Tom thumped around the upstairs bathroom, wishing he could punch a hole through the wall. He wanted to shift, to let the bear run free and get his anger and frustration out that way, but he couldn't. Savannah was downstairs in the living room, and they were waiting for Jo and Nick to come back with takeout. Dinner at the cabin had sounded like a great idea until he'd realized that Jo had not only invited Savannah but also that she'd decided to go with Nick to get the food – leaving him and Savannah alone. Jo had done it on purpose, he was absolutely certain, under some misguided idea that he was attracted to Savannah.

His bear growled, but in a contented way, as though it was glad Savannah was here. Tom didn’t agree. He’d been too uptight, too aware of her and had needed to take some time out – but the bathroom had been the only place he could go. After he’d shown her around the mechanics, he’d handed her over to Jo without another word to her since. Jo was frustrated with him, but he’d ignored her completely. Savannah was just his employee now, nothing more. Besides, he still wasn’t sure they could trust her. Her story seemed a little too convenient for his liking.

Catching the sound of a car pulling up, Tom practically ran down the stairs, strode to the front door and flung it open, the sound echoing through the cabin.

“Chinese,” Nick grinned, as he shoved a plastic bag at Tom. “Here, take this. I’ll get plates and stuff.”

Tom rolled his eyes as Jo gave him a quick smile. “Did you and Savannah get along okay?”

Shaking his head at her, Tom walked over to the table with the food. He and Savannah hadn't said much at all if he was honest. There was just some kind of weird tension between them.

“Can you tell Savannah we’re ready to eat?”

Tom didn’t reply, just let out a long breath as he wandered over to the book corner at the back of the cabin. It was as if she was hiding, but he didn’t know what it was she was hiding from. A slight trickle of guilt made its way into his conscience. He hadn’t exactly been friendly – although he told himself it was with good reason. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to appear a little more relaxed as he approached her.

Savannah was standing by the shelf full of books, her arms wrapped around her waist. She looked terrified, and Tom was suddenly struck by just how big her brown eyes were. There was something quite lonely about her, as though she didn’t know where she belonged in the world. Despite himself, a great swell of sympathy rose in his chest – but he pushed it away almost at once. He didn’t need this. He wasn’t going to feel anything for this woman. That was for sure. He could be civil, sure, but that was all he was going to feel, no matter how happy his bear seemed to be when she was around. Tom had seen how his brother had changed with Jo around, and he’d swore that wasn’t going to be him. Nick seemed softer these days, less aggressive, less likely just to burst out in anger at any moment. Tom wasn’t sure he liked that change so much. He enjoyed ripping into his bear skin any time he wanted, letting the rage pump the blood into his veins. It made him stronger.

"Food's ready if you want to join us?"

Savannah glanced up at him and Tom could hear her swift intake of breath. Was she scared of him? Even though he’d tried his best to be nice? Why didn’t he like that?”

“I hope you like Chinese takeout,” he continued, a little more lightly. “It’s the best food we have in town. Though, there’s not much else to offer.” He tried to smile, gesturing her to walk though.

Savannah swallowed, and attempted a smile back. She felt so confused, being left here alone with Tom. He’d said very little to her, eventually going upstairs and leaving her by herself. It was obvious he didn’t like being around her, so she’d wandered around the cabin and found the hidden book corner. She’d stayed there, even when Jo and Nick had come back, feeling confused and alone. They’d been so kind to her, but she was only here on Lucas’s orders and that meant that, one day, they’d find out that she was really from the Northern Wind pack. Her emotions were already all over the place, but she tried to convince herself that it was only because she was tired and exhausted from her day. Getting the job had been a relief, now that she knew Lucas wasn’t going to be angry with her – but it was her awareness of Tom that she hadn’t been expecting. “Thanks,” she mumbled, walking past him. Their arms brushed and Savannah jerked away, walking quickly towards the others. When they’d touched, a spark had made her bear jump in surprise, and now it was curious. Forcing herself not to imagine what Tom’s bear looked like, Savanah tried to smile as Jo and Nick handed her a plate.

Tom watched her walk away, a sudden desire to slip his hands around her gentle curves surprising him. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he heard his bear begin to growl. He was confused and upset. He needed to go out in the woods and let the bear run. Then he'd be able to sleep, completely exhausted, without Savannah haunting his mind. Once they'd eaten and Savannah had gone home, he'd shift and head on into the woods.

He couldn’t help himself from wondering what her bear was like as he walked up to the table, his eyes lingering on Savannah again. She was picking up cutlery and going to serve herself food, but he couldn’t keep his eyes from her. There was something about the way she was moving that told him she was tired and upset and, for some reason, Tom wanted to help.

“Why don’t you sit down, and I’ll get the drinks,” he murmured, catching the surprise in her eyes. Ignoring Jo’s grin, he set about getting drinks for everyone, wondering why he’d offered to help. It wasn’t like him.

“I just need to wash my hands,” she murmured, excusing herself for a moment.

Tom forced himself to not watch her climb the stairs, eventually turning his back when the need became too great.

“You’ll need to take Savannah to the store tomorrow.”

He rounded on Jo. “What? Why?”

Nick laughed. “Don’t start grumbling, Tom, you’re going anyway. She just needs a few things for the office.”

“Nick, why can’t you take her?”

“Because I’m busy.”

“That’s not a good enough excuse,” Tom growled. “Jo could take her.”

Jo shook her head. “No, I can’t. I’ve got a lot to do tomorrow.”

Tom tensed, knowing she wasn’t being truthful.

“And don’t start growling at me either,” Jo continued, looking up at him. “Just do it, Tom. For goodness sake, she’s going to be starting work tomorrow, properly. You need to show her where we get our office supplies from.”

He frowned. "It's not exactly hard, Jo. There's one store in town. One. That's where we get our office supplies from. I'm sure she's seen it since she's been living here for a couple of weeks."

“Quit complaining and just take her,” Nick said, cheerfully, clapping his brother on the back. “Come on, Jo, let’s eat.”

 

Savannah was quite surprised to find that she enjoyed the evening, even though Tom was quite uncommunicative. Nick and Jo made up for his silence, asking her lots of questions and telling her about their lives. She had to make up a few things, of course. Luckily they’d accepted everything she said. Occasionally, she’d catch Tom looking at her to which she’d glance back at him, only for him to look away. Nerves still wriggled in her stomach every time their eyes met, but Savannah wasn’t sure why. Was it because she was afraid he’d find out?

“Coffee?” Jo asked, leaning back in her chair.

Savannah got to her feet at once. “I’ll get it.”

“You sure?”

She nodded, wanting to be helpful and to show them that she was a thoughtful person. Anything she could do to get them to trust her was going to help.

“Thanks,” Jo smiled, throwing a quick glance at Tom. “The coffee pot’s in the kitchen but you might need to make up a fresh pot.”

“No problem.” Walking over quickly, Savannah listened to the ongoing conversation behind her, feeling a sense of warmth rising in her. This pack was so different from her own. They were all equals, even the human, which was the biggest surprise. There was no dominance from either Tom or Nick, at least, not that she’d seen. There was a respect between them that wasn’t in the Northern Wind pack. A wave of envy rushed over her, and she clenched her fist for a moment. Was Lucas wrong in how he treated the pack? Why couldn’t they be more like this?

 

Nick practically threw his plate at Tom, lifting an eyebrow as Tom growled at him.

“Don’t start with me, Tom. You need to start being nice to her.”

“So I have to do the dishes?”

Nick shrugged. "Unless you'd rather stay here and watch me and Jo get all… cozy."

Rolling his eyes, Tom got to his feet, grabbing the plates so hard they almost cracked. Clearing his throat, he walked into the kitchen to find Savannah attempting to make a pot of coffee. Her back and shoulders were raised as she visibly tensed at his footsteps. All his senses were on fire as he took her in. Red hot heat swept through him as his eyes lingered on her curves, finally glancing away as his face grew hot. He couldn’t be attracted to this woman, not now. He didn’t know anything about her and, for all he knew, she could be trying to get into their pack for some reasons of her own.

“You getting on okay there?” he managed to say, his voice low. “I’ll take a coffee too if you’re making.”

Savannah didn't reply, merely picking up another cup by way of a response. She waited until she heard him walk back to the table to get the rest of the dishes before letting out a long breath. Tom still didn't trust her and didn't like her being here. What would he do if he ever found out the truth about who she was and what she was doing?