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“You’re allergic to something and this is going to get infected,” he huffed, letting me go long enough to bend down and dig around the cabinet under the sink. He came up with a white tub and moved me to sit on the closed toilet like I weighed nothing. The last thing I wanted to do was let him do this, but I had little choice it seemed. His gaze softened as he worked and I couldn’t help but stare. His features shifted from angry giant to a handsome one. He had a killer jawline I could make out under the well-groomed beard. His eyes had flecks of gold that were gorgeous and he seemed almost… kind. But I knew it wasn’t really him, he’d shown me his true colors. “Why didn’t you stop?”
“So you could yell at me or call me lazy?” I asked with a sigh. “It was an order and I’m apparently not allowed to refuse those. So here we are.”
He cursed under his breath and looked angry again, but I could tell it wasn’t fully at me. When he finished, he let me go and glanced up. The smell of cedar and spice filled my senses, and I was practically salivating for this man who hated me.
“Just because I don’t trust you, doesn’t mean I want to see you hurt.” With that he stalked out of the room.
What the hell just happened?
ChapterTen
Vanya
No one came barging in the next morning, so I ended up sleeping right through breakfast. Leven had disappeared for his shift after a super tense dinner, so I hoped he’d sleep late today.
Making my way to the kitchen, I prayed to the coffee gods Leven wasn’t against keeping coffee in the house.
Apparently I didn’t even need to worry. The moment I stepped out of my cupboard-under-the-stairs-sized room, the scent of coffee beckoned me to the kitchen.
It took opening and closing nearly every cabinet in the room before I managed to find a mug. Just as I finished pouring and took a drink of the too-hot liquid, a soft chuckle sounded from the dining room. Garren was sitting at the table, watching me scavenge like a little mouse.
“Morning, Garren.” I laughed. “You spotted it, I’m a coffee fiend.”
“Having trouble sleeping?” he asked. The fact he was concerned was sweet, especially since his grandson was a dick.
“Yeah, I’m not used to the silence, not having windows keeps it too quiet in there,” I admitted.
His gaze darkened and I had a feeling he had more than a few opinions on that matter but I didn’t press it. His eyes flickered pointedly to my hands and I not so subtly moved them to my lap. I could handle Leven’s bullshit and I wasn’t going to put a wedge between them. Family was far too important.
“So, have you always been in this pack?” I asked to change the subject. He took a sip of his own coffee before shaking his head.
“No. I was an alpha once, a small pack of nomads. We preferred not putting down roots, seeing the world, but after it was time for my son to take over, I wanted a new life. Leven refused to let me find a pack on my own so he came with me. My son took care of my pack and we found Callum as he was forming this one. He took us right in and was open to hearing my wisdom. I’ve never looked back,” he explained. The way he spoke, slow and purposeful, made him a great storyteller. I could practically visualize the way they traveled and lived, and I had a feeling Garren was full of old stories.
“That’s a really interesting way to live. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of nomadic wolves,” I said as I drank down the last of my coffee. For the first time in this house, I felt relaxed and accepted, and it was a nice feeling.
“You were pack before this?” he questioned. I nodded and he hummed around his own coffee. “Then you wouldn’t have heard of us. Most packs don’t advertise a different way than their own, too many young wolves would leave and they’d run out of mates and wolves to exploit.”
“Yeah, my pack was pretty traditional. The elders held council, the alpha had to dole out punishments, we paid dues, the works,” I agreed. “They’d never tell us there was another option.”
“They still punish?” he asked incredulously. “That was why I left in the first place. It was a way for aggressive wolves to have an outlet and I couldn’t stand for that bullshit.”
“Unfortunately,” I sighed. “They didn’t discriminate who got them either.”
“That mouth got you, didn’t it?” He chuckled warmly. I couldn’t help but laugh with him.
“It did,” I agreed. “I have the scars to prove it. But I’m not the type to bow when it is undeserved.”
“That’s how my wife was, the very reason I chose her. I was just lucky she chose me back.” He chortled, the edges of his eyes crinkling as he did so. I loved this man already and we’d just met, he just had such a great aura about him.
“I’d say she was lucky too,” I said gently. “Family is important, I’m glad you still have Leven.”
“I am too… most days,” he joked.
A knock on the front door had me tensing. Garren reached over and patted my arm gently. “Don’t worry, I’ll get it.”
“I’m not letting you go alone,” I said. Sending the old man to whatever fate awaited would be wrong. He gave me an indulgent laugh but nodded, letting me follow. I felt silly for being so paranoid, but I didn’t trust that tracker for a second.
When he answered, Callum was standing on the other side with his signature cocky smile.
