† Sage †

The worst part was that she was right.

In the safety of my car parked far away from the training grounds, I sniffed my oils and let the tears fall freely. If I blacked out here it would be okay.

I knew better than to react like that, but I’d been so scared the brute of a man would hurt her that I’d jumped in without thinking. I let anger and fear overwhelm me, giving into the rushing warmth that I was old enough to tamper down, with no thought about what I’d do in that state.

The ghost of my father’s worried face came to me as a memory. I was happy and begged him to sing again, not knowing why he’d stopped.

And then I was frustrated. He continued to hum as he put my hands into the bowl of ice water.

“We have to learn to control your emotions so you don’t hurt anyone.”

That’s exactly what I’d just done.

Coral was more than embarrassed. I’d crossed some sort of imaginary line and could see it in her eyes. She wanted to prove to these

people that she was strong enough to belong. I knew she wasn’t a little girl anymore and I couldn’t fight her battles all the time, but that Alpha had felt wrong and tainted in some way.

It wasn’t even me being worried about the way he parented Kera.

My gut said it was worse than that. He wasn’t a good man.

What does that say about the whole pack?

Even Maddock seemed to uphold his brother’s rule, but there was no doubt in my mind that he wouldn’t have let the jerk hurt Coral.

I’d felt the wolf’s emotions as clear as my own and the overwhelming need to protect us for some reason. And then when he hugged me…

That was intense.

It was the opposite of ice water. Warmth and sparks danced along my skin, but it had the same effect. Like the man had coaxed my frustration from me and left a soothing balm.

Groaning into my hands, I wiped the tears from my eyes and then put away the oils.

I was a hot mess.

One wet dream and I was making the man into some kind of idol.

Thinking about him was just an escape from the real issue.

Coral was right.

I messed up.

She’s old enough to make her own decisions.

Now that I was steadier, I turned the car on and started to drive. I didn’t want to go back to the cabin because I’d be useless there until dinnertime.

Maybe I should have taken Maddock up on his offer. The man seemed so strict that I wondered what was his idea of fun.

Shut up, dream slut.

My fingers drummed against the steering wheel as I sat at the turnoff at the end of the road. I needed to do something to stay busy so I didn’t make a fool of myself again. If Coral was doing her best to fit in, then it was time for me to help.

From a distance of course.

Checking my face in the rearview mirror, I nodded once at my reflection before turning right toward the town to see what we had to work with.

*

“Excuse me, do you know who owns this building?” I tried to stop an elderly man heading toward the market that was just starting to set up, but

like the other two that had passed, he gave me a pleasant smile and wide berth as he hurried away.

Frustrated, I tried the handle again. Chains rattled behind the old wooden door that stood at least eight foot tall and arched to the roof. The

windows were covered in a layer of grime so thick I could only make out an overturned table pressed against the wall.

Of all the buildings I’d scoped out, this was the only one that resembled some sort of cafe. Big windows allowed natural light for dining guests. Prime placement in the center of the town.

It was more than instinct. I felt it in my bones that this structure had a kitchen, but there were no signs or information about its owners. I needed City Hall records or something.

Do they keep that type of data here?

Before I went with a proposal to whoever was running this town– which I seriously hoped wasn’t the Alpha after our run in this morning–I had to make sure this was a viable plan.

There has to be a back entrance.

If my theory was right, this couldn’t be the only door. You can’t bring raw food and waste through the dining room.

I left my car parked on the cobblestone street and jogged down the broken sidewalk to the alley I’d seen while driving past. The corner turn brought me right across the road from the inn. I was about to duck into the alley when the bell chimed.

Exactly who I wanted to see. I rolled my eyes and kept walking, hoping Lennox hadn’t noticed me.

No such luck.

He crossed the distance between us faster than a normal human would.

Well, Sage. He’s a shifter. Better get used to it.

“What’s the hurry, little witch?” His voice was teasing, but I clenched my fists at my sides when he called me that. It was probably my messed-up dream, but I only wanted to hear that term of weird endearment from one shifter’s lips.

Stop thinking about him.

I calmed my crazy ass down with a deep inhale and focused on the sensation of ice water. “I’m trying to figure out who owns the building with the arched glass windows and hoped there would be some information in

the back since no one in this town will talk to me.”

“No one?” Lennox smirked, adopting my pace with an easy gait as he sniffed the air. “Or just the men?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I studied his profile, recalling the scene at the training grounds before the Alpha arrived and I’d been

dismissed by my sister. If the men here had a problem with women, we were going to have issues because I didn’t usually keep my mouth shut.

Lennox laughed. “He hasn’t marked you yet.”

All sorts of confusion set my already tested emotions ablaze. “Who hasn’t and what mark are you talking about?”

The shifter leaned against the brick wall of a building and smiled as he shrugged. “Since Maddock’s scent is all over you, I’m not even going to pretend like I want to get mixed up in this situation. But the men won’t speak with you while you’re…together… with him in this way.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to dispute his accusations, but my brain caught up before I formed the words. Maybe it was the light of day or my

new acceptance that this place did, in fact, exist, but Lennox wasn’t freaking me out so much.

If him assuming Maddock and me were together was keeping his

crudeness in check, then I could indulge in a lie of omission. Besides, the opportunity presented itself on a silver platter. Lennox was the only other

business owner I’d met in this town and I needed answers before I could do anything else.

“So, the women will speak to me. Good to know.” I filed that information away for later. “In the meantime, since you’re talking to me

now, who owns this building and is there a way I can get in touch with them to take a tour?”

His eyes were shaded as he leaned in the shadows and I couldn’t read his face, but his sigh was almost pained sounding. “Bordeau used to own

the tavern, but he left when his daughters came of age. Both of them found their mates in the Amarock pack.”

“It does have a kitchen.” I almost snapped my fingers. Another point scored in the instinct department. “Who owns it now?”

“It looks like you want that position.” He chuckled. “Come on. I’ll walk you around to the back and open the door.”

My jaw about dropped to the pavement. No way was it going to be this easy. “Wait. Just like that? I need permits and licenses. Is there a Department of Health representative around here?”

Lennox cocked his head to the side. “You say a lot of meaningless words. If you want the building, it’s yours. No one is using it.”

I ignored his insult, too shocked to fight back. “But someone has to grant me permission to operate a business. I’ll need to pay taxes and establish a legal claim.”

He tsked as he resumed walking. “What kind of backwards world is the purist city like anyway? Stake your claim and defend it yourself. If you need help, I’m sure your–er–the enforcer will be happy to lend his

protection.”

I followed him to the back of the building. Hope was making me lightheaded and giddy.

This was really happening.

I’d definitely need to check with Maddock though to make sure Lennox wasn’t messing with me.

“This might be good for my business. Get them drunk enough to need rooms for the night. It’s been a while since I’ve had more than a customer or two at a time.” The shifter came to a stop at a single wood door.

I didn’t correct him on the fact that I didn’t have a liquor license. I

was too busy bouncing on the balls of my feet. Maybe Maddock can get one and sell his whiskey!

“If you don’t have customers then how do you stay open?” I waited for him to pull out a key.

“The inn is my home.” He shrugged. “Old habits die hard, I guess.” He pushed open the unlocked door and stepped to the side, bowing as

I passed.

“Just like that?” I eyed him warily.

“Just like that.” He rose to his full height and gave a flirty wink. “Have fun.”

Fun.

A smile spread across my face as my mind began whirling with all the possibilities.

*

Bless science, what is that smell?

I pinched my nose as I surveyed the galley style kitchen. A wooden butcher’s block counter lined the length of the wall from the ice box to the sink on the right. The water ran clear after a few sputters of rust so that was

a plus. Shelves of old dinnerware hung above it. An eight-burner stove, double ovens, and cast-iron grill plate took up the left wall.

Everything was coated in layers of grime and dust. Old grease was caked on the burners so thick I could run a finger through it. Cobwebs and bird droppings lined the exposed beams on the ceiling and coated the

shelves full of plates.

And something smelled so awful in here that I was sure it had died twice.

Gagging and still trying to see through the tears blinding my eyes, I made my way through the double doors swinging on rusty hinges.

The front room wasn’t large, but there were a few wooden tables with picnic style benches and a massive bar counter that took the length of the back wall.

Down the side hallway were two small bathrooms and a manager’s office. One chair, one desk, and a stack of yellowed blank pages were the only thing left behind. Other than the furniture and the dishes, every bit of personalization and clues to this building’s history were removed.

I walked back to the main room and looked it over with fresh eyes now that I could almost breathe through the smell. The chains on the

massive wood doors had no lock, but the left door was hanging on by a busted hinge.

I heaved the door open as carefully as I could, testing its weight, and hoping it wouldn’t come crashing down on me.

With fresh air and light coming in, it didn’t look so bad. I could do this. It’d be a lot of work, but I could handle it.

Something screeched overhead and dove down from the exposed wood beams. A fuzzy black thing had me screaming and ducking for cover as it flew toward my hair and then escaped outside.

Threat averted, I stood slowly and brushed myself off as I took a few calming breaths.

I could totally do this. No problem at all.

*

Women and men were carrying crates to the market as they continued to get set up for the day.

I’d need to check that out and see if there were any locals willing to work out wholesale pricing on produce. But first, I needed cleaning supplies.

There were some jars of a borax looking cleaner at home… I mean, back at Maddock’s cabin. I’d grab those and some rags to get started.

The turnoff to the training grounds was up ahead and I forced myself not to look down the road. Coral’s eighteenth birthday was in two weeks.

She was almost an adult. We’d escaped Ethica so she could have a life of freedom. I had to give her that too.

I was one hundred percent okay with it. And I was not lying to myself.

I hurried to grab the cleaning supplies and a broom.

Back in my restaurant that needed a name, I got to work on scrubbing. I was there for hours, losing myself in the meticulous motions, and working until my fingers were raw.

Staying busy was good.

It didn’t leave much time to think on more than the task in front of me. I was really starting my own restaurant. Coral had her new life and this was going to be mine. It was a shitty past that we’d been given, but I was determined to make the best of the future.

Even if it was a future where Coral didn’t need me anymore.

*

The sun was beginning to set when I looked up from the main room floor to wring a rag in the bucket of water. Two wolves I’d never seen

before poked their heads through the open doors and watched me curiously before sniffing the air with a growl.

My heart did a little flip of panic before I remembered what was wrong.

Right. The dead things.

I’d grown used to the smell and still hadn’t found the source.

“We’re not open yet, but come back soon.” I rocked onto my heels and gave them a pleasant smile, not sure if shifters could actually hear me

in wolf form. But like I always told Coral, first impressions were important. I needed potential customers to feel welcome here.

The larger wolf with a tan coat nudged the smaller gray wolf in her side and both stepped through the doorway, ignoring what I’d said.

I slowly rose to stand as I felt the flicker of fear again. What if these were like real, real wolves?

I had no frame of reference to tell shifters and normal wolves apart, but there was a keen intelligence in their eyes so I took a chance.

I spread my arms out wide and motioned to the room. “As you can see, I have my work cut out for me. But give me a few days to get this up and running. I’ll have something to offer you then.”

The larger wolf sniffed again and I swear on my life it made a smirking motion with the curl of its lip as it turned to leave. The smaller gray wolf hung back a moment longer, watching me with a curious intensity. She nodded her head and lowered her jaw to her paws as if I’d passed some sort of inspection before trotting across the street.

What was that about?

I stretched out my back, tossing the rag in the bucket. It was time to call it a day anyway.

The light was fading fast so I dragged the doors back in and attached the chains to the handle. Coral would be wanting dinner soon. Then again, she was almost an adult now.

Maybe it was time she started cooking for herself.

*

The windows of the cabin were glowing with a warm amber light against the darkness of the forest and the smell of cooking meat drifted in the air as I opened the door to my car.

Crap.

I was only kidding about Coral making dinner. She was going to burn the house down.

I rushed inside, ready to combat flames, only to find something hotter at the stove.

Maddock stood barefoot in the kitchen with the top few buttons on his flannel shirt undone and his hair a tussled mess on top of his head as he

seared a chunk of steak.

“I hope you’re hungry.” His bluish gray eyes turned to me as he licked his bottom lip. Warmth spread through my stomach, trailing down my hips, and gathered in my core.

I locked my drooling dream slut down, blinking to make sure I was awake and this wasn’t a hallucination.

That toxic radiation was really getting to me.