Chapter 2

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.