Page 21 of Wanted

Emery startles and I look over to see that Cynthia has burst through her door. She’s standing there, arms wide with a huge grin on her face. It’s been a few years since I’ve been out here. I’m not surprised by her reaction.

From her movements and the light in her eyes, you’d never know that she was over a hundred and fifty years old. The lifespan of a typical wolf was around two hundred to two hundred and fifty years.

“Chance!” she yells excitedly. “You’ve finally come to see me again.”

Emery looks between me and Ms. Cynthia. I move my hand to the small of her back, urging her to move. She follows my lead, though her steps are unsure.

Ms. Cynthia’s face changes as we get closer. Her dark-brown eyes move from mine to Emery. Her eyebrows pop in evident surprise.

“You look so familiar,” Ms. Cynthia says to Emery.

“Me?” Emery presses her hand to her chest and looks at me. “I, uh…” She turns back to Ms. Cynthia, who, in turn, looks at me.

I shake my head.

Her smile falls a little.

“Come inside.” She ushers us both inside.

We follow her into the small house. There are stacks of books along one wall, a recliner chair and love seat couch along another and an old 90s-style television set at the front of the living room area.

“I’ll put on a pot of coffee,” Ms. Cynthia says before even asking if we want anything. I go to tell her that’s not necessary, but she’s out of the room before I open my mouth.

Another tug at my arm. I peer down at Emery.

“What are we doing here?” I assume she’s whispered the question because her lips are slightly pinched as she forms the words.

“Ms. Cynthia knows a lot about happenings in this area.” I don’t tell her that, that applies to anything going on with wolf shifters. I had already planned to come over for a visit after my meeting at Mike’s. Now, it feels even more pressing.

“Oh.” Emery’s mouth forms into a circle as she says the word. Once again, I can’t fucking stop staring at her lips.

I drag my gaze away.

Ms. Cynthia returns. “There we are,” she says as she places a plate with a kettle of hot water, teacups, and tea bags on the wooden table in front of Emery and me.

She looks directly at me. “I’ve been expecting you.” She smiles.

I raise an eyebrow.

“How’s my sister doing?” she questions.

On a nod, I tell her, “Ms. Elsie’s well.” Ms. Cynthia was raised as part of the Nightwolf pack but moved out here when she mated with a member of a local, small pack. Many of the pack, including her husband, died years ago, but she’s remained in this area ever since.

She laughs. “I’ll take that to mean my sister is being her busy body self as usual.”

A small smile curves my lips, but I don’t reply. It’s well-known that Ms. Elsie is the pack’s busybody. Always sticking her nose into affairs. But she does it out of love and we all know it, which is why she gets away with it.

Movement from the corner of my eye captures my attention. Emery waves her hand, saying something.

She turns to me with a smile on her face, but it’s forced. It’s one of those polite smiles you give to people when you don’t want to come across as rude.

“Not to intrude on your conversation,” she says, glancing between the two of us. She gives Ms. Cynthia an even wider smile. Then she looks at me again, “But what is it we’re doing here?”

I don’t respond right away since I obviously can’t disclose that I’m here on official pack business.

Cynthia answers for me when she says, “I met your sister.”

Emery sits up straight. As I’m focused on Cynthia, who’s just surprised me as well. Unfortunately, I can’t read Emery’s lips when she speaks to Ms. Cynthia.