Hunted (Pack of Dawn and Destiny, #1)(15)

Wyatt rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah.”

“She’s a good and supportive girlfriend,” Aeric continued.

“We know—you tell us that every day,” Wyatt said.

“You’re just jealous you don’t have a girlfriend,” Aeric said.

“True.” Wyatt leaned up against a young tree, which groaned ominously under the pressure of his strength. “I joined two dating apps, and I’m still not having any luck. I hope it’s just my profile, and not me?”

“It’s your profile,” Aeric said with confidence. “You are one cool wolf. Whoever you date will be lucky to have you!”

“Thanks, man.”

“Don’t mention it!”

While Aeric and Wyatt exchanged manly hugs, I peeled my target off the tree I’d attached it to, used to the ways of their bromance.

I’d been friends with them pretty much since I’d arrived in Timber Ridge when I was twelve, but it wasn’t until Greyson became Alpha and the previous Alpha’s daughter, my best friend Lynn, left the Pack with her parents that we became better friends.

“You know, if you’re desperate, you could date Pip,” Aeric offered.

“Desperate?” I spun around to glare at the pair.

Wyatt grimaced. “Yeah, sorry, no, I’m not that bad off.”

“Hey! That’s mean!” I folded my target up and prowled up to the pair.

That’s it. Next time they make me go into Howl-In Café to get their coffee drinks, I’m getting them decaf!

“Sorry, Pip. You’re great and all,” Wyatt said. “You just…have that dog vibe.”

“You do,” Aeric agreed. “I don’t know if it’s because your pheromones make you just so cute we want to ruffle your hair, or if it’s like a self-defense aura unique to hunters. But you just have that…feel. The same way Greyson has that Alpha vibe!”

“Yeah,” Wyatt said. “It’s a feeling that makes us want to hang out with you, play with you, and have fun. But, like…not at all romantically appealing.”

“Gee,” I wryly said. “Thanks.”

Their words might sound mean, but it didn’t affect me too much. I’d been told I had a dog-like vibe since around the time I turned sixteen. It put a real cramp on my dating life.

“Oh, that is a good way to frame it, Wyatt. You might not be able to get a girlfriend, but at least you haven’t been outright rejected like Pip a dozen times because you have a dog vibe.” Aeric patted Wyatt on the shoulder.

“It wasn’t a dozen times!” I snapped. “It wasn’t even half a dozen!”

“It started with Chase, right?” Wyatt asked. “You never even told him that you liked him, he just told you that you had the same aura as a Pomeranian. That was the start of the Pomeranian Puppy Power-up.”

Chase was an extremely handsome werewolf who was about ten years older than me, was serious, respectful, and awesome. He currently lived outside of the Pack and worked for the fae Queen of the Night Court.

I’d had the biggest unrequited crush on him as a teenager, but when he told me I was like a Pomeranian, that had pretty much crushed any romantic feelings I had for him.

“There was also Cliff, Trev, and Weslan. They all said you had that dog vibe, too, so while they loved to hang with you, romance was off the table as the friend-feel is strong with you,” Wyatt recited.

Ahh, yes. That hadn’t done much to help my confidence, either.

My romantic life was in shambles. Or, really, I hadn’t ever had one.

I’d gone on a few dates with some human guys in college, but we never clicked because, as a hunter living in a supernatural community, I was just so different. I had very few shared experiences that would let me relate to a human.

“You know,” Aeric thoughtfully rubbed his chin, “I think it’s really admirable that you’re so happy being single. Really. I don’t know how you’d find anyone to date, anyway, so it’s great that you can find happiness by yourself. As a single person. With no one to love you.”

“I could go for another round of practice,” I cheerfully said. “Why don’t you two just stand there so I can aim at you?”

Wyatt cringed. “Too far?”

“More than a bit, yes,” I said.

“Sorry,” Aeric said. “We don’t mean it. I mean, you’re totally adored by the Pack, and you’re a blast to hang with. Maybe you should try dating a townie!”

“She confessed to one two years ago, remember? I think his name was Todd.” Wyatt nudged his friend. “He said he wasn’t interested in someone who was physically stronger than him.”

“Oh, I forgot that guy,” Aeric growled. “He’s just chauvinistic and obviously weak willed. Only insecure guys can’t handle that sort of thing. Don’t listen to him, Pip. We think it’s awesome!”

Despite my irritation with the pair, I laughed. “Thanks? I think?” I said. “So was there a reason you guys came to find me, or did you just want to discuss Wyatt’s love life?”

They’d done that before—find me just to talk about dating dramas.

Wyatt squinted at the forest canopy that stretched over our heads while I swatted at a mosquito. “Why did we come find you?” He swiveled to face Aeric. “Was it to tell her about the Pack run?”