“You can ask me any questions you want. Tell me your concerns. Just talk to me, Hannah.”
His plea went straight to her heart. Reece had given her so much in the short time they’d known one another. She owed him this much.
“Okay.”
He rested his cheek against her hand and sighed. “Okay.” He released her and pulled the key out of the ignition. “Wait for me.”
He popped open his door and was around the truck in a flash. He helped her out, made sure she had her knapsack, and used the remote to lock the doors. Arm around her shoulders, he led her into the diner.
* * * * *
This was easier than he’d anticipated. The killer watched the couple walk into the diner but kept driving.
He’d worked most of the night trying to dig up the addresses of the two detectives assigned to Hannah’s case, but it had been more difficult than he’d hoped. He’d taken a chance and shown up at their station instead. And his decision had paid off. He’d watched from down the street as the tall man had ushered Hannah into the building, his hand on her back. His touch had been a little too intimate for the killer’s liking.
Hannah was his. He’d seen her first.
An officer coming out of the building had called him Gallagher, so he knew the werewolf was Reece Gallagher. He could see it in the way the man moved, and how he was constantly aware of his surroundings.
He growled low in his throat and turned into the parking lot of a discount store. He swung his truck around and parked so he could see the diner parking lot.
It was only a matter of staying back in traffic and following them. With his acute vision, he could stay way back. Of course, the detective had enhanced vision too. It was like a game of chess where only the smartest would come out on top.
He’d always prided himself on being the most intelligent man in the room. Most werewolves relied on brute strength. While he had strength, he also had cunning and intellect. He used all his skills for the hunt and kill.
Unlike many of his kind, he loved technology. He reached over to the passenger seat and pulled his computer onto his lap. He popped up the screen and did a few more standard searches, but it proved fruitless.
Reece Gallagher was something of an enigma. Hopefully, that meant he was smart and not just lucky.
A thrill made his gut clench. It was followed by a sliver of worry that made him frown. He had nothing to be concerned about. He was by far the cleverest wolf there was. After all, he’d been indulging in his little hobby for years without getting caught.
He was the one who handled most of the pack’s outside business, traveling across the country to secure lucrative contracts for their various interests and talents. His alpha trusted him implicitly. And he’d never let his pack down. If he took a few extra days here and there to indulge in his guilty pleasure, who was the wiser?
But this was different. This was a challenge worthy of him. He looked forward to pitting his skills against Detective Gallagher. And the prize was a delectable one—Hannah.
He decided to risk taking a few minutes to stretch his legs and get something to eat at one of the nearby fast food places. Hannah and her protector would likely be at least a half hour, most likely longer. And who knew when he’d have a chance to stop again.
* * * * *
Reece felt as though he’d just dodged a landmine. Not that he was out of danger yet, but he was still in the fight, and it was one he couldn’t afford to lose. He couldn’t let Hannah go running off on her own.
Yes, she was brave and resilient and resourceful, but she was still only one person. She’d also been injured and had a werewolf stalking her. She needed him and she needed a pack.
He held the door open for her, and they both paused just inside the restaurant. As always, the smells in such places assaulted his nostrils. Thankfully, not all of them were bad. There was the usual sweat, perfume, and cologne, mixed in with the aroma of coffee and food. Beneath it all was a tinge of lemon cleaner. At least he knew the place was clean.
“How about the table in the corner?” That way he could watch all the comings and goings, and they were less likely to be disturbed.
Hannah nodded and headed to the table he’d pointed out. She frowned when he took the seat with the wall at his back. He knew she would have sat there if he hadn’t claimed it for himself. She was too smart to sit with her back to the room.
“I’ll watch out for you,” he promised.
She hesitated and then eased onto the seat, carefully placing her knapsack at her feet.
A harried waitress hurried up to their table with a coffeepot in one hand and menus in the other. “Afternoon, folks. Coffee?”
“Please.” He turned over the clean mug on the table and she filled it. Hannah did the same.
The waitress handed them their menus. “We serve an all-day breakfast. The soup today is chicken noodle. And the special is meatloaf and gravy with green beans and carrots.”
Hannah handed her back the menu after a quick glance. “I’ll have breakfast number five.”
Reece looked at the menu. The number five had two eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, and hash browns. “I’ll have a number five as well. And an order of pancakes and an extra order of bacon.” Any meal was better with bacon.
The waitress pulled a small pad out of her pocket and wrote down their order. She took their menus and smiled. “Shouldn’t be more than ten or fifteen minutes for your order.” She left them alone, pausing at several tables to top up mugs before putting in their order in the kitchen.
Hannah added sugar to her coffee, but ignored the fake creamer that the waitress had left on the table.
“I should have asked for fresh milk for your coffee.” He took his black so he hadn’t thought about it.
“I’m fine.” She stirred the coffee and then took a sip, not quite able to hide her grimace.
“Wait here.”
Reece rose and strode toward the small counter. Their waitress frowned as he approached.
“Anything wrong?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No. I just forgot to ask for fresh milk. My lady is allergic to the fake creamers.” He’d found over the years that the allergy card got more sympathy and quicker action than just saying the stuff tasted like crap to his enhanced senses.
The woman frowned. “That poor thing. I’ll bring some over as soon as I deliver these orders.” She motioned to the counter loaded down with plates.
“Thank you. I appreciate it.” Being polite always helped too. It never failed to amaze him how rude some folks were to wait staff.
She nodded, loaded plates onto a tray
, and zipped off. He made a mental note to tip well.
He rejoined Hannah at their table and slid back into his seat. “She’s going to bring some.”
“I heard.” Her lips twitched. “I’m allergic to fake creamer?”
He shrugged. “Works and it’s really not far from the truth. Can you drink it?”
She shuddered. “Maybe if I was in the middle of the desert and hadn’t had any water in days. Maybe.”
“I rest my case.” He sipped his own coffee. It wasn’t premium but it wasn’t too bitter. “Talk to me, Hannah. Ask me any questions you want.”
She played with her spoon, tapping it on the edge of her mug before setting it on the table. “I don’t even know where to begin.” She rubbed her forehead. He could see she was tired. She was still recovering her strength from the attack and the stress of having her entire life overturned.
“Tell me about your photography.” He wanted to know everything about her. He also hoped that talking about something she was obviously passionate about would help her relax.
“You really want to know?”
He frowned. “I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t.”
She shrugged, took a mouthful of coffee, and grimaced. “Most folks are just being polite.”
“I thought we agreed that I’m not polite.” He was absurdly pleased when that surprised a laugh from her.
“I refuse to agree or disagree,” she teased.
The waitress chose that moment to whizz by their table and deliver a small pitcher of fresh milk. “Here you go, honey.” She patted Hannah’s arm. “You need anything else, you just send your fella back up to the counter.” She winked and then hurried off.
Reece grinned. “I like her.”
Hannah shook her head, but grinned as she added milk to her coffee. This time when she took a sip, she sighed with relief. “Much better.”
“Your photography,” he prompted. “How did you get started?”
She leaned back in her chair and played with the handle of her mug. “I’m not sure, really. I always remember having a camera. It kept me entertained for hours when I was a kid. As I grew older, I collected bottles and cans, and did odd jobs so I could buy better equipment.”
Reece wanted to know where the hell her father had been while all this was going on, but didn’t want to spoil the mood. Already some of the tension had bled out of Hannah. It was obvious that photography was a passion and a love.
“Digital meant I could take as many pictures as I wanted and not have to worry about the cost of development.” She smiled. “And I took a lot of pictures.”
“Pictures of what?” He wanted to know what she found interesting and important enough to try to preserve the image.
“Everything at first.” She laughed. “Everywhere we went I took photos. It’s actually been weird not to have my camera in my hands these past couple days.”
“Lots of wonderful things to take pictures of in North Carolina.” He knew he was pushing but couldn’t seem to help himself.
She stopped laughing and some of her energy dissipated. He wanted to kick his own ass. Thankfully, the kind waitress saved him from having to take such drastic measures by returning to the table with their meal.
“Here you go.” She deposited Hannah’s plate in front of her first, then his. She put the extra bacon in the center of the table. She also had a small bowl with various jams and even some honey for their toast. “Can I get you anything else?”
He looked at Hannah and she shook her head. “No, thank you. This looks wonderful,” she told their waitress. The woman left, leaving them alone once again.
They both concentrated on eating. He plowed through his meal and half the extra bacon. Hannah cleaned her plate as well as what he’d left for her. Seemed he wasn’t the only one with a taste for bacon.
Their waitress stopped by long enough to top up their coffee and see if they wanted anything else. Empty plates cleared away and coffee in hand, he decided it was time to let her ask the questions.
“I still want to see your photos sometime, if you’ll show me. No pressure. But this is the time to ask any questions you have. Once we get back in the truck, I’m heading us straight toward home.”
Hannah was pleasantly full and feeling a little more alert. It was easy to forget that her life was in shambles. She had nowhere to live, no job, and a stalker looking for her. She’d hoped her attacker would give up, but after the break-in at her apartment, she figured that wasn’t going to happen.
It had been a pleasant little fantasy to pretend she and Reece were just regular people on a date, talking about things that interested them. It was nothing more than a daydream. The reality was much more brutal. Reece was protecting her, which meant he was putting himself in danger.
She briefly closed her eyes and tried to order her chaotic thoughts. She didn’t know what to do. Running would be the smart choice. But then she’d be alone. Again. She was so damn tired of being alone, being able to trust no one.
“Your pack,” she began. “How big is it?”
“Small in terms of most packs. Eighteen adults, not including me, one teenager, and four kids.”
Children. She’d never even thought about children. “I can’t go home with you. I won’t put children at risk.” She’d spent her entire childhood being afraid, always being told she had to be careful and keep the secret of her heritage. No way would she intentionally put a kid in the path of his killer.
“The children are protected at all times. We’ve had enough threats of our own over the years that the pack is super conscious about security.”
“But my being there would only add to the stress.” It had been a nice dream, but it was time to come back down to reality.
“I’ve already spoken with the alpha and he’s agreed to open the pack to you.”
She knew her mouth was hanging open and shut it. “You did what?” Her voice rose slightly on the end and she forced herself to lower it. “You talked to him about me?”
Reece nodded. “Of course. I couldn’t bring you home without permission.”
“And if the alpha hadn’t given it?” she asked in a furious whisper.
“I would have taken you somewhere else.”
All her anger died. How could she stay mad with Reece when he said things like that? And he was dead serious too. She could see it in his eyes and in the stubborn set of his jaw. He would follow her if she refused to go with him.
“I don’t understand you at all.” She finished her coffee, needing the extra boost.
“You don’t understand loyalty and pack.” He reached across the table and took her hand in his. “You’re important to me, Hannah. You may not believe me when I tell you that you’re the one for me, but that’s because you’re thinking with your human mind and not going with your wolf instincts. All I need is time to convince you I mean what I say. Give me time. If after the threat is gone and you want to leave, I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”
She could see that it cost him to say that. His eyes were practically glowing and she could feel his wolf close to the surface. Several people at tables around them shifted nervously and glance around.
“Tone it down,” she warned him.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, making the visible effort to bring his wolf under control. When he opened his eyes, they looked normal but just as intense.
“It’s your choice, Hannah. Do I take you home or do we hit the road on our own?”
She thought about his twin brother he so obviously missed, his family and the pack that had offered her a place, at least temporarily. She wasn’t naïve enough to believe she’d go there and live happily ever after. She’d be a visitor until things were either settled or she was asked to leave.
But if she went with him, at least Reece would be home. It was safer for him there. And if thi
ngs looked tense, she could always sneak off.
A few days of rest and food and she’d be back to normal. Staying with Reece would allow her time to fully recover. As much as she hated to admit it, she was exhausted and wanted to do nothing more than put her head down on the table and sleep. It would also give her time to plan a strategy. She had money in the bank, but not so much that she could afford to waste it.
She met his gaze and nodded. “You take me home.” When his eyes gleamed with satisfaction, she corrected him. “Your home,” she reminded him. It wasn’t hers.
He stood and held out his hand. “I’ll take you home.”
Chapter Thirteen
The diner was several hours behind them, and Hannah had finally drifted off to sleep. Her entire body was slumped toward the window. It didn’t look like a comfortable position, but she was obviously too tired to be bothered by such a minor detail.
Reece was surprised she’d stayed awake as long as she had. While her physical wounds were well on their way to being fully healed, she just kept being hit with one emotional blow after another. Finding out her apartment had been vandalized had only driven home just how committed her attacker was to finding her.
His shoulders bunched and he had to force himself to release the tension. No way would he let that happen. He would allow no one to harm Hannah. He focused on breathing and watching traffic as she slept on.
They still had hours of driving ahead of them until they reached Salvation, but with each mile that passed, he found himself relaxing a bit more.
Not that he’d lower his guard. He couldn’t afford to. Not with such precious cargo on board. Whether Hannah was willing to believe it or not, they were meant to be together. He knew it in his heart and his gut. He’d thought he’d understood what the other men in the pack felt toward their mates. He’d been wrong.
Even with his rare and intimate connection to his twin, he hadn’t quite grasped just how powerful the bond between mates could be, and how instantaneous. He knew her with every cell and fiber in his body. And there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to protect her.
Wolf in her Soul: Salvation Pack, Book 8 Page 14
