Page 28 of Wolf Promise

“Nora is a wolf shifter,” Regie concluded out loud. “Does Ulf know?” Why she didn’t think the tall blond man was a shifter, she didn’t know. But he was human…or something…different.

“He knows,” Laney said.

“But you don’t turn into an animal,” Regie said.

“No, I’m more like you,” the woman answered. “You felt it when we shook hands. That recognition of meeting someone else with abilities. We don’t channel our powers the same way, but we’re alike.”

Varg’s chair scraped against the floor as he stood. “She’s a witch?” He looked from Laney to Regie and back again.

His fiancé nodded. “And that is why I don’t think we have to keep mentioning the NDA when we ask Ms. Lansford to keep our secrets, because she has been hiding something of her own from the world.”

Regie’s heart skipped a beat and then pounded so loud she was certain the others could hear it.

She was so fucked.

CHAPTER 14

In the late afternoon on the day of the benefit gala, Regie sat in a chair at her dining table in front of a portable three-sided mirror that the stylist had brought with her. Laney and Nora watched from the couch a few paces away, sipping prosecco and nibbling on chocolate truffles that they’d brought with them.

Regie had a glass of bubbly in front of her on the table, but the butterflies in her stomach didn’t need any more stimulant. A wide headband pulled back her hair from her face, where the stylist applied the final touches on Regie’s lipstick.

“You’re a genius,” Nora said to the makeup artist, a tall Caucasian woman named Malena, who had a bright pink pixie cut and sparkling brown eyes.

“Thank you.” The stylist smiled.

Regie silently agreed. The applied makeup enhanced all her good features—her eyes looked huge and mysterious—but still made it look like she wore very little cosmetics.

Two assistants to Malena had done Laney’s and Nora’s faces, and both women looked amazing. The makeup artist working on Nora had asked if she wanted her scar covered, but the wolf shifter said the line showed her as a survivor and warrior, and she would never hide it from anyone, including herself.

Regie wished she had Nora’s confidence. She wanted to embrace her emotional scars as something that made her stronger. Instead, she operated under the strategies of denial and fake-it-till-you-make-it.

Not that she considered herself weak or not confident. She knew her strengths in business and took pride in what she’d accomplished with Lofn Wellness. But in her relationship with her grandfather, she avoided conflict at all costs. And the older man still had the power to hurt her with some of his impulsive actions and words. His latest text told her to get herself fixed up for the party and look like a woman for once. A little dig at her penchant for wearing pants and jackets instead of dresses at the office.

She sighed out loud.

“Are you okay?” Malena asked, pulling off the headband on Regie’s hair.

“Yes, just thinking about family stuff.”

“You’re not allowed to think about anything problematic or sad tonight,” Nora said. “This is your evening of being a princess. No bad thoughts allowed.”

“I concur,” Laney said.

Regie smiled at both women through the mirror. She’d been too busy in college and graduate school to cultivate friendships with women. And then she’d focused on building Lofn Wellness. Although she realized this moment of girly bonding was make believe, she enjoyed hanging out with Nora and Laney.

Her closest friend was probably Payel. And how sad was it that her assistant—now project manager—was the only person with whom she had anything resembling a personal relationship? Payel had insisted on booking Malena and her assistants for today. Regie had planned on doing on her own makeup and hair. When she’d told Payel, her eyes had reflected genuine horror.

The younger woman had also arranged for a selection of gowns to be sent to the Lofn Wellness offices and supervised Regie trying on each one. Finally, Payel chose a lavender silk dress for Regie. The garment’s young designer had just started to make their mark on the San Francisco fashion scene. Made of braids and fabric swatches that crisscrossed Regie’s body, the dress covered everything, but the silky fabric clung to and accentuated the few curves she had, making the gown look almost revealing. Regie had fallen in love with it instantly.

“Are you going to the event with a date?” Malena asked as she expertly twined tiny braids on the side of Regie’s head.

“Her fiancé,” Laney said. “Did you see the gorgeous ring he gave her?”

“Show her,” Nora said.

Regie obediently held up her left hand so Malena could admire the amazing piece of jewelry. She hadn’t seen Bolt since the Palace of Fine Arts event.

When he’d turned into a wolf.

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