“Get packed.” He turns and walks back to his room.
“For what?” I call out after him.
“We’re taking a trip.”
He pushes the door closed behind him, but it doesn’t close all the way. Annoyed, I walk over to his room and shove the door open. “What do you mean a—” I pause midsentence. Hunter stands with his shirt in his hand instead of on his body. For just a moment, my eyes slide over his chest.His very muscular, very tanned chest. I knew wolves were known for their good looks and muscles, but good night!
“Was there a reason you barged into my room other than to stare at me?”
Hunter's low voice knocks some sense back into me. I jerk my eyes to his. “Yes. Where are we going?”
“Does it matter?”
Whatever I thought about him being good-looking moments ago fades quickly, and annoyance takes its place. “Are we packing for a day trip or an overnight trip? If it’s overnight, how long will we be gone? Is it someplace dressy or casual? Is it warm or cold? Is it dangerous?”
“Overnight. Not sure. Casual. Cold. And why does the last question matter for how you pack?”
I have to think back through my questions to understand his answers. “Okay, the last question doesn’t matter for packing. I’m just curious.”
“In that case, it’s not dangerous.” Relief flickers through my chest for just a moment because I realize we’re not going to the vampires. I know at some point we will have to do that, but at least not yet. Hunter’s gaze is on my face, and I get the feeling that he doesn’t miss anything. I whirl around. “Okay. I’m off to pack.”
“Bring the leather jacket,” he says in that low, sexy voice. I almost don’t hear it. I don’t slow my stride and am in my own room seconds later. I close the door and take a deep breath, and will myself not to overthink it. And yet, it’s the leather jacket that I set out first. It doesn’t take me long to pack. I really have no idea where we’re going, but I’m used to being flexible and just going with the flow. I’ve had no say over my life the past seven years, so the fact that I even get to pack to go anywhere is pretty amazing. I carry my bag to the living room a few minutes later. Hunter comes out of his room a little while later. He eyes my bag and then me. “You’re already ready?”
“Yes.”
He seems like he’s going to say more, but then he doesn’t. “Bryce got a call from the alpha of the Northwoods Pack thismorning. He’d like to meet. Bryce decided not to put it off and wants to get there today; that’s why it’s last-minute.”
“Why am I going?” I ask in confusion.
“Their alpha requested you come.”
“Ah. I take it they want to know what I can tell them about the vampires.”
“Yes.”
“Got it. What time do we leave?” I ask.
“Soon.” It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask who’s all going, but it’s none of my business. “I’ve got to go help load the plane. I’ll come get you when we’re ready.”
“I’ll come with and help,” I tell him instead.
He turns to me. “Okay.”
We load our bags in the back seat of his car, and he drives over to the pack house. We head inside, and he starts gathering things from a storage room. I help him load everything onto the plane. Thankfully, there’s a covered walkway between the building and the plane, so I’m not in the sun. Hunter introduces me to the pilot, and Leo shows up shortly after to help. Bryce and Ava get there a little while later. I try to hide my grin when I see Ava, but she notices and scowls. She lets out a massive yawn. “Why does it have to be so early?”
Bryce smiles. “You can sleep on the plane, Love.” After everything is loaded, Bryce closes the door. “Everybody good?”
I look around at the five of us plus the pilot. “Is this everybody?”
“Yes.” Bryce doesn’t give me anything more, and I let it go. It’s none of my business. I guess I figured at least Bryce’s team that does security would come with, but there’s no Alicia or Cody. I’m not complaining about Alicia not being here; that’s for sure.
Bryce and Ava settle in the seats closest to the cockpit, and Leo sits across the aisle from them. Hunter takes the seat behindAva and Bryce, and I make my way over to the seat across the aisle, on the other side of the plane. I settle in the aisle seat, so I’m not by the window and the sun. I’ve only flown one time in my life, and that was a long time ago. I’m nervous when the plane takes off, but it’s smooth.
It doesn’t take long for the hum of the airplane to make me sleepy. My sleepless night is catching up with me. I put my chair back, like I watched Ava do. It doesn’t take long for me to fall asleep. When I wake sometime later, there’s a blanket on me.Again.I glance over at Hunter, but he’s intent on something on his laptop. My ears start popping, and I know we’re descending. When we finally stop, I pull open the shades and note that it’s overcast. That will help me. It takes only a few minutes to grab our stuff, and then I'm following Ava down the steps. A gust of wind hits me, and I shiver.No wonder Hunter told me to pack my jacket.
“Oh, I forgot how cold it always is here,” Ava says with a shiver.
Bryce pulls her close, wrapping an arm around her. I cross my arms over my chest, trying to get warm. I’m not used to the cold either. Bryce leads us towards a waiting black car. The driver’s door opens, and a tall blond guy steps out. I recognize him from the Northwoods Pack, and my mind supplies his name.Liam, the Beta.
