Page 37 of Altius
After bidding farewell to the cats, I opened the front door, only to find all four affiliates of Pack Redmond in the hallway.
A surprise that paled in comparison to the fact Wyatt was wearing jeans. Not baggy shorts or sweatpants. Actual pants. With a zipper.
“Good morning!” Alijah’s tone and smile were too bright for such an early hour. At least he was wearing proper winter accessories. “Guess what? We’re carpooling.”
Owen straightened his glasses, wearing head-to-toe black winter gear. “It’s more efficient.”
“Hope you don’t mind,” Wyatt said, although it wasn’t a question.
If Dr. Sethi caught wind of us traveling together, she might be tempted to make a fuss—and she was welcome to try. Solong as Wyatt safely delivered me to work, she had no right to complain or police his passengers.
I shot a glance at Joaquin as we headed toward the elevator. He shuffled along in threadbare flannel pajama pants and a leather jacket, practically glued to Alijah’s side, but I figured he was just seeing us off. The preppy and well-pressed Alijah would never let his mate go out in public like that.
Despite seeming like a sleepwalker, Joaquin still pressed the call button and held the elevator door for everyone.
“Go Narwhals.” He yawned. “Text me, babe.”
“I will.” Alijah placed a hand on Joaquin’s shoulder, using it as an anchor to pop up for a quick kiss goodbye. “Now go back to bed.”
Joaquin nodded. As the door slid shut, he tilted his head to the side, opening his eyes just wide enough to stun me with their wolfish intensity. “Looking good, doc.”
Ignore him, I told myself. Ignore all of them. Focus on the game.
Easier said than done, with Alijah asking question after question about my family’s Thanksgiving and Wyatt opening every door between the elevator and Owen’s metallic red hybrid SUV for me, including the one to the front passenger seat.
I was about to protest, thinking Owen should sit up front, but the head alpha solved the problem by taking the driver’s seat—as if he would ever let anyone else drive his car.
Alijah ran out of questions as we drove over the bridge, allowing me to enjoy a moment of silence and the sweeping views of downtown glittering in the sunlight. The momentary reprieve allowed my own curiosity to creep forward.
If Wyatt didn’t need to drive, why was he tagging along?
I glanced over my shoulder, giving his outfit a critical once-over. Green knit hat, matching scarf, Northport sweatshirt, anda puffer jacket with gloves hanging out of the pocket. Dressed for the elements. Not a morning in the gym.
“You don’t have practice?”
“Not today,” he said, failing to tamp down the mischief in his blue eyes.
Alijah leaned forward, hands resting on either side of my seat, fingertips grazing my shoulders. “Are you going to attend gymnastics practices like you do football?” he asked. “Or just go to meets?”
“Only the women’s home meets, but Dr. Flemming might have me drop in on a few practices so I can get to know the girls.”
“What about football playoffs?”
“You’re stuck with me until the Narwhals lose.”
A quick smile of reassurance over my shoulder did the trick. The pinched crease between his brows faded away.
“Reyhan and I might even be allowed to travel with the team for a game or two if they make it to the playoffs.”
“That’s abigif. The defensive line is in terrible shape.” Alijah rested his chin on the back of my seat. “Were there a lot of injuries during their last game or something?”
I glanced at Owen, who seemed focused on driving. The subtle flex of his fingers on the wheel indicated he was paying careful attention to our conversation, which a covert sideways glance in my direction confirmed.
Unprepared to find me watching him, Owen shifted his gaze back toward the road. He reapplied his hands at the proper driving position—ten and two—and gripped the wheel tightly.
It appeared I was getting better at peering through his façade, because it was obvious he was worried about what I might say to his most sensitive packmate.
“Not during the game,” I said tactfully. “More like wrong place at the wrong time during practice.”
