Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
They stood outside the apartment door, but Cody didn’t knock. Instead he leaned a shoulder against the wall, keeping her nestled against his other side.
The door opened as far as the chain lock would allow and the pale, gaunt face of the shifter female peered out. Her gaze swiveled from Cody to her and back to Cody. Her nostrils flared and Melissa knew she must be scenting them.
“Lived here long?” Cody asked when she didn’t speak.
She shook her head rapidly, causing her blond hair to fall in her eyes. “Just a few weeks. We’re new to town.”
Cody waited again, but she didn’t elaborate. When he spoke again, he adopted a tone she hadn’t heard from him before. It was slow, patient. Like he knew the female would spook if he showed too much aggression. “I’m Cody. This is my friend Melissa. We aren’t here to hurt you.”
The woman studied them both a moment longer, then, looking as if it was against her better judgement, slid the lock on the door and let it swing open. “Would you like to come in?” She sounded resigned, tired.
Melissa hid her shock as they stepped into the dingy apartment. There was no furniture in the tiny studio, save a single mattress with a quilt pulled over it. Both children sat on it, watching the newcomers.
“Are you the alpha?” the woman demanded. She sounded slightly bitter rather than submissive, but she didn’t meet Cody’s eye with any kind of challenge.
Cody nodded once and shoved his hands in his pockets. Melissa marveled at how much less intimidating it made him look. Rather than pulling the alpha domination bullshit he’d laid on her, he’d reeled it way in with this woman, which warmed Melissa to him even more. Based on her pinched, nervous expression, the woman was already afraid enough. She looked like a cornered animal. Which made her possibly dangerous, considering she had pups to protect.
“I’m not staying long,” she bit out. “That’s why I didn’t come to see you.” Her skin had a grayish, malnourished pallor and she was missing two teeth on the top.
Cody gave a nod, which could’ve meant anything. “Where are you from?”
Her shoulders rode closer to her ears. “Here and there.”
“Name?”
The woman hesitated. “Colleen.”
Cody pulled his hand out of his pocket and produced his wad of bills. Without unrolling them, he held them out to her. “Looks like you could use a little help getting on your feet, Colleen.”
She didn’t move to take the money. “I’m not joining your pack.” Though the words were bold, she kept her gaze lowered.
Without taking his gaze from her, he changed the angle of his hand to hold the money out to the children. The boy, who looked to be around ten, scampered forward without hesitation and took it.
Smart kid.
Cody produced a business card. The fact that he carried cards when he didn’t even use a wallet surprised her, but maybe it was for pack business. He handed it to Colleen. “Our full moon run is tomorrow in the Woodland Park area, up Highway 24.”
The children perked up, as if he had said they could go to an amusement park.
Cody smiled. “The pups are welcome, of course. There’s a cabin there you can use any time. Call or text me if you want directions.”
The woman took the card, uncertainty arresting her face. The children had risen from the bed and were crowding her, looking up with pleading expressions.
“Can we, Momma?” the girl asked.
Colleen’s lips pressed together.
“You know how to reach me now.” Cody’s words both acknowledged she hadn’t reached out to him and let her off the hook. He pointed to the card. “Use it if you need it.”
Her expression shuttered, but she tucked the card in the back pocket of her baggy jeans. “I appreciate you stopping by.” She stared at the floor as she delivered this nicety, which sounded like utter bologna.
Cody sauntered toward the door, then looked back at the children, who had been watching him avidly, and now lowered their gazes to match their mother’s. “I hope to see you Sunday. The mountain is beautiful.”
No one answered, but Cody had already opened the door, as if he hadn’t expected one. He let Melissa go first, his hand lightly resting at her lower back. So the guy did know how to be a gentleman, despite his Neanderthal act.
When they climbed in the truck, she said, “That was nice of you.”
Cody stared at the steering wheel, looking grave. “Haven’t had to deal with anything like that before.”
“Like what?” She spoke softly, not wanting to knock him out of this uncharacteristic openness.
“Domestic abuse. I’m guessing she’s hiding from whoever knocked those teeth out.”
Melissa flinched to hear it spoken out loud, but she knew immediately Cody must be right. She studied his face, seeing him through a different filter. Cody as alpha—not just the guy who asserted his dominance sexually, but the one in charge of his pack. He seemed terribly capable. Dangerous, but not in the bad boy way, more in the protective way.