Clay's Hope by Melissa Haag

Rachel
said with a laugh. “No pink for our man. I don’t know why he sat
still for you and not me.”
    Rachel came toward me and bent to kiss the
top of my head. I sighed.
    “He’s moody,” Gabby said, meeting my
gaze.
    Me? Moody? I gazed after her as she left the
kitchen. Would I ever understand her?

Chapter 7
    Rachel stood, and I
huffed a relieved sigh. She was too fond of rubbing my fur. I hoped
Gabby would eventually come around and stand up for me.
    “Hey, Gabby,” Rachel called as she walked to
her room. “Want to go out with me tonight? Girl’s night out? Hit a
few clubs?”
    My head snapped up, and I strained to hear
Gabby’s answer from the bedroom. She had better say no or she’d
have a wolf trailing her, causing mass hysteria.
    “Um, thanks for the offer, but I think I’ll
stay here. I want to be sure I’m settled before school starts.”
    I heaved a relieved sigh.
    “All right,” Rachel said. “I just didn’t
want you to feel like I’m abandoning you. I hate staying home, and
when I’m not working, I like to go out. If you ever want to come
with, just say.”
    Not happening.
    “Sure.”
    Gabby’s half-hearted answer reassured me. I
sighed and went back to contemplating my bowl. Now that I had a
collar, I really didn’t want to drink like a dog.
    Rachel reemerged dressed in a short skirt
that barely peeked out from under her jacket. Where was she going
dressed like that? And she’d wanted Gabby to go with her? I’d drink
out of the bowl and start eating dog food before I let Gabby go out
like that.
    Rachel patted me on the head on her way out
the back door. I lingered in the kitchen, listening to her get into
her car and drive off. Then, silence held the house. Had Gabby gone
to bed? Taking a chance, I shifted, went to the sink, and got
myself a glass of water.
    Would Gabby remember she’d said I could join
her? I finished my drink, set the cup aside, then hesitated. If she
didn’t remember, she’d kick me out. Better to wait until she slept
and not push her.
    I shifted back into my fur and waited
fifteen minutes then quietly padded to Gabby’s door. It wasn’t shut
all the way, a sign she’d remembered. I smiled. Maybe she wasn’t as
opposed to me as she seemed.
    I pushed the door open with my nose and
jumped up on the end of the bed. Inhaling her scent, I settled into
my designated spot. With some luck, I wouldn’t be at the end of the
bed much longer.
    * * * *
    “Get out,” Gabby said as soon as she
woke.
    Her less than charitable tone let me know
she wasn’t as close to coming around as I’d hoped. With a quiet
sigh, I hopped off the bed and exited the room. The house was quiet
since Rachel had already left. That woman barely slept.
    I settled on the couch to wait for Gabby and
whatever she had planned for the day.
    When Gabby emerged, she passed me without
acknowledgment then wandered around the house for a bit. She’d
seemed bored, a state of existence I understood well, so I stayed
out of her way. After only a few minutes, she shut herself in her
room again, which I found odd.
    Inside her room, I heard the faint sound of
a zipper and the rustle of clothes. I hopped off the couch and
moved closer to the door, trying to listen. She was changing? She’d
just gotten dressed.
    I’d barely sat down to wait when the door
swung open. Gabby, wearing her swimsuit, stood within the doorway.
My gut clenched at the sight of her pale limbs and smooth stomach,
and I thanked whatever thought had inspired her to change. My mouth
went dry as I studied every inch of her. I itched to touch her
again, to hold her in my arms.
    With effort, I lifted my gaze. Did she know
how much I loved that suit? Had she changed just for me? Her wide
eyes and the livid blush that stained her cheeks gave me my answer.
She hadn’t.
    She stepped back and slammed the door. Too
late, I realized I’d screwed up by openly showing my interest in
her. I wanted to yowl my frustration, but I kept quiet. We