Page 28 of Runaway Wolf
“Your sister said that’s rude,” Joaquin said. Then he looked at Misty accusingly, as if maybe she’d been feeding him a line.
Misty sighed. “It is! I don’t understand why that’s not intuitive for you.”
He scowled. “Why do you have to use words like intuitive?”
Amos smacked him upside the back of his head. “Because we have a guest we’re trying to impress, fool.”
And just like that, the uncomfortable silence was broken.
Next to her, Isaac turned toward her. “I’m sorry. So sorry. I don’t know why I ever said I wanted you to get to know my wolves.”
“Twice,” Caitlin said. “You said it twice. It seemed really important.” She was teasing, of course, and with the glimmer in his eyes, he got it.
“Aww,” Alex said. “See how much he loves us?” He laid his head on his twin brother’s shoulder and gave long, slow blinks.
Amos petted him like a dog, so Alex hung his tongue out and panted. Caitlin snorted. They were kind of funny.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Isaac muttered.
He bent his head toward her, and then froze, slowly pulling away. He could probably still smell her.
Even worse, everyone noticed.
“Scrubbed your neck raw,” Alex said, his eyes glowing as he focused on the side of her neck that was aimed away from Isaac. She’d deliberately sat to his right so he wouldn’t have to see the mark as well as smell it.
“Yeah. I know it’ll be ripe for about a week but it seemed like a waste of my time here if you all can smell me. If I can shorten the stink a day or two, I’m good with a scraped-up neck.”
“Something else works too,” Alex said, looking at Isaac. But then Alex yelped when Amos smacked him.
“Not a single one of us wants to put our tongue where Rhett put his.”
“Huh? What do you mean?” Caitlin asked.
“They were suggesting one of us mix our scent with the mark. Kind of cover it up, or at least blend it. But honestly, no one here would have the strength to get that close without biting you instead,” Misty said.
Did her eyes shift to Isaac? Probably. It was probably just a silent apology that they brought up attempting to eat her.
“Hmmph,” Caitlin said, glaring around the table at the solemn faces. “You pussies.”
There was shocked surprise before they all erupted into laughter.
“Did she just—”
“Ohmigod, dude, she called you a pussy.”
“She called you one, fucker!”
“She’s as mean as her sister. Ouch!” That one was elbowed by Noah.
“Was he hitting you to defend Caitlin or Penny?” Amos mouthed.
Misty was grinning like a loon.
“Why are you happy?” Joaquin asked her.
“I’m so glad to have other girls in the pack.”
“Oh, dear St. Luna, do you think the smelly one is gonna join too?” Alex asked.
