Page 33 of Havenfall Harbor
“I’m pretty sure no one has ever heard that. I think you just made it up.” Evan gives a slight chuckle.
“No, there’s this old song…it doesn’t matter. I’ll stay close, that’s all I’m saying.” I lean back against the seat and Griffin turns his gaze to the front window.
It’s so quiet in the car I hear Griffin’s phone when it vibrates. The screen illuminates his face with an eerie blue glow. “Rooms are booked at North Star Motel. I think I might just sleep in the car, or on the plane,” Griffin grumbles.
Evan turns his head, wearing a wide grin on his lips, showcasing his straight teeth. “Come on, it’s bound to be better than where we stayed in Siberia.”
“Everything is better than fucking Siberia.” Griffin gives a slight shudder.
Evan barks out a laugh. “Even I thought it was cold.” This is the first time I’ve witnessed a bond that seems to extend past working together. I wonder how long they’ve known each other.
“Our turn should be coming up.” Evan lowers his head, peering out the passenger window as he slows down. I didn’t even hear the navigation prompt a turn, but he’s right. The amber line is curving to the right.
I look closely past the glow of the headlights as we turn down a two-track road. I hope no one needs to pass us, there’s no way another car would fit.
The hair on my arms rises as an eerie feeling that I’m being watched falls over me. “There are a few trackers in the woods,” Griffin says, while Evan hits the button to lower his window.
“Might as well ask them where we can find Jacob.” Evan pulls up next to a small bank of dilapidated mailboxes. “If nothing else, we can find out where the uncle lives. I see the number Riley gave me posted on one of the mailboxes. I didn’t realize it wouldn’t take us right to the house.”
“Wait here,” Griffin orders, as they both open their doors and step out of the SUV, shutting me in the car—alone.
Evan’s window is still down, so I scoot into the middle seat and lean forward so I can check out what’s going on. Griffin rounds to Evan’s side of the truck. Just as I’m trying to get a better look at what the guys are doing, the headlights of the SUV blink out. The darkness is all-encompassing, pushing into the car. My eyes are slow to adjust to the glow of the moon, which provides a scant amount of light filtering through the tops of the trees surrounding us. I’m able to make out Evan and Griffin standing next to each other near the hood, but not much past that.
“I’m looking for Jacob,” Evan announces fairly loudly. He doesn’t get an immediate response. “He’s not in any trouble, Riley sent us,” he adds, his voice still booming.
“Where’s Riley? What do you want with us, bear?” I can’t tell where the voice is coming from, but it sounds like a man, not what I would expect a twelve-year-old boy to sound like. I mull over the word ‘bear,’ is that what Evan is, a bear? It would certainly fit with his size.
“Havenfall. He told you why we’re here. Where’s Jacob, wolf?” Griffin is the one to reply. I drag in a breath, concluding the use of the animal names must be an indicator of their shifted forms.
“He’s with Thomas.” I pull myself closer to the front seat. That’s who Riley warned me to say away from, the one Evan thought would be the alpha.
“Take us to him, or is he already on his way?” Evan tilts his head to the left. “Seeing as the other wolf already ran off to tell him.”
A thundering of footfalls interrupts the quiet of the moment. I see a few shapes emerge from the shadows of the tree line. I squint but can only make out darker forms.
“I’ll take you to him,” a clear, female voice volunteers. A woman solidifies near Griffin, not getting too close, but much closer than any of the others.
“Please don’t leave me in here,” I breathe.
“Bring along your human, she’s worried you might forget her,” the woman drawls.
I bite my lip to keep the curse from leaving my mouth. I didn’t mean to say that out loud. Evan reaches back and pulls the door open without turning his attention from the woman. I slide across the seat and put my feet on the running boards as Evan comes around the door and takes my hand, helping me from the backseat.
He crowds in close to my back as he pushes me closer to Griffin, whose back is turned toward me. Evan doesn’t stop herding me until I’m nearly plastered to Griffin’s rear, and Evan isn’t far from my heels either.
“Take us to him.” Griffin steps forward and I let out a deep breath. This isn’t a situation I expected to find myself in during my second week. Evan urges me forward, not allowing me to put any space between myself and Griffin. I don’t feel frightened, not now that they are taking me with them, but I do feel out of my element and underprepared. That would make anyone edgy, not to mention I keep feeling Evan bump against my butt, and it’s the most action I’ve had in months.
Part of me is actually excited. Who knew the thrill of danger and a couple of hot dudes would kick-start my libido?
“Which of you does she belong to?”
“Me,” Evan growls.
While Griffin declares, “She’s mine,” at the exact same moment.
Griffin stops, my hands go up and brace against his back. “Both of you? What a lucky girl. You might want to tell her to calm down though. We don’t need her causing a stir.” The woman resumes walking, and Griffin follows in her wake.
“Sorry,” I whisper. “I’m a little nervous,” I admit, once there’s a few feet of distance from the woman and our small group. “Plus, you guys are acting like something might jump out and grab me from the woods.”
