Silver Mine (9 page)

They stood in silence until Shelley had to grab a tissue and wipe her eyes. Straighten herself up and do the next thing. Which meant facing an Alpha she didn’t want to deal with yet, and the shifter she’d been fooling around with.

Both rather inconveniently camped out in her living room.

Chapter Seven

Evan watched with growing concern and annoyance as the women closed themselves in the back bedroom. “Gee, that went peachy, didn’t it?”

The visitor to town across from him stretched out his legs and sipped his drink. “Don’t know. You in the habit of interrupting your pack members whenever the hell you feel like it? If so, well done.”

Cheeky devil. “Yeah, sorry about that, but what was I supposed to think?”

Chase shrugged. “I understand. Just don’t expect me to have much sympathy for you if your mate rips you a new one when you get home.”

“She’s not my mate.”

The shifter’s brows went way up.

“She’s not, and if you don’t have a broken sniffer, you’d know that.”

A piece of pizza disappeared before Chase spoke again, his slow drawl so different from the shifters Evan hung out with in the Takhini pack.

“Fine, your partner. Because sure as hell, you’re together.”

“For now.”

Chase took another bite. Chewed. Then grinned. “Feisty.”

Evan snorted. “Seems to run in the family from what I can see. I thought you were just passing through town…”

The shifter rose to his feet, languid and smooth as he strolled to the kitchen and reloaded his plate. When the dude had managed to inhale the enormous pile of grub he’d loaded up, Evan had no idea. He was still working on his first serving.

When Chase returned, he balanced his plate on his knee and stared thoughtfully across the room. “Yeah. One thing led to another, you know how it goes.”

Oh, he knew all right, and if this had been a typical shifter-to-shifter conversation, Evan would have been encouraging the other man all the way. But with it being Caroline’s sister caught in the act, so to speak, that changed things a whole lot.

“I’m surprised.” Evan caught Chase’s gaze and didn’t let go. “I don’t think Shelley’s a good option for a one-night stand.”

“Thanks for your opinion.”

Chase deliberately broke eye contact and resumed eating, and Evan got a little pissed. “No, I mean it. I don’t think you should be here.”

“She in your pack?”

Chase’s question stopped Evan from blustering on about protecting his own. “Well, not yet, but soon, I expect.”

“Seems then, if you don’t mind a person speaking bluntly, this is none of your concern.” Chase raised a hand before Evan could blast him. “I’m not saying you aren’t right in caring for all the wolves passing through or settling in the area, even the ones that haven’t given you allegiance yet. I understand that more than you think. Only I’m not causing harm. She’s happy. You do the math.”

It was the longest speech Evan had heard from the other man. If his concerns had merely been about protecting his position, the mini-lecture would have been enough to convince him to back off. But there was more to the story. “Shelley’s never been triggered.”

Tension swooshed into the room like an icy wind. Chase sat far more rigidly in his seat than the second before. “You’re shitting me.”

Evan lowered his voice. “Caroline thinks I don’t know, but hell, I’ve been Alpha for the past year. I’ve heard every rumor that’s gone down the pike a dozen times. People especially love to share the horror stories.”

“Horror stories—there’s more to it than she’s a virgin?”

Damn. At what point was it no longer his business telling tales? Half-blood wolves like Shelley were triggered as adults by the exchange of hormones during sex. It was a pleasurable way to finally be able to let the animal side come out to play, and not usually an issue.

Except in this case.

Evan examined the other man carefully. Didn’t seem like an asshole. Seemed more the type to want the gritty details of what was wrong with Shelley simply in the hopes they could return to what they’d been doing before being rudely interrupted.

Nope. Evan still couldn’t do it. Not the least of reasons that Caroline would probably rip off his balls if she caught him talking about things she didn’t approve of.

The realization made him laugh. Great. Feared Alpha of the Takhini pack, hopeful amalgamator of the divided packs of the north, and he was seriously intimidated by the human he was sleeping with.

At least it kept life interesting.

“You need to ask her the details. I’m just suggesting, again, that you shouldn’t consider Shelley a good one-time event.” Evan looked around the room, pointing at the knapsack on the floor. “Looks as if you were planning an overnighter.”

Chase placed his plate on the coffee table then sat back and rubbed his hands up and down his thighs. “She asked me to stay in town until she has test results for me tomorrow. The hostel is full—I already checked out.”

“Easily solved.” Evan nabbed his phone and waved it in the air before texting a message to the front desk. “I understand the pack house is out, but I own a flipping hotel. Room for the night on me. Only, you need to find a way to make this look like it’s your idea.”

The stare from across the room was impressive. The slow smile that followed far too comprehending. Evan was a strong wolf, but this Métis was no slouch. “You don’t want them to know I’ve been warned off.”

“Exactly. I like keeping body parts intact, thank you.”

Chase nodded. “Fooling around isn’t supposed to be this big a deal. I accept.”

He rose to his feet and picked up his bag, slinging it carefully over his shoulder.

Evan joined him, heading toward the door. “You need a ride?”

“Nah. Moonshine Inn isn’t that far. Nice night for a walk.”

Chase’s hand was on the door, and hot damn, they were nearly scot-free when a cough sounded behind them.

“Leaving so soon?” Shelley stepped forward, her gaze lingering on the backpack draped over Chase’s back. “Sleeping on the street?”

Chase shrugged. “Remembered a place I can crash. Thanks for the meal—I left my contribution to the party on the table.”

He had the door open. Was stepping through.

There was no reaction from the women, and for one glorious moment Evan thought they’d gotten away with it.

“Chase…”

The man turned slowly. Looked Shelley up and down with a slow, heated gaze. “It’s for the best, darling. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Caroline grabbed Evan’s arm and tugged him into the apartment as Shelley moved to say farewell and close the door.

“You hungry?” he asked Caroline, passing her a plate. “If it’s cold we can—”

“Evan Stone, what did you say to him to make him leave?” Caroline plopped her plate on the counter and crossed her arms.

Shelley stepped beside her and suddenly there were two very pissed-off females staring him down. “Whoa. Let’s get this clear. I didn’t do anything. Man thought it best to go.” He turned to Shelley. “You really think he would leave if he didn’t want to?”

Caroline’s jaw dropped.

Shit
.

“I mean, if he didn’t think it was for the best?”

Caroline scowled harder, leaning her head toward her sister.

Dammit
. That was slightly insulting as well.

Evan opened his mouth and nothing came out. He’d gone totally and completely brain-dead. “Jeez, Caroline give a fellow a break. I’m damned if I do, and damned if I don’t.”

“It’s okay, Caro. I get the idea.” Shelley pushed her sister toward the couch. “Let’s eat. I’m starving, and if I’m going to be bossed around by people I don’t even know, I’m not doing it on an empty stomach.”

Shit again. He could organize the slickest takeover of a multimillion dollar corporation and still be floored by two women in their twenties.

“Look—”

Shelley cut him off. “No, you look. You’re obviously the big cheese around here, and whatever you’ve got going with Caroline…” she glanced between the two of them and damn near rolled her eyes, “…well, that’s your business.”

Caroline wiggled uncomfortably on the arm of the chair where she’d found a perch. “I’m sorry for not telling you. Really, I am.”

“I know. And I get it.” Shelley nearly growled out the words. “But you need to understand as well. This is on my terms. Moving forward, rejoining the pack or not rejoining the pack. Lord, even fooling around with someone—it’s my decision. It’s my bloody life and, no disrespect intended, I want you both to butt the hell out.”

Evan stepped behind Caroline and rested his hands lightly on her shoulders. She wasn’t wolf that he could sense her completely like a pack member. In fact, her sister was far clearer to read, but he’d been around the human and cared enough for her to know she was upset. Upset with herself for hurting someone she cared about deeply. He leaned over to brush his cheek against hers, giving a light soothing touch to let her know he was there.

Caroline sighed, but his trick worked. She breathed out slowly and relaxed, as if letting him take control.

Evan considered. Yeah, even half the crap Shelley had been through over the years would have explained the size of the chip on her shoulder.

But never having experienced full acceptance as a wolf had made her forget a few key components.

He released Caroline with a final squeeze before taking a step toward Shelley. He let out a portion of his power. Not in a rush, but a slow trickle. Almost a caress, but intended as more of a hug.

“You’re right. It is your life, and I have every intention of letting you make your own decisions.” He stood in front of her, arms at his sides, body at ease. Making sure there was nothing in his body language to say she needed to fear him, and he hoped that would help the real message get through loud and clear. “But Shelley—I am an Alpha, and that means I can’t turn off parts of myself just because you tell me to butt out. It might look like interfering, but it’s built into me. It’s instinctive that I care for you, in a way you’ve never known before.”

He increased that part of him that was
other
and enveloped her with it.

She snapped her head up to stare into his eyes. Her mouth hung open slightly, jaw trembling.

“That emotion I can’t help feeling is there, constant, huge. It isn’t sexual, it’s not because we’re family. It’s deeper and more real than any passion you’ve felt before.”

The room pooled with his power now. Her eyes had widened as he spoke, either from the words or the sensation of him tangling himself around her. Caroline sat motionless—in itself a bloody miracle as she must have sensed some wolfie thing going down.

In front of him, Shelley shook.

He had to finish it. “So you make the decisions you have to, and I’ll support you one hundred percent. Period.”

Her words snuck out in a whisper. “I’ve been so alone.”

God. Pain rippled through him in sympathy. “I know.”

Evan opened his arms, and she stepped into them, resting her head against his chest and weeping like a child. He soothed her as best he could, but mainly he just held her. Held her with his arms and that other part of himself that called to the faint bit hidden deep inside her that refused to break free and become real.

Caroline joined them, hesitant at first until Shelley sniffled and grabbed her into the hug. The three of them stood for the longest time.

“Oh Lord, I’m not usually such a weepy mess. I’m not,” Shelley complained, wiggling free and snatching up the napkins from the pizza order.

“Big changes means a lot of stress, hon, and you’ve been pushing yourself like crazy.” Shelley tucked her sister back into a hug and smoothed her hair. “But I’ll second Evan’s words, the part about supporting you one hundred percent. I swear I’ll do anything for you, but from now on, I’ll try not to do things for you until you ask.” She stared over her sister’s head at Evan, and he smiled at her, dipping his head slightly in approval.

Shelley had a lot of baggage to carry, but she didn’t have to carry it alone.

One night of frustration completed, and Chase was that much closer to being able to retreat to the bush where things were simpler, in so damn many ways he couldn’t even begin to count them.

Not even the lingering scent of Shelley’s attraction could make him change his mind. Hands-off was much the better for both of them. Freaking logic put the brakes on his libido.

He reported to the office at eight a.m. as she’d requested, hopped up on the examining table and didn’t glance her way as she poked and prodded his sliced shoulder again. He didn’t visibly react when she leaned in and her hair fell over his arm and sent a rush of desire straight to his groin.

The sooner he was back in the bush, with ready access to the icy cold waters of his lake, the better.

“So, will I live?” The horrified expression that crossed her face stopped his chuckle before it started. “Or…not?”

“I’ve never seen anything like this, and neither has my mentor.” She looked up from where she’d been rumbling through notes, scratching new information on the mess of papers before her. “Okay, maybe that wasn’t the most doctor-ly to share, but Chase, are you sure there’s nothing else you can tell me about the shifter who gave you the cuts? Was he sick? Did you go around any other animals afterward?”