Alphas of Red Moon Ranch(67)

“We grew up in the same circles,” Trish said vaguely. Holly had to wonder if there was some shifter clique roaming the halls. “It’s been a while, though.” And then, turning to Cayden: “Your mom kinda keeps you in your ivory tower, huh?”

“All you had to do was ask. I would’ve thrown down my hair.” Even when he spoke now, Cayden’s words came out low, like a purr. The toe of his shoe nudged Trish’s thigh playfully. “Who’d have thought you’d grow up so nicely?”

“We don’t live in a cave,” Trish said and rolled her eyes. When she turned away, however, Holly could see the peach blush glowing on the young girl’s cheeks. Cayden’s eyes, meanwhile, locked on Trish and shimmered gold.

Oh, hell no. Where was a spray bottle when she needed one?

“Was there something you needed, Cayden?” Holly said curtly.

“No, ma’am.” He hopped off the desk, but his eyes trailed behind. They caught on the article of Robin Hoyte and Holly saw a flicker of something—recognition?—in the boy’s eyes before he shrugged it off. “I think I’ve got all I’ve need.”

“I’ll come with you,” Trish said suddenly.

Holly’s eyebrows hiked up her forehead. Her eyes said, pointedly: Really?

Trish’s eyes caught on Holly’s and she shrugged once and then added to Cayden, “You can show me around…give me the tour.”

Trish’s fingers lingered on the printout and she discreetly folded it up in her palm, tucking it away in her pocket. It clicked with Holly—oh. Trish planned to do some recon. She had seen Cayden’s gaze linger on the article, too, and she was going to see how much he really knew about it.

She was clever, Holly had to give her that. And bold. Maybe too bold. She knew the way Cayden worked and the thought of him alone with Trish made Holly’s stomach twist up. Cassidy was going to kill her. “You don’t have to,” Holly said, her words heavy with meaning as she kept her eyes pinned on Trish. Let me take care of this.

“Relax, Dr. Westmore,” Cayden said and drew a large smile that showed off his teeth as he held the door open for Trish. “I’ll bring her back in one piece.”

“I can handle him,” Trish said and then smiled and shot Holly a playful wink.

That’s what I’m afraid of.

“Just be back before…” The door clicked and Cayden and Trish were gone. Just like that. “…Five.”

Holly’s desk was cluttered with assignments begging to be graded. Still, she stared at them and her vision felt unfocused with worry. She began to chew at the end of her pen. Unconsciously, her hand travelled down and cupped her stomach, as though she could already feel the small life growing inside of her.

You better not leave me, Jacob, she thought to herself. I can’t raise teenagers alone.





Chapter 54


“And you’re welcome.”

Holly’s eyes flickered up from her desk to see Trish standing over her, huge grin stamped over her face. Cocky. It ran in the Westmore family.

Still, Holly wasn’t impressed. “It’s nearly six,” she said pointedly. “I told you to be back at five.”

Holly heard her words echo back into her ears and decided she had this parenting thing down. Already, she was chastising a young girl who was out past her curfew. How much harder could it be?

“Yeah, sure,” Trish said (dismissive, but, Holly guessed, that was also something she’d have to get used to in eighteen years), “but check this out.”

Trish took the article out of her pants pocket and unfolded it, flattening it out on Holly’s desk with the balls of her palm. “So I showed this to Cayden and—”

“You showed it to him?” Holly couldn’t help the sharpness in her tone.

Trish’s eyes flashed up to meet with Holly’s and she tilted her head slightly, like a confused dog. “It’s okay. He’s not like his mom. Well. Not entirely. I mean, he puts on a good show. If you really get to know him…he’s…you know.” Trish tucked a strand of hair behind her ears. “Anyway.”

Oh, sweetheart, Holly thought. He’s playing you like a fiddle. But she knew saying anything would only push the young, determined cub closer to the fanged cougar, so Holly kept her lips buttoned. “So what did you find out?” she asked, gently prodding the conversation forward.

“Right. So this thing?” Trish stabbed her finger on the picture of Robin Hoyte, pointing to medallion around his neck. “It’s like…a hex gem. It can hold a power or a spell or a…”