Connie dashed through the camp to catch up to her friend, shouting. “Cyndi, will you hold up, for goodness sakes. What’s the rush?”
Cyndi’s long ebony hair swung around her as she looked over her shoulder, her feet not breaking stride as she continued walking quickly. “I’m late, Con, I should’ve been at Caitrìona’s half an hour ago to help her with collecting herbs, but I overslept, again. She’ll be mad as hell, and I don’t blame her. I’ve been late more times than I can count and I’m sure she’ll report me to the Alpha for sure this time.”
Connie grabbed hold of Cyndi’s arm, forcing her to stop, scenting her emotions rolling off her in great waves. She was upset on so many levels that her Shifter nose was finding it difficult to discern which one was strongest. “Hey, sweetie, calm down. You’re not half an hour late, you’re,”—she looked at her phone to check the time—“five freaking minutes late, and you’re always on time. So, tell me, what the heck is wrong with you? You’ve been down in the dumps for weeks and don’t even try to tell me different, girl. Spill, or I’ll hold you here until you are half an hour late.”
Cyndi sighed dramatically, nibbling her bottom lip as her cheeks flushed scarlet. “Nothing’s wrong, I’m fine.”
“Yeah, sure you are.” Connie shook her head. “You’re as fine as a snowball in hell, darlin’, and that’s the truth. I’m your friend, your best friend. If you can’t talk to me then who the hell can you talk to? Come on, Cyn, tell me what’s going on. Maybe I can help.”
“Connie, I’m just, I don’t even know how to put it into words.” Cyndi looked around before looking down at Connie. “I’m just unsettled, my Wolf isn’t happy, and neither am I. I guess you could say we’re feeling a little lonely.”
A bubble of laughter broke free, Connie slapping Cyndi’s arm playfully. “Dang, girl, why didn’t you say so? You just need a good romp in the hay with a good-looking guy. That’ll lift any gal’s spirits. What do you say to us going into town and we can . . .”
“What? No!” Cyndi shook her head, backtracking quickly. “You know that’s not me, Connie! I’ve told you before, and I’ll tell you again . . . I’m not doing that with just anyone. I tried it once and that was one time too many. I’m not going into town . . . end of story. Now leave me alone so I can go get my work done, that’s if I’ve still got a job.”
Connie stared after her friend, wide-eyed and worried. Damn. She must be the oldest Shifter nearly virgin in history. Every warm-blooded Wolf she knew loved sex and she was no exception . . . the only exception to that rule, apparently, was her friend who was now pissed off with her, again. She’d even spoken to her dang mother about Cyndi’s aversion to guys, well, not that she didn’t like boys, she did, but she’d only ever kissed them and had a fumble or two, but whenever they’d tried to take things further Cyndi had ended things so fast the guy was left wondering what the hell had happened. Connie’s mom had merely said that Cyndi would “know when the time was right” and “not to pressure her.” But goddamn, things were getting desperate, and Connie was determined to help her . . . she just wasn’t sure how yet.
She almost jumped out of her skin when the unmistakable voice of her Alpha brought her out of her musings on how she was going to help her friend. “Connie, what are you up to? You look like you’re hatching some nonsense or other.”
She spun around, hoping her face didn’t broadcast what had slipped into her mind a mere second ago. “Sorry, Alpha, I’m sure I have no idea what you mean. I’m just worried about Cyndi. She’s feeling down and I’m just thinking of ways to cheer her up, that’s all.”
Chad Whittaker’s golden eyes scrutinized her, silence stretching for seconds, and Connie’s feet started to shuffle under his scrutiny, even though she willed them to stay still. His eyebrow raised, causing her face to flush, until he finally spoke. “Are you sure you’re not up to something?”
“Absolutely not, Alpha,” Connie replied quickly. “You know I love her like a sister, I’d never do anything to hurt her. I just want her to be happy, that’s all.”
A sigh of relief escaped her when Blake, the Pack’s Beta, appeared. “Chad, can I have a word?”
Chad frowned down at Connie again. “All right, Connie, off with you, but remember, no more shenanigans or you and I will be having words.”
“Certainly, Alpha,” Connie replied with as much reverence as she could muster, backing away, her ears pricked to listen in as Blake started talking hurriedly.
“We have a problem . . . there’s renegades on our land.”