Page 48 of Hunter Moon

“Then we’ll always be here.”

Suddenly, he needed to be out of the truck, fumbling with his seatbelt and throwing the door open. I stepped back, letting him sort it out, until he grabbed me and yanked me in. “I hate this. I hate everything about it.”

“Me too, baby. And if it takes the rest of my life, I’m gonna make it so you can feel safe again.” I pulled him into my arms, holding him there as he cried into my shirt. “Meantime you’re gonna get downright sick of me. Sleeping outside your window. Hanging out, drinking tea in the living room with your mom. Whatever it takes. For as long as it takes. Forever.”

28

Brook

Forever.

It was hard to even think about that word, but back at the clinic, Aspen said everybody had a part to play. I was a mechanic. Linden was an alpha.

Why not let his part, at least for a little while, be looking after me? There was nobody else who made me feel as safe—hell, nobody else in the pack as capable in a fight, really.

As much as I hated the idea of it, maybe the Grove pack needed a real fighter. I just hoped he could spend ninety-nine percent of his time growing daisies and fishing and hiking and doing other Aspen things.

We sat at the edge of the road for a long time, butts in the grass on a tiny hill at the edge of the road, looking out over the outer boundary of the orchard on the other side.

Finally, I let him drive me home. There was no way I could really abandon Mom and Shy and Harmony. No way they’d let me try, even if it would make them safer from monsters I was sure could track me anywhere.

Aspen walked me to the front door, left the car, and all night, I sensed him prowling around outside. Okay, it was more like he was making rounds, checking the perimeter of the town, making sure everyone was safe.

I hated that I needed that, but I slept better knowing he was out there watching over me—keeping us all safe. No way Aspen would let a Reid wolf lay another finger on any Grove without getting involved.

Somehow, edgy and tired as I was, I survived until the weekend. When Aspen asked if I was still up for apple picking, I couldn’t exactly say no. There came a point where dodging things and hiding out caused more drama than going and being a bit of a downer.

He picked me up in the Mustang, looking every bit as good as he had when we were younger. Hell, maybe better. He’d always been in good shape, but all that training had given him a chest that stood out with all its contours even under his jersey-knit shirt. I liked the way he’d aged. He was like teenage Brook’s ultimate fantasy, standing right there on my stoop, holding a bouquet of jewel-toned daisies.

“Good morning!” He flashed a smile, and I resented how chipper he was. But I thought he was putting on something of a show. I could see the faint bags under his eyes, a false note to his smile.

This was dragging on him too. But if he was determined to go apple picking, apple picking we would go.

“Hey.” I took the flowers from him and held them to my chest. “Just lemme put these in water. Coffee?”

Aspen’s chuckle followed me down the hall. “I wouldn’t say no to another.”

I put the old daisies in the bin for composting and set the new ones up in my vase, then poured us each a to-go cup. It might’ve been nice to sit around and wake up with him, but every minute we were in the Morgan house, we risked another blow up with Harmony, so I was eager to go.

The ride to the orchard was a little quiet, a little awkward, but once he’d pulled into the gravel lot at the top of the hill and got out of the car, Aspen walked around the back and put his hand in mine.

Things were better then, and even if I was still sleepy, I was happy to lean on Aspen’s arm while we waited in line to get a basket for our apples.

“So you’re, like, really doing this?” I asked. “I mean, picking apples.”

“Well, yeah. It’s almost the end of the season. If I don’t start getting my haul now, I’ll have to wait until next year.”

I scoffed. “Sure, like apples aren’t some kind of Grove birthright.”

He raised a brow at me. “Now, Brook, you know as well as anyone that it only counts if you pick them yourself.”

When we got up to that rough wooden table on the porch, Rowan took us in. His eyes widened in surprise before a blinding smile lit his face.

“Hey, guys! Awesome you’re here. Together. Awesome you’re here together.”

Heat started creeping up my neck, but when I looked at Aspen, he was staring down at his brother with a very serious expression on his face—something he must’ve learned from some CO or his father.

He said in a deep voice. “It is indeed awesome, Ro. I’ll thank you for noticing.”

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