Chapter One Hundred–Fifty–Two
DELILAH
I don’t scream because – well–what would be the point? In twenty–one years I have yet to hear of someone saving themself from sudden death by screaming for their life. It’s already over, I might as well just accept it. Now if only I had a way to not feel the pain of those fangs plunge into my skin. Too bad I didn’t get knocked out when I flew back if I had, the wolf might have thought I was dead and left me alone.
Come to think of it… why am I not dead yet?
Did the wolf spontaneously combust?
Taking a deep breath to confirm that I’m still alive, I relax my muscles a bit and focus on the heavy breathing that I’m hearing that is not my own. I feel something tickle beneath my chin and I realize the wolf is now sniffing my throat. What the hairy Nttle dent?
I open my eyes slowly, swallowing my fear when the wolf’s big ass head fill my vision. He’s not growling anymore, he’s just sniffing and licking and pushing my face to the side.
“Hey!” I chuckle, putting my hands up in surrender and hoping to keep them on my wrists. “You’re welcome,” I say, carefully stretching my arm upward so that I can pet his neck. You’re an idiot! What the hell are you doing? But the wolf only seems to want more of my pets and drops his heavy ass head right onto my chest. This is the fucking craziest thing I’ve ever experienced I scratch him behind the ears and under his chin, then over the back of his head and the whole while he is licking at my face. “You’re crazy,” I giggle.
Another howl sounds from somewhere beyond the trees and my wolf’s ears perk up and his eyes snap to mine.
“They’re not my friends,” I tell him. “They have to be yours.” God Im dumb.
When a chorus of howls suddenly go up all around us, I allow myself a little more fear.
Oh m
my God,” I whisper, knowing that this wall’s pack has just surrounded our little piece of shit cabin and I am the only thing o
My wolf whines again then jumps up to stalk away from me toward the dark of the woods. I sit up as quickly as I can and shine the light around the surrounding trees. One, two, three, four, five, six, holy shit!” I stopped counting the pairs of eyes when I got to six because, well, six is plenty, I don’t think it’ll take much more than that to well and truly fuck up my night.
Stepping back slowly, I pause when my wolf turns around. He is studying me almost like he expects me to follow him, but that’s just not going to happen, so I wave. “Bye!”
He huffs at me, a strange rumble coming from his throat as he leaps ten feet in my direction just to lick my face and then disappear into the dark
That’s funny, his paw looked completely heated. How odd
An entire pack of wolves surrounded this place tonight after my wolf bowled into the darkness. I always knew wolves were smart and loyal, but I never realized how swiftly they’d respond to another’s call
Thope your friends know who saved you!” I call out into the trees, hoping the circle of wolves is no longer converging on this tiny matchstick cabin.
My chest is heaving as I once again shine my flashlight into the trees, but they’re empty now and somehow lonelier. A terrible sense of loss tumbles over me and I’m met with the urge to cry. What the hell? What’s wrong with me? Maybe it’s the adrenaline dying off. Shaking the strange sensations off, I shudder and step into the cabin… but for some odd reason, I don’t shut the door.
DRAVEN
1/3
Chapter One Hundred–Fifty–Two-
I watch Angle’s face carefully as I finger the gemstones on what I have feeling is my ring. Her eyes go wide and her cheeks redden, but surprisingly she doesn’t pull her hand away.
“1–um… found it,” she says finally, cracking a nervous smile. “It’s a little small, but I’m going to have it sized.”
Over my dead body. “You found it,” I repeat suspiciously. “Where? A ring of this value should’ve been turned in to the police. It’s really beautiful and I’m sure the rightful owner is missing IL” I let my smile side from my lips as I released her hand.
“Maybe,” she replies, not missing a beat. She turns away from me to glare at Felix. “Or maybe the rightful owner can just get another one,”
Felix cocks an eyebrow, still stationed at the dong in hopes that Angle will leave. “What are you looking at me for?” Felix snaps, with a roll of her eyes. “It’s not mine.”
“It certainly isn’t and it never will be Angle says. “I didn’t for a momore think that you are the girl it was intended for.”
Felix snorts, “Are you ready to leave yet?
“No,” I say, walking past her to the door, only to turn around and block the exit. “Why did you say it like that? Intended for? Where did you find it? Tell me the truth.”
Angie swallows thickly, her back going straight. Her dark brown eyes appear wet for a moment, but she battles the tears back quickly. Taedora watches silently from the other side of the room, her muscles tensed. Without even checking, I know she’s ready to pounce on Miss Angie should she try anything stupid
My mind is whirling now, flipping the facts over one way then the next. The message in the box is the one puzzle piece that does not fit for me. Unless, Angie somehow knows that the guys are Shifters and hist never let on. According to Rainier, she doesn’t, but he might be very, very wrong. I mean, it’s not like he paid enough attention to her to know for sure. In a way, I feel for her, I do. A hot as hell Sheriff swept her off her feet once and then married her, only to basically ignore her for the duration of their time together. It was wrong of him to use her the way he did and I’m sure he realizes that now. Especially, she was as ignorant about Shifters as I was. Because that would mean she truly thought he loved her and… he just didn’t.
But… if she knew about them, and was just pretending not to, that’s an entirely different thing. That would mean that she was aware of the fact that she was not his mate and knew he would never truly be her
“I think it’s best if I just go,” Angie says suddenly, walking my way. When I don’t budge, her face begins to puff a little and I have to wonder how many times she did that while yelling at Rainier. So unattractive. “Excuse me, Draven. I don’t have any issues with you and I don’t want any, but I would like to go now!”
I kick my foot backward and the front door goes swinging shut. Angle fuming, but I smile as sweetly as I can. “You can go when you tell me why you took that ring out of its little black box and left that sick little message in its place.”
Her eye begins to twitch as she glares down at me. “You’ll move or I’ll move you.”
Taedora chuckles, “Oh–ho–ho, I would like to see that.” In an instant, she’s coming up off the wall to step in front of me. “You touch her even once and I’ll put you through that goddamned window bitch.”
I smile to myself when I notice Taedora’s fingernails sharpen and her braids begin to twitch. This means she’s fighting her shift and judging by the sudden fear in Angie’s gaze, I’m assuming Tardora’s eyes have started to change. I glance over my shoulder at Felix to see she’s staring out the window not paying attention, which might just be good thing. When I turn back, Angie’s eyes are full of tears and Taedora has stepped to the side.
“She asked you a question,” Taedora says. “You’re either going to answer it or you and I can go outside and I can show you a magic trick.”
Angle nods, meeting my gaze. “You’re right, I took the ring” She shakes her head sadly. “I–I found it in Rainier’s pocket when he was in the shower,” she shrugs, a tear falling slowly down her cheeks. I knew be probably bought it for one of his whores, so I took it out of the box and hid it in the bottom of a spice jar. When he came back from Vancouver and never mentioned it was missing, I knew I was right.”
2/3
Chapter One Hundred–Fifty–Two
okay.” I say, in acceptance. Sounds plausible enough. “What about the pessage?”
Her face goes blank. “I didn’t see any message.
“You didn’t put a message in the box after taking the ring?” I ask, disappointed.
“No!” she snaps. “I wish I had. Poetic justice
I don’t think I believe her. But with Felix here it wouldn’t do to have Tedora drag the truth out, just yet. Besides, I never even told Domonic about it. The only guys who know are Koda and Bart,
“Okay.” I say slowly. “You can go.*
She
starts to leave, but I hold out my hand, still blocking the doorway and she groans. “What now?”
“The ring,” I say firmly. “It’s mine and I want it.”
She scoffs, her eyes going from Felix to me then back again. “Bullshit! Why would Rainier have your ring?”
“Well, I say
sweetly. “Maybe, because I’m just another whore.”
