Page 43 of Accidentally Wedded To A Werewolf

“Both, I guess! I just— I think you really have something here in Claw Haven. In the inn too, but also, it’s…” Luna bared her blunt teeth. It was such a wolfy thing to do that Oliver had to bite his cheek to stop a smile.

“It’scomforting,” she continued. “It’s quiet, it’s friendly, it’s this perfect little escape. People need that. Theyalwaysneed that. That’s what I’ve been doing with pretty much every place that’s asked me tohelp. I think if we show them what this town could be, lots of people would really love it.”

Grandmother Musgrove hummed.

“I like the fireplace idea,” Aunt Althea said, gold tooth glinting. “We could bake potatoes.”

“Hear, hear,” Ben said quietly.

Leo dug his nose into Sabine’s arm, letting out another low growl. She stroked his hair absentmindedly, watching Luna with a smile so fond it made Oliver’s stomach twist. They shouldn’t treat her like this. Like she was part of the pack. The snow would melt any day now, they’d go up the mountain and get the breakup flower, and this whole mess would be over. Oliver would be free of this warmth tying knots in his chest and making him ache with cold whenever he dared stray too far, and Luna would go back to secretly marketing things for her family’s company. They’d never have to see each other again. Which was a good thing, no matter what that traitorous bond in his chest said about it. She had a fiancé. She had alife. She didn’t belong here in this tiny town in the middle of nowhere.

It took Ben nudging him for Oliver to realize that everybody was looking at him. Waiting. All of them fidgeting, restless, ready to shed their skin and become one with the night.

Everyone except him.

Oliver cleared his throat. “You’re still doing all of this for free, right? We’re not going to find a giantconsulting bill when you leave?”

“Depends how nice you are,” Luna said. Then she folded. “No bill. I promised.”

“Plus, you’re bored,” Oliver said.

“Plus, I’m bored,” she chirped, smile still fixed in place. That damn dimple appeared next to it. Oliver’s heart thudded hard in his chest, hot and powerful.

Around him, his family squirmed. The moon was bright and gleaming, with no clouds to hide behind. They didn’t have long.

Oliver’s fingers dug into his thighs, forcing his nails to stay blunt.

“Okay,” he started. “That’s?—”

“That’s enough for now,” Grandmother Musgrove said over him, standing gracefully. “Thank you for this, Luna. We can’t wait to see the rest of what you have planned.”

“Oh!” Luna twisted her smooth hands together. “I was kind of hoping to explain the socials. And some tweaks you might want to add to your website. I have alotof ideas on how to improve your interior design. No offense to whoever set this up, but if you’re maximizing coziness, you’re gonna want?—”

She fell silent as Grandmother Musgrove rested a hand on her shoulder. Oliver could see the moment she clocked it: the old woman’s teeth were a little too sharp; her eyes brighter than usual.

“Later,” Grandmother Musgrove said. She turned toward the rest of the room, the air crackling with excitement. “Shall we?”

Leo let out a small howl and bolted for the door.Darren followed, the two of them colliding in a wrestling match, fur sprouting over their skin as they tumbled into the hallway.

“Wait until you’re outside, please,” Sabine called, nosing at her husband’s chin.

Aunt Althea and Aunt Barney followed them out, giggling like schoolgirls. Even Uncle Roy cracked a smile as he left, tugging Vida’s headphones off her head and dodging the bite she aimed at him.

Grandmother Musgrove was the last to leave. Her gaze lingered on Luna for a moment before she turned to Oliver, who sat stiff and unmoving on the couch.

“You’ll be alright?” she asked softly.

“Always,” he replied.

Her mouth quirked. She gave them both a considering look. Then she headed into the hallway, closing the door behind her.

Luna frowned at him, baffled. “What was that about?”

“Nothing,” Oliver said. Then he figured she’d get the story from everybody later, the mouthy jackasses. “It’s the full moon.”

“So… werewolf stuff?”

“Werewolf stuff,” he agreed, clenching and unclenching his blunt nails against his jeans. “They’re going for a run.”

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