Page 33 of Bewitched By the Werewolf
“Not right now.”
His flat pointed answers only irk me further. So. Freaking. Infuriating. Fine, two can play that game.
“So, if I were to decide to go skinny dipping in the lake, you would be watching me?” Those silver eyes of his flash with interest and I grin, cocking a hip. “Would you follow me in? Save me if I were drowning?”
“If I had to,” he grinds out. Not so unaffected now, are we? “But I might just let you drown. It would be a solution to my problem.”
“You would let a poor innocent woman drown?” I ask in a breathy offended tone. I’m being massively sarcastic and finding I enjoy our little teases and taunts back and forth. “That’s not very sheriff-like of you. Don’t you all have a code or something you follow?”
Ryder shifts on his feet but doesn’t back down. As a matter of fact, I think I see the corner of his mouth twitch.
“Maybe, but way out here in the middle of the forest, where I’m the law, I think I could get away with it.”
“What else do you get away with out here? Hiding werewolves maybe?”
He sighs and huffs, shaking his head. “And we were having such fun, then you had to ruin it.”
“I’m not ruining anything. I just think you’re not telling me the truth.”
“And what is the truth?” he asks raising an eyebrow at me.
“That there are werewolves in this town, and you know about them. There might even be more than one. I saw one and I don’t think it’s alone. And one way or another I’m going to find it again and get the proof I need to show everyone I was right.”
The playful expression that was growing on Ryder’s lips disappears and he once again becomes the stoic boring sheriff.
“I highly doubt that.”
“Why? Because you’re going to make sure I don’t find anything?”
“No. Because there’s nothing to find. I don’t need to hide anything.”
“And yet you’re hiding so much.”
He pauses at that and considers me. I consider it myself. I hadn’t thought before saying it, but it makes sense. He’s so stiff and closed off. There has to be more to him than just frowns and a badge. He doesn’t reply and I huff in annoyance.
“Fine. I’m going back to my trailer. You’re welcome to follow but you’re not coming in. It’ll be immensely boring. I suggest doing some actual sheriff work.”
I stride past him and shoulder check him as I do. It’s not meant to be aggressive or painful, I don’t have the kind of muscle needed to do any kind of damage to a large man like Ryder. Yet my shoulder bump causes him to stumble back and wince, a hiss of pain escaping him as he gingerly rubs at his left shoulder. Somewhere near the very spot I hit the werewolf in.
My eyes widen and I stop dead in my tracks, staring at the man that may very well be a werewolf.
“You.” I point at Ryder’s shoulder, and he straightens. “You’re the werewolf.”
“What? No, I’m not. You’re—wrong.”
“No, I’m not, and yes you are. I hit the werewolf in the shoulder with my crossbow. Right, there.”
I poke at his shoulder in the area, where I assume, is the wound I caused. Ryder flinches and grunts, pulling back out of my reach. I knew it. I fucking knew it.I just didn’t know it would be him. Looking at him now he’s the perfect specimen to be a werewolf. Tall, strong, bad at communication, likes to stalk people.
“Yes, you are. Oh my god. I knew they were real. I can’t believe I finally found one. This is amazing!” My voice increases in pitch and volume as I grow more excited by the second realizing I’ve finally found one.
I hear Ryder growl as he steps closer, forcing me in between the buildings of the main street. I’m so excited at discovering the truth, I don’t realize he’s isolating me from view of others until we’re already hidden out of sight. I take a step back and reach for the knife I keep at my back under my jacket.
“Don’t even think about shifting and eating me. I will stab you.”
He growls again, this time less aggressive and more exasperated. “I’m not going to eat you, Tess.”
I relax a little when he doesn’t advance further. He just stands with his hands on his hips, his jaw working as he stares.
