Page 80 of Moonlighting with the Werewolf

“Well, I have access to antibiotics, and we can try a transfusion with your blood so that it’s a more hospitable environment and?—”

I softly kissed her lips. “We’re also a whole month away from the full moon, which is another important step in the transformation.”

“Okay, then forget using newfound superstrength to sneak up on Andromeda and slit her throat with my claws. I’ll just track down a gun, concentrate on how cruel she was when sheheld me hostage, take aim, and pull the trigger. Yeah. As long as I remind myself what’s at stake, I could totally shoot her.”

Here she was trying to convince herself. The idea of killing Andromeda was one thing—I wouldn’t hesitate myself if it wouldn’t put Kerrigan at risk. But the woman I was in love with... she’d struggle to follow through. Even if she managed to pull that trigger, she’d live with the consequences the rest of her life, and whether or not she wanted to believe it, it’d haunt her.

“Kerrigan...”

“No, don’t use that defeated tone with me. We can tell the pack our plan, and tomorrow, right before the wedding...” The illuminated lightbulb over her head blinked out, and her face crumpled. “It’d turn into a big bloody conflict and too many werewolves would die in the process, wouldn’t they?”

“Afraid so,” I said, the words coming out gruff. “And if we failed, you’d die, and that’d kill me.”

“But to just give up? How are we supposed to do that?”

“It’s not giving up. It’s finding a way to survive, to keep on living. Kerrigan, I need you to promise me something...”

Already the stubborn woman I loved was shaking her head, sensing I was about to ask something difficult of her. It wouldn’t be easy for me, either, which was why I’d forced myself to stay away the past couple of days while I’d formulated this part of the plan. “You need to move away from here and start a new life. Do your best to forget about me and Guadalupe Falls, and that things like werewolves and witches exist?—”

“As if I could actually do that.” Not that I’d expected my decree to go over smoothly, but her expression bordered on hostility with a pinch of bafflement. “After losing my mom and my grandma, I finally found a place where I belong, with friends and family and a sense of purpose. You seriously want me to say goodbye to you, Gina, Sasquatch, Elias and Gideon, and the restof the werewolves? Just leave behind my clinic and everyone I care about?”

“Of course, it’s not what I want, but it’s the better, safer option for both of us. If you’re far away, it’ll make it harder for Andromeda to invoke the final clause.” Not impossible, unfortunately, but as long as I fell in line, the witch wouldn’t feel the necessity for an extra bargaining chip. Not being able to see or talk to Kerrigan would make me downright miserable, but she deserved to have the fullest life she could, one that wasn’t constantly threatened as a way to get to me. “As for your clinic, I’ll buy it from you and give you whatever else you need to relocate. It’s the best way I can think of to take care of you.”

A tumultuous storm brewed in her gray-blue eyes, the flash of lightning meaning she was about to spew thunder. “No way. Not only do I not need you to take care of me, paying off the clinic was never part of the deal. I don’t even care about that right now.”

“Once the dust settles, you will. You’re amazing at what you do, and I won’t be the reason you don’t follow your dreams.” I licked my lips, fighting against the urge to hold back the last vital part of the plan. “You can’t tell me where you’re going, either, because if I know, I’ll never be able to stay away, and that’ll only endanger the both of us. As well as everyone we love.”

Hurt pinched her features, and she opened her mouth, undoubtedly to argue.

“Please, sweetheart.” The words scraped on the way out, leaving my chest achy and raw. I bracketed her face in my hands. “Do you hear what I’m saying? I love you so much that I’m stripped bare, begging you to go somewhere you can be safe and happy, and even...” My possessive nature reared its ugly head, and it took every ounce of my determination to expel the rest. “Find someone who’ll make you happy, who loves you and can give you everything I no longer can.”

That faceless man I longed to strangle would never love her on the same primordial level I did, to the point my heart and soul belonged to her and always would.

But that was probably for the best. Love like that was rare and unruly. It burned fast and furious, igniting both people, leaving ash in its wake, and often came at a price.

My price required letting her go so I could once again be the alpha my pack needed me to be. I skimmed my thumb over her cheekbone. “Please, Kerrigan. Promise me you’ll at least try.”

Tears brimmed her eyes, and the mangled heap that used to be my heart radiated sorrow, head to toe. She sniffed. “Okay.”

“Promise,” I said, desperate to hear she’d be safe and happy regardless of how much I despised the fact that it wouldn’t be with me.

“I promise.” With that, she buried her head in my chest and burst into tears. I stroked her hair, fighting the rising lump in my throat and doing my damnedest not to cry myself. I held her like that until her sobs faded, her breaths slowed, and she gradually drifted to sleep.

Then I stared at the ceiling, wishing like hell that tomorrow didn’t have to come.

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

Takinginto account that I was already being forced to marry a witch—one I didn’t and never would love—it only added insult to injury that I had to do it in a fucking penguin suit.

As I fiddled with the ridiculous bowtie, my gaze kept getting drawn to the copy of the contract Andromeda had handed us as we left, as if this was all some business deal instead of destroying my future with Kerrigan and any chance at happiness in one fell swoop.

Guilt rose, as it’d done several times this week. The agreed-upon alliance was about more than just me. More than just Kerrigan. I’d committed myself to this pack, and I’d never regretted a single second of it.

Until now.

Since the thought wouldn’t leave me alone, I picked up the document and skimmed down the page, striving not to let my simmering anger reach the boiling point.

Diego walked in, also in a suit. He wore an equally grim expression, his and my dispositions more suitable for a funeral than a wedding. The way he tugged at his bowtie conveyed he found the ridiculous thing as uncomfortable as I did. “Man, Iwish I could do something more than stand at your side and pretend this is a joyous occasion. I feel so damn helpless.”

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