“I like her. There’s something tough but vulnerable about her. I don’t know enough about her, but my gut says she wouldn’t harm the pack. She does seem…”
He groped for the right word. “Lost.”
“Convince her to remain here with your people.”
“Why?”
Tristan shook his head. “I cannot tell you. Only this – Jenny must remain here.”
“Again with the damn fortune telling. Can’t you see into the future and tell me why?”
Tristan waved a hand and summoned a small round globe. “I am the Lupine Magic 8 ball. The answer is no.”
He waved another hand and the ball vanished.
“Fine.” He eyed their mates, talking madly as they strolled by the river. “Niki will tell Nia and Nia will tell me.”
“Niki does not know.”
“You’re not telling her? She’s your mate!”
“Do you share everything with your mate?”
Got him good. Aiden grinned. “Everything? Hello no.”
Tristan laughed. “There you have it. Know this, Aiden. Your ranch is the safest place for Jenny. Do whatever you must to coax her into staying here on your land.”
The wizard gazed into the distance, as if divining the future he’d refused to share. “You must, for all our sakes.”
Chapter 7
After a long walk in the woods, Jenny and Troy returned to the main lodge. Hand on the small of her back, he ushered her inside.
Jenny stopped at the stairs. “You sure I’m welcome here?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know Troy… you seem to fit in, but me, I’m different.”
As she started to protest, he kissed her. His kiss was a mere butterfly brush of wings against her mouth. So soft and beguiling, he wanted more. Needed more. Yet he needed to show her she set the pace.
All these months they’d been together, he patiently waited for her to take the first step. Let him know when she was ready.
As they deepened the kiss, he suddenly drew back, knowing he stood on the edge of a cliff and they could both fall easily. Not now. Not here.
Troy framed her face with his hands, kissing her gently again. “This is a mere demonstration of what I plan to do with you, sweetheart.”
Jenny licked her kiss-swollen mouth. “I’d settle for a little demonstration more, please.”
“Not much privacy for how I really want to kiss you.”
They went into the living room. Snake sat in an armchair by the fire. He glanced up from the book he read.
Troy made introductions, wondering if Snake would be as hostile to Jenny as the Lupine had been to him. Instead, Snake politely shook Jenny’s hand and gave her a warm smile.
“Hope you like it here, Jenny.”
“I’m not staying long.” She retreated and folded her arms across her chest.
“Maybe we can change that.”
Troy didn’t care for the words, but Snake showed no signs of flirting with her or sheer male interest. Still…
“I need a place where Jenny can sleep tonight. Not the bunkhouse,” he shot out.
Snake tossed him a key. “Aiden asked me to give you this and take you to a guest cabin. Thought you both would want alone time.”
The flush tinting Jenny’s cheeks made her even more striking, but he didn’t like embarrassing her.
“I’ll get her settled there and return to the bunkhouse.” Troy’s heart skipped a beat at the thought of privacy with Jenny, but he would not rush her.
“Up to you.” Snake dog eared his book and set it on the table next to the sofa.
“Oh, that’s bad luck where I come from. If you don’t use a bookmark, it means during the next full moon, you’ll be hunted by a librarian.”
Troy grinned at Jenny’s joke, expecting Snake to frown. Again, the male surprised him with a large smile.
“Maybe I like librarians.”
“For dating or dinner?” Jenny quipped.
Snake laughed. “Maybe both. Come on. Let’s get you settled. There’s two golf carts outside. You can take one, follow me and leave the cart for your transport at your cabin.”
He made no remark s about Jenny’s lack of bags and for that Troy was glad. He glanced sideways at the book. Troy stifled a surprised gasp.
Evil Walks Among Us. By none other than Professor Eric Niles Perry.
The same teacher Aiden and Darius had talked about this morning when they headed out to herd the cattle to a larger pasture. Perry was a rogue, a Skin who was interested in killing wolves and had cultivated a small, but loyal group of student followers.
Or not.
Even Aiden admitted he didn’t know if the professor was victim to a rumor mill to smear his reputation. The alpha needed more information before arriving at a decision.
He hinted at meeting Perry himself to analyze what his motives were.
“Interesting book title.” He pointed to the hardcover.
Snake’s expression remained blank. “Yeah. He’s got some ideas I thought worth exploring.”
“Which ones?”
Snake shrugged. “Stuff about people with extraordinary powers.”
The other cowboy gave him a level look that sent a warning chill down Troy’s spine.
His flash of gratitude for Snake vanished, replaced by rising suspicion. Troy kept a tight grip on Jenny’s arm as they went outside.
Jenny gave him a questioning look, which Troy ignored. His heart thudded against his chest.
He didn’t like or trust Snake, and now had better reasons, other than pure instinct. What if Snake discovered what Jenny truly was?
Was he reading the book for entertainment or something else?
The cabin at the forest’s edge looked modern, and was set far enough away from the other cabins to give them privacy. Troy thanked Snake and ushered Jenny inside, on guard as he watched the cowboy drive away in the other golf cart.
“I don’t like that guy.” He turned to see Jenny standing in the middle of the living room. “Stay away from him.”
“He’s odd, but doesn’t intend any harm. Not like the weird vibe I get from some.”
“How can you tell? That aura thing?”
Her ability to read auras to detect a person’s motives had stunned him from the moment he discovered her talent. Like her other ability he’d seen, he kept the knowledge quiet from others.
Jenny was different and different equaled bad in most packs.
