Page 21 of Moonlighting with the Werewolf

Elias walked beside me, and with my mind clearing, I pondered the meaning of his comment regarding the vet. “Did you settle up with Dr. Ryan like I asked?” “Yeah. I went by and gave Kerrigan the money this afternoon.”

My spine jolted straight, the name like a ramrod of lightning. Kerrigan. Not Dr. Ryan. I frowned, not liking that one bit, regardless of the fact that it was her name and I’d been the one to tell Elias to go to the clinic.

Just leave it alone. Put her out of your head and focus on your own business.“How’d she seem?”

“Um, okay.”

Of all the times the kid chose not to expound, he picked now. The longer the phrase rang through the air without further explanation, the more I wanted to act like a scavenger, begging for scraps of the picked-apart meat. “Um? What’s with theum? Is she okay or not?” Elias slowed to gape at me, which prompted Nissa and Tyrese to pause and study me as well.

I scowled at my audience, letting them know I didn’t appreciate their shock and awe. “What? I nearly ripped out her throat for moving to the wrong place at the wrong time. I can’t ask if she’s okay?”

“You can,” Nissa said, the corners of her mouth quivering. “You just normally don’t follow up with the people you threaten, falsely accused or not.”

I glared, and Tyrese’s posture tensed, his loyalty to his wife and his fealty to me grating against each other. If he thought I’d hurt his wife, he wouldn’t hesitate to tussle with me, but we both knew that wasn’t necessary. Not only because we had other shit to focus on, but also because Nissa would put us in our places.

My beta hooked her hand in the crook of her husband’s elbow. “Let’s go see if we can pick up anything on the east end, babe, and leave Conall to seethe at the forest instead of us.”

“What about me?” Elias squeaked, his unspoken silent plea to take him with them loud and clear.

“Go ahead,” I said so they’d leave me be. This wasn’t about Dr. Ryan. It was about an intruder coming into my territory and fucking shit up.

Elias bounded toward Nissa and Tyrese like an overgrown puppy, but then he abruptly spun around. “The ‘um’ was because Kerrigan’s still pretty upset at you. That’s why I was glad you didn’t need a doctor—I’m not sure she’d treat you. But she really is all right. The mayor came into the clinic while I was there, and the two of them got friendly fast. He invited her to the carnival, and she seemed excited about it.”

Nissa winced and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Seriously, Elias? Have you ever heard the expression ‘less is more?’”

The kid appeared utterly confused. “What? I held back the part about her calling him a pigheaded ass with too much pride. Something like that, anyway. Although she did say I could tell him she said so.”

“Just go to the truck, Elias.” Nissa nudged him on down the hill, in the direction of the road. “We’ll meet you there.”

Nissa lifted that haughty eyebrow she always spoke volumes with. “Are you in control?”

“Of course, I am,” I snarled, contrary to my claim. Tensions were high, so sue me. If the good doctor wanted to be wined and dined by the illustrious, highbrow mayor, she was free to do so.

It’d be good for her to meet and mingle with the townsfolk. Then she could forget about me and my pack and get on with her life. No looming danger, at least not from or because of me.

“You’ll let me know if that changes?” Nissa asked.

“No,” I automatically retorted, and then we both laughed. I scrubbed a hand over my face. “It’s fine. The mayor’s a...” I meant to saydecent guybut couldn’t quite force out the words now that I was picturing Kerrigan on his arm. “I’m just worried about all the injuries that are stacking up. The faster I hunt down the culprit, the sooner I can assure the safety of the entire pack, and we can get back to normal life.”

“And could that normal life possibly include a certain veterinarian?”

“Not in this lifetime.” Better to get it through my head. Entanglements with humans were frowned upon—to say the least—and with Kerrigan out of the equation, there’d be less complications, no matter what threat we faced. From the outside, Guadalupe Falls seemed like a sleepy town, but because of the sacred ground and that other thing involving protectedforested areas where we could roam as far and wide as we craved, it would always attract a certain supernatural element.

Which wouldn’t be a big deal if we all could live together in peace. Centuries-worth of wars resulting in dwindling numbers left me cautiously pessimistic.

“We’ll get ’em.” Nissa’s voice dipped with the growled threat. “Whoever they are.”

“We always do.” I gestured for her to go on, watching as she, Tyrese, and Elias melted into the darkness of the trees. Neither of us had lost a fight since we were teenagers who’d been caught off guard. Never again, we’d vowed on countless occasions, and together, we’d taken down plenty of enemies.

But between the sinking sensation in my gut and that annoying, insistent voice in the back of my head, I couldn’t shake the feeling we were on the brink of facing our biggest threat yet.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“What doesone wear to her first town fair? Or carnival-thing. Whatever it’s called.”

Sir Pounce lifted his head. When I didn’t drop the off-the-shoulder navy-and-white shirt I’d held up over my strapless bra as he rubbed himself against the thighs of my jeans, he gave a chirrup that meant I was neglecting my duties. I quickly threw on the top and petted between his ears. He twisted his head and presented his chin, so I scratched until he rattled a contented purr.

Helpful fashion advisor, he was not. But his purr alleviated stress, upped oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin, so I let it slide. While my furry companion was much appreciated, it didn’t mean I wasn’t looking for human companionship, too, and the idea of going without sex for the rest of my life made me want to cry.

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