Page 29 of Betrayed By the Wolf

He rolled his shoulders and tried to shake out the tension, stiffening his body. Knowing the Silversands and the Rosewoods, they’d offer James a place among their packs. Ramineeded to warn them, but what could he say, that the man had given him the shivers? He’d need more than that.

The threat of the curse was closing in on them from the forest, but was there an even greater threat already lurking in their midst?

Chapter 13 - Vera

Vera pushed the door open with her hip, her hands full of Jessa and her diaper bag and Vera’s own overstuffed bag. A few customers browsed the shelves. Rami was seated behind the desk, deep in his own reading. She strained to read the cover.Wait a minute.Was that a self-help book?

She recognized the title as one she’d recommended to him early on in their relationship, when she’d started to notice his recalcitrance anytime feelings were discussed. He was more than happy to discuss her own problems, but once the focus shifted to him, he clammed up.Too little too late.Whatever he did now wouldn’t be enough to get her back.

But there she was, showing up at his store to see him under the pretense of getting Jessa out of the house. She could’ve taken Jessa anywhere, the playground, the library, but she’d gotten in the car and driven them straight to Rami’s bookshop. Sometimes, she just had to make things hard for herself.

“Vera?” Rami hastily shoved the book he was reading under the desk and rose, a sheepish look on his face. “I wasn’t expecting you. Is something wrong? Is Jessa okay?”

Vera strolled over to the desk, standing on her tiptoes to steal a peek at his hidden book. “She’s fine. Happy. So, whatcha readin’?”

He stammered out a few syllables of nonsense before clearing his throat and trying again. “Just a bit of nonfiction I’m considering stocking. Want to make sure I can really talk about the books I’m selling.”

“You’re a terrible liar.” She took pity on him and let it drop. Seeing him squirm was enough to satisfy her. She checked her watch. “Isn’t the shop usually closed by now?”

The last of the customers had left without buying anything and it was just the three of them left in the little store.

“Usually, but I’ve been testing out some different opening hours.” Rami went over to the door and locked it, turning the sign to Closed.

Code for, I’ve been working extra to avoid being home with you.It was easy to translate Rami-speak after so much time together. She could even read the body language that went along with it. Downcast eyes equals I’ve got something I don’t want you to know. Crossed arms means don’t push I won’t tell you anything. She could write a book about it.

“And how are those working out for you?” Vera rolled out Jesse’s play mat and set her toys around it, placing her underneath an arch with objects she could bat at or kick. She seemed especially enamored by the mirror, and Vera couldn’t blame her—she was adorable.

“I haven’t collected enough data to make the call.” Rami crossed his arms over his chest, and Vera bit her cheek to keep from laughing.Called it.

“Very scientific of you. Happy to see that I’m rubbing off.”

She took off her jacket and tossed it over his desk, then toed off her boots. The shop had her itching to reorganize. For as long as she’d known it, it had looked just as it did, and after seeing the sad selection of decorations in the backroom, she knew why. Rami needed help in the decorating department.

Unlike Moira, Vera had never gone in for the cozy, quaint aesthetic. Her house had been minimalist, with shades of greyand white, right angles, and sharp edges. Holiday decorations had never been her thing. But something about Rami’s stale space had her dying to change it up. Maybe it was just one way she could change him.

“I don’t like that look.” Rami interrupted her assessment of the space, crouching down to play with Jessa. “You look like a villain devising their master plan, like you’re about to start rubbing your chin or tapping your fingertips together.”

She did just that, hunching forward with a maniacal grin. “Who says I’m not?”

Rami followed her over to her bag, trying to steal a look over her shoulder. She shielded the view with her body. “What’s in there?”

He was so close, his chest bumping up against her back, sending white-hot sparks down her body. She scolded her hormones.Get it together. It’s never happening again.Vera spun around with a string of flowers and greenery in one hand and a strand of lights in the other.

“This place needs a pick-me-up,” she declared. “Go get the ladder.”

He peered down his nose at her in that imperious way that made her want to smack him. She only liked that look in bed. When he was waiting for her to stop being a brat, denying her whatever pleasure she was squirming for, that look could make her toes curl. Right then, it was having the unfortunate effect of reminding her that she’d never get that look, or the reward that came after it, again.

“I didn’t sign up for this. It’s a bookstore; why does it need decoration? People come for the books, not the looks.”

“If you’re not going to get the ladder, you can hang these up for me.” She thrust the flowers and lights into his hands before he could protest. “Right there above the window, okay?”

He opened his mouth to argue, then snapped it shut, his eyes rolling up to the ceiling like he was praying for help. “Fine. If it’ll make you happy. But don’t expect me to do this for every season,” he warned, making his way to the window. “No pumpkins, no pine. This is it.”

“Mmmhm,” Vera agreed, nodding innocently when he turned around, a suspicious look in his eye. “Whatever you say.”

“Don’t push it.” His no-nonsense tone sent pools of heat curling into her belly.

She loved that stern voice he used when he had her wrists pinned to the bed, and he was about to—Stop it. Get your mind out of the gutter.Her demand was only mildly effective. She couldn’t help staring at the play of his muscles beneath his shirt as he wrapped the garland around the curtain rod. He was tall enough not to need the ladder, effortlessly stretching up to add the lights.

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