Page 28 of Talk Howly to Me

"Yes, I'm pretty sure. Because I got attacked today by three wolves, and the guy whose lodge I'm staying at turned into a wolf and protected me. So yeah, now I don't know what to do or what to think."

Tasha let out a low whistle. "Well, I would say you stepped into a world that seemed impossible, but it also seems like you found a man willing to protect you with his life. So maybe you shouldn't run from whatever that means."

Sloane stood up and began pacing the length of the suite's sitting area. "That's the thing, Tasha. This manager, Ronan, and his assistant manager, Kozue—they seem like they're really attracted to me, like beyond anything that makes sense. And what's worse is I'm attracted to both of them beyond anything that makes sense."

She stopped in front of the massive sectional where she and Kozue had made love less than twenty-four hours ago, and the memory sent heat through her body despite her fear.

"I should just leave this place. Move to Washington. Get out of Oregon. Start over and forget any of this happened."

"Sloane," Tasha's voice carried a gentleness that was rare for her. "I know we've only known each other for a year, and I don't know your full story, but I know you deserve good things. And this sounds like it could be a pretty good thing if you just gave it a chance."

Sloane closed her eyes, pressing her free hand against her forehead. "How can I stay somewhere that's run by a wolf pack? Where the two managers—probably their Alpha and Beta—have some sort of thing for me?"

"Well, from where I'm standing, I don't see the problem," Tasha replied with characteristic bluntness. "You have two natural protectors who seem to care about you and your safety. And you found a place that can offer you that safety and maybe something pretty special."

The words hit harder than Sloane expected, because they echoed the treacherous hope that had been building in her chest since the moment she'd arrived at Hale Lodge. The hope that she'd tried so hard to crush.

Sloane was silent for a long moment, staring out the suite's tall windows at the forest beyond. Somewhere out there, Ronan and Kozue were probably leading their guests on that nature hike, being the competent, caring leaders she'd glimpsed over the past two days. Men who'd offered her work, protection, and something that felt dangerously close to belonging.

"Maybe you're right," Sloane said finally. "Maybe I should stay for a little longer. Just until I figure out if it's really safe. Or if I can really trust these men."

"Well, whatever you decide, just keep me updated," Tasha said. "But Sloane? You really can't come back here, and I don't think you should go off alone if there are wolves hunting you."

"I promise I won't do anything stupid."

A sharp knock at her suite door made Sloane's heart jump into her throat.

"Tasha, I need to go."

Sloane's heart hammered as she crossed the suite to answer the door. Her phone call with Tasha had left her feeling raw, like every carefully constructed wall she'd built over the years was crumbling faster than she could repair them. The last thing she needed was another conversation that would strip away more of her defenses.

When she pulled open the heavy door, Kozue stood in the hallway holding a silver tray laden with what looked like homemade sandwiches, fresh fruit, and a steaming mug of coffee. His green eyes carried a weight of guilt that made her chest tighten despite her resolve to stay angry with him.

Good, she thought with bitter satisfaction. He should feel guilty for abandoning me this morning after the most incredible night of my life.

But even as the thought formed, she couldn't ignore how the sight of him made her heart beat faster. His dark brown hair was slightly disheveled, as if he'd been running his hands through it, and his forest green henley clung to his broad shoulders in a way that made her remember exactly how those muscles had felt beneath her palms just hours ago.

She didn't speak. Couldn't speak. Instead, she stood there cataloging every detail of his face—the way his jaw tightened with obvious nerves, and how his eyes searched hers for some sign of forgiveness she wasn't ready to give.

"I'm sorry about this morning," he said finally, his deep voice rough with emotion. "I shouldn't have bolted. I just wasn't sure how to handle the intense feelings I had."

The raw honesty in his admission caught her off guard. She'd expected excuses, maybe some casual dismissal of what had happened between them. Not this vulnerable confession that made her defenses waver despite her determination to stay guarded. Some of the tension in her shoulders eased, though she kept her expression carefully neutral.

Kozue lifted the tray slightly, offering a tentative smile. "Peace offering?"

Despite everything—her confusion, her hurt, the world-tilting revelations of the past few hours—Sloane found herself stepping aside to let him enter. She couldn't bring herself to slam the door in his face, not when he looked like a man genuinely wrestling with his conscience.

He moved through her suite with that same quiet confidence she'd noticed from the beginning, heading straight to the sitting area where they'd made love the night before. The memory hit her like a blow again as he set the tray down on the coffee table next to the sectional, his movements careful and deliberate.

The fireplace still held the ashes of the fire he'd built for her. The throw pillows were still scattered across the couch from where they'd fallen during their passionate encounter. Everything looked exactly the same, but the emotional landscape between them had shifted so dramatically that it felt like entering a different room entirely.

"Thank you," she said finally, her voice steadier than she felt. She moved to the opposite end of the sitting area, maintaining distance even as every cell in her body seemed drawn to him like a magnet.

Kozue's hands flexed at his sides, and she could see him fighting the urge to reach for her. The restraint he was showing only made her more aware of the invisible current that seemed to pulse between them whenever they were in the same room.

"So, when were you going to tell me that you were a wolf shifter?"

The question came out more bluntly than she'd intended, but she was tired of dancing around the enormous elephant in the room. If they were going to have this conversation, she wanted it to be direct and honest.