Page 36 of Defeated

“She was excited. I don’t think she could stop herself,” Warren explains. “Ask me how I know?”

“How?”

“She shot off five text messages in under a minute. The last one said she was too excited and kept forgetting to add more to her message until after she’d sent it.”

“What did the message say?”

Do I really want to know?

“Just that she was happy you weren’t alone anymore. That she worries about you.”

And that is why it’s impossible to stay angry or frustrated at Penny for long.

“She doesn’t need to worry about me,” I say.

“Apparently so,” Tina yells from the background. “She’s excited to meet this woman you’re not busy running away from. For that matter, so am I.”

Her excitement must be the reason Colton isn’t shooting down my idea to take Penny to go stay in a resort for a couple of days. Maybe to save Zoe from being ambushed by all of Penny’s excitement.

“That wasn’t the only reason I called.” A door clicks shut and the TV noises fade. “Apparently, you’re alone in the same place Colton was attacked and nearly killed. That doesn’t seem wise.”

“I’m not alone,” I deny.

“Being there with the same woman those shifters were chasing doesn’t ease my concerns. It multiplies them.”

“She’s not?—”

“I’m not saying she’s trouble. I’m saying both of you are in trouble. And you should have some backup in case things go south instead of encouraging said backup to spend a couple nights in a resort.”

“Penny didn’t leave a thing out in those text messages, did she?” My voice is dry.

“She was surprisingly thorough.” Warren snorts.

“Everything is fine. We’re just packing up Colton’s apartment. No need to be concerned.”

“According to Mack, yeah, there is.”

I frown. “How so?”

Warren doesn’t answer at once. “Mack and Bennett are talking about trouble in other packs. Trouble that seems to touch everyone but us.”

I hear what he’s not saying. “And it’s making you wonder when that trouble will reach Winter Lake, or potentially come here?”

“Something like that.” He takes a breath and quietly releases it. He’s miles away, but I swear I almost feel that cool gust of air on my cheek. “You shouldn’t be refusing Colton’s offer of help.”

I start to deny it.

“No, he didn’t tell me,” Warren speaks before I can. “But I’ve had a little time to get to know Colton and more than enough time to know you. You should not be on your own.”

“I’ll be home soon.” I move to hang up.

“How long have we been friends?”

I hesitate. “A while.”

“Years,” Warren says. “Five, to be exact.”

“I’m guessing you’re not bringing up our past unless…”

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