As we reached the front door, Charlie picked up Casey and I changed back to human form to open the door for them. “You can stay here tonight. It’s not much, but it’shome.”
Charlie stared around in awe as he stepped inside. “Are you kidding? Flint, this isbeautiful.”
I shrugged. “I could have made some improvements while building it, but I just wanted to get itdone.”
He turned to me with a shocked expression. “Wait, youbuiltthis?”
I nodded. “I’m a carpenter. It’s what I do. It’s nothingspecial.”
But Charlie shook his head. “It’s amazing. You should be proud of yourwork.”
A strange emotion welled up within me. I turned away so Charlie wouldn’t see me blush in embarrassment. “Anyway, there’s a spare room over here. My friend Jericho - the alpha you met earlier - crashes here sometimes so it might be a mess. I’ll chew him outlater.”
Charlie smiled. “Please don’t worry about it. Anything is better than the place I left. A little mess isnothing.”
I opened the door to the spare room and gestured for them to come inside. There was an old but comfortable double bed in the corner and a lamp on the bedside table. Sure enough, Jericho’s pile of clothes sat on the floor. I growled and picked them up, making a note to dump these off at Jericho’s placelater.
“There we go,” Isaid.
Charlie let out a deep sigh, like he was finally comfortable after a long day. I couldn’t blame him after what he’d been through. All of a sudden his stomach growled loudly and his eyes widened in surprise. “Oh, I’m sorry,” he mumbled, lookingembarrassed.
“Don’t worry. In fact, if you’re not too tired to move, let’s have dinner before you pass out,” Isaid.
“I don’t want to be a burden more than I already am,” he said. He averted his eyes down to Casey, who had fallen asleep back in human form in hislap.
“Nonsense,” I growled. “To take care of your daughter properly, first you have to take care of yourself. I won’t let youstarve.”
After a moment of deliberation he sighed with a smile and got up, following me to the kitchen. “You’re pretty persuasive, aren’tyou?”
“No, just stubborn,” I said. “Have aseat.”
Charlie and the now roused Casey took their spots at the solid cherry table. I pulled out a pan, butter, and a fresh slab of venison I’d hunted earlier that week. After slathering the meat with spices, I threw it in the pan along with some frozen vegetables. Soon the kitchen filled with the scent of warmcooking.
“Daddy, I’m hungry,” Casey said, tugging on her father’ssleeve.
“I know, dear,” he said gently. “Look, Flint is making us dinner. Make sure to thankhim.”
“No need,” I grunted, flipping the meat over. “I’m just doing what anyone woulddo.”
“That’s not true,” Charlie commented. “The alphas in Scarlet Ridge were…” He trailed off and I understood why; he didn’t want to say too much in front of Casey. “Not sonice.”
“You’re right,” I grunted. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to dismiss yourfeelings.”
Charlie smiled. “Not atall.”
I set down the plates - seasoned venison pan-seared steak with sauteed vegetables on the side. I had a feeling they were both extremely hungry, but were too polite - or scared - to bring it up. My feeling was confirmed when Casey immediately perked up and started wolfing down her food. Even Charlie put aside his good manners for a moment as he shoveled the steak into his mouth. As they ate, I glanced at Charlie’s body. He was thin, and his face was a bit gaunt. The situation in Scarlet Ridge pack must have been worse than Ithought.
“Do you want more?” I asked with a grin as Charliefinished.
Charlie shot me a pleading glance. “If you don’t mind,” he saidpolitely.
“‘Course not,” Isaid.
After seconds were completed, Charlie and Casey finally looked sated. Casey was exhausted; her eyelids kept fluttering and she looked like she was about to fall asleep in herchair.
“I think it’s time for bed,” Charlie murmured as he scooped herup.
“If you need anything, at any time, just let me know,” I told Charlie. “I work from home, and I don’t need to wake up early, so don’t worry about waking me up in the middle of the night if you needme.”
Charlie’s gaze softened and he smiled at me. “Thank you so much, Flint. You have no idea how much this all means tome.”
Our eyes met for a moment that lasted slightly too long. I felt heat rush into my face and I quickly turned away. “Don’t worry about it. It’s the least I can do. Goodnight,Charlie.”
“Goodnight, Flint.” He swallowed thickly, like he was emotional, before closing thedoor.
As I headed for my own bedroom, I thought about what I’d just gotten myself into. I had an omega from a neighboring pack in my home, plus his young daughter. Normally I was a guy who liked his privacy and didn’t like going out of my way if I didn’t have to - so what happened? Why did I feel myself magnetically drawn to Charlie while I was hunting in the woods in the firstplace?
