Page 47 of The Howl
“I’ll think about it.”
“Fair enough.”
* * *
Like Fenris had said,I needed to stop running from Adira’s manipulations and face them. And I was, starting immediately. The calming chocolate effect from the two bars I’d eaten had been enough to last the remainder of Self-Discovery with Fenris. Though I’d enjoyed talking to him, his scent had continually provoked me to the point I’d been relieved to escape.
However, leaving Self-Discovery and the tempting shifter didn’t settle my hunger. It continued to plague me as lust wafted from my fellow students, thanks to my revealing top.
I managed to make it to lunch without feeding from anyone, but only barely.
Now, I desperately wanted to go home and help myself to more of my chocolate to soothe the gnawing hunger writhing inside of me. Fortunately, I had the perfect reason to leave. My mom. I wasn’t running; I was checking on the parent I rarely had a chance to see.
There was no sign of Adira as I left the school grounds and little traffic on the way to Quills’. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation when I walked into the kitchen. It wasn’t just for the soul-soothing chocolate stash I planned to raid, either. While every other adult in my life was there to push me, I knew I could count on Mom to support me in her own, sometimes unhelpful, way.
“Mom?” I called.
No one answered, but I wasn’t surprised. It was a big house, which is why we usually used the intercom system. I’d need to show it to Mom.
Leaving the kitchen, I went to look for her. The sound of the TV led me to the teen entertainment space where I found Mom watching an action show.
“Hey, Mom,” I said just as the scent of chocolate tickled my nose.
“Oh, hey, baby. I wasn’t expecting you home for a few hours yet.” She gracefully rose at the same time I rounded the couch. Chocolate wrappers fell to the floor around her. Dozens of them.
My gaze shifted to the fridge.
Oblivious to how she was ruining my life, she wrapped me in a hug. She smelled like the chocolate was coming out of her pores.
“Why are you eating all the chocolate?” I asked.
Mom pulled back and grinned at me.
“I’m starving, and there wasn’t anything else even mildly appealing. I see why it’s your favorite. But don’t worry, I doubt I’ll eat it all before Anwen gets back. She went with Lander to find something else for me to eat. That man is positively tempting.”
She took an untouched bar from the couch.
“Did you want some? I’m more than willing to share.”
She was willing to share my chocolate? Mine?
I counted backward from five before answering.
“No, thank you. I just came home to make sure you’re settling in okay. I still have a few classes left before the day’s done.”
“You’re such a good girl,” Mom said, smiling at me proudly.
If I were really a good person, I wouldn’t be visualizing smothering my mother in her sleep.
“Thanks, Mom. I better get going.”
I left her with my chocolate and closed myself in my room. What was I going to do? I’d been counting on my chocolate to sustain me until I figured out how I was going to feed myself without Mrs. Quill. There was a shop I could go to for more chocolate. However, if I brought it here, Mom would likely sniff it out and eat that, too.
My anger at the Council increased. What were they thinking, bringing Mom here and then not having anyone to feed her?
A low whimper broke my thoughts. It took a moment for the pitch of it to register and to recall my small guest.
“Piepen?” I looked around the room for him and found him wilted on his pillow in the drawer. He looked pale, and his eyes moved listlessly.
