Page 19 of Werewolves Don't Howl
His eyes twinkled. “No problem, Delphi-girl. My pleasure. Later, Mossy-Nose.”
When we were out of security, she huffed. “I hate it when he calls me Mossy-Nose. My nose isn’t mossy. If Moss is too short for him, he could go by my real name, Sludgemoss. At least that’s dignified.”
I glanced at her and then looked down over the balcony that led to the main floor, with the security gates, where four werewolves led by Max were arguing with the security guy.
I immediately backed up four steps, so I was out of line of sight of them. “Let’s take the back stairs. I think my scooter might be out of the shop by now.”
“Your scooter? You want to get it now?” Her skeptical expression matched her cocked hip and crossed arms.
I nodded and linked arms with hers, hurrying down the hall past Gregor’s centrally located office to the back stairs that were mostly used for emergency. The back door was exit-only, which suited us perfectly. Once we got outside, I walked briskly so Mossy had to hurry to keep up.
“And when you get your scooter, we’ll go to the scene of the crime?”
“Loren’s house.”
“Why? You saw the footage.”
“Because she went in after the email from the authorities was sent.”
“So, she didn’t see it.”
“She would have seen it on her phone. She would have checked it on her phone, but it was marked unread.”
“Maybe she was paralyzed by grief because her grandpa died or something.”
“Maybe. But she’d always check an email from the authorities.”
She grabbed my arm. “Wait, you actually think something happened to her? What? She walked right in there of her own free…” She shuddered. There were things that could take away your free will and turn you into nothing but a vessel. “Shouldn’t you go to the police or the Gray Society?”
“I have no evidence.”
“But you’re so adorable. They’d believe you just based on that.”
I gave her a look. “Not as adorable as you are with those green dreadlocks and rosy cheeks.”
She made a face of revulsion. “Ew. I’m not adorable.”
“If it’s an insult, maybe you shouldn’t say it so many times to someone who could get your hours cut.”
“Was that a threat?” she eyed me suspiciously then shook her head. “Naw, you’re just worried that I might be getting in danger with you. Don’t worry, Delphi. I told you, I’m super-fast and not afraid of being a coward. I will leave you, no problem.”
“That’s very comforting.”
The shop with my scooter was open, and the cherry red thing was as cute as I remembered it being. I sighed happily as I settled onto the seat once I’d signed the papers and paid my fees. I’d enjoy riding her for perhaps the last time.
I handed Mossy the helmet, which she put on before climbing behind me.
“It’s such an adorable bike,” she muttered.
I laughed and then turned on the engine, pushed in the clutch and took off. I’d had them add more power to the engine, as well as given her a full tune-up that would make her purr like a kitten.
Speaking of kittens, in Loren’s kitchen, a gray and white beast crouched in the middle of her white floor, staring up at us with big blue eyes while we stared back at the little fluffy thing.
“I didn’t know Loren had a cat,” I said, sniffing deeply, but not too deeply because I didn’t want Mossy to know I was a werewolf, although what was the point when the truth would come out soon enough?
“She doesn’t.” Mossy sneezed loudly and shook her head, dark green dreadlocks waving. “I would have noticed because I’m allergic.”
“Then how did it get in?”
