Page 70 of Cursed Luck
“All right, show me how we need to do these vases before the bride loses her shit,” Claudia said.
Mia set the card in the drawer with the others and pulled out the order form. “You’re not wrong. I need this to be perfect so she can tell her friends where they came from.”
“Oh, that’s pretty!”
“It is, and I think we have all the flowers we need. I’ve been growing them this last week, so they’ll be fresh too.”
They worked all morning and most of the afternoon between quick breaks to help any customers who came in. It was exhausting and invigorating. She was pleased to see Claudia enjoying herself as well. Mia was about to say so, but Claudia’s hand slipped, and the blade of the knife she was using cut deeply into her skin.
“Oh shit, Claudia!” Mia shouted, dropping the shears in her hands.
“Oh fuck, that’s bad!” Claudia said, her eyes wide.
Mia placed a clean towel over the cut and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Let’s get you to the hospital.”
Claudia dug her feet in and shook her head. “I don’t need a hospital. Carter’s too far away, but if you let me go upstairs, I can…”
Mia’s brows knitted together. “You can what? I don’t have anything to stitch you up, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
Claudia shook her head and lowered her voice. “Mia, I can heal myself if I change.”
Her lips formed an O as she stared at Claudia, understanding dawning on her. She cleared her throat. “I’ve never seen… Do you mind if I watch?”
Her new friend laughed. “Only if you promise it doesn’t make you look at me differently and that this stays between us.”
Mia nodded, excitement and curiosity filling her. “Let me lock the door so we don’t have any unwanted visitors.”
When she finished, Mia hurried up the stairs, taking them two at a time, and found Claudia in the middle of her living room completely naked, her body marred with scars. The coffee table was pushed to the side, and her clothes were draped over the couch.
Claudia shrugged. “I really didn’t want to ruin that outfit.”
Mia laughed. “It is pretty cute. I’m guessing I should stay back here?”
Claudia nodded. “Yeah, I’d hate to hurt you.”
The air shimmered with magic, and a moment later, a beautiful wolf stood in Mia’s living room. The creature sat back on her haunches and raised her paw to her mouth and licked. Mia stood, her mouth gaping at the sight before her.
Claudia’s eyes raised to hers, and a gasp escaped Mia’s lips. “Can I… I mean, is it rude to ask to pet you?”
Her friend set down her paw and stared at her before opening her mouth to pant. Mia took slow steps, watching Claudia for any signs of discomfort. Reaching her, Mia knelt before her and offered a hand to smell. She realized she didn’t know how much human intelligence her friend retained in her wolf form and mentally kicked herself for not asking.
Claudia’s wet tongue swiped Mia’s hand, and she laughed. “I’m guessing you’re reminding me I’m safe, but I still gotta say, ew…”
The wolf rolled over, exposing her belly, and Mia didn’t miss the scars peeking out from under the coarse hair. Mia was careful not to touch them and ran her fingertips over Claudia’s belly like she would a dog. When she brushed a strange circular spot, Claudia jumped and moved away from Mia.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…” Her words trailed, unsure what to say or do.
A moment passed before Claudia’s large paws moved her toward Mia. She sat before her, and they studied each other a moment. The werewolf had gone through hell, but in their silent moment, something passed between them. Their friendship strengthened with open-mindedness and compassion, something Mia did not think would have happened if Claudia had not hurt herself.
Mia raised a hand to the top of the wolf’s head and ran it along her coat before leaning forward and hugging her friend. “Thank you.”
Claudia stiffened under her and Mia sprung back, worried she overstepped some imaginary line between human and werewolf. Her bark rang throughout the apartment, making Mia look around.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
Claudia’s nose lifted in the air before a small whimper slipped free. Mia was torn between going to her friend and investigating whatever she was trying to tell her when the doorknob to the apartment twisted. Looking between it and the wolf, she noticed Claudia raise her paw once more to lick her wound.
When Mia’s attention returned to the door, she watched it open and Edward step inside.
