Page 14 of The Night Wolf
He blinked. “I’m sorry, what?”
The answering laugh was soft, and it made Sean feel… good. “I thought you might want me to change the bed. You were out of it the other day when I came in and took off the comforter and gave you the blanket.”
Sean swallowed. “I’m sorry? The other day?”
“You’ve been asleep for almost three days. Being out in the cold must have given you a chill, because when the Alpha brought you back, you got very sick. He stayed by your side the whole time, applying cool compresses to your head. Your fever finally broke yesterday, and your temperature came back down. You had us all worried.”
Three days?He couldn’t recall any of it.“I’m sorry to have put you out.”
She tutted. “If you let me in, I’ll do my work and get out of your way so you can relax a while. I’ll send some soup and a sandwich up with Caleb. I made you chicken noodle. I hope you like it.”
She made him soup? Who were these people that were so kind and generous?“Can I clean the room myself?”
There was a gentle smile on her lips. “You could, but why not let me do what Gareth pays me for?”
Wait, what?“I’m in Gareth’s house?”
“You’re in the compound, yes.”
“How did I get here?”
She blew out a breath. “May I please come in? I don’t like talking to a door.”
Hesitantly, Sean pulled it open. Dani was a beautiful woman, with high, striking cheekbones and amazing eyebrows. But her eyes were what drew Sean. They were deep, soulful, kindly, and as far as Sean could tell, held no reproach at all.
“Thank you. Let me do the bed, and then I’ll go downstairs and get your food. You must be starving.”
He was. He remembered the offer of spaghetti, but couldn’t recall if he’d eaten. Though he was starved, he didn’t want to put Dani out.
“No, don’t bother. I’ll be okay. I’ll go hunting, if that’s allowed.”
Her nose wrinkled. “You’re going to turn down my homemade chicken noodle soup for a gamey rabbit or chipmunk?”
Well, when she put it like that. “Can I help?”
She gave a one-shoulder shrug. “Of course you can. As soon as I finish the bed, you can crawl back under the covers and get some more sleep. You’re still far too pale.”
“I was going to take a shower. I know I must stink, and I’m sorry about that.”
She chuckled. “I live with a seventeen-year-old boy who assures me that his sneakers don’t smell. He also picks clothes up from the floor and sniffs them to see if they’re suitable to wear, despite the fact that he has an entire dresser full of clean ones that I lovingly washed and folded for him.” She pulled the blanket off, folded it, and placed it on the floor. When she stood back up, Sean detected a slight smile. “Speaking of clothes, Gareth asked me to order you some. I guessed on your size, but you’ll find shirts in the top drawer, socks and underwear in the second, and pants in the bottom. If the style isn’t to your liking, you tell me what you prefer, and I’ll make sure you get it.”
Sean stepped back. “Why are you doing this?” It made no logical sense. “You don’t even know me.”
“No, but we want to.”
The voice, deep and husky, filled the room, even though the words were spoken softly. Sean turned toward the door as Gareth entered. Now that Sean’s mind had cleared, he got his first real look at the Alpha. From what Sean could see, Gareth was broad everywhere, with dark hair buzzed close to the scalp. Those eyes, though. Those Sean remembered. They held your attention, even if you tried to look away.
“Sean?”
He pulled his thoughts back from Gareth’s pecs and lifted his gaze to the Alpha’s. The smirk told Sean he’d been caught ogling, and his chest tightened.
“I’m… I’m sorry, I—”
Gareth cocked his head. “Why would you be sorry?”
“I didn’t mean to stare.”
“Do you think I mind if someone looks at me? I look—why can’t others?”
