David and Slade watched in silence as Amelia drove off toward the restaurant.
“Amelia’s resourceful,” Slade said, sensing David’s anxiousness. “You know she has been in harrowing situations in the past, and she always manages to get out of them. She’ll know what to do. It’s just instinctive for her.”
Anything could go wrong though. The only good thing was they were eating at a restaurant and Amelia, and Elizabeth, could scream bloody murder if Kintail’s men tried to force them out of the place. The worry would be when they left the building. They’d be vulnerable then.
Slade slapped David on the shoulder. “Come on. Let’s get something to eat. They’ll be just fine. I think the ruse of you having been mated will throw them off completely.”
Then why was Kintail having pack members follow Elizabeth?
David pulled out his phone and looked up restaurants at the airport. “You go. I’d better stay with the plane in case any of Kintail’s men are hanging around there. They won’t know you.”
Slade glanced at his phone. “I like the menu for the Copperhouse. They have takeout, and they have wild boar. It includes white sauce, barbecued pulled boar, mozzarella, bacon, onions, bread, and pickles. That’s what I’m getting since I’ve never had it before. They have the bison too. What do you want me to pick up for you?”
“Yeah, get me the same as you. The wild boar sounds good. Thanks, Slade.” David watched him go, thankful for his packmates’ support. He wasn’t sure how he could have pulled this off without them.
A short while later, he got a text from Amelia: I’m at the restaurant, parking out back so no one can see us leave when we get ready to vamoose.
He texted: Okay. Slade’s grabbing a bite for us to eat, but I’m staying with the plane.
Amelia texted: Good, because if Kintail’s men spot you, this is all for nothing. I’m walking around to the restaurant now.
David: Stay safe.
Amelia: You too.
A few minutes later, Slade arrived carrying two to-go boxes. “Your sister is at the restaurant now,” David told him, digging into his wild boar and wishing he was in the right headspace to really savor it. From the look on Slade’s face as he chewed, it was damn good.
“Good. Hopefully, they’ll make a quick meal of it and be back here before we know it. I’m ready to get in the air. Though I could eat an entire wild boar, it’s so good. One perk of flying to Yellowknife.”
They ate in a thoughtful silence for a bit, then Slade said, “You know, I’ve never met wolves who had to go through such ordeals to get their mates. When I meet my dream wolf, I doubt there will be this much drama.”
For Slade’s sake, David hoped that would be true. But Slade knew if he had trouble, they would all have his back.
David looked down at his dinner and wondered when he’d finished it. He kept glancing at his phone, waiting, waiting for an update. He hoped the story Amelia and Elizabeth had come up with was ringing true with Sheri. He was glad Sheri was there, helping to make it look like they were all friends, if anyone should still be watching. He just hoped they were being careful. One slipup, no matter how small, could ruin the whole thing.
***
Elizabeth was nervous. She had no doubt she was sending off an apprehensive scent, and knowing that just made her nervousness worse. But Sheri seemed nervous too. She was talking nonstop. She never talked that much, especially when Elizabeth wasn’t responding, unless she was anxious about something. Elizabeth hadn’t even heard half of what Sheri was saying because she was fearfully watching out the window for Amelia. Thankfully, Amelia had sent Elizabeth a picture and vice versa. Wouldn’t that have been a disaster? To pretend to know someone and didn’t even know what she looked like?
Then she saw Amelia walking in the door with a breezy smile and a casual glance around the restaurant.
Elizabeth half stood up and waved, and the relief in Amelia’s face as she waved back and headed over likely mirrored Elizabeth’s own relief. They’d gotten this far. They could do this.
Elizabeth introduced them as soon as Amelia joined them at the table.
“So you’re from Juneau,” Sheri said, rising from her seat to shake Amelia’s hand. “Any friend of Elizabeth’s is a friend of mine.”
“Oh, I’m so pleased to meet you.” Amelia gave Sheri a hug, which surprised Elizabeth, and then she gave Elizabeth a hug, which she’d halfway expected since they were supposed to be friends—and hopefully really would be once Elizabeth actually joined Amelia’s pack.
In any event, Sheri seemed pleased Amelia had treated her like a friend from the start. Everyone sat down and Amelia looked over the menu and ordered a bison burger. Elizabeth couldn’t get anything that heavy down—not when she was feeling like a nervous wreck. She ordered butternut squash soup and a salad.
Sheri ordered the same as Elizabeth, and when they got their orders, Elizabeth glanced out the window, looking for any sign of Bentley and his ilk.
And sure enough, she saw not only Bentley, but Sheri’s brother, Hans, get out of a car and head toward the restaurant. Coincidence? Unlikely. But maybe if they came inside to eat, she and Amelia could slip out while they were waiting on their food.
Sheri gave her brother a dirty look and sent an apologetic one to Elizabeth. Elizabeth surreptitiously followed the men as they were seated at a table much farther away from the door. For once, she was thankful a restaurant she was eating in was crowded, since all the tables closer were full.
“So where are you going, exactly?” Sheri asked, picking at her salad.
“Elizabeth wants to take me on a hike on the Prospector Trail in Fred Henne Territorial Park again. It was one of my favorite spots last time. I’m just so sorry my timing is so terrible.” She put her hand on Elizabeth’s and gave it a gentle squeeze. To Elizabeth’s surprise, the comforting touch felt genuine, like they truly had been friends all this time. She blinked away the tears that sprang to her eyes and smiled at Amelia.
“The timing is actually perfect,” Elizabeth said, meaning it in every way. “Just what I need.” Amelia pulled away and took a bite of her burger, and Elizabeth thought she caught a little emotion in her eyes too.
“I would love to go with the two of you,” Sheri said, “if it isn’t an imposition. I haven’t gone hiking with Elizabeth in forever.”
Elizabeth lifted her spoon to her lips, trying to give herself a moment to respond. The soup was lukewarm now and went down uneasily.
“Listen,” Sheri added conspiratorially to Elizabeth and Amelia, her voice a bare whisper, “I don’t see any more of Kintail’s men here. I mean, outside the restaurant. If we hurry up and eat, I can help you get out of here before my brother and ex-boyfriend get their meals. Believe me, they won’t leave without them.” Sheri pulled out money and set it on the table, like it was already a done deal. “Are you ready?”