Grant’s face sours. “You’re still in touch with that asshole?”
Jericho’s expression is unreadable. “He saved Evan’s life.”
“After trying to kill him,” he says before stomping off.
I’m not sure I like this Kaine guy. “Kaine is a vampire, right? Rowen mentioned him.”
They both nod. “They both are.”
I suppress a shiver. More vampires. Great.
Claws click against the hardwood floor, making me turn, and I smile when I see Rowen trotting in as a wolf. His dark fur is dusted with snow. Before I can react, he drops something wet and limp into my lap. I nearly jump out of my seat when I realize what it is.
“Rowen! Gross!” I kick the dead rabbit to the floor.
Red bursts out laughing. “Ah, he brought you an offering. I’ve wondered when that would happen. Had it happen a time or two myself.”
I blink at him. “Offering?” What does that even mean?
Red just grins, grabbing a rag from the kitchen to deal with the dead animal.
Rowen licks my wrist, then rests his big head in my lap, peering up at me with gorgeous dark brown eyes.
I run my fingers through his fur, then press a kiss to his muzzle. “You big doofus.” He licks my cheek.
I laugh despite myself, the tension in my shoulders easing for the first time all evening. The ache in my chest deepens—not anxiety, but something much more pleasant. How can I be angry about my past when it ledme here? I never would’ve met Rowen or Ivy or Jasmine or any of them if I hadn’t been bitten.
The thought of not having these people in my life… hurts.
I scratch Rowen’s ears and lean in, pressing our foreheads together. “You’re so annoyingly cute.”
His tail thumps against the floor.
“Rowen, get!” Grant calls. “You know the rule—no wolves in the house!”
Rowen huffs but doesn’t move.
That makes me laugh. I wrap my arms around him, whispering, “You’re going to get us in trouble. Go!”
Finally, Rowen gives me one last nudge and pads toward the hallway.
Red hasn’t stopped smiling. “Atta boy, Romeo,” he says, making Sage laugh.
I narrow my eyes at them. “What is with you guys?”
They don’t answer.
A few minutes later, Rowen returns fully clothed. His hair is still a little damp from the shift, cheeks pink from the cold, but he seems happy. Relaxed. The simple gray T-shirt he’d put on is wrinkled, one sleeve half-twisted, but somehow he still steals my breath.
I force myself to look away.
Rowen says nothing as he drops beside me on the couch, close enough that our shoulders and knees brush. The faint smell of snow and pine still clings to his skin.
“Seriously? A rabbit?” I murmur.
His mouth quirks. “You didn’t like it?”
I wrinkle my nose. “Hard pass.”
