sensation. “That’s where you’re wrong because I’m not going anywhere with your friend. ” She gripped the handle of her bag and crossed her arms beneath her breasts. “Once I walk out of this house, my association with Xavier is over. I’ve told him several times, and I’ll tell you, too. It has to be this way to keep him safe.”
“Safe and miserable? ” Hannah shook her head. “Is that how you want him to live out the remainder of his life?”
“Why should I care what he does? I just met him, dammit. ” The vehemence in her statement did nothing to alleviate her headache.
“Because I believe you’re the woman Fate picked out to spend eternity with him. ”
“Maybe those pregnancy hormones have stolen some brain cells, but I can assure you Xavier is not my idea of husband material. Besides, I haven’t made up my mind whether to spend my life with anyone, all things considered. ”
“ Fate doesn’t make mistakes.” Hannah took a sip of juice and met Sophia’s eyes over the rim of the cup. “ You might be content with the status quo of life, but Xavier isn’t. He deserves happiness. It’ll be a shame if you allow your selfishness and fear to hinder the only chance he has in obtaining that happiness.”
“How the hell can you possibly know what I want from my life? You have no idea what drives me to get through one day, let alone months of them. ” Sophia wanted nothing more than to get away from the meddling woman. “And what are you to him anyway?” Spikes of jealousy pricked at her heart.
“I’m his friend. I’ll do everything I can to see that Xavier can be who he was destined to be. ” Hannah set the juice glass down with a clink. “Period.”
“Destiny is not dependent on one single person. Oftentimes, it’s a cooperative effort. ” As the pregnant woman hoisted herself from the bed, Sophia retreated until her back was flush against the hallway wall. “I need to get home.”
“Fine, run away if you must, but remember this. Xavier can help you if you would give him the chance. ” She advanced, stopping only when a scant twelve inches of space separate them. “Make sure your birth control pills are in your purse at all times. This will be especially helpful if you find yourself trapped in a forest for several days and choose to indulge in a bit of harmless adult-oriented fun, if you know what I mean.” She winked and giggled. “If you come across magical beings in your travels, it’s usually best to respect their customs otherwise they get cranky. Lastly, sometimes when you think you have died, it could be just a time to regroup and get your bearings, so don’t be frightened. The Earth Mother is very nice.”
The Earth Mother? Birth control?
Sophia wouldn’t have been more floored if she turned into a chicken and laid an egg at Hannah’s feet. “What?” Her mouth opened and closed as the other woman patted Sophia’s shoulder, all traces of her earlier rage gone. “Do you seriously think I’m going to allow anything like that to happen to me?”
“I was much like you before I met Edwin—a skeptic, afraid of my own destiny. ” Hannah shrugged and made her way down the hall in the direction of the kitchen. “Stranger things have happened. Fate is a funny thing, and it doesn’t care what you want.”
Resisting the urge to stamp her foot, Sophia rolled her eyes. “I am not going anywhere with Xavier!”
*****
Xavier made a sound of annoyance and clicked the television up a notch, dumping his tan fedora-matching trench coat onto the coffee table in the process. Sophia had arrived home ten minutes before. He’d followed in wolf form then shifted so Mona would open the door to him. Now, she and her roommate were bickering—over him.
Ordinarily, the prospect of women fighting for his attention would amuse him, but not in this moment. He ’d found his mate, now the only thing he wanted was the opportunity to be with her. Which meant the roommate
“Safe and miserable? ” Hannah shook her head. “Is that how you want him to live out the remainder of his life?”
“Why should I care what he does? I just met him, dammit. ” The vehemence in her statement did nothing to alleviate her headache.
“Because I believe you’re the woman Fate picked out to spend eternity with him. ”
“Maybe those pregnancy hormones have stolen some brain cells, but I can assure you Xavier is not my idea of husband material. Besides, I haven’t made up my mind whether to spend my life with anyone, all things considered. ”
“ Fate doesn’t make mistakes.” Hannah took a sip of juice and met Sophia’s eyes over the rim of the cup. “ You might be content with the status quo of life, but Xavier isn’t. He deserves happiness. It’ll be a shame if you allow your selfishness and fear to hinder the only chance he has in obtaining that happiness.”
“How the hell can you possibly know what I want from my life? You have no idea what drives me to get through one day, let alone months of them. ” Sophia wanted nothing more than to get away from the meddling woman. “And what are you to him anyway?” Spikes of jealousy pricked at her heart.
“I’m his friend. I’ll do everything I can to see that Xavier can be who he was destined to be. ” Hannah set the juice glass down with a clink. “Period.”
“Destiny is not dependent on one single person. Oftentimes, it’s a cooperative effort. ” As the pregnant woman hoisted herself from the bed, Sophia retreated until her back was flush against the hallway wall. “I need to get home.”
“Fine, run away if you must, but remember this. Xavier can help you if you would give him the chance. ” She advanced, stopping only when a scant twelve inches of space separate them. “Make sure your birth control pills are in your purse at all times. This will be especially helpful if you find yourself trapped in a forest for several days and choose to indulge in a bit of harmless adult-oriented fun, if you know what I mean.” She winked and giggled. “If you come across magical beings in your travels, it’s usually best to respect their customs otherwise they get cranky. Lastly, sometimes when you think you have died, it could be just a time to regroup and get your bearings, so don’t be frightened. The Earth Mother is very nice.”
The Earth Mother? Birth control?
Sophia wouldn’t have been more floored if she turned into a chicken and laid an egg at Hannah’s feet. “What?” Her mouth opened and closed as the other woman patted Sophia’s shoulder, all traces of her earlier rage gone. “Do you seriously think I’m going to allow anything like that to happen to me?”
“I was much like you before I met Edwin—a skeptic, afraid of my own destiny. ” Hannah shrugged and made her way down the hall in the direction of the kitchen. “Stranger things have happened. Fate is a funny thing, and it doesn’t care what you want.”
Resisting the urge to stamp her foot, Sophia rolled her eyes. “I am not going anywhere with Xavier!”
*****
Xavier made a sound of annoyance and clicked the television up a notch, dumping his tan fedora-matching trench coat onto the coffee table in the process. Sophia had arrived home ten minutes before. He’d followed in wolf form then shifted so Mona would open the door to him. Now, she and her roommate were bickering—over him.
Ordinarily, the prospect of women fighting for his attention would amuse him, but not in this moment. He ’d found his mate, now the only thing he wanted was the opportunity to be with her. Which meant the roommate
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