Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Breakfast at Bri's pack was an efficient affair. It was also fast, thankfully, because although we were seated in a larger house used for communal purposes, Charlie, Kicks, Bri, and I were all at a quaint little table together. This time I was a third wheel with luggage, as Charlie sat beside me.

Bri and Kicks were falling into the banter of people who were all too comfortable around each other, throwing out the occasional token question to me to seem inclusive. The more comfortable they were, the more I itched to get away from them.

He'd kissed me last night, repeatedly said he hadn't been with her, but the optics weren't great.

Charlie was eating some toast and glancing over. He kept staring at Kicks, and then Bri, his brain picking up on something off even as his life experience couldn't quite label it yet. He'd also been gulping down chocolate milk like an alcoholic falling off the wagon after a decade. Any minute now, any minute, he'd be my ticket out of here.

"You've got water here, too." I pushed the glass closer to Charlie, feeling no qualms about using his bladder as my ticket away from this table.

"Piper, I have to go to the bathroom."

I sprang into action like an Indy driver getting the green light.

"I'll take you. Meet you outside?" I said to Kicks, already grabbing Charlie's hand.

"I can take him," Kicks said, getting to his feet almost as quickly as me.

Did he want out of here as much as me? It seemed like it, not that I was going to help him.

"I've got him. I'll meet you outside." It seemed like he might've been telling the truth after all. I turned to Bri. "Thank you so much for letting us sleep here."

"Anytime." She smiled and waved.

Kicks nodded, but there was a sarcastic thanks in his eyes.

Whatever had happened with them last night, it didn't seem like it was as cozy as I'd imagined.

I made my way to the bikes, where some of the pack was already gathering, my step a bit lighter than it had been last night or even this morning. Evangeline moved toward me like a magnet. I could see Buddie and Rastin not far behind, like they were getting towed in behind her.

"Was that as awkward as it looked?" she asked, glancing around for nosy ears.

Before I could answer, Buddie was there, speaking for me. "You even need to ask?"

"I don't," Rastin said, laughing.

Charlie, who'd been examining every bike in the lineup like he was an inspector, came back over.

"Why was it awkward? I want to know."

"No reason. Go get settled with Buddie. We're leaving soon." I gave him a little shove toward Buddie as Kicks and the rest of the pack headed over.

The sun had set hours ago as we drove up a spiraling road into the mountains. The fresh, woodsy scent was strong, reminding me of Kicks. The road was lined with oak trees that looked like they hadn't been saplings since the beginning of time. There was something ancient and almost prescient in these forests we drove through.

Buildings appeared in the distance, nestled in between the trees. Some of them looked like classic log cabins, not big enough to have more than one or two rooms each. Some were larger, as if they could accommodate a family. Others were brand new and only partially constructed. As the engines cut out, the sound of the nearby river filled the air. The community had been built alongside a long stretch of beautiful water.

Duncan had talked once about pack structure before Death Day, and how some pack members preferred being close. Others would live in the vicinity and blend into a nearby neighborhood. But when things got bad, they'd all pull back to one location, as seemed to be happening here.

The pack might not welcome me into their home, but I could see myself living here quite happily. Something about the land spoke to me, calling to me as if I were home. I'd never felt a sensation like it in my life, not even when I'd lived in California with my mother.

People were coming out of their homes, the excitement evident in the hurried footsteps across their wooden porches and the sounds of their voices. Various pack members walked over, greeting Kicks and the others and then carefully taking me in, schooling their voices to neutrality.

Kicks made a few quick introductions to people I could barely see in the dark and surely wouldn't recognize come tomorrow.

Another pack. Another round of judgments. Would they welcome me because I was a guide, or despise me for being human?

I spun to locate Charlie and found Buddie carrying him snugged against his chest. Charlie's expression was content in sleep.

"Where do you want me to deposit the little guy?" Buddie asked.

I looked about, having no idea.

Kicks pointed to a larger cabin sitting slightly higher on the hill, right beside the river. "The door will be open."

Buddie nodded and headed that way.

"It's late. Go with Buddie and you can get Charlie settled. I'll bring in our stuff. You can meet everyone tomorrow."

Every shifter in the area would've heard him, giving me an out to deal with all the introductions tomorrow. I wished there was an out that would take me into next month, or next year. I was tired of introductions to new packs, and experience had robbed me of optimism.

I walked beside Buddie to the place I'd be calling home for at least a little while. Kicks might've thought declaring me his mate meant this was forever.

Nothing was forever.

Someone must have prepared the place in anticipation of our arrival, as lamps were already burning. A toasty warmth filled the air along with the sound of crackling wood. It did my body good after riding on a motorcycle. It might take a week for my hands to thaw from the stinging wind.

The place wasn't as rustic inside as it appeared on the outside. The floor might've been wide-planked wood, but the furniture, large, masculine pieces, seemed newer. Buddie was already settling Charlie into a smaller bedroom as I peeked around, finding the only other bedroom and glimpsing at it through the doorway.

The bed was huge, and again, it had a large dresser, which looked as if it would hold a lot. My couple of items wouldn't even take up an entire drawer.

"I'm going to go see where I'm supposed to crash," Buddie said.

I nearly jumped, as if I'd gotten caught snooping.

"You can stay here," I said a little too quickly, nodding toward the couch and hoping he'd take my offer. I hadn't even known where I was going a few seconds ago, and now I was giving away the couch.

"Thanks, but I want to go get the lay of the land around here. I'll come back and crash if I don't find somewhere better." He smiled, making me wonder if he was going to be looking for a warm body to crash next to.

"All right," I said, predicting he wouldn't be back.

He left, and I hoped he didn't find anywhere tolerable. He would, though, because Buddie was pretty resourceful.

Charlie was still sound asleep when I checked on him, pulling the comforter up closer to his chin. I listened to his breathing for a few minutes then ran a hand over his head, testing his temperature. No matter how hale and healthy he was now, those memories of him still haunted me. I wasn't sure I'd ever get past seeing him almost die. I put another blanket over him before I forced myself to leave him be.

I walked out back into the main living area, scoping out our new home for the time being. The kitchen was open to the living room and seemed pretty well equipped. A quick check told me the water was running but the refrigerator was empty and turned off. I didn't know if that was a permanent situation or done to conserve energy.

I walked back to the other bedroom, the idea of going in it feeling strange. I grabbed the throw blanket on the back of the couch and settled in.