I crossed my arms, glad we were close to the window to hear her plotting. With Winifred’s gaze on us, I carefully kept my anger from my expression.
“What do you mean?” Mary asked.
“Ask him to do something for you that your men normally wouldn’t do.”
“What does that even mean?” Gregory said, speaking softly. “What wouldn’t we do for our females?”
Grey and I remained quiet and focused on the females’ conversation.
“What would you ask for?” Mary asked after several minutes of silence.
“You’ve slept in my bed. Which do you like better, floor or bed?”
“Bed,” Mary said with a laugh.
We all heard her stand and start to cross the room. Gregory glanced at me with a frown before he moved toward the door. He looked at Winifred for permission, and she nodded.
When the door opened, he went inside.
Henry started crossing the yard, his suspicious gazed focused on me and Grey. We stayed where we were, near the window so we could hear.
“Hi, Gregory,” Mary said softly from inside the building.
“You want a bed,” Gregory said, his annoyance in his words.
“Yep. I do. Charlene’s bed is clean and comfortable, but too small for the two of us. I won’t take hers. She needs it more than I do. But it sure is nice.”
Mary’s father stopped before us.
“What are you two doing?”
“Listening to your daughter ask Gregory for a bed,” I said.
The older man frowned and tilted his head in time to hear Gregory agree.
“A bed?” he said, obviously just as puzzled as to why his daughter would want a human inconvenience.
The door opened and Gregory strode out. He motioned for me, and we moved further away from the door and the fighting. Mary’s father followed us.
“Any idea why she suggested it?” Gregory asked.
I shook my head slowly.
“It’s her ma. Filled her head with crazy ideas about living in houses like the humans,” Henry said.
“Not Mary,” I said. “Charlene. She’s the one who encouraged Mary to ask for it.” I glanced at Grey. “I don’t like it. By sending us out to steal another bed, she’s stirring up trouble with the local humans.”
“Winifred sent some of the men to the junkyard for things,” Henry said. “We could get a bed from there and avoid trouble.”
“Good. Mary should go too.” When her father frowned, I added, “It’s her bed. She should choose it so there’s no reason to send us out again for something else.”
He nodded. “Paul and I will go with.”
I turned toward Winifred and spoke so the males in the clearing would hear me.
“Gregory is taking Mary to get a bed from the junkyard. While they are gone, I’d like to spend time with the human.” Growls erupted.
Winifred studied me for a moment.
“Are you asking to spend time with her to gain her favor?” she asked.
“No.” The males around me settled down, sensing the truth.
“You may speak to her, but you may not touch her while you are in there.”
Her words settled into my mind, wrapping around my will. I pulled back my lip in a silent snarl at the unnecessary show of power. Damn Elders. I wouldn’t have touched the human even if Winifred hadn’t forced the rule on me. Did she think I had so little control?
With one last angry look at her, I turned away and strode to the door. I almost opened it just to annoy Winifred but knocked on the surface at the last moment. If I startled the human, she wouldn’t want to spend time with me.
Mary pulled the door open a moment later, and I stepped inside.
“Your father and Gregory are waiting for you outside,” I said, my gaze already sweeping the room.
The human sat at the table, a plate of food before her. She’d been picking at the piece of fowl on her plate; but when I’d walked in, she had glanced up and now stared at me. Her frozen gaze pierced me with the mix of emotions I saw there. Shy. Wary. Interested. All in a single look. I wanted to walk to her and see what else her scent might reveal. Did she feel the pull as strongly as I did? Did she like looking at me as much as I liked looking at her? Was her hair as soft as it looked?
“Waiting? For what?” Mary asked, still standing before me, reminding me of why I’d come.
“You said you wanted a bed. Gregory’s not foolish enough to pick one without you along. He knows how this game is played.”
The human flushed lightly in her guilt, confirming my suspicion.
“Game?” she said, finally acknowledging me.
“She won’t like the one he brings back, right?” I said.
She shook her head slowly then went back to picking at her meal. She needed to eat her food, not play with it. I pulled back my lip and fought back my surge of concern for her.
“Charlene? Do you mind if I go?” Mary asked.
“Why are you asking her? Is she your leader?” I couldn’t help the anger in my words. The hold this human had over Gregory’s Mate was already too strong. Gregory shouldn’t have agreed to wait; he should have Claimed his Mate as soon as he laid eyes on her.
Mary looked at me with disbelief.
“I’m asking because Wini wanted to be sure she’s okay staying here alone.”
“She won’t be alone. I’ll stay with her.”
Mary glanced at the human.
“I’ll be fine,” the girl said. “Thanks for your concern, Mary. And have fun.”
Mary looked at the human, gave me a warning stare like a mama bear protecting her cub, then walked out the door. I would need to talk to Gregory about trying to separate the two. Nothing good would come from Mary’s growing protectiveness.
Alone with the girl, I slowly approached as she went back to eating her meal. She wasn’t as small as Mary, like I’d first thought. Taller, but leaner, the top of her pale head would probably come up to my chin. I stood behind her and stared down at her long strands of hair. Firelight flickered, casting rich golden hues that held me entranced. The need to reach out and touch it almost overwhelmed me, and I silently thanked Winifred for her rule.
What kind of hold did this human have on me? If it was even half as intense for the rest, we would kill each other for just a look from her.
She needed to leave.
She needed to look at me.
“I’m Thomas,” I said.
She didn’t turn as she said a quiet hello. Instead, she took a bite of potato and slowly chewed.
Inhaling, I scented her annoyance and resolve. Neither emotion made sense. I stared at the back of her head for another moment before walking around the table and sitting across from her.
She kept her gaze on her food, but didn’t try to hide her face. I saw the sleep lines on her cheeks and the exhausted circles under her eyes. She’d told the truth about being tired then; her retreat earlier hadn’t been to escape me.
When she reached for her drink, I saw the healing bites on her neck. The scabs were thick and well attached yet. She still had a long way to go before she healed completely.
The graceful way she moved almost hid just how much the wounds still hurt her. My fists clenched under the table as I realized her slow, small bites weren’t just a tactic to delay looking at me. The extent and depth of her wounds were making it difficult for her to swallow. I wanted to find the two who’d done that to her and rip out their throats.
The intensity of the emotions I fought brought a fine sheen of sweat to my brow, and I hoped she wouldn’t notice when she looked up. I needed to focus. I was with her for a reason.
Who was she really? Why was she here?
As she finished chewing, I noted the boniness of her wrists and almost stopped her when she stood to throw the remains into the flames. She needed more nourishment. I scowled and pushed that thought away. It was too easy to lose focus as I studied her. The way she moved…the way she looked…the way she smelled. It all distracted me.
She went to the sink and washed the plate, completely ignoring that I was still in the room. Of the two of us, I had more right to feel annoyed. She was in my territory and totally indifferent to my presence while she cleaned her hands and face and set the plate aside to dry.
Sensing she was getting ready to retreat once more, I stood.
“Winifred said you’ve made some changes. Show me.”
She turned and studied me. The careful sweep of her light blue gaze tugged at my gut. The pull deepened to an obsessive draw. If she tried to deny me, I would follow her regardless.
After a moment, wary suspicion gave way to reluctant acceptance.
“Of course,” she said, moving away from the pump.
She took the lantern from the table and led the way from the main room. I trailed behind her, inhaling deeply. She didn’t go far before she pushed open a door and stepped aside so I could see in. I stepped close, pretending to look at the room.
Instead of studying the space, I studied her as she told me about replacing windows and something else. I really didn’t care about any of it. I only cared about her reasons for doing the things she did. However, her scent distracted me. My canines grew longer, and I itched to lean closer and breath her in. Only Winifred’s command kept me from burying my face in her hair.
She stopped talking and looked up at me. Her pulse gave the tiniest increase as our gazes held. Another hint that the pull I felt was mutual. My pulse quickened in response.
A human Mate. She was too fragile. She knew it, too. Why else would she board up windows instead of enjoying the fresh air? The human stink had just barely left the place, and now she wanted to bring it back. Only, she didn’t stink.
“Which rooms have the whole windows?” I asked. I didn’t care. I just wanted to keep following her scent.
Her gaze shifted over my face as if trying to decide my sincerity.
“The main room and several on the second floor. It will be easier to board up windows on the main floor.”
“Show me.”
She hesitated, and a hint of concern soured her scent as her gaze fell to the floor. Her hand lifted to her throat, and her fingers brushed her collarbone, just inches from the wounds.
She was afraid. Of me. Of being bitten again. I wanted to bite her. I wanted to sink my teeth in her skin and make her mine. And I hated myself for it.
“Have you lost your way already?” I asked, provoking her.
The fear evaporated as her hand fell to her side. With a slight glare in my direction, she turned and walked away. As I followed, she motioned to other rooms she’d finished. I didn’t look away from her. The gentle way she moved mesmerized me. She led me up the nearest set of stairs and pointed to a few closed doors with an explanation that those rooms hadn’t been touched yet.
Then she stopped before a door that emanated her scent. I looked down at her, knowing we’d finally arrived at her room.
“Does your room have a repaired window?”
“Yes.”
She didn’t move to open the door, though. And, I wouldn’t leave without seeing what kind of den she’d created for herself and Mary.
“Show me.”