Page 11 of Secrets and S'mores
“You’re Jasper’s sister, right?” Indigo asks.
“Yeah. Nice to meet you,” she says, though her tone is flat.
My eyebrow shoots up at the way Indigo’s hand comes up to cover Briar’s. Big brother instincts kick in and I’m tempted to pull them apart. Only a sharp look from Briar keeps me in my place.
The pack stirs as Hazel and Slate enter the meadow. With a light touch on Ember’s elbow, I leadher toward them. She jerks her arm away but thankfully follows my lead.
“Careful, you were almost nice there to my sister,” I say, leaning closer to her.
She scowls up at me. “Yeah, I’m typically nice to decent people.”
“What does that say about me?” I ask, slapping my hand over my heart with a dramatic sigh.
“I would think that is obvious.”
That’s a dangerously flirty response from someone who despises me. My pulse thuds faster. Before I can come up with a reply, we’re interrupted.
“Ember, I hope you’re hungry. Fried chicken is my favorite thing Crickett makes,” Hazel says, waving her forward. I trail behind, playing the obedient bodyguard.
Slate reaches out and grips my shoulder, leaning in to talk. “Doing okay?”
“Great,” I say, only slightly sarcastic.
Plates clink as we start down the buffet. Ember pinches her lush bottom lip between her teeth as she places fried chicken and roasted vegetables on her plate. I suspect she’s hyper aware of the packmates lining up behind us from the way her gaze flickers around nervously.
“See, I told you we have the best food,” I murmur as we exit the line. Her dark eyes travel from her plate to me and a hint of a smile curves her mouth before she turns away. Puffing up my chest, I follow Hazel and Slate to their favorite table on the edge of the trees.
Ember hesitantly takes the seat on the end, and I slide onto the bench beside her. Hazel and Slate settle across from us. Even once Cedar sits on Slate’s other side, the table feels empty without Jasper and Marigold.
“You guys eat together like this every day? It’s like some sort of celebration,” Ember says with a curious tilt of her head.
Slate’s brows furrow as he looks up at her. “Yes, of course. What does Granite Ridge do?”
“Um,” Ember flounders, “It’s not a social thing like this.”
Hazel grimaces. “Think more prison cafeteria and less restaurant.”
“That sounds appealing,” I say dryly, not missing how Ember’s mouth pinches.
“Ember, how are you liking our pack so far?” Slate asks.
She pauses, turning her fork over in her hand thoughtfully. “I’ve only seen this area and your Delta’s house. But it’s nice, I guess.”
“Pretty different from Granite Ridge, right?” Hazel asks with a gentle smile.
Ember moves in her seat, her eyes on her plate. “The two packs are very different,” she finally agrees.
“I mean, I didn’t get to see that much of Granite Ridge either. I spent half my time there locked in a basement,” Hazel says with a light laugh.
Slate’s jaw clenches. Tension pours through our pack bond.
With a determined frown, Ember meet’s Hazel’s gaze. “You had dinner with the Alphas, saw most of our facilities, and even got to see the woods between our two territories.”
“True,” Hazel says, the friendly curve of her mouth looking forced. She expertly deflects the conversation. “So how have things been for your pack in the last year?”
We’ve gotten reports of how unstable the pack is, which added to Jasper’s desire to investigate. Surely, Ember knows about those concerns, but she doesn’t choose to be honest.
“We’re fine. Rebuilding, just like you guys have done.” She nods toward the diner with its fresh metal trim gleaming.
