Moon Claimed (Werewolf Dens #2) - Kelly St. Clare Page 0,32
singing, rolling my shoulders that perpetually ached.
I was so sore that feeling terror was almost impossible. Almost. I’d seen Sascha shift to four-legged form. The sickening squelching, cracks, and pops. The movies depicted nice versions of these creatures shifting in a shimmering haze. They weren’t anywhere close to reality.
My entire body would break apart as it changed to another species. My chest tightened and I inhaled thinly, turning from Wade as the throbbing at the base of my incisors ramped up.
In the last two days, I’d found my gums and knuckles always hurt when my eyes started darkening. It was a good warning sign for me to regain control.
My phone pinged, and I checked the email. “Yes.”
“Porn?”
I rolled my eyes. “Not everything is porn.”
“Respectfully, I disagree.”
“The house deposit was paid into my account.” Huh, and the payment from the manor account to cover the outstanding debt balance.
Rhona must have done it. I wasn’t going to do that until settlement.
I slipped the phone away.
“You can’t tell me selling your house isn’t worthy of a few drinks tonight,” Wade said.
“My aunty-mum left me a nearly half-a-million-dollar debt. My ex-boyfriend tried to sabotage the sale by smashing windows. I just want the debt and house gone and to never think about it ever again. Until that happens completely, I can’t celebrate.”
Wade’s smile slid away.
“I just… don’t want to talk about any of this. I want to clean this cabin and be alone.”
“That’s fine for a while,” he said eventually. “After what you and Rhona have been through, it’s even expected. As long as you know that can’t last. You’re head steward, Andie.”
I whirled. “Do you think I’ve forgotten that?”
“I know Ragna fucked up, but you loved her. Love her. Selling the house won’t… well, I don’t think that will make the pain better, baby girl.”
“I don’t need a reality check. I need people to understand the words coming out of my mouth. I want to be alone.”
After a beat, he nodded. “I can do that.”
His shoulders were tense as he turned away to resume cleaning.
Fuck. I was taking this out on the wrong person. Wade had been there for me. “Sorry. Again. Just—don’t take this the wrong way. I value you a lot, but I’m in a shit mood. Could you leave me to this? Forget I was a bitch for the second time.”
The itching under my skin was driving me fucking crazy. I pulled at the bottom of my sweater.
Wade ran a hand through his blond hair. “People only lash out when they’re hurting. I’ll leave you alone tonight. You better believe I’ll be back tomorrow morning.”
I blinked several times. “I don’t deserve you.”
“You deserve the very best. Of which I am.”
I kissed his cheek and hugged his firm middle. “Don’t come too early. I haven’t been sleeping well.”
“Is that why Rhona’s doing the Timber announcement to the Luthers right now instead of you?”
“That’s me sending a message to Sascha. I’ve decided not to keep going with the mating meets.”
Wade stiffened, holding me at arm’s length. “Since when?”
“Since two nights ago when I told him.”
He searched my face. “Andie. Is that smart?”
I closed my eyes in case things got charged again. “I’m sick of it. The mating stuff is his problem.”
At his silence, I cracked an eyelid. “What?”
Wade shrugged. “Never thought I’d agree with a Luther.” Before I could snap again, he squeezed my shoulders. “I’ll lecture you tomorrow. Tonight is yours.”
I grimaced. “How about we don’t do the lecture at all?”
“I’m the best, bitchhole. Not perfect.”
Ditching the rag and spray, I walked onto the porch to watch him leave. The closest cabin was a ten-minute walk according to Rhona.
Leaning on the balustrade, I scanned the area. A visit to Heather told me two frequency generators covered this space. A camera was fixed fifty metres to my right. Another, one hundred metres to the left. They faced outward to cover the road and forest bordering our territory. There weren’t any cameras beyond them.
A heat detector was stationed not far from the cabin. I’d need to be at least sixty metres from that when I shifted. Safer to be well away before that time. To my knowledge, partial shifts didn’t register as abnormal on the detectors, but I couldn’t rely on that to remain hidden.
Maybe first shifts were different.
I was going in totally blind.
Returning to the house, I set to ridding the small cabin of dust and dirt. Mopping the floor for the third time, I made the bed with linens stolen from