Chapter 14
FOURTEEN
VIVIENNE
I couldn’t believe the way Kor had put Barbra in her place.
She had never liked me—I’d heard whispers that she was set to be Carter’s bride before the prophecy was made and I was chosen instead.
If only she knew how I wished she could have taken my place—I would have been so happy if I could go back in time and let her marry Carter instead.
But such things are impossible, of course, so I simply ignored her when she made her little snide comments and rude remarks. Fighting with a Pack member would have been beneath me, so I held my head high and ignored her. But I couldn’t help secretly cheering inside when Kor told her off.
Still feeling vindicated, I walked into Bowman’s Grocery—where the whole town shopped—and got myself a hand basket.
I only needed a few things for dinner—I was going to make some steaks and baked potatoes and some fresh asparagus, if they had some.
And maybe some strawberry shortcake for dessert.
Despite having a cook for so many years, I liked to keep in practice in the kitchen myself.
Cooking and baking were like therapy for me—they helped me take my mind off my life for many years.
Chet Bowman, the owner of the store, nodded respectfully at me as I came in through the sliding glass doors.
“Good Morning, Pack Mistress,” he rumbled.
“Good morning, Chet,” I said, giving him a smile. He had always been friendly with me, and I’d never heard him talking behind my back like so many of the other Pack members. His wife—a plump, motherly woman with a ready smile—was often there helping him and she was always kind to me too.
So I actually liked going grocery shopping and I went as often as I could. It used to be a way to get out of the house and away from Carter, but now that I was alone, it was a way to combat the loneliness I felt.
Not lonely now though, whispered a little voice in my head. Not since Kor came.
I pushed it away. I couldn’t pin my emotional well-being on a man I barely knew. He—
“Good afternoon, and who might you be?” Chet said and I turned my head and saw him looking at Kor, who had just come in.
“I’m Korwyn Jamison—the nephew of your late Pack Master,” Kor said, smiling. He offered his hand to Chet, who took it and pumped vigorously.
“Say, that’s quite a grip you got there,” he remarked, when the handshake released. “You must be a strong young fella.”
Kor grinned.
“Well, I work out from time to time. Thanks.”
“Actually…” Chet came out from behind the counter he’d been standing behind. “I have kind of a favor to ask of you—if you don’t mind.”
“A favor?” I asked, frowning. “What kind of favor?”
“Oh, nothing much.” Chet shrugged. “Just that I have a few crates of produce I can’t lift—bad back ya know.” He put a hand to his back and winced dramatically. “My regular guy, Ronnie, is out right now—had to go over the mountains to the dentist. Had an impacted molar, don’t you know.”
I murmured in sympathy, but I had an idea of what the grocer was trying to do. He and every other Were in town wanted to know how strong Kor really was…and if he stood a chance against Harris Murdoch.
To be honest, I wanted to know, too. So I said nothing—just waited to see what Kor would do.
“I don’t mind helping as long as you’re not going to keep me in the back stocking groceries all day,” he said to Chet with a grin. “I worked at a grocery store in college—it’s not an easy job.”
“No, it’s not. You’re right about that.” Chet nodded. “I just have a few crates that need to be moved from one side to t’other. The damn fools who delivered ‘em left the whole mess right in the middle of my stockroom, may the Moon Goddess curse their eyes.”
“Well then—lead the way,” Kor said. He shot a glance at me. “This shouldn’t take long, Vivienne. I’ll just be a minute.”
I nodded silently but when he turned to go with Chet, I trailed after them. I wasn’t about to lose the chance to see the strength of my defender. The Alpha Challenge was coming up quickly and I needed to know if I should be worried or not.
We walked through a swinging gray door into the cool, gray stockroom. It wasn’t as big a space as you’d see in back of one of the larger grocery chains’ back rooms, but it had room for plenty of produce. And sure enough, sitting right in the middle of the floor, were three closed wooden crates.
The crates were closed on top, and I couldn’t tell what was in them, but I assumed it was heavy.
“Watermelons,” Chet said. “I used to could lift ‘em when I was younger, but ever since I hurt my back…” He shook his head ruefully.
“No problem.” Kor nodded easily. He walked over to the stack of crates and lifted the first one experimentally and with apparent ease. Then he nodded to himself and crouched down to pick all of them up. Gripping the bottom crate, he rose easily and looked at Chet. “Where do you want them?”
The grocer’s eyes went wide, and I had a feeling that it wasn’t just watermelons in those crates. Had he loaded them down with weights or something? I had no idea but there was genuine respect in his eyes when he looked at Kor.
“Over in the corner, if you don’t mind,” he said.
“Sure.” Kor carried them over and set them down. Through it all, he looked like a man carrying boxes of feathers—that was how effortless he made it look.
When he got the crates settled, he stood up, brushed off his hands, and looked at Chet.
“Anything else you need moving?” he asked.
“No, no—that was it.” Chet nodded at him. “Thank you so much, Young Master.”
I was surprised at the title—it was what the Pack would have called Carter’s heir, if he had one.
Again, Kor didn’t bat an eyelid.
“You’re welcome. Always happy to help.” Then he looked at me. “Come on, Vivienne—let’s get the shopping done before it gets too hot out there.”
I nodded and smiled at him, but my eyes lingered on Chet’s face as we all left the stock room. He had a dazed look in his faded blue eyes—a look that said he hadn’t expected Kor or anyone else to be able to move those boxes.
His wolf must be incredibly strong, I couldn’t help thinking. Maybe it was a Jamison family trait. As I said before, Carter had an incredibly strong wolf, despite being short and not especially muscular in his human form.
At any rate, the display had lifted my own spirits considerably.
I didn’t know how heavy the crates had been, but I was betting that Chet had put enough weight in them that they would have been a challenge to Harris Murdoch—why bother otherwise?
So it seemed that Kor must have a fighting chance to win the Alpha Challenge.
Just the thought of that made my breath come easier.
“Well, that was certainly impressive,” I murmured to Kor as we left the grocery store. “You really are strong.”
He shrugged.
“Like I said, I work out. Plus my wolf is strong.”
“That was a test, you know,” I told him. “They want to see how you’ll stack up for the Alpha Challenge.”
“Oh I know.” He grinned at me. “I’m not worried.” He raised an eyebrow at me. “But I sense that you are?”
He was far too perceptive, I thought. But before I could think up an answer, a harsh voice said,
“Well, well—look at the two of you, out for a stroll on this fine fuckin’ day.”