“It’s not all that uncommon,” Bren interrupted. “It’s happened to me more than once.”
“There’s a shock,” Danny muttered.
My jaw unhinged. Good Lord. Did everyone know?
“I need you guys outside now!” Gemini yelled from farther away. “Aric is completely losing it.”
“Taran, please go to the window and see if you can put Aric to sleep,” Emme pleaded. “Someone’s going to get hurt.”
I heard Taran’s quick footsteps, presumably running toward the window. I grabbed some clothes and frantically began to dress. “Emme, tell Aric I’m coming. I need to explain—”
Taran interrupted. “Don’t, Celia. It’s over.”
I stopped in the middle of putting my pants on. “Did you put him to sleep already?” I was begging her to tell me yes.
“No. He went wolf and took off.” I heard her tap her nails against something hard. “I shouldn’t tell you this, but I think you have a right to know. Gemini says the burden of continuing his species and being without you has taken a toll on Aric’s animal and human forms. Gem is . . . worried Aric’s beast is rising to the surface and taking over the man.”
I straightened and let the hem of my jeans fall from my grasp. “What does that mean exactly?”
“It’s his wolf’s way of trying to keep him strong and protect him from his pain, Ceel,” Shayna answered hesitantly. “The problem is, his beast isn’t as reasonable or patient—and if his present condition worsens he’ll eventually just stay wolf. Koda says it happens sometimes . . . when weres are deprived of their mates.”
I closed my eyes and tightened my jaw. “The Elders must obviously know this. Why—I can’t comprehend why they would allow him to lose his humanity!”
Taran chimed in. “Anara doesn’t care, Ceel. He can still order Aric to make pups with Barbara. All she has to do is take on her wolf form.” She scoffed. “I think that bridezilla from hell knows it and is trying to work the animal angle. When Aric changed just now, she did, too, and went after him.”
I missed my bed when I attempted to sit and ended up sprawled on the floor. I kicked off my jeans and rose on wobbly legs just when the door slammed open on the other end of the line and several pairs of feet trotted in.
“Hey, do you think Aric is finally going to mount Barbara?” Liam asked from somewhere in the room.
Emme gasped. I didn’t make a sound. I was too busy begging God to kill me.
“If he does, maybe he’ll stop being such a tight-ass bastard,” Bren said. He stomped away. His voice echoed as if he were yelling out the window. “Hey, Lorraine!”
“Her name is Barbara, moron,” Koda muttered.
“Like I give a shit. Hey, you! While you’re at it, take out that cougar Aric has rammed up his ass.”
“Bren, shut your snout. Celia is still on the phone!” Danny yelled.
“She is?” There were some rustling sounds and then Bren came on the line. “Hey, Ceel, how’s it going? Look, don’t worry about what I said. No one can make Aric scream like you can. One time I was hungry and stopped at your house for a bite. You probably didn’t know I was there since you guys were going at it like gorillas in heat—”
“Dude. Shut up!”
“Back off, Shayna. I’m trying to make her feel better about Aric bumping uglies with what’s her face.”
“Oh, my goodness, Bren,” Emme whispered. Like me, she probably couldn’t believe the words pouring out of his mouth.
“Anyway, you guys were inspirational. After I ate the sandwich and had some dessert—by the way, your blueberry pie rocks—I picked up a girl at a gas station and had one of the best lays of my life. Seriously, you guys should tour or some— Ow! What the hell?”