AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“According to Cal, you aim to isolate me from friends and family.”
“A regrettable precaution. By ensuring human and werefolk safety, I keep my casualty and invitation rates low.”
“Low because your buddies kill them?”
“Paid my dues several times over for keeping my flock safe from wolves and monsters alike.” He took a guiltless bite. “Thing is, ignore the rules long enough and most folks quit applying them to you.”
I bit my lip, unsure if now was the moment, if ever, to bring up my grandfather. “The New York sheriff, Tolbert, could he have invited my grandmother or made an arrangement to keep her safe? Talon considers her family.” She’d been calling a cop in her final months; maybe it’d been Tolbert.
“He wasn’t the type.” Caelan got up for another slice. “His notes on her are borderline obsessive. Then there’s you, Marcy, raised by a grandmother totin’ silvered bullets. How did your parents die?”
“I’m sure you’ve checked.”
“I ain’t asking what’s on record for a couple of cardboard cutouts.”
His attention was diligent and focused. Unused to challenge, I composed myself and met his eyes.
“Whatever my family history is, I haven’t done any wrong. I was young; I was sheltered, and I don’t enjoy standing at the center of a narrowing ring of werewolves. It’s frightening, how little I know.”
“I imagine so,” he said softly. “I’m sorry.”
Glancing at the remaining half slice on my plate, I changed gears. “Cal flipped me a cold burger this afternoon. Is meat so raw it’s mooing standard among werewolves? Because from my observations, you sure don’t have any qualms with tonight’s selection.”
“Raw meat is an acquired taste on the human tongue. As wolves, we enjoy food hot, fresh and filled with marrow, but we aren't immune to worms and other parasites.”
I cringed. “Can we steer the conversation toward something less infectious?”
“You mean like the bite of a werewolf?” He winked. “The transformation rips parasites out. Depending on the critter, might take several cycles to clear.” But he did change the subject to lighter nonsense for the rest of dinner (which consisted of him eating half a pizza and me nibbling through the one slice). We trashed our plates; I offered him a drink, both of us stuck to water, then we retreated to the comfort of my couch.
This is it, I thought, sitting on the middle cushion. Thisis when I make my move. I crossed my legs and smoothed the dress over my knee. Please the alpha, gain the reaper’s trust. Embarrass myself in the process. Simple.
The sheriff reclined into his corner and stretched his arm along the back of the couch. His gaze, warm and curious, returned to mine. “Why a new shovel?”
Glancing over his shoulder to a picture on the wall of Lisa and Wyatt at their college graduation, I tapped my knee. “Hydrangeas,” I decided.
He rubbed the side of his face, recently shaved, I noted. “Hydrangeas?”
“My porch has been put through the ringer; blood’s feeding my weeds and future irises. So yeah, hydrangeas. I'll show you my ideas.”
Before he could prove me wrong, and to make him regret questioning me, I jumped to retrieve my cell. Phone in hand, I plopped beside him close enough where my leg brushed his. He politely endured my touch and subsequent Google search.
“Thoughts?” I asked after some aimless scrolling and narration through the images.
“Blue.”
I squinted at the flowers. “Heavenly or electric?”
After checking his pocket watch, he started to stand. “Well, if you’re set, I do believe the water’s rising.”
My “No!” came out too quick. I stretched for his hand, dropped mine the instant I realized my mistake and patted the couch. “There's more. Come sit.”
He shot me a questioning look, but I didn't wilt: I waited, thanking my lucky stars when his keys returned to his pocket.
“So I was wondering,” I began, not sure where to put my hands all of a sudden. I touched my chin, then my headband, and settled for grasping my knee in the style of a posh reporter. “What causes the transformation? On TV you always see a full moon.”
“Night is the safest stretch to roam. Humans see better under a full moon. It's a correlation, same as ice cream and drowning. A full moon doesn't cause a shift.”
“So what does?”
