Chapter Three

Savannah tried to smile, but her mouth barely moved. “I’m just looking for a job.”

“Oh?” Tom replied, sarcasm dripping. “And you just so happened to come here, to the one place in the tri-state area where two other bear shifters are, huh?”

“As ridiculous as it sounds, yes.”

Tom pushed himself upward, standing tall and dwarfing Savannah easily. “I think you’d better start from the beginning.”

Savannah quickly ran through the same story she’d told Jo, keeping her voice and gaze steady so as not to seem guilty. Unlike the human, a bear shifter would be hard to fool if her heart sped. “I only came here because there was a job posted. Finding out that bear shifters were here was only a happy accident.”

Tom snorted. “Happy.”

Savannah turned up her nose, feigning confidence. “Yes, happy. You seem like the type that values his privacy, correct?” She saw a glint in his eyes that meant she had his attention. “I need a job, I have the qualifications, and I’m also a bear shifter. If you ask me, I’d be much better for the job than say, another human, don’t you think?” Her heart was hammering in her chest, betraying her false confidence, but she hoped her words had captured more of his interest than her bodily functions. “No secrets to keep from another non-shifter. We know each other’s biggest secret, so what’s the worst that can happen?”

They locked eyes in a heated gaze, Tom’s narrowing to slits as he watched her for signs of betrayal. “You honestly expect me to believe you.” It wasn’t a question.

It almost physically hurt to look him in the eyes, but Savannah persevered. “Well, considering I’m telling the truth, yeah, kinda.”

“Does the name Northern Wind ring any bells for you?”

A shiver tingled at the back of her neck, but she remained still. “No. Should it?”

Tom leaned in a little, and Savannah watched as his nostrils flexed, taking in her scent. She knew he didn’t trust her in the slightest, but she needed him to have the slightest doubt in his own suspicions. Just enough to get her in the door. So she stood her ground. Finally, he stood back, and she fought to hold in her sigh of relief.

“I’ll have to discuss this with my brother.”

“Please,” Savannah replied. “Whatever helps. I really need this job.”

As he turned to leave, she called, “Oh, and about the human, I’d rather she not know about…”

Tom smiled grimly. “We know a thing or two about keeping secrets from humans. Yours is safe with me.”

Savannah silently cursed herself. Tom didn’t know she knew about Jo before arriving here. She knew Jo knew about shifters, but making him aware that she knew this information would mean she’d learned it from somewhere… like the Northern Wind pack. He hadn’t seemed to catch on to it…fortunately. She’d have to be more careful in the future. “Thank you,” was all she managed to say.

She sagged against the counter as he made his way to the door. Finally she’d have a moment of peace. He paused, the door slightly ajar. “Take a seat and help yourself to a cup of coffee.” Her eyes snapped up, but he’d turned away before she could get a good look at him. “I’ll be back soon.” With that, he departed.

Rather than dwelling on the alpha’s last minute act of kindness, she decided to take him up on his offer for coffee, pouring herself a steaming hot cup. As she took the first delicious sip, she noticed that she could see Tom and Jo outside conversing with who was obviously Nick, the alpha pack leader. They were standing far enough away where she couldn’t hear what was being said—probably deliberately.

Jo, the human, was speaking animatedly with Nick Brewer and Tom didn’t look happy, to say the least. Though Savannah had to admit, not happy looked good on him. His biceps bulged as he crossed his arms, a solemn scowl tilting his full lips downward to a squared jawline. Tom Brewer was nothing if not handsome, and Savannah was happy for the time to admire him without the inconvenience of prying eyes.

Wandering back to her seat, she kept her eyes on the trio outside. As they talked, Nick casually slipped an arm around Jo’s waist, and Savannah stifled a gasp. Did this mean the rumors were true? Was Nick Brewer mated to a human?

A feeling of disgust rose in Savannah’s throat, quickly followed by guilt. Jo had shown her nothing but kindness from the moment she walked through the door. What right did she have to show distaste at their relationship? It’s not right! Her bear shouted, though she chose to ignore it. Maybe it wasn’t right, but she looked on as waves of protectiveness practically rolled off Nick as he held her, and somehow it felt right, even if she couldn’t agree with it. Regardless, it was definitely something worth noting once she got back in touch with Lucas. He’d be pleased to hear she’d already uncovered something so important.

She found herself wondering if Tom was in any way like his brother. Did he prefer the touch of a delicate human the way Nick did, or would he care for something more… traditional? She shook the thought away. Thinking like that would only distract her. He was an attractive bear, for sure, but getting caught up in her emotions was just asking for trouble.

As she was watching, Tom gestured angrily towards the office. She felt heat creep up her neck and onto her cheeks. It was obvious he was talking about her, and none too kindly. What if he convinced them that she wouldn’t be such a great fit after all? What would Lucas do to her if he found out she’d failed? She shuddered at the thought, finally averting her gaze as she took another sip of her cooling coffee.

***

“I don’t like it,” Tom declared.

“Well, I like her,” Jo replied. “I think she’d be a great addition to the team.”

Nick shrugged. “I trust Jo’s decision, of course.” He grinned down at her, slipping an arm around her waist and Tom watched as she hid her blush.

Tom groaned in frustration. “We know nothing about her,” he growled. “I mean, come on, a sob story about a dead dad and being a wanderer? How can we possibly trust that?”

“Believe it or not, not everyone in this world is trying to deceive you, Tom,” Jo retorted.

Tom gritted his teeth. “I just think we should give it a little more time. See who else shows up for an interview.”

“Is this because she’s a shifter?” Nick asked.

“She didn’t want Jo to know about that,” Tom said immediately.

“So?” Jo said, a hurt expression on her face.

“Humans aren’t even supposed to know that shifters exist. It’s not outside of the realm of possibility that she might feel uncomfortable with you knowing about her, even on the off chance that you knew about us.” Tom shrugged. “I felt she had a right to that privacy.”

Jo narrowed her eyes, slightly, her gaze inquisitive. “You like her.”

Tom blew out an exasperated breath. “Don’t be ridiculous, Jo. I don’t even know her.” He neglected to mention that he did have a bit of an attraction to her. She was certainly attractive, with a confidence in her honey-brown eyes that he couldn’t help but appreciate. He’d hardly call it something as strong as liking her, though.

Nick chuckled. “So then what’s the big deal? We give her a job—that’s it, period. It’s only for a few hours a day. If we’re doing our jobs, we’ll hardly ever even cross paths.”

Tom growled. “I don’t trust her.”

“You don’t trust anybody,” Jo pointed out.

“It was different with you, Jo!”

“And I don’t doubt that,” Jo replied, “But Nick’s right. It’s only for a few hours a day, and I’ll be with her the whole time. What’s the worst that could happen?”

“She could tear your throat out?” Tom retorted, incredulously.

“I doubt she’d do that and risk facing the wrath of two angry alpha bears,” Jo assured confidently.

Tom ran a rough hand through his hair, ruffling it so it stood on end in all directions. He couldn’t answer. There was something about Savannah Danvers that made him wary, but Jo and Nick were right. She could be Lucas himself in disguise and would still be nothing they couldn’t handle as long as she were by herself. She’d never be working alone and they didn’t have to babysit her but for only a few hours a day. There really was nothing to worry about. Even he had to admit that. “Fine,” he growled. “I guess I better go tell her the good news.”

He stormed away without another word. Admitting he might be wrong had struck a chord within him, but more so than that, the accusation that he might feel something for the bear in the office had him reeling in confusion. Where did Jo get that idea? Was he exhibiting some of the emotions that she had when she’d first met Nick? Tom wasn’t sure. He gritted his teeth as he walked, promising himself that he’d shift later and take a long run through the woods. That usually got his frustrations out.