“Oh God. I shouldn’t have run away. You’re a unicorn.” She stared up at him dreamily, and he couldn’t help it, he burst out laughing.
For the first time in months, his wolf sat happy and content.
Chapter 2
Remy had another nightmare-free night. She lay on top of Arden as he stroked the tips of his fingers up and down her back in a soothing motion.
After yesterday she knew she was going to fall for Arden easily. When they’d come home from grocery shopping, they had put the cold things away and then she’d gotten out gloves and they’d stared the process of cleaning the house. Arden helped, he didn’t sit around and expect her to do it. When they finished, they had five garage bags full of rubbish and she’d vacuumed and mopped. The carpet needed to be professionally cleaned, so Arden told her she had two choices—new carpet or wooden flooring, or she could organize a carpet cleaner.
“What do you want?” she’d asked.
Arden had shrugged. “I think the carpet is fucked, but it’s up to you.”
Remy still hadn’t decided. She’d already spent a lot of his money yesterday when she bought the groceries. Some had been things she’d never had the money to try but always wanted to. She couldn’t spend more of his money, it didn’t feel right.
“I can hear the mechanics in your mind working. What’s up?”
Rising on her elbows so she could gaze up at him, she debated what to say. “Grams had paid for her house by the time I came to live with her, but she lived on a pension, so things were tight. She still had to pay rates, electricity, and so on, but after I came along she had a whole lot more to pay for. She got extra assistance from the government, but I know that didn’t cover what it cost to raise me. She mortgaged the house. As soon as I was old enough, I got a job, and I gave Grandma all my earnings. At first she wouldn’t take it, so I bought all the groceries and paid for my school stuff.” She wiped a tear as memories swamped her. It shouldn’t have been her grandma’s responsibility to care and pay for her, it should have been her parents. “I’m a super op shopper. It wasn’t until I finished school and got a full-time job that I ever bought clothes brand new, even my school uniforms were secondhand. I’ve never been able to do what we did yesterday. Do you know when I danced in a competition for prize money with Faith, that my winnings went straight on rates and into my saving for emergencies. When I ran off I used all my savings paying for things so I had a house to come back to. I’ve never had what you have—not worrying about money.” She blushed. “I’ve always been a little jealous of Faith, and even Sara, for not having to scrimp and scrap every cent.”
Arden sat up and pulled her with him, moving her so she straddled his lap. He cupped her face and his thumb stroked her cheek. “I’m sorry you went through that, but I think it’s made you better for it. Like yesterday—you basked in something I take for granted, and it was like watching a kid in a candy store. And I bet when you eat all the special things you got you’re going to appreciate them that much more. I want to tell you that you don’t ever have to worry about money again, that I will provide for you, but I know you’re not the type of person who would be happy to just live off my money and spend it on what you want.”
She nodded. She could never just stay at home and spend his money or buy unnecessary things with it. It would feel wrong. She hadn’t earned it, and she didn’t need it. Sure, she’d like to say stuff it, not get a job, have new everything for a change, but that wasn’t her.
“Is there somewhere close by that you would be okay with me working? I was thinking, I should rent out my place too. If we get new floors, I want to help pay for them since I’m living here too, or at least let me contribute.”
Arden stared at her for a while before moaning loudly. “That’s what this is about. Fine, fuck it, there’s a bar farther into town just before the highway. I’m sure you could get a job doing something a couple of days a week. Before you look at going to a real estate agent, let me talk to my parents. The mine my parents own and the pack help run is always looking for houses close by. I think we could rent the house since it’s not far for a mine employee. Lastly, you can contribute by living with me and putting up with my shit.”
“But I want t—”
Arden didn’t let her finish. He took her mouth to his in a kiss she knew meant for her not to argue. For now she supposed what he said would have to do.
* * * *
Remy had wanted to stay at home, but Arden didn’t want to leave her, she kept the feralness at bay. So they now walked to his office at the army base. He’d neglected his work.