Page 27 of Echo Of A Wolf

“By the way, my romance, spicy-time scenes in my books will be way better now, just so you know,” she said around a mouthful of pancake, a pink tint staining her cheeks. “My future readers thank you.”

“Glad I could help with your muse.” I chuckled.

Damn, this woman was stunning.

How had I not noticed it?

I’d been an idiot.

“Back to my brother. So, if we’re not going to the Ashen Tribe to ask for amulets like they used to keep Lucius out of their heads, what are we going to do?” she asked.

“Reach out to some friends for help,” I said.

While I knew we could take Xander on our own without issue, I wasn’t sure if that was the smartest move.

“Do you have anyone in mind?” Astrid asked.

I grabbed my phone off the counter where it was charging and opened up the group message thread with the others from a few nights ago when I’d asked if they wanted to meet me at Last Drop for a drink.

“A few. Let me shoot a quick text, asking if they can meet us for a drink this afternoon. We can fill them in on everything and get their opinion on how to go about saving your brother.”

“Thanks.” She smiled, relief filling her warm brown eyes.

If I hadn’t known before how important saving him was to her, the look she gave me right then would have been proof enough.

“You’re welcome.”

Barely thirty seconds after sending the text message out to everyone, my phone pinged with their responses.

“Looks like we’re meeting everyone at Last Drop for a drink this afternoon,” I said.

She nodded and flashed me a halfhearted smile. “Great.”

I could tell she was nervous, and she had every right to be. After all, they would most likely be as skeptical of her as I was in the beginning. Even so, I was positive they’d agree to help because none of us wanted a repeat of what happened with Lucius. All we wanted was our freedom. However, none of us were guaranteed that until Xander was himself again or dead.

11

ASTRID

As Dean and I walked toward Last Drop, my stomach churned, the uneasy fluttering of nervous butterflies making me feel queasy. I wasn’t sure how the others would react at the sight of me, but I imagined it wouldn’t be good. The chances of them seeing me in a skeptical light like Dean had were high.

“It’s going to be fine,” Dean said, taking my hand in his and interlacing our fingers.

Ease washed over me as sparks danced across my palm where it met his. This man’s touch was magic. I could walk into fire holding his hand and still feel at ease.

Once we entered the bar, it didn’t take long to figure out who we were there to see. The people sitting at a back table had zeroed in on me immediately. Skepticism twisted their features at the sight of me.

“Hey, guys, this is Astrid,” Dean said by way of introduction as we situated ourselves at the table with them. I hadn’t needed an introduction, though. Their faces said as much. Everyone remembered me, the same as I remembered them. “This is Ellis,Waylen, and Sienna,” he continued, unfazed by the looks they were giving me.

“Hi,” I said, giving a small wave and a smile.

No one returned either.

Tough crowd.

Dean grabbed two glasses from the stack in the center and poured us each a beer. The tension thickened, but if he noticed, he didn’t let on. It was clear everyone was confused as to why Dean was hanging out with me and what I was doing here.

“All right. Well,” he said before taking a swig from his beer. “I’m not one to beat around the bush, so I’ll get straight to it. Remember a few nights ago when I asked y’all to meet me here and I told you I felt like someone was watching me?”

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