“It could be other customers,” she pointed out, moving faster at Kansas’s urging.
“It could, but I don’t think so. Do you want to come back to the hotel with us?”
Renee hated this hunted sensation. “I want to go to my room at the dorm. Once I’m inside, it should be safe enough.”
Dakota hesitated and shared a glance with his brother as they hustled her along the road. “You know what’s best.”
Dakota and Kansas escorted her to the dorm and went inside with her.
“Let us check your room,” Dakota said. “Please, it will set our minds at rest.”
It’d make her less jumpy too. She watched them check the public rooms and find them empty. The faint sound of music came from a room at the far end of the corridor, but other than that the place was silent.
“This is my room.” She plucked her keys from her right pocket and unlocked the door.
Dakota sniffed while Kansas checked the windows and under the bed.
“Nothing out of the ordinary,” Dakota said.
Bemused, Renee shook her head. “I’ll lock my door once you leave.”
“What about the main door?” Dakota asked.
“It’s always left unlocked. Only the pilots ever come in here. We’ve never had any trouble.”
Kansas scowled. “Anyone could walk inside. All they need is a gun to deal with your door, and they’d be inside.”
“The other pilots will be back soon,” Renee said. “We’re all on early tomorrow, so they won’t stay out late.”
“I don’t think you should stay here alone.” Kansas’s posture signaled his intention to argue the point.
Dakota placed his hand on his twin’s shoulder. “It’s Renee’s right to do as she sees fit. Let’s go so she can get some sleep. Lock the door after us,” he ordered.
She nodded. “Thank you for walking me back.” While she knew nightmares would keep her awake, an instinct bade her to seek the security of her own territory tonight. She thought she’d be safe here, but she’d take extra care each time she walked outdoors. “Goodnight,” she said and shut the door with a firm click before turning the lock.
The handle jiggled, and she rolled her eyes. Honestly, some men.
“Good night, sugar,” a voice rumbled.
She waited a beat longer before hearing the main entrance door close. Only then did she perch on the edge of her bed and let panic roar through her.
What the hell was she going to do now?
7 – An Outing With The Taktuq Brothers
Calian and Matto followed the two men at a distance, hanging back and using their wolf senses to locate their scent trail without difficulty.
“I don’t like this,” Calian murmured.
“How are we going to keep her safe?” Matto asked. “She doesn’t trust us now. Misty must’ve known some of this. Surely?”
“Perhaps Hunter kept quiet because she would’ve been pregnant when it happened. He wouldn’t have wanted to stress Misty,” Calian said.
“True. And after he died, she had enough to worry about.”
“Watch it,” Calian whispered. “They’re heading back this way. We’ll keep walking toward the inn. The meeting with the town officials went well. They’re excited about attracting new business to the town.”
“We should book with a company that takes tourists to see polar bears,” Matto said. “We’d get an idea of the type of person who might stay at our hotel. We should speak with tour management. Learn if they have requests for upmarket accommodation. How many rooms did you tell them we wanted to build?”
