“Well, buysome.”
“With yourmoney?”
“It’syourmoney. All of it. I’ve already paid taxes onit.”
“August, I can’taccept—”
“If you don’t want it, give it tocharity.”
“August . . .” I all butgrowled.
“Dimples. . .”
Ugh.
Hesmiled.
“You’re impossible,” Imuttered.
“Pot calling the kettle black,sweetheart.”
I shook my head, but a smile made its way to my lips. “Shouldn’t you beworking?”
“Shouldn’t you beleaving?”
My smiled increased; his,too.
I started toward the van, glancing over my shoulder as I left. His posture had straightened again, and his eyes blazed with renewedassurance.
The future was uncertain, and not just because we were werewolves fighting for our land and pack, but because we weren’t diviners. Yet I sensed August would stand by me even if he couldn’t hold myhand.
The only certainty I possessed in this uncertainworld.
6
Iremembered feelingbeat-up after the first contest in my pack’s Alpha trials, but two hours into training with Liam and I felt like I’d been fed through a trash compactor and dumped in alandfill.
When my back hit the sweat-slicked mats for the hundredth time, I didn’t get up. I just lay there, gaping at the exposed metal tubing on the ceiling with great fascination until Liam’s barely perspiring face appeared in my line ofsight.
I closed my eyes so that maybe he’d leave me alone, but no suchluck.
“Up, Ness. We’re notdone.”
“You might not be, but I am,” Imuttered.
“Is that what you’ll tell Justin if you end up having to fight?Up!”
I snapped my lids open and glared, even though I wasn’t truly mad at him. I knew he was pushing me because he had my best interests atheart.
“Chicks are so fragile.” Lucas’s voice made me lurchup.
I sent him a chilling look that made him simper. He winked at me at the same time as Sarah smacked his chest so hard the sound echoed against the brickwalls.
“Geez, blondie, I was just motivating her,” hesaid.
I’d invited Sarah along for moral support. At least, that’s how I’d presented the invite. In truth, I was worried about leaving her alone after the phone call I’d had with her on my way back from August’s constructionsite.
Last night, her brother called her to tell her that, sure enough, Cassandra inquired about the Pine’s stock of Sillin. After he told her they’d run out of the drug a couple months back, the Alpha apparently lapped it up. I doubted Cassandra Morganlappedanythingup.
