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She hadn’t had much to say to Asher when they shifted back at his truck, nor did she take any extra time getting back to the house. The sun was blazing already, and Giselle wanted to make sure her outing had gone unnoticed. If even one person in that house got wind of her running off again, it would mean more problems. And she needed to process what she’d just learned before the drama it would create overwhelmed her.
Both packs were responsible. Both packs had been willing to sacrifice a young girl. And for what? A stupid marriage. What the hell century were they in that peace between reasonable people had to be sealed with a marriage vow?
If that was what pack life was all about, Giselle wanted to be counted out. She didn’t care how nice the Hernandez family was, she wasn’t signing on to any pack that would do that kind of crap.
Creeping in through the back gate, she made it to the kitchen before the sound of someone clearing their throat caught her off guard.
Gavin stepped out from behind the open refrigerator door. “Enjoy your run?”
She expected to meet with angry words or even a stern look, but Gavin’s face was a neutral as could be, and that scared her even more. She almost wished to have found him in wolf form. Humans could mask their emotions far better than the wolf, and she needed a good read on Gavin.
“I wasn’t alone.” She knew better than to lie. And something about the honesty in their conversation the evening prior told her she could be truthful with him if anyone in this house.
“Thrace boy?”
How the hell did he know? “Yeah.” No point in lying.
He stared at her silently for far longer than was comfortable. Still though, she couldn’t gauge whether or not she was about to be in deep trouble or if he might just let this little infraction slide. When he finally did speak, the calm in his voice confirmed she’d be okay – this time. “He the reason you’re conflicted?”
“One of them. I’ve got a witch who’s getting friendly too.” She winked, hoping she’d read the signals right.
Gavin cracked a smile, and his whole body relaxed. “Do yourself a favor. Play the field for a while before making any choices. Then settle down with a human.”
Not what she’d expected, and certainly not the fatherly type of advice either, but she’d take it if it meant she wasn’t grounded or worse for sneaking out again. “Sounds like you’ve got no love lost on either side.”
“You’re far too young to deal with the level of drama our kind bring. Keep it simple while you’ve still got your training wheels on.”
She snorted at his phrasing but more so at the fact that it was just that – supernatural drama – that had her all conflicted. Too little, too late on that advice. “I’ll keep that in mind. You won’t tell, will you?”
He quirked an eyebrow at her and stood silent for a few moments. “If you want to wash the smell of desert off you before the girls get up, you’d best go now.”
She hoped that meant he’d keep her secret, but didn’t want to test his patience by asking for confirmation, so she turned and headed towards the stairs.
“One more thing,” Gavin said.
Giselle turned on the spot. “Yeah?”
“If you ever get an idea to sneak out with that Thrace boy again...”
Uh-oh... here it comes. She gulped, waiting for the hammer to drop.
“Leave a note, so someone knows where you are.”
Again... not what she’d expected, but she’d take it. “Yeah. Sure.”
“Not ‘sure’... Yes!” There was no mistaking the order. He might have been easygoing about everything else, but on this she knew he would accept no mistakes.
“Yes. I will,” she said, and meant it.
“Good.” The calm returned to his voice, and she resumed heading up the stairs.