An offer. A way out of having to choose between pack and family, between her cousin’s sadness and a young woman’s pain. The fact that it didn’t feel like a choice at all might hurt later.
For now, it was painfully clear. Eden wrapped her arm around Kaley’s shoulders and reached out to Mae. “The men can deal. I’m all yours.”
Chapter Eight
Jay flipped the mattress into place and evened it on the box-spring platform with one leg. “There. How’s it look?”
“Perfect.” Eden tossed the fitted sheet onto the mattress and circled around to the opposite side. “Now I have beds in all the important places in town. My house, your house, above the diner and at the farm.” She smiled up at him. “Or should I say we have beds.”
As if there would be no question of them sharing said beds. Jay grinned. “Yes, we do.”
“You like that, huh?” She tucked the sheet under the mattress and gave him an arch look. “You’re the one with the no-sex rule. That witch better show up soon, that’s all I’m saying.”
“Didn’t Shane tell you? They’re due in today, the witch and her… Well, her bodyguard, for lack of a better word.”
Eden froze with one hand tangled in the sheet. “Already? I thought it would take her some time to make arrangements.”
Apparently, the alphas in Red Rock had felt there was no time to lose. “It’s a good thing,” he told her resolutely. She didn’t need to hear that Stella’s job would be to check them out as much as help.
“I know. I’m surprised, but mostly relieved.” She straightened and rubbed her hands over her arms. “Maybe a little nervous. I’ve never met a witch.”
“Not so different from anyone else until she starts breaking out the magic spells.”
After she pulled the sheet smooth, Eden dropped to the bed and leaned back on her hands. “Lorelei mentioned something about spells for soundproofing. Is that something you’re familiar with?”
With a house full of people with super senses, they’d soon have some pretty intimate privacy concerns. “I once knew a wizard who could make himself invisible when he was standing right in front of you. Couldn’t smell him, either.”
“I think everyone would appreciate a little protection from their super senses.” She sank lower on the bed, bracing her weight on her elbows in a deceptively casual pose, an invitation that her eyes backed up. “I’m not making out with you in this bed if your friends are going to hear it.”
“They’re very, very good at ignoring things like that.”
Her cheeks turned pink. “I may have a few kinks, but I’m pretty sure exhibitionism isn’t one of them. I’m going to have a hard enough time with all the na**dness and shapeshifting when we get to the full moon.”
Telling her that no one would pay any attention would do no good. He’d sure as hell be looking, and he didn’t bother to hide his grin. “I bet you look damn good na**d in the moonlight.”
“You’ve already seen me na**d,” she reminded him, nudging his foot with hers. “Very unfair, since I can’t say the same.”
“If you’re angling for me to drop trou, things aren’t going to be very quiet in here.”
She huffed and flopped back on the bed with a groan. “I know. I don’t think I can spend too many more nights squirming in your lap without imploding. Does this Guide-bond thing take a long time?”
He’d only gone through the ceremony a few times. “Depends on your definition. Twenty minutes, maybe, once it’s all set up?”
“Thank God. We’re almost through this, right? Soon we might be able to stop for a little while and breathe?”
The words brought the fiasco in Memphis rushing back. “Shit, with those bastards in the city…who even knows?”
An engine rumbled in the distance, and Eden popped up and tilted her head. “That doesn’t sound like my dad’s truck,” she said after a second of intent listening.
“No.” Jay held out his hand for hers and walked out of the room, all the way out of the small house.
The dark truck that pulled down the driveway wasn’t the same one from Memphis. For one, it had a bouncy woman with tawny blonde hair hanging out of the passenger window. “Hey there,” she called out as the truck pulled to a stop.
Eden raised a hand. “Stella, I presume?”
She didn’t even wait for the stern-faced man behind the wheel to shift into park before bounding out of the door. “Shane said this place was rustic, but I think it looks like a movie. Hi, yeah. I’m Stella.”
“I’m Eden Green.” She nudged Jay with her hip. “This is Jay.”
“Ancheta,” he supplied, holding out his hand.
The girl grabbed it. “Right on. Shane’s friend.”
The driver slammed his door and circled the vehicle, his movements slow and easy as his gaze flicked over each of them before continuing to take in both houses. Power flowed from him as he drew even with Stella. “I’m Keith Winston.”
Jay took his hand. “Welcome to Clover.”
Keith’s grip was strong, but not so firm as to be challenging. He smiled as he released Jay’s hand to clasp Eden’s. “You must be the new wolf.”
“Is it that obvious?” Eden asked, faking overdone dismay. “I haven’t tried to sniff anyone in days.”
“Well, that’s no fun.” He winked at her. “Jay, Eden, I’d like to thank you both a great deal for getting this troublemaker out of my hair.”
“Don’t mention it.” Red Rock had its own witch, and could well afford to spare her apprentice. “How are Gavin and Sam?”
“Buried in honorary grandchildren and loving every minute of it.” Keith rested a hand on Stella’s shoulder. “I can only stay long enough to make sure Stella’s settled, as a matter of fact. I’ve got a pair of twins celebrating their second birthday.”
The blonde snorted. “If Daddy isn’t there, Aunt Stella’s the one who’ll catch hell for it.”
Eden laughed. “You’ve had a long trip from Montana. Come inside and I’ll show you around. Anything to keep you out of trouble.”
Two pots of coffee later, Jay had explained the situation to an increasingly somber Keith. Stella sat beside him, cursing and shaking her head until the dreadlocks framing her face swung into her eyes.
“It’s ridiculous,” she proclaimed. “Keith, come on.”
He clenched his jaw. “Jay’s right. Most of the mess that went down in Helena happened because Joe and I took out the leaders of a corrupt pack and didn’t think about what would rise in their place. They can’t kill their way through the Memphis pack.”
“And we don’t want to,” Jay added. “It’s too much blood to be on anyone’s hands, much less the people who came here. We just want peace.”
Eden covered Jay’s hand with her own. “Not just want it. They need it. They’ve been through too much.”
Stella rose with another mutter. “I’m going to find Shane. I need a beer.”
Jay stopped her. “Wait. Eden’s a new wolf. I need some help setting up a Guide ceremony. As soon as possible, but definitely before the full moon.”
“Yeah?” Stella propped a hand on her hip. “You two look pretty cozy. You gonna be her Guide?”
“Yes,” Eden answered for both of them, her tone a little tart. “That’s what I want.”
“And that’s what matters,” Keith said firmly. “Stella, use the spell Sasha taught you. This isn’t the time for fancy rituals.”
“We could have a little decorum, couldn’t we?” But she sighed and grabbed Jay’s hand, then Eden’s. Her eyes fluttered shut, and the air around them began to throb with power.
It didn’t feel like a wolf. It didn’t feel like anything Jay had experienced, not until the witch whispered a quiet incantation and the magic snapped like a string drawn too tight, lashing through the room.
When it settled, all Jay could feel was Eden. “That’s it?”
Stella opened her eyes. “Standard three months. If it looks like I’m not going to be here at the end of it, I’ll prepare a talisman that you can destroy to break the bond.”
Eden stared blankly, her eyes wide and dazed. Through the bond, Jay could feel her wolf, stunned but rallying. Magic rose inside her, a wave that rushed down the newly opened connection before it could crest.
Exhaling in relief, she swayed.
“Oh, hell.” Keith groaned and reached out a hand to catch Eden’s shoulder. “First lesson—don’t say fast if you don’t mean fast. I should know better by now.”
The witch blinked. “What’d I do?”
“My fault, Stella. I should have warned them.” Keith patted Eden’s shoulder as she steadied. “You’re stronger than most, sweetheart. It’ll take some time to grow into that power, but you will. If you ever need someone to talk to about it, Stella can tell you how to get in contact with my wife. She went through the same thing a few years ago.”
Still looking a little dazed, Eden murmured her thanks. But under the table, her hand found Jay’s and squeezed tight.
Stella saluted them with two fingers at her temple. “My pleasure. Now, if you don’t mind…” She snatched up her bag. “I’m getting out of here. Little house, right?”
“That’s where Shane is,” Jay confirmed, three-quarters of his attention still fixed on Eden. Her fingertips traced teasing patterns over the back of his wrist, her skin warm.
She jumped when the door swung shut behind Stella and blinked at the witch’s empty chair. Color flooded her cheeks. “I’m being a terrible host.”
“She’s used to wolves, honey. Right, Keith?”
Keith smiled and leaned back in his chair. “Stella will do just fine. She’s used to living with wolves, and she’s seen her share of trouble. She’s been itching to get out on her own and flex her spellcasting muscles without her mentor staring over her shoulder, but Sasha wouldn’t have sent her if she wasn’t ready.”