Page 9 of The Mating Need
“We’ve been eating enough meat. You need vegetables to build up your immunesystem.”
Lupines had an excellent immune system. They didn’tneed…
“You mean my Skin immunesystem.”
Avoiding her gaze, he unpacked the parcels and set them out on the ground. “Fresh raw vegetables and fruit from an organic shop intown.”
Disbelief filled her. “Are you reverting back to your hippie origins? What’s next, flashing peace signs and driving a VolkswagenBeetle?”
Or at least what he said were his hippie origins. Again, she wondered about hispast.
Troy grinned at her, displaying even white teeth. Such an engaging smile, boyish and filled with mirth. One reason she fell for him and hischarms…
“No darling, I was filling your needs. Only thebest.”
The sudden glint in his gaze indicated another need he’d be happy tofill.
That particular need was not one she had filled since they met. Sex with Troy seemed too intimate, toolasting…
She suspected he would not be happy with a one-night booty call. Only several nights, or a lifetime. Commitment wasn’t in her vocabularynow.
Or ever. She’d seen what commitment to a mate and pack did to you when everyone followed thealpha.
Commitment got you killed by Skin-firedbullets.
“I need to wash up,” shemuttered.
He followed, of course. Her shadow, always protecting her. Jenny jumped into the creek, not bothering to strip, relishing the cold bite of water. It reminded her of life, sharp and filled with spikes if you weren’t looking. When she emerged, he had a towelready.
When they returned to the campsite, Troy sat on the ground next to her, leaning back against a tree. His manner looked casual, but she knew him by now. Tension threaded through him. Gaze sharp, not focused on her, but theirsurroundings.
She changed her clothing in a hurry and hung the wet clothing on a tree limb to dry. Troy keep scanning thewoods.
She knew he’d picked up the scent of the other Lupines, especially the alpha. But unlike other times when he’d hustle them out of the area, Troy didn’t seem alarmed, onlywatchful.
Waiting.
“How many of them?” he asked as she finally satdown.
“Relax, big boy. I could handle them. I know how to hide and take care of myself. There were two of them. Males. Older than you, not by much. Healthy. One’s an alpha.” Jenny bit into an apple, figuring the fruit wouldn’t hurt. The sweet taste flooded her mouth. The fruit smelled like an orchard, fresh andclean.
“Alpha huh? Must be the one they call Aiden. This is his turf. Probably scented strangers trespassing on his land. Or someone else did, and he checked itout.”
The apple tasted even better than she’d imagined. Jenny paused before taking another bite. “They found your SUV early this morning, decided to check it out. You didn’t hide it so well, Troy. You’reslacking.”
Troy pulled the hood over his head. “I meant for them to findit.”
Made sense now. Her friend had been far too careful up until now. “Why? I don’t know if this is a safe place for us to stay. I mean, you wanted to visit, but why not knock on the front door, visit and we can take off for the nexttown?”
“Don’t know if the next town will be anybetter.”
True enough. Before arriving here, they’d slept on a farmer’s land in wolf form. The farmer had shot at them. Thanks to Troy, they’d escapedunharmed.
She understood this nomad life couldn’t last. Not for Troy. But she felt desperate about losinghim.
“Then why not tell this Aiden Mitchell you’rehere?”
Troy looked around. “Needed to check out the place first for the potential. See how much game there is to support a pack, because not enough game and Lupines can get mean when they hunt. Not enough space and territory and Lupines get restless. Mitchell’s ranch and land is large enough, plenty of space to move around. Yet they have provisions as Skins as well. I liked that cabin. Rustic, outdoorshower.”
