Page 68 of Werewolves Don't Howl
He sighed heavily. “No. I erased them since I didn’t want to worry anyone.”
“Of course you did. Who wants to worry about monsters when there’s a wedding to plan?” I gave him another hug and then grabbed Cross’s hand and pulled him to the door. “Well, we’ve got to get going. I love you!”
I turned into the hall and then stopped when my way was blocked by Bram. He looked from me to Cross and then grabbed me in a hug and squeezed me tight, holding me for a long time. His neck was right there where I could rip it out if I wanted to, and he’d let me. I smiled and squeezed him back.
He wheezed and put me back down. “Werewolf strength, huh?”
“Next time, we’ll have to wrestle. And I won’t hold back.” I grinned at him while he smiled back at me. Then I was surrounded by Fen, Hook, and Penn.
“You’re really a werewolf? How did you survive transitioning?” Hook asked, interested in the theory of it.
“We’ve got to go,” I said, laughing, making my way down the hall. My mother came out of the kitchen, and then it was a real crowd. She’d brought with her containers of food, so much food to help me heal and strengthen my wolf.
Everyone was there, even my dad, on the porch, waving and laughing while we got into the lovely black car and drove away.
I frowned as I turned to look back at my family. “He let it go too easily.”
“Yes. Don’t worry. No one’s going to force you to marry me.”
I glanced at him, taking in the perfect proportions, the strength and grace. “Yes, well, that’s a relief.”
He flashed me a smile. “And your family knows what you are, but loves you anyway. Yes, it’s a relief.”
I wanted to rest my head on his shoulder and tangle our hands together. Instead, I sank into my seat and watched my childhood world go by.
ChapterEighteen
Iwaited in the white chair outside Zephin’s Clay’s office; the space surrounded by immaculate plants on white shelves. My knitting was in my lap, hands busy, mind wandering. I had the exposé neatly in the file on my computer after I’d gone over it diligently the last few days. It was the subject of my article that occupied my mind.
Things hadn’t been awkward back at the pool house, mostly because I never saw the senator. He was busy with work, all the different kinds of work he did, and I understood that, really, but at the same time, it was strange not to see him at least twelve hours a day filled with torture and hugs. I had a few apartments to go look at once my big article was finished, but I wasn’t excited about it, not when I already felt the lack of Cross so poignantly.
“Delphi, Mr. Clay will see you now,” his lovely elegant Elven secretary said with a soft smile.
“Thank you.” I smiled back at her and stood, tucking my knitting away and picking up my computer bag. “Thank you for seeing me,” I said once I entered the large office, the theme modern, but the empty space broken up by a few pieces of priceless art. It was interesting that Clay was such a forward-thinking elf instead of like Cross, with his traditional paintings in his classic house.
Clay stood and came towards me, smiling and holding out his hands. “Miss Era. It is such a pleasure to see you. I never got a chance to talk with you at the wedding. How is Bram liking the married life? It seems just yesterday he was crawling around in the mud eating bugs.”
I laughed and shook my head as I let him take my hands. He pulled me into a hug that ended with a kiss to both my cheeks, a cool brush of his lips that felt like water and peace.
I was surprised by the kisses. Although they were nothing to a gnome, they were positively shocking to an elf. I stared up at him, confused. The last time I’d hugged him was after I killed the wrong wolf. I came to ask him to give me a job, trying so hard to look civilized in my stolen clothing. When he’d agreed to find a place for me at his Singsong paper, I’d hugged him spontaneously. He’d been stiff and horrified, breaking out of my grasp as soon as possible.
This time, he pulled back with a slight twitch of his nose. “You’ve already gotten back to work, taking the responsibilities of others?” He tsked. “You should do something about the scent before you see the senator. His senses are much sharper than mine.”
It was my turn to step out of his arms, drowning beneath a vast wave of embarrassment. I’d made cookies every morning for three days and hadn’t channeled my werewolf once. And I still smelled like a wolf? Why didn’t Cross say anything? “I’ll be sure to take a big bubble bath before I see him. Speaking of, I have the exposé on Senator Silverton that you asked for.”
He raised a brow, tilting his head slightly. “Indeed? Are you certain that’s wise? It might jeopardize your position with him.”
I studied him while the need to rub cookies all over my body tangled with my confusion about what kind of position he thought I had with the senator. “It seems like the right step to take for my career,” I finally said. It’s what anyone else would have done.
“Yes, but the Senator won’t appreciate you using him for your advancement, unless he intends to use you in return. Perhaps your personal position is more valuable than your career.”
My stomach twisted. More humiliation. What personal position would a gnomish-elf have with a senator, pureblood elf like Cross? Not a respectable one, that’s for sure. I laughed lightly and turned to look out of his beautiful window, looking out over the golden wall and the river. It was a beautiful view. “I see. You think that I’m too gullible to take advantage of my situation? I’m not. Senator Silverton is perfectly capable of handling my article and his career, like I am capable of handling mine.”
He laughed, melodious and mellow, before he gestured me to the chair across from him. “And you are as grown as Bram. I’m proud of you. To think how far you’ve come from the shy little mouse who asked me for a job, to this.” He nodded at me and took a seat while I took mine.
“Well, it’s only a society piece, but it’s going to get a lot of interest. Shall I forward it to you?”
“Please. I hope you don’t mind sitting here while I go over it.”
