Page 18 of Malcolm (The Sunburst Pack #1)

T HE MIDDAY SUN BEAT down on the dusty streets as Larissa pulled her car into the parking lot of the Desert Sunrise Diner. The heat shimmered off the asphalt, creating a mirage that made the diner’s faded neon sign waver in the distance.

She squinted against the glare, her heightened shifter senses picking up the mingled scents of grilled meat, coffee, and the ever-present desert dust.

As she stepped out of her car, the hot air hit her like a physical force, instantly causing a fine sheen of sweat to form on her skin.

Larissa smoothed down her dark hair and headed toward the diner’s entrance. The bell above the door jingled cheerfully as she pushed it open, a stark contrast to the tumultuous thoughts swirling in her mind.

The cool air inside the diner was a welcome relief, and Larissa took a moment to let her eyes adjust to the dimmer interior. The place was busy, filled with the low hum of conversation and the clink of cutlery against plates. She scanned the room, her gaze settling on her friend in a corner booth.

Una Sanchez waved, her sweet smile a beacon in the crowded diner. Larissa made her way over, sliding into the cracked vinyl seat across from Sarah’s cousin.

“Hey, you made it,” Una said, pushing a menu toward Larissa. “I was starting to wonder if pack business had held you up.”

Larissa shook her head, forcing a smile. “No, just the usual traffic on Main Street. You’d think in a town this size, we wouldn’t have to deal with that.”

As she spoke, Larissa’s nostrils flared slightly. Beneath the overwhelming scent of fried food and coffee, she caught a whiff of something that made her wolf stir uneasily. She casually glanced around the diner, her eyes narrowing as they landed on a table near the back.

Hannah sat there, surrounded by a group of younger pack members. Her blonde hair gleamed under the fluorescent lights as she leaned in, speaking in a low, conspiratorial tone. Larissa picked up snippets of their conversation, and what she heard made her blood run cold.

“…Nick’s leadership is weak,” Hannah was saying, her voice dripping with false concern. “And Malcolm and Larissa? They’re too busy fighting—or fucking—each other to notice what’s really going on in the pack…”

A couple of the young wolves snickered at Hannah’s language, and Larissa clenched her hands into fists under the table.

She forced herself to look away, to pay attention to Una, who was studying the menu with intense concentration.

“So,” Larissa said, perhaps a bit too loudly, “how’s Javier doing? Sarah mentioned he’s starting to read. He starts school in the fall, right?”

Una looked up, her eyes lighting up at the mention of her cousin’s son. “Oh, he’s doing great! Sarah’s a bit nervous, of course, but Nick’s been wonderful with him. You should see them together, Larissa. It’s like…”

As Una continued talking, Larissa found her attention divided. Part of her listened to her friend, nodding and making appropriate noises of interest. But another part, the part that had been honed by years of pack politics and the recent turmoil, was laser focused on Hannah’s table.

“…and the way Nick’s been handling things? It’s like he doesn’t even care about the pack’s traditions,” Hannah’s voice drifted over again. “We need strong leadership, not this wishy-washy ‘let’s all get along’ approach…”

Larissa’s jaw clenched. She knew exactly what Hannah was doing. Sowing seeds of doubt, exploiting the pack’s lingering fears and uncertainties in the wake of Vincent’s reign. It was clever, she had to admit.

And dangerous.

“Larissa? Are you okay?” Una’s concerned voice broke through her thoughts.

Larissa blinked, realizing she’d been staring off into space. “Sorry, Una. I just… I’ve got a lot on my mind with the alpha competition and everything.”

Una reached across the table, patting Larissa’s hand. “I can imagine. It can’t be easy, going up against Malcolm like this.”

At the mention of Malcolm’s name, warmth spread through her chest. Unbidden, the memory of their kiss during patrol flashed through her mind. The feel of his strong arms around her, the taste of him on her lips, the way her whole body had seemed to come alive at his touch…

Larissa shook her head sharply, banishing the thoughts. Now was not the time for that. She couldn’t afford to be distracted, not with Hannah and Gregory apparently actively plotting against the pack.

“It’s…complicated,” Larissa said finally, her voice carefully neutral. “Malcolm and I have our differences, but we both want what’s best for the pack.”

As she spoke the words, a realization hit her with the force of a physical blow. They did both want what was best for the pack. And right now, what the pack needed wasn’t her rivalry with Malcolm. It needed unity in the face of the threat Hannah and Gregory posed.

The waitress chose that moment to appear at their table, notepad in hand. “What can I get for you ladies?” she asked, her pen poised to take their order.

Larissa ordered quickly, barely glancing at the menu. Her mind was racing, piecing together everything she’d overheard and everything she knew about Hannah and Gregory’s past actions.

“I’ll be right back,” she told Una as soon as the waitress left. “I need to use the restroom.”

In the small, cramped bathroom, Larissa leaned against the sink, staring at her reflection in the spotted mirror. Her eyes glittered almost feverishly with her realization. She knew what she had to do.

She took a deep breath, trying to center herself.

She needed to work with Malcolm, to present a united front against Hannah and Gregory’s machinations.

“You can do this,” she muttered to her reflection. “For the pack.”

But the thought of being close to him again, of having to ignore the pull he exerted on her… It made her stomach twist with anticipation and dread.

No , she told herself firmly. The attraction doesn’t matter. It was a fluke, nothing more. What matters is the pack.

With that thought firmly in mind, Larissa straightened her shoulders and left the bathroom. As she made her way back to her table, she caught Hannah’s eye. The blonde woman smirked, raising an eyebrow in a silent challenge.

Larissa kept her face carefully neutral, refusing to give Hannah the satisfaction of a reaction. But inside, her resolve strengthened. She would not let Hannah and Gregory tear apart everything Larissa and the others had fought so hard to rebuild.

As she slid back into the booth, Una looked at her curiously. “Everything okay?”

Larissa nodded, forcing a smile. “Yeah, everything’s fine. Actually, I was thinking… Maybe we should call a pack meeting soon. There are some things I think we need to discuss as a group.”

Una’s eyebrows rose. “Oh? What kind of things?”

Larissa hesitated, not wanting to say too much in such a public place. “Just…pack business. Making sure everyone’s on the same page about our direction moving forward.”

As they finished their meal, Larissa’s mind was already several steps ahead, planning out her next move. She needed to talk to Malcolm, to convince him to work with her despite their rivalry. The thought made her pulse quicken, but she ruthlessly suppressed the reaction.

This is about the pack , she reminded herself. Nothing more .

After saying goodbye to Una, Larissa stepped out of the diner. She squinted against the bright sunlight, picking out the dust motes dancing in the air as she got into her car.

She began driving toward Malcolm’s house, rehearsing what she would say to him, how she would approach the subject of working together. All the while, she kept reminding herself to ignore the way her body seemed to hum with anticipation at the thought of seeing him again.

As she rounded the corner onto Malcolm’s street, she caught sight of him in his front yard. As she pulled to a stop in front of his house, she realized he was shirtless, his muscled torso glistening with sweat as he chopped up a mesquite tree he’d apparently recently removed from his yard.

The rhythmic thud of the ax hitting the wood echoed down the quiet street as she stepped out of the car.

At the sight of the play of muscles under his tanned skin, the intense concentration on his face, the raw power evident in every swing of the ax, desire pooled in her belly, and she fought to push it down.

Then Malcolm glanced up. A slow smile spread across his face, and Larissa’s breath caught in her throat.

No , she told herself firmly. Remember why you’re here. The pack needs you. Both of you.

Taking a deep breath, Larissa straightened her back and walked toward Malcolm. Her face was a mask of cool professionalism, betraying none of her inner turmoil.

“Hey,” she said as she approached, her voice steady. “We need to talk.”

Malcolm’s smile faltered slightly at her tone, but he nodded, setting down the ax. “Sure, Larissa. What’s on your mind?”

“I think maybe we’d better go inside.”

He raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything—merely nodded and led her in through the front door.

As Larissa prepared to explain what she’d overheard at the diner, she kept her gaze firmly fixed on a point just over Malcolm’s shoulder.

She wouldn’t allow herself to be distracted by the way the light played across his features, or the lingering scent of his exertion that wafted across the hallway to her.

This was about the pack, she reminded herself. Nothing more.

And yet, as Malcolm’s expression grew serious, excitement shuddered through Larissa.

Together, they might just be able to save their pack.

And if working closely with Malcolm meant constantly battling her attraction to him… Well, that was a challenge Larissa was prepared to face.

For the pack.