Page 17 of Runaway Wolf
“So does Penny! The only difference between us is two years.”
“Age?” her father scoffed. “Two years means nothing.”
“Two years ago, Penny was doing my job. Research. If she did a good job, she was rewarded. She was seen in public fundraisers. If she did an even better job with that? She graduated to being allowed to grace the arm of one of your supporters.”
“That’s ridiculous, Caitlin! I refuse to hear another ridiculous phrase out of your mouth. You didn’t think this way before your sister influenced you. You want the truth? Penny was always a bad seed. She has a way of twisting the truth, of putting herself first—”
“She fell in love, Dad. Why can’t you be happy for her?”
“How many times has she been in love?”
“She was a teenlookingfor love. There’s a difference.”
He sighed. “I have a bad feeling about this, Caitlin. The more you’re around Penny, the more you’re not acting like yourself.”
“So maybe in two years, I’ll be like Penny? Happily married, do you think?”
“As long as it’s a normal marriage—”
“You mean to a human,” she said flatly. “But you see, Dad, Penny shouldn’t have to get married. That’s on you. She should be happily mated.”
“She chose this route, Caitlin. Knowing what the future held for humans pairing with shifters.”
“Or did you sign the bill to teach her a lesson?”
“Of course not!” he snapped. “Where is this coming from? One day under your sister’s influence—”
“And I could be just like her. I know. But here’s the thing. There’s nothing wrong with Penny. Sure, she was an unruly teen, spent a while in her goth years, had a ton of love interests, but then she tried to become what you wanted. She worked for you. She went to school. Studied civics. You still weren’t happy with her. You know why? You’re used to controlling people. You like complete control and while Penny tried, she still fell in love and she followed her heart. You signed Turn Limitation into law to please the higher ups, knowing you’re next in line for a senator seat. You didn’t have to do that.”
“Of course I did, Caitlin. You think you get ahead in a political career by going rogue?”
“No. But I do expect someone already in his political career to do what he’s supposed to. Protect the people. Allpeople. The shifters and his own daughter. Not just the elite humans with funding.”
Her father’s voice sniped at her. “That’s quite enough, young lady.”
“Yes, it is.” Her father wanted her to follow him and not Penny? Sure, she could do that. Her voice was just as cold as his. “I’ll see you in three weeks. Don’t bother me until then.”
She disconnected the phone.
“Everything okay?” Isaac came up behind her, pressed his chest to her back, his chin on top of her head. Ahh, that was a shifter thing, the touch. It comforted. Too bad humans lost that knowledge.
“Yep. Just gotta block a number before he calls back.”
She scrambled through her settings even as her phone rang.
Isaac just chuckled against her back. “You called it.”
“Sometimes people think the quiet ones are simple,” she said. “Nah, we’re not. We’re just busy learning everyone’s reactions.”
“Your father called you simple?” There was a snarl in his voice.
Phone set, she turned around and wrapped her arms around his waist. He couldn’t hug her back, his arms held the bags. But she felt his chin where he nuzzled the top of her head.
“Oh, yes. I was the simple one, Penny was the troublemaker. But you know what?”
“What?”
“For a long time, Penny was my shero.” She snickered. “If you could have seen her growing up! Such a rebel. Father had this scrunch face whenever she had to attend a function with her short, slicked hair dyed black. Her black clothes. And I was right there by her side, holding her hand, proud as can be.”
