Page 14 of Runaway Wolf
“I’m only going to be here a few weeks,” Caitlin reminded her. “Until your lease is up. I won’t need these in the city.”
“Hmm.” Penny was noncommittal.
“Let’s go inside,” Isaac rumbled, his mouth so close to her neck she could feel the warmth of his breath. He was so close, smelled delicious. She wanted to turn around and wrap her arms around his neck, the way Penny would with Noah. It seemed so natural, but surely she couldn’t do that. Gooseflesh broke out down her arms as she fought the impulse.
Noah and Penny were already moving toward the door. Bemusedly, she turned to follow, giving their window reflection one last parting shot. This one would have to be etched onto her memory forever.
She looked hopeful, tiny next to his big, hulking body. His face was angled down, his concentration fixated on her. Not at the image reflected, but on her, the flesh and blood version.
They looked like a couple. They looked like two happy couples on an outing together.
She tore herself away, heading toward the door. He moved ahead to open it.
“It’ll be fun to try them on. Penny really wants them,” Isaac quietly said as she passed through the opening.
Sure enough, Penny was already gesturing to a salesperson, pointing at the pink ones in the window.
“Can’t hurt,” she agreed and sat in the seating area next to her sister. She slipped off her left shoe, because Penny had taken off her right and for as long as they could remember, they wore the same size.
The salesperson brought out a box of the boots and Penny reached for them, automatically handing her the left one.
They were so pretty, not an in-your-face pink, but more of a delicate, deliberate shade. She laced the boot quickly and stood, opposite Penny, walking back and forth, crossing each other like runway models. Who giggled. Then they paused in front of the mirror to take in the sight.
Caitlin felt a little pang in her heart. She could buy them, enjoy them for a couple weeks. Even leave them for Penny when she left. But Penny already would have the same exact pair.
She could buy them and take them home, put them in a closet where they’d probably never again see the light of day. A complete waste of money just to give her some joy.
A reason to match her sister.
But that was silly. She was no longer silly, she was the good sister.
And right there, hugging Penny in the mirror, one shoe pink, and wearing the matching goofy smile to the bad sister… she realized something. Being the good sister didn’t mean being the happy sister.
“You should take them,” she said to Penny. “They’re perfect for you.”
She leaned in and kissed her sister on the cheek, ignoring the instant shine that kicked up in Penny’s eyes.
She took off the beautiful pink boot, put her old black one back on, and went to wander other shoes.
She wasn’t even surprised when Isaac came up behind her again.
“Done looking around in here? We could go into the Levi’s store next. Penny and Noah have to visit the flower store. We’re having a ceremony next summer when she’s turned and she has to order early.”
“What kind of ceremony?”
“You know our kind has matings? This is a cross between a shifter mating and a human marriage. It’ll be the last day she has until she’s forced to register under the new law.”
Of course. The Turn Limitations that their father had a hand in. It made her feel kind of sick.
“She’ll probably send you an invite,” he said softly.
Her dad would probably hide the invite.Where had that thought popped from?
Instead, she smiled. “Yeah, let’s go outside.”
The outdoors was bright and sunny. There was a small seating area at the edge of the building where the store was, just a bench and some grass. They wandered there and she took a seat, leaving room for him.
His long legs spread out and his arm draped around the back of the bench like he was hugging her.
