Chapter Nine

That first free romp through the woods set in motion a chain reaction between Savannah and Tom over the following couple of weeks. She’d always remember that day as the first time she saw him smile—a real, genuine, teasingly sexy smile that hinted at just how amazing a man and a bear Tom could possibly be.

Since then, Tom had seemed a little more okay with her being around, the sentiment growing larger every day. Savannah made it her objective to coax as much of that grinning Tom out into the open as she possibly could. He hid it behind confident stoicism and fleeting interest, but even if she was unsuccessful in recreating that desired upturn of his full lips, anything was better than the scowl she’d used to associate him with.

Of course, there were still moments where his voice dipped low in suspicion or his eyes held a shadow of doubt, betraying that he still couldn’t fully trust her, but Savannah couldn’t help but appreciate those little cues. They kept her at arm’s length so she didn’t get too caught up in the fun and frivolity of sharing grins and electric stares with the brooding alpha bear. They reminded her that this wasn’t a vacation from the Northern Wind, but rather a reconnaissance for them. Fun though Tom may be, her pack was counting on her to put the wheels in motion for their revenge. At the end of the day, Dan was still dead. Tom’s distance helped her remember that, even if her bear would rather she forget.

But where Tom had given Savannah reason to try and keep her distance, she found it exceedingly hard to do the same with Jo. She was kind and wonderful and compassionate. Savannah never once witnessed Jo thinking for herself first; she was always doing things for others before personal benefit.

As a human, she was fragile by nature, and yet, at the same time, she never carried herself like she was weaker. She always found a way to assist and be there without being a burden, whether it was making coffee, explaining systems and programs, or even tidying up the drab office. She may have been human, but she was every bit as necessary to the pack as both alphas were. Slowly, Savannah began to understand what Nick—and even Nick’s bear—saw in the human woman. Jo was downright admirable.

When she wasn’t helping out at the mechanic shop, Savannah found something of a refuge in the woods. She’d mostly bound about alone, crunching down on crisp leaves and taking the occasional dip in the lake, but these last few days, Tom has surprised her by asking if she needed any company. It was only a couple of times, but dashing through the woodland with the majestic alpha bear was a heady experience all on its own that Savannah never wanted to end. She loved being in bear form with him, and so did her bear. It was never more content than it was when it was panting and exhausted after a fun race with Tom.

She sat at her desk, snug in her fancy new chair, entering numbers into a spreadsheet. She couldn’t help wondering offhandedly whether Lucas could have lied. As her leader, she wanted to think he’d never do that, but deep down she knew she wouldn’t put it past him. Jo seemed kind and compassionate, helpful to a fault almost. Tom distanced himself from moral dilemma, but ultimately avoided harm when he could. Now that she was better aware of the events leading up to Lucas’s last attack, she could see that this pack hadn’t even wanted to fight! She wished she could ask more, but prying risked suspicions, and she didn’t want Tom’s slowly growing trust in her to dwindle.

If she was being honest with herself, she wasn’t really sure of much these days. She settled for having a bit of fun where she could, without forgetting why she was there of course, constantly reminding herself of the consequences she’d face if she strayed from the path Lucas had set her on.

Even still, she couldn’t help the smile that overtook her face as Tom’s gaze met hers from across the office as he strolled indoors. The day was warmer than most, a comfortable breeze wafting through the office entrance that Jo had decided to leave propped open while they worked. The gust carried Tom’s musky scent to Savannah, curling the pine and woodsy smell of him all the way around her in an electrifying embrace.

He meandered easily to her, propping one nonchalant elbow onto the desk where she worked. “Anything interesting happening tonight?” he asked, innocently.

Savannah slid a timid gaze up to meet his, eyes travelling hungrily over the hills and valleys of his defined muscles the entire trip. “I don’t know. Maybe after dinner?” she mused.

“Fancy any company tonight? Or are you doing the lone wolf thing?”

Savannah didn’t think she had the resolve to turn down a single second with him. “I’m a bear, not a wolf. Or have you forgotten?”

Tom slid a quick, heat-charged gaze down Savannah’s body. It was quick and relatively nonintrusive, but she felt tingles on the bare skin as his eyes travelled over her form, making her painfully aware that she dressed lighter for today’s weather. “Oh, I most certainly have not,” he breathed.

A giddy thrill shivered up Savannah’s spine. “Good,” she spoke quickly, trying to make up for her excited reaction. “Then you can join me, but only if you can find me first.”

She saw him lean in a bit closer, speaking lower and more intimately. “Are you going to try and hide from me?” he asked, breath warm and promising as interest glimmered in his eyes.

Savannah’s bear rattled an eager growl. She shrugged, feigning a blasé demeanor. “Maybe. I consider my ‘me’ time in the woods very sacred. If you want to be a part of that, you’ll have to work for it, Mr. Brewer.”

“Oh?” he replied, one hand snaking out to caress hers as she typed. It was tentative and gentle, but still the sizzling sensation she felt where he’d made contact was immediate and exhilarating. “I’ll have you know you’re challenging a very skilled hunter to track you down,” he warned, as his voice dipped even lower.

Sudden warmth burst in Savannah’s belly, making her gasp slightly. She knew that she wouldn’t be able to hide her reaction from Tom; he was much too close. She settled for averting her gaze, eyes trained intently on the computer screen in front of her, but not before she saw the way his body tensed in surprise. “I’m well aware of the circumstances, Tom,” she breathed, trying to remain calm.

She felt Tom staring at her as she worked, willing herself to not meet his gaze the way she so desperately wanted to. He didn’t move, didn’t speak, and didn’t do anything until Jo entered the office in a flurry of energy and joy, whistling a happy tune.

“Good morning, you two!” she greeted happily, and Savannah was happy for the distraction.

“Good morning! The coffee’s fresh,” Savannah replied, though Jo was already helping herself to a cup. “Hey, actually, would you be able to take a second look at this graph and make sure I input everything correctly? A second pair of eyes wouldn’t hurt.”

Jo grinned. “Of course!”

Tom finally stepped back as Jo made her way to Savannah. There was a mischievous gleam in his eye as he finally locked gazes with her. “Tonight, then,” he breathed quietly so only Savannah could hear. “I’ll find you.” With that, he turned and walked away.

“Looking forward to it,” Savannah whispered to herself, a little thrill making her shudder inwardly. With a relieved sigh, she watched him as he walked away, resisting the urge to fan herself dramatically.

***

Tom threw himself into his work in double time, ignoring the way his heart was hammering in his chest. What had just happened? Did he really just instigate a flirt session with Savannah right in the middle of the office? Did she actually just flirt back?

He shook his head, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow. He couldn’t think about this right now. His bear was roiling, urging and willing him to go back in that office and make Savannah his.

He twisted the tire iron he held with more force than necessary, grunting his frustration. That line of thinking made no sense. Savannah was never “his” to take. Yet at the same time, there was no denying the attraction they felt for one another. He’d thought it was mostly one sided at first, but her reaction to him only a short while ago was primal, intense, and completely unmistakable. A part of her wanted something more too.

But what was that something, exactly? Tom wasn’t too keen on the idea of flings, especially with someone he was expected to work with on a daily basis. The thought of his time with her being temporary from the jump made the bear rattle a dreadful growl, but at the same time, Tom had never really considered mating with her, either.

“Mating?” he said aloud, his hand freezing mid twist. “You think Savannah…”

He allowed the possibility to settle in his mind, the way he did whenever he wasn’t busying himself with menial labor. Even then it was a struggle not to think of her. She was always there, just under the surface of his memory, threatening to dominate his thoughts at the pass of a breeze or the tingle of her voice.

Just thinking about Savannah calmed his bear. As if on cue, Tom remembered back when Nick had told him about Jo, how merely the thought of her was enough to bring his angered beast to rest. The realization of how uncanny this predicament was knocked him back on his haunches. He stared dazed and confused at the rim he’d been working on, unable to wave away the possibility of what this probably meant.

“You alright?” Jo peeked her head though the doorway of the garage’s side entrance. “I thought I heard you shout something.”

He shook his head, finally snapping out of his stupor. “It’s nothing.” His voice sounded overly defensive, even to him. Instead of taking offense, a knowing look colored her features in response. He bristled instantly. “Look Jo, I don’t need any of your teasing right now.”

“That’s exactly the opposite of what I want to do,” she replied, tersely. “I just wanted you to know that if you needed to talk, I’m willing to listen. I know firsthand how confusing it can be to fall for someone so completely and immediately. It can be… tough.”

Tom scoffed derisively. “I’m not falling for her.”

Jo raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?” she asked, softly. “Doesn’t look that way to me.”