Under My Skin by Judith Graves Page A

can’t quit cold turkey. It’s a lifestyle thing.”
    I laughed. Giving up hunting wasn’t quite like cutting back on carbs, but I appreciated the comparison. I mashed my fork down into a brownie square, flattening it. Alec’s concern about the number of weres being created was valid, and I could see why he might have asked Brit to approach me, but I was in no position to help.
    “Someone has to be controlling the werewolves.” Brit’s tone shifted from flippant to full-on military briefing. I liked her better when she was being all sarcastic rather than inundating me with facts as if I were already a part of the crew. “Only a strong paranorm could control a pack of werewolves. There are too many for these to be rogues. They weren’t the victims of a random biter. They’re a pack. We could use a hand tracking them down.”
    I ignored her last comment and removed a slimy pickle from my third burger. “I don’t know. You guys seem like a pretty tight team. I’m sure you can handle it.” I shrugged as if I’d lost interest and groped for a change of subject. Wade’s sculpted features flashed through my mind. “Now, why don’t you give me some information that might help me out?”
    Brit cocked a brow.
    “Wade details. I want them all. Where does he hang out? How old is he? What about girls?” I asked.
    Brit choked on her drink. “Oh, he’s into girls. You thought he was gay? Wade might be a lot of things, but gay isn’t one of them.”
    I sighed. After the hard flirting we’d done in physics class, I was pretty sure Wade was interested in more than being my shopping buddy. “No, I meant, what about girlfriends?”
    Brit shook her head. “Haven’t you heard a thing I’ve been saying? Wade’s our top suspect.” At my pleading look, Brit sighed. “Okay, I give. He goes out with a girl for a few dates, and that’s it. He hasn’t had a steady relationship, and he hates girls who cling.” She paused. “Especially Paige. She’s always trying to latch her tentacles around him. They went out for like a minute last year. She barely survived when he brushed her off. She’s been psycho ever since.”
    “Paige McCain?” I asked, but I already knew the answer.
    “The one and only.” Brit slurped the last of her drink and then shot me a questioning glance. “You know her?”
    “Unfortunately.” I shared a bathroom with her every morning—I expected the toilet to be booby-trapped every time I used it. Paige wasn’t the sharing sort. “So you’re saying you think Wade’s a paranorm because he dates a lot?” I shook my head. “Sorry, first you warn me off Alec, and then you end up being one of his hunting crew. THEN you warn me off Wade, because he’s good looking and all the girls like him. Do you see my hesitation here?”
    Brit blinked at me. “There’s more to it than that.”
    “Oh, I’m sure there is, but you know what, Brit?” I stole one of her cold fries. “I don’t want to know. Last night was last night. A onetime thing. I’ve got other things I’m dealing with.” I looked over Brit’s shoulder and winced as I spotted Paige headed in our direction. Coming to the cafeteria had been a mistake. I hid my face behind a napkin.
    “Uh… What are you doing?”
    “Shhhh.” I lowered the napkin so I could peek over it. “She’s coming this way.”
    “Who?” Brit craned her neck.
    “Paige,” I rasped. “I don’t want her to see me. I do not feel like sparring with Rose Harry’s baby at the moment.”

    “Huh?”
    “Haven’t you ever seen that old horror film? A woman gives birth to this demon/child thing. Anyway, that’s my cousin, Paige, remember her? You were saying how nice and psycho she is.”
    I peeked around my napkin. Paige glided down the aisle with all the attitude of a red-carpet diva, accompanied by two cookie-cutter friends, equally blonde and perky. They followed a step behind Paige like good little peons should. I ducked back behind the napkin and spun