Chapter 69
Chapter 69
She smiled sardonically. “I think we both know that’s not really true p>
Declan’s expression darkened, his brows drawing together. “Because
you can’t shift p>
She realized she was poking at old wounds with that wasn’t going to lie to him. “I don’t have a problem be but I don’t think I’ll ever really be one of you because of it. Margaret basically told me as much p>
he
cked p>
His frown shifted from anger to bafflement. “You said that the other day–that Margaret told you that you don’t belong here?” He tilted his head in question, the gesture distinctly canine.
“That was the gist of it, more or less. And it’s fine, really. I get it. But you can’t tell me p>
“What were her exact words p>
“We were sort of talking in circles around the whole werewolf
thing p>
“Wolf kin p>
“-wolf kin thing, and she told me that there are certain things you guys don’t discuss with outsiders.” She kept her hands perfectly still on the table, even though she was tempted to pick nervously at the wood planks. “I can read between the lines. I’m an outsider. She wanted me to stop asking questions and just accept p>
Declan’s expression shifted to one of amusement.
“Don’t look at me like that,” Tessa said, annoyed by his patronizing
Chapter 69
smile. “I’m telling you exactly what she said to me p>
“Gracie,” Declan said fondly, that irritating smile still on his lips. “For
such a smart woman, you sure do misread a lot of signs p>
She frowned. “It was pretty unambiguous p>
Declan reached out, grabbing her hands. The heat of his touch bloomed beneath her skin, as heady and intoxicating as always. “Tessa. Margaret wasn’t telling you that you’d be an o forever. She was telling you that she wanted you to an outsider so that we could tell you everything p>
to be
“Uh… what?” How does a person just stop being an outsider? Isn’t that kind of dependent on the community? Natasha’s advice suddenly echoed in her mind–you have to demand what you want.
“I told you that there’s a connection between pack members. That we can sense each other in our minds p>
“Yes p>
“When someone leaves the pack, they drop out of our sense. When my dad left, everybody knew. When my sister’s-” he cut himself off. “ Anyway, the opposite is true, too. When Tom Tremaine joined the pack, we all felt it p>
Tessa shook her head, confused. “Declan, I’m not wolf kin. I don’t have this wolf telepathy thing. I don’t know what you expect me to
do p>
“You have to want to join the pack, Tessa. You have to believe that you are a part of it p>
“That’s it p>
He nodded. “That’s it p>
Chapter 69
“It can’t be that easy p>
“It is. The pack has already accepted you, Tessa. Everyone’s just been waiting for you to take the last step.” His grip tightened on hers.
Hopeful, doubtful, she closed her eyes and with every fiber of her being, she thought, please. After a moment, she opened her eyes and
met Declan’s intent gaze.
“Did it happen?” she asked.
He shook his head, his grasp easing from hers. “You woulave felt it. You still don’t think of yourself as one of us p>
Because she wasn’t one of them. “I… I think I need a little time. This is a lot of new information p>
The intensity left his gaze, and he leaned back in his chair, c Romanong his arms over his chest again. With a quiet sigh, he said, “Don’t take forever, Tessa p>
The sun went down, turning the cabin’s only window into a black mirror. It made Tessa nervous, so she pulled the dusty curtains shut. There were no overhead lights in the cabin–just a few dim lamps. It would have been cozy and romantic if it weren’t for the crazed vampire trying to get ahold of her.
Declan had put on a shirt and shoes and brought in food packed by Natasha. The two of them sat at the table again, eating cold caribou pierogis straight out of the container. After their conversation about joining the pack, Declan had been a bit distant with her. The
coolness eventually faded, and they were back to talking again. But the easy intimacy they’d shared in his bed was gone, replaced by the sort of forced friendliness you share with a second–cousin that you only see at Christmas.
“So,” Declan asked, licking tallow from his fingers. “Why did you want to be a teacher p>
Chapter 69
Tessa tore her gaze away from the sight of his lips closing around his thumb. “I didn’t. I only got my teaching license as a backup plan. My original plan was to be an award–winning, history–making, investigative journalist p>
“So what changed your mind p>
“Reality. Turns out, you don’t show up on your first day as a beat reporter and immediately break stories about high–level government corruption and political conspiracies p>
“No?” Declan pretended at surprise. “You had to start with mid–level corruption p>
“No.” Tessa suppressed a smile. “I had to start out by covering town council meetings, and changes in municipal zoning laws, and school board elections p>
Declan tilted his head, considering. “Everyone starts at the bottom. You would’ve eventually gotten to cover bigger stories, right p>
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