Page 64 of Wolf's Forbidden Curse

I scowled at her. The only light in the supply closet was coming from underneath the door, but I could still make out most of Nic’s face. “If you’re telling me to get the hell out of dodge, that means you think it’s a bad idea as well.”

“I don’t know what to think.”

“Don’t give me that,” I groaned. “He’s taking a huge risk, and we both know it. Are you really going to stay and hear what his sister has to say?”

“I haven’t decided yet. But I know that’s not what you want, so you should go. Take Daphne and run. Get as far away as you can, and don’t tell any of us where you are going.”

“Daphne can’t travel. She’s still recovering. The doctor hasn’t even come around to go over her test results.”

“Then leave her for now,” she said. “We’ll make sure she gets home okay.”

“Not a fucking chance,” I growled. “I don’t want her anywhere near you guys if there’s going to be drama.”

She groaned. “There isn’t another option. It’s either stay here with her and risk being found out by the old pack or leave without her.”

“I can’t leave without her,” I said unwaveringly. “I won’t.”

Nic took a step back. “Oh my god.” She gulped, but I wasn’t sure where this sudden sadness was coming from. “You’re—you’re in love with her, aren’t you?”

There was no point in denying it. She was going to put two and two together if I decided to stay, which I already had. “Yes. I am.”

She looked at me for a long while without saying anything.

“Nic, what’s?—”

“I have to go,” she cut me off. “Matt and Cornelius are outside waiting for me in the car. We’re heading back to the house before the police try to question us, too. You didn’t tell them we were anywhere near the crime scene tonight, right?”

“I’m not an idiot.”

“Okay, good. Then I guess… I’ll either see you at the house later tonight or… I won’t.” She reached for the door handle.

“Wait, what’s going on?” I demanded to know. “Why do you seem upset all of a sudden?”

“I’m not upset,” she said. “I just—I need some time to myself. That’s all.” She offered me nothing but a half smile as a goodbye, then opened the door and walked out.

One of the officers was kind enough to offer Daphne and me a ride home after my friends took the car back to the house that morning. Neither of us spoke much on the journey to Solara Bay. I was lost in thought, and Daphne was still groggy. I gave the officer the address for Smart Choice instead of my house and basically carried Daphne up the steps and to her bed when we got there. I’d texted Al on the way there, letting him know that Daphne was safe but that she was probably going to be too out of it to talk right away. He met us at the curb when the patrol car arrived and waved to her but didn’t hound her with questions.

In the apartment, Al had made her bed and put out a glass of water. Daphne smiled when she turned in bed to see the fresh flowers he’d left for her as well. It was good to see her looking happy after all we’d been through.

I was seated next to her, contemplating what I was going to do about Cornelius’s sister.

“That was really sweet of Al,” she said. “I wonder if he somehow subconsciously knew that daisies were my favorite flower.”

“Could be.”

“You know, the only good thing to come out of all of this is that we were able to stop Missy from taking all of his money. That would’ve been just awful, don’t you think?”

“I guess, but if you’re asking me which I would prefer, for you to get kidnapped or for Al to lose some money, I think you already know the answer.”

She laughed. “I suppose so.”

I looked down at my hands and released a heavy sigh. One that I knew wouldn’t go unnoticed by Daphne. She sat up and patted the empty spot in bed next to her. “Come lay down,” she said. “Tell me what’s on your mind.”

I hesitated.

“C’mon,” she insisted. “I know something happened when you went to talk to the police, and if you’re trying to keep me in the dark for my own good or something, that’s just stupid. And patronizing. I talked to them too, told them the same version of the story we agreed on, and I really think they bought it.”

I chuckled. “That’s not what I’m worried about.”

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