A Whisper of Secrets

16. Dinner and Observations

I had no idea what to do with a Werewolf Pack. Hell, I didn't even know what to do with the Werewolf in my lounge. I busied myself with cooking, sipping my coffee as I mulled over the idea of a Werewolf Pack being sworn to me. To be honest, the idea made me uncomfortable.

'Swear fealty', I thought, 'What the hell does that even mean?'

I wanted to ask just that, but with the Fey, and the Preternatural communities in general, to show any sign of weakness, in any aspect, was a sign that screamed "PREY! KILL ME NOW!" Showing even the slightest weakness or ignorance to the Pack leader in my lounge was bad; best case scenario, the Pack would never respect me or follow any orders I gave. Worst case scenario...

Buckets of blood and something that looks like hamburger, but is definitely not hamburger, being carted away from my cottage through yellow CRIME SCENE - DO NOT CROSS tape...

I shook my head like I could shake the image out of my mind and turned my attention to dishing up the food. I had finished cooking on auto-pilot. Finding my coffee mug empty, I rinsed it and put it to dry. Apparently I had been lost in thought longer than I realized.

Finally focused on the present, I saw that Remy had come into the kitchen, set the table and was holding his hands out for serving dishes. I handed him two and brought some to the table, both of us moving from counter to table until everything was placed properly. I fought my thoughts, trying to keep them from straying to the way Remy filled out the borrowed clothes. Barrel-chested with broad shoulders, he didn't appear particularly muscled, though from the embrace we'd had, I knew better.

I wasn't sure what to make of him, and he seemed sincere but I didn't trust him. He was bigger than me, strong enough to bench press a Volkswagen and a lycanthrope. But none of that had anything to do with the feeling in my gut that said he couldn't be trusted. So I'd play along, for now. But I'd watch him, and keep him close. I learned something a long time ago, something that you learn in my line of work because if you don't, you die: Always trust your gut.

Rising from my seat to place my phone in the lounge, I snapped off a quick text to Tam asking her to pop by in a 'surprise visit'. As I walked back to the lycanthrope and our dinner, I forced my thoughts away, keeping everything off my face. It had been a really long time since there had been a man in my life, but I shouldn't have been effected this way. Or any way, for that matter. I didn't like it. Something was up.

I put on my "blank" face and my business smile, mildly interested and pleasant with a smile as dazzling and empty as a lightbulb. I sat down to my plate of dinner and we ate while making small talk. I was playing the good hostess, but suddenly I couldn't wait for him to get out of my house.