Page 34 of Wolf Heart

CHAPTER11

JUNIPER

Raven's words taunt me and I move to the kitchen to be alone. He doesn't believe I can become a wolf or do anything but cause trouble. Maybe I'm doubly cursed. This has to be the worst time of my life.

Thunder booms nearby and I jump. Ragged drops of rain hit against the roof like someone opened up the sky. Lightning streaks across dark clouds and my heart sinks.

So much for going outside now.

I can't face Raven or Aspen or even Dex right now. To keep from curling up in a ball and crying myself to sleep, I find a broom in the pantry and start sweeping the floor. The motion soothes me and I even knock down spider webs from the corners and light fixtures.

I move onto the living room, cringing every time thunder cracks.

My mind mulls over everything that's happened in such a short time.

Michael. My wolf lets out a pitiful wail.

And the more I think about what he did, the more I know I can't go back to him. Not after he rejected me. Not after he was such an ass without even trying to help me. But unless I figure out how to release my wolf both from my physical body and from the fated mate with Michael, I'm doomed. Our wolves will pine for each other forever.

I can't stand that. Knowing I'm trapped just as much as I was before I got kicked out of my pack. All my life I've felt trapped and now my wolf has added a layer to my prison.

By the time I'm in the hallway that connects the bedrooms, my lower back is aching. Who knew how much dust and dirt a place could have?

There's no sign of the guys, but my skin prickles like they're talking about me in the back bedroom.

I square my shoulders and head back to the kitchen, intent on cleaning something else to get rid of the nervous energy coursing through my veins.

"Care for a game?" Dex's voice sounds behind me.

I squeal, spinning around with the broom in my hands.

His green eyes twinkle with mirth as he shuffles a deck of cards. "Didn't mean to scare you."

"You didn't." I prop the broom next to the sink and brush my hair out of my eyes. "Where'd you get those?"

"Found them in a dresser. It's missing a king and an ace, but it's got two jokers." He shrugs, "Figured we could bend the corner of one to differentiate. You up for a game?"

As long as it's not strip poker. Barely stopped myself from having sex right here with Aspen earlier today.

"Sure."

Dex whistles and Aspen lopes around the corner with a smirk that makes me think they both might just be wanting me to lose and strip.

"What are we playing?" My voice is breathy and not as strong as I want it to be.

"Poker?" Dex's auburn eyebrow shoots up.

"Regular. That's it."

"You're crushing our hopes." Aspen gives me a puppy dog look, but I cross my arms.

"Take it or leave it."

"Fine." Dex pulls out a chair at the table. The leg wobbles, but he takes off his shirt and stuffs it under the leg.

His muscles bunch and I sit on his right, trying not to stare. What have I gotten myself into?

"All right, what the stakes?" Aspen pulls up a seat next to me with the chair flipped around the wrong way.

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