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“A big part, actually,” Espie admitted. “The alpha is my brother. Like I said, I’m sure he’d be willing to befriend the two of you. Or maybe you two might like to come and visit me up at the resort sometime. I live up there in one of the little cabins.”
“I’d love to see the resort, of course,” Paulina said, nodding. “Except – well…”
“Paulina’s got pups,” Rufus offered. “Three of them, with each one more rowdy and mischievous than the last. She hardly ever takes them out because you never know what they’ll get into next. That’s where I come in. Since the father is not in the picture, I volunteered to care for the little dears while Paulina goes to work at Wal-Mart. It seemed like a fair enough trade in exchange for a place to call home.”
“So you two are just roomies?” Espie teased.
Rufus blushed. “What would a coyote shifter ever want with a guy who shifts into an armadillo?”
“Oh, come on, you never know,” she said, giving the two of them a wink. “Cross-species shifters aren’t completely unheard of.”
As if to change the topic away from romance, Rufus said, “Do you know, we did come up into Angel Fire about a week ago, and saw a big group of protesters handing out neon-colored flyers to anyone who came close, even if they didn’t want to read them. Their leader seemed like a total clown. I suppose a girl from Angel Fire would probably know more about it.”
Espie rolled her eyes as she accepted a glass of wine from Paulina. “Oh yes, I know exactly who you are talking about. Willard Vesper.”
“That guy gives me the creeps,” Paulina admitted with a shiver.
“Yeah? Well, I’d like to kick him right in the teeth one of these days,” Espie agreed. “Sure glad I’m not the only one who thinks he’s an asshole.”
“No, pretty sure you’re in the majority,” Rufus muttered gruffly.
They sat talking until the sun went down and the food had disappeared. In this unlikely pair, Espie realized she had found two new friends who had nothing to do with the clan, with Luther, with her brother the alpha – none of it. Espie preferred that after the week she’d just been through. She even let them in on her recent boy troubles, although she was a bit vague on the details.
“So you had a bad first date…so what?” Paulina purred as she sprawled out on the blanket, naked, as the stars twinkled into view. “I think he deserves another chance. But if he screws up the next time, you’ll need to lay down the law and decide to do what’s best for you.”
But he’s my fated mate. Espie swallowed down the words, then gasped when she checked her phone and caught a glimpse of the time.
“Whoa, I was supposed to be home a few hours ago.” She stood and dusted herself off, then grinned when an idea came to mind. “Say, why don’t you guys bring the pups by the resort next week for lunch? Maybe we could even make a whole day out of it.”
“Oh yes, that sounds great,” Paulina agreed. “And I’m sure my aunt won’t mind not having the pups to babysit that day, either. They really can be terrors. It was so good to meet you, Espie. And thanks for welcoming us so completely.”
Espie hugged each of her new friends before turning to make her way back to the truck. She knew, even though hours had gone by, that no one in their right mind would have messed with her brother’s old beater vehicle. Regardless of who was driving, after all, it still belonged to the alpha of the bear clan.
As she climbed in and started the engine, Espie realized she felt lighter suddenly. Her inner bear was in a contented slumber, lulled to sleep by good conversation and laughter. Espie decided that instead of moping and finding solitary activities that were supposed to distract her but never did, she ought to seek out the company of friends whenever the Luther conundrum got too overwhelming.
It wasn’t a perfect solution, but as she sped back to the resort, radio at a decent volume while still singing along, she decided it was at least a good place to start.
