“You can’t ever ask me or press me on anything I don’t want to share.”
“I won’t.” He breathed out a sigh of relief.
“I’m still not sure it’ll work.”
“We try. It’s all I ask.” He leaned down to kiss the side of her mouth, whispering, “You taste so damn good, baby. But I’m not going to press you. I’ll drop you at your place, and I’ll see you tomorrow. Okay?”
Savannah turned to kiss him back, a quick kiss, but she ran her tongue over his lips before pulling away. Her heart thudding in her chest and her pupils dilated. “Fine, but you come to my place for dinner. I don’t want to go out. I think we should spend some time getting to know one another.”
His heart hammered like a train at the thought of spending alone time with her in her cabin, and then she smiled up at him with a glint in her eyes. “Bring wine, a medium sweet white preferably. Hmm, a sparkling one would be nicer if you can get it.”
“Will do,” he replied quickly. “Whatever you want, I’ll be there after my shift.”
“I’m tired now and I’ve an early start.” Savannah shook her head. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”
“Come on, let’s get you home.” He took her hand in his, not allowing her time to think, in case she changed her mind.
They walked the last few yards to her cabin in silence, but he heard so much in the time it took to get there. The darkness hid the small animals in the forest as they scurried around, the leaves whispering in the trees, owls’ wings while they sought their prey, and Savannah’s heart as it thundered wildly in her chest. Nerves or something else? He wasn’t sure, but it could be fear. Fear of allowing him in and fear of him finding out her secrets. What was so bad she fought so hard to hide it?
No, don’t go there. She’ll run if you do. Don’t fuck this up.
“I’ll see you tomorrow then,” she whispered softly, nervously, nibbling her bottom lip.
She looked scared too. He didn’t like it. Hated the thought of her being scared about them. “Yes, you will, and it’ll be okay, baby. I promise.”
Pulling her into his arms, he leaned down to give her a kiss, one he hoped would show her everything would be okay. His mouth covering hers in a searing hot stroke of their lips, but only briefly, just a taste of what he hoped would show her he meant what he said before he pulled away.
“See you tomorrow. Now go inside and lock up.”
Savannah looked at him with glazed eyes and a hint of a smile before turning, fumbling with the lock, then disappearing inside. He waited until he heard the click of the key in the door, then her voice through the thick wood … “Goodnight, Ash.”
“Goodnight, Savannah, sweet dreams.”
He turned away, transformed, and rushed through the forest silently. He’d never felt happier as he ran toward his new home. A new life awaited him, with Savannah being top of the list, and he wasn’t going to mess it up…
Chapter Eleven
Dawn broke with Ash stalking through the trees. He’d woken earlier and couldn’t resist a quick run, with his beast checking out the forest around his home, but after a while he’d ended up at Savannah’s cabin. I’m just making sure she’s safe.
He’d told himself over and over, but truth was, he wanted so much more. He wanted to inhale her scent before heading off to work. Stalker much? He prowled around the outside, checking the windows and door were secure, sniffing the air to ensure no other shifter had been around, but also smelling her glorious aroma. It settled him and his beast, especially when he found no new signs of the rogue.
His sensitive ears picking up the soft sounds of her breathing while she slept, so he padded away. As he did, he heard an alarm sound within the cabin, quickly followed by Savannah groaning, then the noise shutting off, she was awake. Speeding up, he moved off toward home to get ready for his first day in the department.
It didn’t take him long to shower, dress, and drive into town. When he arrived, Ava welcomed him with a big smile and her dog popped its head up to give him a lick before settling back down. “She really does like you.” Ava smiled wider up at him. “And she doesn’t usually take to people so quickly, Deputy, so you must be special.”
He didn’t think he was special, not at all, but the dog might be feeling the affinity he’d had with other working dogs. He’d enjoyed their fierce loyalty, but also knew they needed strong leadership and a lot of love. Maybe Trixie felt it, who knew, but if it paved the path between him and Ava, he’d take it.
“She’s a special dog,” was the only thing he could think of to say, but it seemed to be the right thing because Ava beamed up at him.
“That she is.”
“Is Jagger in?” he asked, scanning the office but not seeing him. Granted, he was early, but he thought his friend would be in to welcome him on his first day.
“No, he’s not.” Ava’s attention went back to the screen in front of her. “There’s donuts and coffee if you want them, though. You remember where to go?”
“Yes.” He stepped away, then stopped. “Ava, sorry to interrupt you, but can you tell me where I’d find a place called Bun something or other? Storm bought cakes there and she mentioned it over dinner last night.”
“It’s Judy Jarret’s place, the Bun Boutique. It’s on main street, you can’t miss it, but she doesn’t open until midday. We all love her creations, but I try and close my eyes whenever I walk past because if I don’t, I end up buying so many cakes I make myself feel sick. I honestly can’t resist. I try and limit myself to special occasions, or I’ll send someone else to buy for me and then I don’t overindulge. I’m so weak willed when it comes to Judy’s cakes.”
“Thanks, I’ll have a look later.” He couldn’t believe how Storm, Savannah, and now Ava were going nuts over cake.
Yeah, he liked them as much as the next guy, but this amount of crazy was, well, just plain nuts. Then again, here he was asking where to find the place because of one person, and he’d go and buy something from this supposedly magical shop for one reason only, and it wasn’t because he had a sweet tooth. Who was the crazy one now?
He did exactly that, too, fitting it in after Jagger ran through the bane of all police departments, the mound of paperwork they had to fill out, and a couple of routine callouts. One where a kid broke a window with a ball, another with a drunk guy playing music loudly and annoying the neighbors. Jagger handled the first, sorting it out quickly because he knew the people and made the boy promise to work off the cost of the new window. The second, Jagger raised his brow and smirked over at him.
“You can handle this one. I’ll say this. He’s an ass who does this all the time and we’re all fed up with his shenanigans. He’s a pain and he doesn’t like authority. Let’s see what you got.”
Asher knew the type too well, so he didn’t go in softly, or try to reason with him. It wouldn’t do any good. Instead, when the guy answered the door … a huge lump of a man, but most of it was lard, Asher muscled his way inside with one hand on the man’s chest to force him into a filthy hovel of a room.
“Turn that off, will you, Jagger? I’d like to hear myself think.” Asher kept his eyes locked with the guy who started to shout obscenities and how they were breaking the law by entering his home.
Asher ignored him until the music cut off, then he snarled, a full-on shifter growl, allowing his beast to break free, but only a little. Just enough so his eyes began to shine, and his voice changed. “We’ve had enough of you. Your nice, quiet neighbors have had enough of you. You’re a pain in the ass and it’s going to stop. Do you hear me? Do you?”
He paused long enough to allow another grumble to break free, leaning in, right up to his face. The stench of stale smoke and booze almost making him retch, but he remained there for another second or two before pulling back, prodding the guy’s chest. “You’re going to be a good neighbor from now on. You won’t play God awful music so loud, and you won’t annoy everyone. You could also get some help for your drin
king issues, too, it might help you be an upstanding citizen, but whatever you do, you don’t want me coming back here. Understand? Because if you force me to step inside this house again, I won’t be this friendly. This is your final call from us playing nice. Next time, trust me, you’ll pee your fucking pants.”
Asher turned to walk away, but the lowlife blustered behind him. “What? You can’t … you can’t threaten me like that!”
Asher spun around quickly, using his enhanced speed, releasing more of his power, his fangs dropping and his eyes turning completely as he roared over, “I just did!”
All color drained from the man’s face, his body shook, then he nodded like a bobble head. “Okay, okay, I got it!”
Jagger stepped over, clamping his hand on the guy’s shoulder. “This is Asher Stone, our new addition to the department. I suggest you don’t piss him off, he has a short fuse. You have a good day now.”
They’d walked to the door before Jagger paused, turning back. “Look, I know you have problems with booze and it’s a hard thing to kick. You’re also aware we have a diverse community here, so you should think about using it to get yourself some help. I’m sure Phaedra Fowler would be happy to see you. Think about it, and do something before you get into any more trouble.”
When they left, Asher waited until they were back in their car before asking, “Who’s Phaedra Fowler?”
Jagger drove away down the street that was now quiet, his eyes on the road. “She’s the High Priestess of the local witch coven, although, to be honest, if you see her on the street, she doesn’t look anything like you’d expect. She keeps to herself most of the time, and comes across as quite hippie like, but if you meet her, you’d know by her eyes. She has the most piercing blue eyes I’ve ever seen. I think she might be able to help him, if he actually plucks up the courage to go to her.”
“Do they fit in okay here? We had a coven near us, but our fucker of an Alpha forbade us from going anywhere near them. He was always picking fights with them, and, well, it caused a lot of trouble. I couldn’t understand what the problem was, other than he was being an ass.”
Jagger glanced over at him, his eyes wide and his reaction clearly showing. He was shocked. “They’re part of our community. The pack uses them for healing sometimes, and we get on well. I can see why you left, if the other reasons weren’t enough, this just adds to them. Your old Alpha is a right, royal idiot.”
Asher could only agree with him, thinking of the wolf in charge of his old pack. He was an idiot and a bully. “Yes, he surely is. I’m relieved to be out of there. I thought I’d end up on my own, well, for a while, I did. Then I thought of you and tossed and turned for a few nights in a motel before making the call.”
Jagger slowed down, then sighed. “Hearing you say that upsets me. Hell, if I’m being honest, it angers me and makes me sad at the same time.”
His words came out low and weren’t said in anger, but they hit Asher as if he’d just dumped a bucket of cold water over him. Asher looked up to Jagger like he’d never done with any other person in his life. Jagger was the only one in his life who’d looked out for him. Who saw the potential in him and led him to the right path and stopped him from going down one of self-destruction. Why would he say such a thing?
“What?” Asher asked, the one word popping out quickly. He knew it sounded curt, but he couldn’t help himself.
They were now at a snail’s pace, with Jagger looking over at him more than the road. Soft lines between his eyes because he was frowning over at him. “Because you didn’t call me straight away. Because you even doubted I’d help you. Because you thought for one second, I wouldn’t be there if you needed me. That’s why, Ash. I’m angry you didn’t call me the second you were in trouble, and sad you went to a motel and worried about what you were going to do. Sad you thought you were alone. Angry you didn’t realize I’d be there for you. You should’ve known I’d help, no questions asked, Ash. You were nothing more than a pup when we met, and when I left the service, you’d grown into a wolf I was proud to call a friend, a brother, and yet, you didn’t call me when you were in trouble. You still don’t get it, do you?”
Asher’s throat felt dry as a bone, his heart ached with every word Jagger spoke, and yet he wasn’t sure he did understand. “What?” he croaked out.
“Pack. You and I are pack. We bonded all those years ago as brother wolves and I’d help you anytime, anywhere. It saddens me you’ve never known what it’s truly like. So let’s draw a line under this and move on, but know from now on, not just me, but everyone in this pack will be there for you. It doesn’t matter you’re new, all that does is you’re pack. If you need help, you ask. It’s that simple.”
He listened to everything, trying to take it in, but it washed over him like a sea of words pounding the shore in a storm. A pivotal moment in time, in his future, right here and now. For him to understand what was within his grasp, if he’d only open himself up and reach for it. If he’d take it in. No. Not just take it. He had to welcome everything Jagger just told him. Pack. Dark Moon Falls pack wasn’t like his old pack. It was different, it was what a pack should be like, and he had to embrace it wholeheartedly.
“I’m sorry for disappointing you,” he whispered, feeling ashamed for letting his friend down.
A long, deep sigh escaped between them as Jagger shook his head. “You still don’t get it. I wasn’t angry at you. I was angry at myself because I didn’t let you know how deep our bond ran. If I’d done it, then you wouldn’t have hesitated in calling me. If you’d known we were pack and what it meant, you wouldn’t even have needed to call. You could’ve turned up and I would’ve helped you out. That is what pack means, Ash. When you understand, when you feel it, you’ll understand, and you’ll never think twice about asking for help. We’re never alone when we’re pack, we’re always stronger together. Remember it.”
Finally, things clicked into place. Stronger together. A strange concept for him, but one he liked. One he looked forward to living by. A new life, a new pack, a new way of life. And it sounded pretty damn good.
“Thanks, I will.” He took a deep breath in before exhaling loudly. “Now, I think that’s enough of the deep shit for today. Can we go pick up some cake and wine for my date tonight?”
Jagger chuckled, agreed, and it’s what they did. Asher asked Judy, the owner, for help in choosing a dessert. She asked a couple of questions and he explained Savannah loved chocolate and Judy directed him to several luscious looking cakes in a display. Before he said a word, Jagger pointed to one, buying it for Storm, so he shrugged and told her he’d take whichever one she thought best because he had no idea which one to buy.
Judy tapped her chin, then looked at him. “You want to make her happy, yes?”
“Of course,” he replied. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”
“And she loves sweet things, and chocolate. Hmm, so I’m going to go with this. It’s two layered with different chocolate inside. I’m sure she’ll love it.” She reached in and pulled out a cake with two tiers, which looked stunningly beautiful, even to him.
It was covered in delicate decorative creatures made from different colored icing. Birds sitting on branches, a tiny rabbit beneath, and other animal outlines iced onto the outside rim of the layers. The cake looked more like a piece of art than something you’d cut up and shove in your mouth. His taste buds watered just looking at it, and if he thought that, he hoped Savannah liked it just as much.
“It definitely looks great. Thanks. I’ll pay for both.” He turned to Jagger. “Just to say thanks for everything. Oh, and before we go, can you give me something you know Ava likes? Just a little something I can take back for her?”
Jagger gave him a tip of the head but didn’t argue. Guess he knew there was no point.
“Sure I can.” Judy popped to another display, pulling out an individual cake. “She loves these little ones. Will this do?”
“Sure. If you can keep it separate please?�
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After he’d paid and received the cakes, parceled up in fancy boxes, they popped into the grocery store to get the wine. He was surprised to find quite a good selection and picked one he thought would fit the bill of what Savannah had asked for, then they returned to the station, planning on keeping their cakes in the break room. When they arrived, he didn’t see Ava at first, but she popped up as the door opened. Looked like she’d been petting the dog, but when she saw them, she beamed a big smile.
“Is Storm getting a treat?”
“Yes, she is.” Jagger carefully lifted his box. “Two days in a row so she won’t expect this.”
“And yours?” Ava raised a brow at Asher.
“I’m going to dinner. I decided it would be nice if I took dessert with me.” He knew her next question would be right on the tip of her tongue. Where? So he headed her off at the pass by holding out her cake. “I got this for you. Judy told me it’s one of your favorites.”
Her face lit up, eyes sparkled, hands clapping while she let out a squeak of surprise. “Oh, you didn’t? Deputy Asher, I’m so surprised you remembered…”
“Ava, I wouldn’t be much of a police officer if I didn’t, would I?” He handed over the delicately wrapped small box. “I hope you enjoy.”
“Thank you. I will, but I’m keeping this for tonight. I’ll savor it when I’ve put my feet up and watching a show later.” She took the box in two hands, gently, as if it were something very precious.
“We have some paperwork, then lunch, and afterward we’ll be heading out for me to show Asher a little more of Dark Moon Falls.” Jagger headed off toward the back of the office with his precious cargo in his hands. “I’ll leave this here and pick it up later.”
“Okay, boys. If I’m not here when you return, just know I’ll be enjoying this, and thanks again for cheering me up. I do love Judy’s cakes.”
Dark Moon Falls: Volume 2 Page 17
