on.
“Thank you for calling me, Lilliana. Would you like to speak about this by phone or should I meet you at the station?”
“I - I don’t feel safe talking now. Can you meet me tonight at the college amphitheater? I don’t want anyone to see me at the station.”
The amphitheater was surrounded by the college woods. It was certainly private, but it was also exposed. Grace nearly offered to meet the girl in a public place in plainclothes instead, but she didn’t want to scare her off.
“That’s fine, Lilliana. What time?”
“I’ll be there tonight at seven. Please don’t tell anyone.”
“I will see you at seven, and I won’t tell anyone. Thank you again for calling me - call me back if you want to meet sooner or somewhere more public.”
She came out of the room to find her Abuela packing Marranitos into a Christmas tin. The pig-shaped molasses cookies smelled delicious.
“These are for you to take to your new boyfriend.”
“How did you know?”
“I’m getting flashes of blond hair and blue eyes.”
Julian.
“No,” Grace said, thinking of Landon. “That’s not him. He has dark curls.”
“Like Bougereau’s angel, eh?” Abuela gestured to the framed print of The Abduction of Psyche over her sofa.
“Yeah, Abuela, kind of like him,” Grace replied, wondering if her abuela knew the man in the painting was supposed to be Eros - the opposite of an angel.
“No, that’s not right. Give these to the other guy,” Abuela said firmly, pressing the tin into Grace’s hands.
Not Landon. The other guy.
“And learn to cook! Because once he tastes these cookies, you won’t have to worry about paying the cost of your magic for long.”
She laughed her deep laugh again, and Grace couldn’t help but join her.
Chapter 8
G listening red leaves mixed with the pine needles that carpeted the college woods. Each step that Ainsley took released the heady scent of the changing seasons.
But she hardly noticed. Ainsley and Erik were deep in conversation about the motives of the lone wolf they had yet to locate.
“What could he want?” she asked. “If he’s been here all this time, why doesn’t he show himself?”
“Maybe he’s gathering info for another pack.” Erik suggested. “Or maybe he’s planning to challenge you. MacGregor said it wouldn’t surprise him if another wolf tried to move in when leadership looked weak.”
“So my leadership is weak?”
“Not at all.” Erik laughed, as though the very notion were ridiculous. “Everyone is behind you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Any lingering doubts went out the window when you sent Clive packing. But we were without an alpha for so long, we were bound to get onto someone’s radar. Maybe he’s biding his time. Taking the measure of you. Deciding whether or not he should make a move.”
“So do I look tough enough to scare him away?” she asked.
“If he had any idea how tough you are, he wouldn’t be here in the first place. And if he sees you practicing any of that magic you used to blast Clive, he’ll be on the next bus out of town.”
Magic.
Ainsley was in serious trouble if her magic was the only reason they all thought she was tough. She pressed her lips together.
“Why do you always clam up whenever I bring up magic?” Erik asked. “You know I’m not against it. I happen to think it’s pretty cool.”
“It’s not that. It’s just…”Ainsley trailed off, unable to share her failure, even with her mate.
“Julian. You don’t want to talk to me about your special time with Julian.”
Dear god. He was jealous.
It was flattering and adorable and infuriatingly misplaced all at once. Her time with Julian was about the most dreaded and least ‘special’ part of Ainsley’s day.
Ainsley knew she should tell him the truth and ease his mind. Alpha image to uphold or not, he deserved to know. She opened her mouth to begin.
But her wolf rose up inside, closing off her throat, and whispering in her ear:
I am
“Thank you for calling me, Lilliana. Would you like to speak about this by phone or should I meet you at the station?”
“I - I don’t feel safe talking now. Can you meet me tonight at the college amphitheater? I don’t want anyone to see me at the station.”
The amphitheater was surrounded by the college woods. It was certainly private, but it was also exposed. Grace nearly offered to meet the girl in a public place in plainclothes instead, but she didn’t want to scare her off.
“That’s fine, Lilliana. What time?”
“I’ll be there tonight at seven. Please don’t tell anyone.”
“I will see you at seven, and I won’t tell anyone. Thank you again for calling me - call me back if you want to meet sooner or somewhere more public.”
She came out of the room to find her Abuela packing Marranitos into a Christmas tin. The pig-shaped molasses cookies smelled delicious.
“These are for you to take to your new boyfriend.”
“How did you know?”
“I’m getting flashes of blond hair and blue eyes.”
Julian.
“No,” Grace said, thinking of Landon. “That’s not him. He has dark curls.”
“Like Bougereau’s angel, eh?” Abuela gestured to the framed print of The Abduction of Psyche over her sofa.
“Yeah, Abuela, kind of like him,” Grace replied, wondering if her abuela knew the man in the painting was supposed to be Eros - the opposite of an angel.
“No, that’s not right. Give these to the other guy,” Abuela said firmly, pressing the tin into Grace’s hands.
Not Landon. The other guy.
“And learn to cook! Because once he tastes these cookies, you won’t have to worry about paying the cost of your magic for long.”
She laughed her deep laugh again, and Grace couldn’t help but join her.
Chapter 8
G listening red leaves mixed with the pine needles that carpeted the college woods. Each step that Ainsley took released the heady scent of the changing seasons.
But she hardly noticed. Ainsley and Erik were deep in conversation about the motives of the lone wolf they had yet to locate.
“What could he want?” she asked. “If he’s been here all this time, why doesn’t he show himself?”
“Maybe he’s gathering info for another pack.” Erik suggested. “Or maybe he’s planning to challenge you. MacGregor said it wouldn’t surprise him if another wolf tried to move in when leadership looked weak.”
“So my leadership is weak?”
“Not at all.” Erik laughed, as though the very notion were ridiculous. “Everyone is behind you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Any lingering doubts went out the window when you sent Clive packing. But we were without an alpha for so long, we were bound to get onto someone’s radar. Maybe he’s biding his time. Taking the measure of you. Deciding whether or not he should make a move.”
“So do I look tough enough to scare him away?” she asked.
“If he had any idea how tough you are, he wouldn’t be here in the first place. And if he sees you practicing any of that magic you used to blast Clive, he’ll be on the next bus out of town.”
Magic.
Ainsley was in serious trouble if her magic was the only reason they all thought she was tough. She pressed her lips together.
“Why do you always clam up whenever I bring up magic?” Erik asked. “You know I’m not against it. I happen to think it’s pretty cool.”
“It’s not that. It’s just…”Ainsley trailed off, unable to share her failure, even with her mate.
“Julian. You don’t want to talk to me about your special time with Julian.”
Dear god. He was jealous.
It was flattering and adorable and infuriatingly misplaced all at once. Her time with Julian was about the most dreaded and least ‘special’ part of Ainsley’s day.
Ainsley knew she should tell him the truth and ease his mind. Alpha image to uphold or not, he deserved to know. She opened her mouth to begin.
But her wolf rose up inside, closing off her throat, and whispering in her ear:
I am
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