Page 39 of When Hairy Met Stella

Eric smiled so wide all his teeth were on display. “They’re great.”

“And she’s okay with the whole werewolf thing?”

“Of course. I mean, I rarely shift anymore, but she chased me down before that was the case.”

Nate remembered that night, when Lucy had ridden a four-wheeler into the woods and chased his brother down when he was on the verge of shifting. He’d seen it all—her pinning him to the ground, her kissing him…him not shifting.

“She accepted you for who you are.” The words floated out of his mouth on a whisper, more a thought he hadn’t meant to articulate than a statement of fact for his brother to hear. The truth was, that was the night he realized the woman he’d thoughtwas the love of his life hadn’t really loved him at all. “I told Stella last night.”

Eric nodded. “And how did it go?”

A dry chuckle rumbled in Nate’s chest. “A lot better than when I told Carrie.” That was the understatement of the century, especially since Stella hadn’t grabbed a butcher’s knife and chased him out of town.

“And why do you think that is?”

He wasn’t sure how to answer that. Stella was so different than anyone he’d ever known. She was the kindest person on the planet, so it made sense that she’d been so accepting. But deep down, he hoped it meant something else. Something more. Something he didn’t want to admit out loud because he’d had his heart broken by someone so badly in the past he couldn’t imagine how it would feel if she didn’t feel the same.

“I’m not sure.”

“Okay.”

“That’s it?” Nate hadn’t wanted his brother to dig too deep into his relationship—or whatever this was—but he thought he’d have more to say than that.

“Yep.” He leaned back, crossed his feet at the ankles, and pulled both hands behind his head, which looked ridiculous considering he was sitting on a log and not a lounge chair. “I’m just going to sit here for however long it takes until you admit that you’re starting to fall for her. Though, keep in mind that I’m getting married tomorrow, so try not to take too long, eh?”

“Joke’s on you, then.” Nate stood from the makeshift bench and dug his toe into the ground. “Because I’ve already fallen.”

Eric shot up like he’d been sunbathing on the beach and someone had just thrown a bucket of water on him. “Are you serious?”

“Dead. Which is ironic, given the circumstances.” He waved a hand up and down the front half of his body as proof. In a matterof hours, he’d be unrecognizable. “Would you have still stayed with Lucy, you know, if you hadn’t been cured? If the love spell hadn’t worked?”

“Ah, I don’t think I had much of a choice.”

“Because you were so crazy about her?”

“And because I’m pretty sure she would have chased me down no matter where I tried to hide.” They both chuckled because they knew it was the truth. For as quiet and timid as Lucy was, there was a fierceness to her that popped out every now and then.

“You wouldn’t have worried about…hurting her?”

“I mean...” Eric ran a hand through his hair. “I guess I figured if anything happened, I could fix it.”

“That’s what…” Nate blew out a long breath that held with it the frustration he’d been holding. “That’s what I’m afraid of.” Though he’d never hurt anyone when he’d shifted, there was always a chance. And there was nothing he could do if that happened. Not like his brother, who’d been gifted the power to heal people other than himself.

“You know I’m here for you, Nate. Just like I’ve always been.”

“I know.” Nate looked at his brother, the soon-to-be-married man he’d known his whole life, and a ping of sadness mixed with the happiness he felt over his upcoming nuptials. “It’s just not quite the same anymore.”

“No, but I’ll still be around. I’m not going anywhere. I won’t let you hurt anyone again.”

In an instant, the breeze stilled. Sweat prickled along Nate’s neck, though his body turned eerily cold. He turned his head slowly toward his brother. “What do you mean you won’t let me hurt someoneagain?”

“Oh, I mean…” Eric crossed and uncrossed his legs as he hemmed and hawed. “I didn’t say?—”

“Stop!” Nate shouted, raising his hand. Blood whooshed in his ears as his chest rose and fell in rapid succession. And suddenly, that chill he felt a second ago melted with the heat that coursed throughout his body. He rubbed his temples, like soothing the ache would keep his head from exploding. “You saidagain. Like I’ve hurt someone before.”

Eric walked toward his brother, both hands up in front of him like he was trying to calm him down. “There’s nothing to worry about. Everything’s fine, Nate.”

“Everything’snotfine!” he roared in a voice that mimicked thunder, sending any birds in the trees as far as their little wings could take them. “Who have I...how have I? This can’t be happening.”

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