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“Tyne provided the food, and I just cooked it. I'm glad I fixed your favorites because I wasn't sure what they were for breakfast. It's usually lunchtime when I see you. I'd forgotten why, but now I remember that you were going to strengthen the security. Anything I can do to help?”

“Since you offered, I might need some of your strength. The meal is an excellent start, but if the security needs to be strengthened a lot, I might need energy from you and anyone else who has some to offer.” Harry said with great seriousness. “I'm worried about you guys because they seem to be attacking more than they usually do, and you are so isolated. You still have your artifact, right?”

“Of course I do. It's so beautiful that it is no hardship to wear. At first, I thought it was a white wolf, but I realized now that it was silver. Even though those don't exist, it's still pretty. I'm guessing they're an alpha pair since he is black.”

“Exactly.” Harry winked at her.

What did that mean? Did it mean she was right, and silver did not exist, or did it mean that she didn't know what existed? While she knew something about the paranormalworld, especially wolf shifters, she was sure there was a lot she didn't know and maybe didn't even want to know. She knew the evil guy she dreamed about was a wolf shifter because he shifted in her dream, and he was a shaggy and ugly-looking wolf, but he was black. His wolf eyes were dull, and she felt that was because the wolf didn't like the way the human side behaved, but the human side was in control. Wolves generally weren't evil unless they had been abused or tortured, and that was not the case here. It was the man who was cruel, and he took control of his wolf, forcing it along with him.

“I lost you there for a moment. Where did you go?”

“I've had some bad dreams since I've been here, and I'm trying to figure them out," Sally explained.

“It's a shame they aren't hot dreams because I would want to hear about those.” Harry giggled, and Sally had to laugh right along with her.

It was too bad that they weren't hot, sexy dreams, but maybe she didn't need those either because she knew who those would be about. He just made it worse by kissing her. Sally turned her attention to her breakfast and managed to finish it at the same time Harry did. That was only because she didn't eat half the food that Harry did, but she couldn't do magic with her food, so that was only fair. It was nice to have the little witch here, and she had to admit that sometimes when she was here all day alone, she got a little lonely.

Chapter 3

Sally

He'd lost his mind, and that was the only explanation for what had just happened. Xantos licked his lips, and her taste was still on them, and it was good. Why had he done that? That was something he would have to figure out because he'd decided not to do anything unless she showed that she was interested. Sally hadn't shown the slightest interest until he had kissed her, and that didn't really count because she had been half drunk. That could give her a little bit to think about, and that was the way he needed to look at it. If that didn't prompt her to consider being together, nothing would. He'd get a good night’s sleep, but he knew he was going to dream about her. It was his own fault, really.

It was morning now, and he headed downstairs to grab a bite of breakfast. He wondered what she'd cooked, and he was surprised to see what looked like steak and eggs. That had to be Caribou. Either she'd been hunting, or she'd bought some from someone who had. The food smelled delicious, and he really didn't care where she got it from. Sally had a way of finding local food at a reasonable price, or she'd be charging them something. Perhaps the boss was paying. It was hard to say because she didn't talk about it. He grabbed some food, said thanks, and sat down and ate like a wolf. He'd be training Cindy Lou, the new girl, today. He hoped things would go well so he could let her go the next day. They would be getting someone new almost every day until they were filled up.

Once that happened, he'd be doing more supervising, but he could handle it. He was sure Sally wouldn't have any problems either. With a full crew, she wouldn't have to go outin the field or do any training. That would give her time to do the office work. Xantos watched Sally out of the corner of his eye while he continued to eat. He did that often, and he was sure she'd never noticed, and he was glad because if she did, she would probably have something to say about it. She was a beautiful girl with soft curves despite being short. Most of the ladies who worked out of this office were of short stature. On that rare occasion that she smiled, it lit up her face and made you want to smile at her. Her eyes were green, which complemented her hair well, as it had a tendency to appear red in the light.

The others had arrived about the time he finished his food. They all grabbed a plate and filled their own. When he was done, he went out and checked the trucks to ensure they were fully supplied. Cindy Lou either didn't eat much, or she ate quickly because she joined him in no time.

“I would have helped with the truck had you not started early.”

“That's all right. Maybe next time you'll get there early and get it done.”

“I did well with my training, and you will probably cut me loose after today, so that's unlikely to happen," Cindy Lou observed.

Xantos hoped she was right and that he would be able to cut her loose after that. He simply enjoyed working alone, and he had no need for company. If he got lonely, it was after work was over because he was busy while working, and there was no time to miss the company. He liked to get things done quickly, stay on schedule, and earn the bonuses that he usually qualified for. Since he worked alone, he didn't have to share the bonus, and he received the entire amount. It wasn't that he was greedy. It was that he was building towards his future because he wanteda lovely home someday. When he'd been little, the pack house had been nice enough, although it had its oddities. Once they had left, they never had a nice place to live again. That had not been his mother's fault because they had been on the run, often leaving a place about the time that it started to feel like home.

“You sure think a lot.”

“Thinking is often underrated. How can you do anything well if you don't think about it?” He asked.

He'd given her something to think about, and now maybe she would leave him alone. They arrived at their first job. He sensed no danger, so they both went in and completed the task. It was a small job. It had been easy, and she had contributed what was expected of her. Once they started working, he appreciated that she didn't talk and concentrated on her job. She enjoyed talking so much that he had worried that she would pay attention to what she was doing. Hopefully, the rest of the day will go the same. They packed up and headed to the next place. It also went easily, as did the next. The fourth place triggered his inner alarm. Not because the house looked abandoned but because it didn't. Xantos couldn't say precisely why, but something seemed wrong here.

“Do you feel it, too?” Cindy Lou asked.

“Yes, something is wrong here. We need to make sure, so I will go in, and if anything happens, call for backup.”

She held up her hand. “See, I have a panic button. I will press it first and then make the call.”

He just nodded and headed to the door with a couple items that he could use against whoever was there. Maybe he was wrong because a lady answered the door, and she didn't look stressed or worried. She invited him in so he could do his work.

“I'm glad you got here because we've really been wanting the security system. I've heard there's a lot of trouble going on around here, and I don't need any of it. Are you working alone today?”

Why did that sound strange to me? It was almost like she knew that I worked alone most of the time. Were they working with women now?

“Where did you want me to start?” He asked, ignoring her question.

“I'll show you.”