Chapter 6 #2
With them gone, I felt unmoored. Finished earning my degree, I packed up my car and hit the road. For a while, I traveled the country, sleeping at campsites and exploring the beautiful vistas across the United States. No matter where I went though, I felt unsettled.
Then, one day, I drove into the small town of Bear Valley. I met a handsome, charming biker who convinced me to stick around.
Worst mistake of my life.
“Okay. Maybe Delaware has something going for it,” Tanya concedes.
“Flashlight.” The gruff order comes from the ceiling, and the girl is quick to pass her brother the tool. He takes it without another word.
“You’re welcome!” she sings in a mocking tone.
We hear muttering that could be, “Thank you,” but it’s hard to tell.
And Tanya doesn’t seem to care either way as she resumes her seat.
“I’m glad to know I’m not the only one he talks that way to.” I lean my shoulder against the hallway wall as I chat with the young Jameson. “Here I thought, he didn’t like me.”
“Oh, no. Grumpy is his default setting. He likes you fine.”
“How do you know?” Because I doubt she’s got it right.
“If he doesn’t like you, he doesn’t talk to you. Period. It’s like shouting at a brick wall.”
Interesting. Roderick Jameson doesn’t say much to me, but he does at least speak. I need some time to chew over this new information.
Changing the subject, I redirect focus to Tanya. “You’re in high school, huh? Any thought to college? Thinking the East Coast? Maybe University of Delaware?” I give her a teasing smile, which she doesn’t return.
For the first time since strolling into my house, the teenager loses a bit of her sparkle. I want to kick myself. Not everyone goes to college. I shouldn’t just assume it’s the default.
Tanya shrugs and fiddles with a curl of her hair.
“Nah. Don’t think the East Coast is for me. I’d be good with Denver, but I may have to settle for an online degree so I can stay in town.”
The question of why is almost out of my mouth when I stop myself, coming up with the answer on my own.
Werewolf. Duh.
If Tanya is truly a blood relation to Roderick, then she’s almost definitely a member of the pack.
Werewolves are born, not made, and most are connected to a pack.
That group is a support system as well as an obligation that I’ve only scratched the surface of when it comes to understanding how deep the ties go.
Still, I know she can’t just pack up and leave.
There are different rules for mythical creatures.
And it’s at this moment I truly grasp that my house is full of werewolves.
Okay, not full necessarily. But I’m definitely outnumbered.
The oddest thing about this situation?
I’m not panicking.
Which is exactly how I ended up in trouble last time, I remind myself.
The second a handsome guy teased me with love and a home and a place to belong, I pushed away all caution and doubts, and I committed myself to him.
Not happening again.
Just because I meet a few seemingly friendly mythical creatures doesn’t mean I can let myself forget how mean they can turn. How dangerous and controlling these wolves are at their cores.
Heavy footsteps clomp, and a set of boots comes back into view, followed by toned legs in fitted pants and an ass that should be illegal. I avert my eyes by staring at the dregs of tea in my mug.
“Squirrels,” Roderick says once he’s standing on the ground again.
“Koalas,” Tanya replies.
“Penguins.” I say, belatedly surprised I can joke with a werewolf.
The electrician scowls between us.
“It’s your turn, Roderick!” The teenage werewolf pokes her brother in the stomach again. “Say another random animal!”
“I wasn’t saying a random animal.” He ignores her goading to face me, gaze steady. “There’s a hole in your attic. Squirrels are getting in. They chewed your wires.”
Oh. Gosh. Taking a second, I absorb this new knowledge. Admittedly, it could be much worse. Like rats or a raccoon. Squirrels are at least small and fluffy and cute. An infestation of them in my house is a lot less disconcerting than most potential vermin.
“Can you fix it?” I ask.
“The wires? Yes.” Roderick crouches in front of his toolbox, rummaging through the contents. “But they’ll just chew them again. You need to keep them out, and patching holes isn’t what I do.”
“Warner will fix that,” Tanya offers, like I should know who Warner is.
“Is that a repair guy?”
“Kinda. He’s our brother, and he works construction.”
“Another brother?”
Their mom had a whole litter.
“Yep.” She grins. “You’ll like him. Everyone likes Warner.”
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say Roderick’s face went to an all-new level of stoniness.
Does Roderick not like his brother? Maybe the guy is even bigger and more muscly than he is. Or maybe this Warner guy just knows how to hold a casual conversation without glaring.
“Here, give me your phone. I’ll program Warner’s number in.”
Tanya holds her hand out, demanding I trust her. And for some unknown reason, I slip my hand in my back pocket and hand the device over.
“While you’re at it, do you know a good security company in town?” I ask.
The two wolves stare at me, as if confused by my question.
“A locksmith?” Roderick asks.
My God, have I traveled back to the dark ages?
“No. Although those may need replacing too. But I’m looking for someone to install an electronic security system. With an alarm. And a doorbell camera. All that cool gadget stuff.” I feel like I’m explaining what fire is to a caveman with all the emotion Roderick is giving me back.
After a pause, he finally responds, “We’re not that kind of town.”
My initial urge is to snort. But then I realize he’s not joking.
This guy honestly believes there’s no point for a resident of Pine Falls to have a security system for their house.
“What kind of town?” My voice drips with sarcasm. “Like, one with people?”
He frowns. “This is a safe place.”
“And you’ve got Hester Willowborne next door,” Tanya says, as if this fact is somehow pertinent.
“What does Hester have to do with my security?”
Tanya goes to open her mouth, but snaps it shut at her brother’s stern look.
Huh. Sounds like Hester might be a werewolf. I didn’t get that vibe from her, but as a human, my radar likely isn’t one hundred percent accurate.
Doesn’t matter. Wolves take care of their own. I’m not one of them. I’m outside the pack, new to town, and I’ve got a dark shadow in my past I’d like some warning about if it ever catches up to me.
“Does Pine Falls have a police force?” I stare Roderick down.
“Yes,” he admits after a second of hesitation.
My guess is, most of the officers in this town also get hairy during the full moon.
Great.
Even more of a reason for me to take charge of my own security.
“Mr. Jameson”—I keep my tone formal in an attempt to mask my annoyance—“you may feel safe as a bug in a rug here, but I am a single female, living on my own in a new place. My house will have a security system, even if that means I have to rig up some Home Alone–style booby traps.” More likely, I’ll call the next closest town to see what offerings are there or order a bunch of gadgetry off the internet, but I also like the idea of bludgeoning Cory’s deceptively handsome face in with a paint can.
“Can I help?” Tanya clasps her hands under her chin, a maniacal glimmer to her eyes.
“Fine,” Roderick growls. “I’ll email you options and a quote for the installation.”
“You install security systems?” And he wasn’t going to mention it?
“Not normally. But I’m the closest thing you’ll find in this town.”
After a moment of deliberation, I sigh. “Fine.”
Once again, it seems I’m leaving my safety in the clawed hands of werewolves.