Page 35 of Radiant Shadows

“What the hell was that about?” I mumbled to myself.

Oh well, who cares?I needed to get this food back to Arya and then dash off to Sheas. Cora could be someone else’s problem.

***

The ride to Shea’s house was longer than I expected. When I’d agreed to meet her there, I didn’t realize she lived so far out of town. But the scenery was nice, and the bus ride was empty enough for a late Saturday morning, so I just put my headphones on and enjoyed the trip.

Shea’s house was a ten-minute walk from the bus stop, and I couldn’t help but envy its white-picket-fence look. I mean, it didn’t actually have a fence, but it looked like an actual home. Nothing like the dingy trailer I grew up in.

Seconds after I rang the doorbell, the door flew open, and Shea pulled me inside.

“Whoa!” I stammered with surprise.

She wrapped me in a hug, and I returned it awkwardly. Was it just my imagination, or was she acting a little…squirrelly?

“Are you okay?” I asked after we pulled away.

“Yeah, sorry,” she said with a wave of her hand. “Things have just been weird lately.”

I eyed her for a moment. “Do these ‘things’ have anything to do with why you’re ‘not grounded?’” I asked, bending my fingers in air quotes.

She nodded as she took in a deep breath through her nose. “Yep. But we can talk about that later. First, I need your juicy story—wait, what’s going on with Arya? You said she was sick?”

I hesitated for only a second. I had promised Arya I would keep her new shifter breed between us. Even though Shea was her best friend—tied with me, obviously—I didn’t think she’d want me to tell her. It would be better if Arya told her herself.

“Yeah, just some cold or something,” I replied casually. “She’s pretty much just sleeping it off.”

“Aww, I hope she’ll be alright,” Shea said with a frown, then gestured for me to follow her into the living room.

“Eh, you know Arya,” I said as I found a spot on the couch. “Nothing can keep that girl down.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” Shea agreed, sitting on the opposite end of the couch. “Okay, spill. What naughty things have you been to?” She waggled her eyebrows at me.

I felt my cheeks heat, embarrassment suddenly hitting me. “Well, do you remember that party we all went to?”

She frowned, her tone flat when she replied, “How could I ever forget?”

“Sorry to bring it up, but do you remember the host?”

She pursed her lips in thought, looking up for a moment. “Maybe? Was he the jock-looking guy who kept making fur grow on his arms and showing it off?”

I snickered because I could totally see Jackson doing that. “Yeah, that was Jackson. Well, you know how you and Arya were encouraging me to get a rebound?”

Shea’s face lit with intrigue, and she tucked her knees under her as she turned her whole body toward me. “You and the werewolf?”

I sucked my lips between my teeth before answering. “Technically, not just the one.”

“Omigod!” she gushed, making my cheeks burn even hotter. “Wait, like, at the same time.”

“Yeah,” I admitted, dragging out that one syllable.

“Oooh! Wow, how was it?”

My chest shook with impish giggles, encouraged by the fact that Shea didn’t seem to judge me in the slightest for my escapade. “It was… I don’t know…a lot…but also kinda awesome.”

She howled with excitement. “Holy shit! Okay, exactly how many werewolves? Was it just guys or girls, too? How did it even happen? I need all the details!”

I laughed and prepared myself to recount that night, considering exactly how much I should divulge. “So, it was the night of the New Year’s Eve Ball. I didn’t expect to do anything with Jackson except for dance.”

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