Page 23 of Knot a Chance in Hell

I picked up my spoon and scooped up a potato and the thick broth. As I put it in my mouth, a delightful shudder went through me at the divine taste. It wasn’t like anything I had before. It was reminiscent of the moose steak, but even richer, with a more complicated taste. I quickly scooped up a second bite and another.

Ezekiel returned to the kitchen and started to cut thick slices of bread from a loaf. “Well, maybe not keep you inside all the time, but we can get you a truck. Do you know how to drive a stick? We could leave Kodiak’s pickup here for you.” When I shook my head with my mouth full, he pursed his lips thoughtfully. “I’ve always wanted to get an electric car.”

“Those things would never run up here once it snows and gets cold,” Kodiak scoffed.

“They would. More than half the cars in Norway are EVs, and it’s not as if we can go far in any direction on the island,” Ezekiel continued and started to slather the slices of bread with butter. “They’re good for the environment. Really, Mitkof would do good if everyone went electric.”

I nodded, in total agreement. I had friends with electric cars, and they were gorgeous. While I could drive, I rarely did, so I would have to get in some practice. Before I could swallow and say my dad would send me a car, Silas spoke up.

“Can you drive, Omega?” he asked sharply, and when I spun to glare at him, he had the audacity to sneer at me. Was he angry with me for getting lost? He’d been so caring when he rescued me, and now he was back to being a bastard. “Even if you can drive, can you drive in wind and snow? If you can’t, it’s a waste of everyone’s time and money. What about four wheelers and snow machines?” I didn’t shake my head, even though I had no idea how to drive them. I clenched my jaw as he went on in his jerk way. “I didn’t think so. Best you learn how to ride those first. Sometimes we get so much snow, not even the trucks can get through. So if you can’t handle waiting around for someone to chauffeur your spoiled ass around, you might as well get out of Alaska before winter really hits.”

“Si,” Kodiak growled and clenched the side of his chair.

“What? Not everyone can handle life here. I ain’t saying anything that you all don’t know.” With that, Silas turned away from us, leaning back in his chair.Asshole.

Anything I might have been feeling about Silas before was an illusion. Yes, he found me and brought me home. But he was far from being the gracious hero. The comfort I thought I felt from him had to be the relief of knowing I wasn’t going to die and nothing more.Nothing more.

Yet something in me was tugging me toward him. I beat that feeling down and stuffed more of the amazing stew into my mouth. The food was clearing my head and making me feel more like myself.

Kodiak stood fast, knocking his chair back. His hands tightened into fists and his teeth were bared.

“Sit down,” Savva grunted. “What Silas is saying is harsh, but it’s true. We’ll teach you how to drive everything, girl. Best you know how it all works in case of an emergency. Might Shae teach you how to hook up and ride a dog sled too. Plus skis and snowshoes. All things kids here learn from a young age.” Thatsounded like a lot, but I was okay with that. It would keep me busy. I liked a challenge, and I especially wanted to learn all these things because Silas was being a bastard about me being there. I would show him I could survive.

Ezekiel brought over the buttered bread for me and sat across the table. “Atka and Kavik can pull a sled. Though I still think having a car Nicolette can drive should be a priority.”

I nodded again, my mouth full. God, this stew was so scrumptious. I was nearly done with the bowl, and I was still really hungry.

“Another thing we need to get you is proper clothes.” Savva tapped the table as he gave me a once-over. What? I had sweaters and warm socks. “Skirts and those skinny pants you’re wearing aren’t going to keep you warm.”

I glanced down at myself. I was wearing a hoodie and leggings. Okay, maybe those were too thin for the frigid temperatures here. “I have jeans.”

“Skinny jeans like you were wearing yesterday?” Silas snorted. “You could have been wearing nothing at all.”

I picked up a slice of bread, ready to throw it at him, but instead, I stuffed it into my mouth and took a bite. There was no sense in cursing him out or saying anything to him at all. The jerk was determined to be mean to me.

“We’ll take you shopping, baby.” Kodiak gave my shoulder a tender rub and I flashed him a smile. Shopping was one of my favorite things. “The general store has a good stock of clothes for females. We can get you some long underwear as well.”

“Long underwear?” That didn’t sound sexy at all, but I supposed keeping warm was more important than being fashionable. Maybe.

“Just a layer that goes under your outerwear. Inner layers are just as important.” Ezekiel nudged another slice of bread myway. “Eat your fill. What you went through exhausted your body. It’s going to take a little while for you to recover, maybe as long as a week.”

“Until then, you’re staying inside,” Kodiak firmly added.

Stay inside a whole week? Nope. That wasn’t going to work for me. I swallowed and took a drink of milk to wash the bread down.

Before I could say a thing, Savva held up a finger. “I know that look, girl. You’re as stubborn as these boys. While they work, I’ll be watching over you. We can get started on your driving lessons.”

Oh, now I was getting a chaperon. A little too late for that. Though it would be nice to have company, I wasn’t going to take up Savva’s time by him having to babysit me. “Thank you for your offer. I would really like to learn how to drive all these vehicles, but you don’t need to give up your own time for me. We could make a schedule, and since I’m a fast learner, it won’t take long. I’ll be out of your hair—”

“You need someone here watching over you,” Kodiak interrupted. “We’re not going to take any chances with you getting lost again.”

Like I would do that again. “I won’t be going out walking like that anymore,” I assured him and then looked to Ezekiel. I liked his idea best. “An electric car would be wonderful. I had friends who owned them. They’re so nice and quiet to ride in. I can call my father—”

“You live here now. I’ll get you a car.” Kodiak cut me off a second time.

Finished with my stew and bread, I tried to push my annoyance to the side. He only wanted to provide for me, and I really liked that he did, but at the same time, he was treating me like this precious burden he had to take care of. While we were compatible, only time would tell if we were a good match. Justbecause he could make me hot and wet didn’t mean he was the right Alpha for me. It could be Ezekiel, who seemed to be much more conscious and thoughtful of what I wanted and needed, even if he did sneak into my bed.

“The three of us can pool our money together for the car,” Ezekiel said reasonably. “I’m sure we’ll all use it.”

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