Chapter 8
Lone Wolf
SOPHIE
“He appears legit… except for the fact he’s not a member of any pack, which I’ll need to explore further,” says Jake, pushing the SIU police report across the table at me.
We’re in one of the small conference rooms at the Riddle Hill police station; it’s nearly midnight, and I’m positively bushed.
Teddy Barker’s arrest is the very last thing I feel like dealing with at the moment.
I’m half tempted to leave him in jail until the morning so I can go home and get some shut-eye, but then I recall his apologetic message…
and the low rumble of his voice as he pleaded for my help… and I heave a sigh.
“It says here that his old pack disbanded three years ago when the alpha died.” I tap the report and glance at Jake. “Is that normal? Why wouldn’t another werewolf have assumed the alpha role?”
Jake shrugs. “It’s not uncommon, particularly with a small pack. The rest of the werewolves probably merged with another group.”
“Then why wouldn’t Teddy Barker have done the same thing—joined another pack?”
“That’s what I aim to find out,” says Jake. “You know how I feel about loners; they’re generally self-absorbed and rarely loyal. I’ve yet to meet one I’d invite into my pack.”
I shift uneasily on the hard chair as I think of Rafe MacTire, the bad-boy werewolf I had dinner with earlier this evening.
I’m pretty sure Jake wouldn’t like Rafe any better than he likes Teddy; best not to mention Rafe’s loner status around him.
“If you’re trying to warn me that Teddy Barker can’t be trusted, you have nothing to worry about. ”
Jake shakes his head. “That’s the thing; I’m not getting typical loner vibes from him.
I think Teddy Barker yearns to belong to a pack.
He’s coming to my pack meet Sunday night for a sniff and a tussle; I’ll get a better sense of him then.
But Teddy strikes me as lonely, so whatever’s been keeping him from pack life must have been pretty traumatic. ”
I draw my brows together, feeling a twinge of remorse for how I’ve treated Teddy. Stifling a yawn, I say, “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Jake pats my hand. “Why don’t you pull the car around front; Teddy can leave whenever you’re ready.”
“Thanks Jake… for everything.” I grab my purse and head for the door.
“No problem. And Sophie—” Jake waits for me to turn back around “—If I’m wrong about him, or if he gives you any trouble, I’ll run him out of town so fast he’ll be glad his tail is still attached to his butt.”
I grin at my overprotective cousin. “I think I can handle Leslie T. Barker, but I’ll let you know if I need any assistance.”
I pull up in front of the police station in my ancient, silver, Subaru Forester, which my dad bought from a used-car dealer when I turned sixteen.
With two-hundred thousand miles on the odometer, and more dings and divots than the first tee at the public golf course, I’m grateful it’s still running.
Ten minutes later Teddy drops into the passenger seat, pulls the door shut, and gives me a small, shy nod.
“I’m so sorry, Sophie; I made a stupid mistake.
I’ve gotten used to shifting anytime I want—everyone on Miss Dragonfly’s staff was a super—and the nearest neighbor was three miles away. It won’t happen again; I promise.”
“If it happens again, you’ll be arrested and convicted; the elder council is very strict.” I sound grumpier than I intend, so I soften my tone. “Marv let you off with a warning this time. You have to close all the curtains before you shift.”
“Got it, boss.” Ducking his head, he fiddles with his seatbelt.
As I watch Teddy buckle up, I’m suddenly distracted by the black tee he’s wearing, which is so form-fitting I can see the ripple of his biceps beneath the stretchy fabric. Dropping my gaze, my eyes snag on a pair of muscular thighs encased in skin-tight, black leather.
“What in faerie-land are you wearing?” I sputter.
“Oh… um… ” Teddy gives me an apologetic grin.
“I had to borrow these from lost and found, since the police wanted their jumpsuit returned, and I wasn’t about to ask you for a fresh change of clothes, not on top of ruining your evening.
” He shrugs. “I gave them a good sniff; the shirt was recently laundered, and the pants are practically new.”
Rolling my eyes, I pull out of the parking spot. “Well, they don’t fit you properly. Please donate them or something.”
“O-okay.” Teddy glances down at his leather breeches. “Do you have a dress code at the bakery?”
“Once we open, we’ll have aprons that we’ll wear over our clothes; jeans and tees will be fine. Until then, wear stuff you don’t mind getting dirty.” Keeping my eyes firmly planted on the road ahead, I flap one hand in his direction. “Just nothing too… er… like that.”
“Too… black?”
“And too… leathery.” I huff. “We’re a family-friendly bakery.”
Teddy scrunches his brow. “No black leather. Check.”
“And nothing too tight,” I add.
“No tight black leather. Double-check.” Then Teddy starts to chuckle.
“What’s so funny?” I purse my lips, frowning.
“It just occurred to me that Miss Dragonfly would have told me I could wear these ridiculous leather pants whenever I wanted.” He’s laughing harder now. “She was a stylish, elderly faerie with an adventurous spirit. And you’re… er…”
“I’m what?”
“… Oh, nothing.”
“You can’t just start to say something like that and then stop abruptly. Out with it, wolf.”
Teddy gets himself back under control, mostly. “You’re a beautiful young faerie with… um… with a frumpy spirit.”
Did Teddy just call me beautiful? And at the same time insult me?
“Frumpy?” I practically spit as I park the Subaru in the driveway, stomp out of the car, and fling open my front door, fuming at Teddy Freaking Barker. How dare he compare me to Auntie Dragonfly and find me wanting?
“And grumpy,” he adds mildly.
I flip on the lights in my cottage and turn back to glare at him, but his head is cocked to the side like a big, happy dog, and his eyes are sparkling with humor… and something else… something almost like tenderness. He’s teasing me, and I’m not sure how I feel about it.
“So I’m a grumpy, frumpy faerie, eh?” I snort.
“And beautiful. Don’t forget beautiful.” Then Teddy smiles, and it’s almost dazzling in its intensity.
That smile does something to my chest, something I’m not prepared to examine right now. Despite my irritation at this annoying werewolf, the corners of my mouth tilt upward.
“Sweet dreams, Sophie,” he murmurs. “See you in the morning.” Then Teddy heads into his bedroom and shuts the door quietly behind him.
What just happened? And why do I feel cuddly and warm all of a sudden, like I’m swaddled in a soft, fuzzy blanket?
Gah! I can’t afford to lose my edge around Teddy, despite his good looks and charm. That werewolf poses a substantial threat to my dream of owning the bakery free and clear—without any encumbrances or meddling ten-percent partners.
“Meep!” Zosia welcomes me, weaving in and out of my legs.
I scoop up my baby fox and bury my face in her glistening white fur.
I think back over my day and the two werewolves who’ve entered my life: fastidious, ridiculous Teddy, and dark, dangerous Rafe.
One I definitely need to keep at arm's length, and the other… Well, I’d like to explore that possibility further.
What would dating Rafe be like? And would my werewolf cousin get on my case about it? Probably.
“Oh, Zosia,” I whisper. “I have a feeling my life’s about to get very muddled.”