ChapterEleven
Logan
“What just happened?” Bibi looked like she was about to rip off her sequins and go full wolf. “There is absolutely no way we’ll show the pack treating Cindy like that on the show.”
“We all wanted to sweep our problems under the rug, but when Pedro challenged Jackson and then couldn’t face the consequences of losing, a lot of anger came to the surface.”
“I promised you a total life makeover,” Bibi said. “Which means by the end of this, I’ll make sure the she-wolves in Green Mountain see you as an asset to the pack.”
Cindy lowered her gaze. “I made a lot of these problems worse by pretending things weren’t happening.”
“And now you’re making it better.”
You need to stop Pedro, my wolf growled deep inside me. He’ll destroy this entire pack to keep your mate from you.
Bibi nodded, like she’d heard my wolf, and took over my post behind Charlotte. The little girl was swinging happily, totally oblivious to the destruction her father was hellbent on raining down all around her.
But nothing Pedro could do would keep me away from her mother. My mate.
“Hey.” I grabbed the chains of Cindy’s swing and pushed her. “He’s not going to win.”
“I’m done feeling sorry for myself,” she said. “Right now, Pedro is winning. Because he’s got the entire pack scared shitless to even be seen near me. He’s robbing the kids of their friends. But he’s like one of those runners that starts with a burst of speed and then shits his pants right before the finish line. No. I’m not letting him win.”
She maneuvered off the swing and turned around in a fluid movement. So close to shifting, I could smell her wolf. Her sweet, spicy scent danced in my nostrils, flowed through my veins, sending that electric current straight to my cock.
“I’m done feeling responsible for his actions. He’s a grown-ass wolf. If I tried to stop him, he wouldn’t have listened to me, anyway.” She grabbed the chains, right above my hands. “It’s my turn to win.”
“A little fire in your belly looks good on you,” I rumbled. She had the same look of determination in her eyes that she did on stage last night. “What are you going to do about it?”
“He won’t ruin this episode.” She steeled herself, looking around the park we now had all to ourselves. Whatever Pedro’s wolves had said, it had scared the shit out of them. “I want you to take me on big, crazy dates, and I want my kids to have fun. The last thing they need to think is their mother can be intimidated by anyone. I want...I want you. I don’t know if—"
I leaned forward, meeting her halfway between the chains, and kissed her. Because damn, I wanted her too. Her lips were soft and sweet, but for a split second, my wolf thought she wanted to reconsider. Run and hide under the smothering blanket that was her old life.
But then this she-wolf remembered who she was.
She parted her lips, more than ready to let me inside. She moaned softly as my tongue stroked hers and leaned forward. Her knee was on the swing, and heat radiated from her body. The kiss deepened, and I slid my arm around her waist, pulling her in closer.
“They’re kissing.” I’d never be sure which twin said it, because I was too lost in their mother to see them approach.
And just like that, it was over. But not like it never happened. Cindy blinked back to consciousness, giving me a coy smile before reverting to mom mode.
“Why are you kissing my mom?” Carter asked, hands on his hips.
“Because your mom wanted to be kissed.” Cindy let go of the swing. “I have an idea. Why don’t we go on a little adventure? Can we all fit in the van?”
Bjorn and Marissa looked at each other. “We might have to get a little creative, but we’ll make it happen. Where do you want to go?”
“Away from here.”
“What if I babysit?” Wendy suggested. “After that kiss, I think the two of you might want some alone time.”
“What if...” Cindy closed her eyes for a long blink. “Okay. I need to stop thinking of the worst-case scenario. Pedro won’t hurt his kids.”
“I’ll text Hugo.” Bibi already had her phone in her hand. “Make sure he’s watching the house.”
“We don’t have to go anywhere, we can stay here,” I said. But I hated that this wolf had a hold over Cindy. He didn’t deserve this kind of power.
But I’d been in town for less than twenty-four hours, and I was in no place to start a war.
“I won’t let Pedro dictate what I do.” She walked away from the swings, and her animal was at the surface once again.
I wanted to run with her. I wanted her to bring me deep into the forest. I wanted to see my mate through my wolf’s eyes. But that might never happen.
She turned to me, flustered. “I want to be alone with you. Are we ever going to have that chance? There are always all these people around, and a camera pointing at us. No offense, I’m sure you’re very good at your job.” She gave Bjorn a sheepish smile before turning back to me. “But I want it to just be us.”
“That’s a beautiful sentiment,” Bibi said. “As long as we pull this off, it will be the two of you for the rest of your lives. But until we finish this episode, I’ve taken personal responsibility for both of your well-being. So until we know the coast is clear, we are team Mating Game.”
My wolf groaned.
Bibi held up her hands. “Don’t worry. I have even more motivation to help both of you live your very best lives now. This isn’t revenge. We’re above that. This is about shining so bright no one can touch you.”
“Your mantra,” Cindy said. Charlotte hopped off the swing, and she wanted her mom. “Sounds like you know something we don’t. I trust you with my life—mostly your ability to make it over—but if you know something, Bibi, now’s the time to spill the tea.”
“Fine.” Bibi sighed. “Montana’s back. They left me a love letter. Said they want to make amends. That was before Pedro showed up on stage.”
“There’s no way the two things aren’t connected.” Cindy tugged on her braid, and she was pacing again.
“What’s the significance?”
“Montana’s my old pack. We didn’t see eye to eye about how I should live my life, and I left. But Pedro and some of the wolves in this pack—”
“Including Hugo,” Cindy interjected.
“Yes, including Hugo, had teamed up with them to take down a neighboring pack. That’s how I got involved with The Real Werewives, when the Montana wolves thought they could use The Orchid Lounge, my old stomping grounds, as their battleground. Oh, hell no. They got run out of town, and some of the wolves in this pack that have graduated from charm school—including Hugo—thought things were back to normal. But apparently, we thought wrong.”
Cindy shook her head and sighed in frustration.
“Have you had contact with them?” I asked.
Bibi shook her head. “No. I’m not at their beck and call. We won’t stop filming, but we need to proceed with caution. We’ll win this fight. I have a proven track record. I’ve never lost a battle as a wolf.”
Cindy turned to me. “What about you?”
My wolf was on point. He wanted nothing more than to shift. “You mean, where do my loyalties lie?”
“That too, but I was asking about how you stack up in a fight. Because these wolves are hanging around for a reason.”
Tell her,my wolf said. Keeping it a secret is as good as a lie.
“Haven’t been in that many fights off-camera.” That was true, but my wolf groaned, because it wasn’t the whole truth. “But everything you saw in the shows was all me. Can’t hire a stunt wolf.”
“There’s only one language some wolves understand, and it has nothing to do with human anything,” Cindy said. “I’m sick of it. And jealous that you haven’t had to deal with it.”
Take her away from here.
“I have an idea I think everyone will like,” I said. The tension on this land ran deep. “Let’s head to the chalet. There’s plenty for the kids to do, and me and you can have a little alone time.”
“Almost alone time,” Bibi corrected.
“We can’t keep bringing our problems to Colorado Ranch.” Cindy mashed her lips together. “But a little spa time sounds amazing.”
Bibi brightened. “I’ll call and make appointments for you.”
After wrangling three car seats and a whole bunch of equipment into the van, we were on our way to Colorado Ranch.
“Why does this feel like a getaway?” Cindy turned to me. She’d been looking out the window, like she was daring a renegade wolf to show himself. “Always kinda does any time I leave Green Mountain.”
“Would you consider living somewhere else? Wendy could probably help you find a great place in Sunset Springs.” Bibi asked.
Wendy groaned from the back where she was perched on a camera case.
“Wendy hates selling real estate.” Cindy grinned at her friend. “But maybe I would consider a relocation.”
“We’ll work on getting you back to your dream job when it’s your episode, Wendy,” Bibi said. “As soon as we find Cindy’s dream house.”
“And your mate.” Cindy laughed, but I didn’t miss that she’d knotted her hands together in her lap. “But at the same time, I’m excited about the changes that are coming to Green Mountain. My kids will go to an all-shifter school. That’s pretty amazing.”
There was a place where Cindy belonged, and I would move heaven and earth to find it for her.