Page 7 of Ensnared By the Werewolf

“Um, how much will your services cost?”he asks.

I freeze.My soul rebels at the idea of accepting money from my mate.“I’m not sure.We can talk about payment plans if you want, or if you have any skills to exchange.I promise you won’t be subjecting yourself to eternal servitude,” I ramble, and my cheeks heat.“And, hey, if I don’t succeed, there’s no charge.”

His laugh is rich.“We can talk about it later.Eternal servitude wouldn’t be too great of a cost to pay.”

I snort, but the idea is a sad one.I can’t control how clients think of their own afflictions, but later, as his mate, we can talk about whatever insecurities he may have.

Jack is mine to keep, cursed or not.

5

Jack

“Watch it!”Broderick calls and ducks at the same time.I curse and try to pay better attention to where I’m maneuvering the lumber in my grip.

“Sorry!”I say, embarrassment burning my cheeks.A construction site is not the place to let my thoughts wander.At least no one can tell I’m blushing under all the fur.

The gargoyle shakes his head, grinning as he grips the end of the wood and helps me slide it where it needs to go.“It’s all good.Have something important on your mind?You seem distracted.”

I swallow.I don’t want to lie to my boss.Well, one of my bosses.The other two have other tasks than the construction work part of the business, though I’ve seen them both put on hard hats when a deadline gets close.

“I met with another magic practitioner,” I say.

Broderick nods.He and his mates gave me a couple of names for curse breakers when I’d started off.The triad of gargoyles run their renovations business unlike any organization I’ve worked for.They care deeply for their employees and have been helpful in navigating a world where glamour is needed if you don’t look human.

They act like everyone they employ is a part of their family.It’s why I feel so awful for being distracted.

“Did you get any good news from them?”Broderick prods.

“It’s the same as usual.She has methods she wants to try but is making no promises.”

Broderick’s mouth curves.“You usually don’t walk around in a daze when you meet with a magic practitioner.Anything different abouther?”

I avoid his gaze.“She’s pretty.”

Pretty is an understatement.I’d been struck dumb by the sight of Belinda behind the store counter.Her curly dark hair added a level of chaos to her nature.At odds with her delicate features, pouty lips, and warm-amber eyes.The sexy librarian glasses and embroidered fashion tastes proclaimed a sense of her personality before she even greeted me.

“And…” Broderick trails off.

Smart, skilled, generous.All good things to find in a curse breaker.It’s the other things about her that distract me.Her enthusiasm is so bright it leaves me blinking, not to mention the searing connection at her touch.It was like nothing I’ve ever felt before.

This magic practitioner is different.This time feels different.

“She thinks she can help,” I say.

“That’s good.”Broderick hesitates, mulling over what he’s going to ask.“So are you going to ask her out?”

I look down at my unglamoured form and push down a shudder of disgust.Ask Belinda out on a date?Like this?

“I don’t think she’d say yes,” I say instead of shrugging off the question.Of course I want to date her.There’s something about her presence that calms my inner beast.When he isn’t mentally crying out that we should claim her, that is.I shake my head.

“She might surprise you,” Broderick says.

Mate.The inner beast pipes up with another ridiculous statement.

“She might,” I respond instead of starting a pity party about why she’d say no.If she broke the curse though…

If I wasn’t cursed, I’d ask her out in an instant.Hell, with the way my heart stutters at the thought, I’d find a way to marry her.Something about that resonates in my chest and makes my inner beast happy.

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