32. Tanner

It had taken a while, but we now had small cameras installed at intervals around the perimeter of the cabin. These were no basic cameras; I had a contact in the military who supplied me with high-spec tech that wasn't available from mainstream suppliers.

These little babies could send a signal from up to a kilometer away. I'd set them up to send an alert if anything human-sized passed through the field of vision.

If anyone came looking for Eva, the app on my phone would give me a warning. It wasn't foolproof. I didn't have enough cameras to cover the entire area, but I had fixed cameras at key locations along the various trails that intersected the forest. Unless someone wanted to fight their way through dense undergrowth, they would almost certainly pass at least one camera.

Dusk was falling fast. The sun had disappeared a while back, and the sky was leaden with more snow. I couldn't recall the last time we'd had this much snow so early. At this rate, the pass wouldn't reopen until well into March, possibly later if the forecast big freeze arrived at the end of next week.

I picked my way along the trail, my sharp eyes having no problem seeing despite the lengthening shadows. Cole had reminded me this morning that it was Christmas tomorrow. Not that I cared about that shit, but I knew he was determined to make it ‘nice' for Eva.

I snorted. Honestly, Cole was like a fucking mother hen sometimes, always trying to feed Eva, check she was comfortable, and basically irritate the fuck out of us all. Well, me at least.

What was the point? She was leaving us soon, whether he wanted to admit that or not. I saw no point in getting attached to the little human. Not when she was unlikely to stick around.

The sweet scent of cookies emanated from the kitchen when I walked in through the back door, dumping my rucksack and tools on the laundry room floor. Considering it was now getting late, it surprised me that Cole was baking. Usually, he liked to clear up the kitchen after dinner because it offended his OCD sensibilities.

Cheesy Christmas songs played in the background, adding to the festive vibe. None of us were fans of the season, but I couldn't help smiling anyway, much to my surprise.

I ducked my head around the door to see Eva lifting a heavy baking tray out of the oven. Just as she turned, her apron caught on the oven door, and I clocked the exact moment she realized the tray was in jeopardy of tumbling to the stone floor.

"No!" she cried, but before she dropped it, I was there.

The fucking thing was blisteringly hot, but I grabbed it anyway, placing it down on the granite worktop.

"Oh my god, you've burned your hands!" She looked at me in horror. "Are you crazy?"

Irritation sliced through me. I didn't need anyone fussing over me, least of all a human.

"I'll be fine," I snapped. My jaw locked, and I closed my eyes for a moment, forcing my temper down.

"No, seriously, you need to get something on those burns!" She tried to reach out for my hands, but I jumped back. Hurt flashed across her face, but she didn't touch me again.

"Eva, just fucking leave it. I heal fast. By morning, my hands will be fine."

"But I don't want you to be hurt!" Something jagged in her voice made my chest feel heavy. Her pretty blue eyes glistened with tears and my wolf howled in my head. He was angry with me for upsetting her. Well, fuck him.

I ground my teeth and took a deep breath. "I've had a lot worse, trust me." The cookies distracted me; they smelled divine. Thank fuck they hadn't ended up on the floor.

"Really?" she sniffed, looking unconvinced.

"Yeah, been shot, stabbed, hit by a truck, bitten many, many times, and broken multiple bones."

The color leeched from her cheeks, and her jaw dropped. "How are you still here?"

I shrugged. "Like I said, we heal fast. Unless it's a mortal wound or the blood loss is too severe, we usually pull through." I glanced at the cookies again, my irritation forgotten. "Are these for us?"

Eva flushed. God, she was fucking adorable. Not that I planned to let her know that.

"Yes, it was supposed to be a surprise. Guess you may as well have one."

"Guess I will." I reached out and grabbed a cookie. It practically melted in my mouth with a burst of sweetness and tart blueberries. Delicious. I had to admit, I was impressed.

"This is good," I told her, and she beamed.

"Really?"

"No, it's awful," I replied, deadpan, then instantly regretted it when her face fell with disappointment. Fuck, why was I such an asshole?

"Oh, maybe I messed up the recipe."

"Eva…" I reached out and touched her wrist. She was so tiny. I could snap her delicate wrist with two fingers. She jumped in surprise, not used to the casual contact. "I was kidding, baby, it's perfect."

A smile quirked my lips as she folded her arms across her chest and glared at me. "Then why be such a dick?"

My half-smile turned into a full-blown grin. My kitten had come a long way in the last couple of weeks.

"Because that's who I am, baby. Better get used to it. I'm not a nice guy like Cole or Silas." She bit her plump lower lip and my traitorous cock thickened in my pants. I liked this new attitude a bit too much.

"I don't need you to be a nice guy," she whispered. "Just stop acting like you don't care." She turned away from me and I reached out, grabbing her wrist again.

"Does it matter if I care?" I was curious.