“Tak, this is my sister. Hope, meet Tak. He’s leaving.”
Tak turned to Lakota. “You didn’t tell me you had a sister. In fact, you didn’t tell me a lot of things.”
Lakota stood up and glared down at him. “That’s something we’re going to have to discuss another time. We really have to leave. It’s a long drive, and people are expecting us.”
“You two have a good trip,” I said, darting toward the hall to get as far away from the stranger as possible before he decided to tell Lakota about what had happened earlier. “Unless there’s something important you want to talk to me about, I’m going to bed.”
“You’re leaving her here alone?” I heard Tak ask as I walked briskly down the hall.
Lakota jogged up behind me and captured my arm. “I wanted to talk to you before we left.”
I turned to give him my attention.
“I know we spoke about this before, but I’m asking you to close up the shop before dark. Just for the week.”
“Lakota, that’s a lot of business we’ll lose. Mel’s already given you the figures of how much we make from people who shop after work. Plus tomorrow is Saturday, and that’s our biggest sales day of the week.”
“It’s not safe for you to be out at night alone. Everyone’s heading up to Cognito with us.”
He had a point. Melody’s parents and brothers were driving up separately, and my family was heading out at first light. Mating ceremonies weren’t required among Shifters. Most just made it official by going to the local Council and signing paperwork. But it was a show of respect for both sides to celebrate afterward with a dinner or peace party. Because of the unique circumstances of Mel and Lakota’s secret ceremony, they felt it was in everyone’s best interest to bring all the families together so no one had any bad feelings about the union. Since our store was new, we couldn’t afford to shut it down for a week. So I’d volunteered to stay behind. I already knew his adoptive parents; I’d visited them many times when we were younger.
Worry flickered in Lakota’s eyes, so I decided to put his mind at ease. “If it makes you happy, I’ll close the shop at eight.”
“Seven.”
“No, we have daylight until eight.”
“By the time you finish cleaning and locking up, it’ll be dark.”
“There will still be plenty of people out shopping, and we live so close. I’ll park my car right in front of the door so I won’t have to walk far. Don’t worry, brother. Not all villains come out with the moon. Some walk in the daylight with the rest of us.”
He propped his arm against the wall and glowered. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
“I could always stay with Father’s pack.”
“Hell no,” he fired back. “Look, I know you grew up with them, but you and I both know that’s not an option. There are still a lot of single wolves in the Church pack who would like nothing more than to mount my sister.”
“You’re disgusting. Nobody is going to mount me.”
“I’m serious,” he continued. “You’re a prize to them. I know how young wolves are, and a few in this town bed every Packmaster’s daughter as a competitive sport. I don’t want you sleeping there. End of discussion.”
“Who is that man?” I whispered, peering around him. I couldn’t see the guest from the hall, but I wanted to make sure he wasn’t listening.
“Tak’s an old acquaintance.”
“Friend?”
Lakota lowered his arm and scratched his forehead with his purple hand. “I’m not sure. It doesn’t matter anyhow. He’s leaving.”
“Good. He frightens me.”
Lakota smirked. “He frightens a lot of women. So we’re good on you closing the shop at seven?”
“Eight.”
He shook his head. “I’ll call you when we get there. And by the way, there’s a small canister of mace on the kitchen island. Put it on your keychain.”
I wanted to laugh, but Lakota was just being a big brother. “Have a safe drive.”
