Page 42 of Frostbite & Mistletoe
Just four more days, he told his cat.And then she’ll know the people who love her have done everything they can to save her.
∞∞∞
Jacobsen Ranch
December 22 (two days later)
Kymberlie turned off the highway and drove her pickup through the gates of the Jacobsen Ranch. Located fifteen minutes north of town, it had served as the Jacobsen Pack’s headquarters for over a century.
She glanced at Gabriel in the passenger seat, grateful for his calm presence beside her even as her stomach twisted with the prospect of having to beg her pack’s leadership for help.
“Everything’s going to be fine,” Gabriel’s voice, warm and reassuring, cut through the tense silence inside her cab.
Kymberlie managed a tight nod.
“They’re your family,” Gabriel reminded her, as if reading her thoughts.“And family helps each other. Isn’t that what packs are for?”
“Easy for you to say,” she murmured.“You weren’t raised by wolves.”
The weak joke earned her a chuckle from Gabriel.
Despite his unwavering support, Gabriel couldn’t really understand what she was going through right now. He hadn’t grown up in Bearpaw Ridge, where the wolf pack dynamics meant everyone knew your business all the time, and gossip traveled faster than a wildfire in August.
Since the fire, she’d received what felt like hundreds of texts from people she barely knew, all of them expressing sympathy and most of them offering help.
But she hadn’t been able to bring herself to accept any of those offers. It felt too much like accepting charity from strangers.
And how is asking my pack alphas for a loan any different?She wanted to turn the truck around and retreat home.
Only Gabriel’s presence kept her from turning tail like the coward she was.
As she parked in front of the sprawling white ranch house with its wide, wraparound porch, Kymberlie took a deep breath. Several cars were already parked in the small lot usually reserved for the ranch’s guests. She recognized her parents’ SUV, alpha couple Bill and Mandy Jacobsen’s Subaru wagon, Tyler’s pickup truck, and a few other vehicles belonging to senior pack members.
Looks like they all showed up to watch me humble myself, she thought bitterly, turning off the engine.
Gabriel reached over and squeezed her hand.“You’ve got this.”
She nodded gratefully, drawing strength from his touch before grabbing a thick folder of paperwork and stepping out of the truck. The icy air stung her cheeks as they walked up the path to the house’s main entrance.
Before they could knock, the door swung open to reveal her parents’ faces, lined with concern rather than the disappointment Kymberlie had expected.
“Kymber, honey.” Her mother pulled her into a tight hug, surprising her with its warmth.“We’ve been so worried about you.”
“Hi, Mom,” Kymberlie managed, waiting for the lecture that would surely follow.
But her mother simply kissed her cheek and drew back. She smiled politely at Gabriel.“And you must be Gabriel. We’ve heard so much about our new fire marshal!”
“Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Tringstad,” Gabriel said, his polite tone laced with wariness.
He extended his hand, but Mom stepped in close and hugged him.“I’m glad you came with Kymber.”
She released him and turned back to Dad, who stood next to Mom, looking stiff and awkward. He pulled her into a quick, firm hug.“Good to see you, Kymmie.”
“Dad.” She returned his embrace, bracing herself for hisI told you what would happen if you bought that dump.
Instead, Dad murmured,“Good luck with Bill and Mandy.” Then he squeezed her hard, cleared his throat and stepped back.“Gabriel, thanks for coming.”
The two of them shook hands.
