Page 36 of Love, A Curvy Girl's Guide

“Explain yourselves,” Garrick demanded, his deep voice echoing through the room. “You’ve jeopardized the safety of the pack, and I want to know why.”

Haley hesitated, her pulse pounding in her ears, but Ian gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward.

“This wasn’t Ian’s fault,” she began, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. “It started because of me. Our neighbor... She saw us together the night Ian first shifted. She’s an old busybody who loves gossip. When she saw us kissing, she knew she had something juicy she could tell. Only, things spiraled out of control when she saw Ian’s wolf dragging me unconsciously across the yard.”

The murmurs in the room swelled, and Haley forced herself to keep going. “Ian began shifting inside , and I suppose I was in shock. Neither of us knew what was happening. All I knew was that he was in pain and something terrible was happening. Then right before my eyes he turned into a giant wolf. I blacked out after that and didn’t come until I was in Ian’s house.”

Her gaze flicked to Garrick, who was watching her intently, his expression unreadable. “Our neighbor must have been thrilled to spread some gossip, especially to her niece, Verity, who happens to be my best friend. Or at least I thought she was. Anyway, she saw Ian in his wolf form dragging me across the yard in a blanket. She went to get her husband to help, and then when they came outside, we were gone. Her husband insisted she dreamt the whole thing. Insistent that she hadn’t, she told Verity everything. As to why Verify made the cryptic post on social media—I don’t know. But I would like to find out.”

“Your best friend?” Garrick cut in, his tone sharp.

Haley nodded, her throat tightening. “I’d like to think that she didn’t know what she was doing. Maybe she thought it was just a silly post, or maybe she was making fun of her aunt. Honestly, I would like the chance to confront her and find out. Most of her posts go unnoticed, but for some reason this one went semi-viral. People started commenting, speculating, and now... now it’s out of control.”

“You expect me to believe this was a misunderstanding?” Garrick’s voice was cold, his eyes narrowing as he studied her.

“I honestly don’t know,” Haley said, her voice rising with emotion. “But I promise you. I didn’t betray the pack. I would never. Please, Garrick. Let us fix this. Let us confront Verity and make things right.”

Garrick leaned back in his chair, his expression skeptical. “And what makes you think the council will see that as enough?”

Haley hesitated, her chest tightening. She glanced at Ian, who was watching her with a mix of pride and worry. Turning back to Garrick, she squared her shoulders. “Because I have to try. This isn’t just about me or Ian—it’s about protecting the pack. If I can stop this from spreading, if I can fix the damage Verity caused, then maybe we can avoid any more fallout.”

The room was silent for a long moment. Garrick’s gaze flicked between her and Ian before he finally spoke.

“You have one chance,” he said slowly. “But make no mistake—if the council doesn’t find your efforts satisfactory, the consequences will fall on both of you.”

Haley nodded, her heart pounding. “I understand.”

“Haley, wait,” Ian interjected. “I don’t want any harm to come to you. This should fall on me alone.”

Haley shook her head. “We are mates, Ian. I love you, and I will stand by your side no matter what happens.”

“Then I suggest you get to work,” Garrick interrupted, his tone dismissive. “And may the Goddess be with you—you’re going to need all the help you can get.”

TWENTY-TWO

Haley’s hands tightened around the steering wheel as they drove away from the lodge. She wasn’t sure if it felt any better this trip than it had when she left just a few days earlier. The tension from Garrick’s words still echoed in her head, a relentless reminder of what was at stake. She was also worried about her dad and wanted to be by his side. Ian sat in the passenger seat, silent but watchful. His presence was steady, grounding even, but it didn’t stop the storm of anxiety brewing in her chest.

“You’re quiet,” Haley said, her voice tight.

Ian glanced at her, his sharp blue eyes softening. “Just thinking.”

“About what?” she pressed, needing a distraction.

“About how we’re going to fix this,” Ian replied, his tone calm. “And about you.”

Haley blinked, startled. “Me?”

Ian’s lips curved into a faint smile. “You’ve been carrying a lot, Hales. Your dad, the pack, Verity... it’s a lot for anyone. But you’re still here, still fighting for us. That’s pretty damn amazing. I kinda wonder what I did to deserve it and if you might decide I’m just not that worth it.”

Her throat tightened as she focused on the road ahead. “I don’t feel amazing. I feel like I’m drowning. But I’ll always fight for us, Ian. I was a fool to ignore what was right in front of my face.”

Ian reached over, his hand resting lightly on her arm. “Then let me help. Pull over for a minute.”

Haley frowned but did as he asked, pulling the car to the side of the quiet country road. The engine hummed as she turned to face him, confusion and frustration mingling in her expression.

“Why are we stopping?” she asked.

He cupped her face in his large hands and kissed her. It wasn’t the impassioned kiss from the night before. This one felt comforting, humble, and oh so very tender.

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