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“Consider yourself officially rejected,” I snarled, storming away. There was no getting away from him fast enough. There was a good possibility I’d be physically ill after encountering him. At the very least, I needed to wash my hands.
“Don’t worry, Tori,” he called after me. “I’ll be around. I’ll see you soon.”
Holy shit.It took every ounce of control I possessed not to turn around and beat him to a bloody pulp. When I finally reached the front porch of the Bogford Bed & Breakfast, I sprinted inside and slammed the door behind me.
“Whoa, what has your tail in a spin?” Margo asked, eyebrows raised.
From how hot my face felt, I knew it was beet-red. My lips were curled in a snarl, and steam was probably escaping my ears and nostrils. Stepping farther into the front room, I looked around to make sure no one was nearby—especially someone from the Ontario Pack—and fanned my face to cool down. “Where is everyone?”
“Oh, um, at the moment, the place is empty except for Mom and Audrey, but she’s taking a nap in my room. Everybody else is out checking the town and woods. Trying to get a lay of the land.” Margo seemed a little tense, and I knew it was because of all the shifters exploring what she’d always taken as her and her pack’s territory. It was one thing having a loner like me arrive, and another thing when entire packs and their alphas came in.
I kept fanning myself. “Good. I had the most unpleasant experience of meeting Alpha Longtail of the Ontario Pack.”
Margo wrinkled her nose. “Oh,him. He’s staying here, and I wish he was staying anywhere else, preferably in Ontario. He keeps throwing his title and money around like it means anything here.”
“Well, he offered to fly me around the world using his private plane to eat in whatever city I wanted. My choice for dinner.” I wiggled my eyebrows. “Aren’t I a lucky girl?”
“No.” Margo’s jaw dropped open, her eyes popping wide. “Seriously?”
“Jealous?” I rolled my eyes. “And he made it clear he knew I was with Ridge, yet he still pursued me. The asshat assumed I’d say yes. As if I’d ever pick him over Ridge.” I shuddered. “Yuck.”
Margo dropped the day planner she was holding onto the desk. “For real? What a scumbag. Ridge opens up his territory for that jerk’s pack to have somewhere safe to be, and then the fucker goes sniffing around Ridge’s fiancée. What kind of douche-canoe is this creep?”
I burst out laughing, and it was a welcome reprieve from my anger at said douche-canoe. Having Margo in my life to lighten things up around me was a massive blessing. I’d never laughed quite so easily in my life until meeting her.
Diana walked into the foyer and came right over to hug me as soon as she saw me. “Oh, Tori, sweetheart, so good to see you. I’m glad you’re here.” She pulled back, fixing Margo and me with pursed lips and a sheepish glance. “Can I ask you girls to do me a favor?”
I smiled at the warmth lingering within me after Diana had hugged me. Something about her maternal care always made me feel welcome and so pleased to have her around. I had hit the jackpot when Margo and Diana came into my life.
“Sure, Mom, what do you need?” Margo asked.
“Always happy to help,” I added.
“Thank you. I have a couple of boxes of supplies, and I’d appreciate it if you’d take them over to the Montana Pack. With them staying in the woods, I want to make sure they have everything they need.” She gestured toward the kitchen. “They’re on the table.”
“Will do,” Margo and I said simultaneously, then giggled.
Diana’s compassionate nature had influenced Margo, and both women helped wherever and whenever necessary. My heart hurt for the Montana Pack, but hopefully the things Diana and Margo had collected for them would give them some comfort. Plus, I was glad to help rectify some of the hunters’ actions in some small way. If teaching the shifters everything I knew about hunters and providing them with necessities helped, then so be it. I’d do my best with every opportunity I got.
Margo and I chatted as we carried the supplies to the woods, but our conversation halted when we spotted Clawson in the distance, talking to shifters from other packs. I nudged Margo, whose gaze was glued to him. “Have you managed to talk to him yet?” I asked, tilting my chin in Clawson’s direction.
“Uh, no,” she stammered, her cheeks flushing. “There just hasn’t been a good time. He’s been busy.”
I hated that she had a point, but there was no time like the present. “Seems like a decent time now.”
In emphasis, I took the supplies from her. Margo stumbled a little when I took the box out of her hands, as if unprepared for the sudden weightlessness.
“Thanks,” she said nervously, smoothing her hair. “How do I look?”
“Great, as always. Go talk to him.” I nudged her with my shoulder again, this time in Clawson’s direction.
Clawson was in the middle of a conversation when he lifted his head and caught sight of Margo. I couldn’t read lips, but it was obvious he was excusing himself from his conversation. As soon as the group nodded their goodbyes, Clawson made a beeline for us. The man did not get more than a few feet in front of us when Margo blurted out, “We should go on a run together soon.”
He smiled warmly at her—more of a beam, really—his usually gruff demeanor gone in a split second. “I’ll come by the B&B as soon as my shift ends in a couple of hours, if that’s okay?”
A big smile appeared on Margo’s face to match Clawson’s. This was too much. I actually had to bite back a giggle.
Clawson spread his hands. “I’m sorry. I know we need to talk, but I’ve been working nonstop because of all the threats and everything going on. I promise to take a break tonight because I really do want to spend time with you.”
