CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Hayley poured herself another cup of coffee and scowled. She was still so mad at herself. Oh she was mad at Grayson all right, but she was even madder at herself.
How could she have been so trusting and stupid, again?
“Grayson Edge,” she snarled and took a scalding gulp of black coffee.
He really did seem like such a nice, decent, upright guy. But all the while, he was scheming to drive her out of her house and out of Wolves Hollow!
He lived next door, so maybe he was planning to get rid of her so he could get her land and build an extension to his big, majestic house. He was hoping to frighten her away so he could get his hands on her house real cheap.
Hayley made a sound of disgust and got up. She dumped the rest of her coffee into the sink and looked out the window. The late morning sun was streaming into her house, but it did little to warm her up. She was feeling so tired and wretched. She hardly slept a wink last night after Grayson left.
She glared at Grayson's stately white house and bit her lip hard. Somehow, she still couldn't believe that Grayson was a slimy, scheming jerk who was no better than her ex. She'd gone through two bad marriages, but two bad apples didn't mean that the whole basket contained stinking, rotten apples. Right?
Her second husband, Vincent, was rotten and dishonest to the core. He was even worse than her first husband, Raymond, who just couldn't keep it in his pants. At least Raymond didn't scheme to cheat her of her money and rightful entitlement.
Hayley swore under her breath. “Was I...wrong?” she asked her dishwasher. “You heard what he said, right? He said...he said...”
You will be safer if...you leave Wolves Hollow for good, Hayley.
Hayley sat down heavily at the dining table. She recalled the conflicted, tormented look on Grayson's face when he said that. He didn't want her to leave.
She dropped her head into her hands. “I...I should at least hear him out,” she muttered. She hadn't even given Grayson a chance to explain. She had been unfair, judgmental and vindictive. She shouldn't let her experience with Vincent color her view of all men. She had just assumed that Grayson harbored an ulterior motive for wanting her to leave Wolves Hollow. It was possible, she conceded, that he simply had her best interests at heart.
After hesitating another minute, Hayley went to change into her jeans and threw on her denim jacket. She grabbed her bag and went to the door. She needed to talk to Grayson. But after her outrageous behavior last night, he might not even want to talk to her.
Hayley let out a startled cry when she opened her front door and almost walked into a raised fist.
“Oh! Sorry, I was about to knock.” A pretty, blond woman smiled and said sheepishly.
It took Hayley a moment to recognize her. “Ariana,” she said. Ariana's eyes were the exact same shade of blue as her brother's.
“You're Grayson's sister,” Hayley said.
“Ah, yes. Just call me Ari. Everyone does.”
“What can I do for you, Ari?” Hayley said carefully. Did Grayson send his sister here?
“I came here to tell you that your car will be ready this afternoon,” Ari answered brightly.
“My car?”
“Yup. Grayson's working on it right now.”
“But...”
“He towed it to our shop. It was already there when the guys came in this morning. I think Grayson drove out last night to get your car himself.”
“What? Why would he...” Hayley shook her head. She had so many questions but she could only articulate one. “What shop?”
“The Sentinels own Safeway Auto Repair. It's the largest auto repair shop in Wolves Hollow,” Ari said proudly.
“How did he find my car? I didn't even know the name of the street...” Hayley mumbled.
Ari tapped her nose and grinned. “He followed your scent. My brother was the best tracker in the pack before he became Alpha.” Ari glanced at the bag on her shoulder and said, “I can see you're on your way out. I'm going back to the shop now. I'm their receptionist and errand girl. Can I give you a ride somewhere?” She jerked her thumb at her car which was parked right in front of Hayley's house.
“Actually...I was just about to look for Grayson. I need to talk to him,” she stuttered.
Ari cocked her head. “Did you guys have a fight?”
“Fight?” Hayley almost dropped her keys as she locked her front door. “No! Why would I fight with Grayson? I hardly know him.”
Ari smiled. “My brother is a great leader. But he's hopeless with women.”
“He was pretty good with three women.” Hayley bit the inside of her cheek in mortification. Where did that catty remark come from? She didn't even sound like herself.
Ari gave her a sidelong glance as they walked towards her car. “Grayson only did that so he wouldn't have to kill those three bitches,” Ari said. “He had to strip them of their power and position in the pack and make them submit. It was a show of power, and yes, it was very public. It was crude and humiliating. Grayson would never have done it if it wasn't necessary.”
Ari faced her and put a hand gently on her arm. “But once Grayson finds his mate, he will never touch another female.”
Hayley winced. “But...if such a situation ever arises again, if he has to...subdue another wolf…”
“He will order another male in the pack to do it. Grayson could have ordered Scott to do it, and as his Beta, Scott would have to carry out the order. But Grayson never throws his weight around. He could have ordered his Beta or any of his lieutenants to do the dirty work for him.”
Ari carried on fervently, “He is a good Alpha, but like I said, he doesn't know how to sweet-talk and seduce women.” She threw up her hands in exasperation. “Grayson is just...”
“A straight arrow,” Hayley said, suppressing her smile.
“That's my brother. Grayson is the straightest arrow there is,” Ari replied, breaking into a grin. “Hop in. I'll take the scenic route and show your some nice shops along the way.”
Hayley smiled as Ari prattled on happily during the ride. It was clear that the siblings were very close. “He's all I've got,” Ari said when they stopped at a red light. “I mean, the Sentinels are pack. But—family is family.”