Page 51 of Wolf's Endgame

“Whatever.” Lottie got up, crossed to the sink, and poured her tea away. “Think I need whiskey.” She pulled a tumbler down off the shelf, looking at me in question, and didn’t wait for an answer before she took another one down. Sitting back down across from me, she handed me my drink. “Saw you do it a few more times, and then more than once, I saw a white wolf in the trees, and it would disappear and then you’d be there. Still naked…but happier.” She blew out a breath. “Which is when I started thinking you were more than a hippie.” She grinned at my eye roll. “Tell me what you can.”

I sipped the whiskey, the burn at the back of my throat making me cough slightly. “Holy Luna, woman, that’s lethal.”

Lottie’s grin got wider. Taking a drink, she hissed in appreciation. “Puts hair on your chest.”

“I don’t want hair on my chest,” I reminded her as I took another drink.

“Why? You got yourself a man?”

I nodded, my smile breaking free and loving that it did. “He’s…”

“Let me guess, perfect…”

“Yeah.” I frowned as I thought of my alpha. “He’s also a dick. Sometimes.” I scrunched my nose up as I thought of Cannon. “Most times.”

“The best ones usually are a good blend of both.” Lottie grew serious again. “As I said, Zia, tell me what you can. I won’t repeat a word of it. Not even to Maggie.” Her hand had a slight tremor the next time she spoke. “When they came asking for you last time, I ran them off, but it took a while before I was able to sleep right through the night.”

Vance. The bastard.

Reaching over, I squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry.”

Lottie patted the hand that held hers. “You did nothing wrong. I never spilled anything about you then; I won’t do it now.”

Taking a drink of my whiskey, I avoided her stare as I considered what to say. “We’re born under the grace of Luna. Humans with a little bit of magic in them, a little bit more bite.” I winked at her as I spoke. “We keep to ourselves. It is forbidden to tell humans. For our protection, I think.” I remembered Bullet and his friends. “Your kind can be so cruel.” I thought of Bale and the abuse I had suffered with him. “My kind too.” I finished my whiskey. “We’re faster, stronger, and can heal ourselves from most wounds.”

“Handy.” I wanted to laugh at her expression, eyes wide with wonder.

“We still get sick.” I held my glass out for more when she poured her own. “We can still die.”

“What did they want with you last time?”

“To hurt me.” I sighed. “I’d been participating in illegal fighting rings. They didn’t like my winning streak.”

“You cheated?” Lottie looked surprised.

“I didn’t think I did, but I was able to heal after a match, and I went back too quickly for more. My need for more money meant I grew careless.” Pushing my hair off my face, I shrugged. “Not grew, I was careless.”

“They caught you? Is that where you’ve been?”

“No.” A pull in my lower belly had me turning in my seat, my attention on the door. “My mate did.”

“Mate? Who’s he?”

I wanted to race to the door and fling it open, but I forced myself to remain sitting in place. I wasn’t sure if Cannon was as eager to see me as I was him. That kept me in my seat. “You’re about to meet him.”

“What?” Lottie was off her chair, slightly panicked as she looked between me and the door. “When?”

“Now.”

CHAPTER 13

Kezia

I watched the door warily. The sharp rap against the wood made me jump a little even though I was expecting it. Lottie moved into my line of sight, and I knew without looking at her, she was waiting for me to tell her to open it.

“Do I need my gun?” she whispered.

“No.”

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