Savannah tried to smile but her mouth barely moved. “I’m just looking for a job.”
“And you just happened to come here, to where two other bear shifters are, right?” Tom replied, sarcastically.
“I know it sounds ridiculous, but yes.”
Tom pushed himself up to stand tall over her, a large frown creasing his forehead. “I think you’d better start from the beginning.”
Savannah looked up into his grim face, took a breath and began to tell her lies. “I’ve been wandering around ever since my dad died. I’ve never been part of a pack before, but I could tell that there were other shifters here.”
“Have you seen any?” he growled, immediately on his guard. If Lucas had got to her, then she couldn’t stay here.
“No,” she replied, with a shake of her head. “I’ve got a place to stay in town, and my money’s getting low. I just need a job, that’s all. Finding other shifters was just a bonus.”
Tom pushed himself away from the counter, taking a couple of steps closer. “And you expect me to believe you?”
Savannah’s eyes darted up at him, before hitting the floor again. Her nerves were running wild and her stomach was churning uncontrollably. “Yes, I swear that’s the truth.”
“Does the name Northern Wind ring a bell?”
Realizing that Tom was still incredibly suspicious of her, Savannah tried her best to look as though she didn't have a clue what he was talking about. "Never heard of it."
“Hmmm.” Tom narrowed his eyes a little, trying not to be influenced by her scent. She smelled of pine, earth and wind, everything that his bear appreciated. But his human mind was trying to focus on whether she could be trusted or not. “I have to discuss this with my brother.”
“Please,” Savannah interrupted, managing to meet his gaze. “Don’t tell the human what I really am.”
He smiled grimly. “I know the old rule about not letting humans know about shifters. Don’t worry.” He didn’t tell her that Jo already knew everything there was to know about shifters, nevertheless, he’d respect her privacy and wouldn’t tell Jo. There was a strange kind of urge to protect Savannah, which he couldn’t really place.
“Thank you.”
She sagged against the counter and Tom felt a sudden, unwanted rush of sympathy. If she had been traveling for a long time, looking for a pack of her own, then it was no wonder she was tired. There was something incredibly lonely about being a shifter on your own. They weren't built for that. "Take a seat and help yourself to a coffee," he said, before he could stop himself. He watched her blink in surprise, before turning away. "I'll be back soon."
“Thank you.” Savannah watched as Tom walked outside to meet Jo and Nick, who were standing beside an old car. Walking over to make herself a coffee from the coffee machine, Savannah kept her eyes on the three of them. They’d walked far enough away for her to not be able to hear them – which was probably deliberate on their part. Not that she could blame them. If she’d just finished fighting with the Northern Wind pack, then she probably wouldn’t trust a new shifter who just turned up on their doorstep either.
Filling her cup of coffee, Savannah pushed away the prick of guilt. She'd taken an instant dislike to Jo, recognizing that she wasn't a shifter, but Jo had been more than kind to her. In fact, she'd practically offered her the job straight away - it was only Tom who had shown more reserve. Savannah mentally shrugged, still against the idea of a pack to have a human in it.
Wandering back to her seat, Savannah kept her eyes on the three figures outside. The other man must be Tom's brother, Nick, she realized, watching the way he slipped an arm around Jo's waist. Savannah could practically feel the protectiveness rolling off him. It was clear he was in love with Jo, and that he'd chosen her as his mate. It went against everything she knew, for a shifter to love a human, and it was one of the reasons Lucas had grown to hate Nick.
What about Tom? Savannah had been quite intimidated when he’d walked in, she had to admit. He was tall and strong, and his bear was almost majestic. There was something about him being an alpha that had a warmth curling in her stomach, although it was tinged with a trace of fear. Watching him gesture furiously towards her, Savannah felt heat creep up her neck and into her cheeks. She didn’t know what he was saying, but it was clear he didn’t trust her. A shifter turning up on their doorstep probably had him on high alert.
Sighing, Savannah tried not to worry about what would happen if she failed. Lucas wouldn’t be happy. She’d probably be thrown out of the pack for real, or if not that, severely punished. Shuddering, Savannah nursed her cup of coffee, shifting her gaze away from Tom.
“I like her,” Jo declared. “I think she’d be a great addition.”
Nick shrugged. “I don’t mind, Jo. It can be your call, as far as I’m concerned.” He grinned at her wickedly and Jo blushed, whilst Tom groaned in frustration.
“We know nothing about her,” he growled. “You’re far too easy, Jo. She’s just given you some sob story and you’ve practically handed her the job on a plate!”
“So?” Jo shrugged.
Tom gritted his teeth. “I just think we should think about it a bit longer.”
“It’s because she’s a shifter,” Nick explained, slipping an arm around Jo’s waist.
Jo’s mouth fell open in surprise. “Why didn’t you tell me, Tom?”
He glanced over at the window, his eyes catching sight of Savannah sitting down quietly. “She asked me not to. Shifters don’t tell humans about their abilities.” He tried to ignore the wave of embarrassment that threatened to bring heat to his cheeks, aware that it wasn’t exactly a big deal for Jo to find out.
“Yeah, but it’s Jo,” Nick laughed. “It’s not like she’s going to be shocked or anything.”
Jo tipped her head to one side, her eyes narrowing. “You like her.”
Tom blew out a long, frustrated breath. “That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard,” he countered, his eyes not quite meeting her gaze. He didn’t want to admit to even himself that he was attracted to Savannah.
Nick chuckled quietly. “What’s the big deal, Tom? We give her a job - that’s it, period. It’s not like she going to be looking to rip out your throat in broad daylight or anything.”
Rolling his eyes, Tom growled. “I don’t trust her.”
“You don’t trust anybody,” Jo pointed out, reminding him of how he’d tried to get rid of her.
“I was doing that for your own good!”
“I know that,” Jo replied, placatingly. “But Nick’s right. What’s the problem with us giving her a job?”
Tom ran a hand through his hair, making it stick up all over the place. He couldn’t answer. There was something about Savannah that was making him wary, but Jo and Nick were right. They would all be working together at the mechanics, and she had her own place in town. There was nothing to worry about, really. He had no choice but to admit that. “Fine,” he growled. “Although it’s really Nick’s call.”
Nick shrugged. “I’ve already said I’m fine with it.”
“Then I’d better go tell her,” Tom retorted, wanting to get away from Jo and Nick as fast as he could. What Jo had said about him liking Savannah had struck a rather uncomfortable chord and he didn’t want to stick around to hear any more comments like it. Was he battling his own feelings in trying to push her away, or was it really that he was worried about her motives? His bear growled uneasily, and Tom gritted his teeth as he walked. He’d shift later and take a long run through the woods. That usually got his frustrations out.