“How did you make it do that?”
“Hmmm?” Carly frowned at her.
“The kitchen, how did you make it do these things? I spent half an hour in here last night and couldn’t even find a coffee pot.”
“Oh, I didn’t find one either, but I found the kettle and made some tea. You want some?”
Rosalee sat down at the table. “Sure, I love tea, ever since I lived in Mexico. God the kitchen smells great, how’d you get rid of that bleach smell?”
“I just burnt a few candles. You lived in Mexico?”
Rosalee slathered some butter on a slice of fruit bread. It was unbelievable. “Yeah, when I was 18 I wanted to learn Spanish so I moved down there and worked as a waitress in a bar on the beach. This bread is amazing.”
“Thanks I made it myself. You know Spanish?”
“No, I lived there six months and realised I suck at languages so I gave up and moved to Florida. You made this bread? You can actually make fruit bread at home?”
She giggled. “Of course. Wow, I’ve never lived anywhere but here, I can’t imagine living anywhere outside the pack.”
Rosalee raised her eyebrows in surprise. “You’re a wolf?”
Carly blushed and sipped her tea slowly. “I know I’m hardly your typical wolf.” She said gesturing to her small but rounded frame. “I’m the Omega of the pack.”
“Oh, what does that mean?”
Carly smiled sheepishly. “Well, I’m physically the weakest of my pack, but I’m connected to all the pack emotionally, I can sense their feelings and help them control them. I can also soothe people who aren’t pack members.”
“No wonder I was ready to let you into my house.”
Rosalee grinned at her and Carly looked a little guilty. “It’s kind of hard to turn it off...”
Rosalee smiled, this girl was so cute she wanted to adopt her. “Hey I’m not complaining. So you’re part of the Grey wolf pack hmmmm? You wouldn’t have come over here at the suggestion of your Alpha would you?”
Another guilty look. Rosalee groaned. “That guy really is a butthole... no offence.”
Carly chuckled. “None taken. He’s your typical Alpha, bullish and headstrong... won’t take no for an answer...”
Rosalee gave another groan. “Oh goody.”
Carly paused and looked at her thoughtfully. “Have you ever had much to do with shifters?”
“Not really, I’ve seen them in the cities where I’ve lived but I’ve never seen them shift.”
“Hmmm, most shifters who live in cities tend be on their own and act more human than animal. Things are a little different in small towns.”
“Oh?” Rosalee was suddenly very interested to hear just about anything that might pertain to a certain sexy wolf man.
“Out here shifters tend to be... freer and more open about their animals, and not exactly... erm shy about...” Carly struggled to find the words.
“About stripping down and letting their beast run wild?”
“Yes.”
Rosalee nibbled on a strawberry. “Did you know Iris?”
Carly paused and thought about her answer carefully. “No, not really. Iris didn’t like the pack, she hated wolves but I don’t know why.” She paused and reached across the table to take Rosalee’s hand. “I’m sure deep down that she was a nice person.” She didn’t think it wise to mention that Iris had been killed because she was threatening Liv, the Beta’s mate’s life.
Rosalee squeezed her hand. “Do you know how Iris died?”
Carly bit her lip. “Kind of, I don’t really know all the details of what happened, just the broad strokes. I think someone from the Sheriff’s office is going to come see you to talk about it.”
Rosalee sighed and looked at the table, where had all the food gone? Had she eaten all of it? She hoped not, although it was pretty tasty. “I’m thinking I should start tidying up the house, sorting out what goes to charity, what I want to keep... if anything.”
Carly brightened. “What can I do?”
“You sure you don’t mind helping?”
“No not at all, I’m happy to.”
*
The two Deputies stood on the Bennett porch awkwardly. They’d been dispatched ostensibly by the Sheriff to inform Rosalee of what had happened to her grandmother. Really the order had come from their Alpha.
Both Jake and Gabe had wondered at the Alpha’s interest in the woman but neither had dared ask, and if the Sheriff knew he was not giving anything away.
Jake fidgeted. “This is a waste of time, anybody could tell her what happened. We have better things to do.”