My heart sinks, and I bite back the anger that creeps up my chest. Clenching my teeth, I keep my face blank. “And what exactly are you having me do this time? Muck out horse stalls?”
It just so happens that I had a horse when I was younger. Pippa was her name. I cleaned out her stall every day and fed her. I’m not above taking care of those I love, and I adored her with every fiber of my being. Sadly, horses don’t live as long as shifters do.
“There you go again, thinking the worst,” Chase retorts.
I huff. “It’s a habit.”
His lips pull back. “Maybe one day you’ll break it. But no, no cleaning out horse stalls. I have someone who wants to meet you officially.”
My stomach jitters, and I bite my lip. “Who?”
He beams. “My mother.”
Mouth gaping, I have no words. All I can do is stare at him.
“She wants to spend time with you,” he adds.
“Why?” I ask, hating how unsure my voice sounds.
His shoulders bob. “She requested it.”
“Is she not afraid of me?” Of course, most female wolves are, but then again, I’m not strong without my wolf abilities.
Chase’s smile falters. “Should she be?”
I hold up my hands. “No. I would never hurt your mother.”
He nods once. “Good. If everything goes okay, we can talk about the next step.”
Confusion takes hold of me. “Next step? To what?”
“I don’t know. I have to see how things go tomorrow.” He slides his chair back and picks up his plate.
I don’t like not knowing what his plans are for me. What the hell am I going to be doing with his mother? Is it a test?
Looking down at the magical bracelet on my wrist, the weight on my chest grows. Evangeline said she’d come to me soon, but when? Things with Chase aren’t as tense as they were, but I don’t belong here. His pack hates me, and the feeling is mutual.
I need to disappear.
10
CHASE
I could see the panic in Kara’s eyes last night when I told her she’d be spending the day with my mother. A part of me figured she’d try to run last night, but she didn’t. Even though our dinnertime felt like a step forward, I’m still skeptical. I’m not a fool to think she’s going to keep staying here willingly. One way or another, she’s going to try to escape; it’s in her blood to be in control. The bracelet is the only thing keeping her here. I believe her when she says she wants to get as far away from the Royal pack as she can. I’m not going to lie; the words stung, especially since I know she undoubtedly groups me in with them.
Kara is still in her bedroom moving around, so I take a quick shower and get dressed. Once in the kitchen, I make a pot of coffee and grab one of the apple cinnamon muffins Raina left for me. Footsteps bound down the stairs, and a few seconds later, Kara meanders in, dressed in a pair of jeans and a thin, cream-colored sweater with her bright blonde hair in soft waves down her back. She’s beautiful, almost ethereal. I’ve never seen her look like that before.
However, the stone wall surrounding her is partially back. I’m sure the wine last night helped loosen her up, but today, she’s guarded again. She sidles over and looks at the coffee, so I reach into the cabinet to grab her a cup.
“Thanks,” she says, taking it from me.
“And snag a muffin, too. You might want to before I eat them all.” That earns a small smile, and she takes one, leaving the last three on the plate.
Kara leans against the counter and takes a bite of her muffin. “These are really delicious. Usually, strawberry muffins are my favorite, but I think the apple cinnamon ones beat those.”
I take a bite of my muffin and smile. “I think Raina’s trying to send me a message.”
Kara’s brows furrow. “What do you mean?”
I finish off the muffin. “Every week, she bakes me a different flavor. She’s mentioned several times that having a bakery counter at the bistro could help expand our market.”
Eating another mouthful of the muffin, Kara nods. “She’s right. It could. With how well you’re doing right now, the bakery would only add to the appeal. I don’t see where you could go wrong.”
“Would you do it?” I ask.
She finishes off the muffin and meets my gaze. “I would. Channon Vineyards is my life. I’m always looking for ways to make it better. Trying new things is a risk, but you’re lucky enough to have a whole pack behind you. Sadly, I don’t have that luxury.”
She could if she wanted it, but I don’t think she’s ready to hear that. “All right,” I say, “I’ll talk to Raina while you’re gone today.” I’ve known a bakery would only bring in more business, but I haven’t had the chance to talk to Raina about it yet. However, I was curious to see what Kara would say.
Kara drinks the rest of her coffee and puts the cup in the dishwasher. I don’t know why but the gesture makes me smile. I can feel her walls slip now and again, which makes me believe I can take them down for good. Unfortunately, I don’t know how to do that. The bigger question is, why do I even want to take them down? I have no fucking clue. It’s just an urge inside of me I can’t shake.
Kara excuses herself to the door and glances at me over her shoulder. “Let me run upstairs for a quick second, and then I’ll be ready to go.”
I nod. “Sounds good.”
She disappears out the door, and my breath rushes out. I want to get closer to her; it’s like a magnet pulling me in her direction. Fighting it gets harder and harder each day.
A few minutes later, Kara barrels down the stairs, and I walk over to the front door to wait on her. The second we get outside, she shivers and mumbles the words, “Holy shit, it’s cold,” under her breath.
To a human, the weather is a little chilly, probably around fifty degrees. Sometimes I forget she’s been stripped of everything. “Do you need me to get you a jacket?”
Kara wraps her arms around her stomach and huffs. “Nope. I got this.”
Hard-headed as always. No shock there. “Okay,” I say, flourishing a hand toward my car, “let’s go.”
She gets in, and I turn on the heat as we head toward my parents’ house. A few minutes later, her teeth stop chattering. Feeling the cold is something I’ve never experienced. It must be strange being in her position, especially since she’s a royal and one of the strongest in the shifter world.
We’ve been on the road for a few minutes, and I can already smell the salty sea air. Kara glances out the window with a perplexed expression on her face.
“Everything okay?” I question.
She turns to me. “I’m surprised your parents don’t live in the mountains. We’re moving closer to the ocean. Shifters usually prefer the forest.”
“Usually,” I say, laughing. “But not my parents. They’re both over a hundred and fifty years old and not your typical wolves. My dad spends most of his time fishing, and my mother likes to help at the vineyard when she’s not out taking care of others.”
Kara studies me, narrowing her eyes curiously. “Interesting. What do you mean taking care of others?”