She’s putting on an act—and a damn good one. I’ve had double agent training, and I almost fell for it.
When I watch her tilt her head back in laughter, the sunlight cascading over her golden hair like a river of gold, I allow myself a little slack.
She’s so beautiful, I’m severely handicapped in my ability to read her. I want this laughter to be real…
Every moment that passes deepens my suspicion that something is severely wrong in this town. I follow Sara’s lead, laughing and joking to put Jackson at ease, but feeling the whole time as if I’ve already begun fighting a war.
Chapter 10 - Sara
Spending the day out with Shawn has been pure agony. I had to watch myself the whole time, careful to always look like the loving, devoted wife.
As we walk back to Talon’s house—our house—I drop his hand and put a bit of space between us. I’m aware that someone might still be watching, but surely I’m not expected to be glued to him the entire time?
Being close to him, touching him, is stirring feelings in me I’d rather not think about. I’ve never really been attracted to anyone before, and I sure as hell don’t want my first experience to be with a power-hungry guy from a rival pack.
Shawn’s behavior today certainly didn’t help my resolve. He was so nice to everyone, asking all the right questions, as if he really, genuinely wants to help.
It could all be an act. It probably is. Father looks like a nice guy in public, too.
When we reach the house, Shawn steps back to let me go up the stairs first. He’s always such a gentleman, but it just leaves me feeling suspicious.
How long until the act runs out and he starts being a jerk to me?
I follow him into the kitchen, and when he turns and smiles at me, a genuine smile spreads across my own face. My heart leaps, just a little, and I know that this must be what it feels like to have a crush.
And from what I’ve read, they usually don’t work out too well.
“Did you want to sit down for a while and have a drink?” he asks. “I could make brandy sours.”
“Okay,” I answer, sitting down at the table. My emotions are a raging storm of confusion, but I do want to talk to him, and a drink sounds like an excellent idea.
“So…Shawn,” I begin, talking to his back as he pours the drinks. “You asked a lot of questions today.”
“Hmm? Yeah, of course I did. I want to know how the pack was run before, and how it got like this.”
I can feel a hot, sharp spike of anger rising in me, and it’s my deep, instinctual urge to protect Talon.
“It wasn’t Talon’s fault,” I say, a hard edge to my voice.
Shawn brings the drinks over, and his pale green eyes are wide and soft.
It must be hard to fake compassion like that.
“This is exactly what I need to find out,” he says, sitting down. “From all I hear, Talon was a great guy, but half the people in this town are close to starving. Meanwhile, some of the others have clothes and items that definitely weren’t made here on site.”
“Father says he has lots of things in his old shed,” I reply. “He and his father stocked up over the years, and that’s why he has new things sometimes.”
Shawn tilts his head a little, and I get the feeling he doesn’t believe a word of it.
Wait…why did I ever believe it?
“So, your father has access to nicer things than everyone else?”
“No,” I begin, my mind slowly going back over Father’s house and land. “I mean, the house looks like it’s falling down, and we don’t have nice furniture…but come to think of it, we did always have decent food, shoes, tools…”
“And your father shares these gifts with his special friends?” Shawn asks, his face dark.
“Yes,” I answer, feeling an uncomfortable bubble of uncertainty rising in my guts.
