Page 42 of When Hairy Met Stella

“The love spell?” Stella needed a notebook to keep all this info straight.

“There was a legend that stated a werewolf could be healed by true love. That if someone truly loved them, they’d no longer shift with the full moon. But Nate had fallen for a woman years back, and even though she’d claimed to love him…”

“He still shifted.”

“Yep. So, you could see why Eric had a hard time believing he wouldn’t shift and eat me alive. But Eric must be one of the lucky ones. It apparently doesn’t work for every werewolf. Too bad Nate found out the hard way.”

“Or else she didn’t love him like—” Stella bit her tongue. How was she going to finish that sentence? That his ex hadn’t loved him likeshedid? That was ridiculous. She didn’t love him, did she?

Stella stared out the window again, this time not caring about the glazed over expression she wore. Memories of the past week flashed in her mind. All the ways he’d shown up for her, dressing up like a scarecrow, supporting her on the aerial course, rushing to follow her out of the yoga studio.

And then her brain rewound to memories from even further back. Times like when she’d found Goldfish crackers at her station when she’d been so busy she missed her lunch break. Or when he thought no one was looking and slipped a twenty from his wallet into the register after he’d told a customer good luck on his upcoming interview andthat he wouldn’t pay for a haircut until he was employed again.

The tingles that sprang to life every time she so much as got a smile from him multiplied tenfold, a jolt to her system more powerful than the espressos she downed during a twelve-hour day at the salon.

Lucy nudged her arm. “You still with me?”

“Yes.” But she shouldn’t have been. She needed to find Nate. For all the times he’d been there for her, she owed him this. But not before she did her cousin’s nails. Because this washerweekend. Besides, if shereallywanted to show up for him, she still had time.

She cleared her throat. “What do you say we get you some photo-ready nails, eh?”

Lucy placed a soft hand on hers. “Just be careful, okay?”

For the first time, Stella saw a cloud of something other than her loved-up, giddy self she’d been throughout this conversation.

“I will,” she responded, knowing it was what would make her cousin happy and not because she needed to. She knew with every fiber in her body that Nate would never hurt her.

Chapter

Twelve

“Whatcha doing out here?”

Nate pulled his gaze from the campfire he’d started and looked at his brother. “You know what I’m doing out here.” He poked a log with a smaller limb, watching as the tiny embers flaked off. “The real question is what you’re doing out here.”

“Ah, pre-wedding jitters. Couldn’t sleep.”

“Try again.” He leaned forward and poked another log. “Just say that you are out here watching out for your older brother. Making sure I don’t hurt anyone tonight.”

Eric sat on a stump directly across from his brother, looking at him through the fire. Resting his elbows on his knees and leaning forward, he fixed his eyes on Nate. “I’m making sure you’re not hurting yourself.”

A humorless laugh escaped Nate’s lips. He half expected his brother to show up tonight. They’d always spent the evenings of the full moon together, though he viewed their togetherness through a different lens now. One that was cracked, smudged, and dragged through the mud.

He’d made himself scarce today. He knew Stella was busy doing nails and all the other beauty things his end of the salon didn’t handle, so he’d planned to finish up something he'd been working on.

And after the run he and Eric had shared this morning, he was grateful for the distraction. Time to think about what to do next. Time to figure out what to say to her, if he ever saw her again. Of course, he’d see her tomorrow at the wedding, but what would that look like? Would she still smile at him in the way that turned his insides all around? Would he ever have a chance to stare into her eyes and get lost in the blues and greens that mixed in a hypnotizing swirl?

Probably not. And who could blame her?

“I thought you might have already been in the woods.”

Nate looked up at the thick blanket of clouds covering the sky. “Doesn’t look necessary tonight.” If the moon didn’t come out, he wouldn’t shift.

Though, he’d hoped he might not shift for a different reason. But that was ridiculous. He was a cold-blooded monster. He didn’t deserve love. And while he’d entertained the idea that maybe Stella had some deep feelings for him, after last night, he doubted that was still the case.

Eric crossed one ankle over the other and leaned back from the fire. “Well, then I guess we’ll just wait this out.”

“No, we won’t.” Nate stood from the ground, grabbing the ice bucket he’d brought from the lodge he’d smartly filled with water, and doused the flames with a satisfying hiss. “Go on and get back to your room. You’re getting married tomorrow.”

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