“Of course they are. We’re fashionista rock stars. Not everyone’s cut out to be a moonshine dealer.”
We laughed long and hard, laughter you can only share with your best friend. The kind that ends in tears, cramped stomachs, and embarrassing snorts. The kind that measures a friendship, reminding you just how unbreakable that bond really is.
Time was of the essence, and we were in survival mode. Hope had spoken with all three dealers on the phone and scheduled meetings, but that meant losing time needed to prepare for our grand opening. Somehow we had to race out of town, secure a deal, and haul ass to get back and set up the store.
The first thing we did was figure out transportation. Since Hope had to drive to San Antonio first then back up to Waco, I told her to keep the car we shared. That worked out for the best because borrowing one from her old pack would only raise questions, and we didn’t need the added stress of Lorenzo Church sticking his nose in our business. He was extremely protective of his daughter, and that would never change, whether she was twenty-four or six hundred. That was just the way alphas were. It was easier for me to borrow a car from my family without receiving the third degree.
When the doorbell rang, I finished changing into my pajamas and dashed down the hallway toward the front door. “Coming!”
Hope flattened her back against the wall as I rushed past her into the living room.
Out of breath, I swung the door open and looked up at a tall man with large brown curls. Uncle Will had the kind of messy hair that women swooned over, not that he ever noticed.
He held a set of keys between two fingers and jingled them. “May I ask what this clandestine meeting is about?”
I snatched the keys and stepped back to let him in. “Can I get you something to drink?”
The door closed behind him. “I would love some absinthe.”
“I see your sense of humor is still intact.” After padding into the kitchen, I pulled a bottle of root beer from the fridge. “Thanks for coming on short notice. Sorry to be all secretive about borrowing your car, but take a seat, and I’ll explain. And don’t worry about paying for a cab to get home. That’s on me.”
Will swaggered over to our large kitchen island and sat down. After setting the bottle in front of him, I switched on the mosaic pendant lights, the soft glow from the three bulbs illuminating the granite countertop.
“How’s the family?” I asked, taking a seat across from him.
He popped the lid off his bottle, and a small cloud of moisture hovered on the rim. “Eager to attend your grand opening.”
“Well, they don’t have to come if they don’t want to. I mean, I’d love for them to come, but if they’re busy—”
“We’re coming. Do you think we would miss the most important day of your life? You seem more nervous than usual. Mustn’t worry. It’ll be fine.”
“It’s nerve-racking when it’s your own shop.”
He pushed his bottle forward and folded his arms on the counter. Uh-oh. I could sense the serious talk coming.
“Mel, you know I counsel packs. It’s what I do. Not just with Packmasters, but I help people create goals and work out problems. I want to take off my uncle hat for a minute. Anytime you need to talk privately to someone, my door is open. Whatever we talk about will remain confidential, just as it is with my paid clients. Moving out of a pack is a tough transition, but it’s an important test of one’s strength. The yearning to belong never diminishes. I’ve seen young women make decisions in haste—mating with men they didn’t love in order to be part of a pack again.”
I chuckled softly. “You don’t have to worry about that. I quit dating two years ago.”
Tension filled the room, and he furrowed his brow. “Did something happen?”
“No, it’s nothing like that.” I was hesitant about laying it all out.
He sensed my reluctance and eased forward with those kind eyes of his. “I won’t judge you.”
I peered around him to make sure Hope wasn’t in the room. “I grew up with two parents who have the most explosive chemistry on the planet. What’s the point of going through the motions of relationshipping when I don’t feel a fraction of that chemistry with any of the men I date? My parents set the bar unrealistically high, and I have serious doubts that there’s anyone out there who could make me feel that loved. Anyhow, I have too much going on with the business. Or maybe I’ll put off dating until I’m a hundred.”
He pursed his lips and studied me for a moment. “You won’t be able to resist the pull toward pack life for long. There’s no reason to rush into dating, but keep in mind that it’s better for you to join a pack through mating. It gets… complicated when single Shifters enter a pack.”
My uncle was right. Sometimes it worked out, but I’d heard stories over the years about new packmates causing a stir. A woman entering without a mate would catch the eye of more than one single man in the house, disrupting the harmony within the pack, and the same might apply with gender roles reversed. The idea of an unplanned pregnancy was terrifying. Without a mate, who will keep me from humping the first available man when I go into heat? At least with Hope around, I had someone to make sure I didn’t leave my room and do something stupid during those days. What if the pack I choose doesn’t have a heat house or separate facility for me to stay in during my time of need? What if I have one of those single Packmasters who decides it’s his job to slide my panties down and give me orgasms without sex to shorten the duration? How weird would that be if I didn’t even like him? I shuddered.
“The idea of living with another pack is terrifying,” I admitted.
He laced his fingers together. “So is being a lone wolf. Eventually the need to bond with a family will become overwhelming. Keep your heart open to possibilities. There’s no need to rush into mating, but don’t close the door either. You could wind up shutting out your soul mate.” Will sat back and relaxed his shoulders. “Just remember that I’m here when you need to talk. It’s good that you and Hope have each other to lean on. But if she mates with someone first, you’ll be left alone.”
I hadn’t thought about that. My chest tightened at the idea of losing Hope to a mate. When young wolves moved out of packs, it was common for them to live in groups—especially women—until they mated or found a pack of their own. I didn’t have anyone else except my brothers, and I didn’t want to live with them.
“Thanks, Uncle Will. My parents gave me advice since they both lived alone for a long time. Probably too long. It might not seem like it, but I really love my independence. Just don’t get the wrong idea if I come home a lot for dinner. It doesn’t mean I want to move back in. I just miss it. You know?”
“Indeed.” He reached out and placed his hand on mine—a consoling touch that I needed more than I realized. “We’re proud of you, Mel. It’s not easy being an assertive female in business affairs. Just ask the women in our pack. It intimidates a lot of men in the community who don’t strive as hard. If anyone threatens you, let us know. We’ll always have your back.”
My eyes darted away.
“What’s wrong?” He leaned in tight, and it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Male Shifters possessed a palpable energy when provoked or in protective mode, and he missed nothing.