Page 8 of Runaway Wolf
She froze, taking him in.
She knew him, knew his features, knew his eyes. But no, that couldn’t be, he was a total unfamiliar stranger. He was even bigger than Noah, and that was saying a lot. His blue T-shirt stretched over his torso, a flannel in black and blue over it. He wore a pair of khaki pants and work boots. His golden-brown hair was longer on top, but shorter on the sides, making the hair there appear darker. He had the perfect amount of scruff on his lean, square jaw.
And when he glanced up to look at her? Piercing amber eyes that contrasted beautifully with the darkness of his scruff and yet also matched the golden color of the top of his hair.
No, she didn’t know him. She just felt like it.
When it seemed like they stood staring at each other for way too long, Penny spoke.
“Caitlin, meet Isaac. Isaac, my sister. She stopped by for a visit yesterday, but now she’ll stay here until my lease runs out.”
“Smart move,” he murmured, his voice deep and rumbling. It sent shivers rolling down her spine. “Take advantage of a rent-free vacation.” Slowly, he held his hand out to her. “Nice to meet you.”
His piercing eyes never left her face, almost like daring her to touch him.
She slipped her hand into his and God, he was warm. So warm… and strong. “It’s nice to meet you too.”
He held her hand longer than necessary, almost to where it grew awkward. God, he was so warm. Then, as if he too sensed it was weird to keep holding her hand without shaking, he disengaged.
She was left standing there, not knowing what to do with her hands. Was it stupid not to want to touch anything else with the hand that last touched him? It still tingled with the feel of him.
“Let me get your chair,” he snapped, almost as if she’d done some kind of breach of being a guest. So rude. Before she knew it, he was around the table, seating her with the manners she’d screamed at Penny just yesterday that shifters didn’t have.
Maybe he knew.
Pink shame tinged her cheeks. The color must have been obvious, she felt the heat and was aware of his eyes as they dragged there.
“Here we go,” Noah said, bringing a heavy platter of French toast to the table. Penny had a plate of sausage and bacon that she put down also.
Isaac came around the table to sit with her. Too close, really, his huge shoulder practically rubbing up against her.
He reached for the silicone-covered tongs and grabbed two pieces of thick, egg-drenched toast, and plopped them down onto her plate. He didn’t even pause, reaching out for sausage links and strips of bacon to lay on the side of her plate. Odd to serve a stranger, like he was the host. But maybe it was because she was a guest?
“Thank you,” she murmured, darting a quick glance at Penny and Noah. Neither one seemed to notice anything out of the ordinary. Maybe it was the man’s personality to take charge? Was that what made him alpha?
“I didn’t remember Penny had a sister,” Isaac said. “Much less that you were visiting. Shouldn’t you have come sooner? She’s been here a year.”
He was speaking to her, his voice abrupt. Annoyed. Not to Penny, not to Noah. To her.
God, animals were territorial, weren’t they? Did Penny have to ask permission for her to be here?
Suddenly she wanted to protect her sister, just the way she had in the past.
“Penny didn’t know I was coming. We hadn’t gotten along in recent years.”
“We’re going to fix that,” Penny said softly, and Caitlin looked up to catch her gaze. A charged moment passed betweenthem, and it was like the good old days. The days when they would pass secret looks back and forth.
Caitlin cleared her throat. She’d reward her by complimenting her boyfriend—because that showed acceptance of their relationship. And while she didn’t know Noah very well, he didn’t seem creepy. Not like Cory. Noah loved Penny and she loved him. “This is delish, Noah. You’re a fabulous cook.”
“Thank you.”
“So,” Penny said, cutting into her toast and looking over at the alpha. “Mall today? Noah and Caitlin and I were hitting up the outlets.” She turned to Caitlin. “One of the gals in the pack works there, so I’m sure Isaac would want to come too. Just to check up on pack.”
“True,” Isaac said.
Her heart fluttered in her chest, for reasons she couldn’t figure out. On one hand, she got to be with her sister. On the other, she was forced to endure their unpleasant leader. “Umm, sure. The more the merrier. Can we take my car? It’s empty and I’m afraid I’ll run out of gas if I head out of here alone.”
“Yep,” Penny agreed. “We’ll stop off at the station and head out.”
