The Challenge (The Pack 2)
“No, but I recognize a kindred spirit.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You’re not trying to make a move on me are you?”
His eyes widened for a second before his shoulders started to shake, silent laughter pouring from him. “Hell no, I like my balls right where they are,” he finally gasped. “Attached to my body,” he clarified when I continued to glare. “Don’t get me wrong, you smell nice, but not that nice.”
“So you’re not in lust with me?”
He fought back the last chuckle, and stared at me seriously. “I am not. And it has nothing to do with the fact that Dom would kill me or the fact that you carry a gun at all times.” He stretched his legs out, making his body open and vulnerable. “I’m not a Hanley or Dom would never allow me near you. Not all wolves are controlled by their baser desires. Yes, you could give me wolf pups, but,” he hesitated and I arched a single eyebrow. “You’re not my type,” he finished carefully.
“There’s someone else,” I pounced on the idea instantly and knew I was right when his eyes flickered away. “Who? Sam?”
His gaze came back to mine and he shook his head adamantly. “I like her, but no.” He pushed himself up. “And that’s all you need to know.” He shook his finger in my face. “No matchmaking.”
I tilted my head back to maintain eye contact, but I made no promises. He grumbled a little, sighing when I refused to answer. “Dom has my sympathy.”
“I’m sure he appreciates it,” I retorted sweetly, my mind racing as I tried to figure out who had caught Trent’s attention. His story had tugged at me and I wanted to see him get a chance at happiness. However, there was a motel full of women he could be interested in, and that didn’t include the women of the Navarre pack. I’d have to keep my eyes peeled to see if there was anyone he paid special attention to.
“You ready to go inside yet?” He asked pointedly and I realized he’d been keeping watch over me.
“Seriously, do you have some telepathic link with Dom?” I growled as I headed back to the apartment I shared with my Dad. “I swear it feels like you channel him sometimes.”
“No, just years of friendship and the absolute understanding that you are more important than anything to him.”
I rolled my eyes at him. “I doubt that. He has his sister back, and Caleb, plus the Pack. I think you overestimate my place.”
“And I know you underestimate it,” he answered, leaning against the wall as I opened the door. I glanced up at him, his absolute seriousness catching me off guard. His eyes gleamed in the dim light, faintly reflective and reminding me forcefully that I wasn’t dealing with a human. “Never doubt he’d forsake his Pack and his life to keep you safe.”
With that, he disappeared into the deepening darkness, leaving me to grapple with the implications of his words. I knew I cared for Dom, loved him even, but was I ready to commit that deeply? Sacrifice that much for him?
I shut the door mindlessly, and caught sight of my dad sliding a frozen dinner into the apartment size oven. He whistled tunelessly, not seeming to notice I’d entered the apartment, and I took a moment to observe him. There were a few more streaks of silver in his dark hair and I thought the lines might be a little deeper around his eyes, but the easygoing expression he always wore hadn’t disappeared.
He’d spent years putting up with my mom’s discontent without ever losing his smile and only now did I understand how much I’d relied on that. On him. Could I forsake him for Dom if I had to make the choice? My eyes burned as he opened every cabinet searching for the plates he swore I hid from him. I knew my answer was no. I wouldn’t sacrifice my dad for Dom. Or Anna. Or Sam. I would fight for all of them.
No matter what it cost me.
Chapter Five
Loud knocking interrupted my last-minute attempt to finish my homework on Monday morning and I growled. It had to be the day Dad decided to make an early morning supply run to Boise. I ignored the fact that he’d had to go because of the sudden influx of nonpaying guests we had, which was sort of my fault.
“I’m coming,” I shouted, shoving the hair out of my face as I slammed my textbook closed. I’d have to deal with getting an incomplete on it. “Jeez, hold your horses,” I grumbled as they continued to pound on the door. I took a second to peek through the peephole. I doubted a wolf could get within a mile of the place, but the Hanleys had used humans to do their dirty work in the past.