“It’s the first I’ve heard of it, but it makes sense,” I admitted. “Perhaps we should try to be more open to other students.”
Caleb stopped, staring at me in disbelief. “You…” He trailed off, shaking his head.
“What?”
“You, Mr. Private Himself, wants to be more open with other students?” Caleb muttered incredulously.
“Not only that but with our own pack as well,” I added, still keeping watch over Jess as we stood there.
“What do you mean?”
“She said it…just now,” I muttered, starting to walk as she got further away. “We ostracize our own members. Maybe that’s not good.”
“Dad,” Caleb stopped speaking, barely glancing at me as he continued, “Maybe you’re right.”
“We have a chance to do it differently, Caleb,” I murmured, not wanting to bash his dad, our Alpha, but we both knew there were issues within the Pack.
“Go on home,” I told him as we came to a narrow path. I nodded in the direction of the motel, as Jess disappeared behind a building. “I’ll drop this off and make sure no one has been snooping around.”
“Yeah, okay,” Caleb answered, his gaze focused inwardly as he wandered down the path toward home.
I set up an easy jog, one I could maintain for hours if necessary, as I checked the perimeter of the lot to make sure no Hanleys had come by in my absence.
Once I was satisfied, I walked back to the motel, following her scent to where it was strongest. I slid the backpack off my arm, hanging it carefully on the doorknob. I hesitated for a moment, debating my next move, but after a second, I dug through one of the pockets and found a scrap of paper.
“I’M SORRY,” I wrote neatly in all caps, shoving the pen back in her backpack and setting the paper where she wouldn’t miss it. I would never admit to apologizing to her, but I didn’t want to leave with her still angry at me.
I walked backwards slowly, reluctant to leave, but not having a reason to stay. If she found me outside her door, I could use the excuse of her backpack, but I knew she’d be rightfully suspicious. The sound of a door opening had me jumping over the railing of the motel, landing silently on the ground below.
I knew I’d be back tonight to keep watch over her, but it was still difficult to leave, and I had to force myself back to the cover of the forest. Somehow, she’d commanded my attention, to the exclusion of everything else, and as dangerous as that fact was, it was also irresistible.
Chapter Four
I groaned as I woke up, bones cracking as I stretched and shook the leaves off me. The long run I’d gone on with Trent, plus keeping watch over the motel and Jess had taken its toll. I snorted, blinking tiredly as I shook my head, standing on two legs instead of four as I shifted automatically.
“Coffee, clothes, and croissants,” Caleb offered, walking up to me, and my eyes narrowed as I took in what he was holding.
“Those aren’t croissants,” I corrected, taking the enormous mug of coffee he held. “At least, they better not be.” I took a sip of the scalding black brew and let out a satisfied sigh. “I could eat a bear this morning.”
“They’re my mom’s kolaches.” Her quiet murmur came as no surprise since my sensitive noise had picked up her scent long before she’d arrived, but I was a little astonished she was with Caleb. I sent him an inquiring nudge over our private link and he glanced to the side, thrusting my work clothes at me.
“I thought about what you said yesterday,” he muttered in reply. “Figured asking Anna to join us would be nice.”
“It is nice,” I commented, yanking on my pants as I balanced my coffee in one hand. “I appreciate the food and coffee,” I said aloud, as Anna kept her eyes glued to the ground. She never looked when we shifted or changed and I wasn’t sure if it was because she was uncomfortable or respectful. Anna had been a surprise to the Pack when she was born with the shifter trait. We’d been prepared when she’d made her first shift but it had taken some getting used to for the older members of the Pack.
“Your mom’s kolaches are the best,” I added, nodding to Anna as I tugged a red t-shirt over my head, the howling wolf on the back an amusing reminder of the school mascot. “I’m a lucky guy.”
They fell in step behind me as we walked to the clearing behind the motel where my Jeep was parked.
“Should we see if Jess wants a ride?” Anna asked hesitantly and I exchanged a glance with Caleb.
“Maybe not today,” I denied and she ducked her head. “It’s a good thought, but she may not want to ride with us today.”