It was awe-inspiring to someone like me.
“When I say this, I want you to know I really mean it.” I peeked at him, my voice small. “Thank you.”
His response was quiet, too. “You’re welcome.”
I turned my full attention back to the hologram. My brows puckered in confusion at what I was seeing. “I think I missed a step of what you just did. Will you go back a few?”
Wolfe’s fingers tapped over the computer board. “Here?”
“Yeah, right there. That’s perfect.”
* * *
I stepped off the train’s stairs onto the grass. Other corporate trains were lined up, all of Theron’s minions, all shifters. But we were in the woods somewhere. It was trains, grass, trees, and the moon. I didn’t see a party in sight, although Mina sure seemed to know where she was walking, heading straight into the forest.
I turned to Wolfe, who had left his transport open to the wilderness for some reason, and questioned halfway seriously, “Um, I don’t see a party. Did you bring me out here to let your friends off me? I’m guessing you don’t even need a shovel to bury me. You’ve got your paws to dig with.”
Wolfe snorted and shook his head. “This is Rune’s land. My property and his actually connect at certain points, although my house is much different than his.” He started walking and staring back over his shoulder at me. “Follow me. You’ll be safe. I promise.”
I glanced left and right, wondering if I should make a run for it.
The wolf-man stopped in his tracks.
He didn’t pester or push.
He simply waited for me to make up my mind.
Because he’d already said I’d be safe.
“This is weird for me,” I mumbled, running to catch up to him. I practically glued myself to his side as we walked through the woods. “It’s night time. It’s dark. And yesterday, you did choke me. I think I felt better on your train watching you work. At least there, I could see.”
Wolfe sighed and stopped walking, pulling me to a halt with a gentle hand on my shoulder. “I probably won’t make it any better for you either, Noelle, and I can’t take back what I did yesterday. It just is. Outside of work, I’m…lacking…in normal conversation skills.”
I lifted one dark eyebrow. “You said that just fine.”
“That’s because I’ve said it a million times to people over the years. I’ve had plenty of practice. On everything else, I try to collect my thoughts on what I want to say, but most of the time, I don’t express myself right when I say it. Feelings are difficult for me to express, whereas work is easy. I feel like you’ll probably need that warning.”
“Hmm. I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you for telling me.” A branch snapped nearby, and my attention turned in an instant. I slid behind Wolfe, peeking out around his arm, whispering, “What was that?”
He pointed to the right, deep into the night. His words were blunt, with no inflection in his tone. “Alaric and Faith were fucking away their sorrows. It sounded like Alaric gave her two orgasms before they were done. They cried some afterward and talked about Cass. They’re headed this way now.”
My shoulders shook behind him. “Actually, I don’t have to think about what you said. I get it now.”
Wolfe turned slightly to look down at me. “Exactly. It never comes out right. It’s annoying as fuck.”
Alaric and Faith Woods stepped through the trees, coming into view. It was no surprise when Alaric punched Wolfe in his shoulder—hard. Alaric growled, “Not cool, man.”
Wolfe rubbed his shoulder but didn’t punch back. He stated coolly, “Next time, go farther out, dipshit.”
Faith glanced back and forth between the two of them. “Are you guys in a fight or something?” Her tan features wrinkled with confusion. “You shouldn’t be fighting. I know tensions are high right now with Cassander’s passing—”
“No, Wolfe was just being an asshole earlier today.” Alaric placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, with a warning glare sent to Wolfe over her head. “I didn’t hurt him.”
Wolfe scoffed.
“Prick,” Alaric rumbled.
In return, Wolfe deadpanned and corrected, “Bigprick.”
