“HOLY SHIT!”I push to my knees, leaning forward, then almost immediately flinch back, my ass hitting the mattress.
Silly me forgot to ask Warner just how wolfish he gets in this form.
Does his mind disappear?If I was in danger, he would’ve told me, right?
“Can you … understand me?”I ask, silently wishing I had put some clothes on before this experiment.Wanting more than just a sheet between me and that impressive jaw full of sharp teeth.
The better to eat you with, my dear.
Then, the creature’s shaggy head dips in a clear nod.
“So, you’re still in there, Warner?”
Another nod, paired with a huff.
I think he’s laughing at me.
Carefully, I climb off the bed, keeping the sheet wrapped tight.
My instincts scream at me,Danger!Don’t do this!Don’t you like your organs inside your body?!
But he trusted me with this universe-shattering secret.The least I can do is not make him feel like a pariah.And as I stuff the fear deep down in my chest, I realize something.
Warner is beautiful.
Apparently, werewolves aren’t some grotesque, terrifying creatures of nightmares.He looks like a wolf.A very large wolf, but I’ve never interacted with a wolf before, so maybe this is normal-sized.His fur is a luscious, thick charcoal-gray that I want to bury my hands in.
I don’t.
“Remind me to ask you more questions when you have the ability to speak,” I murmur, settling cross-legged in front of him.
Wolf Warner stretches his head out, nose sniffing my hair.Then, a moment later, the air fogs again, and I lose sight of the animal.Soon, a naked man is crouched on the hardwood.Warner reaches out, wrapping his arms around me and gathering me to his chest.
“You’re amazing,” he whispers into my hair.“The day you came to town was the best fucking day.”
It takes all my concentration not to stiffen at his words.
They sound so … hopeful.Like this is the start of something.
Pine Falls was supposed to be an experiment.A chance to test my ability to live away from the safety cocoon my family wraps me in.
But I’m not sure I’ve proven I’m strong enough.
Still, I won’t be done with the cabin for a few more weeks at least.I’m not about to disappear.
Yet.
32
ZOEY
“Careful!”
The word is shrieked at me the moment my butt brushes against a hard object.Freezing mid-sit, I glance to the side and find a familiar-looking woman steadying a plastic box that rests precariously close to the edge of the table.
“I’m sorry.Should I sit somewhere else?”I ask.
The Sip ’N’ Stitch group has commandeered a large table toward the back of The Wild Rabbit again, and I went for the first free chair.
