Rex
“She’s in,” Hayley announces with delight as she dances into my small one-bedroom apartment in the packhouse. She’s vibrating with giddiness as she plonks herself down on my sofa, tucks her feet beneath her, and grins expectantly at me. I’ve been gone for the weekend, running myself into the ground to get some peace, to ground my wolf. Cooper, my brother, and Hayley’s mate, must have told her I was back.
“I know. I got your message.” She’s still grinning, ignoring my grumbling. “Hayley… I don’t think this is a good idea.”
I’m blunt and don’t mince words, gesturing to her sitting in my living room with a wide, smug smile.
She’s just way too happy. Hayley’s expression transforms from one of delight to one of exasperation.
“Rex! Don’t be miserable.” She shakes her head and frowns, but I can see her eyes twinkling. The excitement that’s been building up inside her bursting out.
“Go on, tell me again why this is so good?” I close my book and set it down, searching for the patience I’m going to need to get through this conversation. Hayley tuts at me, knowing I am just humouring her, but she reminds me why I agreed to this.
“She’s an amazing yoga teacher. Leah has, like, a hundred thousand followers on social media,” she pauses, and I shrug, wondering why I should care. I don’t get why that’s important. Hayley continues, listing off all these points on her fingers as she grows impatient with me. “She’ll live in the B&B, which means the guests will always have someone at hand. She’ll cook breakfast and do the bookings, too.”
“Fine, I get it. She’ll take away all the stuff I don’t like. I have heard this speech before, you know?”
I know I’m being difficult. Hayley, as Luna of our pack, has far better things to do than help me set up a new business and listen to me whine about it. She’s only just returned from her honeymoon and trying to catch up. It’s just the idea of work up close and personal with someone I don’t know just sets me on edge. My wolf is restless, too. Especially since she’s female.
Hayley eyes me and goes to say something before stopping, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth in contemplation.
“What is it, Hayley?” I’m intrigued now by what she needs to talk about, yet seems hesitant to broach.
“Em, she might have done something.” She’s hedging, twiddling a strand of her toffee-coloured hair in her fingers as she avoids looking at me. Talk about being vague. Great… I’m getting a bad feeling about this. Whatever it is, I know it’s not good.
“Your sister?” I keep the question casual, my voice low and calm as I watch her, and Hayley gives a meek nod.
“She can be… impulsive.” She’s nervous and glances up, meeting my gaze for a second again before standing and edging towards the door. There’s no way I’m letting her get away and follow her, my long strides bringing me up beside her in two steps as she reaches for the door.
“Hmm. It must run in the family,” I say, reaching over her shoulder to hold the door closed before she can yank it open and escape like she plans to.
“It’s great news, really. She got some bookings for you. Lots. Just like we discussed, we’ll do one week for humans, one-week shifters, alternating them on and off over the rest of the summer. She has nearly sold the human weeks out already.”
I quirk a brow at that. The human part has me curious. I knew we would have no problem getting interest from the shifter community. Only senior-ranking wolves get military-style training, but all wolves love the wilderness and want to protect their mates and pups. The opportunity to learn the same things that are taught at Alpha camp will no doubt appeal to plenty out there.
I didn’t know Leah was onboard until I got the text from Hayley on Friday when I stopped to get a drink. How has she sold us out in a few days?
“How did she manage that?” I ask, leaning in and picking up the faint scent of deceit in the air. “Hayley?” My voice is low, dripping in warning not to lie to me, or skirt around the truth, as our Luna is good at when it suits the situation.
“Oh, she put up a couple of pictures, Grey Ridge, the scenery, the house, you, and the bookings just came flooding in. Great news, right? The only thing is the first group is due to arrive in two weeks…”
“What? Two weeks!! For fuck’s sake, we’ll never be ready! What was she thinking?” I yell, scrubbing a hand over my hair before putting my face in my hands. “Ok, ok, so we’re really doing this then?”
That I completely exhausted my wolf over the last few days helps me calm down quickly. I’m not really a fan of surprises. I like to be in control. Probably because the shit show that is my mating is so completely out of control.
Hayley’s smile is back as she picks up on the slight hint of enthusiasm in my voice.
“Yes, we are! Leah is arriving next week once her exams are done. So, we need to get moving and rope in some people to help get the rest of the work done.”
Her mind seems to be already going into overdrive. I can see the cogs turning, creating lists of all the things we said we would do, but have yet to finish, thinking we had another month. At least.
Maybe this will work? I need something else to focus on. Something else to fill my days. To push the thoughts of my lost mate out of my head, and to stop me from reliving the day she rejected me. Repeatedly. This will be good for me. I’ll be busy and tired, and other than a little human flitting around, I don’t have to work for anyone else. Maybe she’ll be quiet, and we’ll just go about our own tasks with little interaction.
Hayley stands on her tiptoes and reaches up to pull me in for a hug. She knows despite my complaining that I want this. I need this for my sanity. She pulls the door open and turns to leave, just as my brain grasps something else that she said.
You. Pictures of you.
“What do you mean, pictures of me?” I ask. Hayley’s eyes widen a fraction, and she ducks under my arm with impressive speed and out into the safety of the hallway.
“Oh, nothing to worry about. Just a little ‘about the owners’ section we worked up for the website. You just worry about the equipment and the house and leave the rest to us.”
She darts down the stairs as fast as her legs will carry her, and I narrow my eyes as she disappears, clearly keen to get away from me before I ask any more questions.
I sigh and go to get changed. I don’t have time to worry about it. There is still lots to do before we’re ready to open. I need to focus on that instead.
It’s still niggling in the back of my mind. She’s up to something.
I hope Leah is more easy-going than her sneaky sister. Otherwise, two Walker girls in this sleepy town might be more than we can handle.
Leah “Wow, Hayley, this place is gorgeous.” I let out a low whistle as I spin on the spot, taking in the stunning scenery. It looks even more gorgeous with the sun beaming down. It’s breath-taking. The surface of the lake sparkles as sunlight dances across it. A slight ripple carries across the shimmering water as a gentle breeze provides some soft respite to the heat. The bright green leaves in the surrounding trees sway in the wind, and there’s a lush forest right behind Hayley’s old house. The restored cabin juts up against a hill. The view continues around the lakeshore, broken only by the occasional house or jetty built at the side of the lake. It’s so peaceful here. It feels so remote, so calm and restorative, but is only walking distance to the quaint little town of Grey Ridge. “You would have seen it last time, except…” Hayley trails off, turning from her spot at the bottom of the stairs and grimacing. “Except… some lunatic set our guesthouse on fire?” I offer, and she frow
Rex There is something so peaceful about being up before dawn when the rest of the world is still sleeping, and everything is quiet. I inhale deeply, my chest rising as I pull in a lungful of crisp country air. The heavenly smell of damp leaves and fresh rain float in the air as I stare out at the picturesque lake view at the front of the bed-and-breakfast. The weak morning sun is just peeking over the tops of the trees, and it softly illuminates the slight haze hanging low over the water. It’s breath-taking. The porch light comes on as I walk up the steps to the front door. A sensor light was one of the extra security measures Cooper installed around the property after Hayley’s attack. Somehow, I don’t think any amount of lighting or alarms will ever be enough to make her feel completely safe here again. He felt like he needed to try because she poured her heart and soul into renovating this property. But a new start in a new home is probably better for both of them. I can see the
Rex Silently, I follow her into the kitchen and wait while she pulls down two mugs and fills them up. I love my coffee and I already know this is the good stuff. For such a chatterbox, she doesn’t seem to find my lack of small talk awkward. Leah gestures down the hall and goes into the small room we have set aside as an office. My jaw nearly hits the floor as I take the space in. It’s transformed. Yesterday, there was nothing in here except an old desk, a chair, and an empty grey filing cabinet. This morning, it looks like a professional office. Brand new shelves adorn the white walls, filled with lever arch files in a variety of colours. The side of the desk has cubbies full of leaflets for local attractions and brochures, for the pack’s other hotels and businesses such as Ethan and Cooper’s microbrewery. Leah pinned a map of the public forest surrounding us to a corkboard hanging on one wall. She’s marked out local hiking trails and added colour-coded pins to show the suitable cam
Leah My singing along to the radio had not gone down well. It turns out alpha males don’t love pop music sung out of tune… or with the wrong words. When Rex stared at me in horror before reaching over to turn it off, I didn’t bother fighting with him. I can take a hint. I thought we were bonding in the office. His expression was marginally less stony, and his stiff posture had relaxed as well. I swear I almost saw a smile. That’s the Rex equivalent of doing cartwheels. We even had a moment over schedules and hiking paths when our fingers touched. At least I thought we’d had a moment. Maybe it’s just my ovaries trying to trick me into making babies with this perfect specimen of manliness. I don’t know what happened, but something soured Rex’s mood since he offered to show me around, so I’m just leaving him alone. He drums his fingers against the leather steering wheel and seems to be deep in thought. About what, I’ve no clue. Rex has retreated into his shell and is mulling something
Rex I don’t know whether I want to kiss her or throw her out of the damn truck and speed off into the distance. She’s just sitting there, tap tapping away on her phone. Not a care in the world while I fidget in my seat, my hard-on refusing to go away while the sweet scent of her arousal lingers in the air. It’s driving me crazy, so I jab my finger down hard on the controls, opening every window simultaneously. Leah glances up, amused at my crankiness, before returning to whatever mindless scrolling she is doing. She rubs a hand down her upper arm where the cool air is blasting across her skin. A quick look confirms her nipples are stiff peaks, straining against the front of her tank top. There is no way in hell she can meet Danny like that, so I close the windows again and turn up the heat. She looks my way but again says nothing, choosing not to comment on my weird behaviour. Those big brown eyes seem a little too all-knowing and all-seeing for my comfort. Leah is dangerous to me.
Rex Instead of following everyone inside right away, I sit down on the steps and put my head in my hands, focusing on my breathing and try to regain some equilibrium. My fuse has always been short, even for an alpha, but I feel like any progress I made clawing back some control over my crazed wolf is slipping right through my fingers. He’s become unmanageable and wild since the rejection a year ago. Downright feral, if I dare to be honest with myself. I need to exercise a lot to keep him calm. Being outdoors grounds him. So, whenever I can, I disappear off into the wild for a night or two. Especially when I feel the tug of the mate bond or the agony of Stacey being with her fiancé. Leah and her carefree attitude have blown all that careful management of my mood away. I wanted her so badly. Just the idea that Nathan is going to pursue her has my blood pressure shooting sky-high. It makes little sense. She’s not mine, even though my body behaves otherwise. I can’t be with someone else
Leah Chase is right. There is something fishy going on around here, I know it. After Rex pretended not to storm off in a huff, and then Nathan pretended not to rush off after him, they left me with a very shifty and very uncomfortable-looking Danny. I truly hope they’re not whack-jobs, for Hayley’s sake. The entire gang is growing on me. Especially Rex. He’s got that whole macho, dark and brooding vibe going on, but I can tell there’s a softer side deep down that I haven’t seen yet. Deep, deep down. But I quite like that. There’s just something about a man who doesn’t wear his heart on his sleeve. Maybe it appeals to me because I’m the complete opposite. I can’t stop every thought I have from flying out of my mouth. Hayley intercepts me as I wave goodbye to a relieved looking Danny. I was about to follow in the direction that Rex and Nathan went, but she not too subtly steps in front of me to block my view of the hall door. Not before I glimpse Jonathan Jones sneaking back inside
Leah Rex lowers himself gingerly onto the stool and slumps against the back, while I get a glass of water and place it into his trembling hands. He drinks it in one go, a few drops of water spilling from the corners of his mouth. Using the back of his hand, he wipes them away roughly. He’s out of breath and tips his head back as he recovers and regains control of his breath. I’m reluctant to leave him, but it only takes a few moments to go into the utility room to pull out the giant first aid kit I only stocked yesterday. He’s attempting to stand when I come back out. What the hell? I curse under my breath and race around in front of him before he can fall flat on his handsome face. He’s still unsteady on his feet. I can’t help but notice how small and delicate my hands look on his broad, muscular shoulders as I gently urge him back on the seat. His expression is strained, and I can see the pinch of pain around his eyes. He’s pale and drawn, and if he stood up now, I’d bet he’d keel