“Tell me what’s happening.”
Gwen frowned. He really thought she’d share her personal business with him? Surely he’d heard enough to understand that this was a private and very serious matter, one she wasn’t about to share with a complete stranger just to satisfy his curiosity. “You’re a guest here.”
Not seeing what that had to do with anything, Zander pushed, “Tell me what’s going on.”
“Look, Mr. Devlin—”
“Zander. My name is Zander. Use it,” he clipped. He wasn’t sure why it bothered him that she didn’t, but he wasn’t sure of a lot of things when it came to Gwen Miller. His wolf had again backed away from her, and the situation was getting old, fast.
“You’re a guest here.”
“Yeah, you keep saying that. Not sure why you think it’s relevant.”
“This doesn’t involve you. Like I said, we can sort you out with a refund—”
“I don’t want a refund.” He squatted in front of her. “I want to know if I heard correctly, and you witnessed a shifter being physically assaulted.”
She inhaled sharply. “Good hearing.”
“You’re being pressured to change your statement?”
Marlon sat beside her. “Pressured is an understatement. They’ve tried pretty much everything to make her do what they want.”
Zander wondered just what “pretty much everything” entailed. “But you won’t give in?”
She blinked. “Why would I?”
“Some humans would prefer not to go against people like the asshole who was just here, especially when they’re being targeted this way.”
Bracken leaned against the porch rail. “How long is it before the matter goes before the shifter council?”
“A month,” said Marlon.
“Where’s the girl?” asked Bracken.
Gwen’s eyes snapped to his. “Why?”
“We can offer her protection.”
She tilted her head. “Why would you do that? From what I’ve heard, lone shifters aren’t exactly liked or trusted.”
“Our pack is closely allied with another, and one of the members helps run a shelter for lone shifters,” Bracken explained. “She’d be safe there.”
“She’s already safe.”
“You’re hiding her,” Zander guessed.
“Even though they bullied her into altering her statement, they kept terrorizing her; she needed somewhere to go.”
Rising, Zander glanced around. “She’s living on your land in her animal form, isn’t she?”
“Not sure why you’d think that.” With a sigh, Gwen stood. “Well, it’s been great talking to you, but I have work to do.”
And he and Bracken had somewhere they needed to be, thought Zander, but he was reluctant to leave her. As he watched her walk away, he didn’t think he’d ever seen anyone who looked so lonely. There was an odd twinge in his chest.
“She’ll be okay,” said Marlon. “She’s a lot tougher than she looks. Now, what can I make you guys for breakfast?” He again reeled off the menu. After Zander and Bracken placed their orders, Marlon retreated inside.
Still leaning against the rail, Bracken said, “Not many humans would do what she’s doing for a shifter—hell, not many humans would do it for another human while being intimidated like that.” There was a great deal of respect in his voice. “Listen, I know you don’t like getting involved in other people’s shit. I’m not a big fan of it either. But . . .”
“You want to stick around in case she needs help,” Zander sensed.
Bracken pushed away from the rail. “I feel like we owe her. She’s not doing this for us—I know that. But what was done to the female shifter was a serious crime. And by standing up for one of our kind, Gwen’s placing herself in danger. We’d be bastards to just ignore that. I can’t. It’s not how I’m wired.”
Zander scraped his hand over his jaw. “All this shit makes me think of what happened to Shelby.”
“Me too. That bastard who shot her walked off into the sunset, free as a bird. Maybe we can make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to the little fucker that Gwen’s dealing with. I heard the way that human was talking to her just now. He’s not going to let this go. He’ll keep up the pressure. Gwen seems strong, but everyone has their limit. We could help, and I think we should.”
“And you’re bored,” Zander pushed.
“And I’m bored,” Bracken admitted. “But it’s more than that. Like I said, I feel like we owe her. Shelby’s like a sister to me. I hate what happened to her. If we walk away from Gwen and the shifter while they need help, we’re no better than the people who let Shelby down.”
Zander sighed, turning his gaze to the view of the marsh. “You’re right.” The “but” was clear in his tone.
“Why are you so reluctant to stay? Look, I’m not expecting you to sympathize with these females. I know empathy isn’t really your thing. But I also know that you’re a person who’s rarely daunted by anything. So, what’s holding you back? Is your wolf making it hard for you to be around Gwen?”
“No, he’s not giving me a hard time. But I don’t know if he’d help me protect her. It’s possible that he’d even object to it. What use am I if, when she’s in danger, he pulls back so hard that I’m distracted?”
Bracken frowned thoughtfully. “How did he react when you stepped in to warn away Moore just now?”
“He didn’t react. Just stayed back. It’s almost like he’s hiding from her. What does that even mean?”
Bracken’s mouth twitched. “It’s driving you insane that you can’t solve the mystery.”
Damn right it was. “I don’t like puzzles.”
“In my opinion, the only way you’ll figure it out is if you stick around awhile. But I’m not going to pressure you into staying. If you feel you need to go, go—I won’t judge you for that.”
Zander snorted derisively. “Like I’d leave you on your own.” He, Bracken, and Jesse were like brothers; they’d stick together through anything. He sighed. “I’ll stay. It’s what Shelby would want me to do. And you’re right. Walking away would make us like those people who let her down.”