Free Awakened by the Wolf by Kristal Hollis Page B

if she’d stay.
    â€œI’m not sick.” Bracing her knees against the mattress for leverage, she pulled free.
    â€œI will be if you leave.” The thought of hours bereft of her scent and her company churned his stomach.
    â€œMaybe you should call a doctor.” Cassie hesitated. “Or do you have vets?”
    â€œThe pack physician,” he ground out, “is Doc Habersham, my dad’s best friend. I can’t call him or anyone else. I won’t risk getting thrown out of the territory before Granny comes home.”
    â€œFigure something out. I’m not missing work.” Cassie pulled one of her uniforms from the closet. As far as Brice could tell, those were the only clothes she had unpacked.
    He flopped onto the mattress. “Come see me on your break.”
    â€œI won’t have time. I have to reschedule my car service because you ate my pie.”
    Brice’s tongue swept his lips. “What does one have to do with the other?”
    â€œIt’s a barter with Rafe. He changes the oil in the clunker in exchange for a fresh-baked pie.”
    â€œI can’t blame him. Granny’s pies are delicious.”
    â€œYour grandmother doesn’t bake.” Cassie bent over to pick up her shoes, and the bottom of her shorts rode up her legs to give him a glimpse of her panties.
    He swallowed a groan. “Granny made pies for me every time I came home from college.”
    Shaking her head, Cassie turned toward him, a corner of her bottom lip caught between her teeth.
    â€œYou made them?” Brice rose on his elbows. “For me?”
    â€œLike I said—” Cassie avoided his gaze “—your grandmother doesn’t bake.”
    â€œDamn, Sunshine. Your pies are the best.” One more reason he should have detached himself from Cassie. Sex and food were a wolfan male’s catnip.
    â€œThanks. I use my mother’s recipes.” Cassie’s eyes misted. She flinched and hurried toward the bedroom door.
    â€œI’m not sorry I ate the pie, but I’ll pay for the oil change and anything else you need.” It would be easy enough to transfer money from one of his accounts to hers.
    She stopped, a disquiet fierceness in her eyes. “I don’t want your money. I may not have much, but what I do have, I’ve earned.”
    She walked out, her spine and shoulders stiff.
    Well, he’d unintentionally struck a nerve.
    Brice sank into the mattress. He hadn’t meant to upset her, but if he followed her down the hallway to apologize, he’d only complicate his situation. No matter what his errant instinct demanded, he couldn’t involve himself in Cassie’s life.
    No matter how damn good she smelled.

Chapter 9
    T he old clunker needed five cranks before it started. Cassie backed the car out of the driveway and eased down the dirt road, headlights slicing through the darkness. The silent woods had never seemed more eerie or sinister. Of course, she blamed her knowledge that werewolves did exist on the change in her perception.
    She glanced at the passenger seat Brice had reclined so far that it almost touched the backseat. If only last night had been a dream, or if he hadn’t explained that the members of the Walker’s Run Cooperative were really his entire pack, she wouldn’t have been so nervous.
    Brice insisted the wolf people were just as they appeared—honest, hardworking folks. The co-op provided housing and medical care for its members, paid for their college educations and helped them establish businesses. In turn, its members tithed 30 percent of their salaries or gross profits back to the co-op.
    If members became unemployed or if their businesses failed, the co-op helped them get back on their feet. They had no need for unemployment checks or welfare. This pack took care of its own.
    In contrast, Cassie’s life lacked supportive connections. Imogene was gone, and Cassie could count on one