Footsteps approach, and I bolt upright on the couch, looking for the closest exit.My gaze lands on the front door, and I push to my feet quickly.I’ve taken one step when a guy appears in front of me, his eyes wide and worried.
He holds his hands out to stop me.“Whoa!It’s okay, you’re okay.You’re safe here.”
I know he’s trying to calm me down, but it’s not working.
“Who the hell are you?Where am I?”I shout.
“I’m Cooper.This is my house.You’re in Night Grove Falls,” he says in a rush.
“Cooper…”
That name sounds familiar, and I try to place it.Have I met him before?No, I would remember a guy who looks like him.
Reyes.
Reyes mentioned someone called Cooper when he talked about work.He patrols with him a lot.They’re friends.
I relax slightly, studying him carefully.He’s handsome—very handsome.Dark brown hair that falls over his forehead, dark green eyes that remind me of the pine trees outside, a strong jawline, a straight nose, and full lips.He’s hot.He looks like he just walked off a magazine cover.
“You know Reyes?”I ask.
He tenses.“Yeah.How do you know Reyes?”
I wonder at his guarded reaction.“My sister, Taylor, is his mate.He’s mentioned you before.”
“Oh.What’s your name?”
“Landry.”
“Landry,” he whispers almost reverently.
My cheeks heat with a blush.I change the subject to distract myself from the strange pull this guy has on me.
“That means the giant wolf out there was you, right?”I ask, remembering everything that happened before I woke up on his couch.
Cooper nods, looking sheepish.“Yeah, I’m sorry for scaring you.I was distracted and wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.”
“No, it’s my fault.I wasn’t watching where I was going either.”
Cooper leans past me to grab the glass of water sitting next to the couch.“Here.Drink.”
“Thanks.”I take a sip, relaxing a little more.
“Wait,” he says with a frown.“You know about shifters?”
“Well, yeah.I mean, my sister is with one.She told me about them when I was in the hospital.”
“Hospital?”Panic flares in his eyes.
“I’m fine.”I wave off his concern.
His eyes move over me, assessing.
What does he think when he looks at me?I want him to like me.I want him to be attracted to me.I want what Taylor and Reyes have.
My sister deserves the world.She basically raised me.Our dad was never in the picture, and our mom was pretty useless.Taylor took care of me.She worked to provide for us.She protected me, or tried to, anyway.
Now she has Reyes to take care of her, and I’m so happy for her.He treats her like she’s his everything, which she is, and she looks at him like he’s her hero, which is also true.
