“Give yourself the time you need to process everything properly. And cry when you need to. No one will hold it against you. Well, except me. You’re getting my shirt all wet.”
I swipe at the tears, hating that I keep breaking down in frontof him, but I’m glad he’s not judging me because of it. “I won’t embarrass you in front of your alpha.”
“That’s not possible. But you might feel better if you’re dressed, especially in this cold.” He hands me the pants and a pair of boots. “Sorry about the sizes. It’s rare any females visit from the outside.”
“I’m not surevisitis the right word. At best, your people will see me as a refugee. At worst, a traitor.”
He throws me that teal-eyed glare I’ve come to adore, the one that says he doesn’t approve of my self-deprecating comments. But I can’t help it. It’s something I do when I’m insecure. Right now, my heart is racing, my palms are sweaty, and my mouth is as dry as a desert.
“Just be truthful. I promise, no harm will come to you.”
When I slide the shirt on like a dress, it falls to my knees.
He chuckles.
“Let me guess, I look like a child playing dress-up.”
“No child has your figure.”
My stomach flutters. I can’t tell if he’s interested in me or just being his usual playful self. He refuses to let me sink back into the darkness. And for that, I’m grateful.
But then he coughs. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. But that shirt makes you look like you shrank.”
“It’s not the first time I’ve worn a man’s shirt.”
A low growl surrounds me, rather possessive and oddly exciting. When I look up, no one else is around. That was Garrett, or his wolf, who growled. He’s an alpha, and they get protective of more than just mates. Friends, family… pack.
“I’ve never seen you in clothes.” I try to push that possessive growl from my memory. With that black t-shirt hugging his chest and his jeans showing off his sublime ass, it’s hard thinking of him as just a friend. “It’s a good look on you.”
“Modeling is my backup career.”
“Seriously. You could model.”
“That means living with humans.”
Out of nowhere, I smell humans. Their stench fills my lungs… but Garrett’s still standing there all casual and relaxed. Just another memory haunting me. I need to focus on something else. Anything.
I twirl in my shirt-dress. “What do you think? Better with or without clothes?”
“Don’t go there, darling. Tempting me with images of that gorgeous body of yours.”
“You’ve been escorting me for three days now. You’ve seen all there is to see on me.”
“I’ve kept my eyes on your face the best I could. I can describe the exact location of every freckle.”
“I don’t have freckles.”
He starts counting as he taps the so-called freckles on my face. “The sun drew them out.”
“You’re making this up.”
“Once we find a mirror, I’ll show you.”
That reminds me I have yet to meet his alpha, his entire pack.
He taps beneath my chin. “Where’d that smile go?”
“Hard to smile when you’re worried.”
