Chapter 30
CLIO
Everything will work itself out. I thought about that half the night.
Tossing and turning. When I woke–or when JT woke me ready for cereal–I was no closer to an answer.
Three hours later as I worked on replacing a timing belt, I had decided that it didn’t matter that I wanted Sam.
He didn’t want me. It had been days, and he hadn’t shown up.
Before, when I’d given him a hard time and made him work for it, for everything, he hadn’t given up.
Now, he had.
He–
“Clio, there’s someone here to see you.” Ernie called.
Sam! Sam was here!
I popped out from under the hood so fast I whacked my head.
“Ow!” I cried, putting my hand to where it hurt. I didn’t care because Sam was–
It wasn’t Sam.
It was the last person in Cooper Valley I wanted to see.
Rob Wolf.
He was a few feet away, thumbs tucked into his jeans pockets. A cold snap had come through overnight, but based on the lack of jacket he wore, he wasn’t bothered by it. In jeans and a dark red flannel, he didn’t look the least bit like an alpha wolf.
He looked like a typical rancher with a very serious gaze.
He removed his hat, and I couldn’t miss the crease in his dark hair.
“You okay?” he asked.
I rubbed the spot one more time then dropped my hands.
“Yes. Thanks,” I whispered. I glanced around for Ernie and saw him in the office on the phone.
Rob didn’t say anything. Neither did I. I wasn’t sure if his silence was a pack leader tactic, but I wasn’t having it.
“You can’t intimidate me with all that,” I said, pointing at him and circling my finger.
He arched a brow. “All that?”
“You don’t have to worry about anything with me. I won’t say anything. About… whatever. As for JT, he’s mine. Only mine. I–”
“I’m here because my truck’s blinker fluid light is on.”
I stared at him. Opened my mouth. Closed it.
“Blinker fluid?” I asked. There was no such thing. Mechanics were known to add a line item for it if a customer was really annoying–and an idiot.
“Yes. Perhaps you can take a look.”
I cocked my head, suddenly wary. “Are you kidnapping me?”
The corner of his mouth twitched. Actually twitched. “My friend and town sheriff, Levi, advises against that.”
Ernie would see if Rob did that. “Okay then. Lead the way.”
I followed the big and burly cowboy wolf shifter out to his truck which he parked by the street, not in front of the office.
There, he leaned against the driver’s door and faced me. “I came to apologize.”
I stared at him, this time in shock. “Excuse me?”
“I made a mistake, and it affected you, and I’ve come to make amends.”
I nodded. “Apology accepted,” I said curtly then turned and headed back toward the shop.
“Clio,” he called.
I spun around, raised my hands. We were less than ten feet apart.
While there was no one around, and Ernie was inside the building, I kept my voice low.
“Like I said inside, I won’t say anything about what you all are.
It would only hurt JT, and I won’t do anything to hurt him.
He’s not in your… family. He’s not in my ex’s either. No war. Nothing to worry about.”
“You and JT are part of my… family.”
I shook my head really hard. “No, you can’t–”
“You are Sam’s mate. Therefore you are one of us. We welcome you–” He cut off and ran a hand over the back of his neck. For the first time, he looked uncomfortable. “We did a shit job of welcoming you over the weekend, and I can’t blame you for being wary. And mad.”
I crossed my arms and let him talk.
“Sam is a good man. A good packmate. I told him to find out about JT’s father and his pack to ensure there would be no anger at JT being raised here with us. It was not a seduction plan. Any seducing he did was because you are his fated mate, and he will desire no other.”
Okay, that was heavy.
“As his alpha,” he continued. “Sam didn’t have a choice but to obey, whether he liked what I requested or not. That is the way of the pack.”
He set his hat back on his head and set his hands on his hips.
“A wolf and his mate come first. He was, in his own way and own time, making you his. I didn’t respect him or his approach and ruined it all.”
“What are you saying?”
“I disrespected Sam. And you.”
Some of the tension in my gut loosened. I wasn’t going crazy in my anger. I’d been correct to be mad at what had happened at the picnic. But I’d been mad at the wrong person.
Sam had done what his alpha requested. He’d been a good packmate while trying to make me come around. They were in complete opposition, and it must’ve been hell on Sam.
“What about JT? I won’t have my son be a pawn between packs.”
“Nor would I. That was the only reason I asked Sam to sniff out who his dad’s pack was.
I wanted to be prepared in case you ever had trouble from them.
But I will never use your son for anything.
That’s a promise. I consider his safety and yours to be my responsibility.
That’s all. It’s yours to decide what is best for you and JT. I truly hope that’s with Sam.”
My heart tied itself in a knot again at the mention of Sam. Of building a life with him, like he’d proposed.
I wanted that.
Rob must have read the pain on my face because his expression softened.
“Sam would do anything for you–including give you space when you ask for it. But, you should know that space is killing him right now. Sam loves you and JT. He needs you. If it’s the pack you’re worried about, hit me up with your concerns, so I can alleviate them. ”
I blinked at him.
Sam loves you.
Sam needed me.
Sam loves you.
Why was I still here waiting for him to come when he probably felt like he’d failed everyone–his mate and his alpha?
Sam loves you.
Did I want to sit down and hash out my concerns over packs and alphas with Rob when my wolf needed me?
Hell no. I had some place to be. For the first time in days, I had a purpose. A drive. A need.
I needed Sam, and Sam needed me.
I lifted my chin and squared my shoulders, energy and purpose returning to my body. “I…would rather discuss them with Sam.”
Rob nodded. “Well, if there’s anything I can do now or later, let me know.”
Ernie ambled out. “Hey Clio!” he called. “That trailer axle came in for Sam. You want to send it with Rob?” When he joined us, he started to hand the box to Rob.
I grabbed it out of his hand. “Nope. I’m going to bring it myself.”
Rob grinned. “It seems I am not in need of blinker fluid after all.” He tipped his Stetson and climbed in his truck.
“Blinker fluid, eh?” Ernie muttered as Rob drove off.
I tucked the box under my arm. “I need to head out to the ranch right now, Ernie. Are you okay here without me for a bit?”
I didn’t wait for his answer, I was already running to my car.
“Yeah. No problem. You go get that boy!”
I climbed in my car and burst into semi-laughter as I peeled out. Go get that boy?
Apparently, Ernie had known about me and Sam all along. I guessed in this small town everyone had.
For once, it felt like everyone was rooting for us.
I turned onto the road and stepped on the gas. I finally pulled my head out of the past. No more confusing Sam with Ted. Or Sam’s pack with Ted’s. Or past pain with what was happening in the present.
I was ready to start fresh with someone who was right for me. Who cared for me. Who would do anything for me.
I was rooting for us, too.