Chapter Twenty-Four
Mike in wolf form was a sight to behold. His thick fur was almost solid black with just a few white hairs salted into the mix. He was also bigger than Rin had expected. Running next to him, it was no exaggeration to say he dwarfed her much smaller size.
When he had suggested they go for a run, Rin had immediately agreed. Not only would it help with her agitation, but it would also satisfy her curiosity about Mike’s beast. This was the first time she had seen him in this form, and he was truly magnificent.
Feeling once more at ease now that she’d given her fox a run, she jumped playfully into the air, bounding left and right as she released little barks of happiness. Mike joined her in her play, stomping his front paws against the frozen ground, feinting left and then running right, they chased each other through the trees.
They investigated the frozen edges of the stream where Mike had taken her on a picnic, rolled in snow drifts, and Rin, in a mood to show off, demonstrated her tree climbing ability while Mike chuffed in amusement. She felt wonderful, fully connected to nature and to Mike; it was another moment she would cherish.
Rin didn’t know how long they would have played, but the setting sun and the loud gurgling of her empty stomach had them heading back to where they had left Mike’s car and their clothes. Once dressed, they drove back in silence, yet with identical looks of contentment on their faces.
They were almost to the diner when the car parked across the way, in front of The Cedars, had Rin sitting up straighter in her seat. Rin wasn’t overly familiar with cars but the vehicle was definitely a luxury model. Rich tourists in town for some cross-country skiing? Margaret Tully hadn’t mentioned any new guest reservations, but it was always possible this was a last minute add, though the car didn’t have any skis mounted on the roof. Were the Tully’s even there to greet visitors or were they still celebrating with their daughter?
Mike let out a low whistle. “Nice Rolls,” he breathed, bringing the car to a complete stop in the middle of the road to admire what he would consider a work of art. Thus they were in perfect position for Rin to see the man who got out of the driver’s seat of the car, dressed in formal chauffeur livery, and opened the back seat for his passenger. The elderly male that stepped out and looked about him with clear disdain on his weathered face had Rin letting out a gasp of surprise.
Mike looked at Rin sharply, “Do you know him?”
Swallowing hard, she attempted a reassuring smile and failed miserably. “Can we go back to back to your place?”
He didn’t question her further, didn’t insist on knowing what was wrong, Mike simply made a three point turn with the car and headed back to the garage. It wasn’t until they were safely locked within Mike’s loft that Rin was able to squeeze the words past her dry throat. “He’s my uncle. I don’t know why he’s here, but I’m not ready to talk to him.”
Rin welcomed the warmth and strength of Mike’s arms coming around her, even more so his words as he kissed the top of her head and whispered, “Then you don’t have to.”
Mike couldn’t deny that he was curious. Rin had gone from happy and relaxed, her face rosy and practically glowing after their run, to stiff and scared, her complexion ashen. His protective instincts had immediately bubbled to the surface. His first thought was to march into the bed and breakfast and demand to know why the male was here. But he refused to leave Rin’s side when she was so obviously agitated. She paced, she chewed her bottom lip, and she kept grasping at her chest as if she expected something to be there before her face would turn to frustration when her hand would come up empty. He’d seen the gesture before, had meant to ask her about it, but not now. He had so many questions, yet he held his tongue. She would tell him – or not – only when she was ready. The last thing he wanted to do was push her or make her feel cornered. So he occupied himself with making them food.
Boiled hotdogs and potato chips. About as far from fine dining as you could get, but Rin didn’t complain. In fact, the hotdogs seemed to lighten her mood, and Mike learned that Coney Island hotdogs happened to be her favorite before she launched into a detailed explanation about how the sauce was prepared, and about her roommate at the university where Rin had earned her degree, who had taught her.
With Rin’s mood improved, Mike fully intended to keep it that way, steering the conversation to subjects that guaranteed just that outcome, so he was surprised when Rin once more reached for her chest, grimaced and then said, “He contacted the council and left a message for me to contact him.”
Mike didn’t need her to explain who the “him” was, and he knew that whatever had made her want to flee rather than rushing into the arms of her kin, was not going to be a pleasant story, so he kept his tongue firmly tucked behind his teeth and his lips sealed.
Rin let out a self-deprecating laugh and shook her head. “Obviously ignoring him is the way to get his attention. Maybe if I had ignored him when my parents died instead of calling daily and leaving messages, he would have come instead of having his assistant send flowers.” The last was said with a little snarl that Mike was ashamed to admit was cute as hell. The pain inflicted by her uncle’s thoughtlessness however, was not cute, and very real.
Now he wished her uncle was a younger male so that he could feel some pain of his own, inflicted by Mike’s fists.
“Why is he here? He never leaves that fortress he calls home, it’s his baby, his empire,” Rin hissed, and then more quietly, “the only thing he truly loves.”
The question wasn’t meant for him, and even if it was, Mike would have no idea what to say, but he could offer comfort. Reaching out a hand, Rin clutched it almost desperately and Mike unlocked his jaw to reassure her, “Your uncle is on pack land. Say the word and I’ll see to it that he’s removed. You’ll never have to see him again.”
Mike watched in fascination as a myriad of emotions washed over Rin’s face. Finally, she shook her head. “No” she said firmly. “I’m not ready yet, but I need to know what is so important that he would come all this way to say it.” Then the first true smile since this conversation began lit her face, “Besides, it’ll do him a world of good to see how it feels to be made to wait.”