“You're just one of the guys!” he spluttered at last.
The two women laughed and threw a rag at him. “Relax, Beanie, we know you guys better than you know yourselves! So...don't ogle the Alpha's girl. If you want to keep your hide.” Nadia quirked a lopsided smile at Grayson and Hayley. Suz tucked her ponytail under her cap and nodded a greeting to Hayley. The two women disappeared back under their cars, and the men grumbled and cracked a few raunchy jokes as they got back to work.
“Ma’am.” Some of the guys tipped their caps at her as they walked past. Their tone was respectful, but Hayley caught the glint of mischief and amusement in their eyes as they glanced at their Alpha. Grayson was still standing between her and his men, growling and glowering and looking decidedly displeased with his packmates.
Ari had told her on the way to the garage that all the staff at the auto shop were Sentinel wolves. The Sentinels owned a bakery and a coffee shop as well. “So—if you like baking, cooking or anything else...” Ari had left the sentence hanging, but the offer was clear. Hayley could work in their bakery or coffee shop if she wanted to.
Ari hadn't gone into detail but Hayley understood that now that Grayson had taken over the other wolf packs, the businesses of the Silverfangs and the Red Razor packs would be amalgamated with the Sentinels'. “I guess Grayson will review all their businesses together with Scott and some senior lieutenants,” Ari told her. “We'll keep the legitimate businesses, but all the crooked, shady, illegal deals and arrangements will be cut. Ever since Grayson took over as Alpha, he made sure the Sentinels' businesses were all above board and legal. Blood money comes with a price, and the price is blood. Greed has caused the downfall of many once-powerful packs, so we won't go down that path. Not while Grayson is in charge.”
Hayley looked awkwardly around the busy garage and cleared her throat. Grayson was towering over her, staring at her with an unreadable expression on his face. “Thank you for getting my car. H-how much do I owe you?” she stammered.
“You owe me nothing, Hayley,” Grayson answered in a low voice.
Hayley shook her head. “You can't fix my car for free. Please send me the bill...”
“There is no charge.”
“It can't be free,” she blurted out.
“Why not?”
“Because—” She kicked up her chin. “There's no free lunch in this world.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“A free lunch,” Grayson said thoughtfully. He snapped his fingers and smirked. “Right. A free lunch it is then.”
With that, Grayson climbed into the passenger seat of her car and buckled himself in.
“What...what are you doing?” Hayley demanded, yanking the car door open.
“Getting a free lunch,” Grayson said and jerked his thumb at the driver's seat. “Get in and drive. I'm hungry.”
“What?”
“I'm getting a free lunch. I fix your car. You buy me lunch,” Grayson replied simply.
“I...you...”
“Let's go. I know a great little coffee shop just two streets from here,” Grayson said enthusiastically and tooted her horn.
Hayley sputtered and turned around. The rest of the crew immediately pretended that they hadn't been watching and eavesdropping, but she heard some muffled chuckles.
As Hayley flounced to the driver's side and got in, she heard Nadia tell the guys smugly, “And—that's how you get a girl to go out with you. Is our Alpha a smooth operator, or what?”
Hayley turned and saw Grayson making a face at Nadia, Suz and the rest of the guys. Everyone was laughing and giving Grayson the thumbs up.
Hayley blushed and hid a smile as she started the engine. Her engine purred contentedly, and she didn't hear the usual clicking and spluttering sounds from under the hood. “Wow,” she breathed.
Grayson turned away from the window and hurriedly wiped the gleeful, triumphant grin from his face. Hayley smiled and said, “You have a great crew. They're all Sentinel wolves, right?”
Grayson nodded and mock-grumbled, “They're pack, and they have big, blabber mouths.”
Hayley laughed and put her car into gear. Two of the guys came out and waved their flashlights in a very serious, professional manner. They pretended they were guiding an aircraft out onto the runway and they saluted smartly as she pulled away. Hayley grinned and waved at them as she drove off.
“That's Riker and Rock,” Grayson said, glancing at her. “Don't mind them. They're always...”
“I like them.”
Grayson smiled and his eyes lit up with pride and happiness. It was just three simple words, but Hayley saw that they meant a lot to Grayson. The Sentinels was a close-knit, united pack and the bond between the members was deep and strong. Grayson was very proud and protective of his wolves, and he had been worried that Hayley wouldn't be comfortable around them.
She realized then that she was important to Grayson. Her feelings, her likes, her safety and well-being were important to him.
“Grayson,” Hayley said as she drove slowly down the street. “I owe you an apology. Last night...”
“Make a left turn here,” Grayson said. He looked at her and said, “You have nothing to apologize for, Hayley.”
“No. I was too hasty, too judgmental. I thought you were trying to drive me away when you said I would be safer away from Wolves Hollow. I thought you had something to gain from my departure.” She swallowed and continued, “I shouldn't have thought badly of you. I...I shouldn't think that you're like my ex-husband. That was wrong, very wrong of me.”
“It's good to be careful,” Grayson said with a straight face. “You shouldn't trust strangers. Especially strangers who come knocking on your door in the middle of the night.” She couldn't tell if he was joking or not.
Grayson pointed straight ahead. “There. Stop in front of that crowded coffee shop. That's where I'm getting my free lunch.” He winked at her.
Hayley parked the car and got out. Grayson took her hand in his and led her towards the coffee shop that was already overflowing with diners.
“Alpha.” The wait staff greeted him as he walked in. A well-mannered waiter led them efficiently through the crowd towards the back. “This booth is a little small and it's near the kitchen...” he began apologetically.
“It's fine, Walter. Thanks,” Grayson said. “So...what would you like?” Grayson asked, leaning forward.
“What do you recommend?” Hayley said with a shrewd smile. “This coffee shop belongs to the Sentinels, right?”
Grayson chuckled delightedly. “Yes. I see Ari has been telling you about the pack.”
“Yes. She said you guys have a bakery too...”
“It's at the end of the street. We can take a stroll there after lunch.” Grayson handed her the menu. “Order anything you want, Hayley. I did say it's a free lunch.”
“No. It's a free lunch for you. I am buying you lunch, and I insist on paying. If you don't let me pay, I'm walking out,” she said firmly.
Grayson grinned. “You know, I've never had a lady pay on the first date before.”
“This is not a date!”
“It is a lunch date,” he said. “So...now that we're dating, we're not strangers any more. You can trust me.”
Hayley gaped at him. She was at a complete loss for words. She let out a laugh and shook her head. “We are not dating.”
He ignored her and signaled one of the wait staff. “We're ready to order now. My date's hungry!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Hayley leaned back and sighed. Grayson was in the driver's seat now. He had insisted on driving her home in her little car after lunch. There wasn't much leg room for him, but Grayson gracefully folded his long, lean frame into her car and handled her car with utmost care. He leaned forward and placed both hands on her steering wheel. He didn't floor the accelerator or st
omp on the brakes. He drove very conservatively and handled her car with tender, loving care.
Lunch had been an enjoyable, noisy affair. Everyone stopped at their table to chat with them. Grayson had introduced her to all the staff at the coffee shop and even given her a tour of the bustling kitchen. It was obvious that his pack members respected him, but they also showed their affection for their Alpha openly. There was some good-natured ribbing and teasing, which Grayson took in his stride. The Sentinels didn't fear their Alpha. They loved him.
Hayley looked out the window and gazed at the quaint little shops and houses lining the streets. The dappled sunlight danced on the sidewalk and leaves swirled in the breeze. She was seeing Wolves Hollow in a new light. It was a really beautiful small town. For the first time since she moved here, Hayley felt like she belonged. She liked Grayson's packmates, his sister Ari and her neighbor Yaya immensely. She would certainly like to know them better and get to know even more of the residents in Wolves Hollow. She could live here, and make this town her home.
As the car passed Yaya's house, Hayley saw Yaya at the window. But when she gave a cheery wave, Yaya looked away quickly.
Hayley followed Yaya's gaze and saw a young man leaning against a tree across the street. He pretended to be inspecting his shoes when he realized that he was being watched.
Hayley frowned and turned back towards Yaya's house. But Yaya had pulled the curtains closed and disappeared from the window.
She looked at the young man again. There was a bored look on his face as he kicked lazily at some stones, but Hayley wasn't fooled. She was pretty sure he was watching Yaya's house.
Hayley gulped.
Was Yaya in danger?
“Grayson...” she said, putting a hand on his arm.
Grayson parked her car in her driveway and plopped her car keys into her palm. “You're home,” he announced.
“Do you see that man by the tree?” she whispered urgently.
“Yeah.”
“I think he's watching Yaya.”
“Uh-huh.” Grayson got out of the car and jogged round to open the car door for her.
Hayley frowned at him. “Don't you think we should warn her?”
Grayson looked up and saw Yaya pulling her cloak tightly around herself as she hurried out of her house. Hayley followed his gaze and saw that Boris was trooping happily behind Yaya on his bristles. “She never goes anywhere without that broomstick,” Grayson remarked.
Hayley turned and saw the young man push off the tree and follow Yaya. An older, stocky man walked out from behind another tree and trailed the young man.
Hayley gasped and tugged frantically at Grayson's arm. “Grayson! Do you see that stocky man with the salt-and-pepper hair? He is shadowing that young man, and that young man is tracking Yaya. What are they up to?”
Grayson shrugged.
“Who are they?” she hissed. “Do you think that Yaya is in danger?”
“Nah.”
Hayley's mouth fell open. “Nah? You...you don't care that Yaya is being stalked by two burly, dangerous men? She's your neighbor!”
Grayson cracked a smile. “It's just a simple surveillance mission. Craven and Dean won't hurt a hair on Yaya's head. In fact, she's safer with them watching her.”
“Y-you know those men?” Hayley stuttered. Her eyes widened as the truth hit her. “Oh my God! A surveillance mission? You...ordered them to watch Yaya. They're your men. They're...”
“Dean was from the Red Razor pack. This is his first assignment as a Sentinels wolf. Craven is one of my senior lieutenants, and he's watching Dean to assess his performance on his first mission. As I said, it's just a simple surveillance mission,” Grayson said.
“But—why Yaya?” Hayley asked in confusion. “What has she done?”
Grayson walked her to her front door in silence.
Hayley unlocked her door but she didn't step into her house. “Grayson, please tell me what's going on,” she said worriedly.
“Last night, after I defeated Strom—” Grayson began in a tight voice. “We left his body in the woods. But this morning, when my Beta and lieutenants went back to the clearing, Strom's body wasn't there.”
“Was it...”
“No, it wasn't eaten by wild animals. There was no trail at all, no marks and remains on the ground. Scott and his team combed the surrounding area and followed the scent of the body but they found nothing.”
“Nothing?” Hayley frowned. “If they followed the scent...”
“The scent led them back to the original spot, the spot where we last saw the body.”
Her surprise and confusion must have shown on her face, because Grayson went on to explain, “We encountered something like that before. Before I became Alpha, I was a tracker in the pack. My team was tracking a rogue wolf, and we followed his scent into a deep rocky ravine. We kept moving without realizing that we were actually just going around in an endless circle. The scent looped around and kept coming back to the same spot, trapping us at the bottom of the treacherous ravine. We lost two of our members when the ravine flooded suddenly without any warning.”
Hayley shook her head. “How...”
“Witchcraft,” Grayson said tersely.
“A spell,” Hayley breathed.
“Yes. That rogue wolf had help from a witch. A looping diversion can be used to trap and confuse a victim. The victim can be lured deep into a cave, a forest, a place where escape is impossible, and he can starve to death or simply go mad.”
“So…you suspect a witch took Strom's body,” Hayley whispered and turned to stare at the thorny, twisting plants in Yaya's overgrown garden which now looked insidious and ominous even in the daytime.
“We don't know who did it,” Grayson said. “We're keeping tabs on all the witches in Wolves Hollow.”
“Including Yaya?” Hayley said with a heavy sigh. She didn't want to believe that Yaya was an evil witch.
Grayson nodded gravely. “Including Yaya.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Grayson's eyes swept across Hayley's living room as he entered the house with her. He took a quick whiff but detected no foreign scents in her house. Everything smelled of her. The couch, the cushions, the air was filled with Hayley's sweet, gentle scent.
“Take a seat,” Hayley said. “I'll make us some tea. Do you take green tea?” she asked as she went to the kitchen.
“I've never had green tea before,” Grayson admitted.
“Really?” She sounded amused. “It's good for health. It has lots of antioxidants.” Hayley poked her head out of the kitchen and squinted at him. “Hmm, your wounds have all healed. It seems your body already has all the antioxidants it needs.”
Grayson laughed. “Shifters heal fast. We're tough.”
“But not invincible,” she retorted.
He heard her fill the kettle and plug it in. When she came out of the kitchen, there was a faint blush on her cheeks.
“I...I enjoyed myself this afternoon. A lot.” She chewed her lip and said, “Thank you for fixing my car.”
Thank you for lunch,” Grayson replied graciously.
Hayley gave an embarrassed laugh. “Your staff gave me such a big discount. It was practically a free lunch!”
Grayson grinned. “Being Alpha is no picnic, but there are perks to the job.”
Hayley smiled and lowered her eyes. She was aware that Grayson was quietly closing the distance between them.
When she looked up again, Grayson was standing just inches from her. He tilted her face up with one finger under her chin. Hayley's eyelids fluttered as he leaned in slowly.
When he slanted his mouth over hers, Hayley whimpered as a jolt of desire coursed through her body. She parted her lips and kissed him back fervently. She didn't want to hold back any more. She was attracted to Grayson, and she wanted him. But she
had been afraid to give in to her desire, her want, her feelings.
She had been badly burned before, and she was afraid of getting hurt again. But she shouldn't let her doubts and insecurities hold her back. Grayson wasn't like her exes at all. He was honest and open with her, and he hid nothing from her. He answered all her questions truthfully, and he showed that he cared for her in a very quiet, unassuming manner. Even after she'd unjustly and unreasonably accused him of having nefarious intentions towards her—when in reality he was just trying to protect her, Grayson hadn't taken the incident to heart. Instead, he had simply gone out and retrieved her car, towed it back to the garage and worked through the night to fix it. He didn't make a big fuss at all. He cared for her, truly, deeply, and a small misunderstanding wouldn't change that.
Actions spoke louder than words. And his actions told her a great deal.
Her past experience shouldn't color her view of the present. She wasn't being fair to Grayson or to herself. Here was a good man with a big heart, a man who was true, brave and righteous. Grayson was completely open with her, so why shouldn't she open her heart to him?
Hayley cupped Grayson's handsome face and gazed deeply into his eyes. She saw both the wolf and the man staring at her with fierce pride, love and hunger.
Grayson wanted her. He never hid his desire for her, but he wouldn't go further if he saw any fear or doubt in her eyes. He wanted her to want him back.
Hayley wound her arms around his neck and pressed a lingering kiss to his lips. “Grayson,” she whispered as she tugged him backwards towards the bedroom.
His eyes glowed when he realized what she was doing. “Are you sure, Hayley?” he growled.
“Yes. I've never been so sure of anything in my life before. I want you, Grayson,” she whispered.
They were standing in her bedroom, at the foot of her bed. Grayson stared at her for a long moment, the sexual tension growing and crackling between them.
With a growl, Grayson grabbed her and crushed his mouth to hers. The kiss was bruising and demanding, and Hayley parted her lips and submitted to him, giving herself wholly to him.
Alpha Next Door (Wolves Hollow Book 1) Page 7
