Chapter 11 Meet the Pack
Meet the Pack
The next day, I take her down to town with me, bracing for the teasing I’m about to endure.
It’s Ryder working the general store today, and he makes no effort to hide his surprise when he sees us walk in. It probably doesn’t help that she’s very obviously wearing a pair of my borrowed pants.
“What’s this?” he asks, raising his eyebrows at us. “Don’t tell me you finally got a girlfriend—wait.” He scents the air, a grin stretching across his face. “A mate.”
“Oh hey pot, it’s kettle,” comes a voice from behind him, and there’s Ben, laughing as he restocks something. “Not like you’ve got a girlfriend yourself, Ry.”
Of all the people to run into, these two aren’t bad.
They might tease me, but they don’t mean anything bad by it.
“Hey Ryder, Ben, meet Savannah.”
“Hi.” She waves a little shyly, edging behind me as if she didn’t just meet me yesterday.
Or maybe she’s embarrassed about coming down here in men’s pants. At least I didn’t rip her sweater.
“You two having a lot of fun up at that cabin?” Ryder asks, and I think I know what he’s saying. His gaze is fixed firmly on her neck. She’s wearing a scarf and took a shower, but the scent of the mate bond is strongest when it’s fresh. There’s no hiding it.
Might as well roll with it.
“Loads of fun.” I wrap my arm around her shoulders, drawing her close. “Nearly broke the bed.”
She blushes. I’m expecting her to deny it, but she just boldly says, “You’d never know we only met yesterday.”
That gets Ben’s attention.
“Yesterday?! Damn.” He glances at Ryder. “You guys don’t have anything to do with the dead guy in the ravine, do you?”
“He’s dead?” The relief in Savannah’s voice is palpable, and I feel her relax a little, exhaling like she was holding in a breath. “Thank God.”
“Not the reaction I was expecting.” Ryder glances at me. “What the hell happened? Adam is all pissed. Said we’re gonna have to report this to the Association.”
“The bastard showed up and attacked Savannah last night. I chased him off. He fell off the cliff.” That’s the condensed version, anyhow.
Ryder doesn’t question it, just nods. “Sounds about right. Adam’s got a crew up there now.
I’m sure the Association investigators will need a statement or something eventually, but don’t stress out about it.
” He says this with his signature thousand-watt smile, glancing at Savannah.
But he doesn’t flirt for once. Just smiles at us.
“You look happy. I didn’t know you had it in you. ”
“Hey, don’t be so surprised.”
He just laughs, organizing some bins behind the checkstand.
***
“Are they going to arrest us?” Savannah asks once we’re back on our way, bundle of new clothes in hand. She gulps visibly, eyes wide. “For…murder?”
I tighten my arm around her lower back. “It was self-defense. And you didn’t do anything. If anything, I’d be the one under questioning.”
Her eyes get even wider. “I’m so sorry! This is all my fault!”
Shit. I didn’t mean to scare her.
“Relax.” I hold her shoulders, turning her gently to look at me.
Wind rushes through the towering pines above, filling the air with the crisp sweet scent of melting snow as sunlight glints on the remains of last night’s storm.
“It was self-defense either way, and for the record, I didn’t push him.
He leapt to his own death. Besides. If anything, you’re the victim here.
You can give a statement about everything that happened to you before. ” I pause. “You know. If you want.”
She nods tentatively, eyes wide.
It’s strange to think I just met her yesterday.
I have so much to learn about her, but already I feel like I’ve known her forever. “Come on.” I sling my arm back around her waist, leading her up the narrow path toward my cabin. “Let’s go home.”