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I’m lucky they aren’t more pissed at me, considering I didn’t even attempt to call anyone even after I arrived heretwo weeks ago. I bumped into Olive at the grocery store last week and guiltily asked who else from our circle was around. She called Brianna, and here we are.
They both were cheerleaders for Wolf Ridge–incredible gymnasts who built sky-high pyramids and tossed each other twenty feet in the air. Now, they are stuck in Wolf Ridge. Brianna works in the nail salon. Olive has a job at an upscale clothing boutique down the mountain in the wealthy human community, Cave Hills.
“Yeah. I heard Wilde Woodward is struggling playing football at Duke. He purposely got into some kind of trouble to get kicked off the team, but he’s back there now to finish out the season, at least.”
“Duke, wow. That’s impressive.” I’m out of the loop on all the news. Sure, my mom still called me while I was at school and talked my ear off about the pack news, but I think I missed hearing someone made it out of here toDuke.
I wonder, briefly, if Asher is good enough to get a scholarship somewhere. But he hates school, so I doubt he’d want to go on. From what I can tell, the work I put into raising his math and writing literacy when I tutored him went down the tubes after his dad got banished.
My stomach tightens into a familiar knot at that thought. You’d think after four and a half years, I would’ve forgiven myself, even if there’s no chance of Asher ever forgiving me.
“What do you think it takes to get nailed by Coach Jamison?” Olive murmurs, stirring her milkshake with her straw and ogling the gorgeous thirty-something high school football coach.
He’s sitting a few booths over. With shifter hearing, he probably heard her, if he’s bothering to listen.
I force myself to slow down sipping my espressomilkshake. I nearly drained the whole thing the moment Sandra, our waitress–another girl who never made it out of Wolf Ridge–set it down in front of me. Fate, my appetite has been out of control since the full moon. This meal is going to cost more than I wanted to spend.
“Who does he fuck during full moon runs?” Brianna wonders aloud.
My inner thighs slap together at the mention of the full moon. I’m still spending far too many thoughts on who my mysterious lover was and the things he did to me.
“He doesn’t. Or if he does, he’s discreet.”
“He’d have to be careful. He’s supposed to be a role model to all his players. He’s the one providing them with all the straight talk about sex and she-wolves,” I say.
What if…hewas my full moon romp? Heat crawls across my chest. Maybe my lover isn’t already in a relationship. Maybe he didn’t show himself because he’s an important figure in the pack and has to be careful about gossip. I find myself looking over at his booth, too.
“I’m going to follow him next month,” Olive declares.
“Do you know what his wolf looks like?” I try to make the question sound off-hand.
“Doesn’t everyone? He’s a huge grey.”
Grey. Not black. Not my mate.
Brianna turns her dark-eyed gaze on me. “So? Did you have a human boy-toy in Chicago?”
I flush and put my lips around my straw to stall. “I had a roommate with benefits, but I ended it when it got old.”
“Ooh, was it awkward?”
I shake my head. “No. This guy’s ego was so big, I don’t think he even understood he got dumped. He was still trying to get with me every night he was home until I moved out.”
Brianna wrinkles her nose. “Ew. Did you kick him in the nuts?”
“Nah. It was annoying, but not dangerous. I had other things to worry about–like finding a job that covered rent.”
Olive gives me a sympathetic look. “Did it suck there? I think it would be impossible to live in a city.” She reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. “We’re so glad you’re back.”
“Yeah…thanks.” My voice sounds hollow.
Brianna doesn’t miss it. “You don’t want to be back, do you?”
I wince. “Not really. The art scene here is non-existent.”
“What about Scottsdale?” Olive asks. “It’s just down the mountain. They have tons of art galleries there. You should take your stuff and see if they’ll show it.”
“Yeah, but you need to know someone to make that happen. You know, be a part of the scene. My former roommate might have a connection for me, but I haven’t heard back yet.” I watch myself as I throw up roadblocks. Why am I so afraid? Why don’t I follow up with Andy? I try to shake off my resistance. “But that’s a good idea. I should try anyway. You never know what might happen.”
