Chapter 14 #3
“Thanks for saving me,” I said instead of answering him. “I never said that. Thanks. Would’ve sucked to get eaten by actual wolves.”
Dom was quiet, his eyes on the road, which looked like the main thoroughfare. Pleasant Peak was a clean little town. The shop fronts were tidy, and a lot of them had flowers out front, though none were blooming as aggressively as Dom’s geraniums.
“I think Linc sensed you on some subconscious level.” Dom drummed his fingers against the wheel. “He was so antsy that day, and then he found you. We’d save you anytime, Little Red.”
I sighed. “Okay, fine. I’ll keep an open mind. But there will be no biting of any kind, is that clear?”
Dom glanced over at me, his face splitting into a toothy smile. “You won’t regret that, Little Red, I promise.”
“No biting!”
He made a guttural noise. “Bossy.”
I groaned as he parked in front of a store with a big sign that proclaimed it Hudson’s Hardware. “How come you call me Little Red when you’re the ginger?”
“Because I’m not little, obviously.” He leaned over and gave me a peck on the mouth. “Come on. I need dowels.”
I collected myself after this public display of affection, my lips feeling like his kiss had burned a mark on them. I wasn’t used to this kind of thing; something so public where everyone could see.
By the time I was ready to get out, Dom was there to hold my door for me. He put his hand on my back so he could walk me into the store as if he were some kind of gallant billionaire and I the clumsy intern who’d stumbled into his arms.
Well, as far as I knew, he wasn’t a billionaire.
The hardware store wasn’t what I’d expected. Then again, I couldn’t recall the last time I’d been in one… Actually, I could; right when I was building the kitchen shelves Steven had helped me with.
Hudson’s was neat, and to my untrained eye, it seemed meticulously organized.
There was an electronic doorbell, the walls were stacked with wood and paint samples, and colorful catalogs advertised everything from carpentry pants to shiny gardening tools.
I wasn’t really sure if everything on display here was useful or what it was for, but the ambience made me think that this was a handyman’s heaven.
A guy with light blond hair walked out from the back to greet us.
“Hey, Dom.” He looked at me. The guy had green eyes, the kind of green that really stands out. They were similar to Linc’s and Dom’s, in fact. “Is that the human? I heard about it, and if this is a prank or something—”
Dom growled, and the guy shut his mouth.
“Marcus, this is Evan. Wind Creek Pack, like Vi. He’s one of the betas you’ll make very jealous.”
“Uhm, hi.” I waved at him.
“Wow.” Evan raised his hand to return the gesture. “Yeah, hi.”
Evan was keeping his distance, not approaching us like I’d have expected from someone wanting to sell… I wasn’t sure. Wood and stuff. Unlike Vi, he didn’t seem to want to push it either. Did that mean Vi was an alpha? Was the willingness to invade personal space how you told an alpha from a beta?
Then again, maybe Evan was a germophobe.
“So Vi couldn’t keep her fucking mouth shut, huh?” Dom ran his hand over my back, getting me to step closer to him.
Evan’s eyes were still glued to me. “Pretty much. You know how it is. Nothing much ever happens, and then a hunter shows up, and the three hottest and weirdest alphas in town find a mate. Of course everyone’s going to talk about that.
You really are bonded to him? All three of you?
I mean, duh. That’s Linc’s jacket, right? ”
I whipped my head around at Dom. “What? I’m wearing this oversized thing as if it were signage? Are you fucking kidding me?”
Dom’s hand moved in circles over my back. “For warmth and signage. Mostly for warmth.”
Evan cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable.
I frowned. “Sure. Warmth. Evan, how come this place is called Hudson’s?”
“That’s my dad.” Evan shrugged. “It sounds better than Evan’s Hardware. No alliteration in that.”
“Fair point. Dom here says the entire werewolf community would tell me what awesome alphas he and his buddies are; you want to confirm that for me?”
Dom chuckled, and Evan went all red in the face. He looked from Dom to me before he spoke.
“It’s not like I ever dated any of them. From what I hear, they’re just chill together and don’t fight a lot…which is not to say that they can’t be assertive.”
Dom leaned forward, his lips fluttering against my ear when he spoke. “Evan would totally switch places with you, Little Red.”
“Something would be wrong with me if I didn’t want that,” Evan mumbled.
I cleared my throat, my headache still mildly annoying. “Thanks for confirming.”
“Just like I told you,” Dom said.
“Get your dowels, and then get me a chai latte.”
“You heard the man,” Dom said to Evan, looking at me with…was that pride? “I’ll also need some outdoor lighting.”
Evan brightened. “I have motion sensors with a programmable option. Warm or blue light, LEDs, all the works. Come on, I’ll show you.”
And there went the chance to get that chai latte anytime soon. I sighed, but let it happen.