“You were right,” I reply, taking another mouthful. “This is perfect.”
“Look,” he sighs. “I hate to do this, but I have to go out today. Council stuff. I don’t want to leave you alone, but this is kind of important.”
“I understand,” I answer. “I won’t be doing much today—don’t worry about that. I don’t need entertaining.”
“No, but you might need someone to take care of you,” he says. “So, I’ve asked Scarlett to drop by.”
“Scarlett?”
“She’s my best friend’s wife. He’s alpha of Rose Hollow, the nearby pack.”
“Oh, okay. So you’re close with them?”
“Yes, very close. I’ve been like brothers with Rex almost my whole life, and when he decided to settle here, I did, too. I was his first choice to be appointed alpha of this town.”
“You still owe me a big explanation there,” I mutter, taking a sip of coffee. “I don’t like how you and Grace danced around that topic.”
Brad looks down into his coffee cup, frowning. I watch a little ripple of tension run through him, and I realize that whatever he’s hiding, it has to be pretty nasty.
Maybe I don’t want to know what it is…
For some reason, the dread from my nightmare returns. I can’t remember much of the threat itself, just that it was powerful, massive, and approaching.
Just slowly enough that you might go insane from fear before it ever gets to you.
“Don’t stress,” I say. “I’m getting that it’s a long, difficult story to tell. I trust you.”
When Brad looks up, his beautiful blue eyes look pale, as if they’ve been drained of color. I’ve never seen such a hopeless expression on his face—as if he’s been defeated, and didn’t even get to fight.
He reaches over and gently takes my hand, rubbing his thumb across my skin. “I will tell you,” he says. “But the trouble is, I’m not even sure what happened. Explaining that will also mean telling you about other…events, and I’m just not sure how to do that.”
“Okay,” I answer, smiling. “I accept that, and I trust you.”
Even as I say the words, I realize that part of me still doesn’t trust him, and it only adds to the sense of doom growing inside me.
“Okay, I’d better go,” he says, getting up. “Scarlett will text you when she’s on her way. I hope the two of you have a good day. Call me if you need anything.”
“I will,” I say.
Brad comes around the table to give me a quick hug and kiss goodbye, then heads off towards the front door. When the door slams closed, a little shock runs through me. The house feels too empty, full of echoing spaces that seem to be filling up with shadows.
Shadows where bad things hide.
Even though the jitters affect my stomach, I finish my food and feel much better for it. I take my cup of coffee to the living room, where I settle on the couch.
The doorbell rings. I hurry over to open it, and I’m greeted by a stunning woman with long red hair, bright green eyes, and a friendly smile.
“You must be Scarlett,” I say.
“I sure am!” she answers, holding out a hand. “And you’re Alisha?”
“Yes,” I reply, and we shake hands before I step back to let her in.
“It’s weird knocking here,” she says, chuckling a little as she looks around. “It used to be my cottage.”
“Really?” I answer. “You lived in Eccles?”
“My hometown,” she replies. “Not the best of memories, I’m afraid, but I did love this little place.”
