Page 24 of Cold Moon

“Incredible.”

Near the middle of the bar, Alpha Grove was calling the pack to order. There was a guy sitting at the table nearest to him, leaning in over his knees like he wanted to plaster himself to the alpha’s side.

That was when I recognized him, the guy from the woods who’d gotten Brook out. Colt, the alpha’s mate.

Alpha Grove started talking pack business, keeping it mundane at first—the holiday gift exchange was coming up for the pack, and they’d have a party here at The Cider House for anyone who wanted to come. He said the Hagen sisters were setting up the candlelight tour downtown that year, and anyone who was interested in caroling should talk to Rowan or Becca Tartt.

Then, he started talking about Sterling. I felt Skye tense beside me and budged over to press against his side.

He kept things pretty mild, saying only that it’d been brought to his attention that there might be an ingredient or chemical in Sterling products that exacerbated the Condition, advising that Ambrosia Grocery, Chadwick’s Grille, and The Cider House were already in the process of removing Sterling food products from their lineup. He asked his pack to be on the lookout, and assured them that he and others were taking steps to reveal and remove the problem.

That, of course, was followed by dozens of questions from startled wolves. Alpha Grove walked a fine line between being firm and assuring them that he was working on solutions, but he didn’t answer much directly. I got the impression, after the whole day spent listening to Ridge, that there weren’t many solid answers yet, just an inkling. But if we could work together with each other and Doctor Grove, we could find not only what was causing the reaction, but why.

Still, Skye kept his head down, and I got the feeling he wouldn’t mind shrinking back from all the soft frowns sent his way, but I was there against the wall, blocking him from hiding. All I could do was bump his knee with mine and meet his nervous smile with one of my own.

“Finally,” Alpha Grove said, “I’d like to introduce you to a guest of the pack. Dante Reid was wounded by the Reid pack in the skirmish a couple weeks ago. He’ll be staying here a while, assisting Ridge with a few matters at the farm.”

There were some dissatisfied murmurs, and across the room, Ridge Paterson lifted his hand and waved.

I froze in my seat, hanging my head. Suddenly, there was a warm weight on top of my hand in my lap. It was Skye, working his fingers into my tightly clenched fist to open it up and lend his support.

Time stopped. I stared at him, and though he swallowed anxiously, he offered me another smile.

I turned my hand over, opening it up so I could thread my fingers through his. His cheeks went pink, and—

“Dante helped me escape the Reids back in August,” Brook announced to the whole room. “I’m glad he’s here now.”

I stared at him, and he looked a little pale, a little worried, but he nodded at me. “I am,” he said softer.

Aspen’s arm snaked around his waist.

Across the room, Colt nodded and caught my eye. “He made sure Brook and I found each other out in the woods. Made sure we got him back without anyone getting hurt.”

I wanted to shrink and disappear, but Skye’s hand flexed on mine, and that was reason enough to stay where I was.

Alpha Grove voiced his support again, but my ears were ringing as he invited the whole pack out for a run through the woods at the edge of town.

“Do you want to go?” Aspen asked Brook.

Brook shook his head. “I think I’d rather just run with you tonight, away from the pack.”

He was probably feeling raw and vulnerable, and I understood why he’d want to be away from everybody just then.

“We could give you a ride home,” Brook suggested, looking my way. Aspen’s face lost its sweet concern and he nodded.

But there I was, sitting on a bench in The Cider House, my hand wrapped gently around Skye’s. I didn’t want to move. I definitely didn’t want to get up and leave him right then, when the warmth of his palm radiated against mine and he squeezed like he didn’t want to let me go either.

“I appreciate it,” I said, “but I think I’ll find my own way home tonight.”

With a furrow to his brow, Brook hung back, but all too soon, they were sliding out of the booth and bidding us goodbye. All the while, I held onto Skye’s hand, just because it felt nice.

When we were alone, I angled toward him. “So, did you want to run tonight? You and I—we could run. Together. If you wanted.”

14

Skye

Dante wanted me to run with him. And not only that, but he wasn’t looking at me like he was afraid I’d break. And Brook and Aspen hadn’t even hesitated in leaving us alone together, so that was the next best thing to giving their blessing.

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