Page 41 of Truth or Pack

Taryn

Well, once we get the food, we can swing by to pick you up.

Ash

Sounds like a plan.

I pocketed my phone and picked up the door with its frame and moved carefully through the store until I had it in its spot.

Deb showed up with a hammer and nails and I told her where to drive the first one. A smile spread across her lips and I thought I saw excitement in her eyes.

"Oh, if Harv could see me now," she said as she pounded the second nail into place, cackling gleefully like this was the most fun she’d had in years.

"What do you even need me for?" I teased as she went on to the next one.

"To hold the door," she answered simply, giving me a wry grin.

She had me there.

I made a mental note that we needed to check back in on her in a couple days to make sure she got everything fixed up.

Deb finally lowered the hammer and stepped back to admire her handiwork. "What do I owe you guys for your help?"

"Nothing," I answered, shaking my head. "We are just glad that we could help. When we came into town today, we planned on finding out where we could be useful."

"I can't accept charity. Harv would be turning in his grave if I did," she stated with a resolute shake of her head, her gray curlsbouncing as she did. "What's your omega like? Maybe there’s something in the store that you can take back to her."

"Books," I said flatly. We hadn't talked much about likes and dislikes yet and I felt stupid that I hadn't asked her yet.

"Well, I don't have much in the way of these here, but there is something in the back that I've kept for just a special occasion," she told me as she headed towards the far end.

"Honestly, you don't have to. It was our pleasure to be of service," I said, a little louder than normal so maybe she would hear me.

There was a smile on her face as she reappeared with something shimmering in her hands. The closer she got the wider her smile got and I noticed it was a bejeweled crown. There were different shades of purple inlaid in the silver metal and it was amazing.

“I hear those book girls love crowns,” she said triumphantly.

"How much do you want for it?" I asked. There was no way that I would take this for free.

"Nothing," Deb answered, narrowing her eyes. This old beta and I were a lot alike.

"I'm gonna pay you something. I wouldn't feel right leaving with it, if I didn't," I explained.

She thrust it towards me, "No, I insist. It would have taken me days to clean all of this up. An exchange for the labor."

With a faux sigh, I took it and returned her smile. Since I was going to come back, I’d pay her back in some way.

"Thanks, Deb. Taryn is going to love this," I said, letting her wrap it up for me, before I left.

“Go win over your girl.”

Holt was carrying out the food with my phone buzzed.

Ash

Ready when you guys are.

Taryn

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