“Yes.” He swallows hard and says nothing more as he walks beside me. I wish he’d reach for my hand, or that I had the courage to reach for his.
At the camp’s perimeter, Garrett withdraws clothing from the bin. He hands me a packet tied with a pink bow. Inside, I find a soft baby blue sweater, jeans, and boots. Not my clothing, but my size.
“You can thank Tess for the women’s clothing in the cache. After that day you showed up wearing just a man’s shirt, she insisted we become more female friendly to anyone entering our territory. See, babe, you’ve had an impact on the shifters here. I’m hoping you’ll consider staying a little while longer. If not, well… you don’t have to leave alone.”
I tug hold of his shirt below the collar. “Would you really go with me?”
“Yes.” There’s no wavering, no uncertainty in his voice or face.
My heart sails, then sinks. I can’t be responsible for ripping one more shifter from his pack, from the people who love him.
I tip up on my toes and kiss his cheek. “Never change, Garrett.”
I head into camp without asking him to accompany me. I don’t need an escort here. Even though I haven’t met Mila in person, I know where I’m going. And if I stray from the path, there are enough shifters here who can point me in the right direction.
Somehow, that pretty much sums up this place, which makes my wolf want to howl in joy, but I’m not ready to join her. I still need to find where I fit here. And while I love Garrett with all my heart, I refuse to be a burden.
I cross the compound, and head in the direction I recall seeing Hayden and his mate go the day I arrived. I haven’t seen her since and I’m not sure why, except she was heavily pregnant, so it’s possible she’s on bed rest.
Which means I shouldn’t bother her.
My gait slows just as a huge house comes into view. Not a mere cabin, but a real house, the type a second-in-command would live in, and only smaller than the alpha’s. While the house sits a few hundred yards off the main path, it’s still close to the center of the pack.
Garrett rushes past me. “I can handle this on my own,” I whisper as he knocks.
“I’m here on pack business,” he says. “It’ll only take a second.”
A beautiful shifter, with long dark hair and a huge baby-belly answers. “Garrett…” her smile falls. “Is Hayden?—”
“Totally fine. I’m just here to let you know he’s slightly delayed, but all was basically resolved and well when I left him.”
“Drake—”
“He’s being an ass, but nothing Hayden can’t handle. They’re discussing some intel.”
She sighs in relief, then her smile returns. “Thank you.”
“One last request, Doc, this is Angelina Ulfson, our most recent guest.”
I love how he didn’t introduce me as another WSSO victim. Or hostage. Or any other label that I’d like to dispel.
“Hi, there,” she says to me, as I approach her home.
“If this isn’t a good time, I could come back.”
Garrett gently grips my hand and keeps me from leaving. “She has a few injuries, Doc. Nothing Novak related. Road burns on her face and shoulder. If you’re unable to check her over?—”
“Garrett, what are you doing?” I whisper.
“Making sure you’re taken care of, darlin’. Don’t want you hiding anymore. Avoiding me is one thing, but you should get to know the pack you’re thinking of leaving.”
“You mean thinking of staying, don’t you?” the doctor asks.
“No, she’s thinking of leaving. And while I swore I wouldn’t pressure her to stay?—”
“Sounds like you’re doing exactly that, Garrett,” the doctor says.
“I am. Switching my approach, because I’m rather desperate, Doc. I love Angel, and while I truly want her to be happy, I think she tends to be harder on herself than any one shifter deserves. Maybe if I make it clear to our pack that they’d be losing a beautiful, sweet, giving soul by pushing her away, they’d be a bit more welcoming to her.”
