It didn’t take long to get from Betty Sue’s house to my place, but I probably should have told Becca I’d be longer than thirty minutes. While it should have been possible since I hadn’t hit every red light on the way home and I’d driven over the speed limit, I hadn’t factored in how slow my dad moved while drunk.

I left the engine of my car running and hopped out to help him, but he waved my hands away.

“I don’t need your damn help,” he mumbled. “I can do this on my own. I have a million times.”

When he missed the first step, I reached out and steadied him anyway. The front door creaked open. Gran stood in its threshold, her thin lips pinched into a frown as she watched her inebriated son wobble up the porch steps with the help of her granddaughter.

“I picked him up at Betty Sue’s,” I told her as I pressed my palms flat against Dad’s back, making sure he didn’t fall backward while going up the stairs. “Sorry to dump him on you and run, but I’m supposed to meet the girls. We’re going shopping for camping stuff for tonight.”

While I had mentioned camping, I hadn’t mentioned there would be guys coming too. She didn’t need to know. I was eighteen, after all.

“All right, that’s fine. You go right ahead. Enjoy yourself, honey,” Gran insisted. “I’ll take it from here.”

“You don’t need to take nothin’. I’m fine,” Dad growled as he fumbled through the front door.

My gut twisted. Should I hang around for a while? It didn’t seem right dropping Dad off and then leaving so soon. Not when he wasn’t situated in his room first or on the couch. What if Gran had trouble getting him settled? What if he fell and she couldn’t help him up?

I glanced around, searching for Gracie. While I didn’t want her to be privy to our dad in all his drunken splendor, at least with her home Gran would have help if she needed it.

“Where’s Gracie?” I asked.

“She went to the movies with some friends,” Gran said as Dad mumbled something about her leaving him be.

I frowned. Had Gracie really gone to the movies with her friends or with Cooper Vargas? Eli’s little brother was a good kid, but it didn’t mean I wanted him dating my little sister. Thirteen was too young to start dating.

“He’ll be fine. I’ll be fine. Get out of here. Go have fun,” Gran said as she shooed me off the porch.

“I’ll be home in an hour or so. I still need to pack,” I said as I backtracked down the steps.

“Have fun.” Gran closed the door, ending the conversation.

“Love you too,” I muttered, disbelieving the way she’d dismissed me.

I rounded my car, heading for the driver’s seat, and noticed immediately the stupid thing was no longer running.

Crap.

When was the last time I’d filled the tank up? I couldn’t remember. I slipped behind the steering wheel and turned the key in case running out of gas wasn’t the problem and it had shut off on its own. A clicking noise sounded but the car never fully committed to starting. What was wrong with it now? I leaned back in my seat and blew out a long breath, fighting against the anger bubbling through me.

I hated my car. Hardcore freaking hated it.

I mentally counted to ten before I tried the key again. The same clicking noise came from beneath the hood.

Shit. Was my car dead? For real dead?

It had been on the fritz for a while, but I didn’t think it would take a complete dump on me so soon. Daring to believe it wouldn’t, I tried one last time to start the engine. I got the same result. My hands gripped the steering wheel so tight my knuckles turned white as I gritted my teeth together and shook back and forth while growling. I couldn’t believe this was happening.

I had no car.

I reached for my cell once I calmed down a bit, deciding it was probably best if I told Becca and Ridley I was having car trouble and that I would just catch up with them later. There was no point in having them double back to pick me up. It was too late. They were probably already in the store halfway finished with their shopping. As I typed out a message to Becca, a familiar voice called out to me.

“Need me to jump you, Mina?”

I glanced up from my cell to find Eli strutting toward me. Dressed in a pair of khaki cargo shorts that looked like they’d seen better days, a gray cotton tank top, and a pair of flip-flops, he looked as though he’d just rolled out of bed. Even so, I’d never seen him look sexier. The sight of him had my heart pounding out of its normal rhythm and my mouth going dry.

“Maybe,” I said, ignoring the way his words could be seen as an innuendo.

“Try it again.” He stopped at the front of my car and popped the hood with ease, his fingers knowing exactly where the latch was.

I licked my lips and forced myself to focus on the situation instead of him. I held my breath as I reached for my key, hoping the engine cranked over this time without issue.

It didn’t.

The same clicking noise sounded, causing my heart to deflate.

“Sounds like it’s the battery. I’d say you need a jump. Let me get my truck and cables.” He jogged toward his trailer. I took in his broad shoulders and tight behind.

The first flickers of panic hit me as soon as he disappeared inside. What was wrong with me? Why was I so attracted to him?

I closed my eyes and leaned against my seat while I tried to get a grip on the ripples of desire for him pulsing through me. I’d be lying if I said I’d never felt an attraction toward Eli Vargas, but what I’d felt lately—since he’d kissed me—was intense as well as a whole new level of scary. The pull toward him had always freaked me out; it was why I’d forced distance between us all these years. I was too afraid of it. Being as drawn to him as I was couldn’t be normal. Could it?

God, it had become so much harder to ignore and push away.

In fact, I was beginning to realize I wasn’t as strong as I’d once thought.

A screen door slammed shut and Eli darted toward his truck. I watched him as he climbed behind the wheel. His beast of a truck roared to life without issue, and he turned it around, making his way to my piece of junk car.

“Let me hook it up and then we’ll let it sit for a minute before we try again,” he insisted once he’d parked in front of my car and gotten out to pop the hood of his truck.

“Thanks.” There was a wild note whirling in the pitch of my voice I didn’t like. It revealed too much of what I was feeling for him in the moment. At least to my ears. Eli didn’t seem to notice.

I eased out of my car and erased the text I’d planned to send to Becca before beginning a new one. I told her my car battery was dead, and I was getting it jumped. I’d be there soon. She replied within seconds.

No problem. Take your time.

Thanks. - Mina

As I shoved my cell in my back pocket, my gaze drifted to Eli. He chewed the inside of his cheek while making sure the clamps for his cables were secured. I loved the way he did that; it meant he was seriously concentrating on something. Once he thought they were okay, he lifted his gaze to meet mine.

“You look like you’re in a hurry to get somewhere.” A shit-eating grin spread across his face. One that had me thinking he enjoyed seeing me late for something.

“I am. I’m supposed to meet Becca and Ridley. We’re picking up camping supplies for tonight.”

His face darkened. “Camping? Where are you camping at? Not out there, right?” He nodded toward the woods that kissed the trailer park.

“Yeah. Those woods.”

“It’s just going to be you and the girls though, right? None of the guys?” His voice had turned cold.

Was he jealous or concerned? It was hard to tell from the look on his face.

“Why does it matter to you?” I knew why it might but asked anyway.

“It matters. Trust me,” he insisted.

Charged tension formed in the space between us. Eli crossed his arms over his solid chest and narrowed his eyes on me.

“It shouldn’t. I can take care of myself.” My stomach churned. I knew that wasn’t the truth. Not when it came to Shane and his brothers.

“There’s no question, but this situation is something different altogether, Mina. You know that.” He said the words slowly, emphasizing each one. “Are the guys going camping tonight with you?”

“Yes, the guys will be there.” My eyes never wavered from his, but my heart rate spiked. What was he going to do? Tell me I couldn’t go? He wasn’t my alpha.

He wasn’t my anything.

That was a lie. Eli was my friend, if nothing else.

“We did say scoping out Shane and his brothers was a good idea,” I reminded him. “We agreed I’d hang around him and see if I can learn anything that might be helpful in finding Glenn. Camping is a good opportunity.” I kept my voice down in case there was anyone within range of our conversation. Everyone in the pack still suspected Glenn had gotten sick of Taryn and left town for a while. No one else thought he’d been abducted.

“No, it’s not. It’s suicidal, especially after what we know. You’ve been moon kissed, Mina. Don’t toss yourself at their feet.” Goose bumps spread across my skin at the raw emotion laced in his words.

He was worried about me. Eli Vargas was legitimately worried about me.

“I’m not,” I whispered.

Tossing myself at their feet wasn’t my intention at all.

“You heard Drew the same as I did. You’re exactly what he’s looking for.” Eli ran a hand through his hair as his gaze dropped to the gravel road we stood on. His jaw worked back and forth as he seemed to contemplate his next words carefully. “I don’t think it’s smart. You shouldn’t be spending time with Shane in the woods at night, but I know I can’t stop you. You’re going to do whatever you want. It’s how you’ve always been.” His words were harsh, but not as harsh as his gaze when he lifted his eyes to lock with mine.

Fury roared under my skin. He made me sound selfish and rude.

“You’re right. I’d still go no matter what you said.” Didn’t he see that I had to? Shane would think it was suspicious if I backed out now. He’d think he’d intimidated me somehow. That he’d won.

Plus, I couldn’t blow Alec off again. He didn’t deserve it.

Maybe I was selfish, but only when it came to him. I didn’t want to give him up. He brought out a different side of me. One I happened to like.

“I knew you’d say that.” Amusement, which surprised me, shifted through Eli’s bright green eyes and the corners of his lips twisted into the ghost of a smile. “Same as you knew I’d tell you there’s no way in hell you’ll be out there alone with them tonight.”

I blinked. “What do you mean?”

“I have to work, but I’ll be sending Tate into the woods to watch over you.”

I kept my face neutral. While I should have known he would do something like that, I hadn’t. Eli had caught me off guard. Tension released from my muscles I hadn’t been aware I’d harbored until that second. I was glad Eli was sending someone from the pack to watch over me tonight, even if it was only Tate. At least someone would be there if things went south.

“Whatever. I’m not even going to try to fight you on this, because I know there isn’t a chance in hell I’d win,” I said, hoping I was able to keep every ounce of relief out of my voice when I spoke and still sound slightly pissed off.

I walked to the hood of my car. I didn’t know what I was looking at, but knew I needed distance between us.

Eli crept up behind me. His scent saturated the air around me, causing my heart to flutter and lungs to forget how to breathe.

“Damn right,” he whispered against my ear before maneuvering around me to get behind the wheel of my car. “Step back. I’m going to try it.”

I took a shaky step back still able to feel his hot breath against my ear. My entire body seemed to tremble in reaction to the sensation. A whining noise filled the air, drawing my attention to the here and now. My car was making a new noise. No more clicking. That had to be a good sign, right?

“Almost,” Eli said.

He cranked the engine again. This time the noise seemed to drag on forever before it finally caught and my car revved to life again. A wide smile spread across my face.

“Yes! Thank you!” I shouted as I rushed to the driver side door.

Eli slipped from behind the wheel. “You’re welcome.” He maneuvered around me to the front of my car where he unhooked the cables. “I think you’re going to need a new battery, though,” he called over the noise of my running engine.

Crap. There went my sleeping bag money.

“How much do they cost?” I’d never had to buy one before.

“Let me give you a ride to wherever you need to go. While I’m out, I’ll pick up the right battery and install it for you.”

He didn’t have to do that. “That would be great, but umm—”

“I’ll pay for it, too.” Eli slammed the hood of my car down and moved to unhook his truck. “All I ask is that you make grilled cheese and tomato soup for us one night soon.” He glanced over his shoulder at me. His lips hooked into a half smirk.

I didn’t know what to say. A new battery for grilled cheese and tomato soup? It seemed like a good deal, too good of a deal. If only it wasn’t coming from Eli. I didn’t think spending time alone with him was a great idea, especially when there wasn’t anything pack related to discuss.

Was there a way I could turn it into a pack thing?

“Obviously, from the look on your face that’s not in my cards,” Eli said as he slammed the hood of his truck down. “I must be pushing my luck. The offer to take you wherever you’re supposed to meet your friends still stands, though. I’ll even get you a battery still if you give me the money.”

“That’s the thing, I’m not sure I have the money to cover a battery.” My face shifted through at least ten shades of red. Admitting I was broke never got any easier.

“Then I guess the only way you’re going to get one today is if you agree to make me a grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner one night.”

Damn him. He wasn’t going to let that go, was he?

My car was my freedom. The only piece I had. Not being able to leave when I wanted would suck. Gran wouldn’t give me any money for a battery. She’d make me work for it doing off the wall chores. Dad wouldn’t lend me money either, and he damn sure wouldn’t let me use his truck until I could save enough for a new battery.

I was screwed.

Unless…

“Fine. I’ll make you tomato soup and grilled cheese sometime soon. Take me to Walmart, please,” I muttered as I grabbed my wallet from inside my car and cut the engine.

Eli grinned as I strode past him to climb into the cab of his truck. He slipped behind the wheel without a word and shifted into reverse.

“Does tomorrow night work for you? It works for me,” he said as he made his way out of the trailer park.

“I didn’t know you were planning a specific day.” My words were harsh. I wasn’t sure if it was because I was upset with him for gloating, or if I was upset with myself for the tiny butterflies of excitement bursting through my stomach at the thought of being alone with him.

“And time,” Eli insisted. “Seven o’clock. I should be home by then. I’ve got a side job to do since it’s my night off from Eddie’s.”

I ignored him but made a mental note of the time. “Oh, speaking of side jobs, Betty Sue wants you to call her. She’s selling half her property and putting the money from the sale back into her house. She needs a handyman to fix the place up, and you were the first person to come to mind. I told her I’d speak with you about it.”

“Glad to know I’m always so front and center in your mind,” he said. “I’ll give her call.”

I shifted to glance out the passenger window, ignoring his jab. He turned the radio up and drove toward Walmart. When we were nearly there, I reached for my cell and sent Becca another text, letting her know I was close. She messaged back saying to look for them in the camping section. My gaze drifted back out the windows as two things bounced through in my head: how nervous I was to spend the night in the woods while Shane would be there too, and how stupid it was of me to agree to dinner with Eli tomorrow night.

I hoped I was able to dig something new up on Shane or one of his brothers so Eli and I would have something pack related to discuss. If not, I wasn’t sure how the night might unfold.