Page 61 of Bewitching the Wolf

I glance at Tippy'; she’s pushing her fork around her plate. “Some of us had no idea you were even a wolf,” she mutters, just loud enough for us to hear. She turns to Arlo. “Did you know, before Jax shifted, that he was wolfen?”

“No. Maybe I wondered at times.” He grins. “I mean, look at him, he’s pretty feral.”

We laugh. Tippy doesn’t join in.

“Well, I did not have a clue,” Sammy says. “Neither did Clem. Full marks to you Jax, for keeping it quiet. It must have been burning you up inside, carrying that knowledge.” She reaches out and touches my hand with a smile, and I can’t help feeling vindicated.

“Thanks, Blondie,” I say softly. I sense Tippy softening a smidge. She glances at me, fleetingly. I hope she’ll take the message on board, coming from another woman.

Arlo peers closely at me across the table. “There’s something different about you.”

“Yeah, well, being wolf has changed my appearance. Kind of bulked me out a bit,” I finish proudly.

“Nah, it’s something else.” Then he grins. “You haven’t vaped once. Something Tippy’s doing must be working.”

I give Tippy a pointed look, willing her eyes to meet mine. She finally raises her head and our gazes lock. I gift her my lopsided grin.

“It sure is,” I say softly, and have the gratification of seeing her cheeks turn almost the same shade of red as her hair.

CHAPTER 17

TIPPY

Sure, the food at Fangs Fine Dining was delicious tonight. But it was pretty much wasted on me. I wasn’t in the least bit hungry. My stomach was in such a tight knot it was hard to force anything down.

But somehow I did. I even smiled and chatted. And all the time, I avoided Jax’s gaze—which was hard, because he kept staring at me. He seemed calmer somehow, even though he clearly had gotten himself into a fight, going by those cuts on his face and neck, and the big bruise on his cheek.

Tangled in a briar bush, my vixen ass.

But considering he had no vape with him, yeah, he did pretty well, laughing with Arlo about how Friday night poker at Digger’s wasn’t the same without him, and complimenting Sammy on how well she looked.

When the dessert menu came round, Sammy yawned.

“Tired?” Arlo checked in on her, his eyes full of loving concern.

“Yeah, bub’s been kicking all day. Those little hooves sure pack a punch.”

“Hooves, not feet?” Jax kinked an eyebrow.

“Oh yeah, definitely hooves.” Sammy chuckled. “Not looking forward to when he pushes his way through my poor human birth canal.”

“Ouch!” I winced in sympathy.

“Don’t worry, newborn minotaur hooves are soft as butter,” Arlo reassured her.

Sammy grinned. Far from appearing worried, she looked like she was looking forward to her birthing experience.

What would it be like, I wondered, to be a mom of a little one? To love and nurture it. An image of a youngling floated into my mind. It had distinctly wolfen features, and green eyes.

Stop right there, Tippy Honeywell.

Ten minutes later, we’ve paid our bill and we’re all standing on the busy evening street. I linger with Arlo and Sammy as we say our goodbyes, hugging them for longer than necessary. I’m too chicken to be left alone with Jax.

“Take care on the mission, mate,” Arlo says to Jax. “I hope the portal cape behaves itself. Its sense of direction can be a bit off kilter.”

Sammy playfully punches her mate’s huge bicep. “Don’t diss it. If it hadn’t taken you to that parking lot, we never would have met.”

“You’re right, I owe the cape my happily ever after.” He hugs her to his flank and I’m painfully aware of Jax by my side, our arms almost touching.