Page 29 of The Mating Need
Jenny hesitated. Shifting wasn’t in the plan. But she understood rules, even if she didn’t likethem.
As she prepared to jump down and slink back into the forest, Troy shook hishead.
“Stay,” he murmured. “Please stay with me,Jenny.”
So seldom had he ever asked her for anything. She licked the air, testing it. They were all Lupine… surely there could be no harm. Just thisonce.
For you, I’ll do it, she saidsilently.
Jenny shifted back and clothed herself by magick in jeans, a powder blue T-shirt and sneakers. Everyone at the tablegasped.
She glanced down at her clothing. “What’s wrong? Tooinformal?”
“No,” Aiden’s mate, Nia, stared at her. “I’ve never seen a Lupine shift with all those colors before. Smoky gray swirled with cinnamon andgreen.”
“And the fragrance…Lupines usually don’t emit that strong of a scent while shifting,” the one named Jacksonadded.
Had to diffuse these suspicions now or she’d bolt. Jenny shrugged. “Sorry. I thought that deodorant I used earlier was funky, but it was all the drugstorehad.”
Troy reached over, squeezed her hand. “You smell amazing tome.”
Low and husky, his voice soothed her. She’d missed him so much in one day, it pained her to realize howmuch.
What if they had to part forgood?
“It’s the sunset,” Aiden announced. “The setting sun got into our eyes and flashed thosecolors.”
The alpha announced it as if it were law, and everyone resumed eating and drinking. But she saw him studying her as if she were a bug beneath amicroscope.
Aiden might have said that to reassure his pack, but she hadn’t fooled him. He was watching her. Not in the way a powerful alpha would watch an intruder, but more observant, as if trying to figure herout.
Good luck. I haven’t done that yet,either.
She noticed the woman who vacated the seat still lingered. The woman held out a hand. “Now I can formally greet you. Hi, I’m Zoe. So good to meet you! Troy told me all aboutyou.”
Jenny slid her palm into Zoe’s, shook it and withdrew it as if itburned.
Zoe gave Troy a fond glance. “Troy’s my hero. He saved me back in Portland when I thought everything was lost. Convinced me to return home here. I’m so glad you both decided to visit. I can’t repay himenough.”
Troy shrugged. “It was the right thing todo.”
Jenny felt a glimmer of pride for her friend. “The right thing to do is not what many wouldchoose.”
Zoe’s expression dropped. “True. No one elseoffered.”
Turning to Zoe, she nodded. “I’m glad Troy was there foryou.”
“Enjoy your dinner. I’ll join my parents.” Zoe headed for anothertable.
Jenny kept her gaze on the female as she wended through the tables and noticed a handsome Native American watching Zoe’s every move. Longing shadowed the man’s face. He caught Jenny staring and then returned attention to hismeal.
Troy slid an arm around her shoulders, his hand massaging the tensed muscles in her upper arm. His scent filled her senses, and she breathed it in as she had in the past when the world threatened to turn upside down. This Lupine centeredher.
For now, she’d focus on his presence, and not entertain a single thought of thefuture.
“How was your day, dear?” she asked Troy, aware of the sarcasm in hervoice.
He flashed a smooth grin. “Fantastic, now that you’re here,honey.”
