Page 101 of Fool Moon First Aid

“But,” he continues, a touch of vulnerability showing as he rubs the back of his neck, “I owe you an apology for not being there for you, for not having your back. Give me a chance to prove we’re worthy of you.”

Chewing on my cheek, I mull over his words. Part of me wants to believe him, to let him in, but I’m not about to make it easy. “Fine, I’ll let you try.”

The smile he gives me is enough to make my heart do backflips. “Let me take you out tomorrow.”

“Lunch,” I blurt out, instantly regretting how eager I sound.

“Lunch,” he echoes, then he smirks again. “Lunch.”

“That smile spells trouble,” I note, just as he swoops in for a quick kiss—a habit of his I’m getting dangerously used to.

“Good night, Tyler,” I whisper as he steps back, my fingers lingering on my lips.

“Sleep well, butterfly,” he calls over his shoulder, whistling a carefree tune as he walks away.

“I’m calling it now—she caves in a week,” Mia announces from the dining area, unpacking our dinner. “I want every scandalous detail.”

“Don’t skip anything,” Eloise commands, guiding me to the table with a devilish grin. “Like, how big is his?—”

I almost spit out my drink. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” she presses on, unabashed curiosity shining in her eyes. “Also, is the alpha knot thing real, or just some fantasy from my romance novels?”

I cough, and Eloise gives me a slap on the back for good measure.

“No knot,” I say between coughs, much to her dismay. I would have felt that in the woods… The scene flashes behind my eyes, and I feel heat rise in my cheeks.

“Well, that’s disappointing,” she mutters, then bounces back with, “Okay, but really, how big is it?”

“Eloise!” Mia and I exclaim in unison, our embarrassment mingling with amusement.

I eventually cave, spilling every last detail into the early hours, our laughter filling the room.

Damn, I missed them.

Ava

I cheer myself up with thoughts of the weekend. It’s a rare chance to sleep in and laze around…not that my new wolf metabolism will let me laze around until noon anymore.

I’m spending the day with Tyler.

The notion of spending the day with Tyler sparks a flurry of excitement within me, making my heart flutter. It almost feels like we’re tiptoeing around a real date, despite doing everything backward.

My life has never followed a conventional path, much to my mother’s amusement and occasional exasperation. “Ava,” she would say, “you may not fit into the mold society expects of you, but you must always stay true to yourself.”

As I wipe steam off the mirror, my reflection gazes back at me, and Mom’s eyes look right through me. I can’t help but wonder what she would make of my current dilemma. Would she advise caution, or encourage me to leap into the fray, especially given my suspicion about my father’s identity and his connection to the hunters? The same hunters who, I now realize with a heavy heart, must have been on clan lands for me…and knew the truth about my mother’s death.

I need proof.

Oh, how I wish I could just call her, hear her voice, and get that wise nudge moms give. It feels like I was robbed of that.

Blowing out a steadying breath, I dress quickly, opting for the simple comfort of jeans and a basic black T-shirt. My hair, still damp from the shower, cascades in loose waves over my shoulders as I make my way out.

The sounds of Tyler conversing with Eloise in the kitchen reach my ears, prompting me to eavesdrop while I sit on Eloise’s bed, putting on my shoes.

“You’re like a fount of Ava knowledge.” Tyler sounds impressed and amused.

“I’ve known Ava for a while,” Eloise responds, her voice carrying a smile. “Oh, and she hates mushrooms. Never include them in anything. Ever.”

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