“You and Damien haven’t gotten off to a great start. Garrett should have brought you in, given you and Damien a chance to talk, calmly, not shout out every traumatic facet of your life infront of the entire pack.” Tess places her hand on mine. “Mistakes were made, by both males. But there are a lot of people who will support you here, help you the best they can.”
“What are you asking of me, Tess?”
“That you give us a chance. The entire pack, including Damien. Ask questions, get to know the shifters here, snoop, if you’d like.”
“Snoop?”
“It’s the best way to learn things.”
“Does your mate know you encourage newcomers tosnoop?”
She shrugs. “I don’t think it would surprise him.”
“No, it wouldn’t,” says a deep voice by the door. I look up as the door closes, trapping me inside with the alpha, who doesn’t look pleased to see me here.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
GARRETT
My hulking cousin blocks the damn door to his house, keeping me from entering, though I suspect that’s unintentional. He rushed our conversation, the bond with Tess clearly distracting him. Whether that was because of Angel or something else, I can’t even guess. I only know what I saw; Tess leading Angel away while Damien raged at me.
I punch Damien in his shoulder. “Move already.”
“You really don’t want to push me right now, Garrett.”
“If I could push you, I wouldn’t be punching you in the back. You’re blocking the door.”
“It’s my door.”
“Good for you. Move.”
One growl later, Damien twists his body enough for me to squeeze past.
“Garrett?” I’ve never heard Angel’s voice so high-pitched, but the way she runs to me puts me and my wolf on guard.
“What’s wrong?” I ask as she throws herself into my arms, not something I usually mind, but she’ll give Damien the wrongimpression about us and I’m still in the veritable doghouse with him.
“Nothing.” She pats my chest and backs out of my embrace as if she realized how hugging me wouldn’t help either of us. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Go ahead,” Tess calls from the kitchen. “Tell Garrett the truth. Damien walked in and you and your wolf would have bolted if you’d had a clear path past him.”
“That’s not true,” Angel says loud enough for all. “Not fully.”
Tess reaches the sitting area with a tray in her hands. A tea kettle and four cups. “What part did I get wrong?”
“I would have happily gone through a window… had one been open.”
Damienfinallysteps aside, giving Angel a way out. “I don’t need any more broken windows. They’re expensive to replace and Langdon’s been on my case about not having enough money in the budget.”
Tess hands Angel a tea cup on a saucer, even though she’s standing at the door with me. I lean into Angel and whisper, “Tess makes it hard to leave.”
“I noticed. I thought I’d be to the border by now.”
My wolf sits up, shocked by her words. Though I shouldn’t be, not after the introduction she had to the pack. “I have to apologize, Angel. The way I brought you here… I fucked up everything. What happened out there, shouldn’t have happened.”
Instead of answering, she sips the tea, her eyes watching Damien closely. I’m not even sure she heard me.
Tess sets the tray on the coffee table and sits, Damien taking a seat beside her. The moment he pulls her in against him and kisses her temple the tension leaves her body. Tess’s hand rests on his thigh, her thumb gliding back and forth. Neither speaks, but they don’t need to. The bond enables them to comfort one another, provide that sense of security and belonging I wish I could give Angel. But we’re not mates. We’re not anything to oneanother really. It took me a while to convince Damien of that. The way he’s glaring at me, I’m guessing he still thinks I let Angel charm me into doing her bidding.
