Page 98 of Awakened
I laughed, leaning into his arm as we left the dining hall andheaded toward the cabins. “So, Mr. Pervy, how goes alpha training?”
He sighed. “Fine. I take over this summer.”
I nodded. The gravel crunched under our boots, and the chilly air nipped at my nose. I wondered at the wisdom of inviting everyone to Montana in February, but I guess a Valentine’s Day gathering was too choice to pass up.
How fucking corny?
“You still at Rubin Black?”
“Yep. About to celebrate two years there . . . Jeez, that’s wild. These past two years have flown by.”
“A lot has happened, huh?”
“You can say that again.”
Seth’s hand brushed against mine. Our eyes met, and I smiled. It felt good to be talking to him. He laced his fingers through mine and squeezed. We walked the rest of the way to the cabin in comfortable silence.
“This is me.” I turned to face Seth, our hands still linked.
“Okay.” He pulled me to him and gave me a hug. “I’ll see you around this week?”
I took a step back and nodded. “Absolutely. I’ll be around.”
“Good.”
With a wave, I started toward the cabin.
“Hey, Les?”
I spun around. Seth had his hands shoved in his pockets and was rocking back and forth on his heels.
“What’s up?”
He shook his head, his wavy black hair falling in his face. “Thanks for talking to me.”
Rolling my eyes, I said, “No problem. Good night.”
Seth smiled and started to walk back toward the pack house where the mated couples were staying. I watched until I couldn’t see him anymore. Turning back toward the cabin, I felt the weight of what Hope was about to tell me settle in. It was going to be a long night.
TWENTY
When I came inside, Hope and Zach were seated on the small, busted couch in the cabin’s “living area.” She held her face as Zach rubbed her back, murmuring, “It’ll be okay.” Neither spared me a glance.
I grabbed the box of tissues from the bedside table and went to Hope.
When her sad eyes finally landed on me, she quickly wiped her cheeks and took deep breaths to calm herself. “I’m sorry. I’m a mess.”
Zach jumped in and reassured her. “It’s fine, Hope. There’s nothing to be sorry for.” He looked up at me. “Right?”
“Right. I’ll get you some water.”
Taking a bottle from the mini fridge, I tried to figure out the best way to approach the scared girl and her dedicated protector.
“Here you go.”
She took the water with shaking hands. “Thank you, Beta Spencer.”
“Please, call me Les.”
