Page 30 of Betrayed By the Wolf

“They’re a little bunched up over there.” She pointed to a section in the middle where, honestly, they were fine, but she wanted an excuse to watch his shirt tug up, revealing the six-pack he had hiding under there.

He grunted in annoyance but obliged, resettling the lights into a new arrangement. “How’s that?”

“Perfect.” She clapped her hands together and flashed him a smile. “Now for the next step.”

“Vera,” he warned, rounding on her. She backed away toward her bag. “There is no next step. This is already too much.”

“It’s barely anything. Don’t be a grinch.”

She rooted around in the bag for the bunny statues she’d picked up at a tag sale, brandishing them at him. “And look how cute these are!”

His lip curled. “Did Moira put you up to this? In all the time I’ve known you, kitschy decorating was never your thing.”

For some reason, it stung. He wasn’t even wrong. She wouldn’t have touched kitschy with a ten-foot pole. It was just another thing to dust, and she didn’t want anyone to think she was frivolous. But now? Now she looked at the bunny’s round little tail and long ears and couldn’t help thinking that it was actually cute.

“I changed. People can do that, you know.” She tried not to sound defensive but failed spectacularly, judging by the way he instantly softened.

One of the things she’d always loved about him was the way that he could tease and fling sarcasm with the best of them, but he never wanted to cross the line into actually upsetting her. Underneath his brusque demeanor, she’d always felt there was a teddy bear just dying to get out.

“Of course they can,” he agreed, reaching for one of the statues. “They’re… kind of cute. I guess. In their own way. Where are they going?”

“I thought they could sit on the seasonal display table.” She set her bunny next to a stack of spring-themed books with titles and taglines promising new beginnings and fresh starts. “Is this done?”

“Mostly. I’ve been stymied for a while. Something about it doesn’t feel quite right.” Rami placed his bunny just beside hers, so their large, ceramic feet were touching. He’d had to step inclose to reach, his body brushing against hers. “I think he likes it right here, though. What do you think?”

“Yeah, I think so too.” Her words were breathy and there was no way Rami didn’t notice.

His dark eyes found hers and held them. “I’m glad you came, Vera.”

A hot flush ran up her neck and over her cheeks. She cursed her pale skin for showing every emotion so transparently. “Don’t get any ideas. I just thought it was a good idea in light of the curse. Our fractured relationship is what puts us in danger, so being friends is the best chance we have of resisting it.”

That’s what she was telling herself anyway. It wasn’t just an excuse to still be close to Rami; it was an important defense against the curse. And nothing to do with still getting that dose of dopamine she felt whenever he smiled at her, or looked at her, or touched her. Nope, definitely not that.

“Friends. Right.” A shadow passed over Rami’s face. He took a step back, and Vera could breathe again. “Speaking of, I ran into James at the pizza place.”

“I heard he was doing well enough to move around sometimes. He still falls back into that semi-comatose state, but I’d say it’s progress. As much as we can hope for right now, anyway.”

“Sure, it’s good news, but there’s something off about him.” Rami gathered up Jessa and held her close, rubbing his nose against hers and eliciting a happy giggle from the girl.

Outside, moonlight and shadows danced across the pavement. The moon was nearly full, sitting like a polished pearl above the town, and she felt the swell of its power in herveins. Though they could shift any time, their strength was at its greatest near a full moon.

“Off?” She frowned. “He’s cursed. I think that’s to be expected, but it’s not his fault, anymore than someone with a disease is at fault.”

He ran a hand over his stubbled jaw. “It’s more than that. He’s powerful. Powerful enough that he should be an Alpha somewhere. So what’s he doing wandering around on his own in the forest outside of our town? I don’t like it.”

“Is this just an ego thing?” Vera had never seen much bravado out of Rami.

He’d always been happy in his role as Jonah’s second, supporting his Alpha. Despite being the bigger, stronger wolf, he’d never expressed a desire to challenge the rankings, seeming to enjoy his position as bodyguard.

“I think she’s hungry.” Rami dug around in the diaper bag, one-handed.

Vera helped him, finding the bottles and formula. “Got it. Can we warm this up here?”

“We can.” He nodded at the door leading to the backroom. “But I don’t know.”

“What?” She paused, glancing from him to the backroom. Was there something he didn’t want her to see back there? Pictures of old girlfriends? A dartboard with her face on it?

“You didn’t bring the schedule, did you? We might forget to mark down the exact second she ate.” Rami beamed a smarmy smile.

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