“Exactly.”
Now, what could that possibly mean? Samantha thought about what she had said and realized the wolf still held her hand firmly in his.
“You…you want me to cause trouble?” What kind of a trap was this?
“No. I want you to stay.”
Samantha tipped her head to the side and looked at him. She couldn’t figure him out. Why would he want her to stay? No one had ever wanted her to stay. Not even her own skulk had wanted her. Her parents died soon after she was born, and she’d been the responsibility of the skulk from then on, a responsibility they neither wanted nor took particularly well. She’d never felt the warmth of love and friendship. After she turned twenty-one, they’d asked her to leave. That was four years and eight states ago.
As much as she tried, she’d never found anywhere she belonged. She took odd jobs here and there, waiting tables, bartending, serving coffee, but as soon as she made enough money to last a couple of months, she’d take off for a new state and a new adventure. It had always been difficult for her to make friends, and therefore she never had attachments to keep her in one place. No one cared what happened to her. She was on her own. Always had been and probably always would be.
“I’m sorry, I don’t think I understand.”
“Honey, he wants you to stay here and become one of the pack.” Wolf number two grinned.
She looked quickly at the doctor at the mention of pack, but he continued with his exam without blinking at the odd phrase.
“Um…why?” No one answered, but the wolf leaning against the table continued to smile at her. He was handsome in a “devil may care” way. His hair was light brown with streaks of blond, and his posture shouted “carefree.” His curly hair, which fell around his head in a tangled heap, only enhanced the boyish charm in his face.
“What are you exactly?” The one named Jason interrupted her thoughts. Again she looked cautiously at the doctor. “Don’t worry about him,” the wolf said. “He knows all about us. You won’t find many in this town who don’t. Secret societies rarely stay secret forever.” Jason continued to stare.
He was handsome in a completely different way than the other wolf. His hair was a dark brown but with a slightly reddish hue. It was shorter than the other wolf’s with a gentle wave curling around his ears. The strangest urge to run her hands through the locks assailed her. His features were similar enough to the carefree wolf that she could tell they were related, but while his gaze seemed charming, this one’s was sharp and appraising. Of the two, this was the one to watch out for.
Her stomach fluttered as she looked at him. In fear? She didn’t feel afraid anymore, but the fluttering in her stomach hadn’t gone away. His green eyes were piercing, and Samantha could do nothing but stare back.
“Well?” he finally asked.
“Huh?”
“What kind of breed are you?”
“Oh. I’m a fox.”
“Aren’t foxes supposed to be red or something?” wolf number two asked, looking at her hair.
“I’m an arctic fox. I was born in Alaska. My coat is white when I shift, and I’m smaller than red foxes.”
“What’s an arctic fox doing all the way down here in Colorado? And where’s the rest of your…what are fox packs called?” Jason asked.
“Skulks. And I don’t have one. It’s just me.” Both wolves started staring at her again. This ogling thing was beginning to make her nervous. “Did I say something?”
“What happened to your skulk?” Jason asked.
“As far as I know, they’re still up in Alaska.”
* * * *
Jason closed his eyes. At least she wasn’t cowering any longer. Getting information was like pulling teeth, though. He couldn’t care less where her pack was. He wanted to know why she wasn’t with them and why they let her travel on her own. She should be home, wrapped up safe and warm, not wandering around the country by herself.
Everything about her compelled him to learn more. And her scent was slowly driving him up a wall. It smelled earthy yet crisp and clean, reminding him simultaneously of a warm fire and a crisp snowfall. He was going to have to taste her, sooner rather than later hopefully.
“Is there a particular reason you’re down here when your skulk is up there without you?” he finally managed to get out.
“They’re not my skulk anymore. They never really were.”
Jason’s wolf raised its head at the calm acceptance in her voice. She didn’t seem upset by the proclamation, but Jason wouldn’t be the same without his pack. They looked out for him as much as he did for them. He couldn’t imagine a life without them, especially for a shifter who wouldn’t be able to open up around people unaware of what he was.
“Is that why you look like you haven’t eaten in days?” he asked her. “How long have you been on your own?”
“I’ve been on my own for four years. And I eat just fine, thank you very much.” She sniffed defensively. Her answer surprised him. Four years? Jason couldn’t believe she’d been on her own for such a long time.
“You have no family or friends or skulk?”
“I do fine on my own,” she repeated.
“Yeah, I can see it’s really working out for you,” Jason murmured, running his hand down her cheek. She reared back and looked at him probingly.
“You’re scaring her, Jason. Ease up a bit.”
* * * *
The second wolf practically shoved Jason out of the way and took his place next to Samantha. “My name is Ethan, Ethan Callahan. This idiot here is my brother, Jason.” He dropped his voice to a stage whisper. “He likes to act tough and scary ’cause he thinks it makes him a better alpha, but he’s actually soft and mushy inside.” Jason growled behind him. Samantha glanced back, wide-eyed, but Ethan ignored it and continued talking. “And this is Doc Pritchard. He might not be wolf, but he’s pack.”
The doctor kissed her knuckles. “Eddie. And welcome. You’ve got a nasty cold but nothing a little hot tea and a couple days’ rest won’t cure. Why don’t you come see me if it gets any worse, okay?”
“Oh, I don’t plan to be here long. But thank you for everything. I, um, how much do I owe you?” Samantha mentally calculated the money she had left in her bank account. Hopefully it would be enough to cover the bill and get her to the next town. She’d have to find a job soon.
“On the house.” Eddie pulled on his coat and zipped it up. “I’m sure I’ll see you around town.”
She looked on, bemused, as he left. Hadn’t she just told him she wasn’t going to stick around? What a strange group this was.
The waitress came over with the omelet she’d ordered. “Hi, honey. I’m Martha. Why don’t you come back over here and finish your breakfast? I’ll get you a fresh cup of tea.”
“Thank you,” Samantha mumbled, swinging down from the tables and into the booth. Already the people in this town had shown her more courtesy than anyone else ever had. Most people didn’t bother being nice to the little nobody with no home.
She was so consumed with digging into her omelet, it took her a moment to realize Jason was sitting in the other side of the booth. As she watched, Ethan squeezed in next to his brother. The two barely fit together on the same side. Jason glared at Ethan.
“Don’t you have somewhere to be, little brother?”