“Want to talk?” He asked graciouslynot bringing any of my thoughts up.
I nodded and noticed he looked mybody up and down before letting me in the room. I looked around and scoldedmyself for picking his bedroom of all places to have a chat. I sat on the edgeof the bed which had been stripped clean and was dressed with new sheets. I straightenedmy back trying to look strong.
“I own an organization called SafeHaven. It’s a domestic violence shelter and women’s defense class studio. It’sa non-profit, so I don’t exactly have the money to hire a lot of people to takeover my job. I can’t leave. Iwon’tleave. We run on volunteers only anda lot of families depend on Safe Haven for support, for survival.” I couldn’tlook him in the eye. I knew he was thinking about the thoughts he had picked upfrom me earlier, from my own domestic violence situation as a child.
He moved to sit next to me and placeda hand on my leg. It was possessive and gentle at the same time. “Is this SafeHaven located in Portland?”
I nodded and he sighed. “We can’t goto Portland without the Portland Pack’s permission. After last night, I highlydoubt that is going to happen anytime soon. I own the territory from east ofthe 205 near Gresham and all of Mount Hood to the 97. Portland Pack owns west ofthe 205 all the way until the ocean and down to Corvallis. We can open a secondlocation in Gresham and I can get the pack to volunteer there. We can pay somehumans to head up the Portland location and stay in contact with them throughvideo phone. I will fund the entire venture. That’s the best I can do.”
My mouth dropped open. I was in shock.He wasn’t saying no. He was funding a second location for Safe Haven. Icouldn’t ask that of him.
‘Let me take care of you,’he said into my mind.
I didn’t like the idea of having todepend on a man for money. I thought of all the women and children we couldhelp with a second location, with more volunteers. I nodded.
“Thank you.”
He stood. “I need to deal with Max.He won’t challenge me now that I’m fully healed. Thanks to you, I have mylife.”
I stood and met his eyes. “Considerus even. You saved my life first.”
He wasn’t leaving. He stood therestaring into my eyes. I rested my eyes on his lips. I swallowed hard,remembering our kiss. The best kiss of my life. He grinned from ear to ear andgrabbed me in one quick motion, pressing his body against mine. He rubbed smallcircles on my neck with his thumb as he cupped my face. His lips met mine and Ifelt electricity flow through me down to my toes. Maybe this was what it waslike to kiss a wolf. Maybe Kai wasn’t special and if I kissed one of the otherwolves it would feel the same as this. He pulled away with a soft growl.
“I really need to get around toteaching you how to shut me out of your personal thoughts.” His eyes wereglowing yellow. His wolf.
“Sorry,” I squeaked. “This is new tome.”
He motioned between the two of us.“This is new to me, too.” Then he tossed me a cell phone. “It’s yours now, callyour mom. Tell her you met a guy online and you’re moving in with him. She canvisit anytime you like. Just give us notice so we don’t have any abnormallylarge wolves running around.” Then he left.
This is new to me too, he had said. Itook a deep breath and dialed my mother.
"You what!" my motherscreamed for the second time.
"I'm moving in with him."
"How long have you known thisguy? Honey, this isn't like you. What about Safe Haven? Mount Hood is a longcommute.”
"We met online three months ago,"I lied. "I actually have more exciting news. I got a really big donationto Safe Haven, too. I'm opening a second location in Gresham. I will have themoney to hire someone to run the Portland location."
"Honey, that's great news aboutSafe Haven. You’ve known him three months? How come you never told me?"There was hurt in her voice. I hated this.
"I wasn't sure it was seriousbut it is. Say you’re happy for me? That you will visit?"
“Of course I'll visit. You’re mydaughter. It's just... You know I didn't get to know your father very well andI jumped in without thinking and look where that got us."
"Mom, he is not like that. Hewould never hurt me." Okay, the line between making up a story and thetruth was getting blurry. I wasn't really moving in with Kai, was I?
"What does he do?"
“He... He comes from a wealthy familyand he has a community up here. A… treatment center. For.... recoveringalcoholics." What the hell was I saying? I was always a horrible liar butI had a wild imagination, quite the combo.
"Oh, well he sounds a lot likeyou. A do-gooder. Except for the wealthy family part,” she joked. I thought ofher in her bright teal trailer on Ash Lane near downtown Portland. I wish Icould give her more. She deserved the best.
"Thanks for understanding. I'llcall you tomorrow, okay, mom?"
"Okay, sweetie. The only thing Ihave ever wanted was to see you happy. You sound happy," she admitted.
Did I? Was I? God, if she only knew.Mom, I got in a horrific accident. My back was broken, my head gushing bloodand this new boyfriend of mine. The one, who I said would never hurt me? He bitme. ‘Cause he's a werewolf and now I am one, too. I wanted to tell her.
