Page 34 of The Thief

Robyn and Montana were still in the early stages of love. Our wolves knew who they wanted, and that simplified things. Unlike Chitahs, who had courtship rituals that could drag on for years, especially when a man found his kindred spirit. Chitahs believed that they were born with a soulmate, and they would wait centuries to find them. The men instantly knew their kindred spirit on sight or smell or whatever it was that screamed, She’s the one! But the women didn’t feel the same pull. That meant he had to work to prove his worth, and their courtships took longer.

Personally, I loved the idea of a whirlwind romance and two people knowing when it was right. I couldn’t imagine spending months or years trying to decide if he was the one, but to each their own.

Seeing the reverence in Montana’s eyes when he held his mate was magical. It wasn’t just the physical affection but also the way he bragged about her talents when she wasn’t around. He admired her, and for that, I envied Robyn. Every couple was different. Lakota and Melody were competitive and passionate. Tak and Hope laughed a lot but also had a profound respect for each other like nothing I’d ever seen. Salem and Joy were attentive to each other’s needs even if they weren’t affectionate.

Robyn glanced over her shoulder at the rowdy group in the back. “It’s busier than usual.”

“Wait until we open the kitchen. I hope you guys come out and celebrate with us. We need to fill a few chairs.”

“Are you kidding? We wouldn’t miss it.” Robyn raised her glass. “I’m glad you talked Calvin into serving lunch. Finally! A place we can hang out and have a quick bite. It feels good to get out of the house once in a while, and now we won’t have to miss Bear’s cooking to do it.”

Joy adjusted her blouse so it wasn’t hanging off her shoulder. “Speaking of Bear, is he still in the kitchen?”

My thoughts drifted. Bear had disappeared into the kitchen earlier to assess the situation. He wanted to inspect the appliances and create a list of supplies. A few times when I had turned around to check on Calvin, I caught Bear peering through the swing-door windows, checking in on me. The other two ladies hadn’t noticed. They were studiously avoiding eye contact with male customers, afraid someone might get the wrong idea that they were seeking attention.

What they didn’t know was that before they arrived, I informed everyone that my two very mated girlfriends would be joining me for drinks. Shifters didn’t wear wedding bands, and since our pack was new, it was important to spread the word so everyone knew who the mated couples were.

Joy reached over and squeezed my hand, snapping me out of my brain fog. “If you need anything, we’re here for you. You haven’t been yourself today.”

“I appreciate that.”

For now, I just wanted to have fun with my new sisters. I’d chosen to confide in them about my memory loss because it was important that my packmates trust me, but their consoling words and pitying stares were doing a number on me.

Playing with my earring, I asked, “Does anyone know how I got upstairs last night?”

Robyn and Joy shared a private smile. “Bear swept you off your feet and carried you all the way to your bedroom. You didn’t wake up?”

“After the food and drinks, I conked out on the way home. Have you sat in his SUV yet?”

“No, but I’m looking forward to it,” Joy said. “It’ll be nice riding inside a vehicle instead of bouncing around in the back of a pickup like pinballs, especially with the way Tak drives.”

We clinked our glasses together in quiet agreement.

I spun in my chair at the barking near the front. A coyote stood on his hind legs, his front paws on the bar and bushy tail sweeping the floor.

“What did I tell you about shifting?” Calvin growled at him. “Get your drunk ass outta my bar. And take your clothes with you!”

The coyote whimpered, and when he dropped to the floor, he lost his balance and fell on his side in a drunken stupor.

“Some Shifters can’t hold their liquor,” I said quietly.

While watching the coyote gather his clothes in his mouth, Robyn said, “At least you never get bored around here. There’s always excitement.”

A thought popped in my head of something that had happened at Dragonfly’s. “Does anyone here know what happened to Ian and Serena?”

Robyn shook her head. “I thought Ian was a jerk, but after seeing his wolf, he’s downright dangerous. He’ll ruin her chances of joining a pack, but what can you do when choosing between pack and blood? Family always comes first, so she’s stuck with him.”

“The poor girl,” Joy said.

“I saw her last night.” I watched their reactions as they looked up with curiosity.

“They’re still in town?” Joy tapped her pastel-pink nails against her glass. “That’s unexpected, especially after the way he stormed off. I was certain they’d left town for good. Why stay? There aren’t many packs out here, and besides that, he attacked an alpha and his mate. That will surely damage his reputation if anyone asks us about him. We’re not under any obligation to lie.” A rivulet of condensation dripped down her glass, and she swiped it with her finger. “Where did you see her?”

“She was at Dragonfly’s with Ian,” I replied. “They were sitting with a bunch of men.”

Robyn finished her drink. “Who?”

“I didn’t recognize them, not that I would. Working here should help me get to know folks in this town. It looked like a serious discussion was underway, so I didn’t bother them.”

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