Page 14 of Bear Haven
“That was unpleasant,” she said. “What do you suppose she means by weird and strange?”
“I don’t know, but it sure seemed she was trying to hint at…” He shook his head. “I have no idea. Things were definitely off with her.”
“She’s not a shifter, right?”
“No. Your Spidey senses weren’t tingling?” he teased.
Bex nudged him in the shoulder. “Ass.”
“I wouldn’t tell Gus you were ogling me. He might rip me apart and then where would you be when Mildred shows up again?”
“She did seem to take a liking to you.”
“Winning over one or two of them would be helpful. We’ll need to be careful I don’t know how much we’ll be able to hide from them.”
“Do you think I should’ve sold the house? Is this a a bad idea?” It wasn’t the first time she’d had the thought, but it was the first time she’d voiced to anyone else. She hadn’t even mentioned her concerns to Gus. He’d have hugged her and told her they’d work out whatever she wanted to do. Michael, though? He usually told anyone what he thought. No sugar coating. No sweetness. Just blunt honesty.
That’s what she needed now.
“No. I don’t think so. I actually think the safest place for something like this is kind of front and center. If the Mayor is smart, he’ll stay the hell away. Too many eyes. He may have had political pull and power in North Carolina, but he has none here in Tennessee.”
“But you heard him? He’s got people all over the country.”
“Never underestimate the power of the common person. We see him as an enemy, someone who needs to be dealt with. Your neighbors would likely see him as a nuisance and be the first to call the authorities.”
“I don’t think we need the cops hanging around, asking questions. Do you think Lydia could’ve seen the Mayor and the armed men with him? Seen them toss Marcel on the lawn?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t check to see where she lives, but it would be in our best interest to find out. Not only where she lives, but where they all live. Except Bill. We know where he is. Everything is going to be okay. We’ll all make sure of it.”
Bex narrowed her gaze. “You’re being really nice. What’s up with you?”
“I’m a naturally nice guy.”
“That’s a load of crap.”
Bex snickered at the not so quiet mutter from one of the Blackwood pack wolves. That Michael seemed to physically bristle at it, made it even funnier.
“Hey, no one asked for peanut gallery commentary.”
“Just callin’ it like I see it.”
“You don’t even know me, Wolf.
“I know you think you’re better than us.”
“Really? That’s what you think?”
“Isn’t it?”
“I’m just tryin’ to survive, same as all of you.”
“Nah, man. It’s not the same as us. It’ll never be the same as us. You’re not on the outside lookin’ in on all the other packs.”
“Most of us, we simply stick with our family. At least the ones I’ve come across. We aren’t some large connected, network of a den. We’re small families here and there. We’re as endangered as you are when it comes to what’s going on with shifters. We’re being picked off one by one same as others. You didn’t see that man’s house. The heads. The pelts and skins. God, it was a fucking nightmare. I don’t think we’re better than wolves, but I do think most of us are more careful.”
“More careful?”
“Y’all act like you’re your shit don’t stink, like you’re bigger and badder than any other shifters. That you rule all. And if any of us are going to survive, none of us can think like that. We have to do this together.”
