Chapter 4

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 soft glow of a lamp in the sitting-room window. The aroma of freshly ground coffee beans tells me Leah is up and about despite the early hour. Not hearing any movement inside, I tune into my senses and realise, to my surprise, that she is already outside. Following my nose, I wander around to the back of the house and start walking along a trail that hugs the shoreline, winding through the tall pine trees.

A few hundred feet along, I find Leah. She’s down on one knee, balanced precariously on a wide log jutting out over the water as she captures the sunrise with a very expensive-looking camera. I wince as she shifts position and the log moves, causing Leah to throw a hand out against the bark to steady herself. I hold my breath and groan, waiting for her to take a tumble into the dark, ice-cold water underneath her. There is no chance I’m jumping in to pull her out. Screw that. Hayley vouched for her swimming and water sports abilities. I guess we might find out sooner rather than later just how comfortable she is in the water.

She snaps a few shots, then stands and takes some more at a slightly different angle, adjusting and examining her work on the screen every few seconds. Her face is a picture of concentration as her gaze dances back and forth between the camera and the stunning shots she’s lined up. She straightens and tosses her long blonde curls back over her shoulder, finally satisfied with her work.

Leah exercises caution as she moves back along the log.

As soon as her feet are on dry land, I step out from the dark path. She gasps as I emerge from the shadows, one hand fluttering to her chest in shock.

“Jesus, Rex… You gave me a heart attack! Don’t sneak up on me like that!” She laughs breathlessly and steps forward to slap me gently on the arm.

“I didn’t want to startle you while you were concentrating.” I nod towards the makeshift viewing platform she’s just stepped down from. “It’s not the most sensible place to stand, Leah, unless you really wanted to test out how waterproof that camera is.”

She grins up at me as if I’ve complimented her inventiveness rather than told her off for being reckless. I can’t help but wonder what has her so buzzed, and my curiosity gets the better of me. Stepping past her, I edge out onto the log, hoping it’ll take my heavier weight and I won’t be the one taking a bath. I creep out a little further still, wanting to get the exact same view she had. She observes me quietly but expectantly, waiting for me to say something. When I get out far enough to see properly, I suck in a breath. Damn it.

“I’ve never seen the view from this angle, even though I’ve lived here my whole life. It’s unbelievable.” I admit, looking back at her over my shoulder, where a satisfied little smile spreads across her pretty features. I can’t really blame her for wanting to capture it. How did she even think to come down here?

Her eyes twinkle in triumph, as if she knows the praise she just got was shared reluctantly. Very reluctantly.

Pushing the camera into my hands, she leans in close to show me the pictures she just took. It’s obvious how talented she is, and how much she adores photography. Her curls tickle my arm, and I notice her hair smells like coconut.

“These will be brilliant for the site. I’ve already posted one this morning of my coffee from the porch, but these are much better.”

When I just blink at her, she sighs, pulling a fancy-looking phone from a hidden pocket in her yoga pants. She flicks to an artsy photo of a steamy mug sitting on the wooden railing, with the stunning lake view in the background. She looks at me eagerly, but I just stare blankly at her. It’s a nice photo. It’ll look good on the website. I don’t know what else she wants from me.

“Social media… this is how I’ve sold out the camp. We have an I*******m page with links and promotions. I have a pretty big following of my own and…” Leah sighs and puts her hands on her hips when she sees my eyes glaze over. “I sent you a twelve-page presentation, for God’s sake!”

“I’m here at 5:30 am every day. Do I look like a man that has time to read presentations?” I snap sharper than I meant to, stepping away to put more space between us. This girl seems to have no concept of personal boundaries. Not everyone is a hugger or is comfortable with all that touchy-feely stuff.

She just stares at me, ignoring my sharp comment, and waiting for me to respond like a grown up. We both know that the actual issue is that I have no interest in any of that stuff rather than having no time.

“But Hayley mentioned something about it. And it is a nice photo,” I concede, and she gives her head a tiny shake in exasperation before the megawatt smile is back. Her lips are full and shiny, she must have lip balm on. I can pick up the subtle scent of cherries. Frowning, I grit my teeth and give my head a little shake. I need to get a grip. Why do I care what the scent of her shampoo or the taste of her lip balm are?

“Right. Come on, Rexy boy. Let’s sit down and go through the schedule over a cuppa,” she suggests, giving my arm a quick squeeze before striding ahead and leading the way back to the house. It felt almost sympathetic, like she’s accepted the fact that I’m some kind of imbecile rather than someone who just actively dislikes social media. Why would I want a bunch of strangers to know what I’m up to all the time? Why would anyone?

It irks me, much like the new nickname she has given me. If I react, though, I know it will become a permanent thing. So, I keep my mouth shut and my face neutral. I hope Leah will forget all about it in the madness of the next few days. And it will be madness. We are nowhere near ready for the group of ten women set to arrive for the weekend.

She marches ahead confidently, oblivious to my grumpiness, or perhaps she just ignores it. Leah has only just arrived but is already comfortable issuing orders. I’m the most alpha wolf in town, and that includes the actual Alpha, but Leah couldn’t care less. It would be admirable, except she is oblivious to the powerful beast she has just given her back.

Just like Hayley, the alpha aura that affects other wolves doesn’t faze her. It’s refreshing, even if it will take some getting used to. It makes me worry about her safety, though. Soon, we’ll have shifters here. Once they arrive, she’ll have no idea who she’s dealing with or how dangerous they could be.

I take in her attire, and I’m impressed. Not by the way she fills out those pants, because that really is something to see. Not that I’m looking… but because she has a practical pair of sturdy, well-worn boots on her feet, good socks, a fleece to ward off the morning chill, and a headlamp that she used to light the way while it was still dark. She seems to know what she’s at, and I’m relieved Hayley hasn’t oversold her credentials. I’m happy to take the lead on the camping trips and excursions, but I’ll still need someone who’s capable and comfortable in the great outdoors to help.

She bends forward to wipe some bark off her knees, and I groan under my breath. Those skin-tight leggings… we’ll have to bring in ugly, baggy trousers for the new uniforms. Leah seems oblivious to what wearing those pants with a figure like hers does to a man. I can’t spend my entire time going around putting errant wolves back in line for lusting over her taut thighs and pert ass. I grimace as I watch her climb up the porch stairs, her hips swaying from side to side. She bends over to open her laces and toe off her boots, and I almost bite through my lip at the sight of her luscious curves presented exactly the way I like them.

It has nothing to do with me. At least that’s what I tell myself. I just don’t want to spend my days keeping every asshole that comes through the door from hitting on the Luna’s baby sister.

That’s all it is.