“A tiger. He hired a tiger shifter as a Death Hunter?” Raven asked.
Caz sighed. “What are you? A shifter bigot?”
Raven raised one eyebrow, looking straight at Caz. “No, I’m not a bigot. We have never had any other shifter except bears.” As far as she knew. “That’s all I’m saying.” She turned and stared at her brother. “You could have told me. Why is everyone keeping important details from me now?”
“I would have introduced myself, but you were so offended about me being a tiger shifter in your club that I decided not to,” Caz said, smiling.
Throwing her hands in the air, Raven sighed heavily and walked off. Mumbling under her breath, “It’s not a club, you beast. I’m not a bigot either.”
Raven could hear her brother and the tiger laughing as she walked away. Why was this hurting her feelings? Nobody even told her they were adding a new hunter. Yes, she knew about the Miltons, but he didn’t say that Caz was going to be a hunter. It seemed nobody was telling her anything anymore. The alpha had plenty of chances too.
She glanced back at the new hunter as she got into her truck. “Why, why did they have to hire him?” She could smell his scent. It was all over her since he’d had his big arms touching her.
And what was that smell? Raven leaned over and inhaled her shirt. “Peaches?” Who smelled like peaches? She took another look before she backed up. Not only was he good looking, exceptionally built like a Mack truck, but he smelled like peaches. Her favorite fruit.
Driving through the gate, she waved as Reed and Greer McDaniel were at the gate talking to Dave Regan, another hunter. Everyone seemed to be changing since they got mates. Why? What was so great about having another person at your beck and call? Never in a million years would she ever want a mate.
Raven loved this time of year. Spring was her favorite. She loved all the new leaves on the trees and the flowers. Cosmo had planted a ton of flowers since they returned last night, and it was breathtaking. He knew she loved impatiens and planted them in the pots surrounding the pack house.
Now, she had to try to be friendly. Make friends and buy girly stuff. She did like her new jeans, except for the tear in the side of them. She was going to spend every bit of this money too. But not on what they wanted. She was going to buy what she wanted. Take that, Alpha.
Pulling up at Southern Treasures, she noticed that Cosmo had been ramping up the store front with all the flowers. Cosmo went overboard, but she had to admit it was pretty. She also noticed the new store at the end. “To Your Health,” she whispered.
Getting out of her truck, she stared at the window of the new store. She couldn’t help but walk up and stare inside. It looked like a movie set. “Starry night,” she whispered.
“You’re the only person who has ever described it like that.” Raven just about jumped out of her skin as the woman stood beside her.
The woman backed up. “I’m sorry. I thought you saw me walk up in the reflection of the window.”
Raven couldn’t believe the woman got the best of her. Nobody could do that. Then she took a whiff of her. “Tiger.”
“Raven, my dear. How are you?” Calum O’Keefe walked up and put his arm around the female.
“Calum.”
“I would like for you to meet my mate. This is Riley Milton. Well, it’s O’Keefe now. This is her and her brother Caz’s store,” Calum said. “Oh, I’m sure you know that already, since Caz is a new Death Hunter.”
Raven just smiled but she was burning inside. Apparently, everyone knew including New Hope’s newest resident, Calum O’Keefe. “Nice to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you too. Your alpha brags on you, so I’m happy to finally get to meet you, Raven.” Riley stuck her hand out.
Raven didn’t know if she heard her right. “My alpha? Lennox Bartley bragged on me?”
“Oh yes. He said you were the best tracker he’d ever had. When I heard you were a female…well, it made me want to meet you even more. It’s not often that you see a female hunter. So, thank you for your service.” Riley was still holding her hand out.
Standing with her mouth open made Calum smile. “Is it so hard to hear that your alpha boasts about you? Because even your male counterparts know it to be true. Dave and Angelo were in here yesterday saying how good of a tracker you were. You should be very proud of yourself. I know we are.” Calum nodded toward Riley’s hand.
“Oh, sorry.” Raven shook Riley’s hand, and for the first time, she actually felt good about herself.
“Would you like to come in and look around?” Riley asked.
“Sure. Your window is awesome. I like it,” Raven said, going inside. Looking around, she was amazed. The ceiling had stars and tiny lights hung all around. Leaning in closer, she put her hand to the wall. The paint had flakes of something shiny in it. Maybe glitter. But whatever it was sure drew her in.
“Quinn picked out the color. You like it?” Riley asked.
“Very much,” Raven said, taking in a deep breath. “Peaches,” she whispered.
Picking up a candle, Riley handed it to her. “You smell my newest candle. The scent is fresh peaches. My brother made this. He won’t tell me what he used, but it does smell like you were walking in a peach orchard. He’s got to make more because I’m almost out. This is a gift.”
Raven stared at the candle. “Let me pay you for it.”
“Nope. Today is Friendship Day or at least that’s what it said on social media and I don’t have many friends here, so maybe we can be,” Riley said, smiling.
This woman was so sweet, and she could tell she really meant it. “Thanks.” Raven looked down at the candle. Jade gave her one of her bracelets and said she wanted to be her friend, but...well, no but, she was being a total bitch to her.
“Speak of the devil,” Riley said. Raven smelled him before she even saw the tiger. The scent of peaches permeated the air and it wasn’t the candle either. “What brings you to town?”
When she glanced at the tiger, he was staring straight at her. But he wasn’t smiling, his nostrils flared at her like she had stolen something from him. “Uh, Caz…” Riley came around the counter and stood next to her. Apparently, she noticed the glaring smirk he was giving her. “You do know Raven, right?”
“Oh yeah, just met this sweet and personable lady today,” Caz said.
Calum laughed, bringing Raven’s glare to him. “This is going to be great. I’ve been waiting for you to meet a woman who doesn’t fall for your charms.”
Raven swallowed hard and put the candle on the counter and marched out. She sure didn’t like to be laughed at and she wasn’t going to start a fight with a vampire who could probably take her out if he wanted. She didn’t need friends. She sure didn’t want to be friends with the butthead tiger.
Blowing out a shaky breath, Raven pulled open the door to Southern Treasures and bumped straight into Jade, her alpha’s mate. Jade Cross Bartley carried the same rank as Lennox, but Raven gave Jade hell every time she saw her. She didn’t know why she didn’t want to get close to the woman. They wouldn’t like her if they actually got to know her. She hadn’t met a girl yet that wanted to be friends with her after they really got to know her.