Chapter 15
Hillary packed her things slowly, trying to figure out how to get out of staying up in the large house with Modess. She’d considered finding Wanda to see if she could crash at her and Christian’s place, but her mind went back to Modess’ words. “It’s not a request, Cupcake. Don’t make me come find you.” That cocky, arrogant, sexy, yummy motherf…
“Uhhhh!” She chucked one of her shirts across the room. It floated lazily to the floor as if mocking her frustration, and she was frustrated. Emotionally, physically, sexually! She knew that staying in the same house with Modess was a bad idea. Hell, every time her inner wolf caught sight or scent of the Alpha, she started emitting pheromones. Worse, she knew her scent was no longer going unnoticed if the way everyone around her smirked knowingly was anything to go by.
Stomping over to her shirt, she snatched it off the floor and fisted it into a ball before crossing to the chair where her suitcase rested and shoving it inside. Her hand stilled inside the suitcase as she blinked unseeing at its contents. She and Modess were going to sleep together if she did this, she just knew it. And while excitement warred with nervousness, she knew she needed to make an appeal to him for different sleeping arrangements. Hell, she hadn’t come to Blood Lust to be the Alphas joy toy, but fuck just the idea of being under him as his powerful body took hers had her knees trembling. Bad! This is going to be so bad!
Closing her suitcase, she carried it out to the living room, looking around to ensure she hadn’t missed anything. The place was as clean as when she’d moved in and reluctantly, she bid her temporary home a mental farewell as she opened the front door and exited.
People silently watched her carry her things through the compound. It was almost as if they’d been ordered to keep quiet. She waved to a couple of the women she knew from cooking class and they timidly waved back.
“Hey, let me!” Bull bounded down the steps of his cabin and took her two suitcases. She permitted it and they walked in silence a moment before he finally looked around at everyone who was watching and asked, “Which one of them has been messing with you?”
“None. No one,” she amended. “There just isn’t a bed in the guest cabin and apparently Modess didn’t know that, so…”
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Bull’s brows dip down. “No bed? Where the hell did it go?”
Turning to look at him in confusion she asked, “There used to be a bed in there?”
“Well yeah. What pack has a guest cabin with no bed for the guests?”
“Henry,” she declared on a huff staring straight ahead as she fumed. “Henry’s the one who told me Modess didn’t want a bed in the guest cabin.”
At the mention of his name, Bull loosed a vicious growl that had Hillary’s attention jerking back to him. Her lips ticked up and she asked, “How’s Simone?”
“Getting better every day,” he growled, still sounding angry.
“Thanks for taking her in and taking care of her.”
“Don’t thank me for shit like that, Hillary.”
Brow furrowing in confusion she asked, “Why?”
He didn’t answer right away, just kept stride beside her. Finally he shrugged a shoulder. “Just doesn’t feel right to be thanked for taking care of Simone. She’s a good woman….great actually. Any shifter would be lucky to…” His words died off though as if he wasn’t sure what he wanted to say.
Hillary couldn’t stop the smile that took her lips. Bull did like Simone! Wanting to throw him a bone she agreed, “Simone is really good people. She’s had it rough, though. She fights everything because she thinks she has to. It’s how she was raised. Always brawling, always hurting. But she’s the most loyal person I know, and there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.”
Beside her Bull frowned and asked, “What do you mean, she’s had it rough?”
“It’s not my story to tell, Bull, but be patient with her. I promise you, she’s worth the wait. She’s worth your fight.”
He dipped his chin in a nod. “I have no doubt she is.”
At the front door to Modess’ house, Bull pulled the door open and set her suitcases just inside. Standing, he eyed her and smirked. “Modess is good people too.”
Holding up a hand, Hillary stopped him. “You don’t have to tell me that, Bull. I see him!”
“Well…good. That’s real good, because he sees you too, Hillary, and he hasn’t let himself see a woman in a long time. No one besides Wanda and she’s safe now, protected by Christian. She’s happy with Christian. Modess needs to start looking for his own happiness.”
Her cheeks flushed at the statement and she dipped her eyes to her sandaled feet. “I’m a temporary fixture here, Bull. Me and Modess,” she shook her head. “We can’t work.”
“Well, you moving into his house tells me otherwise. Good luck.” He turned and jogged down the stairs before stopping to ask, “Hey! Modess and I have to go to town tomorrow for a few hours. Can you think of anything Simone needs? I asked, but she keeps saying she’s fine.”
Hillary beamed at the thoughtfulness of the question. “She’s been borrowing clothes since she’s been here. If I give you her sizes, can you pick her up a few things?”
“Hell yeah!”
“Good. I’ll give the list to Modess, you can get it from him, yeah?”
“Yes!” Bull was grinning like an excited school boy now. “Thanks, Hillary.”
“Thank you for taking care of Simone!”
He gave her a warning look but his lips were still curled up.
“Oh yeah,” she rolled her eyes. “I’m not supposed to thank you for shit like that!”
He gave her a thumbs up and then turned to head back to his cabin and Hillary assumed a waiting Simone.
Stepping into Modess’ house, Hillary called out, “Hello?” No answer came so she took a few more steps inside. “Hello? Modess?”
There was still no response and unsure what to do, Hillary walked around just looking at things. The last time she’d been here was the night she’d brought him a PB&J and he’d threatened to tongue fuck her! Even just the memory stained her cheeks and had liquid heat gathering between her legs.
Fidgety and uncomfortable, she made her way to the one place she knew best. The kitchen. Her plan had been to make Modess a nice lunch in his home for once, but as she searched the cupboards and fridge, she discovered everything was basically empty.
“Whatcha doin?”
Startling hard, Hillary shrieked, slapping a hand to her chest as she rose and spun in one movement to level rounded eyes on Wanda. “You scared the piss out of me,” she accused.
Grinning, Wanda leaned her shoulder against the doorway to the kitchen. “If you’re hungry, you won’t find any food in here.”
“I was just,” she waved a hand toward the fridge. “I was going to make us some lunch but you’re right. He doesn’t have anything except a few beers and a bottle of ketchup. Even the pantry’s empty, if that’s what it is.” She pointed toward what she assumed was a pantry because it was a large closet space just off the kitchen lined with shelves. The only thing that had her wondering though was the lock on the outside of the door. Who locked food in a pantry?
“It used to lead outside,” Wanda looked at the door. “Because he’s such a big bastard, I thought Modess would need a large pantry so I had Bull and Christian build that on for him.” She clucked her tongue. “Tsk. Doesn’t even use it.”
Hillary crinkled her nose and waved at the kitchen. “How does he maintain his size like this?”
Wanda shrugged. “Come on. We’ll go into town and get you two some supplies.”
“I can’t. I don’t…I don’t have any money.”
“Modess has plenty.” Winking, Wanda crossed to the freezer and pulled out a coffee can. Popping the lid, she stuck her hand in and pulled out a wad of cash.
“We shouldn’t…”
“Don’t worry. He asked me to run to town to stock him up.” She shoved the cash into her pocket. “Seems he’s got a guest to impress.” Hillary blushed and Wanda shoved off the wall. “Come on, girl. Let’s go get this Alpha some groceries.”
Two hours later, Wanda was standing at the large butcher block island in the center of Modess’ kitchen. It had been floured down and she was rolling dough balls into flat circles when she heard the front door open and booted feet approach. Trying to act natural, she quickly scanned the kitchen. It wasn’t too messy so hopefully Modess wouldn’t be too pissed about her commandeering his kitchen. Two cast iron skillets bubbled on the stove, one with slices of sirloin and potato bubbling in a tomato sauce and the other with creamy refried beans seasoned with garlic salt, olive oil, and covered in melted cheese.
“Something smells delicious.”
Looking up, her eyes collided with the Northern lights green of Modess’ as he stared at her. His words had her mind going back to the last words he’d said to her in this house and she quickly ducked her head. “Thought I’d make you a thank you meal.”
He crossed to pull out one of the stools that sat opposite of where she sat at the island. “Thank you meal?”
Shrugging one shoulder, she kept her eyes on her task. “Thanks for giving me a bed.”
“Have you seen the bed yet?”
She shook her head. “No. I didn’t snoop. Just around the kitchen for dishes.”
“Then it could be a mat on the floor for all you know.”
She grinned, knowing he was teasing. “Well, it’d be better than cramming myself into an armchair or having to shift to sleep on the floor.” She rolled her neck at that but stilled when Modess growled.
“I didn’t know you were being treated so disrespectfully. If I had, I would have remedied it sooner. No one told me.”
That had her brows snapping into a frown. “I told Wanda the second day I was here. I’m surprised she didn’t say something.”
“Wanda knew?”
Hillary stopped rolling out tortillas to look up at him. “Yeah. She knew. And she’s the one that sent me to you that night with a peanut butter sandwich. Said it was your favorite.” Her wheels were spinning now. “It isn’t. Is it?”
Groaning, he shook his head. “No. It isn’t.” Lifting a hand he brushed his knuckles against his beard. “She came here this morning and told me you were hurt. I went busting over there assuming someone had done something to you and then I scented your pain.”
Hillary rolled her shoulders, “My pain from sleeping on the floor.”
“Fucking Wanda!”
Fisting her hands, betrayal bit hard as Hillary muttered, “Why? We’re supposed to be friends! Why would she do that to me?”
His eyes darkened and she instantly recognized his anger. “She thinks she’s a matchmaker. Apologies. I’ll take care of it.”
Matchmaker? Suddenly, Hillary’s heart was hammering against the wall of her chest. Did Wanda really think Modess could ever be interested in a woman like her? She nearly snorted. He was Alpha of the most renowned pack in the North West, and she was just plain old Hillary from Shadow Wolf.