“I can’t believe you’re not livid, how I’ve been about her. If she were mine, I’d be livid.”
True enough, he would be. Getting past that maddening reserve of his was just about impossible. Until you did it. And then it was a whole lot of roaring and, once or twice in his lifetime, a whole lot of smashing.
“I don’t have the high ground here,” Trevor said. “I hurt her, and she’s still hurt. We won’t be like Aaron and Ember, mated in a few weeks. I’ve got to prove Kelsey can trust me.”
“How’re you going to do that?”
Trevor shrugged. “Be trustworthy, I guess.”
“That’s your plan.”
“Well, what else am I supposed to do? I don’t deserve a faster timeframe, and pushing her would just prove I’m not safe.”
A low growl, then a sigh. “You’re right.”
“Believe me, I’ve been mulling this all week. And that’s the only thing I’ve got.”
Ezra stood from the table, walked around it, and set his hand on Trevor’s shoulder. “I’ve been a lousy brother, at least where she’s concerned.”
“You already said that.” Trevor got up and clasped his brother’s arm. “Forgiven, Ez. You didn’t know what you didn’t know, and now you do.”
“And I’ll let Kelsey know too. Tomorrow.”
“You’d better.” He was ready to forgive, ready to move forward, but he was still a wolf.
Today was different, though Kelsey couldn’t quite put her finger on what had changed from one weekend to the next.
Well, one change was clear. Trevor had wanted to pick her up from Maggie’s so they could make an entrance at the cookout together. The tongue-tied retreating Trevor from last weekend had lost to the real Trevor, outgoing and fervent in what he wanted, buoyant beyond belief when life was at its best. Having him back made her feel buoyant too, like a kite bobbing on a summer breeze in a sky of blue and sunshine.
She had overruled him though, on sharing a ride. If Maggie needed something, Kelsey had to be able to leave in a hurry, and in-person time with his pack was vital for Trevor. They had plenty of time in the coming months to arrive together and leave together.
Today the cookout host was a wolf named Rhett, and when she got out of her car he came to greet her. His build was equal to that of the other wolves, his height an inch or two shorter. His eyes were piercing blue-gray, the sort that made you look twice or look away.
“Kelsey,” he said with a rumble. “Welcome.”
“Thanks.”
“We didn’t get to say much at Aaron’s last week. He told me you’ve known the pack most of your life.”
“I met Trevor in kindergarten.”
His dark eyebrows lifted. “Cool.”
“What about you? Most wolves find their pack early in life. Were you a loner for a while?”
“Something like that.”
Cagey, this one. She could respect that. Friend of his pack or not, he didn’t know her personally. But she’d poke with one more question and hope he saw or smelled that she truly wanted to know him. After all he was Trevor’s pack. Her pack. Every hour since Trevor had told her the whole story, she felt more sure these people she loved would in fact become hers.
“How did you end up here?” she said.
Rhett cocked an eyebrow. “Curious, aren’t you.”
“It’s been said.”
His teeth flashed in something more aggressive than a grin. “Some stories take time.” Then he said, “I’d like permission to acclimate you.”
“Oh, of course.” She turned to give him her full attention, though his gaze was the one that mattered. Her body was acutely aware of his presence, fine hairs on her arms at attention. This was what a wolf did to people; Kelsey had nearly forgotten the effect, so comfortable was she withherwolves. “Sorry. I didn’t even think of it; I’ve been acclimated to the rest of the pack for so long.”
