to me that aren’t right. When I found her, a man named David was trying to take her back to wherever she’s from. David mentioned two other names. Blake and Richard. Last night she told me someone kept her brothers locked in their room.”
Jim growled low and I nodded.
“But when I told her I wouldn’t let David come near them again, she gave me a funny look and said she wasn’t afraid of David. I think one of those other two were keeping her and her brothers locked away.”
“Old boyfriend, maybe?” Winifred said.
“Why do you think that?”
“Humans can get possessive, too. And when they do, they tend to cross lines. It’s the only thing I can think of that would make sense. It would also explain why she fears you more than Jim. She’s interested in you, and the last man to be interested in her locked her away. Wouldn’t you be afraid of that happening again?”
I nodded slowly. It would make sense.
“But then, who was David?” Jim said.
I wished I knew.
We stayed up talking for another hour. Before Winifred went for her nightly run, I asked for some aspirin in case Michelle needed it in the morning.
Sleep eluded me as I lay on the couch. Michelle hadn’t lied when she said she needed a friend. More than that, she needed someone she could trust. But, what more could I do to show her she could trust me? Revealing what I was and that werewolves existed was my biggest secret to share. It was my way of showing Michelle that I trusted her. She could destroy lives with that simple fact, not that I thought she’d say anything. She kept secrets; she didn’t tell them. And, that was the problem. She needed to trust me so she could tell hers. I couldn’t help her until she did.
* * * *
The faint sound of a floorboard creaking brought me instantly off the couch. I filled a glass of water and grabbed the pills before taking the stairs two at a time.
Werewolves didn’t get hangovers, but my mom did, and it didn’t take much alcohol. I didn’t want Michelle feeling like that. Plus, I just needed to see her. Would she remember all of last night? Would her fear of me be gone? Would she be ready to see me as her Mate?
I knocked and waited. When nothing happened, I knocked again. Louder. From inside, I heard Liam use his nickname for Michelle. He was trying to wake her up. Good boy. I kept knocking to help.
A faint groan reached me.
“Mimi,” Liam said, softly. “Someone’s at the door. I think it’s Uncle Jim.”
Uncle Jim? Liam and I obviously needed to do some more bonding.
Another groan.
“Should I get the door?” Liam asked.
When I heard footsteps, I stopped my knocking and waited with the pills and water ready. Anticipation coiled in my chest. A moment later, the door flew open.
Her dark hair was a messy halo around her head. Sleep marks creased one cheek, and she had a hand print on her neck. And she was scowling.
Trying to hold back a smile was impossible. Especially when she was still wearing my shirt. I held out the water and pills.
She took the glass and swallowed down the pills without a word. The tilt of her head and the movement of her throat pulled my gaze. I was dying for a taste of her. Could she tell? Did she know that was why I was up here?
“I heard Liam moving around and wanted to know if he’d like to come down and eat breakfast with me,” I said.
Her eyes met mine, and I watched emotions play across her features. When she cringed, I knew she was remembering last night. I waited for her reaction, but the scent of her fear didn’t return.
“I’m never drinking again,” she whispered.
I grinned. We were good. Not Mates or even friends, but we’d get there.
“I like your pajamas,” I said, still smiling at the beautiful woman who owned my heart.
She looked down at it and frowned. “We’re not on speaking terms today,” she said. But I saw the humor in her eyes.
I laughed. She didn’t have a chance. Mine.
Liam walked down the hall, dressed for the day. I waved him over, ready to bond so Michelle could get more sleep.
“Send Aden down when he’s up.”
* * * *
We were all sitting at the island when I heard her on the stairs. Jim quickly reached out and grabbed seven more pancakes from