Page 23 of Moonlighting with the Werewolf

My brain searched for a distraction, and the looming Ferris wheel caught my eye. Heights weren’t my thing, and I maintained my opinion on not trusting rides that were set up and taken down an outlandish number of times. But it was the slower of the tall rides, and honestly, I regretted not climbing into the rickety metal deathtrap with Grams while I’d had the option.

I can try new things.

I can be brave.

I’ll do it for Grams.

“Let’s ride the Ferris wheel,” I said to Craig, pointing as if he might miss the enormous contraption otherwise.

“Oh, rides aren’t really my thing.” Craig put his hand on his stomach. “All that whirring and spinning after greasy food.”

“It doesn’t go very fast.” A shaky argument at best, but it did the job. He hesitantly picked up his pace as I rushed toward the giant flashing wheel and attached buckets. The closer we got, the taller it became, and it was a good thing I was pushing past my fear of heights. My trembling hands just needed to get onboard.

As we stepped into line behind the rest of the people awaiting their turn, I did my best to ignore the heat blossoming at the back of my neck.

I almost managed to convince myself it was the sun turning my skin scarlet, and not a certain werewolf paying attention to me. But then cheers erupted. I automatically glanced in the direction of the noise, smiling at the excitement over a young girl winning a large stuffed teddy bear, and caught a glimpse of Conall in my peripheral. Along with two other hulking dudes that looked like they ate jocks for breakfast.

No, more like deer and elk. Surely not bear, but it wouldn’t surprise me.In a pack, wolves could take out virtually any animal they set their sights on. Which led me to wonder if there were bears in the woods around here, another thing I should’ve researched before relocating. Not that the town website mentioned the werewolves—I’d checked. Totally after the fact, but still.

My breath caught as Conall’s head swiveled in my direction, and I failed to turn away, rendering all delusional pretenses null and void.

Then the world ground to an abrupt halt as Conall Shaw’s gaze latched onto mine.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

A low noiseemanated from my throat, and my men immediately went on alert.

“You sense the witch?” Diego’s eyes tracked side to side, keeping his movements small the same way I’d do to avoid rousing suspicion.

If I answered affirmatively to explain my rising hackles, Kerrigan would probably overhear somehow and yell at me again for assuming she was a witch in the first place. If I didn’t dispel the tension, my men would snap into attack mode in the middle of a town carnival with civilians and kids everywhere, and that wouldn’t do. “No. It’s something else.”

Thank God Nissa wasn’t here to rat me out—she would’ve discerned the reason for my growl in two seconds flat. If it weren’t for that, I’d rather have my beta at my side. But since she, Tyrese, and Sasquatch were the best trackers, they were scouring our borders in search of clues and had been since Friday morning.

In addition to checking if there were any other newcomers or visitors in town, the carnival provided one other benefit: theFerris wheel. It would take me to the highest point in town, even taller than our watch tower.

Only Kerrigan and the mayor were standing in line for the ride. Together, so Elias hadn’t exaggerated them hitting it off. The kid was around here somewhere. Granted, he counted as another person I experienced gladness over not currently being at my side. Subtlety wasn’t in his skill set.

Dr. Ryan had tried to hide her reaction as our eyes met, but I’d heard her sharp inhale, along with the steady rise of her pulse. Watched as she worked to return air to her lungs. Craig Sullivan and I had clashed in a few town meetings, mostly over luring in tourists and any events taking place in my territory, although he wasn’t privy to why we required privacy out at the compound. Sheriff Martin was and therefore never failed to take my side. I didn’t delude myself that the mayor didn’t hold some resentment over that, but he would never cross me—he didn’t have the balls.

My logical side also knew he was a nice, respectable guy.

That feral side I warned Kerrigan about, however? It screamedmine.The mayor was standing way too close tomy woman, and despite having no right to refer to her as such, my primal disposition didn’t give a damn.

“You two flank the edges,” I said to Diego and Mikal. “I’m going to hop on the Ferris wheel and take advantage of the view.”

Mikal lifted his sunglasses, settling them atop his head as he peered up at the ride. “Sure you don’t need an extra pair of eyes?”

Maniacal likely described my smile right now, but I let it loose anyway. “Already taken care of,” I said, charging toward the end of the line before my men asked more questions.

Honestly, this was as much for Mayor Sullivan’s safety as anything. Not only did the thought of Kerrigan being around any male who might put his hands on her gnaw at me more thanexpected, but he also wouldn’t be able to protect her if the need arose.

The people standing in line parted, gesturing for me to go on ahead, instinctively recognizing a man on a mission. One they’d best avoid interrupting. Then riders began filing out of and into the buckets, the queue becoming shorter as people moved forward in unison.

Finally, I stepped into position behind Kerrigan and the mayor. I tapped Craig on the shoulder and gave him an exceedingly agreeable—or perhaps threatening, it’s not like I had a mirror—smile. “Mind if I cut in?”

Craig immediately retreated a couple of paces and said, “Go ahead,” while at the same time, Kerrigan replied with a firm, “Nope.”

A hint of betrayal showed on the doctor’s pretty features as she frowned at the mayor.

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