Page 22 of Little Etheldreda Riding Hood

“You know Darla?” I ask, surprised.

He just smiles. “It’s more like Darla knows everyone.”

As much as I hate to admit it, standing that close to the fire for even a short amount of time does have an effect on me. I pass out in Darla’s old truck and don’t wake until we’re on the bumpy gravel drive to her trailer.

“You going to be okay? Can I get you anything?” she asks as I head toward my room.

I shake my head. “No. Thanks for driving me home.”

I head back to the tiny bathroom and get into the shower to wash the smoke smell out of my hair, then fall asleep with my hair still wet.

The light outside is golden and the shadows are angled across the room when I finally get out of bed. My door is wide open and the possum family is spread around the floor vent, while half a dozen cats are sprawled across every free spot on the bed. One has even stretched out at the top of my pillow.

I drag myself into the living room to check the time and find Darla on the couch.

“Are you feeling okay?”

I nod. “Just tired. What time is it?” My voice sounds like I’ve been a smoker for forty years.

“Close to five a.m.”

I sigh. I didn’t mean to sleep all day. I had a ton of things I wanted to get done. The semester I just applied for will be starting soon. I’ll need to set up an appointment with Dr. Morales, get into some classes, get my books, and figure out my life.

“Zach’s called five times and came by twice to check on you.”

“That’s nice…is there anything to eat?” I ask, heading toward the kitchen.

Darla raises an eyebrow. “Sandwich stuff in the fridge. Red,” Darla says, following me. “If Zach thinks you’re his mate–”

“Then he’ll just have to deal with it. It’s not fate. We aren’t bound together for eternity. I just smell nice to him. He’ll find someone else.” Even as I say this, I know I’m living in my own little delusional world.

Aunt Mae was Uncle Jim’s mate. Finding a mate isn’t a guarantee of a happy relationship, but the scent match of a mate can drive a wolf to near madness. Uncle Jim practically became a stalker until Mae gave in and gave dating him a chance.

Darla watches me from the door, the frown lines deep between her eyes. “Red, you grew up around wolves. You have to know how serious this is. Didn’t Morgan ever scent you?”

I sigh, “He never–I wasn’t his mate…but a lot of people never find one, so it didn’t seem to matter back then.”

I shut the fridge door and look up at her. “Honestly, it was probably just a power move in the beginning. Mae’s husband, Jim, is the alpha of the second-largest pack in town. Morgan would have had to wait forever for their daughters to grow up. But I was already grown and single and related to the right person.

Darla leans against the doorframe. “So, did you love him?”

I set the mustard down on the table behind me and sigh. “I did. And I thought he loved me. We got along really well. We had the same sense of humor. We both wanted a bunch of kids. I thought that would be enough, I guess. It almost was. If we’d gotten married, he would have been stuck with me legally…his dick is another question…”

She takes a deep breath. “So Zach…even if that’s not something you’re interested in entertaining, and believe me, if that’s not something you’re interested in, I’d be the last person to be pushy about it, but…”

I rub the back of my neck for a moment, surveying the sandwich supplies on the table. “My throat hurts. Can I just text him?”

“You want him to have your number?”

“Everyone at the Wild Hare knew my name last night, and I haven’t even been in town that long. I don’t think it will be long before he finds a way to finagle it from someone.”

I hand her my phone. She pulls his messages up on her phone and types in his number for me. I take it back from her and scowl at the screen–here I am, the second day in a row of dealing with men and messages.

Me: It’s Red. I’m fine.

I look at it and the people pleaser in me makes me feel guilty to leave it at just that. With a sigh, I add:

Me: Thanks for checking in with Darla.

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