Baz had no good answer for this. “Her name is Arden.”
“I got that part. How long has she been staying here? Does she have a claim on the town too? Is she from here?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t have a chance to talk to her before you barged up.”
“Yeah, that’s because I was trying to talk to you, when you shot off like you’d just remembered you left the stove on. Understandably, I wanted to find out what was going on. I still don’t think I know what’s going on.”
“The wild shifters were threatening her. I drove them off.”
Lexie’s thick brows, a few shades darker than her hair, went up toward her hairline. “Wild shifters? The same one from last night?”
“No, different people. Two of them, elders, I think—a man and a woman. They weren’t happy that Arden was here.”
Lexie turned her gaze on Arden ahead of them. Baz tried not to focus too closely on the enticing flex of her curved ass beneathher jeans, where sparkly rhinestones on her back pockets flashed as if to get his attention.
“Why don’t they like her?” Lexie asked. “What’d she do?”
“Nothing as far as I can tell. They just decided to run her off because she’s human.”
“Maybe we should take a page from their book. Baz, I know most of us have human moms and relatives. And they’re great people, obviously. But we have secrets to protect.” Her voice dropped until it could barely be heard, even by a shifter’s sharp ears. “Think about Declan and Maida.”
“I am! Believe me.” Once again his gaze drifted to Arden. She glanced back, and then looked quickly away. Something in his chest thrilled to have even that much of her attention.
Lexie was eyeing him. “Why are you so fascinated with this woman? I’ve never seen you like this with anyone before.”
Baz slowed, placing more distance between the two of them and Arden. “I think—I think she might be my mate.”
Lexie’s response was something less than ecstatic. “Youthink? Aren’t we supposed to know?”
“I don’t know what it feels like! I’ve never had a mate before!” He hastily tamped down his voice when Arden looked back again. “This is supposed to be the most joyous occasion in a shifter’s life. You’re not looking happy for me.”
“I’m not looking happy because—listen. You admitted you aren’t sure. You and I both know that there are some people who can do things that most people can’t. People like Uncle Gannon and Fern. What if this Arden woman is a little like that, and she’s made you believe that she’s your mate?”
Baz stared at her. “First of all, Fern wouldnever?—”
“I know Fern would never. But can you completely deny that it’s a possibility?”
Baz huffed angrily. It was impossible to believe that his attraction to Arden, the way that his entire being thrilled themoment he saw her, was something she was doing to him on purpose.
But he had to admit that he couldn’t be entirely sure.
ARDEN
Bazand his cousin-sister-whatever had fallen behind, and Arden could hear them arguing in hushed tones, although she couldn’t make out the words.
She had a strong urge to take advantage of the opportunity and sprint on ahead. She could probably pack up her few possessions quickly, and then?—
And then what? Walk down to the highway and hitchhike?
Whatever else Baz and his group of shifters were, they didn’t seem threatening, at least not in the way those two shifters in the meadow had been. If they threw her out of town, she would be in the same position as if she left voluntarily, but she might at least get a decent meal out of it first.
So she waited for them on the other side of the creek, fidgeting nervously while she dried her wet feet on the grass and put her socks and shoes back on. Lexie and Baz came out of the woods looking like they had been quarreling, looking in opposite directions and not acknowledging each other. Lexie gauged the distance and then jumped across the creek, while Baz carried his boots and waded, as if he had to be contrary. Arden put a mental check mark in the “siblings” column.
“I really appreciate the offer of lunch,” Arden told them, determined to be as friendly as she could. “I’ve just been eating camp food.”
“Yeah, about that. What are you actually doing here?” Lexie asked. “Baz didn’t seem to know.” She sounded like she thought Arden was hiding something. Which, okay, she was, but nothing that posed a danger to them. (She hoped.)
“I was camping out in one of the cabins,” Arden said. “The place looked abandoned. I didn’t think anyone would mind.” And it was all true, just maybe not the whole truth.
