Page 44 of Wolf's Providence

“Because we need to find who’s been targeting you,” he said, his voice darkening. “Whoever they are, they’ve been careful, really careful, but sooner or later, they’ll slip up. The fact you’ve seen them may be the best clue.”

“Yeah, let’s hope so.” We were walking through the town now. Cannon lived right in the center, and we passed a few more people on our way. I began to notice the looks because this pack was not hiding their disapproval.

“Do these people know you?” I asked Caleb, my voice barely a whisper.

“No.” His scowl was etched deep now, and I wasn’t sure why.

“So, it’s me?” I guessed. “Why are they staring like they’ve never seen a human before?”

“Ignore them.”

Well, that wasn’t helpful, or comforting. “Are we walking into a fight?” I asked in the same whisper.

“No.” He gave me a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll be gone soon.”

He was right. If they didn’t like a human on their mountain, I got it, I did. I had taken up pack resources, so maybe I had outstayed my welcome. If I had ever been welcome to begin with. My gut told me it was more than that, but my head told me to tackle one problem at a time.

The door to Cannon’s house opened as we walked up the path. A stunning woman about my age stood there in leggings and a T-shirt, but her lack of winter clothing didn’t draw my attention, it was her pure white hair. She looked at me from head to toe and then did the same to Caleb.

She and Caleb shared a look, and I was going to attempt to break the awkward silence when she suddenly stepped back.

“He’s in the study, he’s expecting you,” she told him. Her eyes flicked to me again, and once more, I received a once-over.

“Hi?” I wasn’t a confrontational person, but I also respected good manners.

I didn’t expect her to grin or look at Caleb with amusement. “Hi,” she told me. “Nice to see you on your feet again,” she added. “You look well.” Her amusement was clear as she carried on. “Relaxed.”

“Kezia.” Cannon’s voice came from behind her, and then he was in the doorway. I watched in fascination as he slipped his arm around her, pulling her back into his body. It was possessive but also oddly endearing. “Excuse my mate,” he grumbled. “Manners of a goat sometimes.”

“I was just saying they looked well rested,” she told him, looking up at him with a smirk.

I didn’t hear his reply, but her look turned heated, and Caleb cleared his throat.

“Do we do this here or inside?” he asked them both.

“Come in,” Cannon told him. His mate hesitated, looking between us again. “Go, it won’t take long, I’ll join you,” he assured her.

Kezia looked like she wanted to argue, but instead, she shrugged and went back inside. She came back almost as quickly.

“Travel safe,” she told me. “It really is good to see you well.” Her attention switched to Caleb. “Not everyone willunderstand,” she said seriously. “If it doesn’t matter to you now, make sure it doesn’t matter then.”

I felt him bristle, but she was gone again, and Cannon was looking between us both with a frown. “You better come in.”

“What is happening?” I asked Caleb as we followed Cannon inside.

“It’s nothing.”

When we were in his study, a place I remembered well, I sat as Cannon closed the doors. Like last time, Caleb chose to stand.

“It’s not nothing,” Cannon said with a hard look at Caleb. “It’s a whole lot of something, and you know it.”

“I didn’t ask for your opinion.”

“I don’t give a fuck if you did or not. I’m giving Willow my opinion because she deserves to know. This”—he gestured between us—“won’t be accepted by some.”

“What is ‘this’?” I asked, talking quickly before Caleb lost his temper. “Is Caleb not welcome here because of what happened with his pack?”

Cannon looked momentarily perplexed at my question and then shook his head. “His pack? No. This has to do with you. Both of you.”

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