Chapter Four

"So...how did you two meet, exactly?!" I looked pointedly between my big bad werewolf and my grandmother.

"Oh, your grandfather brought him home one day!" Clack-clack went her needles.

"Always was bringing home strays." I muttered.

"George had gotten a little too sauced at the pub that night and Red here was nice enough to bring him safely home to me!" She smiled fondly at him. "So handsome, so helpful."

"The pub, huh? Figures."

"Well, they actually met on the road there. Your grandfather's cart had broken and Red had stopped to help him, then your grandfather offered to buy him a pint. You know how he was."

"Yes, dear Grandpa."

"George was an excellent man." Red said, so firmly that I looked at him in surprise. "He took me in, gave me work when I needed it, when no one else would. I promised him on his death bed that I would look after Birdie and you til the day I died."

Red's glowing golden eyes met and held mine helpless captive. "I intend to keep that promise."

***

So Red had known who I was...all along.

"Why have I never heard of you before?!" I demanded.

"Oh, I've mentioned him plenty of times! That he was coming to dinner, or had brought me a little present!" Grandma insisted, getting up to put on some tea.

"Oh...oh! I thought you were talking about a CAT this whole time!" My brain felt like it was about to explode out of my face holes.

Red gave me an offended look, then dissolved into laughter that surprised me in its pleasantness. "A cat! OUCH."

I jumped up and went to join my grandmother in the kitchen. I pressed in against her side and asked her in a low voice, "Grandma, how could you let this beast in? You know what he is, don't you? Can't you SEE, can't you SMELL it on him?!"

"Well, my eyes aren't what they used to be, dear!" Grandma chuckled, filling the tea kettle from the tap. "What are you trying to say, child?"

"Grandma...he's a Wolf, like US!" I hissed.

She shrugged, fetching down some mismatching mugs from the cupboard. "Yes, I know. What of it? He's a good man. I've never seen no wolf when he be under my roof!"

I glanced over at Red. He smiled and waved at me.

I turned the tap back on, touching my grandma's arm to get her attention. "He's an alpha, an alpha without a pack. A lone wolf, is what Braiden says. He's dangerous!"

"Oh, pish posh!" Granny flapped her weathered old hands at me.

"You know I can, like, hear you perfectly, right?!"

I gasped as I turned and found Red standing right beside us now.

"I have excellent hearing." He smiled down at us.

"And Misha, while I appreciate our shared concern of Birdie, I assure you I mean you and your grandmother no harm! Quite the opposite! I am here to help, however I can."

Grandma Birdie patted his broad chest approvingly. And for perhaps a bit longer than necessary. I could hardly blame her, though, it was impossible to ignore how well he filled out that black T-shirt and jeans.

Hell, I couldn't ever seem to think straight around him!

"Oh, speaking of helping, I have a small task for you, actually! My woodshed roof seems to be leaking."

Grandma led him away out the back door and he shot me one last parting smirk.

'How do you like them apples?'

Once again I heard - worse I Felt - his voice crawl through my mind.

I shuddered flagrantly and pressed my hands to my temples.

What was happening to me?!