Page 78 of Tamiko and the Two Janitors
Doon-wen growled.
Melissa’s stance was respectful, but she didn’t back down.“When my family is safe, I’ll sleep long and well.”
The wolf huffed, and Melissa relaxed against him.
Jiminy let his confusion show. Doon-wen’s behavior had aproprietary nuance, and Melissa’s acceptance suggested a prior understanding.
“Have you eaten? Jiminy, pour her some coffee.” The packleader added a non-verbal message—Take heed. The trail is at your feet. Lookno further.
Reaching for a fresh cup, he crisply replied in kind—Mynose works.
Doon-wen’s smile was hard to interpret. Jiminy couldn’tdecide if it was peer pressure or approval. But even if the pack leaderapproved of Melissa, her quick glance promised a swift rebuff.
The wolf rolled his eyes and returned the message—My noseworks. With an added flourish that implied superiority. And the kinds ofsubtext with which wolves were conversant.
Jiminy took extra care with Melissa’s cup and offered itwith a simple, “Good morning.”
She murmured thanks and paused to admire the pattern he’dpoured into the foam. Her smile was small, but soft.
Doon-wen watched over the exchange and offered hisassessment with a confident flick of fingers known by every wolf on the hunt.Patience.It is within our grasp.
Melissa’s presence was largely incidental. She neededto be there since she was Doon-wen’s escort. But the pack knew its business, andthey took care of their own. Roonta-kiv oversaw the loading of eight sizableKith into two horse trailers. She and her bondmate would drive the trucks.
Doon-wen had gone off to bring around his car, leavingMelissa alone with Jiminy, who had—thus far—been behaving himself. She shouldhave known it couldn’t last.
His shoulder nudged hers.
“Boundaries,” she muttered.
Jiminy asked, “Has something happened between you and mypack’s illustrious leader?”
Melissa wasn’t sure she wanted to answer. Then again, didsheknowthe answer? Jiminy was still her best resource in demystifyingwolf mindsets and behavior. “Doon-wen and True took me in.”
“In what sense?”
“Fostering.” She searched his face, hoping for freshinsight. “He said my only obligation will be to the pack.”
“You’re okay with that?”
“Is there something I should know?” she asked in a tightvoice.
Jiminy checked over his shoulder, then pulled her into adead-end alley between the coffee shop and the secondhand clothing store nextdoor. She let him.
He stood too close.
She poked his chest.
Rubbing the spot—and easing back a step—he said, “First andforemost, you’re in an enviable position. Doon-wen would never offer to fosteryou if he hadn’t set his heart on it. And a wolf’s heart is just about thesafest place anyone could belong.”
Melissa nodded cautiously. What was the catch?
“In a way, you’ve already gained what you’ve always wanted.Fostering is a pact. You can claim Doon-wen Nightspangle as your pactmate.”
She’d never presume. And fostering had never been her goal.“But …?”
Jiminy lowered his voice. “This is Doon-wen. He has plansfor you.”
“Maybe I have plans, too.” After a moment’s consideration,she added, “He didn’t set any conditions.”
