The Snow Leopard's Christmas Surprise

by Emilia Hartley

  “Yeah, yeah. I’m gonna go check on our patient before you find any more bad news to throw my way.” He paused at the door, turning back to Nick. “You think we should put out a message or something that Dan’s alive?”

  Nick frowned immediately. “I don’t. You saw how Lucas reacted when we told him Dan might survive.” Tom nodded, recalling how Lucas called Dan trash and how he has no use for him. “I don’t think throwing an injured bear back into that environment would be the smartest idea.”

  Tom shrugged. “Maybe, but he’s not one of ours. We shouldn’t make him our problem.”

  “What if he was?” Nick asked, feigning nonchalance. “What if we made him one of ours? One of us?”

  The implication hit Tom all at once. “You can’t be seriously considering what I think you’re considering, Nick,” he said, mouth agape.

  It was Nick’s turn to shrug. “I am.”

  “Wait… what am I missing?” Jo asked, confused.

  “Nick wants to recruit Dan. Ask him to join our pack,” Tom answered.

  Predictably, Jo’s eyes lit up. “Really?” she asked, looking up at Nick hopefully. “You think he’ll say yes?

  “Maybe?” he replied to his mate. “There’s a big chance he’ll say no, but what’s the harm in asking?” He looked to Tom, mild apprehension in his eyes. “Come on, you heard Lucas. He’s already denounced him, Tom. If we throw Dan out there, he’ll have nothing. No one. What’s the big deal in maybe offering him a home here with us?”

  “Oh, gee, I don’t know, his loyalty to an enemy pack, maybe?” Tom shot back, angrily. “This is nonsense, Nick! Dan’s not an idiot; you don’t think he’ll jump at the opportunity to get back in his pack leader’s good graces by offering him some hot intel on the alpha pack the moment we decide to lower our guard?”

  Nick’s brow furrowed. “That’s not really fair to him, Tom. He’s offered no form of resistance since waking up here weeks ago. We owe him at least a small benefit of the doubt.”

  Tom shook his head. “Becoming mated has warped your logic, Nick.” He shot a look at Jo, her expression hurt. “No offense. I just think if you really had your human mate’s safety in mind, you’d think twice before making such outlandish plans.”

  Nick squared his shoulders at the mention of his mate. “I stand by my decision, Tom. And so does my bear. Neither of us think having Dan around Jo is a bad decision.”

  “Then you’re both fools!” Tom shouted. “It’s bad that Lucas thinks we killed his second in command, but how do you think he’ll react when he finds out what actually happened?”

  “We can deal with the Northern Wind,” Nick replied. “We’ve proven that time and time again. Plus, without Dan, Lucas is down one of his strongest bears. He wouldn’t dare try anything rash right now.”

  “But he always comes back with more problems for us, Nick,” Tom retorted. “This will surely guarantee backlash of the highest degree. Am I the only one here who just wants to be left alone?”

  “You know as well as I do that Lucas won’t rest until we’re dead or he gets close enough to scare us away. It’s our job to make sure we remain strong enough so that neither of those things happens. Dan could help us with that!”

  “What makes you so sure he’ll even say yes?”

  “I’m not!” Nick barked, nostrils flaring. “There’s no guarantee that any of this will even happen, so there’s no point in arguing over it now.” Tom could see him visibly calming himself, probably for Jo’s sake. She hadn’t been around long enough to be accustomed to their bickering, and even Tom noticed the alarm on her face.

  He nodded. “You’re right. There is no point. For now I’m just going to work on getting his leg back in working order and getting him out of here. Whatever you decide to do after that is on you.” Without another word, Tom undid the locks on the door guarding Dan from the world and slipped inside.

  It was darker in the back room; thick curtains covered the small windows that looked out over the forest. “Afternoon, Sleeping Beauty,” Nick called, pulling back the drapery to let in a bit of natural sunlight. “I hope I didn’t wake you.”

  He knew that Dan wasn’t asleep, he’d made him lunch only a short while ago. The food lay uneaten on the nearby table, as Dan sat on the couch with his eyes shielded from the brightness. A low growl rattled the injured bear’s chest as he glared in Tom’s direction.

  Tom scoffed. “You know we’re trying to help you, right?” He walked to the cabinets where a container of large painkillers were locked inside. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, if I had it my way, you’d be gone, but the human pities you.” He held out the pills and a small cup of water to Dan. “So just sit back, relax, and enjoy the coddling. You can kill us after you’re better.”

  Dan took the cup of water and pills without a word, downing them both. Reluctant though Tom was to have an enemy in his home, he couldn’t help but see a bit of truth in Nick’s words as he watched over Dan. Before their last battle, Dan was Lucas’s second, a strong bear. Though not an alpha, he’d certainly be an asset if he agreed to join them here.

  But loyalties ran deep with packs, and Dan had been dealt a severe blow when Lucas left him to rot out in the forest. There was no doubt in his mind that Dan would do whatever it took to get back in with his pack, even if it meant throwing the people who’d nursed him back to health under the bus. With a human in their off-man pack, they were more vulnerable than ever. Tom couldn’t afford to be as blindingly trusting as his brother was.

  At least, that’s what he told himself as he held back a grin at the grimace that Dan bit back when the disgusting aftertaste of the painkillers hit his tongue. “Yeah, they’re pretty gross, which is why it’s recommended that you take them with food,” he said, nodding to the cooling lunch on the table.

  “I thought I’d do a bit of blue steak later,” Tom continued, casually. “As a fellow bear, I’m sure you’d love a bite or two, but I’m not going to cook a perfectly good ribeye just for you to waste. If you want one, you’re going to have to tell me.” He watched with slight amusement as Dan fought to keep his silence, the injured bear’s eyes flashing with anger. Tom knew Dan would probably want to settle this with a swipe of claws and a flash of fang, but he was still much too weak to change.

  Finally, hunger won out. “Yes, I want some,” Dan bit out, his voice low.

  “Thought you might.” Tom replied, gathering the cold lunch as he walked to the door. “I’ll be back in a bit. Feel free to shout if you need anything.” Slamming the door behind him, Tom made sure to lock it tightly.

  As interesting as it might be to entertain the thought that Dan would want to join them, there was no telling how they could even begin to put that plan in motion. Dan still appeared to hate everything they stood for, and with good reason. Their safest bet was to nurse him to well enough health and get him out of their hair for good.

  Tom couldn’t wait for that day.

  Chapter Two

  Human skin is so weird, Savannah thought to herself. It meant showering in bathrooms, sleeping in real beds and cooking food on a stove, things Savannah hadn’t done for herself in a really long time.

  Lucas had helped her out by way of a singular key. It belonged to a house in the heart of the alpha territory. The house was filthy, abandoned, and in a state of disrepair, but she wouldn’t dare complain. She was just surprised that her leader would aid her at all.

  A house, broken though it was, helped her become a little more human. It had a shower, a bed, a stove, and even a few extra things like a closet for her clothes and a mirror to remain presentable to the public eye. Though her muscles complained as she walked and she had to remind herself to do things like comb her hair and brush her teeth, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. This was the most free she’d felt in a long time.

  “But I’m not free,” she reminded herself as she threw open the creaky windows. She had a mission, and though she couldn’t see him, she knew that Lucas would be watchi
ng over her as she wandered the streets of Woodhaven. If she slipped up, he’d be there to rain down fire and brimstone on her. She shuddered at the thought.

  The problem was coming up with a way to interact with them. She knew they lived on the edge of town and worked as mechanics, but she had no car and no knowledge of car repair. Being a bear was her only selling point, but coming off of the back of an attack by the Northern Wind, they probably weren’t too keen on meeting more of their kind for a while.

  With a sigh, Savannah grabbed her coat. Maybe a walk would clear her mind, or perhaps asking a few of the locals about the brothers could open up a few possibilities on how to get on their good side. “Plus, I need more food for cooking,” she reminded herself with a groan. Cooking was so much more difficult than hunting.

  She decided to head straight for the grocery store. She’d already memorized the path and the people that worked there knew her face from her past few trips. They’d be the easiest to converse with. Plus, she was really low on food. It wasn’t far, only a few blocks off, and the fresh air did wonders for her mind as she strolled along. The stuffy old house that Lucas had lent her reminded her too much of his control over her, and it was tough to think past her fear.

  As she rounded the corner to the store, a sign in the window immediately caught her eye. Before she could even comprehend the words, her heart began to speed. “Financial assistant wanted,” she read aloud. “Part time. Apply to Jo at Brewer Mechanics.” Jo… the human girl. Brewer Mechanics… the shop the alphas owned. She gasped as realization hit her. This was it. Her golden opportunity.

  Though she didn’t have all the right credentials for the job, she’d always been decent with numbers and she’d had a bit of experience in running a business, in a life before this one. She didn’t have any reason not to try. She had no doubt an opportunity like this would not present itself to her again. She had to take it.

  Steeling her gaze, she took off in the direction of the mechanic shop. It didn’t take long to walk there; she’d walked quickly enough that her breath was panting out in puffs of white vapor as she closed in on the shop’s office door. She tried to convince herself it was solely from exertion, but even she could feel the nerves coursing through her veins as she reached out to open the door. “They don’t know you’re from the pack,” she reassured herself, eyes darting about to make sure she hadn’t been spotted. “Just calm down and act natural.” She fixed a smile on her face and promptly threw open the door.

  “Hello!” called a cheerful looking woman, her reddish-brown hair bounced happily as she rounded the counter to greet her. “Welcome to Brewer Mechanics. Can I help you?”

  Savannah froze at the entrance. “I-I saw an advert?”

  “Oh! That was quick!” the woman replied. “I only put it up this morning.”

  A wave of relief washed over Savannah. “So no one’s gotten it yet?”

  “Nope,” she laughed, holding her hand out to shake. “Things move pretty slowly in this town, I’m afraid. I’m guessing you’re not from here?”

  “No,” Savannah replied, accepting her handshake and scrambling to come up with a quick cover story. “I’ve been a wanderer for a while now. I thought I might try settling down and this seemed like as good a place as any to try.”

  The woman gave Savannah an understanding smile. “I just moved here, too, so we have that in common,” she replied. “I’m Jo Barrowman, it’s nice to meet you.”

  “Savannah Danvers.”

  “Okay, Miss Danvers! Let’s get right to it, shall we?” Jo announced, as she led Savannah to an office chair and prompted her to sit. Jo sat across from her, giving her an open and kind smile. “So, what’s your experience as a financial assistant?”

  Savannah tried not to panic and told Jo as much of the truth as she could. She spoke of growing up in a pretty big town where she’d helped her dad run his small business for a few years before he sold it to a huge corporation so he could retire. Her heart grew heavy as she mentioned his passing only a few years later, and how it prompted her to become a traveler, looking for some place to start over.

  Jo gave sympathetic nods throughout the tale, never once hinting that she might be suspicious. “And why did you choose to apply here today, Miss Danvers?”

  Savannah shrugged. “I’m running low on cash, and I saw your advert in the grocery window. I thought you might be able to use my expertise and I might be able to make enough to pay my rent next month.” Her heart raced a bit with the lie, but she knew Jo was human, so she felt safe not being totally honest.

  “I’m glad you did,” Jo smiled, warmly. “I know what it’s like, leaving everything behind and starting over, so your story resonates with me.” She stood. “I’ll have to speak to the others, but I’d say the job is yours!”

  Savannah couldn’t help but smile at the news. “Are you sure? I know I’m not the most qualified and you just put the advert up today! You might get someone else…” she mentally kicked herself. Why was she trying to talk the human out of this? Was she mad?

  Jo shook her head. “Call it a woman’s intuition. I have a good feeling about you.” Before Savannah could protest further, Jo began to explain all she could about the shop and what Savannah’s duties would be. As she spoke animatedly about the mechanics, Savannah felt a twinge of shock. This was Jo, alpha bear Nick Brewer’s human charge, possibly even his mate, though that remained unconfirmed. She’d killed a member of the Northern Wind pack. Every clue told Savannah to hate her, but she just couldn’t.

  “Do you have any questions?” Jo asked, cutting off Savannah’s internal monologue.

  “Oh! No, not at all. You explained everything quite well,” Savanah replied, waving away her question. Jo smiled, turning away to pull out some recent paperwork. Savannah swallowed nervously, working hard to keep her façade intact. She’d have to fight against any desire she had to befriend the human girl. She wasn’t here to make friends. She had a mission, and she’d be a fool to go against Lucas’s orders.

  Cool wind blew against Savannah’s back as the office doors swung open. She turned as a tall, dark-haired, well-muscled man walked inside, stopping almost immediately as he laid eyes on her. Their nostrils flared at the same time, and Savannah knew that they’d recognized each other as shifters almost in unison. She tried not to cower back as the alpha scent hit her senses. The look in his glare was icier than the wind outside, but she fought to stand her ground. Appearing afraid would only make her look guilty.

  The man looked from Savannah’s terrified gaze to Jo. “Who’s this?”

  Jo glanced up with a slight frown on her face. “This is Savannah Danvers. She applied for the job.” She turned to Savannah. “Miss Danvers, this is Tom Brewer, mechanic and part owner of Brewer Mechanics.”

  “She applied for a job, eh?” Tom replied. He picked up a raggedy shop cloth from the nearby counter and wiped sweat from his brow. He looked like he’d been working only moments before, his thin shirt sticking to him with perspiration and little black smudges marring the tan of his skin.

  Savannah swallowed softly, speaking to hide the fact that she’d been staring. “Yes, I uh, I saw the advert in town. At the grocery store. I needed food.” She clamped her mouth shut before she could babble further. She turned to Jo so that she could keep from staring at the muscles in his arms as they worked to wipe more sweat from his face, or the heat in his eyes as he perused her. The attraction she’d felt for him was immediate, riding the coattails of her fear. It was half as rational and twice as confusing. She needed to rid herself of it, immediately.

  “I was thinking she’d be a pretty nice fit for our team,” Jo spoke, eyes on the papers in front of her. “She has expertise, and she needs the wor—”

  “Can you go get Nick then?” Tom asked, voice tense but pleasant. “As owner, he deserves to have a say in the final decision, after all. I’ll stay here and chat with Miss Danvers.”

  Jo frowned, her eyes narrowing suspiciously at Tom with unspoken wo
rds. Savannah watched them fight a small, silent battle before Jo gave in with a sigh.

  “Fine,” she muttered. “But be nice.”

  She walked out the door, muttering something about being back soon before the door closed Savannah inside alone with Tom Brewer, alpha bear shifter. The office suddenly felt a whole lot smaller.

  Tom leaned one elbow on the counter, eyes boring into hers with a sharp apprehension that made her fight back another shiver. With as much courage as she could muster, she met his gaze and held it. She’d never best an alpha, but she could at least try to earn his respect by not showing fear.

  A small glint of appreciation passed through his gaze before he spoke. “So, why would a rogue shifter choose to come to Woodhaven?”

  Chapter Three

  Savannah tried to smile, but her mouth barely moved. “I’m just looking for a job.”

  “Oh?” Tom replied, sarcasm dripping. “And you just so happened to come here, to the one place in the tri-state area where two other bear shifters are, huh?”

  “As ridiculous as it sounds, yes.”

  Tom pushed himself upward, standing tall and dwarfing Savannah easily. “I think you’d better start from the beginning.”

  Savannah quickly ran through the same story she’d told Jo, keeping her voice and gaze steady so as not to seem guilty. Unlike the human, a bear shifter would be hard to fool if her heart sped. “I only came here because there was a job posted. Finding out that bear shifters were here was only a happy accident.”

  Tom snorted. “Happy.”

  Savannah turned up her nose, feigning confidence. “Yes, happy. You seem like the type that values his privacy, correct?” She saw a glint in his eyes that meant she had his attention. “I need a job, I have the qualifications, and I’m also a bear shifter. If you ask me, I’d be much better for the job than say, another human, don’t you think?” Her heart was hammering in her chest, betraying her false confidence, but she hoped her words had captured more of his interest than her bodily functions. “No secrets to keep from another non-shifter. We know each other’s biggest secret, so what’s the worst that can happen?”