Instinctive - By Cathryn Fox Page 0,35

,” he murmured. “We could demand they don’t go.”

“Why? Truthfully, this is the perfect opportunity for her to see that she’s not a good fit to the community. Folks will go, eat, drink, and have a good time without bothering to give her the time of day.”

So Drake did have a point. But Slyck didn’t want her socializing. What if the lycans got a whiff of the panther between her legs? And if she started asking questions, raising suspicions, the shit would hit the fan and the townsfolk would demand straws be drawn. Her panther had yet to show, which meant that if she hadn’t fully transformed yet, it was possible a “marking” could change her into another species. If she was full panther, however, already having completed her first shift, and one of the others tried to claim her, it would temporarily weaken her or, worst-case scenario, kill her. Yet if they knew what she was, they’d also kill her. Fuck. It was a lose-lose situation.

Slyck planted his elbows on the table and rested his forehead in his palms. Jesus, he had to figure out what the hell he was going to do about this mess. Restlessness and anxiety urging him on, Slyck climbed to his feet, cut across the café, and came up behind Jaclyn.

Jaclyn spun around, her hand on her chest. “Oh, I didn’t see you there.” Her blue eyes flared hot when they met his, and he could see from the welt marks that she’d been scratching her skin. It was happening. Quickly.

He pitched his voice low. “This barbecue. It’s not a good idea.”

She leveled him with a stare and lowered her voice to match his. “I can’t think of a better way to get to know the neighbors.”

“These aren’t neighbors you want to get to know, Jaclyn.”

Just then the door opened up, and Vall walked in. His suspicious pewter eyes met Slyck’s before he sidled up to the counter. As he moved in beside them, Slyck noticed the way Jaclyn’s body tightened, her panther’s instinctive reaction to the wolf in Vall. Under the guise of needing a straw, Slyck leaned over Jaclyn and grabbed one from the dispenser. “Cancel the party, Jaclyn, or I’ll crash it.”

“Over my dead body.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.”

Jaclyn paid for her egg salad sandwich and soda, and decided to eat back at the store. She told herself it was because she didn’t like the company at the café, but the reality was that Slyck’s close proximity was playing havoc with her senses. Her skin had begun to itch, her birthmark to burn.

She glanced at Slyck as he slid back into his booth. Her gaze shot to the man he was with. Lord, she never expected to find so many hotties in Serene. Not that she wanted to sample any of them, not now, not after Slyck.

Oh boy.

Needing escape, she darted outside and hustled back to the shop. Even though the rest of the townsfolk ignored her, she had made one friend at the department store. A female friend at that.

As Jaclyn entered through the front doors, and welcomed the rush of cool air on her heated flesh, she replayed Slyck’s parting words. She wasn’t so sure she had to worry about him crashing her party, since she was pretty certain no one would show up anyway. She was hoping to soften the women up and gain their confidence with fine wine and good food. Then maybe they’d trust her enough to purchase her company’s cosmetics.

Jaclyn made her way back to the empty cosmetics counter—she had no idea where Brandy and Gina were off to—and Sunray—her one and only friend, who worked in lingerie and who didn’t at all seem threatened by her—sauntered over.

“That was fast,” Sunray said.

Jaclyn felt so frumpy next to the vivacious Sunray. She took a moment to peruse her friend. Although they were the same height and build, Jaclyn had chestnut hair and blue eyes whereas Sunray had thick golden hair the color of a wheat field and big, beautiful silvery eyes. Jaclyn had never seen such an interesting color outside Serene before. Sunray dressed in sexy clothes, with her hot lingerie peaking out underneath. She wore her pants low on her hips, and when she bent over, Jaclyn always got a glimpse of her lacy thongs and her tattoo. Jaclyn took a moment to wonder if the kitty paw print represented something, but didn’t really know the other woman well enough yet to ask. Her gaze