It took me a moment to catch my breath. When I looked at the petite woman standing in the doorway, an ache settled in my heart. Syn Styles and Lyric Carmichael were both five years younger than me, yet both women were much more intimidating. At five feet nine inches, I was a good four inches taller than the other woman, yet I still had no doubt who would win in a fight, and it wasn’t me. Karsyn, or Syn to her friends, tilted her dark head and, with eyes as blue as her brother’s, stared at me, waiting for something that only she knew.
“Can I help you, Karsyn?” I busied myself removing the rubber gloves and tossing them into the garbage.
“Please, call me Syn. How are you, Lake?” Syn walked into the room, touching the counter, her hands running over everything as if she were memorizing each thing.
“I’m good. You?” I cleared my throat, hating the show of weakness the croak emitted.
Syn laughed. “I’m not going to hurt you...well, unless you hurt my brother, then all bets are off. I don’t think you’re going to do that, though. Are you?”
What the hell was this? “I’m not sure what the heck you’re talking about. Your brother is the alpha. Nobody could hurt him.”
The younger woman was across the room in a flash. “You keep telling yourself that, dear. However, you and I both know he is more than that. He’s much more thanjustthe alpha,” Syn spat. “He’s my brother, and I’ll kill anyone who hurts him. You got me?”
I may not be an alpha, but I was nobody’s bitch. I drew myself up to my full height, gripped the small hand wrapped in my shirt, and squeezed. “Listen here, little girl. Don’t come in here and think to threaten me. I’d never hurt anyone, least of all Kellen. You want to see who has bigger teeth, then Let’s do this, but not in my clinic.” My beast came to the front, making my voice sound deeper.
“Oh, I knew you were worthy,” Syn said, wiggling her hand and extricating herself.
I blinked down at Kellen’s sister, sure the other woman had to be crazy. “Do you need meds or something?”
“Or something, but you can’t give it to me. I’m serious about hurting my brother, though. Also, you’re gonna need to keep those balls you just showed me. There are gonna be a shit-ton of she-bitches who are gonna think you ain’t good enough for him. You’ll need to put them in their place. You’re also gonna need to put the big bad alpha in his place. Trust me on this. If you need anything, holler at me. I’m on your side...unless you hurt him. Feel me?”
Taking a deep breath, I nodded. “I think you’re jumping the gun here. Your brother doesn’t want me. Not for the long run, and I’m not in the market for a part-time lover.”
“What about two?”
It took me a few seconds to understand what she was referring to. My mouth fell open. “Holy shit. How did you hear about them?”
“So, it’s true?” Syn’s eyes gleamed.
I shook my head. “Syn, how did you hear about that?” I thought back to my conversation with Alexa and was sure the other woman hadn’t spoken to anyone, then remembered that wolves could hear remarkably well. Damn, I prayed Kellen wasn’t foaming at the mouth. My phone buzzed, saving me from having to answer. A stethoscope image was on the screen.
“Shit,” I swore.
“A problem?” Syn looked from me to the phone in my hand.
Not wanting to lie, I shrugged. “I need to head back to Kansas City. My partners and I need to finalize my leaving. I accepted a position here at Mercy General, plus I want to be close to my parents when they’re here.” Not to mention I missed the pack and Kellen. I didn’t say the last out loud.
“You want some company along for your trip? I could use a vacation.” Sadness clouded her eyes.
I could really use a little buffer between the two men and me. I didn’t understand why they wouldn’t accept the fact I wasn’t interested in them. Hell, I wasn’t into them one-on-one, let alone two-on-one. My fantasies were geared more towards one dominating alpha male, who didn’t seem to know I was alive. Maybe if he hadn’t saved me all those years ago. A shudder wracked me at the memory, but I pushed it aside. The past was just that. Over and done with. You can’t change it. You can’t live in it. And you sure as shit can’t keep beating yourself up over mistakes. I learned from my mistakes and have grown from them. Okay, I may have run hard and fast, but I’d stopped running and was now ready to face my future. If that includedKellen Styles, then I’d be one happy wolf. However, if it didn’t, I’d learn to live without him.
“That would be great. Ever been to Missouri before?”
Syn’s smile seemed forced. “Nope. When are we leaving?”
I didn’t start my residency for another two weeks, but I wanted to get everything I could and get back. “How about tomorrow. I can rent a truck and trailer thing. My apartment came furnished, but I sorta have a lot of stuff.”
“No problem. You know we can get that packed and loaded in no time. Heck, we could always ask a couple of the guys to come along.” Syn stuffed her hands in her back pockets, looking far too casual.
“No. I’d rather just go and get it taken care of myself. It’ll only take a day to pack it up. I already started before I came here.”
“Alright. No need to rent a truck or trailer. I’ll pick you up.”
Listening as Syn gave me the time she’d be there, I felt as if I’d been steamrolled. However, having someone I actually trusted and liked with me on the trip back made me feel marginally better. If only Kellen were as amiable as his sister.
******
The next day, I heard a loud truck pull up outside the house. I looked outside the window, seeing Syn hop down from the driver’s side in a pair of skintight jeans and a tank top. My eyes widened at the shiny black truck. With its turquoise stripes running down the sides and the two big hearts on the back fenders, it should look odd, but it screamed Syn. From my view, the interior matched the same turquoise.
