A noise came from within him. Almost a feral whine. For the first time in thirteen years, he and his wolf were in agreement on something. The wolf, too, hungered to be back with their pack. It was essential that he help his brothers in need. But he also knew they had a bigger priority. Probably the only thing that would make him refuse such a request.
"I'm sorry, Colin," Dillon said in a quiet voice. "I can't come back right now. I have to go somewhere else first."
"What?” Colin practically growled. “What could possibly be more important than this? Where are you going? I know you've been gone a long time, man, but c'mon. You're still a part of this pack."
Dillon didn't bother to tell him that that wasn't exactly true. "Listen, I want to help, but—"
"But what?” Colin asked, concern and frustration filled his voice. “What's your problem?"
Dillon hesitated, unsure of how much to tell his friend. Finally, he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I've found my true mate. I'm on my way to Colorado."
Colin was silent for several breaths. "Colorado? How the heck did you find your mate in Colorado? I thought you were in Texas."
Dillon shook his head and stared out the pay phone window "It's a long story, Colin." He knew his old friend could probably hear the defeat in his voice.
"One it sounds like you are in no mood to tell."
"It’s not pretty, so no, not right now." He didn’t know if he ever wanted to tell it considering how he’d been living the past few years went completely against the ways of their kind.
"Well, I guess congratulations are in order, though I’m really not sure considering the sound of your voice. But I can certainly understand why you don't want to help."
"No, it's not that I don't want to help. Not at all,” Dillon assured him. “As soon as this business is finished, I'll be there. Hopefully with my mate in tow."
A few seconds of silence ticked before Colin finally spoke. "Fair enough. Good luck. You know I got your back if you need me." Click. The line went silent.
Chapter
Six
“It amazes me that supernaturals think that being a human is so simple. They think we can’t possibly understand what it’s like to experience emotions as strongly as they do. I often have to remind them that they didn’t coin love and all that goes with it. Choosing to love is universal for humans and supernaturals alike.” ~Lisa Owens
Tanya tried not to react as she stared at the elderly woman who stood in the doorway. Her friend, Lisa, lived in a house located on the Missouri pack compound. Tanya thought back to when she’d last seen Lisa and realized it had only been a little over one year since they’d seen one another, but Lisa looked as if she’d aged a decade. The woman who’d been so full of life when Tanya had last seen her now appeared fragile and withered, like a piece of paper that had gotten wet and then dried, leaving it wrinkled and delicate, easily torn.
“Stop looking at me like that,” Lisa said, her tone sharp as a whip. “I can still spank you if I need to.”
Tanya’s lips turned up slightly, even as her heart broke at the reminder that her friend’s life was shorter than her own. One day, Tanya would have to say goodbye, watch Lisa be shoved into a casket, and then lowered into the ground, covered with dirt in her eternal resting place. Damn, my thoughts are morbid. She walked toward the woman who held her arms open, always ready for a hug. Normally, Tanya would have run to her, but she was sure if she did that, she would knock Lisa over and break several of her bones. “Be gentle,” she told her wolf, even though she didn’t need to. Her wolf adored the human woman as much as Tanya did.
Lisa’s arms wrapped around Tanya, and her familiar scent enveloped her. She breathed deeply as the comfort and peace that Lisa wore like a well-worn piece of clothing flowed over her. “Oh, how I’ve missed you, crazy girl.” Lisa gave her a weak squeeze before letting her go. She grabbed Tanya by the shoulders and pushed her back a bit, running her eyes up and down her. “You’re more beautiful every time I see you.”
Tanya rolled her eyes. “You have to say that. You love me.”
Lisa scoffed. “I’m perfectly capable of loving ugly people. Though I will admit that it can be harder if they’re jackasses. Loving ugly jackasses is harder than loving pretty jackasses.”
Tanya laughed. “And why would that be?”
“Because at least pretty jackasses are nice to look at.” Lisa motioned for Tanya to follow her as she walked toward the front door of her home.
Tanya glanced back at the van where the three males still sat. She gave them a wave. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“How long are we staying, T?” Daniel asked, no doubt reporting back to her father.
“I don’t know.” Until Dillon forgets about me, or I forget about him, she amended in her head. But the answer she gave the beta was the truth. She had no idea how long she would need to be somewhere where Dillon wouldn’t find her. Maybe forever. She turned back and left them, closing the door behind her.
The scent of cinnamon and vanilla filled the air, and she nearly squealed. “You made me cookies?”
“No. I made them for the squirrels. They have particular tastes and will no longer eat nuts.”
“Smartass,” Tanya muttered as she followed Lisa’s voice into the kitchen, where at least two dozen cinnamon vanilla cookies were stacked on a large platter. “How did you know I would need comfort food?”
