Page 41 of Fat Enemy Mate

“Right, Wilf,” Nick says. “Ridge. You ready to be back on it?”

“Yeah,” I tell him. “Was going to ask you about that.”

“Good. Connor’s stretched on the south, and I’d rather have you back on your own line than have Dylan covering both. Same shifts as before. Two on, one off.”

“Suits me,” I tell him, my wolf protesting about leaving Lara, but I try to shove that down.

“Lara gonna be all right while you’re out?” Nick asks.

“She should be. The cabin’s secure. The road’s been clean. I’ll keep the runs to what they were before, nothing longer. The ridge is literally my backyard, so I won’t be far.” I tell him, more for my wolf’s sake than his.

“Anyone going to be with her?” Connor asks.

“Fern is there today, and I think some of the other women were saying they have plans to check on her during the week,” I reply, knowing that’s part of the reason I feel able to leave her at all.

“Sounds about right,” Connor laughs, and the conversation drifts back toward who’s covering the southern border again.

The meeting wraps up just after ten, and I’m one of the first out of my chair as usual, ready to head for the door. I wave to Connor and Nick before rinsing my mug and setting it on the side. Turning to leave, I almost run straight into Ethan, who seems as keen to head out as I am, as he’s already by the door.

“Wilf,” he says.

“Ethan,” I reply.

“I’m heading out. Let’s walk,” he says.

I’d rather not if he’s going to bring up last week, and I’d certainly rather not hear his thoughts about the threat he thinks Lara poses, but I’m not going to cause a scene.

“Sure,” I tell him.

We walk, and he doesn’t bring up Lara straight away but pauses by my truck. “I was going to ask, but I think you already know. She doing alright?”

“She is,” I tell him.

“Settled in ok?” He asks, and I give him a look which makes him laugh. “I’m not pushing, man, honestly. She’s not what I thought. You were right. She’s an innocent in all this.”

I realize he means it, and I feel my wolf drop down a fraction from where he’s been all but ready to get riled up.

“She’s as settled as she can be.” I tell him, “She’s only here until we get things sorted.”

“You sure about that?” he says, giving me a knowing look but not enough time to answer as he spins on his heel and goes off toward the patrol truck with a simple wave over his shoulder.

I shake my head. I know Lara’s scent will still be all over me even if we’ve kept some space since she came to town. It’s not that I don’t want her again, goddess knows I do. But we seem to be dancing around it, or perhaps reality was easier to ignore up in the mountains. Here, there’s no denying who we really are, and I’m not sure Lara will ever think a shifter is someone she’ll want to admit wanting to fuck.

I’m about to climb into the truck when I spot Elder Amelia coming out of the small side door of the hall.

I haven’t seen her since the lottery because I never went back to see her, like she asked. I kept telling myself it was a problem for another day, and then everything with Lara happened. It appears today is the day I’m going to deal with that problem because I feel her eyes lock onto me like prey. She’s standing on the step in her grey shawl with her hands folded infront of her, and she looks at me with the same patient look she usually reserves for naughty children.

“Wilf,” she says.

“Elder Amelia,” I reply, dipping my head.

She’s the oldest person in Silvercreek. Has been for as long as I’ve been alive. Small and white-haired, she always seems to look somehow ancient and yet youthful at the same time, and standing in front of her always makes me feel ten years old.

“Do you have a minute?” she asks.

“I was just heading back,” I say, knowing it’s useless.

“I can see that,” she says, and the smile she gives me has no give in it. “But I’m sure you have a minute.”