She stood up straighter and glanced at my mom before meeting my eyes again. “It’s time.”
I sighed again and clasped my hands in front of me before meeting the alpha’s eyes. “Okay. How are we gonna do this?”
Callie
“Is everyone clear on the plan?” Abey asked. When all we did was nod, he clapped his hands and rose from his seat. “Great. Let’s leave the Carters alone for the night.”
I stood up straighter and put myself in his path. “What about the pack, Abey? Don’t you think it’s time you told them about the murders?”
He pressed his lips into a thin line and looked away. “Now’s not the time, Callie.”
He tried to walk around me, but I stepped in his way again. “When will it be the time?”
“I think she’s right,” Wyatt said as he stood up and joined us. “If they don’t know, they can’t protect themselves.”
Abey sighed and turned to Bea. “What do you think?”
She shrugged, but her icy blue eyes were darting between me and Wyatt, making my palms sweat. “You know I’ll support whatever decision you make, but I think they’re right. We’ll be able to protect them easier if they know they need protecting from something.”
Abraham’s shoulders fell as he released a deep breath. “Okay. I’ll give the announcement at the cookout.” He turned to me again. “Anything else, Callista?”
I smiled wide and stepped out of his way. “That’s all for now, brother.”
He snorted as he walked past me and out the door, followed by Bea. I gave Nora a hug and said goodbye to Wes before turning to leave too. When I spun around, Wyatt was only a few feet away, jump-starting my heart like he always did when he was close.
“Bye, Callie.”
I smiled up at him. “Bye, Wyatt.”
We stood there for a second too long before I shook my head and moved to walk around him. He reached out and grasped my arm before I could pass. “Actually, I have something for you. Wanna wait outside?”
I nodded and turned to leave, shaking my head to rid it of the haze that infiltrated whenever Wyatt was around. Taking a seat on his front step, I breathed in the cool night air as I waited for him to return.
The door creaked open and his rich leather scent reached me before he did. He sat down next to me, pressing the length of his warm leg against mine and sending my heart racing again. Without a word, he handed over a familiar red spiral notebook.
“You left this in the car yesterday when I drove you to the lab.”
I took it and flashed him a grateful smile. “I’ve been looking for this. Thanks, Wyatt.” I stood to leave, but he grasped my wrist and pulled me back onto the step.
“I have something else for you. It was Mom’s idea, but I picked this one out myself.” He reached behind him and pulled out a branch with a cluster of delicate little pale blue flowers on the end.
“Hydrangeas? What’s this for?”
He shook his head and looked away as the apples of his cheeks darkened with a blush. “Well, Mom thought you should get to enjoy her garden too since you helped her pick all that stuff out. I thought these flowers were almost the exact color of your eyes, so I picked them for you.”
I clutched the branch in my hand as my heart galloped ahead. “Wyatt,” I said softly. I didn’t know what else to say because every thought that came to mind would tip the scales of this balancing act we had going on.
He looked back at me, his face still pink and so handsome in that moment. “It’s nothing.”
I grabbed his arm and squeezed softly. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”
He shrugged and looked away again. “You deserve it.”
My heart thundered in my chest as I watched his profile, my hopes as high as they’d ever been.
Maybe he was rethinking this friend situation.
Maybe he was having as hard of a time sticking to these boundaries as I was.
Maybe he wanted me as badly as I wanted him.
But all he did was shake his head and stand. When he extended a hand toward me, I let him help me up too.
“I’ll talk to you later,” he said.
I let go of his hand, missing the warmth of it immediately. Clutching the notebook and flower to my chest, I nodded. “Okay.”
He turned and walked inside, leaving me on his front step, as confused as ever.
All these small moments with him were building up and piecing themselves together like a puzzle. It didn’t seem possible that I could feel so much for someone who felt nothing for me in return. There had to be more behind his friendly façade.
Or maybe I was just fooling myself.
Wyatt was a great guy. Handsome, smart, funny. It had been clear from day one that he could have his pick of women in this pack, so why would he choose me?
The bookworm.
The tree hugger.
The woman who barely gave a thought to her appearance.
If he wanted to get romantic with someone, it was clear I wouldn’t be his first choice.
That was what I’d wanted though, right? No complications. No drama. No men. Looked like I was getting my wish, even if it wasn’t my wish anymore.
I turned away from the Carters’ house and headed down to the gravel drive that led back to the lodge. With my head swirling with so many thoughts and my eyes on the flower Wyatt picked for
