Ginger and Thyme (Kootenai Pack Book 4)

by Lynn Katzenmeyer

  Don’t go

  It’ll be fine

  I wasn’t actually confident it’d be fine. But Cain seemed sure it would be. I followed her into a comically small car. The giant woman folded herself into the driver’s seat and I slid into the passenger seat. Muscle memory found and buckled the seat belt.

  Have we been in a car before?

  Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to

  As the small car drove across the compound where the bears lived, Arcadia pointed things out, “The humans think this is a hippy community. A bunch of woo-woo single moms who can’t keep a man. We work hard to keep that image. If you do interact with humans pretend you want them to join a cult...or sell them something. That usually glazes their eyes over and they excuse themselves out of the conversation.”

  “S... sell them something.”

  “Yeah, you’re getting it,” Arcadia said. She pointed across my body with her massive arms, “We keep bees over there. The cubs are in charge of maintaining and harvesting the hives. Over there is our greenhouse. That’s probably where we’ll have you work. Always stuff to be done in there. If you were a bit bigger or had a little Alpha streak in you, we could probably use help in the day care, but you’re a waif of a thing… the cubs would roll right over you.”

  I couldn’t disagree with that, “I’d like the opportunity to work in the green house…. ma’am.”

  Arcadia whooped a laugh that scared my wolf so bad, I sprouted pale orange fur out of my arms.

  “Sorry, ‘bout that, I love how skittish wolves are,” she whipped a left turn, sending me flying into the car door before clamming on the breaks and getting out of the car, “Follow me, Cinnamon.”

  “Ginger,” I grumbled under my breath but did as told.

  I followed Arcadia into her house. It was a small house for such a large woman. Kids streamed from the open door. I couldn’t tell their ages, but they were all sorts of sizes. The shortest one was still taller than me by at least a foot.

  “Mercy!” Arcadia shouted and a teenager came out of the house. Like her mother, she had pale blond hair, but unlike her mother, she kept hers long.

  “Yeah ma?”

  “Got a stray in need of a shower. She also needs clothes. Can you show her around?” Arcadia commanded. Mercy nodded. “Great, when you got her looking human again, get her mug shot and show her the ropes in the greenhouse, she’s your new assistant.”

  “Yes, your majesty,” Mercy said. The teen waved for me to follow her and I did.

  “So, you’re Cain’s newest stray?” Mercy asked, leading me through the small and crowded house. The lanky young woman stepped over and around just as lanky kids aged toddler to preteen, “He usually doesn’t have any lady-strays.”

  I didn’t know how to respond to that. Maybe I was special. The first woman he saved since losing his mate.

  “I’m Ginger,” I offer with as much confidence as I can muster, “Where are we going?”

  Mercy opened a door with a flourish, “To the glamorous Polar Bathroom. It’s not much, but it’ll get you clean while I dig through the clothing pile for something that’ll fit you. I think we might have something in the elementary cub pile.”

  She showed me how to start the water in the yellowed porcelain tub and explained which jars were what soaps before leaving me to it.

  I don’t like it. Rain...inside...warm rain at that. It’s unnatural

  It’s a shower. You’re going to like it, I promise

  What’s with all the promising lately, pup? The only promise that means anything is my promise to keep you safe

  And Cain’s promise to us

  He’s lying

  You don’t know that

  I ignored my wolf’s grumbling and bathed. Dirt and grime sloughed off my body revealing the bright pink skin, burned by the near scalding water, and rubbed raw by the natural soap Mercy claimed to have made from the beeswax and flowers in the greenhouse.

  After I was clean, I dried and Mercy barged into the bathroom, handing me two small stacks of clothes, “I don’t know if any of these will fit, but you can have them. No one here fits them anymore.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Great, okay so get dressed, I’ll get your picture taken and we can get to work.”

  Hours later, Mercy walked me back to Ursula’s barn. In the time with Mercy I learned so much. Everything from weeding plants, troubleshooting water hoses, and basics of bear culture. I was also exhausted.

  “Thanks so much for showing me the ropes, Mercy,” I said once we reached the barn.

  “Glad for the help. Tomorrow I’ll show you the basics of beekeeping in case it ever comes up for you.” She rolled her shoulders, “Gonna run home. I can’t stand being stuck in my skin for so long, can you?”

  She stepped out of her clothes with practiced speed and shifted to a giant polar bear with effortless grace. The giant bear huffed and puffed, pulled the fallen clothing into her massive jaws, and bolted off into the woods.

  Chapter Seven

  Ginger

  The compound of the bears, Near Mainsbury, Minnesota

  4 years ago, January

  Over the next month I grew to love the bear den.

  Mercy told me the latest gossip while we worked in the greenhouse, harvesting vegetables and planting more.

  The hottest gossip at the moment was about Ursula’s cub daddy refusing to come for another mating event.

  Bears didn’t have mates, they had mating events. Where the female bear would pick a male bear and make a cub. Then the male bear would leave until called again.

  Ursula had a favorite grizzly and when she called him around the winter solstice, he refused to come.

  I loved working with Mercy. She talked but didn’t expect me to add much to the conversation.

  “That explains why she’s so grumpy.” Cain and I had been trying to figure out what had gotten into the mama grizzly. She was slamming doors and growling at her cubs uncharacteristically.

  “That’s not even the weirdest part,” Mercy said. Her eyes widened and her dirt covered fingers waggled in front of her as she got to the juiciest part of the gossip, “Apparently his pet wolf went missing. And that’s why he refuses to mate with her.”

  “That’s weird.”

  “Right?” Mercy went back to her task, “But she’s back now and he still won’t mate with Ursula. She’s been going around to all of the other mama bears asking for advice. And they want her to just pick a new one but she’s insistent that this one is her favorite.”

  “I thought bears didn’t take mates.”

  “We don’t.”

  “But if she only wants to have cubs with one bear isn’t that basically having a mate?”

  “I mean, it’s not like he lives with them or anything. The cubs don’t even know his name.”

  “That’s sad.”

  “What was your dad like?”

  Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answer to, pup

  You remember my dad?

  Don’t ask questions

  My wolf was getting less and less helpful the longer she let me stay in human form. She did insist on taking over every night and sleeping at the foot of Cain’s bed. I didn’t mind. Each morning he seemed less gaunt, more human. The dark circles under his eyes had brightened some. A few more weeks of good sleep, he’d be incredibly handsome.

  No one would sleep if we let him howl all night

  Or maybe you like him as much as I do

  No one likes him as much as you do

  When I made it back to the barn, I smelled grizzly inside with Cain.

  “But there has to be something that stopped your howling,” Ursula’s voice was insistent, “You’ve lived in my barn for years and it’s only been recently I don’t hear you every night.”

  I waved at Cain but stayed hidden behind the tarped car. Ursula would have smelled me by now, but I didn’t like talking to her if I didn’t have to.

  “I don’t kno
w what to... well there is one thing different.”

  “The stray, I know but what does she have to do with it? You’ve had dozens of strays.”

  “But Ginger’s wolf sleeps on my bed,” Cain said.

  I wasn’t sure if I liked him admitting that to her. It felt like he was sharing a private secret to her.

  “Maybe that would work for her. Can you please talk to him?”

  “Fine call him.”

  The beeping of Ursula’s ancient phone were followed by her, “No no Evan don’t hang up. I think I have someone who can help your pet.”

  “This is Cain, Ursula said you had a wolf who cried in her sleep?.... Uh huh.... Okay so I have an idea of how I could help her if you’d let me explain... puppy piling...it’s when a wolf sleeps in the same bed as another wolf shifter. It calms the other’s inner wolf...... I don’t imagine that it’d be traumatic wolves are social.... Uh huh.... And she only started after coming back? .... Her fang?”

  Cain growled. A menacing sound that raised my hackles.

  “No.... you’re right, I don’t imagine she’d want to be surrounded by strange wolves.”

  I crawled closer trying to hear the other end of the conversation, but it was over. Cain was handing the phone back to Ursula.

  “That poor woman,” Cain said.

  “Yes, poor me. Now are you going to help him so he can give me another cub or are you useless?”

  “I have to talk to Ginger. If she’s willing to help, I’ll do it.”

  “So, stray, are you going to help me?” Ursula called, “I know you’re in here. I can smell you.”

  “What do I need to do?” my voice was a squeak.

  “Nothing different than you do with me. I figure we trade off sleeping at the foot of her bed and easing her wolf’s nightmares.”

  “Why do you need me to do it?”

  “The bear would feel comfortable if a female wolf tried first,” Cain explained, “If it works he’ll consider letting me in on it.

  “So, what do you say, Ginger? Want to take the puppy pile on the road?” Cain’s green eyes sparkled. It was obvious he wanted me to say yes.

  But our quiet life was good. We had food, shelter, and each other. Sure, it wasn’t much, but I had my bees, my plants, and I was earning my own way. Cain had his garage, me, and his job. What more could he possibly want?

  “Can’t you go by yourself? Try it out for a night and if-”

  Ursula was already shaking her head before I finished my question, “Doubt it. The grizzly is overprotective of this one. She’s the one who went missing last mating cycle.”

  Cain nodded as if that were a story he was familiar with but neither filled me in on the story, “He’d be more comfortable with a bitch-”

  “Shewolf,” Cain muttered under his breath before speaking at his normal voice to speak to me, “We can really help a wolf in need, Ging. Just one night. If you’re uncomfortable after that I’ll tell them never again. Okay?”

  He stood in front of me begging. My Cain was begging me for something. A night puppy piling for a stranger was worth it if it made him happy, “Okay,” I agreed, “for you.”

  Cain shocked me when he wrapped me into his arms and spun me around.

  My wolf burst from my skin and wriggled from his embrace hiding under the car.

  What the hell! He was hugging us it was nice

  Dangerous he’s not to be trusted

  Shift back, I want to apologize

  No, not safe

  Cain walked over to our hiding place and crouched, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. Will you come out? If we leave now we can start puppy piling tonight.”

  My wolf crept out, keeping low to the ground, tail between her legs. She followed Cain to an ancient truck and hopped in when he opened the door for her.

  So, a hug is too dangers but letting him drive us to an undisclosed location is fine

  I can kill him where he sits here

  Killing us in the process

  I do what I do to protect you, pup

  The entire drive to wherever we were going, Cain talked to me. I loved the sound of his voice. He told me about the car he was working on and how much money he needed to fix it. He talked a bit about the last time he drove with another wolf. It was twins actually, a couple boys he found after their first shift. They didn’t stay long with the bears, but he was in contact with them. He talked about a few other former strays he was in contact with in Mainsbury. Most worked for a construction company another stray owned. It was transient work, but good paying.

  “Not that you’d want to work for Ed, eh, Ging? I get to keep you around for a little while, right Ginger?”

  My wolf yipped without my instruction. For all she said he was dangerous, she sure was happy to make him think she liked him. I didn’t get it.

  Finally, we reached the destination. It was well after dark and Cain called the number Ursula left him.

  “Evan?” Cain asked, “This is Cain, Ursula sent me. I’m outside now.”

  “She said she was sending a shewolf.”

  “Yup, she’s currently in wolf form next to me. I hope you understand I want to make sure she’s going to be safe while puppy piling at least the first few times.”

  The man on the other end of the phone grunted, but Cain took that to be agreement.

  “Let me know when you want us to come in. I assume you’re up the stairs outside?”

  “I’ll unlock the door for you. Be quiet. If Lee wakes up, she’ll never forgive me.”

  They disconnected the call and a minute later light shone from the second story and Cain turned off the truck, “I’ll be here the whole time, promise.”

  I followed Cain out of the truck and up the stairs. The building smelled of oil, beef, wolf, and bear. A big bear. Despite myself, my stomach growled. Cain and I ate better than I ever remembered eating, but the thick smell of meat in the air was enough to make the fullest wolf’s belly feel empty.

  “That’s a wolf?” the whispered voice of the bear was a low rumble that sent fear up my hackles.

  “This here’s Ginger. She’s a little small,” Cain said as a joke. He leaned down and placed a comforting hand on my wolf’s back that she ducked away from.

  “And skittish,” the bear grumbled, “This isn’t going to work.”

  I was ready to agree. I wanted to turn tail and run far away from the bear and his pet wolf. Then I heard her howl. Just as horrible as Cain’s if not more so because she sounded like she was being tortured.

  My wolf acted on instinct and raced to the pitiful creature. Curling at the foot of the bed, calming her instantly. The horrible screams silenced to whimpers. Better.

  “Wow,” the bear’s voice rumbled from the doorway, “I didn’t think she’d quiet that fast.”

  “I don’t know if it’s Ginger’s special skill, but if it works with any wolf, I have a few that might be willing to come over on a rotation,” Cain said. The two men closed the door to a small crack and went somewhere. I could hear the rumbling of their voices somewhere in the building and that was enough to convince my wolf to let me sleep inside of her.

  ***

  Ginger

  Tooth and Claw Pub, Easterville, Minnesota

  4 years ago, February

  For the next month and a half Cain and I slept in Cain’s truck or on Lee’s bed. While Cain set up a rotation of his favorite stray wolves to puppy pile with the bear’s wolf, he didn’t trust them to take care of her. So, every night, we stayed in the truck in the parking lot.

  It wasn’t ideal, but I could handle it. There were perks. The bear, Evan, was grateful for his own peaceful night of sleep and would usually offer me food before kicking me out.

  Until the morning she woke up early.

  My wolf must have fallen asleep too, because we were woken with a poke to the ribs. My wolf panicked and raced into the nearest hiding spot and cowered.

  The woman spoke to us, but my wolf was too focused on survival to l
et me hear her words.

  The bear came in next and he seemed angry. My wolf darted between his legs to find a better hiding spot in the apartment. Eventually the two came out of her room and she walked over to my hiding spot, crouching in front of me.

  “I’m sorry for scaring you,” her voice was saccharine sweet but earnest enough, “I didn’t want to frighten you. Do you want breakfast? Evan makes amazing French toast.”

  My stomach growled and my wolf made an affirmative gesture. She liked the bear’s cooking.

  “I’m Lee. You can stay in wolf form if that’s how you are more comfortable. I won’t hurt you.”

  I trotted over to the stove where the bear was already cooking breakfast. I sat like I had dozens of mornings, “Hey Ging,” the bear said, tossing me a piece of bacon. Then another. I wolfed it down until my wolf was full.

  I went to the door and scratched at it until they let me out.

  “If you’re free tonight, Lee wants to meet the wolves who have been helping her. Come to the pub any time before ten.”

  I whimpered and clawed again, and he finally opened the door. I raced down into Cain’s truck. He was asleep, wracked with his own howling night terrors. Why he preferred giving the stranger a good night’s sleep over his own, I’d never understand.

  “How’d it go? You’re out late.”

  His phone rang and Evan was on the other end. Already giving him the details of how I’d fucked it all up. Lee knew about the puppy piles and was demanding a meeting.

  Chapter Eight

  Rosemary

  A tiny apartment in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

  7 years ago

  The hum of people on the street ebbs and flows like a tide. The traffic beneath my window is constant. The only uncertainty I had was whether my mate would come home.

  Alone. My only companion was a borrowed laptop with a spotty internet connection. I couldn’t even work on my schoolwork most days. I was stuck. Trapped. Four thin walls echoed the stories of my neighbors. The fights about ketchup and mayonnaise. Loud and vigorous lovemaking. Children thundering through the halls at all hours of the night and day.