“I was going to, but I’ve had some distractions.”
“Yeah, human women can do that sometimes.”
“I guess you’ve been following me?”
The man lifted his shoulders. “Not really. Mind telling me why you’re here? I can smell what you are, and you’re not a loner.”
Hunter opened the hands that were clasped loosely between his knees. “My pack. They think I need a mate.”
The man nodded his understanding. “Have a few singles, do you?”
“Yes.”
“I’m having the same problem.”
Hunter narrowed his eyes. “So, you don’t have available females?”
“Nope.” The man was blunt, but seemed to be relaxing.
“Well, that’s fine with me.”
“There won’t be problems while you’re here?”
Hunter shook his head. “Not at all.”
The man unfolded his arms and extended a hand to Hunter. Hunter stood and clasped it.
“I’m Isaac. My pack is scattered around the city but I have a little place off of Rt. 60 if you need anything. It’s easy to find…it’s the only horse farm out there.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
Isaac nodded and left the motel room without another word.
Hunter sat back down on the bed as his cell phone started ringing. He hoped it was Chelsea, but unfortunately for him it was Oscar.
“I thought you were going to call with an update!” Oscar’s voice was agitated and deeper in octave.
Hunter narrowed his eyes to slits, his hairs tingling.
“I don’t know how much you’ve had to drink, but you better check yourself. I’ll not be hen-pecked by you or anyone else in the pack! Got it?”
“Yeah. Sorry. It’s been a rough day.”
“Why?” Hunter spit the word out.
“Aaron and Ryder had a fist fight, then there was a storm, and I thought a fox was in the hen-house.”
“Welcome to my world.” Hunter said tightly. There was silence on both ends of the line for a full minute. “I suppose you want that update?”
“Yes.”
“I met the Alpha for Williamsburg.”
“Really?” Oscar’s excitement made Hunter feel guilty. He didn’t want to feel guilty.
“Yes, but there aren’t any available females.”
“Oh. Ok. Maybe you can try somewhere else.”
An image of Chelsea laughing with her hair whipping around her came to mind. Another image quickly replaced that one of her staring at him in terror with a tear streaked face. He knew he would die before she ever experienced something like that again. He cleared his throat.
“Don’t worry, Oscar. I think I’ve found my mate…”
“Oh God, that’s good news!”
“Calm down. Look, don’t tell the others yet.”
“I won’t.”
Hunter could practically see the grin on Oscar’s face. He bet he was even bouncing on his feet.
“I don’t know if this will work out yet or not. She may not accept me.”
“You’re an Alpha! What single she wolf would refuse you?”
A human who’s not a she wolf, that’s who. “I don’t know.”
“Take your time. Just let me know how it goes.”
Hunter ended the call. He thought it odd that Oscar hadn’t asked where a female she wolf would have come from apart from a pack. Lone wolves were typically male.
He caught sight of his reflection in the mirror. He studied his strong features, and for the first time felt the tick-tock that his single pack subordinates must be feeling. He spoke out loud to his reflection.
“How do I convince a beautiful human woman to pack her bags and come live with a pack of werewolves?”
His reflection offered no answer.
Hunter mulled over his situation as he shaved and got ready for the day. He had called Chelsea earlier and found she was already waiting for him at her apartment. She had promised him a fun filled day of…something.
Two weeks. That was the time frame he was giving himself. If he couldn’t woo her away by then, he would have to go home empty handed. Chelsea was the one he wanted, and he wouldn’t settle for anything less. Besides, two weeks was about all he could afford living abroad without the generosity of a pack’s lodging.
Hunter slipped a snug fitting white t-shirt over his head, and bent at the waist to lace his brown hiking boots. He had no idea what she had planned, but the chosen attire would do for most anything.
When he arrived at Chelsea’s she opened the front door before he was out of the truck and set a rather large tackle box outside of the door. She slipped back in and came back out with two fishing poles.
Hunter grinned. “So, we’re going fishing?”
“I thought it would be a nice relaxing activity.”
Hunter noticed the dark circles under her eyes. “I thought you were going to call me if you couldn’t sleep?”
Chelsea shrugged, keeping her eyes averted, as she handed him the poles. “It’s fine.”
Hunter wanted to argue that it certainly was not, but kept his mouth shut instead.
“Do you have a good spot?”
“My father’s friend Kamden has a nice piece of land and we can go to his stream.” Chelsea placed the tackle box in the bed of the pickup. “I just have a couple more things to get.”
Hunter followed her into the apartment, nodding a hello to Amber. She looked at him easily, a smirk on her face.
“I’ll have you know that Chelsea has been hogging the kitchen since five this morning, whipping up potato salad, and Lord only knows what else.”
Chelsea cast her an evil look, shoving a blanket in Hunter’s arms. She had a large cooler on wheels, which she promptly rolled to the door, only giving Amber a cursory glance over her shoulder.
“It wasn’t five, it was 5:45, thank you very much!”
Amber laughed lightly. “Have a good time!”
“We will.” Hunter smiled, shutting the door.
They drove for several miles out of the jumbled retail and restaurant area. The businesses became sparse before Chelsea had him turn onto a road named “Fish Trail”.
“I hope that’s accurate.” Hunter teased.
“It will be.”
Chelsea directed him down a gravel driveway which led a half mile to a two story house that looked like some kind of strange work in progress.
Hunter cut the engine, looking at the house thoughtfully. “Remodeling?”
Chelsea laughed and opened the passenger door. “Yes. Kamden’s been remodeling since I was a child. He added on this end five years ago.” Her hand flicked to the right. “And that one last year. The house was originally just a two bedroom two story farm house.”
“Wow. That’s impressive.”
The front door banged open and three tan boys ranging in age from four to eight ran towards them with sticky faces, and dirty clothes.
“Chelsea!” They yelled at once.
“Hi, guys!” She beamed at them. “I didn’t realize you’d be here today!”
The oldest boy with reddish hair and freckles splattered over his tan nose nodded. “Momma brought us last night. She’s coming to get us soon.”
The two youngest tugged on her shorts.
“You didn’t bring us anything?”
Chelsea laughed, looking down at their faces. “Looks like you already had a treat.”
“Who’s that guy?” A small voice asked.
“Yes, who is that guy?”
A wiry man in a work shirt came down the front steps. His dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and Hunter could make out strands of gray running through it. His dark tanned face, told the tale of a man who worked outdoors, but paired with the hair and high cheekbones promised a Native American heritage. He held his hand out to Hunter.
“I’m Kamden.”
“Hunter.”
The men shook hands and Hunter became uneasy as Kamden held
on to his hand a second too long, his dark eyes staring at him intently. When the contact ended, Hunter felt shaken. He was glad when the man turned his attention to Chelsea, wrapping her in a bear like hug.
“Girl, you’ve stayed away too long!”
Chelsea patted his chest. “I’m sorry, Kamden. I’ve just been busy.”
“What brings you out today?”
“Hoping to catch some fish.”
Kamden nodded. “You know you’re welcome. Just run in and say hello to Isabela first. She’s missed you.”
The three little boys led the way.
The inside of the house looked a little like the outside, like a work in progress. The three little boys marched noisily down a short hallway, into one of the biggest kitchens Hunter had ever seen. A woman with mocha colored skin was standing at a range built into the kitchen island stirring something in a large pot.
“Chelsea! Honey, come give me a hug!” She held her large arms out and embraced Chelsea similarly as Kamden had. “Who’s this?” She asked, her eyes lightening up further.
“Isabela, this is my friend Hunter.”
“Nice to meet you.” She smiled and shook Hunter’s hand firmly. “What are you doing today?”
“Hopefully catching fish.”
“Picked a good day for it. Not supposed to get over eighty today.” The woman placed a plump hand on her hip and resumed her stirring.
Hunter glanced at Kamden leaning in the doorway, his near black eyes watched him intently.
“Your local, Hunter?” Isabela asked, shaking some unknown spice into her concoction.
“No, Ma’am. I’m from the mountain area near the West Virginia border.”
“Oh, I bet it’s pretty there! What brought you to Williamsburg?”
“Sightseeing.” He exchanged a glance with Chelsea, her small smile reassuring.
Kamden let out a whooping laugh. “I guess the sight of Chelsea was all it took, huh?” He slapped his thigh at his own joke.
Isabela gave him a dark look, her full lips puckered. “Leave ‘em alone!”
“I’m just teasing!” He came and wrapped his arms around her thick waist. “I don’t mean any harm.”
“We’ll stop in on our way out.” Chelsea said, and grabbed Hunter by the hand. “Be good, boys, and I’ll drop a treat off to you guys before you visit again.”
Her promise earned Chelsea hugs and wallops.
Hunter was glad to be out of the house and back into the sunshine. Anywhere would have been better than the intense stare of Kamden.
“How does your father know him?” He asked as he slid into the driver’s seat.
“He worked for my father when I was little. He was a drifter, down on his luck, he had just left a motorcycle gang.”
“Was Isabela with him then?”
Chelsea shook her head and smiled. “Follow that dirt path. It leads to the stream. No, Isabela was working at the same pancake house I took you to. She was a single mother of two, and Kamden fell in love with her.” She smiled softly. “He said he liked the way her brash attitude clashed with her soft mothering. Plus, he had just inherited the house you saw, and said it needed to be filled with little ones.”
“Did they have kids together?”
“One. He’s Kamden Jr. He just left for the Marine Corp this past fall.”
“Wow. Is he overseas?”
“Not yet, but they think he might have to go to the Middle East.”
Hunter shook his head. “That’s rough.”
“Yes, it is.”
They were silent as the path became rougher and narrower. Hunter was afraid of getting stuck, and was about to voice that concern, when the path opened into a field, and he could see the stream.
“That’s almost a small river!” He exclaimed happily.
“It feeds directly into the James. It’s bigger here because we’re so close.”
They unpacked the truck and walked towards the embankment. The sound of the stream as it moved over rock and cut into the earth, reminded Hunter of home, and it gave him a sad kind of peace.
He was amused and impressed with how knowledgeable Chelsea was about fishing, and how her fingers deftly worked with the bait and line. Her cast was near perfect.
“Have a seat.” She said, sitting cross legged on the ground.
“Is Kamden Native?”
“He is. Powhatan.”
“Isabela?”
Chelsea laughed. “She’d tell you all sorts of things, but African American will suffice.”
“You seem close to them.”
“I am…I mean we are. He’s one of my Dad’s closest friends, and Isabela helped out a lot with Karlee.”
They lapsed into a comfortable silence, that wasn’t broken until Chelsea’s line began to move.
“Hot damn!” She said, leaping to her feet.
Hunter thought about helping her as her sneakers dug into the soft soil of the embankment, but was soon put to shame as she expertly reeled a large mouthed bass in. Her grin was contagious. Hunter watched with awe as she carefully unhooked this fish and skidded down the slope to the water’s edge. She smacked the fish on a flat rock and made her way back up the bank.
“I guess we better eat. I didn’t expect to catch one this fast. I’ll need the ice in the cooler for the fish.”
“You’re quite the angler.” Hunter said shaking his heads with his hands on his hips.
“Thanks. My Dad and Kamden taught me. Better grab your pole.”
Hunter soon found out that not only could she fish, but she could cook as well. He laid back on the blanket and rubbed his stomach, now full of potato salad, a divine cold cut sandwich and fresh chocolate chip cookies.
“What was that sauce on the sandwich?”
“It’s simple. It’s mayo, mustard, sugar, and vinegar mixed together.”
“Well, it was delicious. Who taught you?”
“To make the sauce?”
“That, and cooking in general.” He said and rolled onto his side, supporting his head with his hand.
“My Dad taught me some but, like I told you, I just love to cook. I watch TV shows and I check out cookbooks from the library.”
“You should own a restaurant.”
Chelsea nibbled on a cookie thoughtfully. “Want to know what I’m really interested in?”
“What’s that?”
“Off the grid living. I want to can and freeze things. Hunt and slaughter my own meats, then learn how to preserve that meat.”
Hunter’s eyes widened, and his body went still. “You do?” He whispered.
Chelsea laughed lightly, her head bent back to her cookie. “I know that sounds dumb probably.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
Hunter scooted his body closer to her, and took the cookie from her hands, pulling her down towards him. Chelsea willingly stretched out in front of him. He looked into her eyes for a long time, his brow slightly furrowed in concentration.
“What is it?”
“Have you ever considered leaving here?”
“All the time. I just didn’t know where to go, or what to do. I thought I would have been long gone by now.”
Hunter moved a hand along her hairline, tracing a path with his finger until it reached her bottom lip. He watched the soft flesh bounce back as his finger left the spot. He pulled her tighter to him with a hand at her low back. Chelsea’s mouth met his, her lips parting for an intimate kiss.
Hunter could feel the erection rising in his jeans, and he pressed his body closer to hers, not caring if she felt it. She ran a hand lightly over his crotch to let him know that she had not only felt it, but liked it as well. Hunter shifted his weight, grabbing her by her upper arms, and pulling her on top of him. He pushed her back as she tried to lean in and kiss him again.
“What’s wrong?” She asked breathlessly, her cheeks pink.
“Nothing.” He raised his head, and let it drop back to the ground, closing his eyes. “I have to go home soon.”
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Chelsea’s body tensed. Why was he bringing this up now? “I know you can’t stay forever.” Her voice betrayed her bravado.
Hunter opened his eyes. “No, I can’t. I have responsibilities at home. But…”
“But what?” She hated how hopeful she sounded.
“You could…you could come with me.”
Chelsea slid off his hips and stared at him incredulously. “I just met you.”
“I know. I know it’s crazy.”
“You’re supposed to be looking for a mate.”
“Don’t really want that kind of mate.”
“What do you want?” She held her breath. What if he didn’t say what she wanted to hear?
His dark eyes became bottomless. “I want you.”
Fishing no longer an interest, Chelsea and Hunter said a hasty goodbye to Isabela, then drove back to her apartment in silence. Chelsea nearly continuously chewed her bottom lip, and Hunter took his eyes off of the road every few minutes to look at her. He wished he knew what she was thinking.
Should I have been that presumptuous?
Amber was thankfully not there when they returned. Once all of the gear was in the apartment, Hunter stopped Chelsea from pulling the fish from the cooler. Her blue eyes looked up at him, various emotions and unspoken thoughts swimming there.
“The fish can wait.” He led her by the hand into the living room, gently pushing her onto the couch. “I want you to consider coming home with me.”
Chelsea tried to shake her head no. She tried to look at this man with the reason and common sense she was famous for, but she couldn’t. Rational thinking had gone out the door concerning this man since the first night he had kissed her.
“I’ll consider it.”
“Good.”
Chelsea felt her shoulders slump. “How long?”
Hunter lifted a shoulder, tilting his head slightly. “I need to head home in a few days. Two weeks at most. I’m running out of funds. I didn’t expect to be staying in a hotel for this long.”
Chelsea’s eyes brightened. “You could stay here on the couch!” Her hopeful smile caused Hunter’s stomach to clench.
“I doubt Amber would want that.”
“If it’s only for a few days, I don’t think she’ll care. She’s had men stay for longer than that before.”
She Wolf and The Detective: (Suspense, Crime, Thriller, Mystery, Fantasy) (Book 1-3) Page 15
