Page 7 of Triumph of the Wolf
“I guess Cameron talked to Dad.”
I grimaced.
“From what Cam said, Dad was going to be in the area for work, so they’re both heading up there.”
“In thearea?” I stared at the phone, thinking of Chad’s call. He hadn’t been calling fromSeattle, had he? “Likehere?”
“Seattle. I’m not sure where they’re going to stay. Cam left his camper in Texas, I think.”
I hadn’t even known he was in the South. The last I’d seen on Cameron’s socials, he’d been cruising through the Everglades, searching for the meaning of life. And, I hoped, gainful work he could do from the road since he showed no inclination toward settling down.
“What are they going to do here?”
“Some kind of work that Dad got offered. I didn’t get many details. I just thought… you might want to know.”
“Yes. Thanks.” I looked toward the woods, as if Chad might be out there spying on me right now. No, his methodology relied on hidden cameras in my bedroom, not skulking behind trees. The creep.
“Sure. I gotta go. Talk to you later.”
Austin hung up before I could tell him I loved him. I sighed, feeling bleak. And more worried about Chad—and what he wanted—now that I knew he was in the area.
Off in the grass, Duncan stood with his hands in his pockets, waiting. He raised his eyebrows toward me.
I didn’t know what to say, but if Chad showed up here, I wouldn’t hide Duncan—or that we were attempting to have a relationship… when the world allowed it.
The phone rang again, and I winced, certain that was Chad calling now. But Lorenzo’s name appeared on the screen.
“Hello?”
“Luna,” he said, his voice grave. “Your mother would like you to visit.”
“Is she… okay?”
She wasn’t, not with her cancer advancing, but I didn’t know how better to phrase it.
“It hasn’t been a good week for her.”
I swallowed around a lump, wishing some of the magical artifacts we’d tried on her had healed her malady. The Taint, as the wise wolf called it. But it seemed magic was better at healing wounds than curing diseases.
“Okay,” I said. “I’ll head up there soon.”
It wasn’t as if I wanted to be home if Chad showed up anyway. Since he’d lived here with me for most of the years of our marriage, however itinerant he’d been during his career as a traveling software sales rep, he well knew how to find theplace. He didn’t know much about my lupine family though. I’d never visited them in the years we’d been married—in the years I’d been taking the sublimation potion. He shouldn’t find me up there.
“Maybe I can hide out at Mom’s cabin for the week,” I muttered after hanging up, thinking of the potential buyers and real estate photographer that would also be around over the next couple of days.
“Need a ride somewhere?” Duncan offered, joining me again.
I started to say no, but if Mom was noticeably worse… I could use some moral support. Besides, did I want Duncan to be here if Chad showed up? That might start trouble. Even if Duncan had once agreed to find the case for Chad, they’d parted ways, and I’d overheard one rant-filled phone call where Chad had threatened Duncan.
“Yes. I adore sitting on the equipment stacked all around your passenger seat, with my knees to my chin.”
“I have other things you can sit on.” Smirking, Duncan pulled out his keys.
“Is it strange that I’d rather spend time with you than my ex-husband?”
“No, that’s normal. I’m a delight.”
“That word may not mean what you think it means.”
